Best Travel Backpack for Norwegian Airlines (Carry-On Approved Picks)

Choosing the right travel backpack for Norwegian Airlines isn’t that simple?

Norwegian tends to be strict about cabin baggage sizes and weights — especially if you’re flying on LowFare or LowFare+ tickets. You can zip through boarding with the perfect carry-on on legacy carriers, only to find it thrown onto the conveyor belt… or worse, charged for checking it — simply because your bag turned out to be half an inch too wide or poorly designed.

I’ve flown Norwegian several times myself and spent hours advising people on how to pack efficiently to navigate budget airlines’ restrictive cabin baggage allowances.

In this post, I cover:

• Exactly what Norwegian Airlines will and won’t accept.
• Tips to keep in mind when choosing a backpack.
• Backpack recommendations that actually work… both with Norwegian’s rules and in real-life travel.

Because this isn’t your typical “backpack roundup.” I only recommend bags that work on Norwegian Airlines. It’s a buying guide made by packing experts with Norwegian’s measurements, boarding experience, and actual use cases in mind.

Norwegian Airlines Carry-On Rules (Size & Weight Limitations Your Backpack Must Fit)

Before you can dive into backpack recommendations, it pays to review Norwegian Air Shuttle’s cabin baggage policies.

Authorized Cabin Bag Dimensions & Weight Limits

Norwegian Airlines’ primary carry-on bag must be no larger than:

• 55 x 40 x 23 cm
• Maximum Weight: 10 kilograms

LowFare passengers may also be limited to under-the-seat baggage only if cabin bag add-ons are not purchased.

Is My Backpack Too Big for Norwegian Airlines?

Backpacks are notoriously measured by volume (liters), not length and width.

A bag could technically list itself as “40L” but still exceed Norwegian’s depth allowance when fully packed. The safest bet is a travel backpack that:

• Has a height of 55 cm or less
• Is rigid or semi-rigid
• Doesn’t rely heavily on external pockets or straps

These backpacks below were selected specifically because they can fit within Norwegian Airlines dimensions when packed correctly.

Features Every Great Norwegian Airlines Backpack Has

Finding the perfect backpack for Norwegian Airlines isn’t just about finding the smallest bag.

Here are things I focused on when researching and selecting which products made the cut:

• Under airline dimensions for carry-on luggage
• Has straps to help compress the backpack and minimize depth
• Lightweight material (because your bag’s empty weight also matters)
• Front-opening design allows for more efficient packing
• Feels comfortable when worn walking around a city and on public transit

Each backpack recommendation below is:

• Preferred by real-world travelers and frequent flyers.
• Suitable for short to medium-length Europe trips.

Cabin Max Metz 44L Carry-On Travel Backpack

The Cabin Max Metz has long been one of my favorites when boarding Norwegian — or any airline for that matter.

Aircraft have specific dimensions, and this backpack is designed around those limits. Cabin Max specifically lists Norwegian on their site as one of the many European airlines their backpack fits.

Opening up this backpack is a game changer. The clamshell style opening allows you to pack your bag similar to a suitcase. Many people complain that backpacks don’t allow you to efficiently pack without going over the depth limits. That’s not a problem with this backpack.

It’s ridiculously light too. Beyond the bag itself being featherweight, having room to work with allows you to pack lighter. Staying under that 10 kilogram weight limit is crucial.

Buy it if:

• You want a minimalist design that puts airlines first.
• You hate guessing how full you can pack your luggage.
• You prefer organization that isn’t bulky.

Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack (Size: 35-40L)

When you think of Amazon Basics, you probably think of cheap commodities like HDMI cords, batteries, and stuff that doesn’t fit into a neat little package.

However, the Amazon Basics Carry-On Backpack is different.

Its dimensions are actually hard to mess up with Norwegian Airlines. Amazon Basics products tend to skimp on padding and filling, so you won’t have that false sense of space like many other “travel” backpacks.

While it isn’t the fanciest backpack available, travelers who need something that works and won’t break the bank tend to love this backpack.

