20 Best Travel Backpacks (Review) In 2021

Getting your stuff for your weekend getaway to the city or the wilderness is made easy by Osprey’s Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack. Designed to meet the carry-on requirements of most airline companies, this pack is constructed with an internal LightWire framing suspension system, meant to transfer load quickly from the harness to the hipbelt of this bag. The hardness of the Osprey Farpoint backpack is also designed with mesh to reduce chafing under load and utilises padded handles and a mesh back panel for improved ventilation at all times.

It’s fair to say that Osprey is one company we can all trust when it comes to durability, and if for some reason your backpack gets damaged, they even offers to repair all forms of backpack damage for their customers regardless of the purchase date. They carry a strong belief in the quality and durability of their products, and this belief has placed them among the very best travel backpack manufacturers around the world. Make sure you also check our guide to the best waterproof backpacks.

The Thule Subterra Carry-on is a convertible travel backpack that helps make all your travels effortless through its sleek and simple design. It can be hung on the shoulder or used as a backpack, depending on the placement of its straps. Packing items for short trips can be a headache, especially with the different kinds of things you will need. The Thule Subterra travel backpack enables you to store a variety of items, from electronics to clothes, accessories to shoes safely. For your tablet or laptop, this travel bag features a separate, removable sleeve that is spacious enough to secure your electronic device of choice as well as its accessories. 

The Setout Travel Backpack is another imported travel unit that encourages organisation while providing you endless comfort during your various durations of trips. It is a bag designed by professionals from 900D polyester, with a 45-litre capacity. At first glance, the Setout backpack may pass for a suitcase thanks to its front-loading features. It, however, is engineered in this way to keep all your clothes organised and also to make access to all your items extremely easy. Its rounded shape and heathered grey fabric is a classic look desired by many users, and as a result, the Setout backpack has seen a lot of sales being made through its aesthetic appeal. Our handy guide to the best college backpacks features more great products like this.

There is yet another travel bag making waves on the market today. It is the Hynes Eagle Carry On Backpack, one of the best travel packs regarding design, stability and comfort. It is a flight approved travel unit that features a soft exterior structure made from waterproof crinkle nylon, a material that prevents the exposure of your travel essentials to moisture and damage. The durability and decent performance of the Hynes Eagle backpack, coupled with its large 44L capacity, doesn’t make it difficult to store. During a flight, you can save this pack safely under seat storage or in the overhead compartment.

Kodra Tarpaulin, a durable water resistant material is used to manufacture this excellent travel bag called the Nomatic Travel Pack. This carry on enables you to carry everyday items and all your electronics with ease and no confusion, through the addition of a mesh divider. It features design elements such as an RFID pocket, an internal, zippered laptop sleeve and a tight kiss-lock pair of zippers. This lightweight and waterproof backpack makes use of a simple expansion process, to increase its capacity from 20L to 30L for more load. The Nomatic travel bag has a lot of unique features such as a crucial retractable leash and a magnetic snap water bottle pocket. This is a great stylish backpack for men.

Wherever you’re headed, and no matter how long you plan on staying, there is a need for items such as clothing and emergency travel items. Having direct access to such things is great but isn’t offered by all kinds of bags. The Osprey Atmos AG 65 is one of the product designs from Osprey that has undergone endless scrutiny before its final launch. It is regarded by many as the best-fitting and the most comfortable travel bag for all kinds of backpacking trips that will last for a week or more. This travel pack is great for hikers, especially with its internal hydration reservoir sleeve that has a 3 litre capacity for all your long trips.

Wander away with the Timbuk2 Wander Pack, an easy packing, high volume and convertible backpack duffel. Besides its padded laptop compartment that accommodates 15-inch laptops, this travel rucksack is Timbuk2’s cut at a legitimate backpacking pack and is referred to by many as a well-organised travel machine. Utilising both internal and external compression straps, this backpack from Timbuk2 unzips all the way for easy packing and unpacking of travel necessities. The handle included in the design of this travel pack makes lifting more natural, and the extra cushy backpack straps made available with this bag utilise an air mesh ventilated back panel for ventilation and ultimately, comfort. If you need bigger bags for your travel, check out our guide to the best luggage sets.

There’s so much we want to say about the eBags Convertible Carry-on that a feature in the list of recommendations for the best carry on backpack won’t be sufficient. This pack is perfect for your short weekend trips out of town. They are highly versatile and can be used as both a suitcase and backpack, depending on your mood and immediate needs. When in use as a backpack, this pack offers users with two main compartments and many other smaller compartments for better organisation. It utilises a high visibility 210D orange nylon lining that makes you visible at all times in the day or night, and lockable zipper rings for added security, a secure TLS ID pocket for luggage tag and a water bottle pocket.

The main compartment found within this backpack comes with a fold-down shelf to create more internal space. Not only is it sized to accommodate all your essential travel items, but it is also loaded with smart features that can make the backpack better. 

If you’re searching for versatility in a travel bag, we recommend the Oakley Men’s Kitchen Sink Backpack for you. Constructed with durable materials such as polyester and nylon, this travel backpack for man is an imported model featuring a padded side-access sleeve for your electronic devices with a width of up to 17 inches. It also offers users with protective storage through its brushed media pocket. The Kitchen Sink Backpack is outfitted by professionals with versatile storage options and severe hardware to make the unit a complete package with a heavy-duty appeal. If you love going to the gym, check out our gym bags as well.

