Best Travel Backpack

Best Travel Backpacks

Click to learn more about why we love these top picks.

• 9.2/10: Aer Travel Pack 3 (Best value)
• 9.1/10: GORUCK GR2 (40L)
• 8.9/10: Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L
• 8.8/10: TOM BIHN Synik 30
• 8.6/10: Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L
• 8.5/10: TOM BIHN Techonaut 30 (Best splurge)
• 8.3/10: Able Carry Max Backpack
• 8.2/10: Osprey Farpoint 40 (Best budget)
• 8.2/10: Minaal Carry-On 3.0 Bag
• 8.0/10: EVERGOODS Civic Travel Bag 35L (CTB35)
• 7.6/10: Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 40L
• 7.5/10: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

See all reviews: Travel Backpacks

How to Select The Best Backpack for One Bag Travel

There’s something so freeing about traveling with only one bag. All of your important stuff is within arm’s reach, and it forces you to cut down on many of life’s seemingly necessary consumer goods that you can probably live without. With one bag, you easily glide from location to location, always having just enough but never too much.

Choosing the perfect travel backpack for one bag travel can be a challenging endeavor. There are so many brands and models to choose from with varying degrees of durability, price, and try-on-ability (we made this word up for trying something out before buying it online). Add varying views and opinions into the mix from folks with different values, needs, and body types—and you’ve got a veritable clusterf*ck of options to wade through. Whether you’re a new traveler gearing up for your first trip, a digital nomad going through a “sell-all-my-stuff-and-put-it-in-a-backpack” phase, or somewhere in between, it’s essential to have the best travel backpack that works for you.

Here’s the bottom line: There is no “best” backpack that is perfect for every traveler in every scenario. However, we believe everyone can find a pack that’s perfect for their unique needs. In this guide, we’ll break down the factors we think are most important when choosing the ideal one-bag travel backpack for you.

This guide is written and informed by Pack Hacker staff, many of whom are frequent travelers and digital nomads. That means we’re using and testing these products every day to better understand what’s available out there and how each bag may appeal to different types of travelers.

If you’d rather skip all this info and get straight to the backpacks we’ve reviewed, you can take a look at our list of highest-rated travel backpack in the next section, or all of our Travel Backpack Reviews. We’re constantly updating this list as we review and rate new bags frequently.

Is It Better To Travel With a Backpack or Suitcase?

We’ve found that backpacks give you much greater mobility. You can breeze through airports. You’ll never stand around a baggage carousel after a long haul again. And as long as your pack is carry-on size compliant, you’ll never lose your luggage, ever. Depending on your travel style and what you’re hauling, it comes down to your personal preference—both roller bags and backpacks can be good options. If none of that sounds ideal and you prefer carry on luggage instead, we won’t judge (we review those, too). However, in this guide, we’ll focus on travel backpacks for a couple of reasons:

They Feel Freeing

You’ve got both of your hands-free, and you’re not constantly dragging something behind you. No matter what terrain you’re walking on, you’ll never have the annoyance of loud or unsteady wheels behind you from standard travel luggage. Sure, roller bags work like a charm on smooth airport and hotel floors, but how about the winding cobblestone roads of Paris or a sandy beach in Ko Pha Ngan? You can traverse almost any terrain when you’re wearing a backpack.

Best Travel Backpack | Traveling with the Osprey Farpoint 40 in India.

They’re Versatile & Usually Lightweight

If you pack light enough, you can comfortably have all of your belongings with you at once. Did you arrive earlier than your hotel or Airbnb check in? No problem, just take your pack around with you for the day—no need to stop by and drop your luggage off. Versatility at its finest.

Weight is about more than just your gear, too. While we can’t guarantee the pack will be lightweight if you fill it up with a bunch of heavy stuff (like a camera kit), it’s surprising how much you can fit into a travel backpack before it starts to hurt your back. Plus, with budget airlines cracking down on weight limits all over the world, you don’t have to worry about an 8-pound piece of luggage taking up half of your allowance, as travel backpacks often only weigh two to four pounds.

They Provide Flexibility

You’ll take up less room on the airplane or in public transit. You’ll generally feel more agile vs needing to drag around rolly luggage, with the added benefit of not looking like an out-of-place tourist. It caters to a more adventurous lifestyle by always being ready to go. And, you can easily catch that train that’s about to depart without awkwardly side-running with a roller bag or two.

