TOM BIHN Synik 22, Everyday Carry & Travel Backpack, 22L

That grab handle is genuinely cushioned — I found myself carrying it by hand through the airport instead of shouldering it, and my fingers never complained. The padded straps also spread the weight nicely when I finally wore it, so the whole thing feels lighter than 22L should.

Used it for a three-day trip and the padded shoulder straps genuinely made the weight disappear, even when I packed it to the brim. The 22L size is the sweet spot for carry-on plus a daypack.

The cushioned grab handle makes hoisting it into overhead bins genuinely painless, and the 22L size fits a surprising amount without feeling bulky. I've used it daily for a month now and the padded straps still feel like new.