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Portland Gear Backpacks: Standard Size as My Carry-On and Compact Size as My Personal Item?

Good afternoon, fellow travelers! Here's my question: What are people's thoughts about me using a Portland Gear Cascade Standard Backpack as my carry-on and the Portland Gear Cascade Compact Backpack as my personal item? I think the Standard fits just fine for the carry-on dimensions for Air Canada, but the Compact might be slightly over dimensions-wise. Note: We are taking a direct, round-trip flight from Montreal to Rome in late June via Air Canada. I definitely don't want to check any of my bags.

Dimensions: 16" Height x 11" Width x 8.5 for the Standard size backpack

Dimensions: 14" Height x 9.75" Width x 7.25" Depth for the Compact size backpack

Air Canada's requirements: A standard carry-on bag measures 55 cm (21.5 in) in height, 23 cm (9 in) in depth, and 40 cm (15.5 in) in width, while a personal item adheres to the following dimensions: 33 cm (13 in) in height, 16 cm (6 in) in depth, and 43 cm (17 in) in width.

Posted by
13438 posts

Looking at pictures of the 'compact' bag it looks to not be very squishable, so even if not full, could be a problem to pass muster as an under seat bag..

Have you used it as an under seat bag in the past? How well does it fit? Foot room?

Given jet fuel prices, I doubt the airline is going to be lenient when it comes to passing on an opportunity to impose a bag fee.

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Posted by
2 posts

I have never used anything from Portland Gear before. I just ordered the Standard size Portland Gear Backpack as my carry-on and as I said, that seems to be a decent match requirements/dimensions-wise. It's the smaller one that I'm worried about. Excellent point about fuel prices, etc. I agree with you and might get their Compact Tote instead of the Compact Backpack...