By the Amazon Picks Desk, Canada News Media. We research products from real Amazon.ca listings, specifications, owner reviews and expert reviews; we have not tested them ourselves.
The best carry-on backpack in Canada for most travellers is the Hynes Eagle 38L, $59.49 for Prime members on Amazon.ca. Its listing gives 33 x 20 x 50 cm, inside Air Canada’s limit of 23 x 40 x 55 cm for a standard carry-on. It is not a personal item, which Air Canada caps at 33 x 43 x 16 cm.
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Updated Nov. 9, 2026. Prices checked on Amazon.ca on Nov. 9, 2026 and may change.
Carry-on backpacks compared
| Backpack | Price | Key specs from the listing | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hynes Eagle 38L | $59.49 (Prime price; $69.99 otherwise) | 33 x 20 x 50 cm, about 0.82 kg, 38 L, fits a 15-inch laptop | 4.5 stars, 3,967 ratings | Most travellers |
| tomtoc Navigator-T66 40L | $118.99 | 38 to 40 L, suitcase-style opening, 17-inch laptop compartment | 4.7 stars, 509 ratings | Business trips |
| Amazon Basics carry-on backpack | $45.99 | 40 L, 1.63 kg | 4.4 stars, 9,317 ratings | Lowest price from Amazon itself |
| Samsonite Andante 2 | $98.95 | 20.3 x 31.8 x 48.3 cm, 1 kg, 1,900 cubic inches (about 31 L) | 4.7 stars, 222 ratings | A known luggage name |
| ECOHUB 17-inch, 25 L | $45.99 | 22.9 x 25.4 x 43.2 cm, 726 g, 25 L, fits a 15.6-inch laptop | 4.6 stars, 2,809 ratings | Light packers |
Sizes are as shown on each Amazon.ca listing. The tomtoc listing gives 52 x 33 x 23 cm and 1,370 g in its description and 22 x 33 x 52 cm and 1.62 kg in its details table, so we left its size and weight out of the table.
Our carry-on backpack picks
Hynes Eagle 38L Travel Backpack. Image: Amazon.ca
No. 1, best for most travellers: Hynes Eagle 38L. It ships from Amazon and is sold by Hynes Eagle at $59.49 for Prime members ($69.99 for everyone else). The listing gives 33 x 20 x 50 cm, about 0.82 kg, four compression straps, a trolley strap that slides over a suitcase handle, hide-away shoulder straps and a sleeve for a 15-inch laptop. It has 4.5 stars from 3,967 ratings. Owners say it holds about a week of clothes, stays light and fits under a seat when it is not stuffed. The most common caution is build: one owner says it works fine if you treat it gently, and another notes there is no dedicated laptop compartment and no water bottle pocket.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L. Image: Amazon.ca
No. 2, best for business trips: tomtoc Navigator-T66 40L. Sold by tomtocDirect CA at $118.99 (list price $139.99), it is the priciest bag here and the highest rated, with 4.7 stars from 509 ratings. The listing describes a main compartment that unzips like a suitcase, a quick-access front pocket and a separate tech compartment for a laptop of up to 17 inches, plus a usable capacity of 38 to 40 L. The title says it is PFAS free. The catch is the size conflict noted under the table: the depth is listed as 22 or 23 cm, so a full pack is tight against Air Canada’s 23 cm limit and heavier at about 1.4 to 1.6 kg.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack. Image: Amazon.ca
No. 3, best for the lowest price from Amazon itself: Amazon Basics carry-on backpack. Sold and shipped by Amazon.ca at $45.99, it is the most reviewed bag in this guide, with 4.4 stars from 9,317 ratings. The listing shows a 40 L volume and a weight of 1.63 kg, which makes it the heaviest empty bag here; we did not find a size for it we could confirm against the 23 x 40 x 55 cm limit, so measure it against the sizer before you rely on it. Owner reviews were not read for this pick, so we offer no paraphrase of them.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
Samsonite Andante 2 Travel Backpack. Image: Amazon.ca
No. 4, best for a known luggage name: Samsonite Andante 2. Shipped and sold by Amazon.ca at $98.95, it measures 20.3 x 31.8 x 48.3 cm, weighs 1 kg and holds 1,900 cubic inches, roughly 31 L. The listing describes a flat opening that lays out like a suitcase and a polyester shell. It has 4.7 stars, but from 222 ratings, so the track record is shorter than the Hynes Eagle’s. It is the smallest of the standard carry-on bags here, which suits a three or four day trip better than a two-week one.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
ECOHUB 17-inch Travel Backpack, 25 L. Image: Amazon.ca
No. 5, best for light packers: ECOHUB 17-inch, 25 L. Sold by the brand at $45.99, it is the smallest and lightest bag here at 726 g, listed at 22.9 x 25.4 x 43.2 cm and 25 L, with room for a 15.6-inch laptop. It has 4.6 stars from 2,809 ratings. Its length and width are under Air Canada’s personal item limit, but the 22.9 cm depth is over the 16 cm cap, so it only works as a personal item if you pack it slim and it compresses. Treat it as a small carry-on, not a guaranteed under-seat bag.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
How we chose
On Nov. 9, 2026 we searched Amazon.ca for carry-on and personal item backpacks, then opened each listing the same day. We kept bags rated at least 4.4 stars with more than 200 ratings that are sold by Amazon.ca or by the brand itself, which excluded many of the cheapest results because they were sold by unfamiliar third-party sellers. We read the listing text, prices, dimensions and, for one pick, owner reviews, and compared sizes with the limits on Air Canada’s baggage page. We did not test any of these bags.
