Can You Use a Backpack as a Personal Item

February 16, 2022 Post a Comment

And so you have booked your adjacent flight with Spirit Airlines and are looking for the perfect backpack yous tin bring with y'all on the plane. Like shooting fish in a barrel, correct? Well, there are some rules you'll have to follow and if you get them wrong it can cost you.

In this guide we will go over Spirit Airlines' personal detail restrictions and recommend the best Spirit Airlines backpacks you can bring with yous on your side by side flight.

Quick Haversack Picks

Spirit Personal Item Size Requirements

Each Spirit Airlines ticket includes a free personal particular y'all can accept with you on the flight. Your personal item has strict dimensional restrictions you must follow or else you will exist charged a carry-on bag fee.

Spirit Airlines personal item backpack dimensions

The current personal item measurements at the time of this writing (May 2021) are 18 x 14 ten 8 inches. These measurements are based on the official Spirit Airlines size and weight limits.

Spirit Airlines describes a personal particular equally something like a laptop bag or bag but it can too include a backpack that is under the maximum dimensions.

All-time Backpacks for Spirit Airlines

With their strict size restrictions it can exist a tough time finding the right Spirit Airlines personal item backpack. Go too small and you lot limit what you lot can acquit on flying. Merely if your backpack is too large then you run the adventure of getting hitting with an extra fee.

This is why we decided to practice the inquiry and bring you a list of our favorite backpacks that meet Spirit Airlines personal item requirements but withal give y'all the infinite and features you need for a comfortable flight.

Spirit personal item backpack: Db Strom 20L travel backpack

Db The Strøm 20L Haversack

Known for their high quality bags and luggage, Db offers a daily carry and travel backpack that falls well within Spirit Airlines personal item size requirements. The Strøm haversack gives you total clamshell access to the master compartment for easy packing of vesture, shoes and other travel essentials.

In fact, The Strøm is one of the best personal detail backpacks on the market today given its tough construction, clever pockets and size that fits most airline requirements. If you are serious about owning a versatile backpack that volition last you years of employ so the Strøm is the haversack to consider.

Dimensions: 17.7" x 10.6" v.5"

The Ridge Commuter Weatherproof haversack

Equipped with a waterproof shell, tons of pockets and mobile charging for your telephone - The Ridge Driver Backpack is packed with features that are perfect for travelers on the motion. Ane-bag travelers will love the clamshell zipper design that makes for easy packing and its meaty dimensions allow the Driver to be used as a Spirit Airlines personal item haversack without worry.

Dimensions: 18" x 12" x half dozen"

Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack

The Daylite Plus Daypack is one of Osprey'south about popular pocket-size backpacks and it's easy to see why. At xx liters, the Daylite Plus is versatile enough to exist used every bit an airline personal item too every bit a daypack in one case you go to your destination. Whether you lot are taking a hiking trip or exploring a new city, the Osprey Daylite Plus is a true travel companion.

Dimensions: 18" x eleven" x nine"

Read more about the Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack

Features at a glance:

Dimensions: 18" x eleven" x 9"
Capacity: 20L
Weight: ane.29lb
Versatile backpack that can be used for travel, hiking or days out on the town.
Can exist used as an attachment to larger Osprey packs
Padded compartment fits a laptop, tablet or a water hydration pack

What fits inside: 20 liter main compartment is large enough for a modify of clothes, shoes or various travel essentials. Sleeve in principal compartment tin can fit a laptop or tablet upwardly to 15 inches or a water hydration pack up to iii liters. Front stash pocket is perfect for small items and can stretch out for more storage.

More than just a personal detail backpack

We made to sure include the Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack on our listing of best Spirit Airlines backpacks non merely because of how pop it is amongst travel enthusiasts but because of how versatile it is for those who need more than just a personal particular haversack.

The Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack tin be used equally everything from an everyday backpack for exploring a new metropolis or as a low-cal hiking haversack thanks to its laptop sleeve that doubles as a water hydration sleeve.

This backpack is incredibly light. At only 1 pound, carrying at-capacity is easy and you can really tell the difference in weight when compared to heavier bags. Features such every bit the front stash pocket also makes finding smaller items a breeze. This is especially true when yous are at busy airports and demand to quickly access items such as a passport, tickets, sunglasses or a wallet.