Utilizing a Backpack in Travel Contexts

In this guide, we’re going for travel versatility. We want you to look good carrying these bags around in an urban environment and have the flexibility to head out on a hike for a couple of days of camping without having your backpack ruined by the elements. If you’ve got a piece of roller luggage, it’s going to be hard to do that spontaneous half-day trek on the trail to the neighboring city you’ve been wanting to check out. Likewise, if you’re going to post up at a coffee shop for a day of office work, you’re going to look out of place with a bulky, multi-colored hiking bag. The packs mentioned in this article will blend into most city environments and are durable enough to withstand the abuse of longer excursions.

Why You Should Trust Us

Our team is comprised of seasoned one-bag travelers who have been testing and reviewing travel backpacks since 2017. Each person has experience living out of a single bag while traveling the world, some for years at a time as digital nomads. When testing gear, we evaluate each backpack for a minimum of two weeks, putting it through the wringer on flights and commutes to our Detroit HQ alike. Each bag is then rated using our objective scale that allows us to compare its performance to other bags on the market.

Editor’s Note

November 1, 2024: We narrowed down our list of the best travel backpacks at the top of this guide to include a range of top picks that satisfy different needs. We also added more details to the guide, such as how to find your torso length and which bag features enhance your carry comfort.
May 22, 2024: We removed the ULA Equipment Dragonfly from our Top Picks, as they released a new version that’s often out of stock and, therefore, isn’t as accessible.

Others We Considered

Though it’s a great size for those who want a carry on backpack that’s small enough to be a personal item, we ultimately decided against the CabinZero Military Backpack 28L because it gets uncomfortable to carry when it’s packed to the brim. Since it’s so small, that’s pretty easy to do.

Video Guide Part 2: Form

Feel free to watch this guide section in video format. We’ll keep the written content on this page up to date.

Be sure to subscribe to Pack Hacker on YouTube and never miss a video. We also have these videos in a series playlist format on YouTube so you can watch them easier.

Best Backpack Size & Weight for Carry-On Air Travel

We favor smaller bags that fit in the overhead bin. Yes, it can be a challenge to fit your entire life into a 40L bag, but wow, is it worth it! Seriously, you could even fit everything into an 18L backpack if you’re disciplined. Life is just easier with a smaller & lighter backpack. That said, we highly recommend staying under 50L for one bag travel, so you don’t have to go too extreme. If you want to cheat a bit and get some extra space, you can also go the sling bag on the front, backpack on the back route.

Airlines can get pretty stingy around the amount of weight you can bring on board. It’s essential to make sure your backpack itself isn’t too heavy, or you won’t be able to fit in as much clothing and other travel gear. We’re all for less clothing and gear, but we are not for getting hit with extra fees if your carry-on is overweight. Starting out with a bag that’s already too heavy before you’ve packed it is just setting yourself up for failure! We calculate a carry-on compliance score for every travel backpack reviewed on our site using its dimensions and data we collect from most airlines worldwide.

True Volume

It’s easy to get caught up in all this talk around liters of a backpack. There’s really no “industry standard” around this, and the liter size of a pack can vary from brand to brand. For example, what one brand considers to be 40 liters may feel smaller or larger than what another brand considers to be 40 liters. What’s more important is the “True Volume” of a backpack and how usable the space is. Some weird, trapezoid-shaped backpack will certainly be more of a challenge than something with a larger, rectangular compartment.

The thickness and flexibility of the material matter as well. A thin, strong material will leave you with more space inside of a backpack than something with thick padding in the liner. However, a rigid material—Dyneema, for instance—doesn’t have much additional flex and isn’t very forgiving when you’re trying to pack your bag to the brim. The efficiency of space can make or break the usefulness of a pack.

Pack’s Exterior Profile

The profile of a pack can help out quite a bit. Not only does a slim bag seem less heavy because the weight is close to your back, but it has the added benefit of giving you a smaller form factor. With this, you won’t be taking up too much room on public transit or smacking people in the face when you’re boarding the airplane—it’ll be a better experience for you and everyone around you.

However, slim bags with large capacities often have longer back panels, which can feel unwieldy or uncomfortable on those with shorter torso lengths. We’ll cover how exactly to find the right fit in the next section.

Max Legal Carry-On

Otherwise known as “MLC,” Max Legal Carry-On size covers the largest acceptable backpack size for carrying on most airlines. Make sure to check with your airline before arriving at the airport, though—size limits can vary based on the airline you’re flying with.

Top-loading vs Panel-loading (Clamshell) Backpacks

There’s a big debate around clamshell and top-loading packs. We’re personally a fan of clamshell for one-bag travel, as it gives you better visibility of your gear.

Clamshell functions more like a suitcase and opens literally like a clam. You can easily open it up flat and see everything inside, so it tends to be easier to organize all your travel gear.

