carry-on backpack / luggage

I have a Dueter actlight 40+10 I'm using for carry on luggage. I pack my expensive gear in a carry on pack and check the things that I can afford to loose in a hard sided suitcase. This has worked very well for years. The Dueter is 40 liters without using the extension collar and that's how I pack it. So I would say 40 liters is max for overhead bins. The pack is not UL but works nicely for travel.

You may be able to fit a bit more under the seat but you also have to go by the size charts listed on the airline web sights. Although they have been really slack at checking carry on luggage sizes I sense they are getting sick of people ignoring carry on size restrictions and are now telling people AFTER they board the plane that if the bag doesn't fit in overhead they will be forced to put it in checked luggage.

The carry on sizes listed at airline web sights are a good guide to what will fit in the overheads…hmm, go figure :)

jimmyb

For travel I use an Osprey Porter46. At 46 liters the dimensions are right at the limit. (22 x 14 x 9). I make sure I compress it so that I can get it on with me and in a bin.

My Jam 35 hasn't / wouldn't raise any eyebrows as a carry-on.

If you had to check it (maybe in an RJ with limited overhead bins or if you were the last to board or there was mission creep and you had more stuff on your return), I HIGHLY recommended a cheap duffle bag as a sacrificial covering before it goes through the baggage handling gear. Or a cardboard box would protect it quite well, if you knew in advance.

I've carried my ULA Ohm, 63L, on board with no problem on United and Alaska Air.

I checked the official measurements and determined I was just within them.

Don't remember if I filled the extension collar — as I may have put some items in my other bag for the flight. Pack goes in the overhead bin, other carry-on bag uses up every inch of the space below the seat in front of me (mainly clothes for before and after).