tomtoc Travel Backpack 28L vs 40L: Which Size? (October 2026)

On this page (12 sections)

1. tomtoc travel backpack 28L vs 40L: which size should you choose?
2. What changes between the 28L and 40L?
3. Who should buy the 28L?
4. Who should buy the 40L?
5. Which size works better as a personal item?
6. Which one holds more for an overnight or multi-day trip?
7. Does laptop size decide between these backpacks?
8. How should you set up either backpack?
9. How do you care for the packs during regular use?
10. What mistakes should you avoid when choosing?
11. Is a different backpack better for work?
12. Which tomtoc travel backpack should you buy?

Choose the tomtoc Travel Backpack 28L for a smaller load and the 40L for more packing room. For the tomtoc travel backpack 28L vs 40L decision, compare your trip length, laptop size and usual packing list.

The 28L measures 17.72 x 11.81 x 7.87 inches and fits a laptop up to 16 inches. The 40L measures 20.47 x 12.99 x 9 inches, offers 38–40L of usable capacity and fits a laptop up to 17 inches.

Both laptop compartments open 90°–180° for security screening. The central tradeoff is straightforward: the smaller bag keeps a light load compact, while the larger bag gives clothes and extras more space.

tomtoc travel backpack 28L vs 40L: which size should you choose?

Pick the 28L for a short trip or a compact daily load, and the 40L when your packing list needs more room. The 40L offers roughly 10–12L more usable capacity, depending on packing method and contents.

The 28L is designed for short trips and minimalist travelers. It can compress when it is not full, so it remains a sensible choice when you carry a laptop, a few clothes and only the essentials.

The 40L suits travelers who pack several outfits, a larger toiletry kit or items that do not fold down small. Its main compartment opens like a suitcase, making it easier to lay out clothes and repack them.

Before choosing, write down what you actually bring: laptop, charger, clothes, toiletries, water bottle and any travel extras. If those items fit with room to spare in your current bag, a 40L pack may invite unnecessary bulk.

What changes between the 28L and 40L?

The 40L is larger and holds more, while the 28L is the more compact option. Their capacity, dimensions and laptop limits are the main differences that affect a buying decision.

The 28L travel-ready details give its weight as 2.20 lb, while its item weight is also given as 950 g. The 40L weighs 1,200 g.

Both have top and side handles, a rear luggage strap and a padded back panel. The difference is not simply whether one bag is “better”: it is whether the extra size and capacity solve a problem you have.

Who should buy the 28L?

Buy the 28L if you pack light, prefer a smaller bag or carry a laptop up to 16 inches. It is a strong fit for a weekend away, a short work trip or a daily commute where a large change of clothes is not part of the load.

The 28L has a clamshell-style main compartment for suitcase-like packing and a dedicated tech compartment that fits a 16-inch laptop and 13-inch iPad. The front, top and side pockets give small essentials separate places, while the bag can compress when it is not full.

Its smaller dimensions are also a useful starting point if you want to try carrying a backpack under an airplane seat. Airline personal-item sizes vary, so the bag’s size alone does not guarantee that it will qualify on a particular flight.

Skip the 28L if your laptop exceeds 16 inches or your regular packing list includes several outfits, bulky layers and extra gear. A bag that forces you to leave useful items behind is too small, even if it is easier to carry.

Who should buy the 40L?

Buy the 40L if you need more room for clothing, travel essentials or a laptop up to 17 inches. Its usable capacity is 38–40L, and tomtoc describes it as suitable for trips of about 3–5 days, depending on how you pack.

The suitcase-style main opening makes it easier to arrange clothes in layers and reach items near the bottom. A separate tech compartment fits a laptop up to 17 inches and a 13-inch iPad with accessories.

The larger size suits people who move between work and travel with more than a laptop and charger. It can also help when you want to keep clothes separate from your device and smaller items.

Skip the 40L if your daily load is only a laptop and a few small essentials, or if you want the best chance of carrying your bag as a personal item. More capacity can make it easy to pack more than you want to carry, and its larger dimensions need closer attention when checking airline limits.

