15 Travel Backpacks Pilots and Frequent Fliers Recommend at Amazon

As a travel writer who flies monthly, I’ve witnessed firsthand how airlines have cracked down on baggage limits over the past few years. Luckily, there’s a TSA-approved workaround: travel backpacks. Typically sized as personal items, they’re lightweight, spacious, easy to carry, and can essentially function as a second carry-on if you pack them strategically. 

Travel + Leisure editors have tested 96 carry-on backpacks, and I’ve included several of our favorites on this list, as well as pilot-approved picks from Samsonite, Cotopaxi, and more. Whatever style of travel backpack you’re looking for—tech-friendly, anti-theft, waterproof, or packed with pockets—you’ll find one to suit your personal needs and travel style below. 

Best Amazon Travel Backpack Deals Overall

Shrradoo Extra Large Travel Backpack

Backed by over 40,000 perfect ratings, the Shrradoo Extra Large Travel Backpack is a favorite of pilots and frequent fliers alike for its generous 50-liter capacity, durability, thoughtful design details, and incredible organizational features. “I’m an airline pilot that does long trips and I can’t fill this thing up,” raved one five-star reviewer. There are three unique compartments and 20 individual pockets to separate out all your clothing, gear, and smaller essentials, as well as an external USB port for convenient on-the-go charging. This waterproof travel backpack also boasts a padded laptop compartment to protect your electronics. “I can load it up as much as my full-sized carry-on rolling suitcase, but it’s more comfortable to carry around,” praised another shopper.    

Matein Carry-on Backpack

Of the dozens of travel backpacks tested by our editors, the Matein Carry-on Backpack earned our vote as the best value pick. We loved that there’s a separate compartment to prevent dirty shoes from touching clean clothes, as well as a spacious main pocket that can fit several days’ worth of clothing and toiletries—up to two weeks’ worth if you pack light or use packing cubes. One traveler took this bag to Europe for two weeks, and reported that it “performed very well and exceeded my expectations.” Additionally, there’s a padded laptop pocket and a smaller front pocket to keep chargers, headphones, and other accessories from getting lost in the main compartment. 

Asenlin Travel Backpack

Maximize space with the Asenlin Travel Backpack, which includes three packing cubes for staying organized on the go, and interior compression straps to help hold items in place during transit. This versatile bag opens like a suitcase and offers 40 liters of packing space, plus it comes in several colors, including classic black and a trendy cherry red. I love that the padded straps can be tucked away, so it can also be carried as a duffel. A quick look at the reviews will have you adding it to your cart in no time; one shopper wrote, “This travel backpack is spacious, well-organized, and perfect for carry-on use.”

Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack

T+L editors voted this 42-liter travel pack from Cotopaxi our overall favorite travel backpack, citing its spacious interior, travel-friendly details, sustainable design, and remarkable durability as standout factors. Crafted from 100 percent recycled nylon, it features a clamshell opening that makes packing and accessing your items a breeze, with a mesh zippered pocket on one side and two smaller zippered pockets on the other. There are two external zippered pockets as well, which are perfect for stashing travel essentials that you need to keep within reach, like a passport or phone, plus a padded laptop compartment. Supportive waist and chest straps help to balance everything out, even if you end up overpacking, but there’s plenty of room to fit more than a week’s worth of clothing. 

Areyteco Travel Backpack

If, like me, you’re also guilty of picking up one too many souvenirs on your travels, consider the expandable Areyteco Travel Backpack, which boasts a whopping 3.1-inch expansion to accommodate any extra items you might pick up along the way. It unzips all the way so you can pack it as you would a suitcase, which makes it easy to access your items quickly or rearrange them after a TSA check. “We’ve looked for a long time and finally found a backpack that is lightweight, but roomy enough for the travel essentials we need. It functions more like a suitcase,” wrote one happy shopper. A USB port and laptop pouch are just the icing on the cake here. Note that this bag is larger than most of the others on this list, and may not fit in the overhead bin on all airlines—always be sure to check your airline’s baggage limits directly! 

Samsonite Mother Lode Travel Backpack 

Praised for its organization by T+L editors, the Samsonite Mother Lode backpack is packed with the perfect number of pockets. I personally tested this backpack out, and I found that the two large clamshell compartments fit bulky items like sweaters, jeans, and jackets with ease. One side even has compression straps, so you can make room for more items in a pinch. There’s even an expander, which offers an extra 1.5 inches of packing room. I loved the large front pocket, which boasts enough space for shoes and even more clothing. Another handy feature? Various zippered pockets inside the front flap are great for stashing smaller essentials, and a front pocket can fit a 13-inch laptop. 

Pacsafe Exp45 Anti-theft Carry-on Travel Pack 

Need a little extra peace of mind on your travels? The Pacsafe Exp45 Anti-theft Carry-on Travel Pack is our top pick for anti-theft backpacks, given that it provides superior protection for your valuables thanks to lockable zippers, slashproof fabric, and an RFID-blocking pocket. There’s plenty of room inside to pack a vacation’s worth of clothing and accessories, as well as a padded laptop pocket. I love that the two main zippers can be locked together, and that there’s a cable which allows you to lock the bag to fixed objects (like your chair while you’re out to dinner) to maximize the bag’s security. “I used it for a 10 day trip to Greece, and was able to pack all that I needed,” noted one shopper, who added, “The anti-theft features are effective, and I did not find them cumbersome when I needed to access things.”

