When it comes to comfort and versatility nothing beats a well-designed backpack. So it should come as no surprise that a backpack is our airline personal item bag of choice.

If you are looking to use a backpack as a personal item on your next trip then you may be disappointed to discover that most backpacks may be too large or just lack the features needed to use as an in-flight travel bag.

This is why we decided to do the research and list the best backpacks that can be used as personal items on flights. Our top picks fit a number of important personal item requirements such as size, pocket placement, and travel-friendly design features.

Messenger Shoulder Backpack

Difference Between a Personal Item and a Carry-On

Let’s start by explaining the difference between a personal item and a carry-on bag.

The difference is simple: a carry-on bag must fit in the overhead compartment while a personal item must fit underneath the seat in front of you.

If a bag is too large to fit in under-seat storage then it will be treated as a carry-on bag. If a carry-on bag is too large to fit in overhead storage then it will be treated as a check-in bag and you will not able to bring it to the airplane cabin with you.

Examples of carry-on bags include carry-on luggage, weekender backpacks, and large travel bags and duffels. Personal item bags include a purse, briefcase, or small backpack.

Each airline has its own specific measurements for what can be considered a carry-on and a personal item so it’s important that you check with your airline to make sure your bags fit the measurement requirements.

When it comes to personal items it’s also important to understand that under-seat dimensions can vary by airplane, boarding class, and seat location. For example, there is no under-seat storage in the front rows behind the bulkhead and smaller planes tend to have smaller under-seat storage dimensions.

Is a backpack a personal item?

Can a backpack be a personal item? The simple answer is yes, a backpack can be a personal item.

The important thing to note about airline personal items is that just about any bag can be used as long as it fits under the airline’s personal item dimensions. This includes backpacks, diaper bags, purses, and briefcases.

The key to making a backpack count as a personal item is to make sure it’s small enough to meet the size requirements. Many backpacks may be too bulky to fit underneath an airline seat or can be considered too large by the airline.

Below is a chart of the most popular airlines in the United States with their stated personal item bag size. This chart was last updated on 09/24/2019. Make sure to check your airline’s official website for the latest carry-on and personal item size requirements.

Airline	Personal Item Size
American Airlines	18″ x 14″ x 8″
Alaska Airlines	No specific size
Air Canada	17″ x 13″ x 6″
Delta	No specific size (see our Delta size guide)
Frontier	18″ x 14″ x 8″
JetBlue	17″ x 13″ x 8″
Southwest	18.5″ x 13.5″ x 8.5″
Spirit	18″ x 14″ x 8″
United Airlines	17″ x 10″ x 9″

If you are looking for more airline-specific guidance make sure to check out our personal item backpack guides for Spirit Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines

Best Personal Item Backpacks

1. The Personal Backpack

The Personal Backpack is our top pick for the best personal item backpack thanks to its airline-friendly size, portable tech charging capability, and rugged weatherproof construction.

At 22 liters, the Personal Backpack is roomy enough for airline travel essentials such as headphones, clothing, water bottles, and snacks. An external built-in USB port and special power bank pocket allow you to charge your phone and tech on the move. No more searching for outlets at the airport!

The Personal Backpack’s compact dimensions also fit most major airline personal item requirements so you can be sure to use the Ridge Classic Backpack as your go-to travel backpack for years to come!

Bag dimensions: 17” x 12” x 5.5”

2.eBags Professional Slim JR

Pockets, organizers, and more pockets. If you are serious about organization then the eBags Professional Slim JR is the personal item backpack you have been looking for. One of its best features is the massive organizer panel located right in the front of the backpack that has spots for everything from snacks to charging cables. The backpack also features separate laptop and tablet compartments that can be accessed from the top of the bag. This means you can grab your tech without having to pull the bag out from underneath the airline seat.

The eBags Professional comes in two sizes: the smaller eBags Professional Slim JR featured here and the larger original eBags Professional Slim that still fits many airline personal item bag size requirements. Both are worth their weight in gold for busy travelers.

Bag Dimensions: 16.5” x 12.75″ x 6.5”

3. Osprey Arcane Daypack

The Osprey Arcane is a minimalist backpack for both daily carry and travel for those who want to keep things organized. Known for their functional outdoor bags, the Osprey Arcane is made with highly water-resistant fabric to keep your gear safe and a breathable mesh back panel for all-day comfort. It’s this commitment to functionality that allowed Osprey to gain a spot on our favorite brands like Fjallraven list.

Inside you’ll find a 16” laptop sleeve as well as an array of organizer pockets for boarding passes, a passport, and tech accessories. The Arcane’s small footprint and compact design are compliant with all airline personal item size restrictions for peace of mind when traveling.

