Backpacks might be the most underrated travel bags of the luggage world. Think about it: although they don’t roll, the ease of throwing your bag on your back and moving through the airport hands-free is severely understated. And, there are even some options out there — such as carry-on backpacks — that can hold more than a week’s worth of clothes, so you won’t even need to bring a cabin bag.

Travelers have put this Matein backpack through various trials from business trips to extended sojourns across Europe, and they describe it as a “lifesaver,” fitting a mind-boggling amount while still passing as a personal item. Even flight attendants have put it to the test, and it’s racked up over 3,500 five-star ratings on Amazon. Now is the perfect time to buy for your next trip because it’s currently 39 percent off — making it a steal at just $34.

Matein 40-liter Carry-on Backpack

Although this Matein backpack is extra-large and spacious, many people successfully use it as a personal item: it measures 20 inches tall and 13 inches wide, and it can pack out to 8 inches deep. It has so many pockets that one reviewer even reported forgetting items they packed! Among them is a 17-inch laptop sleeve, an exterior pouch for your water bottle, lots of small organizational pockets, a shoe compartment that fits multiple pairs, and a hidden zipper pocket on the back of the bag.

The backpack is also made of water-repelling, high-density nylon and built with a USB port and trolley sleeve, perfect for air travel. People say it’s their trick for avoiding airline baggage fees, especially while traveling popular budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier. “I have used it on many trips and love it more every time I use it. It has plenty of space for a long weekend and it has saved me a lot of money not having to pay for a carry-on/checked bag on budget airlines (such as Spirit),” wrote one traveler. 

“Even filled to the brim it is able to fit under the seat of the plane. So I use this as my ‘personal item’ and [am] still able to bring a carry-on item if needed,” said another Amazon reviewer, calling it the “best travel bag ever created.” 

To top it off, Travel + Leisure editors agree it’s a gem: the Matein backpack was named the best value carry-on backpack of 2024 after six months of rigorous testing both at our New York City lab and out in the real world on various trips. 

Matein 40-liter Carry-on Backpack

It’s not just travelers who love this bag; so do the pros. “If you are a flight attendant and do a lot of turns or short half-day layovers and hate pull bags, this is the bag for you,” one person wrote. Another flight attendant agreed, saying that although the backpack isn’t approved for their airline’s uniform, they vacation with it “and it has been wonderful.” 

As for how much travelers have been able to squeeze into this extra-large size, reviews are mixed. You might be able to fit a couple days or a couple weeks’ worth of clothing, depending on your packing style. One traveler fit four dresses, two pairs of shorts, two skirts, five shirts, two swimsuits, sandals, toiletries, their Kindle, charging cables, and “all the odds and ends you end up shoving in all the pockets” into theirs for an eight-day trip. Others found it to be the perfect weekender bag, with plenty of space to hold everything needed, plus extras like snacks and drinks.

The backpack comes in black, gray, green, light blue, light purple, and deep purple, as well as a smaller and larger XXL size at different price points. The least expensive option right now, however, is the discounted extra-large bag in black, while some other sizes and colors are also on sale for a little more. 

Read on for more epic deals on carry-on backpacks at Amazon.

More Deals on Carry-on Backpacks:

Lapsouno Large Travel Backpack

Lumesner 40-liter Backpack With 4 Packing Cubes

Areyteco 50-liter Expandable Backpack

Vancropak 40-liter Carry-on Backpack

Matein Rolling Carry-on Backpack

At the time of publishing, the price started at $34.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.