Which size works better as a personal item?

The 28L is the more compact choice to consider for under-seat use. Its dimensions are smaller in every direction than the 40L’s, but airline rules decide whether either bag qualifies as a personal item.

tomtoc designed both bags to meet most international airlines’ carry-on requirements. That is not the same as a guarantee that either fits a specific airline’s personal-item sizer, which can be smaller than its carry-on allowance.

Check your airline’s current limits for both personal items and carry-ons before you pack. Compare all three dimensions, and leave some give in a soft bag because an overfilled backpack may not compress into a sizer.

Read our guide to whether a laptop bag counts as a carry-on or personal item if you are deciding which cabin allowance to use. For checkpoint details, see what makes a laptop bag TSA-friendly.

Which one holds more for an overnight or multi-day trip?

The 40L holds more clothing and extras, while the 28L can cover a short trip with a restrained packing list. Your clothing’s thickness and the space taken by shoes or gear matter as much as the trip’s length.

For an overnight stay, the 28L can work if you pack a small wardrobe and avoid bulky extras. Its clamshell opening gives you a broad space to arrange clothes, and the smaller pockets keep items such as travel liquids or glasses accessible.

For several days, the 40L is the safer choice if you want spare outfits, layers or room for items beyond the basics. Its compartment opens like a suitcase, so you can pack it in layers and reach more of the contents without unpacking everything.

Use a packing cube or a simple folded-clothing stack to keep similar items together. Put heavier items close to your back, and keep things you need during travel in the front or top pockets.

Does laptop size decide between these backpacks?

Choose the 28L for a laptop up to 16 inches and the 40L for a laptop up to 17 inches. Before buying, compare the laptop’s outside measurements with the bag compartment because screen size does not describe the full device footprint.

The 28L tech compartment also accommodates a 13-inch iPad. The 40L compartment fits a laptop up to 17 inches and a 13-inch iPad with accessories.

Both laptop sections open 90°–180° for airport security screening. This lets the compartment open wide around the computer, but checkpoint procedures can differ, so follow staff instructions.

Use our laptop backpack buying guide to compare device fit, organization and carry comfort. If you carry a larger device, check its width, depth and thickness before settling on the 28L.

How should you set up either backpack?

Set up the backpack around the items you reach most often, then pack the main compartment by trip priority. A little organization makes either capacity easier to use and helps prevent small items from sinking under clothes.

Place your laptop and tablet in the dedicated tech compartment, following the opening and screening instructions at the airport. Put glasses, documents and travel liquids in the quick-access areas, and use the side pockets for bottles or other small items that fit securely.

For the 28L, keep the main compartment focused on clothes and trip essentials. Since it can compress when underfilled, avoid filling it with loose items just to make the bag look full.

For the 40L, pack the main compartment like a small suitcase: put heavier items near your back, keep a change of clothes easy to reach, and use smaller pockets for things you need in transit. Slide the rear strap over a suitcase handle when rolling luggage, and adjust the chest buckle before a longer walk.

How do you care for the packs during regular use?

Keep either backpack clean and dry, and treat its zippers and straps with care. The 28L uses polyester fabric, and the 40L uses recycled fabric, so follow the care label or brand guidance before applying cleaners.

Empty the pockets after a trip and shake out loose dirt. If the bag gets damp, let it air dry fully before storing it, and avoid putting it away with wet clothing or toiletries inside.

Do not force a zipper around a packed corner. Move the contents away from the zipper path, close the compartment without tension, and check that straps are not trapped in the opening.

What mistakes should you avoid when choosing?

The biggest mistake is buying by the capacity number alone. Laptop fit, outside dimensions, airline rules and what you carry each day all affect whether the backpack will suit you.

First, do not assume a 28L is automatically a personal item or that a 40L is accepted on every flight. Check the carrier’s current rules and compare the packed bag with its size limits.

Second, do not use laptop screen size as the only fit check. Measure the device itself and leave room for its case or accessories if you carry them.

