Travel Backpack, TSA Carry On/Personal Item Bag Flight Approved

As a frequent traveler who loves the freedom of carry-on-only trips, I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect backpack that balances space, organization, and durability without breaking the bank. After much research and deliberation, I was torn between the tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L and a Nomatic backpack. I ultimately chose the Tomtoc, and after using it for multiple week-long vacations, I can confidently say I have zero regrets. This bag is an absolute game-changer for run-and-gun travelers like me. The tomtoc 40L is a carry-on traveler’s dream, offering an impressive amount of space while staying within most airline size restrictions. I’ve packed this backpack for several 5- to 7-day trips, and it’s never let me down. The 40L capacity is perfect for a week’s worth of essentials, including clothes, shoes, toiletries, and tech gear. On my last trip, I easily fit five days’ worth of outfits (including a pair of sneakers), a toiletry kit, my 16-inch MacBook Pro, iPad, chargers, and a slew of accessories. The clamshell-style main compartment opens like a suitcase, making packing and unpacking a breeze, and the ability to access the main compartment through the laptop section is a genius touch for grabbing items quickly during TSA security checks. What sets this backpack apart is its incredible organization. The tomtoc is loaded with sleeves and pockets that keep everything neatly sorted. The dedicated tech compartment is a standout, featuring a padded laptop sleeve that securely holds my 15-inch MacBook Air and a separate tablet sleeve for my iPad. There’s also a pocket for chargers, cables, and smaller tech accessories. The top front pocket is perfect for quick-access items like my passport, boarding pass, and sunglasses, while the side pockets are ideal for a water bottle or other items. For toiletries like deodorant, hair products, and a travel-sized toothbrush, I use the front zip pocket or a small toiletry bag in the main compartment, and everything stays organized and accessible. (There are so many zippers but it’s not excessive). The build quality is another reason I’m so impressed with this bag. Made from water-resistant recycled fabric and equipped with sturdy YKK zippers, it feels durable and premium despite its budget-friendly price (well under $100, compared to the $250-$350 Nomatic bags I considered). I’ve taken it on multiple flights, including a Ryanair trip where size compliance is strict, and it fit perfectly in the overhead bin or under the seat when compressed. The material shows no signs of wear after several trips, and the water resistance has saved my gear during unexpected light rain. The eco-friendly aspect of using recycled PET fabric is a nice bonus, making me feel good about my purchase. Comfort is critical for a travel backpack, and the tomtoc delivers here too. The padded shoulder straps and breathable back panel make it comfortable to carry, even when fully loaded (I’ve had it up to about 15-20 lbs). The contoured straps and sternum strap distribute weight evenly, and the luggage pass-through strap is a lifesaver for sliding the bag onto my rolling suitcase during long airport walks. My only minor gripe is the lack of a hip belt, which would help with heavier loads on extended carries, but for most trips, I haven’t found this to be a dealbreaker. Compared to the Nomatic 40L, which I considered for its sleek design and organizational features, the tomtoc offers nearly identical functionality at a fraction of the cost. The Nomatic’s internal water bottle pocket and detachable waist strap were tempting, but the tomtoc’s spacious compartments, TSA-friendly laptop sleeve, and overall value won me over. The tomtoc’s minimalist yet stylish design also gets compliments—friends have mistaken it for a much pricier brand like Pakt. In short, the tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L is a run-and-gun traveler’s dream. It’s versatile enough for business trips, weekend getaways, or week-long adventures, with ample space and smart organization for clothes, tech, and toiletries. The durable construction, comfortable design, and TSA-friendly features make it a reliable companion, and the price-to-value ratio is unbeatable. I highly recommend this backpack to anyone looking for a carry-on that can handle it all without the premium price tag. tomtoc nailed it with this one, and it’s become my go-to travel companion for every journey.

Great backpack, plenty of room without being overpowering. I put 4 pair of pants, 5 sweaters, and a toiletry bag in there and it fit comfortably (without packing cubes). I probably could’ve stuffed a couple more things in there to max it out. I was able to sling it over my shoulder and it was comfortable enough to move around with. For me this could easily accommodate a 4 day trip along with electronics in the padded pockets. Documents can also be put in the padded pockets. The top pocket fit my wallet, passport, keys and AirPods comfortably. This bag is my new favorite travel companion! Worth every penny for what you get in return. Material is durable and sturdy, padding is comfortable and breathable. This bag can probably be used as an everyday backpack for work since the compression straps/clips make it smaller without clothing inside. This is ideal for a one or two day business trip!

This travel bag has been a reliable companion for two years, accompanying me on two-week European excursions and numerous week-long domestic trips across the United States. It has consistently met airline carry-on and personal item requirements without issue. The zippers and overall construction demonstrate exceptional quality, with no signs of rips or loose threads, attesting to its durability. The bag features convenient front and rear access, with two dedicated laptop sleeves. Its comfortable straps effectively distribute weight, even during extended wear. Ample storage is provided through a large front pocket and a smaller top pocket. Notably, Ryanair accepted this bag as a personal item without additional charges or requiring it to be measured. For a male traveler, the bag comfortably accommodates: * Laptop and charger * Book * One pair of jeans * Two pairs of basketball shorts * One pair of pajamas * One pair of swimming shorts * Seven shirts * A selection of socks and boxers * A generously sized toiletries bag * Medications

this is a nice product, well made, good value for money. it's not quite "high end" or designer, but it's a solid backpack, looks pretty good, and perfect for 2 day trip.