What size is a carry-on backpack in Canada?
Air Canada lists two limits, both measured depth by width by height. A standard carry-on can be up to 23 x 40 x 55 cm, including handles, and a personal item can be up to 33 x 43 x 16 cm. The airline says there is no weight limit, but you must be able to lift the bag into the overhead bin yourself, and it uses automated sizers at some airports. Soft backpacks squeeze, which helps, but a bag stuffed past its stated size can still be turned away.
What can you bring on an Air Canada Economy Basic fare?
Air Canada says Economy Basic tickets bought on or after Jan. 3, 2025 allow only one personal item on board within Canada, to and from the United States, and to and from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Anything bigger is checked, and the airline lists gate handling fees of CA/US $65 to $78, tax included. If that is your fare, a bag that fits the 16 cm personal item depth matters more than capacity, and none of the five picks is guaranteed to meet it. Check the fare rules before you pick a bag.
If you would rather roll than carry, our guide to the best carry-on luggage for Air Canada covers hard and soft spinners, and the Samsonite versus Travelpro comparison looks at two big luggage names.
Is a backpack or a suitcase better for carry-on?
A backpack suits cobblestones, stairs and short trips, and it squeezes into tight bins. A suitcase protects fragile items and saves your shoulders on long airport walks. Several of these bags have a trolley strap or a suitcase-style opening, so you can carry a backpack as a personal item on top of a roller if your fare includes both.
Black Friday is Nov. 27, 2026, Cyber Monday is Nov. 30, and Boxing Day and Prime Big Deal Days are the other usual sale windows for luggage. Those are general patterns, not promises, and we have not seen a deal announced on any of these bags.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
These bags suit travellers who want to avoid checked-bag fees on a three to seven day trip and are happy to pack light. Skip them if you carry delicate gear, because a soft backpack gives it little protection, and skip them if you fly Economy Basic within North America and need a true under-seat bag, since the listed depths here run over the personal item limit.
Frequently asked questions
What size backpack is allowed as a carry-on on Air Canada?
Air Canada allows a standard carry-on of up to 23 x 40 x 55 cm and a personal item of up to 33 x 43 x 16 cm, both including handles.
Is a 40L backpack OK for carry-on?
Often, but check the dimensions, not the litres. A 38 L bag such as the Hynes Eagle lists 33 x 20 x 50 cm, which is inside Air Canada’s standard carry-on limit, while the tomtoc 40L is listed at about 22 or 23 cm deep.
What is the cheapest carry-on backpack on Amazon.ca here?
The Amazon Basics carry-on backpack and the ECOHUB 25 L were both $45.99 on Nov. 9, 2026.
Can I bring a backpack on an Air Canada Basic fare?
On Air Canada Economy Basic fares on many North American routes, you can bring one personal item only. Check the airline’s fare rules before you travel.
Sources: Air Canada carry-on baggage rules, read Nov. 9, 2026, and the Amazon.ca listings for the Hynes Eagle 38L, tomtoc 40L, Amazon Basics backpack, Samsonite Andante 2 and ECOHUB 25 L, all read Nov. 9, 2026.
Related reading: best luggage sets in Canada, best checked luggage in Canada and our Amazon Picks hub.
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