What do you need when you’re preparing to hit the skies? Good food and leg room? Think about something you can control. This is one of the broadest categories, as carry-ons need to cover travel, work, play and still fit in an overhead bin. Bags in this space generally fall into a business vibe, adventure vibe, or a relaxed weekender vibe, so it’s important to know what will resonate with you. We generally don’t dig hard cases for carry-on, as they don’t shape and squeeze into tight or slightly irregular spaces. Occassionally, we make exception though for those who don’t need too much versatility.In this category, we’re seeing more personality and options than ever, which might make it tricky to pick a favorite. But go on, you know you want to… You have two votes to use as you will… Allocate your 1st choice with 2 points And your 2nd choice just with the 1 point. Note: any votes made over the allotted limit will be wiped from the voting tally.

Rimowa Topas Stealth Cabin Trolley IATABecause you’ll look like The Boss. Small wheeled cases generally look a bit dorky, but this thing is Keyser Soze, secretly coordinating the world’s entire underground everything. It has more presence than a B-52. It doesn’t have to squeeze into spaces, as spaces will reshape themselves for this. Here’s a bag that asks for very few compromises from you. It looks good in almost any setting, it maximises your carry on space, it can swap between single strap or backpack carry, and it has pocketing for almost anything you’ll carry. While nominated last awards, the bag has been updated for faster conversion and more nailed details. Timbuk2 Aviator Travel Backpack Half way between a business carry-on and an adventure travel pack, the Aviator uses flexible and sensible zones to help you organise your one bag travel. Straps can all tuck away for checking in, there’s a solid waist belt for helping with the load, a rain cover, and you have zones for shoes, tech, laptop and clothing.

Tom Bihn Synapse 25 This is small capacity for a carry-on, which means it works better as an overnighter only, or a supplement to check in luggage. Great organising, excellent build quality, and incorporates the modular system for hanging laptops, tablets and tech. Who’s to argue with taking one of the most respected carry ons available (and last year’s Carry Awards winner), and stripping back the tactical thing for more subtlety. All the ruggedness of the GR2, but with a more minimalist vibe. Raising over $340K on a goal of $30k wasn’t a bad start for this Kickstarter launch, with a convertible carry-on that tries to always have you covered. The patterning is sophisticated, the organising features are resolved and it sports a seam-sealed rain cover included as standard. This looks like a bag from a much more mature company than it is. Osprey Ozone Convertible 22“ Being able to swap between wheeling or carrying sounds awesome, but hybrid packs have generally suffered from being too heavy or awkward to bother with.

The Ozone finally gets this equation right, through hard work and evolution. Weighing 6lbs (2.75kg) with its added zip-on backpack, this bag is light even when compared to pure wheeled cases. Refined pattern work, just enough features, and a convertible system that doesn’t need a rocket scientist, this is Osprey at their best. – VOTING HAS NOW CLOSED – There is loads of great carry-on getting around, as this is a category that people care about. targus bex 16 laptop backpackRed Oxx has big fans, and awesome organizing, but for us the generic handles and fussy look just slide them out of the core group. quicksmart backpack strollerThe Arc’teryx Covert is an awesome bag for a specific set of needs. red oxx backpack review

Briggs & Riley are building some great kit worth a check. It’s been great to see the SLICKS pack return, which is an excellent carry on option. And lots of our work backpacks would be right at home in this category also.I recently decided to try out the whole “digital nomad” thing. I’m planning on traveling to Thailand later this year and essentially bouncing around Southeast Asia. I’ve been gearing up for this trip for over 6 years. Traveling around the world is one of my main goals in life. I can go into the whole tangent about the “Things I want to do before I die,” but that has nothing to do with this article. If you yourself are a digital nomad, then feel free drop some knowledge on me.Prior to leaving, I’ve been stressing out over selecting the best backpack my money can buy. One of the most important things I hear other travelers talk about is having a good great backpack. You basically want something that will last you for years to come. I personally like to buy products for life.

