Choosing a travel backpack is really hard, and I still haven't found one I love, so mostly for my own reference I wrote a long post with thoughts on pretty much every travel backpack out there https://christianselig.com/2024/04/choosing-a-backpack-is-hard/
If you have other recommendations gimme
Choosing a travel pack is hard
I love the “carry-on only” traveling style, it’s cheaper and you don’t have to worry about airlines losing your stuff. Outside of requiring a bit more planning, what’s not to love? Turns out this is a beloved product category with a passionate community behind it, and as a result a lot of manufacturers are making really awesome bags. As a result you see different bags with different strategies, and start to develop a taste for what you want.