Osprey also offers a smaller version of this pack with the Osprey Daylite. Check out our Osprey Daylite vs Daylite Plus comparison to explore the differences.

When it comes to using this bag as a Spirit Airlines personal particular backpack, the handbag is ix-inches deep which is 1-inch over the size capacity yet we haven't heard of anyone having whatsoever problem using this haversack as a personal item on airlines such every bit Spirit, United and Frontier. Osprey Daylite Plus besides fits great nether airline seats equally long as it isn't at jutting chapters which is common at backpacks this size.

Cons worth mentioning

A mutual complaint with the Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack is the side water canteen pockets. Although these stretchy side pockets are great for smaller items they can exist a flake too shallow for some water bottles causing them to sideslip out of the pockets when you are on the movement.

Cheap Spirit Airlines backpack - Matein Laptop backpack

Matein Laptop Haversack

Matein offers a great budget backpack that exceeds expectations in terms of functionality, quality and style. This medium sized backpack fits perfectly under an airplane seat and is well within the size restrictions of a Spirit Airlines personal particular.

Dimensions: 18" x 12" x 7.8"

Read more well-nigh the Matein Laptop Backpack

Features at a glance:

Dimensions: 18" x 12" x 7.8"
Weight: ane.5 lbs
Subconscious anti-theft pocket on the dorsum panel allows for prophylactic storage of small items such a wallet, passport or plane tickets.
Mesh side pockets stretch to fit various water bottle sizes
Front pocket is surprisingly big and makes it easy to organize small-scale items

What fits inside: While you won't exist cramming days worth of clothes in the chief compartment, information technology is roomy enough for a few clothing items, large headphones or other travel essentials. Separate laptop compartment tin can agree a laptop and tablet upward to fifteen.6 inches. The forepart of the backpack features multiple pockets and organizers for a telephone, wallet, passport and other small items while a congenital-in USB port allows for charging phones and other electronics on the go.

Matein Laptop Backpack Demo

A neat Spirit Airlines backpack for those on a upkeep

Matein did a great chore at designing a well-rounded backpack for a budget cost. At less than $50 you tin can take a well-made backpack with features that are commonly reserved for more than expensive numberless.

Equally a travel pocketbook, Matein does a not bad job incorporating must-accept features such as an easy-access front pocket with organizers for small items, a trolley laissez passer through so that you can attach the haversack to rolling luggage, and dimensions that allow the backpack to fit underneath a aeroplane seat.

If y'all are looking for a expert Spirit personal item haversack, then the Matein Laptop backpack volition be within the size requirements. The main compartment is large plenty for most travel essentials and some vesture items. When y'all aren't traveling the Matein also makes a great school bag or piece of work haversack thanks to information technology'due south roomy principal compartment that tin fit books, binders and other daily essentials.

Cons worth mentioning

A mutual complaint with the Matein laptop haversack is with the quality of the zippers that can feel sticky and rigid when opening or closing compartments. Laptop compartment padding is on the thinner side and could be a lot better. This could be a problem for anyone with an expensive laptop that finds themselves beingness crude with their haversack while on the motility.

eBags Professional Flight Laptop Backpack

eBags has managed to hit a dwelling run with their Professional Flight laptop backpack. This bag was congenital from the ground upwards to exist used for air travel. The dimensions are well within Spirit Airline'southward personal item requirements while the bag itself is large enough to pack everything y'all need for a short trip and comfortable flight.

Dimensions: 17.5" x 12.75" 10 8"

Read more about the eBags Professional person Flying Laptop Backpack

Features at a glance:

Dimensions: 17.5" x 12.75" x 8"
Capacity: 28.eight Liters
Weight: 3lbs
Master compartment opens similar a suitcase
Large front organization console for easy access to small items.
TSA-friendly laptop compartment

What fits inside: Clamshell main compartment holds 2-days worth of vesture and shoes while various pockets throughout the pocketbook holds toiletries, electronics, h2o bottles and other personal items. Separate laptop compartment fits a laptop upwardly to fifteen.half-dozen inches. Easy-access top pocket fits a large pair of headphones.

The best backpack for Spirit Airlines

When we commencement reviewed the eBags Professional person Flying laptop haversack nosotros were impressed with its deliberate design and functional features. eBags actually did design the Professional Flight laptop haversack from the ground upward to be used as a personal item on restrictive airlines like Spirit. It'due south dimensions fall right nether the maximum personal item size but it has somehow managed to pack a ton of features in such footling space.

