Salkan Carry-On 35L In-Depth Review

As an adventure traveller I’m often annoyed with the range of backpacks available. They’re often either geared completely towards the mainstream tourist/commuter/air travel crowd or they’re highly technical packs aimed at trekkers and mountaineers.

Rarely is there something in between these extremes, which is why I’ve come to love Salkan’s designs. Their backpacks are outdoors-oriented but without compromising on the travel features or look and feel.

I reviewed the Salkan 45L Backpacker a few years ago and was highly impressed with its materials, usability, and comfort. Salkan has now released its newest Carry-on model, which promises to be air-travel-friendly while still being an adventure backpack at heart.

Here are my impressions after testing it for two weeks on a trip in Portugal.

Note: As always, these are 100% my own opinions (I never do sponsored reviews). Links may be affiliate links.

More than a carry-on

Let’s start by addressing a backpack’s most important aspect. In the case of the Salkan Carry-On, I think it’s the unusually high level of extensibility.

It’s fully carry-on compliant, so you can fly without checking it in. However, several features let you go beyond strict carry-on when needed.

This is excellent news for budget travellers like me who like to save on airfare by flying carry-on only, but who also go on adventure trips where an extra bit of space and versatility can often come in very handy.

The Salkan 35L is perfect for shorter trips, but if you pack properly you can push it further on a bigger trip too. For instance, before your flight you can pack all your gear tightly and carefully inside the Salkan’s main body. (And you can carry some of your bulky clothing on you.) Once at the destination, several features let you ‘depressurise’ the contents with plenty of spare space to use during your trip.

The following features let you go beyond just carry-on:

Top expansion: the top lid offers some wonderful extra margin, letting you expand the pack by an additional 4 litres. A label and line indicate the carry-on limit, but if you’d like a bit more leeway after you’ve landed (or when you’re on an overland trip) then the extra space is there. This is a rare and much-appreciated feature!

Daisy chains: On the top lid and along the entire back you’ll find daisy chain strips, which let you attach gear externally using carabiners, clips, or meshes. This is usually more of a trekking pack feature, but it’s ideal for general travel as well.

Stretch cord loop: Located on the outside of the back, this is perfect for keeping a pair of sandals, shoes, or a raincoat.

Shoulder strap loops: Both shoulder straps have a small loop in the middle that you can further use to attach small bits of gear in creative ways.

Side pockets: There are two side pockets, commonly used for water bottles but also usable for other purposes. Above each is a compression strap, so you can fix a camera tripod, trekking pole, or other tall object in place.

You could even consider adding a Salkan Daypack if you still need more packing space. While it’s a bit over the limit for a “personal item” (that you can keep in a plane under the seat in front of you), it may still be fine as long as it’s not packed to the brim. I regularly fly with a daypack that’s about 10 cm over the limit, so the Carry-On combined with the Salkan Daypack could still be a good option.

Just like the larger 45L Salkan Mainpack, the 35L is fully compatible with the daypack, so you can use it as a 2-in-1 solution. You can attach the daypack using hooks on the front or back of the Carry-On. This won’t merge them perfectly, but it’s a great quick carry solution while navigating an airport or bus terminal.

(Above: one way of attaching the Carry-On to a Salkan Daypack. Note the color is different as this daypack came with an earlier version of the Salkan Mainpack.)

My main point is that while the Salkan 35L is ideal for shorter carry-on trips (of up to a week or so), its versatility lets you adapt it to different trips. I like how there are so many different external storage options to use.

Let’s now look at the inner packing space.

Interior space & storage options

The main compartment can be opened from the top or from the side. I always prefer side-loading backpacks because you can reach all your clothes instantly, just like a suitcase, but having both options is great.

The interior space feels somehow both snug and spacious, making the best of the inherent size limitations. There is sufficient space for two packing cubes and a laundry bag, which are sold separately and worth adding.

There is a nicely sized mesh pocket under the main access flap. Along the sides of the main compartment are also three internal organization pockets.

To this I say: huzza! It’s a key feature sorely lacking from other backpacks I’ve reviewed, including the Osprey Farpoint 40. It may be a small detail but it prevents small loose items from escaping on their own journeys, never to be seen again.

If you’re a laptop-wielding traveller then you’ll appreciate the dedicated laptop compartment. It shares space with the main compartment, so it won’t reduce your packing space when not in use. You can access it with its own zipper from the side or from the pack’s top access. There isn’t a separate tablet sleeve but a tablet can be stored here just fine as well. My Macbook Air 13″ fit easily in the laptop compartment and I’d say up to 15″ laptops will probably fit.