Coowoz Large Travel Backpack

This Amazon best-seller comes in a rainbow of fun colors, so you can set yourself apart from the sea of black bags at the airport. It’s separated into two large compartments, which provide plenty of room for a two-week vacation if you pack thoughtfully. Standout details include a separate shoe compartment, a wet pocket for damp bathing suits, an expander, and a USB charging port. One traveler raved that it “fits my whole life (plus heels)” and still “it fits perfectly under the seat and in the overhead bins, so no awkward stuffing-and-shoving required.”

Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 

Crafted from 100 percent waterproof and recycled materials, this travel backpack from Tortuga earned the T+L editor seal of approval for its remarkably waterproof exterior. It’s a fantastic pick for travelers who’ll be heading somewhere with a rainy climate, as it kept our gear completely dry overnight while sitting in a puddle. The two clamshell compartments seamlessly fit nearly two weeks’ worth of clothes and gear, and there’s plenty more space thanks to top, front, and side pockets for storing tech, water bottles, and more. 

Hanples Travel Backpack 

For true hands-free convenience, look no further than the Hanples Travel Backpack, which is comfortable enough to carry for hours. “It truly fits the same amount as my carry-on suitcase would have, but it was much easier and more portable to travel with,” wrote one shopper, who traveled with the backpack around Europe and noted that it “exceeded my expectations.” While it’s expandable, the backpack is perfectly sized as a personal item, and fits under most airline seats with ease. It also unzips suitcase-style, so packing is a straightforward and speedy process. A bevy of pockets, including a lined pocket for wet or dirty clothing, makes it easy to stay organized while on the go. 

Gieury Carry-on Backpack 

Ranked as Amazon’s Choice for travel backpacks, it’s easy to see why the Gieury Carry-on Backpack comes highly recommended. With its 50-liter capacity, it’s spacious enough to fit a shocking amount of clothing, yet compact enough to fit in the overhead compartment, which is ideal for anyone looking to avoid extra baggage fees. “I have been able to pack enough for a 5 day trip taking nothing but this backpack so I did not have to pay the carry-on bag fee,” wrote one shopper, who added that they were able to fit a pair of shoes, several outfits, toiletries, and makeup inside. It also features a separate shoe compartment and a handy lay-flat laptop section, which means you may never have to remove your laptop for TSA again. 

Tangcorle Expandable Carry-on Backpack

“This travel backpack is absolutely amazing. It easily fits enough clothes for a 15-day trip, and thanks to that, I no longer have to pay for checked luggage at the airport,” raved one five-star reviewer. The Tangcorle Expandable Carry-on Backpack’s futuristic-looking design is perfect for two-week trips, thanks to its generous 50-liter capacity and the 3.5-inch expansion option. The main compartment easily fits shirts, pants, and jackets, while there are three separate compartments for shoes, tech, and smaller travel essentials. The front pocket boasts a handful of pouches for keeping your phone, passport, and other items organized. 

Seektop Foldable Hiking Backpack 

Hikers and lovers of the great outdoors, the Seektop Foldable Hiking Backpack was made for you. It’s ultra lightweight—just 1.32 pounds—and has an impressive 40-liter capacity to fit clothes, gear, shoes, and other supplies for the next time you hit the skies or the trails. Best of all, it folds into a small, totable pouch when it’s not in use, so it’s easy to tuck away in your larger carry-on in order to save space. “It folds up super tiny for storage,” wrote one shopper, “but when you open it up there’s a ton of space.” The generous main compartment features luggage straps which help to keep your items in place while you’re on the move, while a handful of other pockets—for tech, passports, water bottles, and more—offer plenty of space for all your items. 

Tolaccea Large Convertible Garment Duffel Bag 

Business travelers and anyone looking to keep their clothes wrinkle-free will love the Tolaccea Large Convertible Garment Duffel Bag, which serves a dual purpose as a convertible backpack or duffel bag with a built-in garment bag. Anti-wrinkle panels keep suits and dresses smooth while in transit, and your clothes will stay clean, too, thanks to a bonus bag included for storing shoes separately. The backpack itself is crafted from a durable, water-resistant, anti-abrasion material, and includes a wet pocket for separating damp items or dirty laundry. “The bag fit easily and perfectly in the overhead compartment,” wrote one shopper, who noted it did an excellent job at preventing their clothes from wrinkling. 

Osprey Sojourn Porter Travel Backpack 

Known for its durable and comfortable backpacks, Osprey is a favorite brand of T+L editors and travelers alike. The Osprey Sojourn Porter Travel Backpack features padded straps and a ventilated back panel that ensures it’s breathable and comfortable enough to carry for hours at a time without overheating. The standout feature for this backpack is its Wingjacket Protection, which includes flexible compression straps and padded sidewalls that protect and compress your items to minimize the bag’s overall size. “It is accepted as a personal item in the airport (I took four flights last week and it’s been fine each time),” confirmed one shopper, who noted that you can tuck in the external straps to easily slide the bag below the seat in front of you. 

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