Last checked 29 October 2026. Airline rules and prices change often, so please confirm on the airline's and retailer's own pages before you buy or fly.
Choosing a carry-on backpack in Australia has got harder this year. Virgin Australia cut economy passengers to one overhead bag from 2 February 2026, and Jetstar has announced it will drop its 7kg weight limit in February 2027 in favour of a size-based system. The bag you buy now needs to survive both sets of rules.
This guide covers seven carry-on backpacks that I think are worth considering, with the measurements listed by the brands, the downsides I found and links to where to buy them. Everything here is my opinion, based on manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published customer reviews. I have also put the airline rules up front, because a bag that is a centimetre too deep is a bag you end up paying to check.
Most backpacks are sold as "carry-on size", but the airlines decide what that means. The standard overhead bag limit on the three main Australian carriers is 56 x 36 x 23cm. Weight is where they differ.
| Airline | Overhead bag size | Weight | Small bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas | 56 x 36 x 23cm | 10kg for one piece on most domestic flights. 7kg in international economy. Dash 8 services have a lower limit. | Varies by route and fare, so check your booking |
| Virgin Australia | 56 x 36 x 23cm | 8kg for one bag in economy (from 2 February 2026) | One personal item, up to 45 x 33 x 20cm, no weight limit |
| Jetstar | 56 x 36 x 23cm | 7kg combined across all items on a Starter fare, with a paid +7kg option | One small item that fits under the seat |
Jetstar has said it will remove the 7kg limit and include one underseat bag, up to 40 x 30 x 20cm and up to 10kg, with every fare. A full-size overhead bag will need Priority Carry-on, which has been reported as starting from around $23 to $25 one way. That underseat size is small. None of the full-size carry-on backpacks in this guide will fit under the seat, so if you fly Jetstar a lot, either budget for Priority Carry-on or look at a smaller daypack as your free bag.
The practical takeaway: pick a bag that is 55cm or under in height, 35cm or under in width and no deeper than 23cm when packed, and weighs 1.5kg or less empty. That leaves you real packing room under the 7kg and 8kg limits.
| Bag | Size (H x W x D) | Empty weight | Capacity | Laptop | Price I found |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey Fairview 40 | 55 x 35 x 23cm | about 1.5kg | 40L | 16in | US$200 (REI) |
| Kathmandu Litehaul Carry On 38L | 57 x 33 x 25cm | 1.42kg | 38L | 17in | A$299.98 |
| Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP35 | 52 x 31 x 20cm | 1.51kg | 35L | 16in | A$349 (RRP A$429.99) |
| Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L | 53 x 33 x 20cm | 1.44kg | 27L to 33L | 16in | A$331.97 (RRP A$459.95) |
| Aer Travel Pack 3 Small | 48 x 33 x 19cm | about 1.65kg | 28L | 16in | US$230 |
| Cotopaxi Allpa 35L | about 56 x 30 x 25cm | about 1.34kg | 35L | 15in | US$230 (REI) |
| Béis Travel Backpack | Check the product page | Check the product page | Check the product page | Yes | US$118 |
Prices are what I saw on the listed retailer on 29 October 2026. US prices exclude shipping and GST when imported to Australia.
40L | 55 x 35 x 23cm | about 1.5kg | 16in laptop sleeve | women-specific harness
The Fairview is the one bag on this list that its maker, Osprey, designs specifically around a woman's frame. The shoulder straps are angled, the hip belt is shaped for hips, and the torso length is adjustable (REI lists it as fitting 14 to 19 inches). That matters more than most people expect. A bag that sits wrong pulls on your neck by the end of a long travel day, and several reviews I read from shorter women were very positive about the fit.
The harness and hip belt zip away behind a panel, so you can gate-check it without ripping the straps. A lockable main zip, an external toiletry pocket and a front-panel clamshell opening finish it off.
38L | 57 x 33 x 25cm | 1.42kg | 17in laptop sleeve | rated 4.7 from 82 reviews
Kathmandu's Litehaul is a suitcase-style pack with a D-shaped opening, a padded 17 inch laptop sleeve and an air-mesh back. It is light for its size and comes with the practical Australian extras: stores across the country, a 60-day change-of-mind return policy and free standard shipping for members, according to its website at the time of writing.
One thing to watch. Kathmandu's listed external size is 57 x 33 x 25cm, which is a touch over the 56cm and 23cm limits on height and depth. The brand itself says to check with your airline. Because it is a soft bag, it compresses, but I would not pack it to bursting on a strict flight.
35L | 52 x 31 x 20cm | 1.51kg | 16in laptop | about A$349
Pacsafe is the brand to look at if pickpockets and bag slashers are on your mind, which is a fair worry on busy trains and in crowded markets. Pacsafe describes the EXP35 as having slash-resistant fabric, puncture-resistant lockable zips, a Dyneema-reinforced strap and an RFID-blocking pocket. I have not tested those claims myself. It is also one of the more comfortably carry-on-sized bags here at 52cm high and 20cm deep.
