Related: How To Pack Liquids In Carry On Luggage
Packing a laptop into a carry-on shouldn't be the hardest part of your trip
Six years at the gate taught me one thing about laptops in carry-ons: they're the first thing people panic about and the last thing they plan for. I watched a guy in a suit try to shove a 17-inch gaming rig into a bin that was clearly built for a tablet and a sandwich. He fought it for three minutes. The flight was delayed. The laptop went in the hold anyway, wrapped in a hoodie.
I've been reviewing luggage for four years now, and I've flown with a laptop on every single segment. That's roughly 500 flights with a machine strapped to my back or wedged into a bag. I've learned what survives the belt, what fits the bin, and what gets you stopped at security.
This guide covers the methods that work, the bags that make it easy, and the mistakes I've seen travelers make a thousand times.
tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L, TSA Carry On Bag Flight Approved, PFAS Free
Best laptop protection I've tested, survives Juno's naps, fits every sizer I've tried
Visit on Amazon →
Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip 20L, Black, 270-Degree Zip, Dual Side Pockets, FlexFold Dividers, Fits 15" Laptop, For Camera Carry, Daily Commutes or Travel, Versatile Backpack for Men and Women
Everyday Backpack 20L Travel Duffel 35L Everyday Backpack 30L Everyday Totepack Everyday Sling 10L
Visit on Amazon →
Travel Backpack with LifetimeWarranty,Expandable Carry on Backpack,Black
Best balance of work and travel, dedicated laptop compartment with suspension
Visit on Amazon →Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip 20L, Black, 270-Degree Zip, Dual Side Pockets, FlexFold Dividers, Fits 15" Laptop, For Camera Carry, Daily Commutes or Travel, Versatile Backpack for Men and Women
Everyday Backpack 20L Travel Duffel 35L Everyday Backpack 30L Everyday Totepack Everyday Sling 10L
Visit on Amazon →Why you should trust me
I'm Marcus. I spent six years as a gate agent at O'Hare, which means I've thrown your bag, crushed your bag, and probably lost your bag. I worked two years in a luggage repair shop before that, so I've seen exactly which zipper fails and why.
Now I review travel gear full time. I fly 120+ segments a year, and I've lived with every bag I recommend for at least three months.
My 70-pound lab mix Juno has slept on every softside bag I own. That's the durability test.
How I picked
I tested 11 bags in active rotation over the last year. I packed each one with a 15-inch MacBook Pro, a 13-inch Dell XPS, and a 14-inch ThinkPad. I measured the laptop compartments with calipers. I tested the zipper pulls 50 times each.
I checked the seam stitching under the zippers, the spot where cheap bags fail first. I flew every bag at least five segments, checking the laptop compartment after each flight for wear, shifting, and compression damage.
I also went through the buyer reviews on the bags I tested. I looked for complaint patterns: zippers that failed, laptop sleeves that didn't fit, bags that got gate-checked because they were too big. The bags that made this list survived both my testing and the buyer evidence.
The rules are simple. The laptop compartment needs to be suspended off the bottom of the bag, so a hard drop doesn't transfer the impact straight to the machine. The zipper needs to be smooth and beefy, because a laptop compartment zipper that snags is a laptop that gets yanked out in a hurry.
The bag needs to fit the sizer at the gate, because a bag that gets gate-checked is a laptop that gets thrown into the hold.
How I tested
I packed each bag full. Not Instagram-full. Full like you're actually going somewhere: a week of clothes, a laptop, chargers, a notebook, a water bottle, and the random stuff that accumulates. Then I ran each bag through five real flights. I checked the laptop compartment after each segment. I looked for the laptop shifting, the sleeve stretching, the zipper pull loosening.
I also threw each bag down a set of stairs. That's the test that matters. A laptop bag that can't survive a tumble doesn't deserve to carry a $2,000 machine.
Our pick: Tom Bihn Synik 30
The Synik 30 is the bag I reach for when I'm carrying a laptop and actually care about it arriving intact. The laptop compartment is suspended, which means the bottom of the bag absorbs the impact, not the machine. I've dropped this bag down a full flight of stairs with a MacBook inside. The laptop survived. The bag got a scuff.
The zippers are the best I've tested in this category. They're smooth, they don't snag, and they've held up for a year of heavy use. One buyer, writing in March 2024, said the zippers on their Synik 30 are "still buttery after 200 flights." I believe it. Mine feel the same.
The bag fits every sizer I've tried, including the tight ones on regional jets. It's 30 liters, which sounds small, but it packs like it's bigger. I've fit a week of clothes, a 15-inch laptop, and a pair of dress shoes in this bag with room to spare.
The price is $330. That's not cheap. But if you fly with a laptop regularly, the math works out. At 100 flights a year, that's $3.30 per trip for a bag that protects a $2,000 machine.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The bag is expensive, and the internal organization can be overwhelming at first. There are a lot of pockets. It took me two trips to figure out where everything goes. Also, the bag is softside, so it doesn't stand up on its own when it's empty. That's a minor annoyance, not a dealbreaker.
Who this is for: Travelers who carry a laptop for work and need to know it'll arrive intact. If you've ever watched a baggage handler throw a bag, you know why this matters.
Runner-up: Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L
The Peak Design 20L is the bag for people who carry more than a laptop. The laptop compartment is accessible from the side, which means you can grab your machine without opening the whole bag. That's a feature I didn't know I needed until I was in a security line at 6 AM trying to get my laptop out without spilling my toiletries on the floor.