There is no imported backpack unit greater in function and durability than the Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Backpack. Like its counterparts under the same family umbrella, this lightweight travel backpack is constructed from durable fabrics to perform excellently as your companion for the weekend, and also to last you a lifetime. It is made from nylon and ripstop, and it features a harness, stowaway back panel, a hip belt as well as a zippered rear flap for extra security. The Osprey Farpoint 55 backpack is one of the most robust travel packs in the world, and it has durable fabric in high-wear areas and an utterly smart design to prove it. 

The PRVKE Travel and DSLR Camera Backpack features a main compartment that has a zippered mesh for better organisation. The multi-purpose backpack suitcase also makes it extremely easy for the user to separate their clean and dirty laundry from each other. Just like its counterpart reviewed earlier, this travel bag adheres to all carry-on requirements for most airlines, and it is also easy to move from one location to the other, thanks to its top, side and bottom grab handles. 

The fabric used for the Deuter Traveller 70+10 backpack’s construction is abrasion-resistant for the ultimate safety of the pack’s content during your day trip or extended vacation. It features functional pockets both inside and on the outside for better organisation of items and is large enough to store your shoes, laptops and other travel necessities. The shoulder straps are designed to offer comfort to users, no matter how long they wear their packs. The padding is combined with an adjustable mesh lining that cools your shoulder during long distance trips. Other features include an X-frame for increased stability, reinforced clips, a hard media-player compartment and zip closures.

The Pacsafe Venturesafe X40 is a multi-purpose luggage backpack that is breathable, comfortable and well suited for any traveller. Its 40-litre capacity comes backed by robust built-in security features to ensure the safety of all your items. It is generally lightweight and features a stainless steel wire mesh that prevents the slash-and-run kind of theft. No matter the type of weather, this travel bag keeps all its content safe and dry and also protects them from theft.

The AmazonBasics Carry-On backpack meets carry-on requirements and it’s the best rucksack for traveling. It features three well-placed exterior handles, is made of durable polyester, and functions as an unstructured suitcase that can be converted into a backpack. For its main upper packing compartment, the bag provides a double-zippered opening, while the interior stores smaller items in different sleeves and zippered pockets.

The triple coated front panel of the Incase EO travel backpack provides weather resistance, while its shoulder and sternum straps offer stability and comfort. This large travel backpack is a versatile unit that is well suited for overnight travels, with its expandable main compartment, triple coated weather-resistant front panel, padded sleeves and breathable mesh shoulder straps. This backpack can accommodate a 17-inch laptop with ease while providing extra space for all your necessary travel items.

The Swissgear 1900 ScanSmart Travel & Laptop Backpack which is composed of a very strong 1200D polyester fabric using the ScanSmart lay-flat technology which offers a unique protection of up to a 17″ laptop. It features a front organisational pocket for all of your writing utensils and offers easy access to a laptop and iPad compartment for the safeguarding of your electronic devices. This good quality backpack is equipped with a heavily padded back panel, adjustable side compression straps, a large opening main compartment with broken oversize zippers, padded contour shaped shoulder straps with mesh fabric and Airflow ventilation technology.

Save money and time by investing in the Co Travel Backpack from Standard Luggage. This carry on travel backpack meets all international airline rules for a carry-on and as such, doesn’t require a check-in. It features a convertible design and can be used as a shoulder bag, backpack and suitcase whenever the need arises. Its constructed with premium materials and features elements such as a water bottle pocket, tablet and laptop pocket, as well as internal mesh pockets that make organisation simple and more straightforward. The rugged design and water resistant nature of this backpack makes it one of the best on the market today.

It could be an international journey or a quick overnight camping trip, whichever kind of adventure you decide to go on, the Kelty Redwing 50 Backpack is the only tried and tested travel pack you must trust with all your items. It delivers customised comfort and features a stretch front pouch, zippered side pockets, front pocket organisation and compatibility with hydration. The sternum strap and ventilating back design of this big backpack for travel makes it an ideal unit for all your hiking trips and adventures. Other features of this pack include a hide-away daisy chain, ice axe and trekking pole loops, a dual side pocket and a removable waist belt.

The Peak Design Travel Line Backpack is a durable and completely versatile internal frame backpack constructed with tons of pockets on the outside and inside, tuck-away shoulder straps, top, side, front and rear accesses, zippered mesh sleeves and waterproof zips. They feature grab handles for easy lifting and are made from 400D nylon canvas shell, a weatherproof 100% recycled fabric. The many pockets make storage so easy, and you might even forget the exact position of some items. 

The Hynes Eagle Travel Carry On is a world-class travel backpack, with exciting features such as a true hands-free design with an adjustable backpack sternum strap, multiple interior slip pockets together with the main storage compartment, top and side padded handles and back panels made from breathable mesh for maximum comfort. Two front zip pockets grant internal access to this comfortable backpack, a single zip pocket in the middle, with many slip pockets for improved organisation of all items.