Bag Dimensions: 17.72” x 11.81” x 8.66”

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4. Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack

Everlane’s newest addition to their bag line is also incredibly airline friendly. The Everlane ReNew Transit backpack offers a roomy design that also fits most airline personal item size requirements. The backpack has travel-friendly features such as a side water bottle pocket, outer zip pockets for small items, and a generous main compartment for clothes, toiletries, and more. When used as an airline personal item we like that you have access to a zip pocket located on the top of the backpack lid for easy access to essentials like headphones or a phone while the bag is stored underneath the airplane seat. The laptop sleeve also has side zip access so you don’t have to open up the main compartment to access your tech.

The Everlane ReNew Transit backpack is designed to be unisex and can be worn by just about anyone. And thanks to Everlane’s multiple color options you can choose the right one to fit your style and taste.

Bag Dimensions: 17.5” x 12” x 7.25”

Pacsafe Venturesafe Anti-theft travel backpack

5. Pacsafe Venturesafe Anti-Theft Day Pack

The Pacsafe Ventursafe is an anti-theft travel backpack made for lugging around essentials during busy travel days. Its safety features include RFID blocking pockets, slash-proof materials, and an anti-pickpocket design. As for carrying, the Venturesafe includes a handy organization panel pocket in the front for easy access to small items during a flight in addition to a roomy main compartment with a 13-inch laptop sleeve. Once you arrive at your destination, the Pacsafe Venturesafe makes the ideal travel daypack thanks to its anti-theft design and moderate size.

Bag Dimensions: 18.1” x 10.2” x 6.3”

Knack Small Expandable Knack Pack - best personal item backpack

6. Knack Small expandable knack pack

Knack’s Small Expandable Knack Pack is a multi-functional backpack designed to be used as both a daily backpack and travel bag. This is thanks to its expandable main compartment that makes room for clothing and travel gear when you need it to. Compressed, the Knack Pack gives you plenty of pockets and compartments that you have come to expect in a daily driver backpack – making it perfect to use as a daypack once you get to your destination.

The Small Expandable Knack Pack is recommended for anyone looking for a quality travel backpack to use as a free personal item on most airlines. Even when fully expanded, the Small Knack Pack only measures 17″ x 12″ x 9” which is small enough to fit underneath most airlines’ seats.

Bag Dimensions:

Unexpanded: 17″ x 12″ x 5″
Expanded: 17” x 12″ x 9″

Matein Anti-Theft Hard Shell Backpack

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It’s not often that you can find an affordable weekender backpack small enough to fit underneath an airline seat but Matein pulls it off with their Anti-Theft Hard Shell backpack. This backpack has an expandable main compartment so that you can master the art of one-bag travel on short trips.

Martin does a great job at providing enough internal organization for your laptop, chargers, and personal travel items. Plus the entire backpack features a hard shell construction that’s usually only reserved for suitcases. Add in a built-in anti-theft lock, external USB phone charging and a sleek compact design and you have the perfect personal item backpack.

Bag Dimensions: 17” x 10”x 6.5” (unexpanded) & 17” x 10” x 8” (expanded)

Topo Designs Rover Pack personal item backpack

7. Fjallraven Kanken 15-inch

The Fjallraven Kanken is one of the most popular backpacks on the planet right now and it’s easy to see why. Beloved by schoolchildren and traveling adults alike, the Fjallraven offers a large and roomy main compartment with full panel zipper access. This design makes the Kanken perfect for storing clothing, toiletry bags, and other travel items. Its compact size and square shape make it ideal for under-seat airline storage and the top handle makes the bag easy to grab when you are seated.

We chose to go with the slightly larger 15-inch laptop version of the Kanken for this list. Not only does it include a padded laptop sleeve (the original Kanken design does not) but despite its larger size, the Kanken 15-inch still measures under the personal item bag requirements for most airlines.

Bag Dimensions: 15.7” x 11” x 6.3”

Targus Citylite Pro personal item backpack for laptop

8. Targus CityLite Pro Compact Backpack

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If you are on the hunt for a tech backpack to store your laptop, headphones, chargers and more then the Targus CityLite Pro Compact is worth a closer look. This small backpack fits most airline personal item requirements while still packing enough punch as a functional travel bag.

Designed as a work and travel backpack the Targus CityLite Pro Compact offers clever features such as a side water bottle pocket that can be hidden when not in use, and a trolley sleeve so it can be attached to luggage and a separate laptop compartment that can be accessed from the top.

Bag Dimensions: 17.31″ x 12.60″ x 4.32″

9. SPIRE LAPTOP BACKPACK 2.0

An update to one of our best-selling backpacks, the Spire 2.0 is loaded with the features you need to help you tackle the demands of the daily grind. A water-resistant front exterior and bottom boot aid in fighting the elements. Two front pockets will keep you organized while giving quick access to your phone, wallet, sunglasses, and small items. Use the strategically placed daisy chain for attaching a bike lock, carabiners, or lights. The back panel and shoulder straps are cloaked in a padded air mesh to help you stay cool. Load it with everything you need to navigate your day.

