I've Got the Whole World...In My Pack

The perfect bag for any trip: how to travel with a carry-on-sized bag 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 daypack or seperate small backpack.

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. (Hint: With soft-sided bags, you can get away going over by a few inches, since you can squish them into acceptable-looking dimensions.)

(The bags featured below 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 (40L–60L)

Wheeled bags
22" Traverse Pro with removable daypack 22" x 14" x 8.5" 6 lb, 10 oz (42L) » Details	High Sierra AT6 Carry On Wheeled Backpack with removable daypack 22 x 14" x 8" 8 lb, 9 oz (50L) » Details	eBags Mother Lode TLS Mini 21" Wheeled Duffel 21.5 x 15" x 9" 8 lb, 11oz (45L) » Details
Backpacks (no wheels)
Eagle Creek Rincon 65L Travel Backpack 25.2" x 13.39" x 9.65" 5 lb, 8 oz (65L) » Details	eBags Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible 22" x 14" x 9" 3 lb, 15 oz (54L) » Details	Pacsafe Venturesafe Anti-Theft Adventure Travel Pack 22.4" x 14.6" x 9.4" 2 lb, 14 oz (50L) » Details

SLIGHTLY LARGER BAGS (55L+)

25" Traverse Pro Main bag: 25" x 17" x 10" Daypack: 20" x 13" x 6" Total: 9 lb 8 oz (86L) » Details

Eagle Creek Switchback Max 25" Rolling Backpack Main bag: 25" x 14" x 10.5" Daypack: 20" x 12" x 8" Total: 10 lb, 6 oz (76L) » Details

Eagle Creek Rincon 90L Travel Backpack Main bag: 30" x 12" x 14" Daypack: 18" x 11" x 6" Total: 5 lb 11 oz (93L) » Details

COMPACT BAGS (Under 45L)

19" Traverse Pro (w/removable daypack) 19" x 14" x 7.5" 6 lb, 9 oz (37L) » Details

Victorinox Werks Traveler 4.0 WT 20 Wheeled Carry-On 20 x 15 x 9" 7 lb, 1 oz (44L) » Details

GoLite TraveLite Wheeled Carry-on 22" x 14.5" x 7" 5lb, 2 oz (36L) » Details