Flying with a carry-on suitcase is convenient. However, only until you step off the plane and head into the streets, where cobblestones, potholes, and curbs are already waiting for the wheels. Dragging a suitcase behind you all day is also unthinkable. So, is there a practical alternative?
Standard dimensions for carry-on luggage, accepted by most airlines, are 55 x 40 x 20 cm (height, width, depth). Most carry-on suitcases meet these dimensions and have a volume of around 40 liters. However, if you take a 40-liter hiking backpack on a plane (e.g., Deuter Futura PRO 40), it will be too tall and unnecessarily narrow for the allowed cabin dimensions. You will put in quite a bit of effort to squeeze it into the required dimensions, if it is even possible. Of course, you can take any smaller backpack, but then you lose available space. Fortunately, many manufacturers have realized this dilemma and started producing cabin backpacks. What are they?
Cabin backpacks make your travel easier
Cabin backpacks are made according to standard carry-on dimensions, which is why they are shorter and wider than hiking backpacks of the same volume. They use durable materials and lightweight designs, so they save you weight for often strict weight limits (e.g., CabinZero Classic is more than half as light as the aforementioned Deuter Futura PRO 40). Cabin backpacks also have many handles for comfortable handling and a minimum of elements that could get in the way (or these elements can be hidden).
Regarding comparison with carry-on suitcases, besides the fact that you can carry them on your back, cabin backpacks are also significantly lighter (up to three times) and much more adaptable: unlike suitcases, you can squeeze (compress) them, so they meet even stricter airline requirements. You don't have to worry too much about whether your luggage will fit all future flights.
In this article, we will look at four models that we consider to be among the best:
CabinZero – Stylish minimalism
Backpacks from CabinZero stand out for their lightness and simplicity. Inside one spacious compartment, there is plenty of space, and thanks to the long zipper, you can open it wide, which makes packing and unpacking very easy. In the compartment, you will find three pockets: a deep one that can fit a larger laptop, a wide zippered one, and an open mesh one, perhaps for a boarding pass. A large outer pocket is also located on the front. Four external compression straps tighten the backpack if it is not fully loaded and secure the load inside. The backpack has a handle on the side and top, which facilitates handling and allows for versatile carrying.
High-quality YKK zippers can be locked 
CabinZero is even produced in three versions. In addition to the standard CabinZero Classic, all adventurous travelers will also be interested in CabinZero Military, which is additionally equipped with padded ventilated back, padded shoulder straps, has an adjustable waist and chest strap, and a side bottle pocket. Military is made of durable nylon, so it is resistant to tearing, cutting, and abrasion. Both versions can be purchased in three sizes 44, 36, and 28 liters, so you won't be caught off guard by any airline's limits. The last version is CabinZero Vintage, which is a design variation of the classic version. Its characteristic features are a bottom overlay made of artificial leather and a patch on the front panel.
Lowe Alpine AT Carry-On – Ingenious versatility
Another exceptional piece from the world of cabin backpacks is the AT Carry On-45 from Lowe Alpine. It is luggage that combines three in one: you can carry it in your hand as a bag (by the side handle), over your shoulder after attaching a shoulder strap, or pull out the hidden padded straps and turn it into a practical backpack in an instant. Inside the 45-liter compartment are compression straps with buckles, with which you can evenly distribute the load and fix it so that it does not shift during travel. Inside you will find a wide mesh pocket, and the backpack is also equipped with a separate spacious laptop pocket, which is accessible by a zipper from the side. The advantage of a separate entrance is that when airport security asks you to present and turn on your laptop, you don't have to unpack the entire backpack.
The outer zippered pocket on the front panel and the second one from the top serve to store 
small items or a boarding pass. On the side, there is a stretch pocket, e.g., for a bottle. The lockable zipper is immune to forced opening with a sharp object. The zipper is long enough so that it can be unzipped along the length of both sides and packed and unpacked comfortably. YKK zippers are equipped with long and wide pulls for easy handling. Also practical is the removable name tag. The backpack also has eight external loops for attaching additional cargo.
At Carry On is also produced in a lightweight version AT Lightflite Carry-On 45, which weighs only 800 grams. Inside you will not find a laptop pocket or a zippered pocket on the front panel, otherwise, all elements are preserved. The standard version is made of strong durable fabric, the lightweight one of light but reliable fabric with rip-stop stitching, so it will not continue to tear in case of a puncture.
Osprey Farpoint – Practical comfort
The same backpack-bag-tote concept is also used by the cabin backpack Two sturdy handles and two pairs of compression straps (external and internal) make the backpack a practical travel companion.
Osprey Farpoint 40 II you will appreciate thanks to its superior back system, especially if you will be carrying the backpack on your back for a long time. It is thus an ideal choice for all low-cost travelers and adventurers.
Thule Subterra – Functional elegance
The fourth cabin backpack we will introduce to you is Thule Subterra 40 l. With its dimensions of 55 x 35 x 21 cm and a volume of 40 liters, it is legitimate cabin luggage. Again, it combines a backpack, a bag, and a tote (padded shoulder straps can be hidden and a comfortable shoulder strap attached). The backpack also has a separate padded laptop sleeve with a tablet pocket and electronics organizer, which can be inserted entirely into a spacious pocket accessible from the outside. In one piece of luggage, Subterra 40 thus combines four different ones. The backpack is equipped with three handles, so storing it in the overhead bin above the seat will be no problem for you.
The large internal space is fully accessible through a wide zipper and has its own mesh divider, which ensures that the backpack does not spill out after opening. Another very useful feature is the compartment for shoes or dirty laundry accessible from the outside. You can store your boarding pass, power bank, and other small items in a wide pocket with a zippered mesh pocket and a key clip. The shoulder straps are equipped with an adjustable chest strap. 
Behind the strap for attachment to a suitcase telescopic handle is hidden a security pocket for documents. For the water-repellent material of the backpack, light rain is no problem. Thule Subterra 40 l is thus a truly sophisticated piece of luggage that will surely appeal to you with its variability, emphasis on functionality, and high quality.
For air travel, cabin backpacks are a practical alternative to carry-on suitcases. They will be preferred especially by travelers who want to be on the move with their things, appreciate lightness, and like freedom. Cabin backpacks will be useful both for weekend city visits and business trips, as well as for low-cost foreign tourism. Last but not least, they will find their use even outside the clouds: for their simplicity, ingenuity, large internal space, and compact dimensions.