Top-loading packs are great if you’re on a long, multi-day trek or participating in other outdoor-focused activities. They often feature a rolltop opening instead of a zipper, which adds weatherproofing and peace of mind, as there’s no main zipper that can fail you (which could be catastrophic if you’re halfway up Mt. Everest). However, you’ll have to pull out everything on top to get to gear on the bottom, which isn’t convenient if you’re in the middle of the airport. Some bags have a creative solve for this, though.

Weather Resistance

Best Travel Backpack | The GORUCK GR2 features “weather resistance” but it’s not “waterproof.”

Weather resistance is another key component to consider for one bag travel. With all your tech gear and expensive possessions in your pack, you don’t want moisture to seep through. We look for packs with some great weather resistance that’ll easily get you through light rain and ideally through 20 minutes of a monsoon in Southeast Asia.

Now, for the most important note of all: there’s a big difference between waterproof and water-resistant bags. We’re mainly focused on the latter, as this will be plenty in most situations. Sure, waterproof is more secure, but unless you’re leaving your pack outside in a torrential downpour for hours on end or plan to go snorkeling with your laptop on your back, there’s no need for that extra tech. Look for bags that have a DWR (Durable Water Repellant) coating, and you’ll be fine.

Got something that needs some additional weatherproofing? Consider picking up something like a DAKA Pouch. It’ll give your valuables that extra layer of protection without requiring you to purchase an entirely waterproof bag—plus, these pouches double as organizers, separating your precious gear from the rest of your loadout with some additional protection to boot. It’s a win-win.

Durability and Quality

Whether you’re traveling for a week, a month, or a year plus, your backpack is pretty much your home, so you don’t want it to break. Take it from us—the last thing you need is to find out that you lost your phone charger (or passport!) because the zipper head came off its track during the journey to your next accommodation. Investing in a good backpack will prevent loss and damage to your gear, and higher quality products will last for several years. It can be a challenge to tell if a backpack is durable right out of the box, which is why we test bags as much as possible to notice any faults. Higher durability usually means higher weight, but not always. Here are a couple of key considerations when it comes to durability.

Zippers

YKK zippers are some of the best around, so naturally, the best travel backpack brands tend to use them. They’re super strong and have different weights depending on where they’re located on the pack. A YKK #10 will keep a main compartment secure, whereas a YKK #5 may be suited for smaller side pockets that don’t receive as much use or tension. As they go up in weight, they also go up in size, so be prepared for beefy zippers to have a beefy look.

YKK is obsessed with quality, and they do everything in-house. They smelt their own brass, forge their own zipper teeth, and even make the machines that make their zippers and the cardboard boxes they ship in! YKK zippers also account for about half of all zippers in the world, so that says something.

Although less popular, RiRi zippers are pretty great too. Both RiRi and YKK are superior to any other zipper made in-house by a bag manufacturer, and Zoom Zippers are climbing up on that list as well, though we still find intermittent issues with them.

How do you find what zipper your bag has, you ask? Most quality brands will list it under the product specifications on their site, but you can also inspect the bag itself once you have it in hand. Check the side and underside of the zipper head or zipper pull for the letters (YKK for YKK, Z for Zoom, etc.). If you’re still unsure—or haven’t purchased the bag yet—we check for the brand on every bag we test and indicate it in the review. If we’re not 100% sure, we contact the brand directly and ask!

Backpack Fabric and Material

There are a ton of materials out there, too. When looking at fabrics, you’ll often see a number followed by a D—250D, 950D, 1500D, etc. The D stands for denier, a term used to measure the fabric’s thickness and weight, specifically the yarn. The formal definition is the mass (in grams) per 9,000 meters of fiber, so lightweight fabrics (like silk) have a very low denier, while heavier fabrics have a higher denier. When it comes to backpacks, a higher denier is not necessarily better. In general, a higher denier will be more durable (depending on the fabric and weave) but also heavier. While the denier can tell you the weight and thickness of a material, the type of material, weave, and manufacturing involved will ultimately tell you more about its strength and durability. Here are some materials you’ll come across when selecting your pack, along with the pros and cons of each.

Ripstop Nylon

Pretty close in property to standard nylon, “ripstop” nylon has a unique square weave that prevents further tearing from happening after a puncture. It has an incredibly high strength-to-weight ratio, and, as the name implies, it is highly resistant to rips and tears. The reason why it’s so strong is that additional fibers are sewn into the weave. While it generally has an outdoorsy look because of the visible square pattern, some designs hide this better than others. Ripstop Nylon was developed in World War II as a more robust alternative to silk parachutes and is currently used in ejector seat parachutes for fighter pilots!

