The Best Carry-on Travel Backpacks in Canada

Osprey is a well-known brand for travelers for business and backpacking alike. The large panel zip access to the main compartment with dual front compression straps make it easy to compress it down to even smaller proportions if needed to make it even easier to stowaway under a seat or in overhead plane compartments. The main compartment has a size of 55L. 

Detachable 15L daypack with a lockable laptop and tablet sleeve (fits up to most 16” laptops) and altogether it meets most airline restrictions for carryons, being 55h x 35w x 23d cm with the daypack attached. The harness and hipbelt stow away for safekeeping while checked and deploy quickly for whenever you’re hiking or walking on trails.  

A 55L bag may be too large if you are prone to over packing and over stuffing your bags, as the size can increase beyond carry-on limits if you aren’t careful. Be sure to pack light and keep the open space for bringing items back or having an allowance to squish it into any particularly small spaces just in case. 

This nicely squared design carry-on backpack is great for travel, work, and whatever other activities you can throw at it where you want a sturdy, light bag that can carry everything snug and secure, including laptops, as it does have a built in laptop sleeve for 15” and slimmer 17” laptops. 

A large main compartment with tie down straps helps to keep everything in place and organized, and the quick access front panel allows for easily grabbing every day essentials. Interior slot pockets make it easy to keep your passport, tablet, and more in place and not lost amidst everything else. The four exterior compression straps work to eliminate extra space and reduce stress on the zippers – making it even easier to carry-on without worry, especially if you aren’t an over packer. 

The hideaway backpack straps are well padded with air mesh, making it comfortable to carry as a backpack or as a weekend duffel bag style. There is a sternum strap that is adjustable both lengthwise and can move up and down to adjust the placement, which is great for carrying heights and body types, if your sternum is higher or lower than where the default is. A newly added trolley strap fits over most upright handles if you want to take this with you, with other suitcases, etc. as it will now attach and doesn’t need to be carried separately. 

If you’re looking for a smaller bag that can accommodate weekend trips or a bag that is used for commuting often for work, this laptop bag with additional storage might be just the ticket for you. If you need to pack a lot, this might only be good for during the day along with another bag at night, especially for carry on luggage. 

This travel backpack has a separate laptop compartment that will hold 15” laptops securely and can fit 17” ones as well as long as they are on the slimmer side, such as a MacBook or Windows style slim tablet design. Spacious packing compartment with zippered closes for clothes, weekend trips, etc. There is also an organizer compartment with slots that makes it easy to keep passports or similar in without it getting stuck or lost at the bottom of the bag. A USB interface with built-in cable design makes this perfect for charging your electronics such as a tablet, phone, gaming device like a Nintendo Switch or other separate power banks safely. The comfortable airflow back design lets the fabric breathe and not overheat. 

It includes a luggage strap as well that can be attached to other suitcases and rolling luggage handles, and it also has an anti-theft pocket on the back to protect any valuables and cash you might want to put in there while travelling. The built in shoe compartment is a nice feature of this bag, especially if you’re travelling for work as you can put your nice shoes in there or switch them out for your travel shoes and everything else won’t get dirty. There are two venting holes in the shoe compartment to ensure they get some air and won’t smell while you’re moving around. 

Amazon Basics has budget friendly options for almost every item you can imagine, and travel bags are no different. The quality and durability of this bag is great, especially for the price tag. It has a laptop compartment, main interior compartment, optional midway shelf, and internal/external compression straps to further reduce the size, which is perfect for travelling with this as a carry on bag. 

A nice feature of this particular bag is that the laptop compartment actually has a zipper, which is nice when you want to keep it even more secure from sliding out while in transit. The main compartment has a zippered mesh space, optional halfway shelf, and internal/external straps that allow you to make this bag even smaller when you need to compress it all down. 

Front pocket and front top pocket for easy access to book, documents, travel liquids, etc. Main upper packing compartment has an organizer and expandable storage space for passports, cards, etc. that you don’t want to lose. A key clip for attachments, and a tuck-away ID pocket. Padded shoulder straps disconnect easily and store away into a zippered back pocket, it has a removeable sternum strap, waist belt, and shoulder straps, including well placed exterior handles for when you want to carry the bag around and now have it solely as a backpack, which works well for airplanes when you need to minimize space as much as possible for under the seat or up in the storage compartments. 

A smaller backpack for commuting, travelling, and daily use that holds clothing, books, and it has a laptop compartment in the back that works for 17” laptops snugly, without being too small. Main compartment has double zippers and enough storage room for weekend trips and easy commutes during the day as well. Organizer compartment has various small pockets to keep items organized and together without getting lost or stuck together.  

A nice feature is that it includes wet bags that are perfect to keep your clothes separately from wet and dry. If you go to the gym are travelling and plan on swimming, or just end up stuck out in the rain – the ability to utilize high-density waterproof material bags is a wonderful thing to have. Towels, swimsuits, wet clothes all tucked away from your dry books, clothes, etc. 

USB interface with built-in cable design allows for charging electronic devices on the go with your own power bank, you can even charge other power banks. The breathable comfortable back of the bag allows for a nice carrying experience while still having enough support that it doesn’t feel overweighted on your spine/shoulders. A luggage strap is built in, easy to slip over rolling luggage so that you don’t have to carry it all the way if you’re in the airport. Hidden anti-theft pocket as well in this one on the back to protect valuables. 

The capacity of this bag is 30L, which may not be enough for some users depending on their needs, but overall this is the perfect size for a smaller trip or a commute that involves travel consistently. To keep this bag clean all you need to do is lightly wipe off dirty areas with a damp cloth, as the material is a waterproof and durable polyester that has good ventilation. You can hand wash it, as long as it gets dried outside or on a low/gentle dryer cycle but either isn’t recommended in case of any shrinkage or issues.