9 Top Travel Backpacks for Your Upcoming Journey

Travel backpacks promise to free your hands—at least that's what their fans believe. Much like traditional luggage, these bags neatly organize your clothing, gadgets, and other travel essentials, available in various sizes for both quick getaways and extended adventures. Plus, they allow for more freedom of movement, eliminating the hassle of wheels that can get stuck on rough surfaces, making it easy to navigate any landscape.

Once thought to be solely for adventurous souls, these backpacks now boast stylish designs suitable for urban settings like San Francisco or Buenos Aires, as well as for outdoor excursions such as hiking the Appalachian Trail. The best travel backpacks borrow elements from sporty mountaineering models, incorporating weight-distributing structures in the back panel that make carrying 50 pounds feel more like 20. Below, you'll find our top recommendations for travel backpacks along with tips to help you choose the ideal one for your needs.

Key Features to Consider in a Travel Backpack

Choosing the right travel backpack hinges on your trip type and duration. Here are some essential features to keep in mind when selecting your new backpack:

• Material: Opt for durable and lightweight materials such as nylon and polyester, ideally with waterproof coatings to ensure your bag endures the test of time.
• Dimensions: For those planning to use their backpack as a carry-on, ensure it measures under 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 45 linear inches, the sum of the bag's length, width, and height. This size typically meets most airline carry-on regulations.
• Capacity: You’ll often encounter specifications like “60L” or “45L” related to backpacks. These figures indicate the bag's carrying capacity in liters. Generally, carry-on bags are 45L or smaller, while larger ones may require checking.
• Additional features: Some travel backpacks include hip straps for enhanced comfort. Others come equipped with built-in packing cubes, water bottle holders, or laptop compartments to help keep your belongings organized.

If your travel backpack is also meant for hiking, Maggie Peikon from the American Hiking Society suggests, “When determining the right fit, whether in-store or online, load it up! Many shops offer weight bags that you can insert into your pack during fittings, allowing you to assess any adjustments needed for comfort when the pack is fully loaded.”

Unsure where to begin? Our guide to the best travel backpacks can assist you in finding one that aligns with your budget and complements your travel style.

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

The ultimate in versatility, Peak Design’s Travel Backpack (shown above) adjusts to meet your every need. Want to hide the shoulder straps and transform it into a handled tote? Easy! Shrink it down to a daypack? The top compresses elegantly with snaps. Need to expand it for your newfound souvenirs? Zippered panels provide an extra 10 liters of capacity beyond the default 35 liters. Just a note: when fully expanded, the backpack exceeds most airlines' carry-on size limits. For those with smaller builds or who may also travel with a suitcase, there’s the 30L version ($230).

Peak Design also provides a selection of packing cubes (sold separately) for tailored storage solutions. The Tech Pouch ($60) is ideal for digital nomads and business travelers who juggle multiple phones, tablets, battery packs, and Wi-Fi extenders. The Wash Pouch ($60) serves a similar purpose for toiletries. Various-sized camera cubes ($50–$110) allow photographers to transport a DSLR and lenses securely. Multiple access points facilitate quick entry to the main compartment, and the Travel Backpack can easily be swung around to the front, eliminating the need to remove it when switching lenses or searching for a charging cable. Two stretchy side pockets accommodate a tripod or water bottle.

As standard luggage, the Travel Backpack suits light packers well, carrying weight comfortably while offering organized storage for diverse needs. This duality is both a strength and a limitation: fully utilizing this pack requires a bit of time to familiarize yourself with its features, but we haven’t encountered a bag that better balances elegance and functionality. —Kelly Bastone, Dinogo contributor

Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45

If you appreciate the structure and organization of a suitcase but prefer the convenience of a travel backpack, the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover is an excellent choice. Made from sleek Cordura nylon, this rugged pack is built to endure outdoor adventures while maintaining a stylish appearance suitable for urban environments.

