How we picked
We picked backpacks and soft bags whose maker-published size is at or under 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm), or within a fraction of it. Each bag is tested against Frontier, Allegiant and six other US airlines’ personal item limits. Bags marked as tight can pass if you don’t overfill them.
At a glance
| Bag | Outside size | Weight | Capacity | Fits | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6 | 17 × 13 × 6 in | 1.9 lb | 26 L | 4 of 5airlines | Amazon |
| BAGSMART Blast 28L Travel Backpack | 16.5 × 12.2 × 8.1 in | 2 lb | 28 L | 0 of 5airlines | Amazon |
| CabinZero Classic Cabin Backpack 28LLightest on this list | 15.4 × 11.6 × 7.9 in | 1.3 lb | 28 L | 4 of 5airlines | Amazon |
| MATEIN Travel Backpack with Removable Shoe Compartment (18x14x8 Personal Item Bag, Expandable, 17in Laptop)Most capacity | 18 × 14 × 7 in | 2.1 lb | 40 L | 3 of 5airlines | Amazon |
| WANDF Personal Item Travel Bag 18x14x8 Carry On Laptop Backpack | 18 × 13.5 × 8 in | 2.1 lb | 32 L | 3 of 5airlines | Amazon |
| Away The Everywhere Bag | 16.3 × 10.2 × 7.3 in | 2.8 lb | 20 L | 4 of 5airlines | Amazon |
“Fits” tests the maker’s published outside size against the personal item limit of Frontier, Allegiant, Delta, American, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, using the same math as our bag size checker.
The picks
Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6
17x13x6 in unexpanded, inside the 18x14x8 limit, and expanding it adds 2 in of depth, which brings it to about the 8 in limit.
- Outside size
- 17 × 13 × 6 in43 × 33 × 16 cm
- Weight
- 1.9 lb0.8 kg
- Capacity
- 26 L
Personal item limit check
- Frontier: Fits
- Allegiant: Fits
- Delta: no published size
- American: Fits
- United: Too big
- Southwest: no published size
- JetBlue: Tight fit
- Alaska: no published size
BAGSMART Blast 28L Travel Backpack
16.5x12.2x8.1 in: well inside on height and width, but the listed depth is 0.1 in over 8 in, so don't overstuff the soft front.
- Outside size
- 16.5 × 12.2 × 8.1 in42 × 31 × 21 cm
- Weight
- 2 lb0.9 kg
- Capacity
- 28 L
Laptop sleeve fits up to 15.6 in.
Personal item limit check
- Frontier: Too big
- Allegiant: Too big
- Delta: no published size
- American: Too big
- United: Too big
- Southwest: no published size
- JetBlue: Too big
- Alaska: no published size
CabinZero Classic Cabin Backpack 28L
15.4x11.6x7.9 in, under 18x14x8 on every side, and it weighs only about 1.3 lb.
- Outside size
- 15.4 × 11.6 × 7.9 in39 × 30 × 20 cm
- Weight
- 1.3 lb0.6 kg
- Capacity
- 28 L
Personal item limit check
- Frontier: Tight fit
- Allegiant: Tight fit
- Delta: no published size
- American: Tight fit
- United: Too big
- Southwest: no published size
- JetBlue: Tight fit
- Alaska: no published size
MATEIN Travel Backpack with Removable Shoe Compartment (18x14x8 Personal Item Bag, Expandable, 17in Laptop)
Built to the full 18x14 face with 7 in depth unexpanded, but leave the expansion zipped, because 9 in expanded is over the 8 in limit.
- Outside size
- 18 × 14 × 7 in46 × 36 × 18 cm
- Weight
- 2.1 lb0.9 kg
- Capacity
- 40 L
Expanded depth (9 in) is over the 8 in limit. The listed 40 L is probably the expanded volume.
Personal item limit check
- Frontier: Tight fit
- Allegiant: Tight fit
- Delta: no published size
- American: Tight fit
- United: Too big
- Southwest: no published size
- JetBlue: Too big
- Alaska: no published size
WANDF Personal Item Travel Bag 18x14x8 Carry On Laptop Backpack
18x13.5x8 in uses almost the whole 18x14x8 allowance while staying at or under each limit.
- Outside size
- 18 × 13.5 × 8 in46 × 34 × 20 cm
- Weight
- 2.1 lb0.9 kg
- Capacity
- 32 L
Fits a 17 in laptop.
Personal item limit check
- Frontier: Tight fit
- Allegiant: Tight fit
- Delta: no published size
- American: Tight fit
- United: Too big
- Southwest: no published size
- JetBlue: Too big
- Alaska: no published size
Away The Everywhere Bag
16.3x10.2x7.3 in, under 18x14x8 on every side, and Away says it meets airline personal-item requirements.
- Outside size
- 16.3 × 10.2 × 7.3 in41 × 26 × 19 cm
- Weight
- 2.8 lb1.3 kg
- Capacity
- 20 L
Fits laptops up to 16 in.
Personal item limit check
- Frontier: Fits
- Allegiant: Fits
- Delta: no published size
- American: Fits
- United: Too big
- Southwest: no published size
- JetBlue: Fits
- Alaska: no published size
Why 18×14×8 matters
On Frontier the personal item is the only free bag on the cheapest fares, and the carry-on fee is highest at the gate. A bag that uses the whole 18 × 14 × 8 in allowance holds roughly 30 liters, enough for three or four days of summer clothes.
Packing it to pass the sizer
- Leave the expansion zipper closed; the sizer measures the bag as it is.
- Pack soft items in the front pocket last so it doesn’t bulge past 8 in.
- Wear your bulkiest jacket and shoes onto the plane.