This backpack doesn’t have the typical organizer compartment with pen holders or a smartphone pocket — but that’s not really a negative. While this might be nice to have on a commuter daypack, I never see the point of these on adventure backpacks, so I’m glad Salkan has focused on other more useful features. (Storing lots of pens just isn’t my top priority when I’m, say, sailing on a catamaran in the Philippines!)

On the top is a quick-access pocket, while on the back is a secret sleeve where you can store a passport or other document. I once had this feature on my very first backpack, which I bought 14 years ago (from a brand that no longer exists) and it’s very nice to see it here again. Since it’s located between your back and the pack, anything you put here will be super secure. Oh passport pocket, how I’ve missed thee!

Weather resistance

You will have surely noticed the Salkan backpack’s good looks. Its outer material looks and feels a lot like canvas, but it’s actually recycled 900D COTNA Polyester.

When I first saw the textured and retro look that’s so different from the typical smoother and shinier outdoor backpacks, I was initially a bit worried about its outdoor performance. I go to some pretty wild places at times; last year I went trekking on Colombia’s Pacific Coast, one of the world’s top 10 wettest places where it rains almost constantly. Would this pack hold its own here?

I’m happy to say that regardless of its fabric-like aesthetic, it’s actually perfect for the outdoors.

Your first line of defence against the elements is the pack’s wax coating. If you splash it with water, you can instantly see droplets form:

Secondly, should you find yourself in a heavy storm (or maybe on Colombia’s dreaded Pacific coast!) then there’s also a separate rain cover included, which is stowed at the bottom of the pack.

When using this cover, your stuff is virtually guaranteed to stay dry. In other words, I think the Salkan 35L can work very well for a demanding backpacking or adventure trip — even for a trek or two.

One asterisk here is that due to the textured material, I do believe it may absorb dirt or scratches a bit more than technical materials such as ripstop nylon or sailcloth. I’m just noting this in case you’re very OCD about small markings, because this pack might acquire more of a rugged look after some years of use with maybe a scar here and there.

(That said, the 45L version that I’ve had since 2021 has only picked up a few scuffs so far. I’ve just avoided washing it to keep the wax coating in top condition.)

I love the slightly retro look, which Salkan has clearly embraced by offering various patches and custom straps to make a pack truly your own.

Comfort

The Salkan 35L’s back panel is virtually identical to the Salkan 45L, which I reviewed in detail. But in a nutshell, it comes complete with wonderfully padded shoulder straps, a sternum strap, a great hip belt that can be detached if you don’t need it, and load lifter straps that let you ‘tuck in’ the pack closer to your back for a perfect fit.

If you adjust all the straps correctly, the system will offer a very high comfort level with minimal shoulder pressure. I’m a bit tall for most packs (1m 94 / 6”4), but despite my non-average height, I’m finding the Salkan 35L perfectly comfortable to wear for long stretches at a time. The back padding is excellent as you can see in the detail shot below.

Conclusion

The Salkan Carry-On is a perfect pick if you fly and go on shorter adventures up to a week or so, but it can also work for longer or further trips where you just want to avoid checking in luggage.

In recent years I’ve kept my travel costs low by using carry-on-only tickets even on long-haul flights. On my latest trips to Colombia and Mexico, I brought only a carry-on with 8kg of gear and a small daypack. The Salkan Carry-On will work very well for this type of minimalist travel, especially if you properly use the 4-litre expansion and the many external carry features once you’ve hit the road.

(If you mostly travel overland or don’t mind checking in your luggage, you could also take a look at the larger Salkan Mainpack 45L.)

At 1.9 kg (4.1 lbs), it’s maybe not for the ultralight crowd, though its overall weight is within norms for a backpack this size. I’m also impressed with its wide range of highly usable features. Not only that, but the design looks so much better than all those rather forgettable tech backpacks that seem to be the current trend.

I love the overall look and feel and the practical attention to detail. In addition to the features I’ve already mentioned, several others are very well thought-out. For instance, the grab handle on the side is perfectly placed for when you wish to carry it briefly like a suitcase. It’s worth considering getting one or two of Salkan’s own packing cubes as well, which are designed to fit exactly inside.

As you may have noticed, I have almost nothing negative to say about the Salkan Carry-On. If I had any cons I would definitely share them, but I simply think this is an extremely solid product.

The Salkan Carry-On is easily one of my top best travel backpacks. As long as its size and features match the type of travel you expect to do, then I can’t recommend it enough.

Note: it’s available exclusively online via Salkan’s own store. If you’re not yet sure it’s right for you, they have a unique 100-day trial offer.

 

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