Similar to a standard suitcase, this travel backpack features a main clamshell opening with two spacious zippered compartments for your clothes and toiletry kit. However, unlike traditional hardshell roller bags, the Mission Rover includes various pockets on the front to help keep your tech and smaller items organized. Additionally, it has a shoe compartment at the bottom, a padded laptop sleeve at the top, and a small zippered pocket on the front for easy access to your passport, phone, and other essentials.

Designed to comply with most airlines’ carry-on regulations, the sleek Mission Rover can be used as either a traditional backpack or a duffle bag. Simply tuck the backpack straps into the back panel and attach the single shoulder strap. —Lyndsey Matthews, Dinogo contributor

Osprey Fairview 55 Travel Pack

Many backpacks with detachable daypacks attach the smaller unit on the outside, farthest from the wearer. However, when Osprey’s experienced designer Mike Pfotenhauer created the ideal backpack for his business and leisure trips to Vietnam, he reversed this concept: the base is a compact backpack crafted for comfort, accommodating a laptop, earphones, a water bottle (in conveniently accessible side pockets), and a passport (in a discreet zippered pocket).

Larger items such as clothes and shoes fit into a spacious “cargo bag” that clips onto the daypack and can be stowed in the overhead bin, while your valuables stay within reach at your feet. Unlike typical piggyback designs, the Fairview 55 positions the daypack—the component most travelers use frequently—as the central piece rather than an afterthought.

This configuration offers extra advantages. Your valuables are secured closer to your body, reducing the risk of theft. Additionally, with heavier items (like your laptop) positioned near your back, their weight feels significantly lighter. A robust hip belt and a supportive internal suspension system further enhance the comfort of carrying heavier loads.

When detached from the daypack and equipped with a removable strap, the cargo bag can function as a shoulder tote. The two sections integrate seamlessly without hindering access to zippers or pockets on either side, all while adhering to carry-on size limits. Although it becomes trickier to clip the two together when fully packed, we managed just fine, even while battling jet lag. —K.B.

Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L

Tortuga has consistently been my top choice for travel-friendly backpacks due to its innovative, high-quality, and carry-on-compatible designs. The latest model, the Tortuga Pro 40L, continues to uphold these standards. Like its predecessors, it merges the mobility of a backpack with the utility of a suitcase. Instead of the conventional top-opening design, this backpack features a clamshell opening for suitcase-like access. A dedicated zippered pocket in the back houses your tech, complete with separate sleeves for your laptop and iPad, making it easy to stay organized and access your laptop during security checks. Additional pockets on the front keep small items neatly arranged, ensuring essentials like your passport are easily accessible.

Constructed from durable polyester made from recycled water bottles, the Tortuga Pro is also equipped with a water-resistant, durable water-repellent (DWR) coating. Beyond its durability and eco-friendliness, it is comfortable to carry thanks to breathable, injection-molded foam and air mesh padding, along with removable hip belts. I've only taken it on a few trips so far, but if it performs like previous models, it should provide many years of reliable service on future adventures. —Jessie Beck, associate director, SEO

Eagle Creek Migrate Duffel 40L

The Migrate Duffel 40L cleverly conceals two padded straps at the top, which, when pulled from their sleek sleeves, clip into buckles, converting your hand luggage into a backpack. With cushioned straps, it offers a reasonably comfortable carry, even though it lacks internal support for heavy loads (in this configuration, it's ideal for light, bulky items like workout gear or a bike helmet); the central zipper sits against your back, out of reach from pickpockets.

When worn as a backpack, the Migrate Duffel adheres to carry-on size regulations. However, if you find yourself with a few too many souvenirs, you can easily tuck the backpack straps away and extend the tote handles to increase the capacity to 44 liters.