The organization is the best I've tested. The flex-fold dividers let you configure the interior however you need it. I've used this bag for camera gear, for a week of clothes, and for a laptop plus a drone. It adapts. One buyer, writing in July 2025, said the dividers are "the reason I stopped carrying a separate camera bag." I get it.
The laptop compartment fits a 16-inch MacBook Pro with room to spare. The bag itself is 20 liters, which is smaller than the Synik, but it fits the sizer on every airline I've flown. The price is $280.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The bag is heavier than it looks. The materials are thick, and the hardware is substantial. That's a tradeoff for durability, but it's noticeable when the bag is empty. Also, the side access zipper is a little stiff when the bag is packed full. It works, but it takes a second.
Who this is for: Travelers who carry a laptop plus other gear and want one bag that does everything. If you've ever packed a camera, a drone, and a laptop into separate bags, this is the fix.
Upgrade pick: tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L
Aer Travel Pack 3
The Aer Travel Pack 3 is the bag for people who want the laptop protection of the Synik with the organization of the Peak Design, at a slightly lower price. The laptop compartment is suspended, and it fits a 16-inch laptop with room to spare. The suspension system is genuinely good. I've dropped this bag too, and the laptop survived.
Visit on Amazon →
The bag is 35 liters, which is bigger than the other two. That's a pro and a con. It fits more stuff, but it's also more likely to get flagged at the gate. I've flown with it on American, United, and Delta. It fits the sizers, but it's tight on the regional jets.
The materials are excellent. The 1680D Cordura is the same stuff used in industrial bags, and it shows. After a year of use, mine looks almost new. The zippers are YKK, which is what I look for. One buyer, writing in February 2025, said the bag is "built like a tank but doesn't look like one." That's accurate.
The price is $249. That's a good deal for the build quality.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The zipper pulls are small. If you're wearing gloves, or if your hands are cold, they're harder to grip. That's a minor issue. The bag also has a lot of internal organization, which can be confusing if you're used to a simple backpack. Give it a trip or two to figure out the layout.
Who this is for: Travelers who want a bag that works for a business trip and a weekend getaway without switching bags. If you've ever packed a laptop bag and a separate weekend bag, this replaces both.
Budget pick: Amazon Basics Carry-On
The Amazon Basics Carry-On is not a great laptop bag. It's a cheap bag that happens to have a laptop sleeve. But at $39, it's the bag you buy when you need something that fits the sizer and you don't want to spend $300.
Visit on Amazon →
The laptop sleeve is okay. It's not suspended, so a hard drop transfers the impact to the machine. I wouldn't check this bag with a laptop in it. But for a short trip where the bag stays in the overhead bin, it works. The sleeve fits a 15-inch laptop, and the zipper is functional, if not beefy.
The bag itself is softside, which means it compresses into the sizer. That's a real advantage on airlines with tight carry-on enforcement. I've seen the sizers get smaller at the gate. A softside bag that squishes in beats a hardside that doesn't.
The buyer reviews are honest about what this is. One buyer, writing in April 2024, said "I don't expect this to last forever, but for the price, it's perfect for a quick trip." That's the right attitude. This is a disposable bag. When it breaks, you buy another one. At $39, that's a fine tradeoff.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The laptop sleeve is thin, the wheels are loud, and the zipper is not going to survive years of heavy use. But it costs $39. If you're expecting eBags quality at a third of the price, that's on you.
Who this is for: Travelers who fly a few times a year and don't want to spend a fortune on a bag that sits in a closet between trips. If you're a frequent flyer with a laptop, spend more. If you're a casual traveler, this is fine.
The competition
I tested a few other bags that didn't make the cut.
The Away Carry-On is a fine hardside bag, but the laptop sleeve is in the main compartment, which means you have to open the whole bag to get your laptop out at security. That's a design flaw for anyone who flies with a laptop regularly. The bag is also $275, which is hard to justify when the Amazon Basics does the job for $39.
The Monos Carry-On has the same problem. The laptop sleeve is in the main compartment, and the bag is $296. The build quality is good, but the design doesn't work for laptop travelers.
The eBags TLS Mother Lode is a classic, but the laptop compartment is on the top, which means the laptop sits above the main compartment. That's fine until the bag tips over and the laptop takes the impact. The bag is also 30 inches long, which is too big for most airline sizers.
The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a good travel backpack, but the laptop sleeve is not suspended, and the bag is too tall for some sizers. It's a fine bag for backpacking, but it's not the best choice for laptop travel.
The one rule that matters
Every bag I recommend has a laptop compartment that's suspended off the bottom. That's the feature that protects your machine when the bag gets dropped, thrown, or crushed. If a bag doesn't have that, it doesn't matter how good the rest of the bag is. The laptop is the most expensive thing in your bag. Protect it accordingly.
If you're flying with a laptop, the bag matters more than the laptop case. A good bag protects the machine from the belt, the bin, and the baggage handler. A bad bag turns a $2,000 laptop into a $2,000 paperweight.
Pack the laptop in the suspended compartment. Keep the bag under the seat in front of you if you can, because that's the safest spot on the plane. And if you're checking the bag, take the laptop out. I've seen too many laptops come off the belt in pieces to recommend otherwise.
The right bag for you depends on how often you fly and what else you carry. If you're a frequent flyer with a laptop and a camera, the Peak Design is the best choice. If you want one bag for work and weekends, the Aer is the pick. If you're on a budget, the Amazon Basics works. And if you want the best laptop protection money can buy, the Tom Bihn is worth every penny.