EDC and Travel Backpacks

The best backpack for everyday carry is the one sized for what you actually haul. For most people that means a laptop backpack in the 20 to 30 liter range with a padded sleeve that fits their laptop. Frequent flyers on budget airlines should check the carrier's personal-item limits first, because that number decides the bag, not the brand.

Our backpack guides compare bags on maker specs: listed capacity in liters, dimensions, laptop sleeve size, weight and materials. We also use the published policy of each airline we mention. We do not run our own lab tests, so when a spec matters, such as a carry-on dimension, we quote the maker or the airline and date it.

Start with the work and commute guide if you carry a laptop every day. Use the expandable carry-on and personal-item guides for flying. If you already own a bag, the rain-cover and sling-loadout guides help you get more out of it. Each guide links to the others, so you can move from a broad roundup to a single model, such as the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V3, without starting your search over.