You might think stressing over a backpack is silly. Why not go to a local retail store and simply get a cheap one, right? Well, the problem is that a travel backpack is nothing like a school backpack (which is mostly what you will find at your local stores). I’m essentially bringing everything I need in one backpack for months on end.One of my main goals is not to look like a tourist. I’m fully aware of locals who prey on tourists. Whenever they look up at that huge goofy backpack, which is actually intended for hiking and camping, all they see is opportunity. I’m not saying everybody is like this, but most natives are. They know you don’t know your way around town and that you’re still trying to figure out the conversion rate. It’s easy money and they see no shame in it.You never really want to give the “I’m a tourist” vibe to the locals. You should never wear flashy clothes, expensive jewelry, or show off your expensive gadgets. You should try to fit in and not draw any attention to yourself.

Apart from the way you dress, your backpack should be low-key.For most airlines, the biggest carry-on size is 45 liters. Anything bigger than that completely defeats the entire purpose of traveling lightly. Many digital nomads, entrepreneurs, and backpackers tend to only bring items that are absolutely essential. Their backpacks are mainly used for holding all of their gear (camera, laptop, cords, headphones, e-reader, etc.), clothes (t-shirts, pant, shorts, socks, underwear, shoes, jackets, etc.), and toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, floss, etc.).Since your backpack will be with you almost all the time, you should strongly consider spending a bit more money for higher quality. Your backpack should be comfortable, low profile, have different features, be big enough to fit all of your things, made out of strong materials, and basically be free of nonsense.Based on my research for the past 3 weeks, I managed to narrow my choices down to five backpacks. I’ve read tons of articles on this subject, scrolled endlessly through different travel forums, and read tons of reviews on Amazon.

I tend to trust people who put their money where their mouth is. So without further ado, here’s my list of the best backpacks for those of us who are running around the world.This backpack is 38 liters, so you have more than plenty of space for your possessions. It offers tie down straps for your clothing so you won’t have to deal with crumpled and gross looking clothes. It also has a great variety of ways to carry it. It can be rolled like a suitcase, carried like a messenger bag or held on tight like a backpack so you’ll be able to use your hands while you’re on the go. The best part about this bag is that it’s completely handmade, which means you know it’s high quality.First and foremost, I would like to inform you that this backpack is currently sold out. Its estimated in-stock date is May, 2014. If you’re not leaving soon, I would strongly advice you to wait until it becomes available.Tortuga is a world-leader in travel bags. This bag offers everything you need while you’re traveling.

Think about this, a bag that you do not need to check (saving you money and time), a bag that you don’t need to fully unpack to get what you need (saving you time), and a bag that can actually carry everything you need. It’s basically a boss.When you’re looking for a backpack, let’s face it. The style of the pack has to match yours. The design of the Synapse 25 is aesthetically pleasing and looks like a regular student backpack. Tricking people into thinking you’re student is way better than looking like a tourist.There are plenty of other reasons to love this bag. It’s one of the most lightweight bags that you’ll find on the market today, it’s actually under two pounds (1 lb 11 oz). You can add extra compartment and accessories when you checkout, so that will obviously add more weight to it. Another great feature that I love is that it has a place to keep your water bottle (gotta stay hydrated), and it doesn’t dig into your back while you’re walking around.If you’re looking for the perfect backpack that covers all of your needs, you may not have to look any further than the REI Vegabond.

This backpack comes in two different colors, red and black. Every pocket, including your water bottle pocket, can be fully zipped so nothing will ever get lost. This backpack also offers 36L of space. The only downside is that this backpack does not have a laptop compartment (I know for most people, that ‘s a deal breaker).I’m going to catch a lot of flack for saying this, but I think it’s true. If Apple were to design backpacks, the GR 1 and 2 would be the results. This backpack will never let you down. It offers an incredible amount of storage space, while still being small enough to use as your carry on. Let’s face it, none of us like big bulky bags that are hard to carry around, and this is the perfect solution.The GR1 and GR2 both have a sexy design, can withstand over 400 lbs of stress, and have a lifetime guarantee. Unlike other companies GoRuck will not ask you for a receipt or date of purchase, they recognize their own products. I’m not making this up, check out their website.