Airline compliant carry-on bags can be tough to find. You might think that you’re already covered only to get to the airport and find out that your bag is 1” too big and then have to turn back and race against the clock just to get another one. A huge headache nobody needs. 22” x 14” x 9”. Those are the measurements you need to remember, because those are the TSA airline compliant carry-on bag measurements.
And then you have to figure out if the specific airline you’re flying has its own carry-on measurement standards. Sound like a pain in the ass? It is, but that’s why we’ve got you covered. We’ve taken all the work out of it for you. All you have to do is read through and pick out which one of these best airline compliant carry-on bags and you’re good to go.
Cabin Max Metz Backpack
Casual enough to just sling over your shoulder and carry everywhere, this bag makes boarding a breeze. It’s also big enough to handle most of your travel gear while still conforming to TSA regulations, and water resistant in case that toddler sitting next to you spills his precious juice all over you while his mother pretends not to notice.
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Delsey Luggage Helium Aero
Sometimes you want more than just a backpack, and this little beauty is designed to accommodate you. It’s actual luggage, but it’s also got an integrated padded sleeve designed to hold up to a 15.6” laptop and two zippered mesh pockets to hold all your other carry-on gear, like books, snacks, etc.
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5 Cities Carry-On Bag
At 16” this bag is perfect for someone who just wants a small carry-on that they can stuff under their seat. It’s also great for budget airlines which often have even stricter carry-on size standards than the TSA. Think of it as a messenger bag that also just so happens to double as a carry-on.
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Heritage Travelware Lincoln Park
This hardside piece of luggage is perfect for anyone who wants something a little tougher, a little more durable, than your ordinary carry-on bag. It’s also listed as “Amazon’s Choice”, which pretty much guarantees you’ll be happy with this.
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NARGEAR Weather Resistant Carry-On Bag
You never know when you’re gonna end up at some small airport that makes you board outside, which is really a problem if it starts to rain. But at least you won’t have to worry about all your precious carry-on goodies with this bag, which is made with military spec parachute harness thread, and will keep everything safe and dry in the nastiest of weather.
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IT Luggage 8 Wheel Spinner
This is billed as “the world’s lightest 8-wheel spinner”, which should make transport a breeze thanks to a state-of-the-art fiberglass frame. The 8 wheels give you 360-degree maneuverability, which means you can travel with this without having to lug it around and give yourself a strap burn on your shoulder.
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AmazonBasics Underseat Luggage
This underseat bag is perfect for smaller airlines, and as a bonus, it also has attached wheels and a pullout handle if you want to wheel it around instead of carrying it over-shoulder. It’s also Amazon’s own product, and they’ve always taken care of you, right?
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Haupstadtkoffer Alex
You can always trust the Germans. Well, at least when it comes to efficient reliability. This German brand is another wheeled hard-side piece of luggage protected by a TSA combination lock, which makes it openable only by you and by TSA agents. Available in a dozen different colors, I just love this cyan blue look, but you pick which one works best for you.
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Narwey for Spirit Airlines
Spirit is one of those airlines with its own stricter carry-on regulations, and this bag is designed to meet those specifically. It also works great for Frontier airlines. Like I said, we’ve got you covered. It’s also collapsible, so when you’re not using it, you can collapse it down and tuck it away in its own tiny bag.
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Arcido Faroe Backpack
Water-resistant, with pull-tab access to a dedicated laptop compartment, this backpack is a traveler’s dream. It’s also got a large inner pocket, a hidden passport pocket and 3D pockets for easy organization and easy scanning by TSA agents. Just a great backpack that happens to also be airline and TSA compliant.
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Peak Pooch
Finally, a carry-on bag for your pet. Yes, this bag is designed to help you take your dog or cat on the plane with you without having to worry about it running around or peeing all over the flight-attendant. It also has a fleece bed so your little dude can fly in comfort.
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High Sierra Rolling Upright Duffel Bag
This bag is great because it’s basically a hybrid backpack/suitcase/duffel with all the benefits of each. You can carry it on your back or wheel it around or over your shoulder, and it even has reflective piping so people can see you late at night while you’re waiting for a cab or whatever. Just an awesome bag that you can use in any situation – including flying.
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Aktiv Pak AP400
This bag is a godsend for photographers because it’s specifically designed as a photography bag which fits all your equipment like a glove. It also doubles as a great laptop bag, which means you can keep all your valuable equipment on you instead of entrusting them to the bag-tossers hired by the airlines to handle your checked luggage. It also has an all-weather cover, which makes it as versatile as you need it to be. This bag will go wherever you go.
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Nanuk 935 Waterproof Hard Case
With a hard case and a generous foam insert, this is designed specifically for people who need to travel with something valuable and something fragile that they have to keep on them at all times. Waterproof, dustproof and shockproof, this takes all the worry out of traveling with your precious cargo.
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Maxpedition Fliegerduffel Adventure Bag
This is the carry-on bag for the serious adventurer. Whether you’re heading to some remote encampment in the mountains or a desert warzone, this bag will be your best friend on and off the plane. It’s designed to be a tactical bag, but its versatile enough to serve you well in any situation. And at exactly 22” x 14” x 9”, you won’t have to worry about ever leaving it in someone else’s hands. This is your life-bag, and now you can fly with it too.
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The BroBible team writes about gear that we think you want. Occasionally, we write about items that are a part of one of our affiliate partnerships and we will get a percentage of the revenue from sales.