Equally far as travel backpacks go, the eBags Professional Flight laptop backpack comes with some standard features we have come to expect. The side pockets allow for storage of water bottles, there are small pockets that piece of work great for plane tickets or passports and the master compartment is roomy enough for clothes, shoes and other short trip essentials.

Where this haversack really shines is in its clever employ of storage space. The principal compartment opens up like a suitcase to give you full admission of what's inside. The laptop compartment is TSA-friendly and opens up clamshell style for easy pass at security checkpoints. The front end pocket opens up to a large organizational console that gives you quick access to small items.

1 of our favorite features is the front end elevation pocket especially designed for storing headphones. eBags designed the pocket to be accessible when the handbag is stowed under the aeroplane seat. It'southward little details like this that brand the eBags Professional Flight laptop backpacks not simply the best backpack for Spirit Airlines but one of our favorite air travel backpacks in recent memory.

Cons worth mentioning

The main complaint we have with the eBags Professional Flight Laptop Backpack is in the quality of its zippers. Unlike the zippers featured in other eBags backpacks, the zippers on the Professional Flying Laptop Backpack feel rigid and rough. This makes hard to open up and close compartments, especially when the backpack is full.

Opsrey Daylite Expandable Travel Backpack

Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack

Osprey offers a travel laptop backpack for those who want the utility of a luggage backpack in a more than compact size. With a starting capacity of 26 liters, the Daylite Expandable Travel Pack expands an additional 6 liters for the ultimate flexibility in packing room. This allows you to fall under the Spirit Airlines personal item requirements and gives you the option to arrange the bag size to other airlines equally needed.

Dimensions: 17" x xiii" x 6"

Read more about the Daylite Expandable Travel Pack

Features at a glance:

Dimensions: 17" x 13" 10 6"
Capacity: 26L (32L expanded)
Weight: 1.8lb
Clamshell main compartment allows you to pack like a suitcase
Rear admission laptop compartment
Compact unisex design

What fits inside: The expandable 26L main compartment allows for storage of a few days worth of clothing and personal essentials while compressed with an boosted 6L of room when needed. A forepart stash pocket allows for storage of items such equally a passport, headphones and phone while a side stretch pockets give you like shooting fish in a barrel access to a water bottles. A padded sleeve allows you to store a laptop or tablet up inside the main compartment.

Osprey Expandable Travel Pack for women and men

A Spirit Airlines backpack for 1-pocketbook travelers

Osprey offers a few different travel backpacks just the Daylite Expandable Travel Pack is one of the only that is small enough to fit the Spirit personal item size requirements. It's large enough to hold plenty essentials for a weekend trip nevertheless small-scale enough to fit nether an airplane seat. The bag itself is made out of eco-friendly 300D recycled polyester that is coated with a PFC-gratuitous DWR cease for excellent water resistance.

We like the Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack for its thoughtful design and durability. Along with its pinnacle-notch construction, Osprey has done a bully chore at incorporating hiking haversack technology into a travel bag. This is done with special considerations in the design of the back console and shoulder strap harness that have a special emphasis on breathability and comfort when worn for longer periods of time. The backpanel itself is made with Osprey'southward own AirScape® technology - an ultra breathable mesh-covered dice-cut ridged foam design that provides comfort and ventilation unremarkably merely seen in technical outdoor bags.

For air travel, the Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack is just the right size to exist used equally a personal item on nigh airlines. One-bag travelers will dearest its compact size that allows you to skip expensive luggage fees.

Cons worth mentioning

The padded laptop sleeve is located inside the main packing compartment instead of in its ain split compartment. This is definitely a design con if you like to keep your tech carve up from your main packing area.

Fjallraven Kanken Backpack

Those looking for a small haversack to use as their Spirit Airlines personal item volition love the style and features of the Fjallraven Kanken. Large enough to concord a days worth of stuff all the same small-scale plenty to comfortably fit nether airplane seats, the Kanken is the take-everywhere backpack for long relaxing vacations or quick weekend adventures.

