Best Travel Backpack for Your Next Adventure

Selecting the right travel backpack is your most critical step before traveling.

Without a perfect one, your adventure may go a screw-up.

You may have booked your flight or bought a bus ticket to your next tour, and your trip is starting soon. Indeed you are in a stressful moment. What to take and what to leave behind. May I ask where you will put all those things you need on tour?

Is it a backpack or a suitcase or a good luggage set?

If you want to enjoy your trip & travel lightly… You should go with a good travel backpack.

Why travel backpack?

The first thing for any enthusiastic traveler is a quality travel backpack. Your backpack will carry all essential you will need on tour, just your second wardrobe on the go.

While traveling with a backpack, all your essentials are within reach, and you can rest assured. With a single bag, and you can smoothly sail from one place to another. There will be enough, but never too much.

The perfect travel backpack makes life easier when traveling. As a carry-on, you can take it with you on the flight and not have to wait for hours at those carousel belts at the airport. Go to the security check and straight to the gate. Imagine how much time you will save.

While walking towards the destination, your hands can navigate your phone. You can feel the freedom both in a lift or tackling stairs.

Traveling with a backpack will ensure you greater flexibility. Also, you can save pretty good money on luggage fees.

How to select the perfect travel backpack for you?

Choosing the best travel backpack is always a hustle for new travelers. It’s not a piece of cake. But, I can help you select a pack with my experience of years. I know better what to keep in mind while choosing the perfect one for a joyful traveling experience.

And you can trust me with my unbiased opinions about selecting the best travel backpack for 2023.

Choosing the best travel backpack is a science! I spent several weeks choosing my first travel backpack, and of course, It was a tedious process for me. But that research succeeded though that my first backpack endured three and a half years. Later I sold it as well as new in condition.

It was a Nomatic 40L with a lifetime warranty.

Build Quality, Material, and Construction

Think about the perfect travel backpack. It should be comfortable to carry, something with enough space, not too big, not too small.

Who wants to carry soaked and damp stuff for the whole tour? Do you?
It will be a great option if the bag is built with weather-resistant design and material.

That should be sturdy, tough, cozy, and compact to keep some space for you. I can blindly rely on my existing backpack for every single tour.

Maybe you are a backpacking photographer, writer, programmer, or freelancer who needs to access online remotely. You may need to carry your camera, lenses, drone, or a laptop on the go.

Is there any dedicated compartment for your particular need? You don’t need to buy an extra camera backpack. Numerous models come with a specially designed padded case for camera and laptop for your specific needs.

What about the Safety feature?

One of the most important things to consider when you are on your tour is safety. It would be best if you were safe with your belongings. For that reason, there is an extensive range of backpack comes with anti-theft protection such as hidden or lockable zips. Scan for the secret bag compartments with double zips so that you can padlock them together.

Theft proof bags can cost more than a regular travel backpack, but losing your valuable belongings may cost a whole lot more. Nobody wants the bone crashing hassle of replacing passport or credit cards when on vacation.

I’m confident you will find your perfect travel backpack for your next move. Last few words, you may find some packs are pricey, but always remember, “A stitch in time saves nine”. Happy traveling.

Nomatic 40L Travel Backpack

The Nomatic travel backpack results from a very successful Kickstarter campaign to create the most functional backpack for digital nomads working while traveling. This fantastic backpack is specially designed for professional travelers in mind.

It’s made with durable materials such as 100% waterproof and scratch proof carbonite coated 6PM tarpaulin and YKK zippers known as the leader in their field. Exclusively designed tarpaulin keeps your bag looking polished for longer.

Each 40L Travel Backpack comes with a custom made laundry bag to keep wet and dirty clothes separate while traveling.

There are dedicated compartments for shoes, clothes, and a water bottle pocket to keep your gears organized while you travel. You can travel with perfectly ironed shirts with a specially designed shirt organizer.

More robust chest strap and more accessible hip belt attachments are designed to carry the high load. You will feel comfortable on your shoulders while having a significant weight.

Every Nomatic backpack went through years of testing so that you can go confident about the most functional bag on the market in 2021.

Pros:

• Frontloading
• Highly water-resistant material
• Dedicated laptop compartment
• Detachable hip strap
• Converts into a duffel bag
• RFID safe pocket

Cons:

• Expensive
• A little bit over-engineered

Outbreaker 35/45L by Tortuga®

An ideal travel backpack perfectly combined with award-winning ergonomics, features, and materials for the best travel experience.

Outbreaker backpacks are well organized to a little overpack. No matter how much you carry, it will feel comfortable.

It is one of the most intelligent travel bags you will ever have. It is very well built to carry all of your clothing, gadgets, and documents without taking up much space. You can bring a bit more than you think, and it will protect your things.

 VX21 waterproof sailcloth material (a combination of 210D Nylon with UV resistant coating) will protect your goods from the robust weather and humidity. These materials are highly water-resistant and durable, specially built to last.

