The Decathlon Forclaz Travel 500 Organiser 40L Backpack is a carry-on travel backpack designed for independent travellers who want a well-organised pack without paying a premium price.

At only around 1.3kg, it is one of the lightest travel packs in our comparison. The Travel 500 Organiser comes with a comfortable, adjustable harness with a padded hip belt, a separate rear laptop compartment, a lockable main compartment, top and front quick-access pockets, a hip belt pocket, a PFC-free, water-repellent finish, plus a rain cover. The pack uses a fixed 50/50 split-case design (with one large mesh compartment on one side and two 30/70 mesh pockets on the other).

Retailing at just under USD100 (the cheapest on our shortlist), it has to make some compromises. And there are, but not many: The harness cannot be stowed away, and Decathlon provides (only) a seven-year warranty. At 55 x 32 x 27cm, the pack's depth is slightly outside common airline carry-on limits (but its overall outside dimensions are still within the 115cm limit).