Ballistic Nylon

Ballistic Nylon refers to any nylon fabric with a “ballistic weave,” a variation on the simple basketweave. This gives it excellent tensile and tear strength—especially when layered—and makes it heavier than a lot of other materials. Keep in mind that ballistic nylon almost exclusively comes in black. Why is it called ballistic? It was initially used on flak jackets for World War II airmen to protect them from artillery-shell and bullet fragmentations. PSA: We do not recommend the use of backpacks for protection in war zones.

CORDURA® Nylon

CORDURA® is not a fabric in and of itself—it’s a brand covering a whole host of different materials, from cotton to nylon to polyester. They take fabric from various mills, inspect it to make sure it’s up to their standards, and then slap that CORDURA® tag on it. Yes, it’s a bit deceiving, but they do put out some high-quality stuff. You’ll mostly always see a “®” next to “CORDURA” (in all caps) because #branding and #lawyers.

Kodra Nylon

Kodra is virtually synonymous with CORDURA® but made in Korea. Peak Design opted for this in the first iteration of their Everyday Backpack.

Polyester

Polyester is one of the most common fabrics on the planet. It’s made from plastic fibers, and you can find it pretty much everywhere—in clothing, pillows, seat belts, upholstery, rope, the list goes on … Oh, and backpacks. Polyester is not the most durable fabric, so you’ll usually find it on lower-end packs (think of those classic Jansport backpacks everyone had in high school). It’s not the most suitable choice for a travel pack, as it just won’t hold up through the years. Besides lacking in durability, polyester is also fairly heavy compared to other fabrics like nylon. If you’re looking for a low-budget day pack, polyester is fine. If you’re looking for something more serious, stay away from it.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a polymer that is used to make fabrics. This stuff is seriously everywhere—it’s the world’s second most widely produced synthetic plastic! It’s used to make ropes, carpets, labels, plastic lids on tic-tac containers, plastic chairs, long underwear … basically, if you see something made of plastic, there’s a solid chance there’s some polypropylene in it. You’ll find it mostly in minor backpack components, but it’s also used to make drawstring bags and totes like the ones that are handed out for free at a college fair or festival.

Polypropylene fabric has a few things going for it. It’s cheap, it’s a good insulator because it doesn’t transfer heat very well, and it won’t absorb water since it’s hydrophobic. The major problem with polypropylene is that it is not very UV resistant. If it’s repeatedly exposed to sunlight, the fabric will fade and break down over time. This is not great for backpacks. You may, however, see polypropylene used as a liner on the inside of some packs as it won’t be affected by UV light and adds some additional protection.

Canvas

You could say that canvas is the OG backpack material. Back in the day, canvas was just about the only thing you would use for a “backpack,” outside of maybe a burlap sack thrown over your shoulder. In World War II, GIs carried all their equipment around in canvas packs and slept in canvas tents. Canvas is very thick and sturdy and historically made from cotton, linen, or hemp coated in wax for waterproofing. Today, canvas tends to be made from things like nylon and polyester. Most modern backpack companies shy away from canvas because it’s usually heavy, not overly water-resistant, and easily damaged by abrasion. If you’re looking for a canvas one-bag travel pack, you won’t find much out there. However, if you want the nostalgia factor, you can still find a bespoke canvas bag to satisfy that.

Leather

We may need to scrap our statement on canvas because leather is arguably as OG as it gets. Its use has been traced back as far as Ancient Greece and Rome! Like canvas, you’re not going to see many travel backpacks made of leather. While a leather bag can make for an excellent, stylish daypack, it’s not ideal for a long-term travel pack, mainly because of its weight. There is also a lot of potential care involved. Between protective oils and various cleaning techniques, it can be a hassle to deal with if you’re on the move.

There are three grades of leather: genuine, top-grain, and full-grain. Contrary to popular belief, genuine is the lowest grade of leather while full-grain is the highest. Full-grain is used for heavy-duty use cases like weapon holsters and work belts, so if you’re dead set on a leather pack, we recommend looking for full-grain leather. Ideally, you’ll want to find something thin enough not to be overly heavy while still thick enough to ensure durability.

Sailcloth

The actual material is called ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene … but most know it as sailcloth (yep, the same material used on a sailboat). A relatively rare material for backpacks, brands like Tortuga have taken advantage of sailcloth due to its lightweight and water-resistant properties. It is by far the most lightweight and waterproof material on our list (no need for DWR or liners), but it does have some drawbacks. It’s stiff and crinkly with zero stretch, which can cause problems if you’re trying to utilize every nook and cranny of your pack. It isn’t quite as indestructible as some other materials listed, but it’s reasonably durable and can be patched. It also tends to be one of the most expensive backpack materials out there.