Tortuga selected lockable weather-resistant YKK AquaGuard zippers, known mainly as the best zipper in the business. There is a padded hip belt for better weight management and a unique height adjusting the suspension for a perfect fit on your back during a long day.

All the compartments have lockable zippers to give you the peace of mind and security you will need.

This bag comes with a structure to stand on its own, and it will keep its shape if it’s fully loaded or almost empty.

Pros:

• Carry on sized
• Thick padding for comfort
• Perfect for hiking or trekking
• Laptop sleeve
• Lockable YKK zippers
• Weather-resistant

Cons:

• No suitcase-style side handle
• Bulky

Federate Adapt Pack 50L by Kathmandu® 

The Federate Adapt Pack, The most versatile three in one travel adventure backpack, is an innovative three-pack size in one. You can easily convert it from a regular 28-liter daypack to a 38-liter medium carry on to a massive 50-liter check-in pack! This highly convertible urban backpack will keep you calm while traveling by bus, train, or plane because travel plans often change.

This urban backpack features a breathable harness with a tuck-away hip belt, durable and constructed to last a longer life.

This bag has an open sack top loading option, although you can open it like a suitcase. There are a 15-inch laptop pocket and a separate tablet pouch.

Made with 100% polyester, but this is not waterproof. There is a strap cover for hiding the hiking straps if you want. 

Pros:

• Sleek design
• Convertible in three different sizes
• Separate laptop and tablet pouch 
• Strong big YKK zippers
• Breathable harness

Cons:

• Not waterproof

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

A beautifully designed, durable, and sleek travel backpack matches the international carry-on size requirements.

It is a 30/35L travel bag, cleverly expands to a 45L max storage with dual expansion zips. Features top, front, rear, and side access means perfect for any single bag travel.

This bag is nicely designed with a lot of internal-external pockets and intuitively placed weatherproof zips to store your belongings as well as camera and digital media equipment.

There are built-in handles and its top, sides, or adjustable shoulder straps that can perfectly serve travel photographers, multimedia creators, and professional travelers.

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is built with 100% recycled 400D weatherproof nylon canvas to be water-resistant. And it also compatible with a separate rain cover for more protection from the elements.

This bag’s sternum strap can distribute the weight carried behind, and a waist belt to transfer weight to the hips for extra comfort.

You can easily tuck the straps and waist belt behind the rear panel during storage or transport. This backpack is made to last with it’s all convenient features.

Pros:

• Great weather-sealing
• Durable nylon construction
• Luggage tag holder
• Hidden document/ passport pocket
• Internal pockets for laptop and tablets
• Side pockets for bottle, tripod, or trekking pole

Cons:

• No separation between your gears
• Slightly odd looking

Tortuga Setout Packable Daypack 19L

Tortuga released Setout Packable Daypack in 2018, and very soon, it became a favorite daypack for many.

This little pack is ideal for day trips when you want to leave your main bag at the hotel and carry the things you will need for a day around the city. It is ultralight and weighs like a can of juice, and collapses into its front pocket for easy storage.

The right paddings on the shoulder straps and the back make it more comfortable and better ventilation. It also has a useful sternum strap, which is surprisingly missing from all of the budget daypacks. But unfortunately, it has no laptop or tablet sleeve; you may need to buy a separate laptop protective case.

Nobody wants to be an annoying backpacker with their disturbing straps flapping around. You can keep the excess strap under control with the elastic keeper.

No one wants to deal with broken zippers while traveling abroad. The addition of a sturdy YKK 5SC zipper is another plus point for this daypack.

There is a zipped large pocket on the front and two stretchy water bottle holders. If you are a light packer, this daypack will help you to keep the weight minimal.

Pros:

• Well constructed
• Durable water repellent (DWR) coating
• Low cost

Cons:

• Doesn’t have an inside pocket
• Made for slimmer peoples

Osprey Fairview carry on 40L

A full-featured, minimalistic travel backpack for fast-moving global adventurers. Its lightweight and travel-focused features are designed specifically with women in mind.

This backpack comes with a 40L weight capacity that fits within carry-on specifications. Excellent color options mean the best way to travel.

Osprey Fairview comes in two different beautiful looking practical colors, rainforest green, and misty grey. 

It is made with tear-resistant and durable 210D Nylon Mini Hex Diamond Ripstop and lockable YKK 10 RC zippers.

There are two straps on the front to help compress the bag and secure the zips’ material. You can also use the strap to secure water bottles or camera tripods in the front pockets.

One of the best things about Osprey Fairview is its hideaway strap system allows you to zip away from the shoulder straps and the hip belt.

You can boatload your stuff with the fully opened pretty big main compartment. Also, there is a large zipped mesh pocket to keep your journal or notepad in the safe zone.

A well built padded sleeve allows you to keep your laptop secured; also, there is a mesh sleeve perfect for your tablet or kindle.

