Snag This $32 Carry-On Backpack – Your Ultimate Flight Companion During MLK Sales!

Searching for an excellent travel backpack that is cheaper than the additional baggage charges? As a culinary and travel journalist, I travel more than 50 times each year, and I can firmly state: This $32 Dinictis backpack is the finest travel accessory I have ever possessed, and it’s on sale during this weekend’s MLK Day promotions.

Some carry-on bags might be more stylish, and some come in a wider range of colors, but I contend that none are more durable, practical, or more affordably priced than this travel bag under $40. If you have plans to travel in 2025, here’s why I adore this backpack and wholeheartedly endorse it.

When a backpack is necessary

To clarify, my days of backpacking were over before they even started. Lacking the financial means for substantial travel before the age of 25, my journey as a traveler didn’t truly begin until I was armed solely with roller-bag sensibilities. As a [age redacted]-year-old, when I planned a bus trip along the coast of Peru, with overnight stays in humble lodgings, suddenly rolling luggage seemed kind of… well, fussy. Roller bags are notably impractical for uneven or unpaved surfaces, plus, it doesn’t present a favorable appearance when the atmosphere is more casual than luxurious. This was no backpacking expedition by any stretch, but a backpack was certainly warranted. One that could hold a week’s worth of attire, essentials, and a laptop while still possibly fitting into a locker.

The Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack entered my life for this specific trip, and it surpassed my expectations. It has accompanied me on every journey since, whether backpacking-appropriate or otherwise.

Pack it like a suitcase

Numerous travel backpacks are roomier and feature multiple compartments, but the Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack functions like a suitcase. It opens on three sides, allowing you to flip it open similar to a suitcase and pack accordingly, with straps to secure your garments in place. This design makes locating your essentials much simpler than rummaging through your belongings from the top like a conventional backpack. A side handle also enables you to carry it like a suitcase.

When fully loaded, it can easily accommodate up to 10 kg, or 22 pounds, which is the weight limit for many discount airlines’ carry-on bags. Since it’s worn as a backpack, no one has ever bothered to weigh it for compliance. It consistently appears lighter than it actually is.

Safely store your laptop

As a writer, I always bring a laptop along, so I prioritize not only its ease of transport but also its protection. That said, I dislike having it pressed directly against my back, which can become uncomfortable and, depending on your destination, sweaty. The laptop sleeve on this model is ideally located near the (sweat-free) front of the pack, though it’s not the most externally accessible compartment. Honestly, safeguarded by a foam separator, the laptop feels concealed, even when packed to the brim.

External pockets are essential

I stand by soft-sided luggage even when it comes to roller bags, for two primary reasons. First, it’s much more convenient to stuff last-minute items into a zipped suitcase without the clamshell action of a hard case, and second: external pockets. Who can travel without them? (No, I am genuinely curious…) This backpack includes two outer compartments for various items, arguably three when you factor in the extra space found in front of the laptop sleeve—and four if you include the convenient water bottle holder. There are even compartments within the compartments. These details are precisely what distinguishes high-performing travelers from those dragging down the line, 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 double as checked luggage

Many travel backpacks possess a framework that maintains their shape even when empty. The Dinictis model has sufficient structure to keep its sides upright while you pack it, but its core remains that of a lightweight, fabric backpack. If you’ve ever been asked to demonstrate that your carry-on genuinely qualifies as carry-on, you understand that “smushability” is a crucial aspect. I have used this backpack for a weekend getaway and taken it onboard as a personal item. (I will fly Spirit Airlines, but do so while parting with as little of my money as possible.) It can easily fit beneath the seat in front of you when necessary.

The advantage of this travel backpack is that it also functions well as checked luggage, crafted from durable fabric that can endure the journey. The straps can be unclipped and concealed, and the body can be cinched with additional clips, creating a neat package that won’t give you anxiety as you watch it being whisked away on the baggage conveyor.

I’ve enjoyed numerous travels where it departs with me as carry-on and returns as checked luggage. Even in the lighter gray shade, its rugged material doesn’t show that it has ever experienced the wear of a baggage carousel. It was the utility I didn’t even realize I required, but now I can never travel without this for that reason.

Read more: Best Laptop Backpack for 2025

4.7 average rating on Amazon

You don’t just have to take my word for it. As someone who evaluates various products, I recognize that this level of rating is uncommon: with thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon, and priced at only $32, the Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack is one of the most reliable choices you can make this season.

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