Just In: The New Generation of Carry-On Backpacks

At Canada Luggage Depot, we've just brought in four of the best carry-on backpacks for 2026, each from a brand we trust and each built for a different kind of traveller. Here's your first look.

The rolling suitcase had a good run. But a new generation of travellers is boarding planes with backpacks on their backs and not a checked bag in sight. Carry-on backpacks have evolved dramatically over the past few years, moving from bulky hiking packs to sleek, travel-engineered designs that fit overhead bins, organize like a dream, and carry everything you need for a week on the road.

Can you use a backpack as a carry-on? Absolutely. In fact, for many travellers, it's the smartest move you can make. A well-designed travel backpack fits within most airline carry-on size allowances, moves faster through airports than any wheeled bag, and slides under the seat in front of you as a personal item when sized right. The key is choosing a bag that's purpose-built for travel, not just a hiking pack pressed into service.

At Canada Luggage Depot, we've just brought in four of the best carry-on backpacks for 2026, each from a brand we trust and each built for a different kind of traveller. Here's your first look.

What Size Backpack Is Allowed on Planes?

Before diving into the bags, it's worth answering this question clearly. Most major airlines allow carry-on bags up to approximately 55 x 40 x 23 cm (22 x 16 x 9 inches), though this varies by airline and class of service. For carry-on backpacks specifically, bags in the 30L to 45L range generally fall within these limits when packed properly. Anything under 25L typically qualifies as a personal item that fits under the seat. Always check your specific airline's policy before flying, as budget carriers in particular tend to be stricter. The four bags below are all designed with airline travel in mind.

#1: Samsonite Silhouette 18 Travel Backpack — Best for the Business Traveller

If you want a carry-on backpack that looks as polished in a boardroom as it does in an airport, the Samsonite Silhouette 18 is your bag. This is carry-on backpack design done with Samsonite's signature elegance: clean lines, a refined silhouette, and thoughtful organization that keeps your laptop, documents, and daily essentials in order without bulk.

The Silhouette 18 is built for the traveller who moves between cities for work and wants one bag that handles everything from the flight to the meeting. It features a dedicated laptop compartment, organized front pockets for accessories and documents, and a streamlined profile that looks nothing like a hiking pack. Backed by Samsonite's world-renowned build quality and over a century of luggage expertise, this is the best carry-on backpack in Canada for the professional traveller who refuses to compromise on style.

Shop the Samsonite Silhouette 18 Travel Backpack

#2: The North Face Base Camp Voyager Pro Travel Pack — Best for the Adventure Traveller

The North Face needs no introduction. For decades, the Base Camp line has been synonymous with legendary durability and performance in the most demanding conditions on the planet. The Base Camp Voyager Pro brings that same iconic toughness to the travel backpack category, and the result is one of the most rugged carry-on backpacks for flights we've ever carried.

The Voyager Pro is constructed from The North Face's signature Base Camp material: a heavyweight, water-resistant fabric that has proven itself from Patagonia to the Himalayas and everywhere in between. It's built to take the kind of abuse that travel dishes out, whether that's being shoved into an overhead bin, dragged across cobblestones, or caught in a sudden downpour. For adventurous travellers, weekend warriors, and anyone who wants a carry-on backpack Canada can trust in genuinely tough conditions, the Voyager Pro is the one to beat.

Shop the North Face Base Camp Voyager Pro Travel Pack

#3: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack — Best for the Conscious Traveller

Cotopaxi is one of the most exciting outdoor and travel brands of the last decade, built on a mission of using business as a force for good. Every Cotopaxi product is designed with sustainability at its core, using recycled and repurposed materials wherever possible, and the Allpa 35L is no exception. If you want a carry-on backpack that aligns with your values without sacrificing performance, this is it.

The Allpa 35L is available in multiple colours including Cotopaxi Black, and its distinctive, adventurous palette makes it one of the most recognizable travel packs on the market. But it's what's inside that really sets it apart. The Allpa features a fully clamshell-opening main compartment that lays completely flat, making it as easy to pack and access as a suitcase. Inside, a thoughtfully designed organization system keeps clothing, tech, and accessories in separate, clearly defined zones so you always know exactly where everything is. At 35L it sits perfectly within most airline carry-on size limits, making it a genuine one-bag travel solution for trips of any length.

Shop the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

#4: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L — Best for the One-Bag Traveller

Peak Design makes some of the most obsessively engineered travel gear in the world, and the Travel Backpack 45L is their masterpiece. It's the best carry-on backpack in 2026 for anyone committed to one-bag travel, and for good reason: this bag does things no other travel backpack on the market can do.

The outer shell is constructed from an ultra-durable, weatherproof 400D recycled nylon canvas that resists tears, abrasions, and the elements with equal composure. It feels rugged in the best way possible — the kind of material that only looks better with use. But the real magic is in the design. The Peak Design Travel Backpack expands to a full 45L gear-hauler when you need the capacity for a longer trip, and compresses down to a sleek 35L day bag when you want to travel lighter. That range makes it genuinely unmatched for one-bag travel, handling everything from a week-long international trip to a day of exploring a new city with the same bag, the same straps, and zero compromises.

The organization system is equally impressive, with multiple access points, a dedicated laptop sleeve, camera compartment compatibility, and a thoughtful layout that makes packing feel intuitive rather than frustrating. If you're asking what the best carry-on backpack for flights is and you travel frequently and hard, this is the answer.

Shop the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

Which Carry-On Backpack Is Right for You?

Here's a quick guide to help you decide:

The Samsonite Silhouette 18 is your pick if you travel for business, want a polished professional look, and need a bag that transitions seamlessly from airport to office.

The North Face Base Camp Voyager Pro is your pick if durability is your top priority and you want legendary Base Camp toughness in a travel-ready format.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is your pick if you want suitcase-style organization, a sustainable brand story, bold colours, and a bag that carries your values as well as your gear.

The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is your pick if you're a committed one-bag traveller who wants the most versatile, best-engineered carry-on backpack on the market, full stop.

All four are available now at Canada Luggage Depot. The era of the rolling suitcase isn't over, but for a growing number of Canadian travellers, the carry-on backpack has become the smarter way to fly.