Morgan Scott October 28, 2019 Women, Travel

Best Carry On Backpacks for Women: One Bag Travel for Flights

Morgan Scott October 28, 2019 Women, Travel

One bag air travel is easy with a carry on backpack. Backpacks are more comfortable to carry than heavy duffels and are usually more versatile than wheeled luggage – making them perfect for anyone who wants to travel light.

There is only one problem… and that’s fit. If you are a woman or someone with a smaller frame, you may find that many standard carry on backpacks are simply too large to wear comfortably when the bag is full. 

The solution is to go with a backpack in a women’s fit. You’ll find that carry on backpacks for women have narrower shoulder straps, adjusted bag length to accommodate shorter torsos, and have more comfortable chest and waist belt placements. 

Translation? A women’s fit backpack is going to look better and feel better than a standard carry on backpack.

In this buying guide we specifically focus on the best carry on backpacks for women. This means taking into consideration the backpack’s fit in addition to the stuff we also find important in a travel bag like size, quality and features.

Osprey Fairview 40

Buy on Osprey

eBags TLS Mother Lode Jr

Buy on Amazon

AmazonBasics Carry On Backpack

Buy on Amazon

Airline Carry On Bag Size Requirements

Backpacks make great carry on bags thanks to their comfort and versatility. But just as with personal item backpacks, it’s important that your carry on bag fits the size requirements for the airline you are going to board.

The rule of thumb for a carry on is that the bag must fit in the overhead compartment of the airplane cabin. If the bag is too large then it will be considered a check-in bag and you may be responsible for additional charges.  

Below is a chart of the most popular airlines in the United States with their maximum carry on bag size. This chart was last updated on October 2019. Make sure to check your airline’s official website for updated carry-on size requirements.

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Airline	Carry On Size
American Airlines	22″ x 14″ x 9″
Alaska Airlines	22″ x 14″ x 9″
Air Canada	21.5″ x 15.5″ x 9″
Delta	22″ x 14″ x 9″
Frontier	24″ x 16″ x 10″
JetBlue	22″ x 14″ x 9″
Southwest	24″ x 16″ x 10″
Spirit	22″ x 18″ x 10″
United Airlines	22″ x 14″ x 9″

The carry on backpacks featured here are at or below the maximum carry on size for most airlines.

Best Carry on Backpacks for Women

Osprey Fairview 40

Shop on Osprey

The Osprey Fairview 40 is our favorite carry on backpack for women thanks to its roomy 40 liter capacity, incredible quality and different sizing options that allows for the perfect fit.

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There are a few airline-friendly features on the Osprey Fairview 40 that we really like, starting with the bag’s ability to hide the shoulder straps and hip belt. This makes it less-frustrating to fit the backpack into overhead compartments by avoiding dangling straps. The padded grab handles also makes it super easy to grab the backpack from overhead compartments and carry as a duffel if needed.

Another great feature is the Fairview’s lockable zippers and compartments. The main compartment is large enough for a few days of clothes and personal items for easy-peasy one bag carry.

Size and Fit:

• Dimensions: 19.3” x 13.8” x 8”

• Capacity: 38L or 40L (depending on size)

• The Osprey Fairview is available in sizes Extra Small/Small or Small/Medium fits.

eBags TLS Mother Lode Junior

Buy on Amazon

The eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible Junior is the little sister to the full-sized eBags TLS Mother Lode. It’s the same design but with a shorter height to accommodate shorter torsos, making it a great carry on backpack option for women.

What makes this backpack special is its awesome organization. The front pocket is perfect for toiletries and small items you need quick access to while the main compartment opens up like a suitcase for easy packing. The TLS Mother Lode Junior even offers a separate laptop compartment for easy access to your work or entertainment during long flights.

Size and Fit:

• Dimensions: 19.5” x 14” x 9”

• Capacity: 41.6L

• Also available in the full sized 54L version that is carry-on safe

Eagle Creek Global Companion 40L

Buy on Amazon

Made for those who love to explore, the Eagle Creek Global Companion gives you all you need for a busy day at the airport, a day out sightseeing or an outdoor adventure all in one backpack. A women’s specific fit with narrower shoulder straps and a tilted hip belt also means you will be comfortable no matter how hectic your travels become.

Unlike the large (but awesome) 65L Global Companion, the 40 liter version is small enough to use as a carry-on on most airlines. Top and side grab handles makes it simple to store in overhead compartments and the bag even features a central lock point so you can lock your zippers for extra safety.

Size and Fit: 

• Dimensions: 21.5” x 13.75” x 8”

• Capacity: 40L

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Knack Expandable Knack Pack

Buy on Knack

The Knack Pack is an expandable multi-functional travel bag that also makes the perfect carry on backpack for women thanks to its multiple size options. The expandable feature allows you to use the Knack Pack as both a daypack and a travel pack as needed. This means less bags to carry and less hassle once you arrive at your destination.

Key features include a main compartment that opens like a suitcase, a special front stash pocket for essentials like passports and tickets and separate laptop and tablet pockets. Knack does a great job at offering a versatile backpack that can be what you need it when you need it.