Dyneema® Composite Fabric

In May 2015, Dyneema purchased Cubic Tech, the creator and manufacturer of Cuben Fiber, and rebranded it as Dyneema® Composite Fabrics. So, Dyneema® Composite Fabrics = Cuben Fiber. This stuff was initially designed for high-tech sails on racing yachts because it is ridiculously light and robust. It’s sort of like the carbon fiber of the backpack world—high-tech, super strong, super light, and … super expensive. While Dyneema® Composite Fabric is popular within the ultralight backpacking community, it has yet to become commonplace in the one-bag travel scene. That said, if you do see Dyneema® Composite Fabric, you should know that you’re getting some of the best stuff around.

X-Pac

X-Pac is not so much a fabric as it is a bunch of fabrics smooshed together. With the help of lamination technology, complementary materials are combined to make an overall higher-performing product. Though there are variations in denier and waterproofing, it’s most commonly made up of a nylon face for durability, polyester mesh for strength, and waterproof film that won’t disappear over time. Like Dyneema® Composite Fabrics, it was inspired by the efficiency of sailcloth but is a less costly option that provides a similar level of ultralight performance. It holds its shape over time, won’t fade with UV exposure, and easily sheds moisture, making it great for outdoor enthusiasts who hike and bike with their packs on the regular. While more brands are making X-Pac options of their popular bags available, it may be a bit overkill for casual travelers unless you’re looking for a backpack for epic mountain climbing adventures.

TPU

Thermoplastic polyurethane—TPU for short—is a polymer used to add strength to a material, either through a manufacturing process or coating. You’ll recognize it on products like inflatable rafts, phone cases, wire cables, and footwear. Think stuff that needs to be as durable as possible to avoid things going south for the user. It easily sheds water and oil, resists abrasions, and won’t crack in high or low temps, making it ideal for frequent outdoor use. Unlike polypropylene, TPU is UV-resistant and won’t be subjected to the same amount of fading over time. If you’re the type of traveler who wants extra peace of mind on the go, you’ll want to keep an eye out for TPU because of the extra strength it adds to a pack, but we wouldn’t consider a lack of TPU a deal-breaker.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, the production process and design will dictate whether your gear’s durability. If a bag is made with 1000D CORDURA®, but it doesn’t have good zippers to match, it doesn’t matter how good the fabric is. Look for brands that proudly back their product with generous warranties, like GORUCK and their “SCARS warranty” or Patagonia and their “Ironclad Guarantee.” These brands know they make quality products, so they’re happy to back it up. If a brand offers no warranty or a short warranty, there’s probably a financial reason for that, and the quality may not be as high. We’re all about buying quality pieces that last versus something that’s going to need repair or replacement year after year.

Video Guide Part 3: Function

Feel free to watch this guide section in video format. We’ll keep the written content on this page up to date.

Be sure to subscribe to Pack Hacker on YouTube and never miss a video. We also have these videos in a series playlist format on YouTube so you can watch them easier.

Best Backpack for Comfortable Wear and Extended Travel

Comfort is a big deal when it comes to one-bag travel—especially if you plan to carry the bag around with you for hours on end. You’ll want a high-quality harness that works with the shape of your body. When selecting a bag, it’s crucial to take your height and body type into consideration. Although this matters more for hiking backpacks where you’re carrying a ton of gear, it’s less important for smaller, one-bag travel packs. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about it before you make a purchase. A backpack suited for someone that’s 6’5″ and 250 pounds probably isn’t the best travel backpack for someone that’s 5’3″ and 140 pounds. Buying something that doesn’t fit your frame correctly will make for some seriously uncomfortable travel.

Men’s Focused Fit Vs Women’s Focused Fit

Some backpacks are only available with a “one size fits all” harness system, but there is an ever-increasing number of women’s-focused fit and men’s-focused fit travel backpacks on the market. For example, the Thule Landmark 40L and REI Ruckpack 40 are available in two different fits. The differences are subtle but have a big impact on how comfortable the harness system is on your frame. Compared to a men’s focused fit, a women’s focused fit backpack will typically feature:

• Thinner shoulder straps for a narrower frame
• Shorter shoulder straps that position the bag higher up the back
• Smaller hip belt with a more pronounced curve
• A shorter back panel to accommodate smaller torso lengths

Torso Length

Knowing your torso length will help you find a travel backpack that’s comfortable even when it’s packed to the brim with gear. Your torso length is defined as the distance between your C7 vertebra and iliac crest. For those of us who aren’t well-versed in anatomy (join the club), that’s the very base of your neck to the top of your hip bones when measuring directly down the spine.