A minimalistic bag with all the traveling requirements means a less headache. 

Pros:

• Well built with a Lifetime warranty 
• Specially designed for women’s
• Global carry on luggage standards
• All YKK zippers

Cons:

• Only available in two colors

Osprey Farpoint® 40L Travel pack

Osprey Farpoint 40L is perfect for any weekend journey all around the globe. You can carry it in three different ways: a duffel, messenger bag, or backpack giving you more flexibility.

The Osprey Farpoint bag is available in three different colors, Volcanic Grey, Caribbean Blue, and Jasper Red, with a stunning look.

The clamshell design main compartment gives you a top-loading experience and easy access to everything inside. And you can stow your bag in the plane cabin with tucked away straps and hip belt. 

Osprey Farpoint comes with both top and suitcase-style side handles. There are well-padded shoulder straps, sternum strap, and a hipbelt added for load-lifting comfort.

Also, there is an attachable single shoulder strap to wear it like a messenger bag.

This durable, lightweight backpack is built with tear-resistant 210D Nylon Mini Hex Diamond Ripstop and lockable YKK 10 RC zippers assuring quality and security.

Pros:

• Pretty good longevity with a Lifetime warranty 
• Unisex design
• Lockable YKK zippers
• Carry on size
• Suitcase style opening

Cons:

• Front laptop sleeve
• Fewer pockets than other Osprey models

Aer Travel Pack 2

Aer Travel Pack 2 is a tough, minimalist travel backpack designed to fit the modern one-bag digital nomads’ needs. With a capacity of 33Litres, this slightly smaller backpack has various storage compartments for clothes, shoes, and electronic accessories.

1680D Cordura ballistic nylon weave (a material developed initially for bomb-proof military body gear) makes this backpack highly durable. And It has super water-resistant YKK Aquaguard zippers with oversized custom Aer zipper pulls.

Travel Pack 2 opens like a suitcase and gives you quick access to the main compartment, so it’s easy to pack. The Travel Pack 2 has a quick access 15.6″ laptop compartment with waterproof zippers, but there isn’t much padding on the bottom. This can cause a problem if you accidentally drop your bag on the ground.

The separate compartment for shoes at the bottom, generally not available in bags of this type. The four compression straps on the outside help to keep your bag to a manageable size. Also, there is a securely attached removable sternum strap for load lifting comfort and stability.

Pros:

• Minimalistic black on black design
• Military-grade exterior fabric
• Lockable YKK zippers 
• Separate shoe compartment
• Side compression straps
• Padded top and side handles
• Multiple internal pockets for better organizing

Cons:

• Not comes with a removable hip belt (sold separately)

AmazonBasics Slim Carry On (weekender)

This stylish and functional travel backpack is for those who need a budget-friendly reliable carry-on. Looks good, but cheap plastic hardware may give you a pause to buy.

This bag’s layout and design are elegant; it comes with two straps on each side to compress the bag as compact as possible. 

Both top and side handle gives you some flexibility when moving around; a water bottle compartment can zip up when not in use.

Amazon basics slim carry-on is built with a clamshell design main compartment, allowing to access everything up, just the way you want. Also, there is a well-padded, big enough laptop sleeve with extra firm padding on the bottom.

The regular shoulder straps are padded with a mesh backing, and they are just ok. This backpack also comes with an extra single shoulder strap so you can carry it like a messenger or a duffel bag. But unfortunately, all the connectors and hooks are plastic made, which feels a bit cheap.

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• Lightweight
• Well built
• Lockable zippers
• Height adjustable sternum strap
• Seven different colors to choose 

Cons:

• All plastic connectors

Allpa 35L Travel Pack by Cotopaxi

The Allpa 35L is a durable backpack with an intuitive storage design, born to explore all adventures. 

This hybrid theft-proof, waterproof suitcase-backpack is built with TPU-coated 1000D polyester and 1680D ballistic nylon, so the sturdiness is confirmed.

35Litres loading capacity and the clamshell opening will give you a comfortable loading and unloading experience. Back on the side, there is a secured laptop sleeve with theft-proof webbing, which can carry a laptop and a tablet up to 15″ in size.

Allpa 35L comes with carry-on compatibility, an adaptable strap design, and an adjustable sturdy sternum strap. Also, there is a pocket on the top, ideal for carrying a notebook or some dry food.

The bag is completely coated with waterproof thermoplastic polyurethane. It also comes with a removable rain cover that adds an extra layer of waterproofing.

Perfect for Weekend travelers, Digital nomads, and Style minded travelers.

Pros:

• Carry-on compatible, perfect for airline travel
• Anti-theft webbing for zippers
• Suitcase-style, full-wrap zipper opening
• Secured YKK zippers
• Tuck-away straps 
• Included rain cover

Cons:

• Not waterproof! (Requires the included rain cover)
• No water bottle holder