Dimensions: 14.9" x 10.half-dozen" x 5.1"

Read more well-nigh the Fjallraven Kanken Haversack

Features at a glance:

Dimensions: 14.ix" ten 10.vi" x 5.1"
Capacity: 16L
Weight: .7lb
Fabricated of waterproof material
Clamshell backpack with 3/4 zipper for easy packing
Perfect size for women, children and people who demand a pocket-sized travel haversack

What fits inside: The Kanken'due south deep main compartment tin fit a mean solar day'south worth of travel gear such every bit a lite jacket, camera, snacks and water bottles. The main compartment tin conform a laptop or tablet upward to 14-inches while the bag's side pockets can concur water bottles or an umbrella.

Our preferred Spirit Airlines pocket-sized backpack

The Fjallraven Kanken has been one of the nigh popular outdoor backpacks in contempo years cheers to its waterproof features, endless color options and unique rectangular design. It'south this boxy rectangular pattern that helps give the Kanken it'south roomy main compartment. Unlike other curved backpacks, the indigestible chief compartment allows you to store more while nevertheless keeping a small footprint. This makes the Kanken perfect for women, kids or anyone with a smaller frame where total sized travel backpacks may exist too big and heavy.

Although the blueprint is cool, it's the small details that brand the Kanken such a great travel backpack. The main compartment opens up 3/four of the way for total access to the contents within. On the dorsum of the chief compartment yous'll find a Fjallraven tag that allows you lot to write down your proper name and contact information for the off chance that you lot lose your bag. On the exterior of the bag is where you'll find a cogitating logo patch for safety also equally a top handle so you can carry your Kanken like a tote when needed.

Size wise the Kanken meets the Spirit personal item backpack requirements and perfectly fits nether airplane seats so you won't accept to place information technology in overhead storage. If you like the idea of a Kanken but want something a petty different then make sure to cheque out our backpacks like Fjallraven list for like options.

Cons worth mentioning

The Kanken was originally designed to aid with dorsum problems in school children. It's ergonomically "10" shoulder strap design provides optimal support but unfortunately the thin straps can sometimes dig into shoulders if the bag gets also heavy.

Herschel Little America Mid-Volume Backpack

Herschel takes their popular Petty America backpack and shrinks it down in size with their Little America Mid-Volume. At a 17 liter chapters, the Lilliputian America Mid-Volume is the perfect size to use as a Spirt Airlines personal item while even so having plenty of space for travel essentials.

Dimensions: xvi" x 10.75" x 5"

Read more than about the Herschel Trivial America Mid-Volume Backpack

Features at a glance:

Dimensions: 16" x 10.75" ten 5"
Capacity: 17L
Weight: one.9lbs
Smaller version of full sized 25L Herschel Little America
Padded and fleece lined 13" laptop sleeve
Internal media pocket with headphone port

What fits within: The outside forepart pocket is great for minor items like keys, a wallet or telephone while the main compartment fits a low-cal jacket, camera, books and other travel essentials. A padded and fleece lined sleeve holds a xiii-inch laptop.

Herschel offers stylish airplane carry

We are big fans of the Herschel Little America for its iconic design and throwback features but we found the total sized version to be a flake likewise big to carry on equally a personal item on Spirit Airlines. The Herschel Piddling America Mid-Book nevertheless is the perfect size as it comes in under the Spirit personal item requirements.

What sets Herschel apart from other big backpack brands is their heritage designs that are a cross between a vintage outdoor and urban modernistic. The Piddling America backpack is one of Herschel's most pop designs because of its blend of old and new. With a mountaineering inspired rucksack opening and classic woven label it is a fresh accept on old outdoor gear. If you like Herschel's heritage look just desire to see what other brands are out there then make sure to cheque out our list of backpacks similar Herschel.

Cons worth mentioning

Lack of water canteen pockets and small compartments may exist a deal breaker for some people who need lots of organisation. The Herschel Little America Mid-Volume only has a main compartment, laptop sleeve and a pocket-size front end pocket.

This backpack likewise lacks lots of the travel features other backpacks on this list have. Information technology does non have a pass-through trolley panels for easy carry on luggage handles and its rucksack design makes it harder to access clothing or items in the bottom of the bag.

FAQs

Now that we have listed our favorite Spirit Airlines backpacks let's address some common questions.

Can I bring a backpack on Spirit Airlines?

You can bring any type of purse, including a backpack, as your personal item gratuitous of charge as long as the dimensions are under size limit of eighteen x 14 ten eight inches.