10. Military Camouflage Personal Item Backpack

Organize all of your gadgets. The smart power brick pocket will make a recharge easy and accessible! Keep those pesky chords in check.

Travel and work-ready, the Q 2.0 will be your new favorite. Hold up to a 17″ computer in the padded laptop pocket, our biggest yet! All other daily or travel necessities will fit in the various compartments. Make your life easier.

11. Ultralight Laptop Personal Item Backpack

The Urban range has been thoughtfully curated for commuter simplicity, designed for travel and life on the go. The fresh, minimalist design brings together a clean, professional aesthetic with the high-performance protection you can always expect from Targus.

Practical and versatile, the 15.6” Urban Convertible™ Backpack protects your laptop and provides an adaptable carrying solution for whatever your day has in store. Move seamlessly from busy commuter to poised professional with tuck-away shoulder straps and sleek side handle, switching from backpack to briefcase. You can even carry it as a sling or shoulder bag using the detachable shoulder strap. With clean lines and a minimalistic interior, the pack offers essential protection and organization in a lightweight frame. A zippered front pocket is perfectly positioned for quick-grab necessities.

How to Choose the Best Personal Item Backpack

If you have read this far and didn’t love any of the backpack choices then that’s ok.

Each backpack on this list was chosen because it fits our own personal item bag requirements and you can use these same guidelines to find the right personal item backpack for you.

These requirements include:

Backpack size
Pocket accessibility
Travel features
Backpack quality

Choosing a personal item bag: travel essentials

1. Backpack Size

It’s no secret that airlines will crackdown on the size of your personal items and carry-ons, this is especially true on smaller planes and crowded flights. We made sure that each backpack on our list fits the maximum personal item bag size for most airlines.

Southwest Airlines has one of the largest personal item size limits at 18.5”x 13.5” x 8.5” while United Airlines has one of the smallest personal item bag limits at 17” x 10” x 9”. Since each airline bag requirement is different we can’t guarantee that every backpack on this list will be the right size for your next trip, but we have found that 18-inches is the average maximum height for most airline personal item bags.

When it comes to carrying capacity, backpacks under 20 liters are usually small enough to be considered a personal item with the most common size being around 18 liters. While you can’t expect to pack for an entire 2-week vacation at this capacity, it’s the perfect size to carry the essentials you will need for a comfortable flight. Travel pillows, water bottles, books, and a laptop can all comfortably fit inside an 18-20 liter backpack.

Man walking in airport with personal item backpack

2. Pocket Accessibility

Another must-have in a personal item backpack is a good pocket placement that can be easily accessed while you are seated on the flight. A personal item is meant to be stored underneath the seat in front of you and the most important items in your bag should be easily accessible.

Ideal pocket placement will be on the top and front of the bag. This allows you to grab small essentials like headphones, charging cables, and snacks without having to remove the entire backpack from underneath the seat.

Laptop accessibility is also important as you will want to be able to quickly grab or store your laptop without having to rummage through the backpack’s main compartment. Backpacks with side or top laptop access are the best options when choosing a personal item bag. It also makes going through security checks at the airport much smoother as you’ll have quicker access to your tech.

3. Travel-friendly Features

Travel-friendly features include things like trolley sleeves so that you can attach the backpack to rolling luggage, passport or ticket stash pockets, and lockable zippers. Find out which travel features you can’t live without and go with a backpack that includes as many of them as possible. This may sound like a no-brainer but it’s still worth mentioning. Getting to the airport and not having a quick pocket to stash your airline tickets is a sorry fate.

4. Backpack Quality

The final requirement we have for choosing the best personal item backpack is quality. When choosing any travel bag you want to make sure the quality is good enough to withstand the rough handling usually encountered on busy trips.

Brands with a reputation of good quality like Patagonia, eBags, and Fjallraven were sure to make our list. But we also made sure to not mention backpacks that were too cheap. We’re talking about those $20 backpacks that may get the job done but fall apart with repeated use.

You want to make sure the bag you purchase can be your go-to travel bag for years to come. This means spending a little more on brands that offer quality materials, good construction, and smart designs.

If you are looking for a versatile backpack that can also be used as a daypack once at your destination make sure to look out for high-quality materials that are water-resistant. If protecting expensive tech on your travels is important, then going with bags with extra padding in the laptop sleeve and separate fleece-lined pockets for small electronics will be your best bet.

Messenger Shoulder Backpack

Difference Between a Personal Item and a Carry-On

Is a backpack a personal item?