It doesn’t take a professional to know that having reliable luggage is essential. As a full-time food and travel writer who takes more than 50 flights annually to destinations worldwide, my top priority is finding a roomy carry-on that I can effortlessly lift into overhead bins while being adaptable enough to hold everything I need.
You can spend well into the hundreds on carry-on bags and backpacks, but the sturdy and affordable Dinictis backpack is the single best I’ve tried. The bag is available in a range of colors and costs just $36.
I’ll admit that other carry-on bags might look more stylish and come in a wider array of colors. But I have yet to find one that meets my needs for durability, efficiency and affordability better than this well-designed travel bag that’s under $40 at full retail price and occasionally goes on sale for less. If you have travel plans coming up this fall, this is the carry-on you want to bring along, full stop. And don’t worry about misplacing your backpack. Simply throw in an AirTag, especially when you can get a pack of them for a superlow price too.
Read more: Traveling Soon? 5 Unique AirTag Locations for Peace of Mind
When only a backpack will do
To be clear, my backpacking days were over before they started. Without the means for serious travel before age 25, my life as a traveler didn’t kick off in earnest until I was equipped solely with roller-bag sensibilities. As an [age redacted]-year-old, when I scheduled myself for a bus trip along the coast of Peru, with overnight stays in modest accommodations, suddenly a roller bag felt kind of … well, prissy. Roller bags are decidedly inconvenient on unpaved or nontiled surfaces; plus, it’s just not a good look when the vibe is more low-brow than luxury. This wasn’t a backpacking trip by any means but a backpack was definitely called for. One that could accommodate a week’s worth of clothing, amenities and a laptop but still potentially fit in a locker.
The Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack came into my life for this particular trip, exceeding my expectations. Since that Peruvian adventure, this bag has come with me on every single trip, no matter the occasion.
A backpack that works like a suitcase
Many travel backpacks are spacious and compartmentalized but the Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack operates like a suitcase. It opens along three sides so you can flip it open like a suitcase and pack accordingly, with straps for holding your clothing in place. This makes finding what you need much easier than shoving your belongings from the top down like a typical backpack. A side handle even allows you to carry it like a suitcase.
When full, it can easily hold up to 10kg, or 22 pounds, the weight restriction for carry-on baggage for many of the discount airlines. Because it’s a backpack, nobody has ever asked to weigh it for compliance. It will always look lighter than it is.
Store your laptop with confidence
As a writer, I always travel with a laptop so I’m concerned with its portability as well as safety. That said, I hate having it pressed right up against my back, which can be stiff and, depending on where you’re going, sweaty. The laptop sleeve on this model is ideally situated near the (sweat-free) front of the pack but isn’t the most outward-facing compartment. Honestly, protected by a foam divider, the laptop feels hidden, even when packed to the gills.
Outside pockets are a must
I am team-soft-body, even in roller-bags, for two reasons. First, it’s much easier to shove last-minute items into an already zipped suitcase without the clamshell action of a hard case, and second: outside pockets. Who can travel without these? (No, I really want to know…) This backpack has two outer pocket compartments for miscellany, arguably three when considering the extra space in front of the laptop sleeve — and four if you include the handy water bottle holder. There are even compartments within the compartments. These are the sorts of details that separate the high-functioning from the holding-up-the-line travelers, in my opinion.
Read more: Essential Items to Pack and Avoid in a Carry-On Bag to Breeze Through TSA Lines
A personal item that can masquerade as checked luggage
Many travel backpacks have an infrastructure that keeps them in a certain shape, even when empty. The Dinictis model has enough structure to keep its sides afloat while you pack it, but its essence is still as a lightweight, fabric backpack. If you’ve ever been asked to prove that your carry-on actually qualifies as carry-on, you will understand that “smushability” is an important factor. I have packed this backpack for a weekend away and brought it on board as a personal item. (I will fly Spirit Airlines but I will only do it while giving them as little of my money as possible.) It can totally fit under the seat in front of you when necessary.
The beauty of this travel backpack is that it is also suitable as checked baggage, with heavy-duty fabric that can withstand the journey. The straps can be unclipped and tucked away and the body cinched by additional clips, for a tidy package that doesn’t make you feel panicky when you watch it being whisked away on the baggage conveyor.
I’ve had many trips where it leaves with me as carry-on and returns as checked luggage. Even in the lighter gray color, its durable material doesn’t reveal that it has ever seen the tread of a baggage carousel. It was the function I didn’t even know I needed but now I never travel without it for this purpose.
Read more: Best Laptop Backpack for 2025
Dinictis Travel Backpack specs
Exterior dimensions: 9.8 x 13.8 x 19.6 inches
Storage capacity: 40 liters
Weight: 2.49 pounds
Pockets: 1 exterior water bottle pocket, 2 exterior front pockets, 1 padded interior laptop pocket
Carrying handles: 1 top, 1 side
Material: Polyester and nylon
Impulse Buys Under $25 on Amazon That Make Surprisingly Great Gifts
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4.7 average rating on Amazon
You don’t even need to take it from me. The 40L Travel Backpack has thousands of five-star ratings on Amazon. As someone who reviews various products for a living, I know just how rare this kind of rating is. And now that it’s still selling for only $29, this bag is a pretty safe bet.
When will this deal expire?
There’s no way to know how long this Amazon Prime Day-holdover deal will last. However, prices on the various colors of this backpack seem to change day by day. We’d definitely recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on your color of choice if it happens to be on sale.
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