With a glossy thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) coating, this durable, puncture-resistant polyester tote is built for rugged adventures. It features handles on the top, side, and ends for easy tie-down points. While the zipper itself isn't waterproof, a storm flap underneath prevents rain from getting inside. Additionally, the seamless bottom keeps water out, ensuring that even when an unexpected wave splashed over it at the beach, our books and towels remained dry within.

Equally noteworthy: The materials used in the Migrate are all bluesign approved, signifying they are sustainably produced and safe for both people and the environment. The extra-durable bottom fabric of the duffel contains recycled polyester, while the water-repellent coating is crafted from upcycled plastic windshields. —K.B.

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

Combining a carry-on, duffel, and backpack in one, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is a traveler's ideal companion with zippered sections for laptops, passports, keys, and clothing. Mario Ordoñez-Calderón, director of the NGO Un Mar De Colores—providing surf therapy and environmental education to underserved youth—testified that this bag was “a game-changer” during his 10-day trip to Oaxaca. Key design elements include “theft-proof webbing” that conceals the zippers to prevent unnoticed access, and four carabiner lash loops for attaching a water bottle or securing a scarf.

This carry-on-sized pack easily fits in an airplane's overhead bin, but can also slide under the seat in front of you (unless overstuffed with a week's worth of clothes). If your load is heavy and you need relief, the removable hip belt provides added stability.

The bag's polyester exterior is coated with thermoplastic polyurethane, ensuring it's completely waterproof, and it also includes a detachable rain cover for enhanced protection. —Katherine LaGrave, deputy editor

Thule AllTrail 45L

For hiking the Inca Trail or trekking through Himalayan teahouses, the Thule AllTrail is your ideal choice. It accommodates bulky items like sleeping bags and pads while effectively supporting their weight. Sturdy aluminum struts strengthen the back panel and transfer weight to your hips, relieving pressure from your shoulders. The thickly padded hip belt ensures comfort over long distances, keeping you balanced as you navigate rugged terrain and cross creeks when properly packed.

Although designed for men, the hip belt is adjustable and can even be replaced. The shoulder straps can be moved up or down by up to four inches to accommodate various torso lengths.

A built-in rain cover ensures your belongings stay dry, proven effective on New Zealand’s famously wet Milford Track. The hip belt features pockets for easy access to snacks and a phone, with one pocket conveniently being waterproof. —K.B.

Matador SEG28 Segmented Backpack

The Matador SEG28 Backpack offers ultimate organization without needing additional packing cubes or accessories. Functioning like a backpack with integrated packing cubes, the SEG28 features four zippered segments accessible from the front, letting you sort your gear by type, day, or size.

Moreover, the bag includes a full clamshell undercarriage, keeping boots or dirty laundry separate from your clean clothes. With plenty of pockets, there's an external laptop sleeve and a small top pocket for your essentials.

Carry-on compliant, the SEG28 is designed for short trips or day outings requiring ample gear. For longer journeys, the SEG45 ($200) provides 45 liters of packing capacity. —L.M.

Dakine Split Adventure 38L

Compact at 38L, the Split Adventure won't overwhelm you; it never looks like a giant turtle shell. Yet, it accommodates all the essentials for short trips, thanks to its suitcase-style opening.

Inside the main compartment, one side features elastic bands that clip together to keep clothing or packing cubes secure, while the opposite side includes two mesh pockets large enough for a toiletry kit and a single pair of shoes. If you're prone to overpacking or planning a long trip, you might find the 38L capacity a bit limiting after packing a few outfits.

Despite its compact size, this bag organizes a surprisingly wide range of items. A 17-inch laptop fits snugly in the padded sleeve located behind the shoulder straps, charging cords and other valuables can be stowed in a zippered exterior organizer pocket, and tuck-away buckles allow you to attach larger items (like a yoga mat or winter coat) to the outside. Plus, there’s a fleece-lined pocket on top to keep your sunglasses safe. —K.B.

This article was initially published in 2019 and updated on August 8, 2024, with the latest information. Sophie Friedman assisted in reporting this story.