The best travel backpacks that you can take on the plane and fit everything for a weekend away

“I can’t recommend Stubble & Co’s newest Hybrid backpack enough. While it's not quite compact enough that you’d be able to stash it under a plane seat, it’s the ideal bag if you’re travelling for a long weekend and need lots of room to carry all your essentials. It has a full wrap-around zipper to open up the backpack and pack it like a suitcase, with a roomy 30 litres of space that easily beats most rivals at around this size and weight.

“The top pocket has plenty of space and is accessible both from the outside and inside for versatility, while it has a big dedicated laptop compartment for both a 16-inch laptop and a tablet. Add in the strong handles, comfortable padded straps and back panel, a luggage passthrough sleeve and water-resistant zips and I'm left struggling to think of anything missing from this capable backpack. It’s a little pricey and bulky, but definitely worth it for an all-in-one carry-on bag.” Simon Cocks, tech ecommerce editor

“This compact hiking pack has lots of the features I look for in a good rucksack, such as well-padded straps, buttery-smooth zips and large, stretchy pockets for water bottles. It’s a great everyday bag, but hikers will appreciate the lightweight design (it’s just 700 grams) and sternum strap for distributing heavy loads. It even has a hidden rain cover in the base.

I love that it’s made of 90% recycled materials, and the dusty pink colour makes a nice change from black (though yes, it does come in black as well as taupe). If you’re looking to max out your under-seat allowance, you could get away with a bigger bag, but for something small and light to take up a mountain or around a city, it’s the perfect size.” Jasmine Vorley, Homes Writer

If Easyjet is your budget airline of choice, this cabin backpack, recommended by GHI SEO Manager Rebecca Johnson, is a top pick.“It's the ideal size to go under a seat on the plane, which saves me luggage costs on flights,” she explains. “The compartments make it easy to pack, it has a laptop section and an anti-theft pocket for valuables.

“It's surprisingly roomy – I managed to fit a week's worth of clothes, toiletries and books with ease. The adjustable straps also make it comfy to wear when travelling. I love having my hands free to hold a much-needed coffee rather than dragging a suitcase around the airport.”

This one is designed to fit perfectly under a Ryanair seat, which has some of the most stringent luggage requirements of all airlines – so you should be able to take it with you, whoever you fly with.

“I tested out the Manhattan 20L Backpack in black and loved it,” says Georgie D’Arcy Coles, GH cookery assistant. “I managed to pack everything I needed for a four-day trip to Barcelona into it, including two pairs of shoes!

“It has lots of compartments (a great feature to keep everything organised), a sleek laptop storage area, a side pocket for a water bottle, a zip front pocket for important items, and even a USB charging socket with a cable. This means you can attach a power bank to it inside your bag and charge your phone from the outside. Genius!

“The only downside is that I only own one of these bags and my boyfriend keeps trying to steal it for himself!”

“This is a great multi-purpose backpack that works as well for travelling as it does for a hike in the country. It's incredibly sturdy with wide straps that don’t cut into your shoulders (if you’re an over packer like me!) and a cushioned breathable mesh back so you won’t get sweaty carrying it around.

“There are handy side pockets for things like a water bottle, glasses or phone, a 13-inch laptop section plus plenty of brightly coloured compartments inside for organising your stuff as well as an easy access top toggle so you can get things out quickly.

“The expandable roll-top design is helpful if you want to buy a few souvenirs on your travels and even the zips are water-repellent – much-needed if the weather lets you down!” Emma Justice, Special Projects Director

“The distinctive rectangular shape of these popular backpacks makes them well-suited to airplane travel. The dimensions mean you should be able to fit it neatly underneath the seat of even the most stringent airlines.

“My partner has travelled with this backpack on many holidays, so I’ve witnessed its suitability first hand – it’s also a good one if you want to pop a bigger bag inside your suitcase for excursions and adventures, as it packs down flat.” Hannah Mendelsohn, Homes Editor

“I love this stylishly designed backpack from Australian luggage brand July so much that I use it every day – not just for travelling. There’s a padded 16-inch compartment for your laptop, which hides it away next to your back, comfortable padded straps and a wide bucket style opening at the top.

“There’s more room inside than you think, given it looks so neat and compact, plus handy side pockets and an internal flap with a zip for valuables." Emma Justice

This is another well-designed backpack from Antler. It has a great capacity and lots of pockets. When packed full, you may struggle to slip it under a budget plane seat – but if you're careful not to overpack, then it should serve you well.

"The Antler Discovery Backpack has become my go-to for weekends away and short city breaks,” says Sleep & Wellness Editor, Priyankaa Joshi. “I'm able to fit an impressive amount of stuff inside and I love the separate compartments for keeping everything tidy. There's even a dedicated laptop pocket, a water bottle holder, and a cord for attaching extras on like travel pillows.

“Despite how much stuff I pack inside, it's pretty lightweight and I like the range of handles all over the backpack, making it super convenient to carry when on the go. There's also a back sleeve that you can slot onto a suitcase handle – a feature I will make the most of on long trips. "

"Since I started testing it, this has quickly become my favourite backpack – for commuting and travel. The rectangular shape fits easily under a plane seat and while it’s not too bulky, it still has room for everything I need, thanks to its many storage options. There's a cushioned laptop pocket, a waterproof zip-up compartment and more, so it’s easy to organise well. The main compartment opens a fair way, too.

"If I’m being picky, I'd like a water bottle pocket, and also an additional small pocket positioned near the top of the main compartment, so it’s easier to grab my keys. There is one on the back with a magnetic clasp – I just prefer zips.

"But, that’s where the unique selling point of this rucksack comes in: its detachable front compartment. Again, there are lots of dividers inside it to keep things neat, so on days when I’m carrying more small bits and pieces than usual (like a gym day or a holiday), I attach it and everything’s nicely within reach. It adds a bit of depth to the bag, but that’s a small compromise to make." Hannah Mendelsohn