This measurement usually ranges between 15-17″ for adult women and 17-19″ for adult men. Of course, taller women may have a longer torso, and shorter men may have a shorter one. Additionally, tall adults can have a short torso (if you’ve ever been told you’re “all leg,” this may be you), and vice versa. That’s why we recommend measuring regardless of your height or gender.

Once you know your torso length, it’ll be easier to find a bag that fits before you even hit the “Purchase” button. The best brands will provide you with a backpack’s ideal torso range on their website (some are even adjustable!), but if not, you can look for women-focused or men-focused bags to accommodate your needs.

Back Panel

A well-designed back panel can make things much more comfortable. Although it’s hard to avoid the old sweaty back with extended periods of wear in hotter climates, well-ventilated mesh and foam help add airflow.

Additionally, the back panel shape impacts the bag’s ergonomics. Some travel backpacks (and even travel daypacks) have a frame sheet inserted into the back panel to help maintain its structure no matter how full the bag is. This means you won’t feel your gear poking through when the bag is stuffed, and it won’t feel saggy when the bag is empty. Travel backpacks often utilize plastic for their frame sheets because it’s lightweight and flexible, while hiking bags commonly use plastic sheets with aluminum stays (aka rods) since the bags are bigger and the gear is heavier.

Or, in lieu of a frame sheet, brands will often hack the fit by providing extra features on the backpack straps or harness system.

Backpack Straps

You’ll want to look for bags with high-quality straps that work for your body type. A mismatch here could lead to an uncomfortable carry, even with only a little weight inside.

The thickness of straps doesn’t necessarily matter. Thinner straps that use high-quality foam may be more comfortable than thicker, bulkier straps.

If you’re concerned with weight, look for bags that include load lifters. These are the adjusters that appear at the top of the straps and pull the weight of the bag closer to your center of gravity. This concept is borrowed from larger hiking backpacks and does wonders for fitting the bag well to your back with different loads.

Some straps swivel and pivot to cater to different shoulder widths and make it easier to quickly flip the pack around to access the goods you’ve got inside.

Hip Belts

We’re middle-of-the-road on hip belts for one-bag travel backpacks. They can help a ton if you’ve got a heavier load or plan to carry your pack for long stretches but aren’t necessary if you pack minimally in a smaller bag.

A good hip belt should be comfortable and secure without becoming too cumbersome. There are few things worse than hitting people with your bulky hip belt while walking down the aisle of an airplane. We’d recommend taking a look at travel backpacks that feature a detachable or hideable hip belt, so you don’t have to use it when you don’t need to.

Sternum Straps

Nearly all travel backpacks include a sternum strap. They’re designed to distribute some weight away from your shoulders and secure the shoulder straps across your chest. While sternum straps are all pretty similar across the board, there are a couple of things we’d recommend looking out for.

First, some will feature an elasticated portion that allows the strap to flex with your body as you walk. We’re big fans of these because then we don’t have to adjust the fit throughout the day.

Second, pay attention to how they attach. Some are on a rail, meaning you slide the buckles up and down, while others hook on via individual loops going up and down the shoulder strap, meaning you have to remove and re-insert them to make the buckle fit higher or lower. It ultimately comes down to personal preference, but we like the rail system because it allows for micro-adjustments to the fit and is less tedious to move overall.

However, rail straps are often not removable, which leads us to our third point. All sternum straps attached via loops can be detached if you don’t want them. However, this also leaves them vulnerable to falling off when not in use. We’re not kidding; this has happened to us on multiple occasions. Just make sure it’s secure and adequately anchored to the shoulder straps.

How Do you Pack a Travel Backpack?

With all these fancy features, it’s essential to consider how you should use them and how you pack your bag. Generally speaking, you want to load the heaviest items closest to your back and toward the middle of your torso. This’ll ensure the heaviest bits of your bag are the closest to your center of gravity, pulling you down less from the back of the bag.

Best Travel Backpack | Configuring a backpack.

If you’ve got all the features mentioned above, you want to strap and tighten your hip belt first, then adjust the shoulder straps, then tighten the load lifter straps (the straps on top) to a 45° angle, and finally, adjust and tighten the sternum strap.

Modular Backpack System

If you want more options for customization, check out modular gear. To put it simply, this is gear that brands design to work with their bags. They allow you to make a bag suit your preferences, adding and swapping parts as needed instead of trying to fit your gear into the organization already installed in your pack. Anyone who uses a bag with PALS webbing, for example, will tell you how convenient it is to have loops ready where they can stick MOLLE accessories. Whereas PALS webbing and MOLLE attachments are one of the better-known standards out there, brand-specific modularity and attachment systems also exist.

