I've Got the Whole World...In My Pack
The perfect bag for any trip: how to travel with a carry-on-sized backpack as your only piece of luggage, and still have room for souvenirs
A bag like the 22" Traverse Pro travel backpack not only fits into the overhead bin (so you needn't check any luggage), but it can hold everything you need for any trip—and it comes with a zip-off daypack.
Actually, if it really does feel as if you've got the whole world in your pack, you've done something wrong and really need to take a peek at my handy-dandy packing list.
The best all-around luggage choice is—brace yourself—a carry-on-size backpack
with a zip-off or packable daypack. Hard-backed suitcases are cumbersome and heavy, huge frame packs are for hikers, and both need to be checked on airlines—a wholly unnecessary hassle.
With a carry-on-size pack, you can hop on and off the plane, sling your stuff on your back whenever you need to hoof it, and it’ll force you to pack light.
“Carry-on size” is determined by each airline individually, but is always measures by adding together all the dimensions (length plus width plus height).
Note that for many lately it has been slipping from the old 60" to around 45" total , so when shopping for a bag make sure it fits those smallest requirements. That way just about any airline will O.K. it.
(The bags featured on the right under "Carry-on Travel Bags" meet the requirement, as do—for ultra-light packers—the last two smaller bags.)
The best travel bags
CARRY-ON SIZED BAGS (20"-22")
22" Traverse Pro Main bag: 22 x 14 x 8.5"; 6 lb, 10 oz (42L) Daypack: 20 x 13 x 6; 1 lb 13 oz (26L) » Details |
 21" Rolling Upright 21 x 14 x 10"; 7 lb (48L) » Details |
 20" Walkin' Bag 20 x 13.5 x 10"; 9 lb (44L) » Details |
 Eagle Creek Rincon 65L Travel Backpack 23 x 13 x 10" (65L) » Details |
SLIGHTLY LARGER BAGS (25")
 25" Traverse Pro Main bag: 25 x 17 x 10"; 7 lb 11 oz (60L) Daypack: 20 x 13 x 6"; 1 lb 13 oz (26L) » Details |
 Eagle Creek Switchback Max 25" Main bag: 25 x 14 x 10"; 9 lb 13 oz (55L) Daypack: 20 x 12 x 8" 2 lb (28L) » Details |
 Eagle Creek Rincon 90L Travel Backpack Daypack: (20L) » Details |
COMPACT BAGS (19")
 19" Traverse Pro Main bag: 19 x 14 x 7.5"; 6 lb, 9 oz (37L) Daypack: 17 x 11 x 6"; 1 lb13 oz (21L) » Details |
 TraveLite Convertible Carry-On 20.5 x 13 x 9"; 2 lb 1 oz (40L) » Details |
 GoLite Rolling Tote 22 x 14 1/2 x 7" (36L) » Details |
Section Index |
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This article was last updated in August 2011. All information was accurate at the time.
Copyright © 1998–2011 by Reid Bramblett. All rights reserved.
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