INTRODUCTION

The rise of budget airlines globally has simplified travel for those who prefer carry-on luggage only. Consequently, many bag makers are now designing their products to meet airline carry-on size requirements.

Not long ago, we reviewed the Bagsmart Blast Travel Backpack with a 38L capacity, which we consider perfect for short getaways without needing to check luggage when flying. Although we really like this bag, as photographers, we prefer to carry camera gear on our backs and wheel a bag. For non-photographers, this may be close to the perfect bag. However, Bagsmart has also released a slightly larger bag that is carry-on compliant, which is both a backpack and a roller bag – the Blast 43L Roller Backpack. This bag eliminates the need to lift a bag when traversing stairs or rolling across rough terrain.

Before we begin the review of the Bagsmart Blast 43L Roller Backpack, we want to point out an immediate issue we have with this bag if being used as a carry-on bag. It’s heavy. Unfortunately, that is just the nature of the beast when purchasing a bag with a roller handle and wheels. The bag weighs 3 kg even before you pack anything. If you are looking to travel on a budget airline, you will have very little leeway in what you can pack and even more restrictive if you are carrying a laptop. Here in Australia, we have several airlines that strictly enforce the 7 kg weight restriction. This restriction only allows an additional 4 kg of items to be packed in the bag – possible but limiting. Nevertheless, if you are just going on a short trip and not carrying winter clothing, then this bag is ideal.

Bagsmart kindly sent us the Bagsmart Blast 43L Roller Backpack in the Oyster colourway for this review. They have also sent us the Blast Travel Packing Cubes (set of 6)in the Peyote colourway, which should work seamlessly with the bag. Read our Disclaimer below.

If, by the end of this post, you decide to purchase, please use the BUY HERE link at the bottom of the post or the banner below and enter the Wide10 discount code at checkout for an additional 10% off.

Disclaimer:  This review is unbiased. We would never recommend using any product unless we have used the product ourselves. We always strive to give you our honest opinion to help you make the best choice. We received the product with compliments , but were not paid for this review; however, we may receive commissions on links in this post.

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BAG EXTERIOR

The roller wheels are Polyurethane (PU) and roll smoothly on most surfaces. When carrying the bag using the shoulder straps, there is a compartment at the base of the bag that reveals a cover for the wheels to avoid marks on your clothing. Two Velcro strips will hold the cover in place. Very clever! 

The well-padded adjustable shoulder straps are stowed in a compartment on the rear of the bag and can be connected to the D-Loops on each side of the bag just above the roller wheels. The straps also have a sternum strap, which is very handy in improving stability, distributing weight, and preventing shoulder fatigue. 

The front of the bag has a lockable recessed pocket that is large enough to accommodate up to a 15.6″ laptop. When they say lockable, Bagsmart is referring to the 2 aluminium rings. A larger ring is attached to the zipper, and a smaller one at the end of the zipper. You’ll need a small padlock to secure these together to lock access to the pocket.

The main entrance to the bag is dual-zippered and extends around 3 sides of the bag. 

At the top of the bag are 2 more pockets. The smaller of the two is single-zippered and quite shallow and velvet-lined, making it ideal for quick-access items such as reading glasses, earbuds, etc.

The pocket above is dual-zippered and much larger, and extends around three sides of the bag creating a flap when fully opened. The pocket is also quite shallow, but it also contains a zippered mesh pocket with two equally-sized compartments. On top of the pocket is a padded handle for lifting the bag so you must ensure that the pocket is fully closed before lifting the bag by the handle.

Each side of the bag has 2 cinch straps, allowing you to compress the bag for storage. When packed, cinch these tight to give you every opportunity of making the bag fit within the carry-on dimensions of the airline. One side of the bag has another padded handle. This side of the bag also has a vertical RFID-blocking pocket that also has a couple of small credit card-sized pockets. Personally, we wouldn’t keep credit cards in the bag as we prefer to carry them separately. The opposite side has a stretchy pocket that will fit up to a 30-oz bottle.

At the base of the bag is another handle, but this one is hardened plastic with no padding. We really like the number of handles on this bag, which makes it easy to hoist into aircraft overhead storage bins or out of car trunks.

The Bagsmart Blast 43L Roller Backpack is engineered for maximum versatility, acting as a “transformer” for short-term travellers who navigate everything from polished airport terminals to uneven city streets. The ability to convert from a roller bag to a backpack is a winner. 

BAG INTERIOR

As mentioned, the interior of the bag is accessed with the dual zippers at the front of the bag. The first thing you will notice when you open up the bag is the lack of structure, which can be annoying when packing; however, Bagsmart have cleverly included support brackets. This is a great feature that will prevent the bag from collapsing inward while packing. Once you have packed enough to give the bag some rigidity, they can be unclipped. Inside the bag is an instruction booklet on how to install the rods.