In fact, some brands, like ALPAKA, TOM BIHN, Boundary Supply, and Roark, are known for it. We like to count how many O-rings we can find on each TOM BIHN bag we buy because that’s where we can clip the brand’s key leashes, admin pouches, packing cubes, and more. Meanwhile, some bags have entire accessory systems built into the travel backpack design.

Organization: Multiple Travel-Focused Features or One Big Compartment?

Some backpacks take the approach of having a massive inner compartment with no organization. This is great if you’re planning on using some packing cubes or compression sacks, but not so great if you want a little more internal organization out of the box. More things to consider: is there a dedicated place to put a pen or two for those pesky customs forms? Is it easy to grab? How about a dedicated laptop compartment (or, for that matter, a dedicated laptop bag)?

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes can be a great addition to your luggage regardless of whether the bag is one massive compartment or has a couple of smaller pockets inside. Packing cubes allow you to organize clothing between type, outfits, clean or dirty, and much more. Some even have compression zippers so you can save extra space in your bag.

Compression and Expandability

If you’re going with one bag, versatility is essential. Ideally, your pack will cater to different amounts of items that are packed in the bag.

Some packs even offer detachable daypacks, but they tend to be slightly larger in liters. For example, the Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Pack is only 55 liters because you strap a 15-liter daypack to the main 40-liter bag. On the other hand, the Pakt Travel Backpack V2 has a dedicated compartment for their 15-liter daypack when it’s empty, and if you leave it behind, you can use that space for anything else you want.

If you’re looking for a small travel daypack, consider a packable backpack instead. There won’t be any significant padding, but you could pair it with a padded field pocket from GORUCK or a padded laptop sleeve if you want to cafe-hop and work for the day.

If you are looking for a more padded daypack, a Mystery Ranch In and Out Packable Daypack, or something like a Fjallraven Kanken 13″ Laptop Backpack could work. At the end of the day, you’re packing another set of straps, padding, and zippers—all space and weight that’s being subtracted from your main pack.

We like sticking to one bag whenever possible (or keeping it minimal with a sling), and there are some bags out there with the right size and look that can be used as a daypack and for one bag travel.

Security Backpacks

Be on the lookout for packs with great security features. Are the zippers lockable with TSA-approved locks? Are there separate secret security compartments to place your passport and other valuables in hard-to-reach places? Is it made of a solid material to prevent the quick slash-and-grab? Are the outer pockets minimized to make it hard for a thief to unzip?

A lot of safety when traveling comes down to common sense and your own self-awareness, but there are a couple of pack features that can make your trips a little bit safer.

Lockable Zippers & Anti-Theft Backpacks

Some packs offer lockable zippers or special looped zipper pulls that can be configured to deter thieves. Locking the zippers on your pack won’t turn it into an anti-theft backpack—someone can still take it or cut through the fabric—but it can help stop wrongdoers from quickly unzipping your bag for a quick-grab, or make them move to the next easily accessible bag on a train or bus. No backpack is impenetrable, though, and some of these features on backpacks can be gimmicky—included just so the purchaser has some peace of mind—even if the benefit isn’t that great. WANDRD’s security features (example below) and PacSafe’s anti-theft technology put a lot of emphasis on that extra layer of security.

Anti-Theft Backpack Materials

Some bags offer more robust fabric that naturally enforces the bag. As we mentioned before, materials like Ballistic Nylon, CORDURA®, and others are super helpful with this. Some companies even include special mesh wiring, like Pacsafe’s eXomesh®, that almost theft-proofs your backpack, allowing you to lock it to a fixed object for added security. EXomesh® is either lined inside the fabric or can also be purchased externally with other backpacks.

For the type of traveling we do, we think this is a little paranoid and adds some weight plus another thing to carry. However, depending on your situation, it could be helpful in countries with notoriously high pickpocket rates. Strolling through Tokyo? Probably not necessary. Heading to Rome for the first time? Yeah, we’ll take that extra layer of security.

RFID Blockers (Identity Theft-Proof Backpacks)

We feel that having a bunch of RFID-blocking tech covering an entire backpack is overkill. Sure, it’ll stop folks from electronically scanning your passport, but let’s face it—it’s much less effort for a thief to physically grab what they want from you. However, if it’ll help you sleep at night, you could get a special RFID wallet or wrap your passport & cards in aluminum foil. Some bags even have RFID-safe pockets tucked inside an admin panel where you can store your passport during transit. If it’s a 100% secure backpack you seek, we’re not going to stop you.

Video Guide Part 4: Aesthetic

Feel free to watch this guide section in video format. We’ll keep the written content on this page up to date.

