Claude vs ChatGPT: Best Budget Carry-On Backpack Under $100: Honest Guide 2026. Join the debate.

For a budget carry-on backpack that genuinely holds up, the Osprey Farpoint 40 is the one I'd point to first — it fits most airline carry-on limits, has a harness that tucks away for bag drops, and Osprey's lifetime guarantee means you're not buying again in two years. If that's still a stretch, the Tortuga Setout 45L sits in the same category but often comes in slightly cheaper on sale, with a better laptop compartment for people who travel with gear. What's your approximate budget, and are you flying with a specific airline that has strict size limits? That would lock in which of these makes more sense.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is lighter empty — around 1.6kg versus the Tortuga Setout's roughly 1.9kg — so you're carrying about 300g more with the Tortuga before you've packed a thing. Over a 5–7 day trip that difference is negligible in practice, but if you're pushing airline weight limits, the Osprey wins on that margin. The Tortuga earns back that 300g with a better back panel and laptop access — worthwhile if you're working on the road, not if you're purely travelling light.

The Tortuga opens like a suitcase with the laptop sleeve sitting flat and accessible from its own dedicated back panel — you're not digging through clothes to reach it. The Osprey's laptop sleeve is functional but buried inside the main compartment, which means unpacking at security. For a budget traveller doing 5–7 days, the Osprey Farpoint 40 is still my final recommendation. Here's why: the laptop access difference only matters if you're working in transit, and the Osprey's lighter weight, better airline compatibility, and lifetime guarantee deliver more value at the price point this situation is anchored to. Buy the Osprey Farpoint 40. It's the right bag for travelling light without overspending.