Size and Fit:

• Dimensions: 19” x 12” x 9.5” (Medium Knack Pack)

• Capacity: 17-31L (Medium Knack Pack)

• Fits under airline seats and overhead compartments

AmazonBasics Carry On Travel Backpack

Buy on Amazon

For those on a tight budget, Amazon offers a great carry on backpack option under their own AmazonBasics brand. Although it’s a unisex design, the shoulder straps and back panel provide a comfortable experience for such a budget backpack. 

Some useful travel features include a spacious main compartment with a suitcase opening, separate access laptop compartment and removable shoulder straps so you can convert the backpack into a duffel or shoulder bag. Not bad for an inexpensive travel bag!

Size and Fit:

• Dimensions: 21.5” 15.8” x 8.2”

• Capacity: ~35L

• Unisex design and fit

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

Cotopaxi

The Cotopaxi Allpa is an incredibly durable and functional travel backpack that was made for life on the move. In addition to a roomy suitcase-style main compartment, the Allpa also includes padded tablet and laptop sleeves, water bottle pockets and plenty of mesh compartments to keep things organized. The backpack straps can even be tucked away for easy handling in overhead compartments on busy flights. 

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We consider the Cotopaxi Allpa one of the best carry on backpacks for women because of it’s various size options. 35 liters is perfect for most people with smaller frames, but Cotopaxi also offers different Allpa size options that are carry-on safe.

Size and Fit:

• Dimensions: 20” x 12” x 8”

• Capacity: 35L

• Available in various sizes (28L, 35L, 42L, 50L) for the perfect fit

Thule Landmark Travel Pack 40L

Buy on Amazon

What we love about the Thule Landmark is its emphasis organization. The travel pack allows for secure storage of clothing, shoes and more inside its roomy main compartment while still giving you easy-access pockets to the things you need most while traveling; passport, laptop, water bottles and more. The pocket placement on the very top of the backpack feels intuitive and makes it super easy to grab small items when the backpack is stood up the ground.

Along with easy-access pockets, the Thule is also designed for safety. The zippers are lockable and the backpack even features a hidden anti-theft pocket for important items like cash or a passport. If you are looking for one of the best carry on backpacks for women then we recommend you give the Thule Landmark 40L a closer look.

Size and Fit:

• Dimensions: 21.5” x 13” x 9.8”

• Volume: 40L

The North Face Overhaul 36

Buy on REI

The North Face Overhaul 36 is recommended for anyone who wants a large women’s backpack for travel without the suitcase style main compartment. Unlike other backpacks on this list, the Overhaul’s focus is on organizing tech and accessories while you are on the move. Alone with a TSA compliant laptop compartment, you’ll also find lots of pockets for a tablet, phone and charging cables.

As a carry on backpack for women, the North Face Overhaul 36 will fit the carry on size requirements for just about every airline while still giving you 36 liters of packing space in the main compartment and a bonus bottom compartment for shoes or dirty laundry. And a women’s fit means the backpack won’t feel uncomfortably large when it’s time to haul it around on busy travel days.

Size and Fit:

• Dimensions: 21” x 12” 7”

• Volume: 36L

• Women’s specific fit

Everlane Mover Pack

Buy on Everlane

The Everlane Mover Pack is a unisex bag made for life on the move. We like this backpack-duffel hybrid as a women’s carry on backpack because it’s incredibly roomy without being too large when worn. Inside you’ll find a spacious 45-liter capacity main compartment as well as a separate shoe compartment to keep you dirty shoes or laundry separate. Plus, the versatile hybrid design means you can wear the Mover Pack as a backpack or carry it on its side thanks to its multiple haul handles.

Size and Fit:

• Dimensions: 12” x 22” x 12”

• Capacity: 45L

• Unisex design and fit

Best Brands for Women’s Carry On Bags

This list focuses on women’s carry on backpacks but there are so many more options and it’s worth considering your options before finally settling on a carry on bag.

We like backpacks because of their hands-free carry that really makes a difference during a busy trip, but there are also tons of other options out there like duffel bags, wheeled carry on luggage and large convertibles that give you the best of both worlds.

Below are some of our favorite brands for women’s carry on bags. We chose these brands because they have lots of options for women-specific fits or because they offer smaller versions of already popular carry ons. 

eBags

eBags is an online retailer that specializes in backpacks and bags for every occasion. Their own eBags brand of backpacks and bags have become popular in the travel space because of their intuitive designs and good quality. If shopping for a women’s specific fit, eBags offers “Junior” versions of their popular travel bag styles as well as a variety of other styles to choose from.

Osprey Packs

We recommend Osprey Packs to anyone looking for a durable travel backpack with a women’s specific fit as they have a variety of bag options to choose from. Osprey is known for their speciality outdoor backpacks for hiking, backpacking and travel and do a great job at providing enough size variety to accommodate a wide range of body types.

Cotopaxi

Like Osprey, Cotopaxi is a brand that specializes in travel bags and gear. The brand offers many of their popular styles in various sizes to accommodate different body types and carry styles. Along with the carry on backpack styles on this list, Cotopaxi has many more bag styles for traveling when size constrictions are not an issue.

What sets Cotopaxi apart from other brands is their commitment to doing good. With each sale Cotopaxi donates 1% of the profits towards addressing poverty and supporting community development around the world.

 

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