Third, do not choose the larger bag just because it seems more versatile. If you rarely pack extra clothes, the 40L’s additional room may become extra weight and bulk instead of useful capacity.

Finally, do not confuse the 28L’s listed travel-ready weight of 2.20 lb with its separate item weight of 950 g. If empty weight matters to you, confirm the exact version and details before buying.

Is a different backpack better for work?

A work-focused backpack may be a better fit if documents, device organization and daily commuting matter more than travel capacity. The SwissGear 1900 ScanSmart is a 31L alternative with a lay-flat laptop compartment, document divider and RFID-protected organizer compartment.

It fits most 17-inch laptops and has a padded tablet pocket, multiple organizer pockets and a trolley strap. That layout may suit someone who carries work papers and small items every day, while the tomtoc packs focus more directly on travel packing.

Choose the SwissGear if you want its work organization and laptop screening layout. For a broader comparison, see our guide to laptop backpacks for work and commuting.

Which tomtoc travel backpack should you buy?

Choose the tomtoc travel backpack 28L vs 40L by matching the bag to your usual load: 28L for compact packing, 40L for a laptop up to 17 inches or several days of clothes. If you regularly carry bulky extras, the 40L makes more sense; if your load stays lean, the 28L is easier to keep compact.

The 28L is the better pick for minimalist travelers and people who want a smaller pack for short trips. The 40L is the better pick for a multi-day packing list that needs more clothing space.

tomtoc travel backpack 28L vs 40L: quick answers

The 28L suits lighter packing, while the 40L suits a larger load. These answers cover the size questions that most often settle the choice.

Is the 28L enough for a weekend trip?

It can be enough for a weekend if you pack a small wardrobe and limit extras. Its 28L capacity is designed for short trips and minimalist travelers, but bulky clothes or gear can take up space quickly.

Is the 40L too large for daily use?

The 40L may feel larger than needed if your daily load is just a laptop and a few work items. Its dimensions and usable capacity suit people who make use of the extra room for clothes or travel essentials.

Can you carry either backpack on a suitcase?

Yes. Both have a rear luggage strap that slides over suitcase handles.

They also have top and side handles for carrying or lifting. The strap is useful in transit when you are already rolling a suitcase.

Which tomtoc backpack is better for a 17-inch laptop?

The 40L is the fit to consider because its tech compartment accommodates a laptop up to 17 inches. The 28L compartment fits devices up to 16 inches, so measure your laptop’s outside dimensions before choosing.

Choose the 28L for a compact load and the 40L when your regular packing list needs the extra space. Check your laptop measurements and airline limits before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is the tomtoc 28L or 40L better for a personal item?

The 28L is the smaller choice for travelers who want to pack light. It measures 17.72 x 11.81 x 7.87 inches, and tomtoc designed it to meet most international airlines' carry-on requirements.

Airline rules vary, so check your carrier's limits for personal items before flying.

How many days can the tomtoc 40L hold?

The 40L can suit a trip of about 3–5 days, depending on what you pack and how you arrange it. Its usable capacity ranges from 38–40L, and the main compartment opens like a suitcase.

Bulky clothing or extra gear can reduce how much fits.

Will a 17-inch laptop fit in the tomtoc 28L?

The 28L tech compartment fits a laptop up to 16 inches, so a 17-inch laptop exceeds its stated fit. The 40L compartment accommodates a laptop up to 17 inches.

Check your laptop's outside dimensions as well as its screen size before choosing.

Does the tomtoc 40L fit most airline carry-on rules?

The 40L measures 20.47 x 12.99 x 9 inches, and tomtoc designed it to meet most international airlines' carry-on size requirements. Rules differ by airline, route and fare, so compare these dimensions with your carrier's current cabin baggage limits before you pack.

Is the 28L or 40L more comfortable to carry?

Both have a padded back panel, contoured shoulder straps and an adjustable chest buckle. The 28L is listed at 2.20 lb in its travel-ready details, while the 40L weighs 1,200 g.

Fit, load weight and carry time also affect comfort.