Be sure to subscribe to Pack Hacker on YouTube and never miss a video. We also have these videos in a series playlist format on YouTube so you can watch them easier.

Finding the Best Travel Backpack Style For You

At the end of the day, the look and feel of a travel backpack should be right for you and your tastes, and there are many things to think about as far as aesthetics go. Stylish “urban travel” backpacks became a lot more popular within the last couple of years, and that’s the look we prefer. Gone are the days of international travel with a big blaze-orange hiking backpack. Those certainly have a utility, but that utility is in the wilderness. Here are a couple of overall style points for your consideration:

Minimalist Travel Backpacks

When you’re in a new country, think a bit about how you want to be perceived. If you’re heading to a more crowded or dicey area, nothing screams tourist like having a large, colorful backpack while looking up at tall buildings or a landmark in awe. It’s easier to keep a low profile and blend in a little if you’re not carrying around a monstrosity of a bag that acts as an advertisement for thieves and wrongdoers looking to target travelers for their own gain. It’s an added bonus if you can roll into a meeting wearing one of these things. As one-bag travel has become increasingly popular in recent years, we’re seeing many solid urban packs coming out that are built specifically with one-bag travel in mind.

• Aer Travel Pack 3
• Peak Design Travel Backpack
• Minaal Carry-On 3.0

Tacticool Backpacks

There are a ton of high-quality bags out there made to military spec. They feature great utility, like MOLLE for customizing your pack with accessories and stronger materials for increased durability. Keep in mind that some folks may perceive you as being in the military if your bag has too much going on. It’s one thing if the pack is all black & subdued, but another if it’s camo and filled with patches. If this is your look, go for it, but this type of pack might also bring about some “unwanted attention” in certain parts of the world.

• GORUCK GR2
• 5.11 Tactical RUSH24 Backpack 37L
• Mission Workshop Radian

Outdoor & Hiking Backpacks

Think sportier packs with lots of pockets, brighter colors, and louder material. For a long time, outdoor backpacks were the only option for long-term one-bag travelers. They tend to be bulky and are built to carry big, heavy loads over long distances. This typically means lots of straps and a tall pack that will peek up over your head. Great for an extended camping excursion, not so great for a trip through the airport or a newly-discovered city square. They also tend to scream “TOURIST.” No one casually walks around with a giant hiking backpack.

• Salkan Backpacker
• Osprey Kestrel 38
• Gregory Zulu 40

Backpacker Backpacks

If it’s not already obvious, the “Backpacker Backpack” is designed specifically for backpacking around the world. Typically from manufacturers that also make outdoor and hiking backpacks, this is the go-to style for anyone on a gap year looking to tick off as many countries in Southeast Asia as possible. And because of that, they’re some of the most popular bags on the market today. Sure, you’ll still look like a tourist—albeit not as much as you would wearing a hiking backpack—but that’s fine because that’s exactly what you’re doing.

• Osprey Farpoint 40
• Thule Landmark 40L
• Gregory Detour 40

Heritage Backpacks

These bags are engineered with a classic look in mind. Most will be some variation of the one-compartment style with leather straps, subdued colors, and some type of canvas-y material. These packs look great but can sometimes lack functionality and comfort. Although there are a few bespoke-style travel bags, most will fall into the daypack category.

• Topo Designs Travel Bag 40L
• Trakke Bannoch Backpack
• Red Oxx C-ruck Carry-on Rucksack

Having said all of this, aesthetic is subjective, and beauty remains in the eye of the beholder. This is why we conduct weekly polls over on our Instagram to get our communities’ take on the look of bags. Follow us on Instagram to cast your votes! You can find all the results of the polls on our individual review pages too, so you can see how well a bag you’re looking for has performed.

There Really is No “Best Travel Backpack”

Although, there is a best travel backpack for you. All this boils down to your preferences.

When we first started reviewing bags, we admittedly thought there would be one best bag for travel, but the deeper we dug, the more we realized it depends on your needs as an individual traveler. Sure, there are generally guiding principles to follow, and a bag made out of cardboard objectively won’t last, but there are too many quality backpacks out there to pick just one. If you’re on a short trip, a lighter, less durable pack will suit you well. If you’re headed to Southeast Asia during the monsoon season, you may want some heavy-duty weatherproofing.

We wish you the best of luck moving forward with your selection. Still want more? Be sure to check out our other guides and travel gear reviews too!

Our team at Pack Hacker developed the “best travel backpack” guide in partnership with our friends (and bag experts) at Carryology. We’re constantly updating this guide as new backpacks are released, and the travel landscape changes.