I recently traveled from the Big Island of Hawaii to Sedona, and since I didn’t want to check in any luggage, I decided to travel with just my carry-on suitcase and this backpack that I ordered. In conclusion, I really like this backpack. When packing, it opens wide like a duffel bag, which made it easy to organize my things. There’s another compartment where I could safely store my laptop. I was able to fit quite a lot of clothes inside. It got heavy when fully packed, but once I fastened the chest strap, it felt much more comfortable to carry. The size was perfect for a carry-on and fit easily under the seat in front of me, so I didn’t even need to use the overhead bin. After getting off the plane, I could slide the backpack over the handle of my carry-on suitcase using the pass-through strap, which was really convenient. It also has a side handle, so I could carry it like a duffel bag if I wanted. In Sedona, I used it for hiking—it was great for carrying my camera, jacket, snacks, and lunch. I thought it might be a little big at first, but the external buckles and straps allowed me to adjust the size and make it more compact. I’m really glad I bought this backpack. I chose the black one, and I love the design—it looks really stylish. Next year, I plan to travel to California, and I’ll definitely bring this backpack again along with my carry-on suitcase. I don’t want to pay extra to check in luggage anymore!

After 6 months and some rough and tumble use, it shows no sign of wear or worn stitching, which for me is the most important thing. The inner tech sleeve is more than ample with a well padded sleeve, amother for a tablet (or smaller laptop), and a compartment for all your charging gear. Main compartment is deep, accessable through either a duffel style zipper in the front or from the inner tech sleeve, and a passport compartment on the top. And that's pretty much it. Not a lot of organization or compartments or mechanisms to hide your straps, it's just a simple bag made for traveling with easy access, which is fine by me. If you're on the road 30 weeks out of the year or you're going to 1 bag it through Europe, you might want a higher end piece of kit, but for the occasional traveller it's a solid bag that won't let you down.

Excellent weekend backpack. I was using a small carryon for weekend trips but I picked this up and it’s fantastic. Rugged, roomy, versatile inside. Just enough pockets and great padded laptop and tablet area keeps tech safe and sound. Great value, too.

really like the backpack, especially for travel. The 40L capacity is perfect for a weekend trip or a week-long getaway if you pack light. The TSA-friendly design makes going through airport security incredibly smooth since the laptop compartment lays flat. It has excellent organization with plenty of pockets, and the build quality feels durable and weather-resistant. The shoulder straps are comfortable even when it is fully loaded. Highly recommend!

Have it for 2 years now, and strong as the first day. Only the top handle is now showing a bit of "use" and starting to open a bit, hope it still holds. The usage I give: LOTS! My main bag for my gym and work, plus lots of flying as well.

Excelente producto, me impresionó bastante la calidad. Esperaba ciertas fallas leyendo los comentarios de baja calificación, pero honestamente he inspeccionado a detalle la mochila y la he usado, y estoy gratamente sorprendido y completamente satisfecho. La calidad de los materiales y la construcción es muy buena. No hay hilos sueltos, costuras chuecas ni detalles ocultos de baja calidad. La mochila se ve bastante robusta y nunca hubiera esperado este nivel de atención al detalle por el precio (pagué $1510 MXN con una oferta). Los tirantes son cómodos y amplios, la mochila tiene buen soporte para la espalda, y los cierres, correas, agarraderas y broches se sienten muy bien y de buena calidad. En cuanto a aspectos a mejorar, me gustarían principalmente 5 cambios: forro interior de color claro para que sea más fácil acomodar y buscar cosas, bolsillos para botella más profundos, cierres para candado en el compartimento principal (sí los tiene en el de la laptop), y microfibra suave en el bolsillo de la laptop y la tablet. Por último, un logo más discreto (más pequeño y de menor contraste). A pesar de estos puntos, le doy 5/5 porque la verdad para este precio es una gran opción, nunca esperaría algo mejor por este precio, y la verdad tiene todas las características que buscaba: una mochila amplia, cómoda, versátil y de buena calidad que pueda usar para viajar con mi laptop, cámara, y ropa. Vi versiones de la mochila en verde y azul/gris que traen el forro interior claro y el logo pequeño, y no sé si traigan otras mejoras, pero salían cerca de $1900 y tampoco creo que la diferencia lo valga para mí, finalmente es cambiar el color del forro, ni siquiera el material. Mientras que el modelo T67 trae algunas de estas cosas, pienso que no es ideal porque trae menor ventilación de la espalda, la correa para maleta en vertical, y unas cintas MOLLE medio extrañas en la parte de abajo. En general creo que me gusta más el modelo T66 y por eso compré ese. Recomiendo mucho probar este producto y me quedo con curiosidad de comprar otras cosas de la marca, o ver si en algún momento sacan la versión mejorada con los cambios que mencioné.

An excellent bag. I used it as carry on for an international holiday last month and regularly use it on its own for weekend local trips. It's spacious and well made. No hip strap, but the the chest strap makes it comfortable and stable when walking more than a few kilometers with a heavy-ish load. Overall, I'm very pleased with the purchase.

good quality

Bag is comfortable, premium finish, and with sufficient storage space.