What almost Jansport backpacks?

A common question we get is "Can I bring my (insert brand name here) backpack?". The short respond is that you can bring whatever brand haversack yous like as long as it falls nether the size requirements for a Spirit Airlines personal item.

The longer reply really depends on the brand and backpack model. We have establish that about basic school bags (like the ones pictured below) fall well beneath the personal detail restrictions and are ok to bring with yous on the flight without being charged a fee. To exist more than specific backpacks like the Jansport Superbreak and Herschel Settlement count as Spirit Airlines personal items.

Although we are large fans of brands like North Face up and other outdoor/travel brands we institute that a lot of the well-nigh pop Northward Face backpacks run a few inches too large to exist considered a Spirit Airlines personal item. In this case it becomes a bring at your own adventure situation when it's time to lath the plane. Spirit Airlines can be strict with their bag restrictions and you may exist charged a fee if the bag is considered besides large.

If you are unsure every bit whether you can bring your backpack on a Spirit Airlines flight as a free personal item and so the all-time matter you lot can do is look up your specific haversack model on the make'south website for the backpack's dimensions.

What's the difference between a personal item and carry on?

There are 3 categories of bags that Spirit Airlines allows y'all to bring with yous on flights. The offset is the "personal particular" which was covered extensively in this guide. The second is a "carry-on handbag" which is larger than a personal item and can be stowed in the overhead compartment when you board. The terminal kind of pocketbook is a checked purse which is whatsoever purse or baggage that is bigger than a acquit-on merely smaller than 62 linear inches.

Spirit Airlines personal item and carry-on difference

Whatever pocketbook that surpasses the xviii x 14 x 8 inches personal item size limit only is nether 22 x 18 x10 inches is considered a carry-on bag and will accumulate a fee. If your backpack is too large to be considered a personal particular than Spirit Airlines treat it every bit a conduct-on.

Criteria Used for Evaluation

With hundreds of bags to cull from we had to come up with system to filter through a lot of the noise. Instead of going through each and every one nosotros decided to set a standard in which each backpack must take before nosotros further reviewed it.

We decided on a 5 signal system to determine the quality of each haversack nosotros researched and reviewed:

Size and Dimensions
Easy Storage of Travel Essentials
Fashion and Design
User Reviews
Availability

ane. Size and Dimensions

The showtime criteria we looked for was that size and dimensions of each backpack fit the Spirit Airlines personal detail requirements. If the backpack ran likewise large or mode too pocket-size nosotros did not consider it for our initial picks. A skillful travel backpack should be pocket-size plenty to exist considered an airline personal particular yet large enough to safely store everything yous need for a comfortable flight. At this size each backpack on the listing should fit under an plane seat to avoid having to stow information technology above with the carry-ons.

2. Piece of cake Storage of Travel Essentials

There are countless little things that each of the states won't leave home without when traveling by airplane. These things tin can include chewing gum, h2o bottles, headphones and laptops.

Ane of the features we look for was easy access to these of import items both during regular deport and when on the aeroplane. Backpacks are usually stowed away nether aeroplane seats with limited room to become to the things we need for a comfortable flight. Backpacks with specially placed and piece of cake-access pockets took a priority over backpacks that didn't have these storage features.

three. Fashion and Design

When it comes to backpacks, no one wants to own an ugly bag. We took style into consideration when making our list and excluded any numberless that were poorly designed or just not fashionable. Build quality is merely equally important as style. Backpacks with well constructed laptop sleeves, loftier grade materials and congenital-in comfort features were put into a higher priority for consideration.

With this said, bags like the Herschel Little America Mid-Book and Fjallraven Kanken can be considered by some less travel bags and more similar everyday mode backpacks. But we see them as skilful reliable bags that countless people have used as their go-to travel backpacks. Because of this we made sure to include them on our listing.

4. User Reviews

Nosotros considered thousands of online user reviews and excluded any bags with likewise low ratings. Simply backpacks with high user reviews were considered for review.

5. Availability

We simply included bags that are widely available in stores and online. This makes it easier for you to store for a pocketbook y'all like without having to worry most depression stock or aircraft restrictions. We excluded numberless from some of the smaller backpack brands because of this. Instead we made certain the numberless on our list are readily available at multiple retailers online and can easily be shipped within the U.s..

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