27L to 33L | 53 x 33 x 20cm | 1.44kg | 16in laptop | about A$332
Peak Design describes its 30L as a rugged, expandable pack with a weatherproof 400D recycled nylon shell and a tougher base. It meets carry-on size in both its compressed and expanded form, which helps if you pick things up on a trip. The big rear opening makes packing easy, and the shoulder straps tuck away under magnetic flaps.
28L | 48 x 33 x 19cm | about 1.65kg | 16in laptop | about US$230
The Aer Travel Pack 3 is a premium, structured pack in Cordura ballistic nylon with YKK zips, an internal frame sheet, load lifters and a lay-flat main compartment. Reviewers rate its comfort highly. At 48cm high it is the smallest bag here, which makes it the easiest to keep inside the limits, and it suits shorter trips and weekends away.
35L | about 56 x 30 x 25cm | about 1.34kg | 15in laptop | rated 4.8 from 2,500+ reviews at REI
The Allpa has a huge following, and it is easy to see why. The zip runs around three sides so it opens flat like a suitcase, the internal mesh pockets are well laid out, and the colour options are fun. It also comes in under 1.4kg empty.
It is worth reading the critical reviews, though. Some owners report the outer coating scuffing and wearing quickly, and a few report zip problems. A shorter woman in one review found the 35L too long for her back and missing load lifters. The listed depth of about 25cm is also over the standard 23cm limit, and one reviewer was asked to check it at the gate on two occasions.
About US$118 | trolley sleeve | check size on the product page
Béis is the brand a lot of women are searching for, and the backpack has a clean look and a luggage pass-through so it slides over a roller case. The reviews are mixed. Plenty of owners love it. Others say it is uncomfortable to carry through an airport and could use more padding in the straps and laptop area. I have left the measurements out because I could not confirm them, so check the dimensions against your airline before you buy. It may suit better as a personal item than as your main bag.
Most "carry-on backpacks" are built on a unisex frame, which can pull and sit low on a shorter torso. Measure from the bony bump at the base of your neck down to the line of your hip bones. That is your torso length. A bag with an adjustable harness, like the Fairview, gives you the most room to get it right. If you try a bag in a store, load it with about 6kg first. An empty bag always feels comfortable.
Litres tell you very little about whether a bag will pass the sizer. Look at the measured height, width and depth, and remember that a full bag bulges. Soft bags can be squeezed in, but a stiff, overstuffed one will not. As a rule, anything over 23cm deep is a risk.
If the bag weighs 1.5kg empty and your limit is 7kg, you have 5.5kg to pack. That is not much. Lighter bags give you more room, and the 40L bags only help if you will actually keep them under the limit.
A clamshell opens flat like a suitcase and makes packing and finding things far easier. Top-loaders are fine for hikers but frustrating for travel. Every bag on this list opens like a suitcase.
A padded hip belt moves weight off your shoulders. If you will be walking between stations and hotels with your bag, it makes a real difference. Look for one that tucks away so it does not catch on the conveyor belt.
If you work while you travel, a dedicated, padded laptop sleeve that you can reach without unpacking everything is worth having. Check that it fits your laptop size.
Lockable zips and a back panel that sits against you make pickpocketing harder. Zip quality is one of the most common failure points on travel bags, so read reviews that mention zips specifically.
Many carry-on backpacks are built on unisex frames, and in my experience women often end up adapting to them. I think women deserve a structured, refined carry-on backpack designed for them from the start. That is what I am building with PASSIA. It is not on sale yet, so it is not part of the list above. Our presale is planned for March 2027 and is open to Australian women first, and I will publish the full specifications and airline fit information before then.
If you would like to be first to see it, join the PASSIA waitlist.
The common overhead limit across Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar is 56 x 36 x 23cm. Virgin's personal item can be up to 45 x 33 x 20cm. Jetstar's new underseat bag, due from February 2027, is up to 40 x 30 x 20cm. Always check your airline's own page before you fly.
Yes, as long as it meets the size limit. Today you can bring a main item up to 56 x 36 x 23cm plus a small item, with 7kg combined on a Starter fare. From February 2027, an overhead bag needs Priority Carry-on, and your free bag is the 40 x 30 x 20cm underseat one.
Most women find 35L to 40L is the sweet spot for a week or more of packing, and 28L to 30L works well for shorter trips. Torso fit usually matters more than litres.
A backpack suits stairs, cobbles, trains and tight transfers. A wheeled case suits smooth airports and heavy loads. Many people who go carry-on only prefer a backpack because it counts as one bag with no wheels to carry up steps.
Sometimes. Gate staff may check size and weight, particularly on full flights and on Jetstar. A bag that is clearly inside the limits is far less likely to be queried.
It depends on the airline and the fare. Qantas allows up to 10kg on most domestic economy flights, Virgin Australia allows 8kg, and Jetstar's Starter fare allows 7kg combined for now.
This guide is general information and my personal opinion, not professional advice. Product details, prices and airline rules were taken from brand, retailer and airline pages on the date above and may have changed since. Brand and product names belong to their owners, and PASSIA is not affiliated with or endorsed by any brand mentioned.
Sources: airline carry-on pages for Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar; Jetstar's announced carry-on changes (reported 5 August 2026); retailer product pages for Kathmandu, Travel Universe, Rushfaster and REI; and customer reviews on those pages.
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