I’m on a constant search for some “killer app” travel items, and one of those is the optimal carry-on bag that’ll stash the things I need on the plane and/or won’t check.
- Leave Your 17 Inch Laptop Inside When Going Through Airport Security.
- Crush-Resistant Electronics Compartment.
- Expansion Zipper For More Capacity.
- Moisture-Wicking 3d Air Mesh Backpack Strap And Back Panel For Comfort.
In a given year, I probably test through a 2-3 of these a month, and while many do the job, there are few I keep on hand for my non-gear-test travel.
Let’s make it clear what I put in my bag: phone, laptop, tablet, DSLR camera and lenses, charging cables for all of that, earbuds, wallet, notebook, pens, air care kit (snack, earplugs, tissues, meds, lip balm), water bottle.
That’s a lot of stuff—especially with the hulking camera and lenses. Not all carry-on backpacks, totes, or messenger bags will fit those things, and if they do, not all those bags are comfortable to haul around.
On a recent trip, I tried out the Eagle Creek Mission Control Backpack. First, and most importantly, it fit all my gear.
Next, it’s a comfortable backpack that can be used for outdoor adventures (and isn’t just a pretty thing that is only good for carrying things from plane to hotel).
A front “crush-resistant” zippered pocket is padded and meant to protect your smaller electronics (like tablet and headphones). The other front zippered pocket has a padded pocket for your phone, pen pockets, a cord-winder pocket (to keep charging cables from getting tangled), an interior zippered pocket for small items (which includes a key fob).
The main compartment is 38-liters worth of storage space, which is plenty for all my stuff. More than enough, actually.
There’s also an expansion zipper, giving you four more liters of packing space, in case you pick up some bulky souvenirs on your travels.
The back compartment offers a padded, fleece-lined sleeve for up to a 17-inch laptop, as well as a document sleeve pocket. Eagle Creek calls that back compartment Checkpoint Friendly, because in most cases, you can just unzip it and not have to take your laptop out when you’re at an airport security checkpoint. I ran into one occasion where that was not enough for the TSA, but all other times, it worked.
The padded back has airflow channels, so your back doesn’t get super sweaty when you’re wearing the backpack for a while. It also makes the pack comfortable to wear, even when you’ve packed it full with gear.
The adjustable sternum strap and waist belt keeps you in control of the pack, although I would have loved a couple of straps to keep the load from shifting when the bag isn’t fully packed.
The backpack is covered by Eagle Creek’s No Matter What Warranty, which covers the Lifetime Warranty promise plus the added insurance of repair or replacement due to product failure during the product lifetime, regardless of the cause.
- Leave Your 17 Inch Laptop Inside When Going Through Airport Security.
- Crush-Resistant Electronics Compartment.
- Expansion Zipper For More Capacity.
- Moisture-Wicking 3d Air Mesh Backpack Strap And Back Panel For Comfort.
The Eagle Creek Mission Control Backpack comes in asphalt black and lists for $179 on the Eagle Creek site. It’s also available at Amazon.