Buy it if:

• You’re looking for something cheap that you know will work on Norwegian.
• You don’t mind simple packing compartments.
• You plan on taking a weekend trip or won’t need to pack for more than a week.

Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack

As far as well-known backpack brands go, Osprey has been around the block and knows how to make a great travel backpack.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is barely inside the size requirements for Norwegian…but it can work if packed correctly. Utilize the backpack’s compression straps to ensure you stay within the depth requirement.

Where this backpack truly shines is with comfort. Osprey is known for having excellent harness systems that distribute weight better than most. If you plan on doing a lot of walking while traveling through Europe (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?) this backpack is great.

Buy it if:

• Comfort and build quality are your top priorities.
• You know how to pack lightly and won’t try to shove your entire house into a backpack.
• You need a trustworthy single bag for a multi-city tour.

tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L – Carry-On Focused Backpack With Laptop Sleeve

If you’ve done any research on backpacks for air travel, you’ve probably heard of tomtoc.

They make a few different backpack models that are very travel friendly, but their main focus with the 40L Travel Backpack is airport security.

The laptop sleeve is padded well, without being too bulky. When folded into your backpack, it doesn’t take up unnecessary space.

I especially love this backpack for Norwegian Airlines because it is stiff enough to keep its shape, but compressible when you need it to.

Buy it if:

• You’ll be traveling with a laptop or large tablet.
• You want a modern and sleek look.
• You like a backpack that has structure but can be flexible when you need it to.

Cabin Max Metz Backpack

If you plan on flying Norwegian Airlines with a LowFare ticket or want a backpack that will fit under the seat in front of you, check out the Cabin Max Metz.

This travel backpack is smaller than most others on this list. Its main purpose is to fit within personal item dimensions on European airlines.

Sacrificing a bit of room allows you to board quickly at the gate without the fear of having to check your backpack at the last minute (and possibly getting charged for it).

Buy it if:

• You are flying Norwegian on a LowFare ticket.
• You are going on a weekend trip or will only be away for a few days.
• You value not having to worry about gate-checks or bag fees over total capacity.

Tips to Pack a Backpack for Norwegian Airlines

Even with the perfect backpack, you can still overpack.

Here are a few tips I swear by when packing a backpack for Norwegian Airlines.

• Roll your clothes. I cannot stress how much of a difference this makes when trying to stay within size requirements.
• Pack your shoes flat against the back panel of your bag.
• Leave things in front pockets until you’re actually boarding. A sneaky hack many travelers use is wearing their heaviest items possible on the plane.

Packing Tips for Backpacks FAQ

Can I bring a backpack on Norwegian Airlines as a carry-on?

Backpacks are perfectly acceptable as carry-on luggage on Norwegian Airlines. Just as long as they fit within the size and weight dimensions.

Should I gate check my backpack on Norwegian Airlines?

That is entirely up to you. As long as your bag fits within the allowable size requirements for Norwegian’s carry-on bags, you won’t need to gate check it. However, if your backpack is too big to fit in the overhead bins, you will likely be asked to gate check it.

Can I bring a softside backpack on Norwegian Airlines?

You can bring a softside backpack on Norwegian Airlines but understand that there is more give and stretch to softside material. You run the risk of exceeding the size requirements if your backpack is too soft.

Backpack or Suitcase on Norwegian Airlines?

I’ve brought both on Norwegian Airlines multiple times and have never had an issue with either as long as they fit in the overhead bin. Suitcases without telescoping handles may give you trouble when trying to stow away on Norwegian’s smaller planes.

Final Thoughts: The Best Backpacks For Norwegian Airlines

• The Cabin Max line of backpacks if you don’t want to take any chances.
• Osprey Farpoint 40 if comfort and durability are your biggest priorities.
• tomtoc 40L Travel Backpack if you prefer something stylish that has a great balance of flexibility and structure.

Really, the best travel backpack for Norwegian Airlines comes down to:

• Does it fit?
• Will it work with how you pack?
• Will it keep you stress free when boarding?