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The Best Travel Backpacks You Can Buy, According to Experts
A good backpack can make all the difference when you're on the road, so we turned to the style and product experts at Esquire and Good Housekeeping for advice on the best travel backpacks out there.
Whether you're planning a day at the track, hitting the trails, or just heading to the office, a quality travel backpack is as essential as its contents. A good backpack is among the most versatile and essential pieces of gear for keeping your belongings organized while ensuring you can traverse the world with ease.
One of the strongest qualities we collectively possess on the Gear Team is knowing when we don't know best. So for the inside info on travel backpacks, we enlisted the help of our colleagues at Good Housekeeping and Esquire. Experts when it comes to travel gear and style, they have evaluated or tested travel backpacks extensively. We asked them about key factors to consider when buying a travel backpack to strike a balance among functionality, comfort, and style.
Whether you're a minimalist packer or a savvy traveler who loves to have every necessity at your fingertips, we've got you covered.
Our Top Picks
Things to Consider
There are a number of factors that make for a comfortable and functional backpack and a few things to consider before you drop your hard-earned bucks on any old sack.
Size and Capacity
Take into account how far you're traveling and what you'll need to carry. Choose a backpack that is roomy enough to accommodate your essentials, but not so big that it becomes cumbersome. Sizes can vary from 20 liters or so up to 45 liters or more.
Comfort and Fit
Look for a backpack with padded shoulder straps, a supportive back panel, and perhaps a hip belt. These features help distribute weight evenly and add comfort for extended periods of carrying stuff.
Durability
Travel backpacks go through a lot of wear and tear. Invest in a high-quality backpack made from sturdy materials that can withstand a range of weather conditions and rough handling. Some durable eco-friendly offerings are made from recycled materials.
Accessibility and Organization
Consider a backpack with lots of pockets, dividers, and sections to keep your things well organized and simple to access. For simple packing and unpacking, a front- or panel-loading design may be especially beneficial.
Water Resistance
To protect your belongings in case of rain or accidental spills, some degree of water resistance is essential. Many backpacks are made from a water-resistant material, and some even use water-resistant zippers. Don't go jumping in the deep end with your pack, though!
Weight
Since you'll be carrying the backpack on your back, consider its weight when empty. Some backpacks use lightweight material, and lighter packs are generally more comfortable for extended use.
How Good Housekeeping Tests Backpacks
In testing backpacks for travel, the Good Housekeeping Institute team uses a specific abrasion tester to assess the fabric's toughness. They perform packing tests with a defined load and assess the construction and padding of each backpack.
Backpacks are checked to ensure they will fit items you may require while traveling, and the amount of padding on the straps is taken into account. Analysts assess each backpack's shape, organizational features, and laptop compartment to rate the bag's overall design.
In addition to conducting evaluations in the lab, testers carry backpacks home and wear them while traveling. For more feedback on comfort, packing convenience, organization, and other factors, the institute sends backpacks home with consumer testers to use while traveling. Surveys gauge what factors matter most, from shopping considerations to brand loyalty and beyond.
Patagonia Black Hole Travel Pack
Pros
- Made from recycled materials
- Molded back panel stays cool and dry
Cons
- May be a bit long for smaller folks
Patagonia is known for its durable outdoor gear, and the testers at the Good Housekeeping Institute lauded this Black Hole as the "backpack to end all backpacks." Its 25-liter capacity isn't the largest, but testers found that it swallows up plenty of items if packed with care.
The big selling point of this one is its durable water-repellent finish and zippers, which allowed water to roll right off with ease in Good Housekeeping Institute lab testing.
Peak Design Travel Line Backpack
Peak Design Travel Line Backpack
Pros
- Can be converted among 30, 35, and 45 liters
- Allows access from the top, back, front, and sides
Cons
- Limited compartments
Peak Design's travel backpack was a standout in testing. It was lauded for its versatility, as it can be expanded and contracted from 30 liters up to a spacious 45 liters. Its design allows you to access your valuables from the front, back, and side, and its straps can be hidden so it can be carried neatly with its luggage sleeve.
Peak Design also offers camera cubes, which are handy for keeping camera and video gear neatly organized and accessible, though they are sold separately.
Thule Aion Travel Backpack
Thule Aion Travel Backpack
Pros
- Plenty of compartments
- Also available in black
- Available in two sizes
Cons
- 40-liter version doesn't have hip straps
The Swedish manufacturer Thule (pronounced "TOO-lee") is best known for its roof-rack and bike-carrier systems. It also makes fantastic backpacks. This one is made of 100 percent recycled materials. Its waxed canvas has a PFC-free water-resistant coating.
It's available in two sizes: a smaller 28-liter (which can be expanded to 32 liters) and a larger 40-liter. It features a small easy-to-access pocket, a laptop compartment, interior dividers, and mesh panels. Thule is one of the Good Housekeeping Institute's top tested brands.
Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack
Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack
Pros
- Lots of interior space
- Available in 10 colors
Cons
- No front external pocket
The product analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute were impressed to find that the Allpa Travel Pack from Cotopaxi "outperformed multiple carry-on suitcases for its generous capacity." It's clear why. It can be unzipped completely, making packing easy. The inside has an oversize laptop compartment and features mesh compartment separators.
The institute also found it to be extremely comfortable to wear, thanks to sternum straps and padding along the back to the hip.
Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack
Pros
- Price
- Plenty of compartments
Cons
- A bit large for everyday use
This one made Esquire's 10-best list thanks to its simplicity and affordability. While it doesn't offer some of the fancy tricks of some of its competitors, it features plenty of pockets and interior dividers.
While the fashionable folks at Esquire weren't huge fans of its basic styling, we happen to appreciate its no-nonsense approach to simply being a backpack. It's also available in blue and red in case you prefer some color.
Lululemon Wunderlust Backpack
Pros
- Water-resistant nylon-and-polyester construction
- Lots of pockets and interior organizers
Cons
- A bit small for overnights
The folks at Esquire liked this one for its attractive looks and adventure-ready spirit. It's made from a water-repellent fabric and features lots of storage options. Its drawstring top opening makes the goods inside easily accessible. It also offers zippered exterior pockets and adjustable exterior straps for securing your jacket when it gets steamy out.
Herschel Little America Laptop Backpack
Pros
- Classic good looks
- Available in nine colors
Cons
- Doesn't offer tons of storage options
Herschel is one of the only brands on this list known primarily for backpacks. As you'd expect from Herschel's signature backpack, it offers solid construction and is made from recycled post-consumer water bottles.
The folks at Esquire described it as "a mountaineering backpack reimagined for casual day-to-day stuff." So if you're into rugged good looks and don't need the plethora of compartments offered by some competitors, this is an awesome option.
Matein Rolling Backpack
Pros
- Waterproof bottom panel, corner guards, and a kick plate make it durable
- Offered in two sizes
Cons
- Could be cumbersome worn as a backpack
If you're looking for a bag that blurs the line between luggage and backpack, Matein's Rolling Backpack is a no-brainer. It has a nice 36-liter capacity in the smaller 17-inch configuration and 45 liters in the larger 18-inch version. In addition to the large main compartment, it features a zippered file compartment, a large laptop sleeve, and mesh water-bottle pockets.
The folks at Esquire found it to be on the heavier side. But its packable straps, telescoping handle, and wheels make taking off and rolling it around easy.
FAQs
What size backpack do I need for travel?
The length of your trip and the things you intend to carry will determine the size of the backpack you require. A 20- to 40-liter backpack should be plenty for quick excursions. Longer journeys might require a larger 50- to 70-liter capacity.
Are travel backpacks waterproof?
Travel backpacks often come with some degree of water resistance, but not all are fully waterproof. Look for backpacks with water-resistant materials and zippers. If you expect heavy rain or plan to visit very wet environments, consider using a rain cover or packing your items in dry bags inside the backpack.
What's the difference between front- and top-loading backpacks?
Front-loading backpacks open like a suitcase, allowing you to access your belongings easily without having to unpack everything. Top-loading backpacks have a single opening at the top and require you to dig through the contents to reach items at the bottom.
How do I clean a travel backpack?
You should always refer to the manufacturer's care instructions, but in general, you can spot-clean a backpack with water and a light detergent. Before using the backpack, let it thoroughly air-dry. Avoid using harsh chemicals.
Why Trust Us
Grace Wu is a product analyst at the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She performed its latest tests on travel backpacks. Good Housekeeping's most recent travel-backpack test was managed by Emma Seymour, senior textiles analyst, who performed hands-on evaluations and coordinated consumer reviews.
Esquire's coverage of the 10 Best Travel Backpacks was written by Maverick Li, who now covers clothing, footwear, watches, and grooming for another Hearst publication, Men's Health.
Why Trust Hearst Autos?
Hearst Autos combines the talent, resources, and expertise of three of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world. The Gear Team has tested a wide variety of automotive products, parts, accessories, and gear, such as GPS trackers for cars, OBD-II scanners, and electric-car chargers. We get our hands on each and every product we test. Most are purchased; some are supplied by manufacturers.
Hearst Autos doesn't need to game algorithms for traffic or promote lousy products to earn a buck. We're more concerned with our legacy, our reputation, and the trust that our readers have in Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track to deliver honest opinions and expert evaluations.
The Assistant Commerce Editor for Hearst Autos, Justin Helton is an enthusiast with a passion for heavily depreciated autos and a penchant for philosophical debate. As a lifelong Manhattanite, he has mastered the ins and outs of classic car ownership in one of the least car-friendly cities in the world.
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