The underside of the open flap has a huge single- zippered mesh pocket; however, try not to pack anything too bulky in this space, as it will make the bag bulge outwards and could make it exceed airline carry-on dimensions. There’s also another smaller single-zippered mesh pocket on the interior. At the base of the interior is a full-length zipper, which we can only assume is to access the frame of the bag should a repair be required.

Lastly, there are two compression straps for securing items in place once packed.

That’s it for the interior. It doesn’t sound like a lot of features, but this bag is designed as a multi-purpose carry-on bag for short trips, and including a multitude of interior pockets would only encroach on the packing space and possibly make the bag bulge beyond the carry-on limits.

BLAST TRAVEL PACKING CUBES – SET OF 6

Regardless of what bag we use for travelling, we always use Packing Cubes. It is an extremely efficient way to organise your bag. Bagsmart offers the Blast Travel Packing Cubes in a set of 6, and these work seamlessly with the Blast 43L Roller Backpack and many of their other bags, for that matter. We’re not going to go into great detail about the Packing Cubes, as everyone packs differently, and you can get more information on their website. What we will say is that they are well-made and have dual zippers, which is always handy. All zippers have zip-pulls, making it easier to open and placing less stress on the zipper. The large Packing Cube also has an adjustable buckle for added compression. All Packing Cubes are equipped with a handle at the top of the cube, making it easier to remove from the bag. Lastly, for identification purposes, there is a mesh section at the top of the cube allowing you to easily 

Note: Even though these packing cubes will allow you to pack more and compress them in the bag, they obviously will not change the weight, and if you only have a few kilos to play with when it comes to airline weight restrictions, these may keep your items organised, but will not stop you from exceeding the limit. Also keep in mind that 1 extra pair of shoes and 1 laptop can weigh up to a 1-2kg, which will restrict you even more when it comes to the amount of clothing, toiletries, and other items you want to pack. It all really comes down to how strict the airline is regarding the weight.

The set contains –

• 1 x Large Packing Cube – Uncompressed: 14.96″ (38cm) x 10.24″ (26cm) x 5.91″ (15cm) Compressed: 14.96″ (38cm) x 10.24″ (26cm) x 1.77″ (4.5cm)
• 2 x Medium Packing Cube – Uncompressed: 13″ (33cm) x 9.06″ (23cm) x 5.11″ (13cm) Compressed: 13″ (33cm) x 9.06″ (23cm) x 1.77″ (4.5cm)
• 2 x Small Packing Cube – Uncompressed: 13″ (33cm) x 5.12″ (13cm) x 5.9″ (15cm) Compressed: 13″ (33cm) x 5.12″ (13cm) x 1.77″ (4.5cm)
• 1 x Shoe Bag –  19.69″ (50cm) x  14.57 (37cm)

They are available in the following colours – Mix ( Fir, Peyote, Bran, Rose Dawn), Peyote, Rose Dawn, Fir, Bran, Umber, Arona, and Navy Blue

BAG SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 6.61lbs / 3kg
Size: 55 x 35 x 23 cm (21.7″ x 13.8″ x 9.1″)
Adjustable Strap: 47 – 83 cm / 18.5″ – 32.7″
Pull Bar: 2-section pull bar height
Telescopic handle heights: 29 cm (11.4″), 51 cm (20.1″)

CARRY-ON COMPLIANCE

Based on the dimensions of the Bagsmart Blast 43L Roller Backpack (55 x 35 x 23 cm), here is how it compares to major airline carry-on requirements for 2026.

The critical measurement for this bag is its 23 cm (approx. 9.1 inches) depth. While it fits most “standard” sizers, it is right on the edge for several airlines. Below is a list of some of the airlines in different regions with their carry-on allowances. This is not a comprehensive list, but it will give you an idea of where some of the issues may lie in using this bag as a carry-on. 

*No weight limits – it must be light enough to lift into the overhead bin.

European airlines are generally stricter. The 23 cm depth of the Bagsmart can be a “red flag” for budget carriers that often cap depth at 20 cm.

For Australian domestic travel in 2026, the Bagsmart Blast 43L (55 x 35 x 23 cm) is generally safe for size but poses a significant challenge regarding weight. Australian airlines are notoriously strict about the 7kg limit, and because this bag weighs 3kg empty, you only have 4kg left for your belongings.

It’s hit-and-miss for some of the Asian and Middle Eastern airlines. Most airlines enforce the 7kg carry-on allowance, making it difficult to pack very much in the bag. Don’t forget – once you’ve added a laptop and 1 pair of shoes, the bag will be very limiting in what you can pack and nearly impossible on Air China for both weight and dimensions. 

COLOURS

The BagSmart Blast 43L Roller Backpack is available in 4 colours – Oyster, Cedar, Pewter, and Currant Red. We were sent the Oyster colourway for this review.

The Bagsmart Blast 43L Roller Backpack is a great bag and is very competitively positioned in the marketplace. However, no bag is perfect, and this bag is no exception. There are far more Pros than Cons to this bag, but we have gone into more depth with the Cons, so it may look like a longer list. 

CONS

PRICING

THE FINAL WORD

RATED: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED