travel pack 40l

10 Best 40L Travel Backpacks in 2023 – Buyer’s Guide

Are you on the hunt for the best 40L travel backpack to take for your next trip? Then look no further! A 40L travel backpack is a perfect size for traveling whether you’re backpacking Europe, South East Asia or just plainly using it for domestic travel. We hope our top picks and guide to the best 40l travel backpacks on the market will help you pick the best one to suit your needs and lifestyle.

More and more 40l travel backpacks are being added on the market. Each of your possessions will be carried on the road with your backpack, it is your home and partner. It needs to be solid, functional, comfortable, and compact enough for your travels. This guide provides you with the best travel bags and what makes them more or less for each specific individual needs.

In a Hurry? The test winners after 12 hrs of research

Osprey Packs Farpoint 40L Men’s Travel Backpack – Best for Men

Why is it better?

• Carry handles are very comfortable and low profile
• Main compartment is useful for packing lots of clothing, it fully opens suitcase/clamshell style
• The compression straps in the main compartment and the exterior can help save some space for carry on use
• Packing up the shoulder and hip straps can help with the in/out for airplanes

Osprey Packs Fairview 40L Women’s Travel Backpack – Best for Women

• Slides easily into the overhead compartment in the airplane, with no struggle, even if packed overfull
• Because it opens fully like a suitcase, it’s very easy to pack and remove items from
• There are tightening straps both on the inside and on the outside
• Nice fit, hugs weight closer to your bag than other packs

Best 40L Travel Backpacks – Overview

Whether you are a seasoned traveler, on a short weekend trip, or just think about going on the open road, you need the best 40l travel backpack. Simply put, pared-back traveling does not have to include two pairs of underwear, a single t-shirt, and a toothbrush squashed into an old-school bag. Nor does it mean wearing most of your clothes when you want to check your hand-carried luggage at the airport. We have searched the market to offer you what we consider to be the best 40l travel backpacks to help you achieve hassle-free trips.

40L Travel Backpacks Reviews

1. osprey packs farpoint 40l men’s travel backpack – best for men.

Osprey Packs Farpoint 40L Men’s Travel Backpack is perfect for a weekend getaway in the city or the wilderness and is built to meet most airline carry-on requirements. The LightWire frame suspension transfers the load from harness to hipbelt. A mesh backpanel improves ventilation and the mesh on the harness and hipbelt reduces chafing under load.

The entire suspension stows away under a zippered panel. Unzip the lockable sliders to access the main compartment. Inside there’s a mesh pocket for small items. Dual compression straps keep cargo from shifting during transit. Outside you’ll find a zippered front panel slash pocket to keep you organized and sewn attachment points to attach gear. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best travel backpacks .

Key Features:

• Stowaway backpanel, harness, and hipbelt with zippered rear flap for protection
• Laptop and tablet sleeve secure in a lockable compartment
• Two internal compression straps hold contents securely
• Heat-embossed scratch-free zippered slash pocket

Specifications:

• Brand: Osprey
• Capacity: 40L
• Dimensions: 22″ H x 14″ W x 9″ D
• Weight: 3.17 lbs
• Not enough pockets to aid in organization or quick retrieval of items from outside the pack

2. Dinictis 40L Carry On Travel Backpack

The Dinictis 40L Carry On Travel Backpack can convert as a small bag if you prefer to tuck away the straps of your shoulder and carry them instead of wearing them. This bag stores up to a 15.6 inches laptop. Shoulder belts are padded for more protection, and if your bag is particularly heavy there is a chest strap that can support you.

You can put your phone, keys and other things in the front pocket that you need quick access to, and there’s also a side pocket for items such as umbrellas or small water bottles. This low-cost carry-on bag also complies with flight regulations. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best travel backpacks for carry-on .

• Hidden shoulder strap
• Padded laptop sleeve fits up to 15″
• Thickened sponge handles
• Multiple carrying options
• Brand: Dinictis
• Dimensions: 19.6″ H x 13.8″ W x 9.8″ D
• Weight: 2.56 lbs
• The adjustments helped keep the bag properly weighted
• Nice pouch in the front where you can discreetly hold your cards/passport
• For the price, the fabric provided is not wrinkly
• The compartments are spacious and can fit a lot of items
• It does not come with a hipbelt

3. Kelty Women’s Redwing 40L Travel Backpack

The Kelty Women’s Redwing 40L Travel Backpack is the perfect size for quick getaways, whether on the trail or in the air. Hybrid-loading U-zipper design works as both a top loader and a panel loader, allowing easy access to all your gear. An additional stash pocket on the front of the pack makes it easy to tuck away a jacket or hoodie, and inside we’ve updated the organizers for maps, electronics, pens, and other travel essentials. 

The hydration sleeve is a dual-use pocket that can carry a laptop without worries. LightBeam single aluminum stay and Dynamic AirFlow back panel keep your load stable and comfortable, while custom shoulder straps and hip belt are built to fit a woman’s body. Whether your journey takes you to the streets of Chicago or the canyons of Colorado, the Redwing 40 has you covered. Make sure you also check our selection of the best travel backpacks for women .

• Padded and ventilating back panel
• Removable waist belt
• LightBeam single aluminum stay
• Front Stash pocket with closure hook
• Brand: Kelty
• Dimensions: 23″ H x 14″ W x 12″ D
• Weight: 2.6 lbs
• The zippers are designed so that you can easily get things from the bottom of the pack
• It sits comfortable on the shoulders and rests comfortably on your hips when strapped in
• The weight is distributed perfectly on your back
• Fits perfectly under an airplane seat
• No zipper on the hip or shoulder strap for either putting a passport, cellphone or other small items

4. PacSafe Vibe 40L Travel Backpack

The PacSafe Vibe 40L Travel Backpack is a versatile, carry-on friendly backpack that is designed for the always-moving city travel. It has compression straps to help reduce bulk, plus handy organization, which means you can pack more in with confidence that it’s all protected by the patented anti-theft security. Pacsafe’s eXomesh slash guard is a lightweight flexible, stainless steel wire mesh that’s built into (and concealed) in the most commonly vulnerable areas of the bag, helping to protect your gear from a quick slash-and-run theft.

The roomy main compartment includes a large internal Velcro pocket for storing a 15-inch laptop and additional organization. The Vibe 40 features a top quick-access pocket and one side stretch pocket for stowing water bottles and more. The stowable shoulder straps, sternum strap, and waist belt help you comfortably carry your load through airports.

• Can be worn 2 different ways
• Ergonomic, internal frame offers increased balance and support
• Meets most airline carry-on standards
• Adjustable, padded hip belt for stability and weight distribution
• Brand: Pacsafe
• Dimensions: 19.7″ H x 13.8″ W x 7.1″ D
• Weight: 2.84 lbs
• Anti theft design
• Interior is more shaped to use as a suitcase due to it being a big open space
• You can lock the shoulder strap with a lock to anything secure
• Straps can be tucked away when not in use
• The top small pocket has no lock

5. Osprey Packs Fairview 40L Women’s Travel Backpack – Best for Women

Lightweight and streamlined, the Osprey Packs Fairview 40L Women’s Travel Backpack is an ideal travel pack for fast-moving globetrotters. Despite their minimalist weights, these women’s specific, full-featured packs offer plenty of organization and travel-focused features. The stowaway harness and hipbelt disappears for safekeeping when you check your bag, and durable fabrics offer added protection. 

A large panel zip provides convenient access to the main compartment, lockable sliders keep your gear secure, dual front compression straps slim down your pack when you carry less, and a padded laptop/tablet sleeve keeps your electronics secure. The Fairview 40’s compact size ensures carry-on compliance on most flights. Love Osprey? Check out our review of the best Osprey backpacks for our top picks.

• Features Lightwire Frame suspension that transfers load from harness to hipbelt for a comfortable carry
• Designed to fit most carry on overheads
• Made from durable 210D Nylon Mini Hex Diamond Ripstop material
• Exterior features dual compression straps and two mesh pockets
• Stowaway back-panel harness and hip belt, plus they are secured with the zippered rear flap
• Dimensions: 21″ H x 14″ W x 9″ D
• Weight: 3.2 lbs
• Because it opens fully like a suitcase, it’s very easy to pack and remove items from
• Hip strap not as thick/padded as more rugged packs

6. Inateck 40L Travel Backpack

The Inateck 40L Travel Backpack is a really great travel bag. It’s big enough to fit everything you’d need on a short trip, and still lightweight enough that when you go anywhere, you can use it as a carry on bag. It is made of materials which are resistant to abrasion and water and features a padded and ventilated backpanel. Two handles have both undergone vibration test carrying a load of 10kg for 1000 times (The test item is set to vibrate within a vibration range of 4 inches for 1000 times at a speed of 30 times per minute.)

As for the actual anti-theft features, you are getting lockable zippers and compression straps. The straps are rather useful – they not only protect your backpack from theft but also reduce its size when it is not filled to capacity. And make sure things inside aren’t jumbling around. There are several hidden pockets in the pack too. Each shoulder strap has a zippered pocket, as well as a slip one on the backpanel. These are perfect for all the things that you want to keep safe. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best small backpacks for travel .

• Compression straps
• Anti-theft zipper
• Water-resistant material
• Hideaway shoulder straps
• Water bottle pocket
• Brand: Inateck
• Dimensions: 21.6″ H x 13.4″ W x 7.1″ D
• Weight: 2.85 lbs
• It’s the size of a carry-on suitcase, so there is no problem bringing it inside the airplane
• Sturdy material and well constructed
• It comes with a waterproof cover
• It has a place for water bottle, which was really handy
• The front pockets are pretty much useless, once the bag is full. They only open on top, with a flat zipper, so it’s really hard to access contents inside if the bag is not empty

7. Hynes Eagle 40L Travel Backpack

The Hynes Eagle 40L Travel Backpack is a one of a kind backpack. Made for travelers who don’t want to spend money checking in their suitcase, its generous capacity of 40 liters is perfect for keeping away just the essentials for a few days without the need for another luggage. This travel backpack, on the other hand, is versatile enough to serve as a carry-on, complementing your check-in baggage.

The minimal and simple design of the bag is suitable for both male and female travelers of all ages, but most importantly, as a travel backpack, it is highly functional. Even better, in just a few seconds it may go from backpack to duffel bag. It is properly fitted with several holding options as well as 2 grab handles so that you have options to remove the bag securely from overhead compartments, under seats, and trunks.

• Multiple exterior compression buckle straps
• A true hands-free carry on with suppressible shoulder straps
• 1 front zip pocket with multiple interior slip pockets
• 3 carrying options
• Adjustable sternum and waist strap
• Brand: Hynes Eagle
• Dimensions: 20.1″ H x 13.4″ W x 9.8″ D
• Weight: 2.31 lbs
• 3 cubes are really nice and convenient
• The back part of the bag functions just like a suitcase, fully opening up, and everything fits in there super well
• After zipping everything up, it’s easy to all carry together, and it fit well under the seat in front of me on the plane
• Lots of straps for securing it together and on your back
• No where to stuff some of the straps when you aren’t using them

8. Eagle Creek Global Companion 40L Travel Backpack

The Eagle Creek Global Companion 40L Travel Backpack will take you from the mountains of Kilimanjaro to the scenic streets of Copenhagen in rugged fashion and secure design. Constructed from 450D Geo Ripstop. Zip closure with self-repairing lockable zippers featuring easy-grip zipper pulls are designed to keep working for you trip after trip. Lockable top zippers can be double secured with a small padlock looped through the Central Lock Point. Top, bottom and side haul handles enable easy pickup from any angle. 

Shoulder straps, back panel, and hip belt are designed ergonomically for maximum comfort with padding and moisture-wicking to reduce sweat on the body. Sternum strap features a safety whistle. Traditional suitcase style butterfly opening reveals two zippered peek-through mesh packing compartments including one with an additional mesh pocket for organization. Mesh side pockets are perfect for water bottles and other quick-grab items. Compression straps can be used to stow a jacket, plane pillow or extra gear.

• Ergonomically shaped with padded shoulder straps and hip belt with external pocket
• Fixed 19″ suspension features padded, moisture-wicking backpack straps, back panel and hip belt for long term comfort
• Book-style opening reveals split packing compartments for maximum organization
• Padded 17″ laptop sleeve in main compartment
• Brand: Eagle Creek
• Weight: 3.51 lbs
• Loads of tools to keep your pack organized
• Dual access—super handy for quick access to your laptop and more
• Awesome harness system for a heavy load or long carry
• Perfect as a carry-on item when flying
• Front organization pockets are a bit awkwardly shaped for certain items, which can be a bit bothersome at times

9. Thule Landmark Men’s 40L Travel Backpack

The Thule Landmark Men’s 40L Travel Backpack is a carry-on style backpack that is specifically designed for traveling around the world. Easily pack and access belongings with a suitcase-style opening, compression straps to hold belongings in place, and mesh pockets for organization. Securely store a water bottle or other small items in the zippered side pocket.

Built-in sternum strap whistle is easy to access and ups your safety game on any outing. Adjustable shoulder straps and hipbelt ensures a comfortable fit for long days of travel. Prevent wear and tear by tucking away the contoured shoulder straps and hipbelt when not in use. Available in multiple sizes, colors, and fits, the Thule Landmark is the perfect travel companion for adventure travel.

• Hidden cash Stash pocket keeps a passport and money safe
• Innovative Loop Locks secure zipper pulls to the bag to deter theft
• Built-in sternum strap whistle
• Contoured shoulder straps and hip belt tuck away when not in use
• Large zippered side pocket securely stores a water bottle
• External lash points to attach a carabineer
• Brand: Thule
• Dimensions: 21.5″ H x 13″ W x 9.8″ D
• Comfortable and straps and back are well padded
• Enough compartments and where you’d want them
• Should and waist straps are stow-able
• Lots of ways to lock down the zippers to keep would be thieves at least minimally at bay
• The design of the main flap is that it doesn’t open all the way so that you have to kind of wedge your clothes into the bag

10. Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack

The Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack is made from water-resistant, durable polyester fabric and metal zippers. The middle pocket has a computer compartment and a tablet compartment. It can also hold magazines and books. The main pockets are large and can accommodate clothes, shoes, books, umbrellas, keys, mobile power, glasses cases, cameras, and many other items. It is ideal for flight travel, camping, hiking, and college.

It has compression straps that provide maximum compression. Take the shoulder strap in the back panel and turn it into a carry-on duffel bag instantly. There is a sternum strap that adjusts lengthwise and slides up and down the shoulder straps. Design for stabilization and carry comfort. The reflective strip on the back of the backpack makes it safe to travel at night.

• Exterior compression straps
• Hide away shoulder straps
• 3 carrying options for travelers’ multiple alternatives
• Adjustable sternum strap
• Brand: Asenlin
• Dimensions: 18.5″ H x 12.5″ W x 9.5″ D
• Weight: 3.1 lbs
• The backpack easily fit in the overhead bids, even when fully packed
• This bag has a super large capacity, but it looks cool and not swell when carried on the back
• Carries like a backpack but it’s a suitcase when it’s opened
• The straps also tuck in as well
• The straps are not that comfortable and quality of materials seems a little low, but matches the price point

Buying Guide

Most of the time, you want the lightest travel bag that you can find comfort as well because it will save the body from exhaustion. Also, the materials from which a backpack is made can affect its weight, and super lightweight material can definitely increase the price.

Front Loading

Hiking backpacks are usually top-loaded, meaning you have to dig through them to find your stuff from the top. Most 40l travel backpacks are front-loading, so they snap more open like a suitcase and you can easily find stuff.

A padded waist strap, instead of just your shoulder, distributes the weight of your backpack around your waist. It helps to avoid sore shoulders and back pain, particularly in long periods of time while wearing it. There are also some travel backpacks with padded grab handles or a stylish duffel-bag strap.

Gear Pockets

This is subjective but something nice to have. Many important ones include a pocket for quick access for items like keys, passports, sunglasses, etc. A dedicated laptop pocket or a water bottle pocket is also a plus.

Weather Resistance

The material that a backpack is made of can determine how resistant it is to weather. Most backpacks need a special rain-cover, others are built right in with rain-resistance. You wouldn’t want to get your clothes wet!

Carry-On Friendly

Airlines are beginning to become much stricter regarding the size and weight of your carry-on bag. 40L travel backpacks are safe for the most part but you still want to check the dimensions are not larger than the standard carry-on size of 22″ x 14″ x 9″.

Frequently Ask Questions

Is 40l backpack enough.

Most packs fall firmly between 30L and 40L can satisfy many travel needs, regardless of the duration of the journey. Sometimes these bags are wide enough to carry anything you need while remaining small enough to fit in the overhead compartments. They grant versatility to a greater degree, too. Most veteran backpackers believe that this is the perfect volume; so yes, we believe 40L is enough for most travel needs.

Is it better to travel with a backpack or luggage/suitcase?

With a backpack, it is much simpler to walk around crowds and crowded areas. If the bag suits properly and isn’t overpacked, it can be very comfortable too. Certainly, you don’t need to bring all of your belongings with wheeled luggage . This fits well when you are traveling with smooth streets to locations. If you intend to take a cab to get to your hotel from the airport/train station, a suitcase is definitely the safest choice because you won’t waste any time carrying your luggage. Ultimately, this is a personal choice, but here at Backpack Beasts, we prefer the versatility of backpacks. Especially when your planning to travel through Europe .

How big of a backpack can I take on a plane?

We liked to stick to the standard size of 22″ x 14″ x 9″. As this will work on even the strictest airline. Thankfully, most companies know of these dimensions and try to adhere as much as possible. This is more or less the perfect carry on size and will range from 30-40L.

We hope this guide was helpful for finding the best 40l travel backpacks as well as our guide on features to look for in a 40l travel backpack. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this guide, feel free to let us know in the comments section.

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The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

By Kit Dillon

Kit Dillon is a writer focused on bags and travel gear. He has worked for Wirecutter for a decade and lost count of the number of bags he has tested.

When you open up your favorite carry-on travel backpack, it should feel like you’re opening the door to a well-organized closet or sitting down at a clean desk, with everything in the right place and easy to reach.

This is your moment to center yourself, no matter how chaotic the journey.

What we considered

A 45-liter bag maximizes overhead space but can get heavy when fully packed; 35-liter bags tend to be more manageable.

A bag with a clamshell design opens like a book and is the easiest to pack, but a bag that opens traditionally tends to have more structure.

Ideally, a travel backpack has handles on all sides—especially the bottom—so you can pull it out of overhead bins or from under seats.

Some internal pockets are useful, but major organizing is better managed with packing cubes.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L offer the best combination of features, quality, and durability. Both bags are exemplary carry-on travel backpacks that are designed for comfort, durability, and organization. Though these backpacks are great as companion bags for any trip, they’re designed to ultimately replace all of your other luggage and become your exclusive bag as you travel.

This style of packing is not for everyone, but once some people try it, they’re forever hooked. Finding the right bag is a personal choice, though, and no single bag will appeal to everyone. That’s why we also have picks that are great for people who travel for work , others that are designed to be carried over long distances , and a bag that’s basically luggage on your back .

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, best small carry-on bag for most situations: cotopaxi allpa 35l travel pack, best large bag for most situations: peak design travel backpack 45l, best mobile office: patagonia black hole mlc 45l, best bag for long journeys on foot: osprey farpoint 40 and fairview 40, best bag if you need a large suitcase on your back: tortuga travel backpack pro 40l, other good carry-on travel backpacks, how we picked and tested, the competition.

I’ve been covering aspects of luggage and travel bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade, and I have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. I personally try to do most of my travel with a single backpack, whenever possible. I spent nine months roaming around Hawaii with not much more than that, and I spent another six months nomadically couch-surfing in New York City.

I reached out to writers who specialize in traveling the world carrying everything they need in a single bag: Eytan Levy, the owner and operator of the Snarky Nomad travel website; James Feess, founder of The Savvy Backpacker ; and Sharon Gourlay, of the Where’s Sharon? travel website. I also spoke with moderators of Reddit’s r/onebag and r/heronebag forums, as well as with Chase Reeves, bag fanatic, reviewer, and owner of Matterful .

We researched and tested bags designed for those who want to travel light and stay flexible while flying, without the burden of checking luggage. For some people, the challenge of cutting down a packing list is intimidating. But if you can get past that initial hurdle, traveling with a single bag is a revelation. With fewer items, you have more time to concentrate on and appreciate the journey.

• When you’re not loaded down by heavy luggage, it’s easy to remain more mobile. And it’s easier to adjust your plans mid-trip. If you’re willing to do laundry on the road, then one bag is all you need to travel indefinitely. At its heart, one-bag travel allows you to discover more—not just about the places you’re going but also about yourself and what you really need day to day.
• Size and weight still matter. If you desire more creature comforts or more gear, or if you plan to be away for a long time across multiple climates, you’ll want a bigger travel backpack . These larger bags tend not to be carry-on-friendly, however, especially in Europe, so be prepared to check them.
• No single backpack is perfect for everyone. Before you make any purchase, consider some basic points. How much can you carry? And where do you usually visit: the city or outback? Travel gear should feel like a welcome companion—there to support you when you need it but unobtrusive when you don’t.

45-liter bag vs. 35-liter bag

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A versatile small pack for a week or a weekend.

This durable bag’s clamshell design makes it easy to organize your stuff. And due to its strap design, this bag can be worn on your back or carried in your hand while you’re on the move.

Buying Options

With free Backcountry Expedition Perks membership, price reflects at checkout

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is an easy-to-organize, comfortable-to-carry bag for getaways lasting just a few days or a whole week.

It’s one bag that can do it all. This is a great all-around bag for any traveler who’s dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. There are handles on all four sides of this bag, so it’s easy to grab no matter where you’ve stowed it. It’s also protected by a full lifetime warranty, and it has the build quality to back that up. After more than four years of testing, this single backpack (plus a personal item ) has replaced nearly every travel bag or piece of luggage I use.

It comes in various sizes, but we think the middle-of-the-road version is the best. Cotopaxi also makes the Allpa in 28-liter and 42-liter sizes. But for us, the 35-liter bag is the best option. At 42 liters, this bag becomes heavy for most people to carry when it is fully packed, and we’d prefer that it had a more-robust hip belt. At 28 liters, the bag becomes a touch small for most people, and its internal organization feels fussy for shorter trips, such as an overnight. Cotopaxi also makes a hip pack , which is designed to fit snugly into the Allpa bag’s front top compartment. It’s a neat little addition to the bag, and it is worth getting if you like wearing fanny packs while you travel.

It’s organized, easy to pack, and easy to carry. The Allpa bag has a clamshell design, so it opens like a hard-sided suitcase—a large YKK zipper runs around three sides of the bag, allowing it to fall open into two halves when unzipped. On the right side is a deep compartment, spacious enough for two large packing cubes or half a suitcase’s worth of clothing (which you access through a mesh zippered flap). On the left, there’s space for one more medium-size packing cube behind a zippered flap. Above that there are two smaller pockets with high-visibility backing—useful when you’re looking for hard-to-differentiate personal items.

It’s secure but still accessible. The Allpa pack has two side-access zippers—great for on-the-go access, especially when the bag is hanging from your shoulder. One of these reveals a flat computer pocket with a padded false bottom; so if you drop the bag, it won’t land on the corner of your computer. The other reveals a “secret” pocket with a hidden zipper and access to the main compartment. All of the main compartment zippers are protected by security loops, which you thread the zipper through at the end of its run. This prevents anyone from subtly or quickly grabbing a zipper and opening your bag when you aren’t paying attention.

It’s comfortable to carry. The Allpa bag’s hip belt—which can be removed while the bag is on your back—is substantial enough that it’s comfortable to wear when you need it. With or without the hip belt, the Allpa bag is comfortable to carry over long distances. However, folks who have longer torsos (over 19 inches) may find that the waist belt sits a little high off the hips, unless you fully extend the shoulder straps. Speaking of shoulder straps, unlike the ones on our other picks, the Allpa bag’s straps are contoured to fit people who have large or small chests. It’s not a specifically gendered design, but our female tester noticed the improvement right away.

The Allpa pack is made with 1680-denier ballistic nylon, similar to the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 . (Denier is a measure of a fabric’s fiber thickness.) It feels similar to a strong canvas, but it has a more prominent weave. This is the type of bag that’s as easy to toss into an overhead compartment as it is into the back of a rusty pickup truck. And it also includes a rainfly, which is unique in this category.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Though this pack is well organized for packing, it’s less ideal as a mobile office. The Allpa pack has a minimal amount of administrative organization—places to keep pens and papers, spaces to hold tickets, and so forth. This is where a good personal item comes in handy. However, if you want to travel with just this one bag, there are a few nooks you can hide things in. The front organizer is deep enough that you can also fit several small organizing pouches, if you want, or the aforementioned fanny pack.
• We prefer the model without the TPU front. Cotopaxi does enjoy playing around with fabrics and colors. Sometimes the company has released the Allpa pack without the TPU-lined front panel. The TPU panel improves water resistance, but after many years of traveling with our bag, we’ve found that the TPU layering can begin to flake in spots.

Capacity: 35 liters Weight: 3 pounds 5 ounces Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: adventurous Colors: assorted

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

An easily customizable large bag for long trips and expensive gear.

This bag was built with photographers in mind. Yet most travelers will appreciate its easy accessibility, clever tuck-away straps, and the elegant way the bag expands and contracts. The accessory cubes cost extra, though.

The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is a good choice for those carrying more expensive gear—especially camera gear. It’s also great for those who prefer a large, backpack-based packing system.

One bag provides many configurations. Some bags in this category are built to do one thing extremely well—be carried on your back. But the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is built to adapt. It’s the Swiss Army knife of backpacks: adjustable, customizable, and (if you spring for the extra cubes and organizers) an almost perfect system for a photographer or gearhead on the move. Most bags’ expanding mechanisms aren’t worth the extra zipper they’re built on, and they look about as attractive as a boiled ham splitting out of its plastic packaging. That’s not the case with the Peak Design: This bag looks just as good fully packed at 45 liters as it does compressed to a 30-liter daypack.

It’s expandable, with clever folds and zippers. You can access the bag through a back panel (which doubles as a computer and tablet pouch) as well as a front one (if you unzip the pass-through divider). You can also get into the main compartment via two wing-like trapezoidal flaps, which run along each side of the pack. In its natural shape, the Travel Backpack holds 35 liters, but an expansion zipper lets the bag swell to 45 liters. If you want to use the bag as a daypack, you fold in the top corners and snap them down, reducing the bag’s volume to a slim 30 liters. In this configuration, it will still feel larger than a normal daypack, but we think that’s a small compromise for being able to use one backpack as both your travel bag and your daily explorer. The bag itself consists of 400-denier nylon and polyester fabrics. It feels tough but not as tough as some other bags we’ve tested, such as the Cotopaxi Allpa.

It has fold-away straps, for easier storage. The Peak Design lets you tuck its shoulder and hip straps away when you’re not using them. But unlike any other bag we’ve ever tested, this pack has magnetic flaps on the back panel that open and close with an almost magical snap. Once you’ve played with them, you’ll wonder why every backpack doesn’t have something similar. A small, childish part of me still gets excited about tucking away the straps when I put the Peak Design into an overhead bin. Although the straps are thin, they’re still comfortable. The hip belt isn’t quite as plush as the one on the Tortuga pack; still, even when the Peak Design is fully loaded, the belt doesn’t pinch or dig into the body.

It’s great for carrying expensive gear. If you travel with a camera, you don’t have to use Peak Design’s camera cubes , but they do make carrying that gear a whole lot easier. The cubes come in five sizes. And if they’re situated properly in the bag with the provided clips, they line up with the Travel Backpack’s side-access flaps for quick access. Caleigh Waldman (a photographer for this piece and, full disclosure, my spouse) took this bag across the country for a wedding shoot. “I want this backpack,” she said after three weeks of travel. “I want to travel with it everywhere. With my cameras. Without my cameras. It doesn’t matter. I want to travel with it.”

• It’s expensive—especially if you commit to the entire system of packing and camera cubes.
• More complexity means more things that can break. The adjustable design and multiple zippers do add complexity, and complexity adds potential weaknesses. Peak Design covers all of its bags with a lifetime warranty , which should alleviate most people’s concerns. But if you’re particularly hard on your gear and still need to carry as much as possible, you might consider the Tortuga bag instead.

Capacity: 45 liters Weight: 4½ pounds Main compartment access: back-panel loader Style: minimalist and unobtrusive Color: black, sage

Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L

Combines more organization with a simple interior.

This bag’s split interior makes organizing easy. Those who travel for work will appreciate this bag’s dedicated panels for organizing tech, books, papers, and assorted miscellaneous items.

If you travel often for business and prefer a bag that’s much easier to work out of than most of our other picks, you may like the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L . This bag has a front panel and assorted pockets that make it feel like a small traveling office.

It’s built like luggage but organized like your office. Of all the bags we recommend, the MLC (short for Maximum Legal Carry) comes closest to being a suitcase on your back, due to its large size, simple interior, and minimal external features. The MLC is also one of the simplest bags we tested, divided into two leaves (imagine a book with only one page), with a main compartment for packing and a second compartment for document organization and tech storage. The MLC has a built-in laptop compartment that fits 17-inch laptops and is situated close to your back; this protects the computer and keeps its weight closer to your body.

Despite its size, it’s comfortable enough to carry. Most carry-on backpacks of this size, without frames, become somewhat unwieldy when fully packed. Thankfully, the Black Hole MLC bag, like the Cotopaxi Allpa, is a welcome exception to this rule. The MLC has two shoulder straps, a hip belt, and an optional shoulder strap, for easy carrying. When they're not in use, or when you’re checking your bag, all of the straps can be stowed away easily. When fully loaded, the bag was pleasant to carry—not as comfortable as the Peak Design or the Osprey, but decent enough. I wouldn’t want to carry it all day across a city, but I wouldn’t mind carrying it through an airport to a car and to a hotel.

It’s built from high-quality materials, with durability in mind. This pack is made from recycled polyester, and the fabric is woven in a cross-weave that’s very similar to what Patagonia uses in its long-lasting Black Hole series of duffle bags . This is a material I’ve come across a bunch with Patagonia gear, and I’ve tested it thoroughly; it’s very tough. The front of the bag is coated in a weather-resistant TPU, for extra protection from the elements. The bag has large YKK zippers (the industry leader) and smaller YKK zippers throughout. Unlike the Cotopaxi Allpa pack, the Black Hole MLC bag has no security loops.

It comes with one of the best repair programs and a lifetime warranty. Similar to our other picks, the MLC is backed by an excellent lifetime warranty , and we’ve always found that Patagonia’s repair program goes above and beyond other comparable companies.

• We wish the Maximum Legal Carry (despite the name) came in a few more sizes. The 45-liter capacity may be intimidating for some people, and there is no alternative.

Capacity: 45 liters Weight: 3 pounds 10 ounces Main compartment access: clamshell Style: retro Colors: tan, black, olive, green

Osprey Farpoint 40

For long distances on foot.

A great starter option for one-bag travel, this bag is easy to pack, adaptable to most situations, and sturdy enough to take with you as you travel the world.

Osprey Fairview 40

For long distances and smaller torsos.

A scaled-down version of the Farpoint, this bag has shoulder straps that are slightly lower, to keep the bag’s bulk more aligned with smaller torsos.

Updated in 2023, the Osprey Farpoint 40 and Fairview 40 packs are both built around a hiking backpack frame that’s easy to carry over long distances.

It’s built for travel but designed for hiking. The Farpoint 40 bag is well made, easy to pack, and comfortable to carry over most mid-length distances—such as walking across a city for an afternoon. (For simplicity’s sake, everything we say here about the Farpoint bag also applies to the Fairview bag.) Osprey makes excellent backpacks for hauling around, and its lifetime warranty is renowned within the industry . The Farpoint pack also has an optional messenger bag–style strap, which offers some flexibility when you’re maneuvering tight spaces like subways or crowded city centers.

It’s simple to pack, but not as spacious as it seems. Opening the bag reveals a clamshell design; it’s deep enough to accommodate most large items, yet you won’t have to fumble awkwardly with zippers once it’s time to close up the bag. The feeling you get is not unlike when you’re packing a bit of sturdy luggage, and that’s something we love about bags like this one—especially when you use packing cubes . Osprey says this bag, when fully packed, can carry 40 liters. But after using the Farpoint bag for a few years, we’ve decided that its rounded shape seems to cut into that theoretical packable space more than other bags do. In practice, the Farpoint pack’s available space is closer to—but still less than—that of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

It’s the easiest bag to carry among our picks. Like all Osprey bags, the Farpoint 40 has very comfortable shoulder straps. The years of design and consideration Osprey has put into its hiking backpacks are quite evident in the Farpoint 40. After more than seven years of long-term testing this bag, we’re still surprised by how great it feels to wear when fully packed. Crucially, the straps of the Farpoint 40 stow away neatly behind a zippered panel. However, when you’re using the shoulder straps, the design forces you to also use the hip straps. Though this isn’t a huge issue, if you prefer a sleeker look or would rather have the option of using shoulder straps without hip straps, the Cotopaxi Allpa pack is more flexible, and it lets you hide the waist straps while the bag is on your back.

The Fairview 40 has the same features, in a scaled-down size. The Farpoint 40 and the Fairview 40 packs basically have the same design, but the Fairview pack is made for someone with a more-diminutive torso. It’s also slightly lighter. However, it has the features and durability of the Farpoint bag. It also has the same hip belt and adjustability. On both, the chest-strap clip is also equipped with a small security whistle that’s surprisingly loud. It’s a handy feature for anyone traveling in unfamiliar environments.

• For a smaller carry-on travel backpack, this one has little to not like. However, we do wish Osprey would trade some of the sleeker contours for a little more interior space.

Capacity: 35 liters Weight (Farpoint): 3 pounds 3 ounces Weight (Fairview): 3 pounds 2 ounces Main compartment access: front-panel loader Style: active Colors (Farpoint): green (Gopher), gray (Tunnel Vision), blue (Muted Space), black Colors (Fairview): blue (Winter Night), red (Zircon), blue (Night Jungle), black

Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L

A suitcase to carry on your back.

For dedicated single-bag travelers, this water-resistant, durable bag is easy to pack and to travel with. And it’s comfortable to wear over endless miles—as long as you don’t mind the heavier weight.

The Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L maximizes packing space in a bag that’s durable, water-resistant, and customizable to fit most torso lengths (there’s also a 30L version ), with plenty of organizational features to suit any digital nomad.

It’s like a suitcase, with backpack straps. The Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L is built to occupy the maximum carry-on space available. It’s a nearly perfect blend of backpack and luggage. On the outside, its tear-resistant sailcloth and sealed zippers provide ample protection from sharp objects and the elements. Opening the main clamshell zipper reveals a cavernous interior and a few organizational features that make the bag a cinch to pack. The front panel is a particular standout, great for keeping track of electronics and chargers. Of all the bags we tested, the Tortuga strikes the closest balance between the carrying comfort of a hiking backpack and the space and organization of a piece of luggage.

It’s as easy to pack as luggage. When it comes to packing, the Tortuga pack has a soothingly minimal interior, as any good suitcase should. In addition to the bag’s cavernous main pocket, its interior lid has a large vented panel. The panel is too narrow to hold additional packing cubes, but it’s great for holding light jackets or doubling as a dirty-laundry bag (if you’re really committed to one-bag travel). The Tortuga is available as a 40-liter pack (the maximum space for a carry-on bag), which we tested; there is also a 30-liter version, which is compliant with some intra-European flights. The more-diminutive version is a decent choice for weekend travel or for minimalist travelers—but for those uses, we prefer the space-saving profile and extra internal organization of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L bag.

It’s very customizable. The Tortuga pack is the most adjustable model we tested, thanks to its adjustable torso length, shoulder straps, and waist-belt system. The adjustable strap system lets you manipulate the location of the shoulder straps (video) to fit a wider variety of body sizes, in both the 30- and 40-liter versions. Of the packs we’ve tested, this one (with its included load-adjuster straps at the top, to prevent the bag’s weight from sagging toward your lumbar region) is the best at distributing its weight (4½ pounds when empty—roughly 1½ pounds more than most of our other picks, except the Peak Design ). The hip straps are removable if you need, but the shoulder straps are not stowable.

• Its straps don’t stow away. Some people, especially those who are hard on their gear, may consider not being able to remove or stow the shoulder straps (as they can with our other picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa ) a disqualifying factor. But after years of testing, traveling with, and occasionally checking our bag, we haven’t had an issue. However, if these mysteries beneath the airport also make you nervous, you might prefer our picks with easy-to-stow straps, such as the Peak Design.
• It's heavy. We’ve fielded complaints from some testers who said that older models of this bag were too heavy for them to carry, even with the padded hip belt and adjustable straps. The additional padding does add weight. At 4½ pounds, this latest Tortuga bag is more than half a pound lighter than it used to be (the difference is noticeable), and it weighs the same as the equally large Peak Design pack. We are currently testing a new, lighter, and less-expensive version of this pack—aptly named the Travel Backpack Lite 40L —and will report back soon.  In the meantime, if you think you would struggle carrying the Tortuga, we strenuously encourage you to consider one of our more-manageable picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L.

Capacity: 40 liters Weight: 4½ pounds Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: minimal, with a rigid construction Color: black

If you want to travel like a backpacker but also fit in at a board meeting (and you have the budget for it): Consider the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 . This bag’s reputation for durability, adaptability, and a low-key aesthetic make it a favorite among many dedicated one-bag travelers. And after testing it, we think it’s a great bag too. That said, for the bag to really stand out against other backpacks—and to take full advantage of its carrying adaptability—you need to buy the internal frame , the hip belt , and (if you’re traveling with a suit or jacket) the shoulder strap . On a bag that already costs $330, all of this adds up. Everything about the Tom Bihn bag (the fabric, the zippers, the quality of construction) feels like an upgrade from other bags, but it’s simply too pricey, and its design is too rarified and specific for most people. The biggest flaw, from our perspective—apart from the price—is that the Tom Bihn bag lacks a dedicated laptop pocket. In its place, the company sells laptop sleeves (a fine version if you don’t have one) that clip into the bag’s central compartment. Not everyone needs a dedicated laptop pocket, but we prefer the more secure feeling of bags that do.

If you want a budget pick (but only when it’s on sale): The eBags Mother Lode Travel Backpack (our former budget pick) is still your best budget option, if you can catch it on sale for at least half off the list price. It’s not comfortable enough for trekking long distances on foot, but there are plenty of external pockets for organization, a laptop sleeve (which holds the weight of your computer high up on your shoulders), and an easy-to-access main compartment. This pack also has the largest capacity of any bags we tested, expanding to 65 liters—well beyond any airline’s regulated 45-liter limit. However, the bag’s casual-to-basic looks might not be to everyone’s taste. In 2024, eBags raised the price of the Mother Lode to $200. We have seen it on sale for $100, and in our opinion it’s worth getting only at the sale price.

We’ve narrowed our specifications for a great bag to the following list of features, ordered from most relevant to least:

• Front- or back-panel loader or clamshell opening, for the main compartment: As with any good piece of luggage, with this type of bag, you should be able to open it and see everything you’ve packed. When you have a bag with a panel-loading or clamshell design—rather than a traditional, top-opening design—you can pack and unpack it just as you would a suitcase.

• Backpack strap comfort and design: You never know when you’ll be walking farther with your bag than you’d intended. The more comfortable and well designed the straps are, the easier traveling will be. “Ideally, you want a bag’s shoulder straps to adjust to the angle of your shoulders,” said Eytan Levy of Snarky Nomad. “Good shoulder straps are the difference between an easy trip and a hard trip.”
• Hip-belt comfort and design: A hip belt transfers heavy loads from your back and shoulders onto your hips, letting your legs—not your back—bear the brunt of the weight. Just having a waist belt is a plus, but having a padded and sculpted one—especially on bags with over 40 liters of volume—makes a world of difference.
• Material quality: Durability is critical for any type of luggage, but especially for a backpack that will be your only bag. Most bags worth considering are made of nylon, which resists abrasion more than polyester fabrics of similar density. Spending more, however, can get you exotic, light, and strong materials, such as Dyneema or sailcloth.
• Weight: Once the bags arrived, we weighed each one ourselves. Most of the bags weighed within a few pounds of one another. But unless you’re very strict with yourself, by the time you’re packed for a two-week journey, all bags are going to feel equally massive, even if one is just 2 pounds heavier than another when empty.
• Stowable straps: These are nice to have, but they aren’t absolutely necessary. “The more often you need to check a bag, the more often you need to hide away the straps,” Levy said. “But if the straps are tough enough, it doesn’t matter.”
• Accessory pocket layout and design: Some people will love an accessory pocket that has a specific space for everything; others may find that feature constricting and unadaptable. We prioritized bags with simple designs that guided our packing without constraining us.
• Style: This is purely subjective. We preferred bags that had a minimalist exterior style, but not all of our picks will please everyone. Most of the people we spoke with, however, preferred not to stick out like a tourist wearing a large, colorful backpack, if they could avoid it.

During testing, we flew across the country with these bags, took weekend trips to nearby cities, lived out of them on extended trips, and tried them locally in our daily routines. We also packed and unpacked each bag, using a standardized set of weeklong travel necessities and accessories, to see how well the internal organizational features (or lack thereof) aided or got in the way of efficient packing.

This is not a comprehensive list of all of the carry-on travel backpacks we have tested. We have removed any models that have been discontinued or that no longer meet our criteria.

The Away Outdoor Convertible Backpack 45L is a rare miss from the Away team. This bag is resoundingly average for the price. Although it’s made from excellent materials, the bag is let down by its overall design, which lacks any kind of structure or attention to comfort. There are better options.

The cheap, no-frills Cabin Max Metz bag is intriguing for the price. Any bag at this price should almost be considered disposable. That said, if you need a simple bag that costs less than a seat upgrade, this might be the way to go—unless you can pick up the eBags Motherlode bag for under $100, which we think is a better deal at that price.

The GeniusPack Travel Backpack is the only model we came across that tried to fit a suit into a travel backpack. Though some people might need that, we think those who have to travel with a suit (or clothes that require pressing) would be better off with a piece of carry-on luggage . GeniusPack now offers a second version of this bag, but our conclusion hasn’t changed.

For certain people, the GoRuck GR3 is almost worth the cost. It’s strong and simple and covered by an iron-clad repair guarantee. The removable hip belt is comfortable to wear, and it’s good at displacing the weight of a 45-liter backpack. This is a decent bag. After testing it, however, we weren’t thrilled with the internal Velcro lining for compatible Velcro packing cubes. Velcro isn’t great: It wears out, it’s difficult to keep clean, and it clings to dirt. That might seem like a small thing, but for the price, this bag should feel perfect.

The Minaal Carry-On 2.0 was designed to be a backpack for business people. But if you’re carrying it for business, you’re probably wearing at least a blazer, so you wouldn’t use a backpack in any case. If you’re a business traveler who falls more on the casual end of the business-casual spectrum, and you’re not on a budget, this is a well-thought-out pack. But we think our picks are more versatile for world travel, and they come at a better price. Minaal has since introduced a 3.0 version of this bag ; our thoughts about it remain the same.

The Osprey Sojourn Porter 46L is a slightly larger sibling of the Farpoint pack. The Sojourn Porter bag is about 2 inches longer, and it pushes right up to most airline limits. If you don’t mind possibly having to check your bag at the last minute, this would be an excellent alternative to the Farpoint pack.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Chase Reeves, Matterful.co , phone interview , October 10, 2018

Addison Ryan, moderator, r/onebag , email interview , September 8, 2018

Lindsay Lorraine Calderón, moderator, r/heronebag , phone interview , September 28, 2018

Meet your guide

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

Further reading

The Best Travel Backpack

by Geoffrey Morrison

For trips ranging from a week to multiple months, the Osprey Farpoint 55 and Fairview 55 carried everything we needed comfortably.

Wirecutter’s Favorite Bags, Totes, Backpacks and Carryalls

by Truth Headlam

Whether you’re going to school, work, the gym, the store, or on vacay, you need a bag. Here’s the Wirecutter-recommended carrying gear we love most.

The Best Buy It for Life Backpack (Please Don’t Call It Tactical)

by Kit Dillon

A buy-it-for-a-lifetime backpack should last you for years of heavy use. But as with all investments, you need to decide if it makes sense for you.

The Best Laptop Backpacks

by Zoe Vanderweide

A great laptop backpack protects your tech, is comfortable to carry, and looks good, too. These five bags are our favorites for wrangling your workday gear.

10 Best 40L Travel Backpacks for 2023

Are you gearing up for an adventure or looking to make the most of your tight packing list?

Then, you’re going to need a generous yet sturdy 40L travel backpack! Investing in the right one can save you time, energy and money – not to mention being able to trust it when it comes down to some hardcore exploration.

But with so many sizes and styles on the market today, finding the perfect bag can seem overwhelming. Don’t worry we’ve got your back.

In this article, we’ll look at 10 of our top-rated 40L travel packs for men and women that offer plenty of features for any budget.

So sit back, read ahead, and find out which model might be ideal for your next big getaway.

Here, we’ve rounded up the best 40L travel backpacks to help you find the perfect bag for your next journey.

The Best 40L Travel Backpacks You Can Buy

• Osprey Farpoint 40 – Lightweight, comfortable and extra durable
• Vancropak 40L Flight Approved Travel Backpack – Convertible design with ultra-durable materials
• North Face Overhaul 40 – Ideal for long trips with lots of gear
• Thule Crossover 40L Pack – Rugged and sleek for the modern traveler
• Patagonia Black Hole MLC 40L – Weatherproof and stylish design built to last
• Tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L TSA Friendly – Great internal organization with an adjustable hip belt
• Black Diamond Stone 40L – Exceptional comfort with plenty of pockets
• REI Co-op Trail 40 – Chic urban style in a light package
• Nomatic Travel Bag 40L – Perfect size for weekend getaways or short hikes
• MATEIN 40L Carry On Backpack – Easy access to all your items when you need them

Comparison Guide of Best 40L Travel Backpacks

1. osprey farpoint 40.

Osprey Farpoint 40

• 40 liter capacity
• Front-loading main compartment
• Laptop & tablet sleeve
• Zippered mesh pocket for organization
• Adjustable suspension system
• Padded hip belt
• Dual front compression straps
• Stowaway backpanel
• Lockable zippers
• StraightJacket compression system
• Padded top and side handles
• Removable sleeping pad straps
• Available in different sizes for men and women.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is undoubtedly one of the best 40L travel backpacks on the market. It offers superior comfort, durability, and weather-proofing, making it an ideal choice for any traveler who needs a reliable and comfortable backpack.

The Farpoint 40’s strong exterior is made from 210D nylon mini hex diamond ripstop material that’s designed to be resilient against abrasion and wear. The fabric also has a high water-resistant coating to keep your belongings dry in even the rainiest of climates. The heavy-duty zippers are also coated to prevent water from seeping in, providing protection for your gear no matter where you go.

The bag features adjustable shoulder straps that offer cushioning for long days on the go, as well as load lifters to help you balance your load. Additionally, there’s a removable sternum strap for added support when carrying heavier loads. The wide waist belt also helps distribute weight evenly across your body, allowing you to stay comfortable during long treks.

In terms of storage space, the Farpoint 40 comes with multiple compartments and pockets that make organizing your items easy. There’s a large main compartment with internal compression straps to keep everything secure, as well as two smaller pockets on the front and sides of the bag – perfect for stowing away small items like phone chargers or snacks. The bag also includes two mesh side pockets for quickly grabbing water bottles or other essentials when needed.

One of our favorite features about this backpack is its included detachable daypack, which allows you to easily separate out different items such as your laptop or essential documents without having to rummage through all your stuff while out exploring new cities. This makes it much more convenient and efficient when traveling light but still needing access to certain items quickly and easily.

• Materials are durable and water resistant.
• Ample size main compartment for one-bag travel.
• Comfortable harness system even with a full load.
• Fits carry-on specs for almost every airline.
• Carries up to 40 lbs with great weight distribution features.
• Convenient pocket placement externally and internally keeps your small, quick access items organized.
• High tech suspension system gives you good back and shoulder support.
• Hip straps are robust and take a lot of weight off your shoulders.
• Rugged construction makes it highly durable.
• Laptop sleeve being at the front of the bag can be concerning in terms of weight and security.
• Lack of internal organization can make it difficult to keep track of items.
• Not ideal for those who prefer lots of pockets or compartments.

2. Vancropak 40L Flight Approved Travel Backpack

Vancropak 40L Travel Backpack

• Flight approved carry-on size
• Expandable design for up to 40L capacity
• Water-resistant and durable material
• Multiple pockets and compartments for organization
• Padded laptop sleeve and tablet pocket
• Breathable and adjustable shoulder straps
• Chest strap and waist belt for added support
• Back panel with airflow ventilation
• Luggage strap for attaching to suitcase handles
• Available in different colors

When it comes to finding the best 40L travel backpack, the Vancropak 40L Flight Approved Travel Backpack is a must-have. Not only is this backpack incredibly spacious and comfortable, but it is also approved for air travel. Thanks to its robust construction and plenty of compartments, this bag can easily accommodate all of your essential items for a long trip.

The first thing that stands out about this bag is its overall size. With a capacity of 40 liters and dimensions of 19.7″ x 13.4″ x 8.7″ inches, the Vancropak bag provides plenty of room to store clothes, shoes, electronics and other items. The padded shoulder straps are adjustable which makes carrying the bag comfortable even when filled with heavier items. There’s an adjustable sternum strap which helps to evenly distribute the weight on your shoulders while taking away pressure from your back muscles.

In terms of functionality, this bag comes with a variety of pockets and compartments such as two side pockets that can be used for quick access items, an inside pocket perfect for storing documents or small electronics and a hidden compartment underneath the main flap for keeping important belongings like passports or wallets secure during transport.

Moreover, thanks to its TSA-approved zippers and lockable buckles, you can fly without having to worry about your belongings being tampered with by airport security personnel. This extra level of protection definitely adds peace of mind knowing that all your personal possessions are safe during the flight.

To top it off, the Vancropak 40L Flight Approved Travel Backpack is made from high quality ripstop fabric which has been treated with waterproof coating meaning that your stuff will remain dry in case you get caught in rain or snow while traveling. Furthermore, its reflective piping ensures that you’re visible at night when walking or biking around town.

• Expandable design provides up to 40L of storage space.
• Adjustable straps for comfortable carrying.
• Multiple compartments for easy organization.
• Water-resistant exterior keeps your belongings safe from the elements.
• Lightweight and durable construction.
• Not suitable for heavy loads due to its lightweight construction.
• Limited color options available.

3. North Face Overhaul 40

North Face 40 Travel Backpack

• 40-liter capacity
• Durable polyester fabric with a water-resistant finish
• Large main compartment with an internal compression strap
• Laptop and tablet sleeves
• Multiple zippered pockets for organization
• Front stretch pocket for quick access items
• Padded back panel for comfort
• Top and side padded haul handles
• Molded luggage tag
• Sternum strap with whistle buckle
• Tuck-away hip belt

North Face Overhaul 40 Travel Backpack is a great choice for any traveler looking for a reliable and functional backpack. This bag has been designed with the needs of an avid traveler in mind, offering plenty of space and pockets to store essentials while on the go. The Overhaul 40 is constructed from durable nylon material, making it perfect for outdoor use.

The shoulder straps are contoured to provide extra comfort and support while carrying heavier loads, while the sternum strap allows you to adjust the bag’s fit. In terms of features, this model offers plenty. It comes equipped with a notebook sleeve that can accommodate up to 15” laptops and tablets, as well as two internal mesh pockets designed to keep small items organized and easily accessible.

Furthermore, it also has several external pockets so you can quickly grab items like bottles or snacks when you need them. Its top lid pocket even features a key clip so you can keep your keys secure at all times. This Travel Backpack also provides additional convenience through its built-in hydration port and tube for easy access to water on the go. Its padded hipbelt helps distribute weight across your back and hips, reducing strain on your shoulders even when carrying heavy loads.

North Face’s lifetime warranty guarantees that no matter what happens to your pack during travel or everyday use, you won’t be stuck without a replacement. All in all, With its many features and lifelong warranty coverage, this model offers travelers both quality and peace of mind when out exploring new places or simply commuting around town.

Whether you’re looking for something roomy enough to carry anything from laptops to textbooks or just need something light yet strong enough for everyday use – this backpack is definitely worth considering.

• Roomy 40-liter capacity.
• Stowable straps make it easy to carry.
• Back panel unzips to lie flat for security screening.
• Media-specific pockets keep items organized.
• Can be bulky when fully packed.
• Not suitable for long hikes due to lack of support system.

4. Thule Crossover 40L Pack

Thule Crossover 40L Travel Backpack

• Durable dobby nylon material
• Padded, zippered laptop compartment
• Crushproof SafeZone compartment for fragile gear
• Shove-it pocket with compression straps
• Side pocket to hold water bottle or small items
• Aluminum hardware and water-resistant fabric
• Breathable and adjustable back panel with airflow channels
• Padded shoulder straps with adjustable sternum strap
• Top and side grab handles
• Luggage pass-through panel

As a passionate traveler, you know the importance of having a reliable and practical backpack at your disposal. The Thule Crossover 40L Pack Travel Backpack is truly one of the best 40L travel backpacks. This backpack has an innovative design that allows for maximum storage capacity while still being lightweight and comfortable to carry around. It features a large main compartment with a zip security pocket, front zip pocket, two side pockets, and adjustable sternum strap.

The straps are made of durable materials that provide plenty of support and can be adjusted to fit most body types. There is also a padded back panel which adds extra comfort when wearing the backpack for long periods of time. The attention to detail on this bag is second to none, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking for the ultimate in traveling convenience. The water-resistant fabric helps keep contents dry in wet conditions and is easy to clean should any spills occur during your journey.

Meanwhile, an internal frame structure gives additional stability and structure, so you can feel safe knowing your belongings are secure regardless of how far you’re going or how much weight you’re carrying. Offers plenty of organizational options, allowing users to separate items as needed so they stay organized during their travels.

Whether it’s clothes or electronics, everything will fit perfectly in the compartments provided within this bag. Best of all, it has been designed with practicality in mind: from its reflective detailing for visibility at night to its removable hip belt for increased stability when carrying heavier loads – this one definitely won’t let you down.

• Sturdy build quality with durable water resistant materials, ideal for any outdoor activity.
• Spacious main compartment with additional internal pockets and zippered side pockets provide plenty of room to store items securely.
• Robust adjustable suspension system offers excellent comfort and support.
• Multiple straps enable versatile use as a backpack or shoulder bag.
• Removable padded laptop sleeve with library pocket lets you easily and safely transport your tech devices.
• Expensive retail price compared to similar products on the market.
• Weight can be a factor when carrying heavier loads for long periods of time.
• No built in rain cover to help protect contents from wet weather conditions.

5. Patagonia Black Hole MLC 40L

Patagonia Black 40L Travel Backpack

• Durable water-repellent fabric with a TPU-film laminate
• Multiple carrying options with backpack straps, shoulder strap, and grab handles
• Large clamshell-opening main compartment
• Zippered mesh pockets and dividers for organization
• Padded laptop and tablet sleeve
• Front zippered pocket with interior organization
• Back slip panel for stacking on wheeled luggage
• Daisy chains for attaching gear

If you’re a frequent traveler, you know the importance of having the right backpack that can hold all your essentials and keep them organized. Patagonia Black Hole MLC 40L Travel Backpack is a great choice for travelers who need a high-capacity, highly durable and feature-rich storage solution.

The backpack is designed with an ergonomic back panel, adjustable shoulder straps, and adjustable sternum strap to provide maximum comfort and support in any situation. It also offers plenty of storage space with two main compartments, four front pockets, and two internal pockets. The main compartment features a compression system which allows you to easily pack your belongings without wasting space.

The bag is made of weather resistant ripstop fabric which provides excellent durability. This fabric holds up well against wear and tear while also providing protection from the elements such as rain or snow. An additional layer of water-repellent coating has been applied to further protect the bag from water damage. For extra security, the backpack features a lockable zipper system that ensures your valuables remain safe during travel. 

In terms of organization, the Black Hole MLC 40L has some great features that make packing easier. There are external compression straps for securing larger items like sleeping bags or jackets, as well as daisy chains for attaching carabiners or other items to the outside of the bag.

Inside the main compartment are two mesh dividers to help keep your clothing and other items organized during travel days. There is an interior pocket for electronics and other small items such as passport holders or charging cords that need to be accessible on-the-go.

Finally, the bag comes with a lifetime warranty from Patagonia. This ensures your backpack will last for many years and provide you with reliable storage solutions whenever and wherever you need them.

• Durable construction.
• 45 liter capacity meets most carry-on standards.
• Convertible backpack straps make it easy to switch between carrying styles.
• Soft sided material is comfortable to wear and can withstand the rigors of travel.
• Not waterproof or water resistant.
• No external pockets or compartments for quick access items.
• Not suitable for heavier loads due to lack of support structure.

6. Tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L TSA Friendly

Tomtoc 40L Travel Backpack

• Durable polyester material with a water-resistant finish
• TSA-friendly design easier security checks
• Padded laptop and tablet sleeves
• Large main compartment with adjustable compression straps
• Two side water bottle pockets
• Padded back panel with airflow ventilation

Tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L TSA Friendly is the perfect backpack for a frequent traveler. With its innovative design, durability, and superior portability, this bag should be at the top of any traveler’s gear list.

The thing that stands out about this bag is its light weight. Weighing in at only 3 pounds (1.4 kg), it’s half the weight of most 40L backpacks on the market. This makes it suitable even for long-distance travel as it won’t add too much to your baggage load or cause too much strain on your back and body when carrying it around during an extended trip.

What really sets this bag apart from other models is its versatility and convenience features. It has two main compartments with several inner pockets for storing small items like passports, tablets, sunglasses and more. The laptop sleeve fits most laptops up to 15 inches and can also hold a tablet or e-reader with ease. It also includes adjustable straps so you can get a comfortable fit no matter what size you are.

In addition, the Tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L TSA Friendly is extremely durable and made from high-quality materials that will withstand wear and tear from everyday use or regular trips to the airport. It’s also equipped with an innovative locking system which helps keep all your belongings safe when in transit making sure nothing gets lost or stolen while traveling.

Finally, another great feature of this bag is its compliance with TSA rules which makes going through security much easier than other backpacks on the market since you don’t have to take out your laptop each time you go through security checks.

• TSA friendly design.
• Lots of multi-functional pockets and compartments.
• Water-resistant material.
• Lightweight construction.
• Limited ability to use all the pockets due to design.
• Not suitable for long distance hiking.

7. Black Diamond Stone 40L

Black Diamond 40L Travel Backpack

• Durable fabric with reinforced corners and bottom
• Top-loading design with drawcord closure
• Removable floating top lid with zippered pocket
• Tuck-away rope strap and stowable rain cover
• Internal zippered pocket for small items
• Side stretch pockets for water bottles
• Removable webbing waist belt

The Black Diamond Stone 40L backpack is an excellent choice for any adventurous traveler who wants to stay comfortable and organized on the go. This travel-friendly, mid-sized pack features a combination of high capacity, lightweight construction, and thoughtful design that makes it perfect for weekend getaways, days out in the city, or extended international vacations.

At 40 liters of capacity, the Black Diamond Stone 40L has enough space to fit all your essential items without being too large or cumbersome. It also includes numerous roomy compartments that are perfectly suited for organizing all your small items like tablets, phones and other accessories so they can be easily accessed whenever you need them.

The bag also includes a spacious laptop sleeve with padded protection and a removable hydration system to make sure you’re always hydrated while on the road. Despite its spacious design, this bag is impressively lightweight due to its 100D nylon ripstop fabric construction with reinforced panels and sturdy YKK zippers.

While heavy materials like leather might make a bag more durable in some situations, those same materials could add unnecessary weight for travelers who want something light enough to carry around all day. The Black Diamond Stone 40L comes with adjustable shoulder straps and a chest strap for maximum comfort during long periods of wear. There’s an adjustable load lifter strap which helps you keep the weight evenly distributed across your back.

For added convenience during airport check-ins or transport through busy streets, it also has two grab handles located on either side of the bag so you can quickly switch between carrying it by hand or over one shoulder. Despite its lightweight construction, this pack still provides plenty of support thanks to its well-padded back panel and hip belt which offer excellent cushioning against strain when traveling along bumpy roads or walking up hills.

• Large main compartment fits all your gear.
• Adjustable shoulder straps for a comfortable fit.
• Top flap with drawcord closure keeps contents secure.
• Two side pockets provide easy access to smaller items.
• Durable construction stands up to tough conditions.
• Not as lightweight as some other backpacks on the market.
• No internal frame or suspension system for extra support.

8. REI Co-op Trail 40

REI Co-op Trail 40 Travel Backpack

• Durable recycled polyester fabric with a water-resistant finish
• Large U-shaped zippered main compartment
• Hydration system compatible with internal sleeve and drinking tube exit port
• Front stretch stash pocket
• Side water bottle pockets
• Adjustable compression straps
• Padded mesh back panel with airflow channels

The REI Co-op Trail 40L backpack is a great option for travelers who need reliable and comfortable storage on the go. With its durable construction, this backpack can handle tough conditions and keep your belongings safe and secure. It is designed to be lightweight but still have plenty of room to store all your essential items, such as clothing, snacks, electronics, and toiletries.

The shoulder straps are padded for comfort, making it easy to carry around even when full. The hip belt helps distribute the weight evenly across your back so you don’t get fatigued from carrying too much weight at once. The interior also features multiple pockets and compartments that are great for organizing everything you need in one place.

The exterior of the bag is made from a water-resistant material which protects your belongings from rain or snow while out on the road. It also has reflective detailing on the front and sides to help make sure you’re visible at night or in low light conditions. There are two side pockets for easy access items like mp3 players or a water bottle, as well as a hydration bladder compatible sleeve that makes it great for hiking trips too.

However, if we talk about its comfortability, the REI Co-op Trail 40L has adjustable shoulder straps that provide customizable fitment depending on how much gear you’re packing inside of it. It also includes breathable mesh panels along the back panel that allow air circulation to keep your back cool throughout long days of travel or exploration.

In addition to this, it comes with load lifter straps which help reduce fatigue by transferring some of the weight onto your hips with every step taken during a trek or hike.

• Roomy main compartment with four zipper pulls for easy access to items.
• Comfortable fit with adjustable straps.
• Durable construction that can handle a variety of activities.
• Affordable price tag.
• Dimensions are shorter in length and width than the standard size.
• Not as many bells and whistles as other climbing specific packs.
• Some users may find it difficult to adjust the straps properly.

9. Nomatic Travel Bag 40L

Nomatic 40L Travel Backpack

• Durable waterproof materials with YKK zippers
• Padded laptop sleeve with quick-access zipper
• RFID-safe pocket to protect valuable items
• Shoe compartment with ventilation holes
• Expansion capabilities for extra storage
• Detachable waist straps and sternum strap
• Padded shoulder straps with quick-adjust feature
• Luggage pass-through for attaching to suitcase handles

Nomatic Travel Bag 40L is one of the best 40L travel backpacks on the market today. It is made from durable, high-grade materials and is designed to offer maximum comfort and convenience for travelers. The bag has multiple interior compartments that include a laptop sleeve, multiple internal pockets for storage, and an adjustable shoulder strap for easy carrying. The exterior features a modern design with waterproof zippers and reinforced stitching that makes it resilient against wear and tear.

One of the most impressive characteristics of Nomatic Travel Bag 40L is its overall capacity compared to other similar sized bags. It boasts a total volume of over 44 liters, which means that you can fit more items inside than other models in this size range. The main compartment features an exclusive expansion system that allows you to increase your packing space by up to 15%. This also makes it great for long trips where you need extra space to store items such as clothes, toiletries, and books.

The padded back panel offers superior comfort while carrying the bag around all day. It has ergonomic straps with breathable mesh fabric which helps prevent heat accumulation due to prolonged contact with your body during extended periods of time. Additionally, the bag comes with a detachable hip belt which further helps distribute the weight of your luggage evenly across your body.

The Nomatic Travel Bag 40L also includes lots of useful features for organizing your belongings inside the backpack. There’s an RFID pocket that keeps your valuable documents safe and secure; a key holder; external access points; and an interior mesh pocket that helps keep everything organized during transit. This ensures that you have quick access to whatever item you might need while on the go without having to search through your entire luggage every time you need something specific.

• Durable, water-resistant materials and zippers.
• Patented strap system allows for easy conversion between backpack and briefcase styles.
• Organizational system keeps items organized and accessible.
• Convertible straps make it easy to switch between carrying styles.
• Fits in overhead compartments as carry on luggage.
• Over 20 features make it one of the most versatile travel bags available.
• Not suitable for longer trips due to its size.
• Can be difficult to pack due to its many pockets and compartments.

10. MATEIN 40L Carry On Backpack

MATEIN 40L Travel Backpack

• Padded laptop compartment with quick-access zipper
• Side compression straps to minimize bulk
• Side pockets for water bottles or small items

The MATEIN 40L Carry On Backpack is a great choice for anyone looking for the best 40L travel backpack. This lightweight and durable bag is designed with several innovative features that make it both comfortable and functional. Its large capacity allows you to fit all your belongings in one bag, so you don’t have to worry about carrying multiple bags on your travels.

Made from a waterproof material, this backpack ensures that your possessions remain dry and safe at all times. The adjustable shoulder straps also provide comfort and support by relieving pressure on your shoulders or back. This is important as it helps make sure you can carry the pack comfortably over long distances.

The straps also come with padded mesh fabric that adds ventilation, ensuring that your back doesn’t get sweaty even when you are carrying the pack for long periods of time. The bag also has two main compartments which provide plenty of room for clothes, electronics and other items. There’s an additional front pocket which offers quick access to small items like keys, cellphone or passport.

The inside pockets are conveniently designed with several compartments to keep all items well organized. For added convenience there is an external USB port so you can charge your devices while walking or waiting at the airport without having to open up the bag every time.

To conclude, the MATEIN 40L Carry On Backpack is a great choice for anyone looking for the best 40L travel backpack thanks to its combination of comfort, durability, functionality and convenience features. Furthermore, it comes in multiple colors so you can find one that fits your style perfectly.

• TSA friendly design allows for easy storage in overhead compartments
• Expandable main compartment makes it perfect for carrying extra items
• Made of water-resistant material to protect your belongings
• Several pockets to keep your belongings organized
• Lightweight and comfortable to carry
• Not as much padding as some other backpacks on the market
• Zippers may not be as durable as some other brands
• May not be suitable for very heavy loads due to lack of support straps

Quick Shopping Tips!

Choosing the perfect backpack for your travel escapades can be a daunting task, particularly when you are not sure what to look out for.

Backpack Size and Capacity

Size and capacity should be your top consideration when looking for travel backpacks.

A backpack that’s too small may not offer enough space to pack all your essentials, while an overly large one can be too bulky to carry around.

A 40L travel backpack is the ideal size for most travelers as it offers enough space for a few weeks of travel, and it’s still compliant with most airline regulations.

You must also check the dimensions of your chosen backpack, particularly if you plan to carry it on your flights.

Design and Comfort

The design and comfort of a backpack can make or break your traveling experience.

You want a backpack that is functional, comfortable to wear, and has features that cater to your specific travel needs.

Look for backpacks with adjustable straps, breathable back panels, and hip belts as these features enhance the backpack’s support and weight distribution.

A well-designed backpack often has multiple pockets and compartments that help you stay organized and easily access your items.

Material and Durability

Your backpack material and durability have a significant impact on the lifespan of your backpack.

Ensure you invest in a backpack made of high-quality materials that can withstand the ruggedness of travel.

Materials like nylon, polyester, and ripstop are popular for their durability and resistance to wear and tear.

Furthermore, you can look out for backpacks with additional waterproof coatings to ensure your items are safe even when it rains.

Security Features

Keeping your items safe and secure is crucial when traveling, and your backpack should offer the necessary security features.

Look for backpacks with lockable zippers, anti-theft features, and RFID-blocking pockets.

These security features deter pickpockets and safeguard your items, ultimately giving you peace of mind during your travels.

Lastly, your budget plays a significant role in determining the backpack you can buy.

There are various 40L travel backpacks of different price ranges, from affordable to luxury options.

You can significantly reduce your investment cost by prioritizing your needs, focusing on functional aspects, and eliminating features that are unnecessary for you.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, when it comes to choosing the best 40L travel backpack, there are many factors to consider, such as durability, comfort, organization options, and style. The backpack that works best for you will depend on your specific travel needs and preferences.

In this article, we reviewed 10 of the best 40L travel backpacks on the market and provided a final verdict on each. We found that the Osprey Farpoint 40 is the top choice for most travelers due to its versatility, comfort, and ample organization options.

However, it’s important to note that the other backpacks on our list also have their unique features and advantages, such as the Vancropak 40L’s budget-friendly price point or the Thule Crossover 40L’s sleek and professional design.

Ultimately, the best 40L travel backpack for you will depend on your individual travel needs, preferences, and budget. But with the wide variety of high-quality options available on the market, you’re sure to find the perfect backpack to accompany you on your next adventure.

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Best Travel Backpacks of 2024

From short weekend getaways to far-off international adventures, our top travel packs make it easy and comfortable to organize and carry the essentials.

Switchback Travel ( Brian McCurdy )

We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases. Read more about us . 

Whether you’re traveling across the globe or headed out on a quick weekend getaway, a thoughtfully designed travel pack can help you stay comfortable and organized while on the move. Key considerations include carry-on compatibility for air travel, enough capacity to stash your belongings, pack weight, and preferences on storage and organizational layouts. Below we break down the best travel backpacks of 2024, ranging from minimalist options for a couple nights away to larger bags with removable daypacks for extended trips. For more background information, see our detailed comparison table and buying advice below the picks.

Editor’s note: We updated our travel backpacks guide on March 29, 2024, to add The North Face Base Camp, which is a fully featured option at a competitive price, along with swapping the Patagonia Black Hole MLC from the 45-liter capacity to the 30-liter version due to its more manageable shape and size.  

Our Team's Top Travel Backpack Picks

• Best Overall Travel Backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
• A Close Second (That's Great for Carrying Electronics): Peak Design Travel Backpack
• Excellent Carrying Comfort for Gear-Intensive Trips: Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 L
• Best for Staying Organized: Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L
• Best Budget Travel Backpack: Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack
• Best High-Capacity Travel Pack for Long Trips: Osprey Farpoint 70

Best Overall Travel Backpack

1. cotopaxi allpa 35l ($200).

When compiling our list of the best travel packs, we prioritized functional organization, easy on-the-go access, durable materials, and carry-on compatibility. Cotopaxi’s Allpa 35L Travel Pack checks all those boxes emphatically, earning it our top spot for 2024. Along with the vibrant styling and multi-colored patterning that the brand is known for, the Allpa is exceptionally durable with a mix of 1,000-denier, TPU-coated polyester and panels of 840-denier ballistic nylon. In use, we found the Allpa to be remarkably tough and highly water-resistant, and the pack also comes with a stowable rain cover for truly inclement weather. We also love the dual access to the main compartment, including a full wraparound zipper and secondary side zip next to the backpanel for easily retrieving items while on the move. And the electronics sleeve is big enough to handle both a laptop and tablet at the same time, which isn’t often the case. Overall, the Allpa is well made, stylish, and very nicely appointed for travel.

What’s not to like with the Cotopaxi Allpa? While the 35-liter variation here is nicely sized for long weekend trips or shorter getaways abroad, it’s smaller than competitors like the Peak Design Travel Backpack, Osprey Sojourn Porter 46, and many other carry-on-friendly designs below (Cotopaxi does sell a larger 42L version for $220 that still meets most airline requirements). Further, while overall carrying comfort is good, there are no load-lifter straps to bring the pack closer to your body. Additionally, the interior pockets are a little awkwardly sized, and the lack of external compression straps makes it hard to secure bulkier loads. A final omission is water bottle storage, although it’s not a critical feature for most and does little to dampen our enthusiasm for an otherwise well-rounded and great-looking bag. And for those looking to check their luggage, the Allpa roller bags are equally tough and user-friendly. See the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A Close Second (That's Great for Carrying Electronics)

2. peak design travel backpack ($300).

Peak Design’s Travel Backpack may look relatively unassuming on the outside, but don’t be fooled: This bag is packed with thoughtful travel-ready features. First is the expandable design, which allows you to alternate between 35 and 45 liters by simply zipping or unzipping the frontmost zipper. Access is another highlight, including entry points at the top, side, front, and rear for easily retrieving items pretty much anywhere in the pack. Storage is also excellent with padded laptop and tablet sleeves, a divisible main compartment, large and stretchy dual side pockets (not common on travel packs), and multiple interior pockets. And it’s all wrapped up in a thick nylon canvas shell that’s durable, streamlined, and very modern.

What complaints do we have about the Peak Design Travel Backpack? Price is the most glaring downside: At $300, it’s one of the most expensive designs on our list. And while the bag is undeniably sleek, it’s pretty utilitarian-looking and less everyday-friendly than more vibrant options like the Cotopaxi Allpa above and Topo Designs Global Travel Bag below. It’s also on the heavy end at 4 pounds 8 ounces, which isn’t unreasonable but does add considerable heft compared to many competitors. Finally, the Travel Backpack is technically not carry-on compliant when expanded, measuring 22 x 13 x 11 inches (the standard U.S. domestic carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 in.). But it works at the compressed 35-liter size (or smaller 30L option) , and photographers in particular will love the shape, which nicely accommodates multiple camera cubes, lenses, and other accessories. If you fall into that group, another staff favorite is Wandrd's Prvke , which features a more modular design with specialized add-ons for camera gear. See the Peak Design Travel Backpack

Excellent Carrying Comfort for Gear-Intensive Trips

3. osprey sojourn porter 46 l ($195).

Osprey is a leader in the backpacking pack market, and much of that technology and expertise has trickled down nicely into their travel pack collection. The Sojourn Porter 46 L is case in point, combining the impressive carrying comfort that the brand is known for with a practical, carry-on-friendly build and feature set for travel. Starting at the outside, you get a rigid foam backpanel with well-cushioned shoulder and hipbelt straps that feel reminiscent of Osprey’s backpacking designs, a handy compression system to effectively cinch things down, lockable zippers for the main compartment, and a beefy side handle for hauling the pack duffel-style. The inside is a similar story with ample pockets of varying sizes, compressions traps to keep clothes tidy, and padded sidewalls to help protect valuables during travel.

Despite offering 11 more liters of capacity than our top-ranked Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (for $5 less), the Sojourn Porter 46 L is still carry-on compliant, making it the largest option here that still meets most domestic and international airline restrictions. It’s also impressively sturdy and durable and includes reinforced cord loops to attach to Osprey's Daylite or Farpoint/Fairview daypacks (sold separately). We do wish Osprey offered the design in a women’s version for those with smaller torso and waist measurements, but the unisex sizing is standard in the travel market (their Farpoint/Fairview below is one of the few models to come in a separate women’s version). In the end, if it fits you well, the Sojourn Porter offers a hard-to-beat mix of capacity, features, and comfort for the price, making it our favorite option for longer, gear-intensive adventures. See the Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 L

Best Travel Pack for Staying Organized

4. topo designs global travel bag 30l ($199).

Topo Designs flies a little under the radar compared to well-known brands like Cotopaxi and Osprey, but don’t let that deter you—this company makes exceptionally built and good-looking packs for everything from commuting and travel to more technical pursuits like biking and climbing. Their Global Travel Bag 30L here is a shining example and stands out in one major way: internal organization. Put simply, there’s no shortage of options for divvying up your belongings, from the vertical daisy chain webbing on the front to the expandable side water bottle pockets, ample zippered storage inside and out, a laptop sleeve along the backpanel, and several interior mesh pockets. Like the Cotopaxi Allpa above, the Global Travel Bag is also well equipped for rough use, including a mix of 1,000- and 1,680-denier ballistic nylon that gives the pack a noticeably burly, confidence-inspiring feel—at a very manageable 2 pounds 10 ounces to boot.

That said, the extensive feature set does add some complexity when it comes to organization. We like the big clamshell opening to the main compartment, but we had to reorganize to make everything fit into the various compartments (they're optimized for Topo Designs' Pack Bags , which are smaller than our standard packing cubes). The tall and slim shape is also best suited for clothing rather than bulky gear, which may be limiting for outdoor adventures that involve camping or backpacking. We also wished there were a little more padding along the shoulder straps and hipbelt while walking through airports with the pack stuffed full, but it distributed the load pretty well (and the hipbelt can be tucked away when not in use). In the end, no pack is perfect, but the Global Travel Bag 30L is a well-built, durable, and stylish option for overnights, short weekend getaways, and even minimalist adventures abroad. It’s also sold in a larger 40-liter variation for longer trips, although we found the smaller pack to be much more manageable. See the Topo Designs Travel Bag 30L

Best Budget Travel Backpack

5. amazon basics carry-on travel backpack ($46).

Travel packs are an expensive bunch, but Amazon makes an affordable but still surprisingly capable option in their Carry-On Travel Backpack. We’ll start with the good news: As its name implies, the bag is carry-on compliant, and it comes with most of the standard features we look for in a practical travel pack. These include a zippered laptop sleeve, internal and external compression straps, easy-access pockets for travel documents, and good organization in the main compartment. Like the Peak Design Travel Backpack above, the Amazon Basics can also be expanded to boost packing space while still meeting carry-on restrictions. And at just around $50 at the time of publishing (colorways vary on Amazon), the 40-liter Carry-On Travel Backpack is a great value for what you get, undercutting most similarly sized models on this list by $100 or more.

Now for the bad news: This Amazon Basics pack is far less capable than many of the picks here for shuttling a full load. The shoulder straps are lightly padded, while the hipbelt is a thin and basic webbing design that won’t feel comfortable under the weight of a full pack. The rest of the design has a cheaper feel, too, including a shiny and dated-looking exterior, a lot of plastic (read: breakable) components, and standard, non-lockable zippers. You don’t get dedicated water bottle storage either, which isn’t a necessary feature but certainly is nice to have. But if you’re an occasional traveler and aren’t yet ready to make a more sizable investment, the Amazon Basics pack is a perfectly serviceable entry-level option at a great price. For another capable budget design that comes with packing cubes and lots of colorway options, we also like Asenlin’s 40L Travel Backpack . See the Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack

Best High-Capacity Travel Pack for Long Trips

6. osprey farpoint 70 ($230).

The packs above are great for vacationers and travelers headed out for a week or two, but those embarking on longer and/or gear-heavy trips abroad will almost certainly need more storage and capacity. Enter Osprey’s Farpoint 70, which comes with a 15-liter daypack that can be attached to the front to maximize capacity or used separately for around-town adventures once you reach your destination (Note: The travel pack itself is 55L). Importantly, both come well appointed: The daypack boasts a dedicated tablet/hydration sleeve and water bottle pockets, while the main pack has great cushioning along the straps and backpanel (it’s an Osprey, after all), a well-ventilated backpanel, easy access via the large front panel, and an adjustable torso system for dialing in a good fit. It's all wrapped up in a thoughtful and sustainable package, including recycled and bluesign-approved fabrics, along with a dedicated women's version called the Fairview.

All that said, there’s one glaring downside to opting for a larger-capacity design like the Osprey Farpoint 70: It doesn’t meet most carry-on size requirements. For reference, the standard domestic carry-on limit within the U.S. is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, while the Farpoint measures 25.6 x 15 x 12.6. Another complaint is that the daypack obscures the pack’s main compartment when attached, making it tedious to access your belongings. Even so, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more versatile and comfortable system for less (the daypack is a $65 investment on its own), making the Farpoint 70 our favorite high-capacity pick of the year. It’s also available in a larger 80-liter version, as well as smaller 40- and 55-liter capacities, although only the Farpoint 55 and 70 include the detachable daypack.  See the Osprey Farpoint 70   See the Women's Osprey Fairview 70

Best of the Rest

7. eagle creek tour 40l ($159).

Eagle Creek first started making packs in the mid 1970s, and their Tour 40L travel pack reflects that longstanding history in the market. From the get-go, we were immediately impressed by its highly practical design. The bag has great exterior storage, including a stretchy side water bottle pocket and expansion zipper for 5 liters of additional capacity in the main compartment. Additionally, the book-style opening provides quick access to the contents of the bag, and interior and exterior compression straps make it easy to snug things down. We also appreciate that it comes in two torso sizes (S/M and M/L) for maximizing fit, which is uncommon in the travel pack market and a really nice plus at this price point. And the cherry on top: The Tour checks in at a very competitive 2 pounds 10 ounces, which is tied with Topo Designs’ 10-liter-smaller Global Travel Bag above as the lightest on our list.

Other notable features on the Eagle Creek Tour 40L include side and top grab handles for easy loading and carrying, an integrated rain cover that stows away at the bottom and doubles as a backpanel cover if you check the bag, puncture-resistant and lockable zippers that are easy to operate even with gloves, and good overall carrying comfort. It’s not the toughest design out there—the water bottle pocket started to fray on our pack after just one trip—but uses durable 600-denier polyester elsewhere and is reasonably hardwearing overall. Final nitpicks include no pass-through sleeve for securing to a suitcase and a fairly bland exterior, but those do little to detract from the Tour’s otherwise well-rounded build.  See the Eagle Creek Tour 40L

8. Gregory Border Carry-On 40 ($190)

Like Osprey, Gregory is a leader in the hiking and backpacking markets, and their Border Carry-On 40 retains many of their well-loved technical features in a travel-friendly design. The big news here is the pack’s split-case design, which creates two distinct areas within the main compartment accessed via one large, clamshell-style opening. On one side, a zippered mesh panel with added zippered storage and compression straps keeps your clothing and some accessories organized, while an odor-resistant “ActiveShield” compartment at the opposite side effectively separates dirty clothes. As expected from Gregory, carrying comfort is also great with good adjustability at the sternum, a well-cushioned backpanel, and thick straps. You don’t get load lifters for bringing the pack closer to your body, but we didn’t have any issues, even when running through the Montreal airport to a connecting flight en route to Patagonia.

That said, the Gregory Border Carry-On’s split-case design does have a noteworthy pitfall: With both compartments zipped, storage feels pretty limited. Unzipping the larger mesh panel does help maximize space (especially when stuffing the pack to the brim), but it also defeats the purpose of the dual compartments. Compared to the competition, the Border also uses thinner materials than Osprey’s Sojourn Porter and Farpoint offerings, although the rest of the feature set stacks up similarly. In the end, it’s another comfortable and well-built travel pack, and the split-case design has its merits for those who pack light. See the Gregory Border Carry-On 40

9. Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L ($350)

Travel packs are a dime a dozen in 2024, but Tortuga’s Travel Backpack 40L—which replaced their Outbreaker 35L—stands out as one of the most well-appointed and thoughtfully built options on the market. Organization is a clear highlight, including a large front pocket with several sleeves for divvying up small valuables and documents, a convenient clamshell-style opening with zippered compartments for separating clothes and shoes, and padded laptop and tablet sleeves with zippered mesh pockets at the other side for storing cords and accessories. Rounding out the feature set are easy-to-access water bottle pockets that can fit most standard-mouth bottles (our wide-mouth Hydro Flask was too big), zippered hipbelt storage that can accommodate a smartphone and passport, and lockable, water-resistant zippers. Finally, the design is well padded with thick cushioning along the backpanel, shoulder straps, and hipbelt, which is fairly uncommon among travel-specific brands. 

It's worth noting that the Tortuga Travel Backpack has a slightly more streamlined storage layout than its predecessor, although you do get an additional 5 liters of capacity and a bump in usable space. However, the Tortuga is no featherweight at 4 pounds 8 ounces, which is a notable downside for long treks through the airport and around town. It’s also tied with Matador’s GlobeRider below as the priciest on our list at a steep $350. On the bright side, Tortuga does offer a lifetime warranty against defects, and they will repair/replace the pack or refund your money if a replacement isn't available. All told, it’s a nice dose of added assurance and helps justify the steep price, but the hefty build and lack of value push the Tortuga slightly down in our rankings. For another well-executed design with all the requisite travel features, check out Aer’s Travel Pack 3 , which is cheaper at $249 but 5 liters smaller and doesn’t include a hipbelt with purchase. See the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L

10. Yeti Crossroads 35L Backpack ($250)

Yeti's coolers and insulated drinkware are their bread and butter, but the focus on premium craftsmanship doesn’t end there. On the travel side, their Crossroads 35L Backpack is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the brand: excellent durability and functionality in a modern package. The body of the pack is made with Yeti's tough and confidence-inspiring TuffSkin nylon (which was inspired by motorcycle gear), while the PU-coated base adds a nice dose of assurance when setting it down. All of the other components have an equally durable and supportive feel, from the foam-heavy shoulder straps to the thick, protective backpanel. It’s all wrapped up in a sleek and streamlined design that’s offered in a nice selection of colorways, from bright Harvest Red to subdued Alpine Brown (shown in the photo here).

Yeti clearly put a lot of thought into the outside of the Crossroads, but the interior is well executed, too. The clamshell opening folds back to reveal a pocket-equipped mesh panel and generous main compartment that still can be accessed when wearing the pack. You also get dedicated storage for a water bottle and laptop, as well as a pass-through sleeve for securing to a roller bag. Our biggest gripe is the lack of padding: The detachable hipbelt is made of thin webbing and doesn’t offer much support, and the shoulder straps and backpanel have a noticeably thick and rigid feel, which is great for durability but detracts from overall comfort. And as with most Yeti products, the pack isn’t particularly cheap or light at $250 and nearly 4 pounds. Finally, the 35-liter Crossroads is on the smaller side and will require precise packing to fit more than about three to five days’ worth of belongings. But again, build quality is top-notch, and minimalists used to packing light may not mind the small sacrifices in comfort and storage. See the Yeti Crossroads 35L Backpack

11. Matador GlobeRider45 ($350)

Matador may lack the name recognition of brands like Osprey and Cotopaxi, but don’t let that fool you: This Boulder-based upstart is quickly growing thanks to their outside-the-box thinking. From their travel collection, the new GlobeRider45 stands out as a very intentionally built design that spares no expense in terms of features. In addition to being on the larger end, the carry-on-compliant GlobeRider offers solid comfort and support with good padding along the straps and backpanel, a light but sturdy aluminum frame stay, and a well-executed suspension system that’s reminiscent of a backpacking pack. Organization also abounds with a large external stash pocket, thoughtfully designed electronics pockets, vertical daisy chain webbing, and a practical interior layout that includes a packing cube-like space on one side and open clothing storage on the other. All told, it's an intriguing new pack that does a great job merging the utility of both backpacking and travel designs.

It's worth noting that we previously had Matador’s cheaper and lighter Seg45 ranked here, which boasts a unique segmented design that allows you to customize organization by day or activity. When unzipped, the five compartments at the front of the pack reveal independent (and stowable) storage cube-like areas for clothes and other soft items, while the main compartment below provides added space for dirty clothes, shoes, and other bulkier gear. While innovative, however, the Seg45 falls well short of the GlobeRider in carrying comfort, which is largely a result of the thin webbing hipbelt and lack of frame. The pocket-heavy exterior also made it hard for us to remember where we put certain items and detracts from the amount of usable space inside the main compartment. Both packs are arguably overbuilt for infrequent travelers, but the GlobeRider stands out as the more balanced option for those willing to splurge. See the Matador GlobeRider45

12. The North Face Base Camp Travel Pack ($169)

The North Face’s expedition-ready Base Camp duffels have long been popular among serious adventurers, and the Base Camp Travel Pack is a logical and carry-on-friendly addition to the collection. We found a lot to like about the pack during testing, including its burly and abrasion-resistant exterior and myriad storage options. We particularly enjoyed the Base Camp’s front pocket layout, which makes it easy to divvy up travel documents and electronics with a variety of mesh, zippered, and fleece-lined pockets. The smaller details are equally well sorted, from the well-padded shoulder straps and backpanel to the fleece-lined laptop sleeve and generous daisy chain system for attaching gear externally. Finally, despite being a little smaller than many of our top picks, the 35-liter Base Camp includes water bottle pockets that easily swallowed our 24-ounce Hydro Flask.

However, despite checking all the boxes for most travelers, the Base Camp starts to look a little less competitive when stacked up against options like the Eagle Creek Tour above. For $10 less, the Tour boasts an additional 5 liters of capacity and includes helpful additions like a hipbelt, load-lifter straps, and a rain cover—all for around a pound less. Another alternative worth considering is REI’s Ruckpack 40 , which costs the same as the Base Camp and is more capable of crossing over for hiking: The laptop sleeve can fit a 3-liter reservoir, there are attachment points for trekking poles, and the suspension system is more in line with standard daypacks. Depending on your needs, the Ruckpack might be the better option, but the Base Camp offers better organization for travel in a more modern-looking package than the Eagle Creek. A final note: Those with broader builds may experience discomfort where the shoulder straps meet the backpanel, but our narrow-framed female tester had no comfort-related issues. See the TNF Base Camp Travel Pack

13. Thule Aion Travel Pack ($200)

Swedish brand Thule is best known for their bike and roof racks, but they make sneaky-good packs, too. Our favorite in their collection this year is the 40-liter Aion, which combines the premium build quality that Thule is known for with a nice assortment of travel-ready features. One unique—but very functional—addition is the removable TPU rolltop bag for stashing dirty laundry, which prevents odors and dirt from making their way to the rest of your belongings. The rest of the design is nicely appointed, including dedicated water bottle storage, an easy-to-access clamshell opening, plenty of zippered spaces for electronics and valuables (including a padded laptop/tablet sleeve), internal compressions straps to keep items secure and tidy, lockable zippers, and carry-on-compliant dimensions. 

What pushes the Thule Aion down to a mid-pack finish? At this price point and capacity, we’re surprised to see that the bag doesn’t come with a hipbelt. You can purchase Thule’s compatible Aion sling bag separately, which can pull double-duty for around-town use, but it’s a fairly expensive addition at $50 (and a feature we consider critical for a pack of this size). To be fair, the rest of the build is very well executed, including a noticeably thick and robust 600-denier waxed canvas shell and PFC-free DWR coating for fending off moisture. If you don’t mind the added investment for the waist belt/sling bag, it’s a promising design with competitive specs to match. Of note, if you’re looking for something a little different for travel, the Aion collection also includes a roller bag and a 35-liter duffel . See the Thule Aion Travel Pack

14. Pacsafe EXP45 ($290)

Travel can be an exhausting endeavor, especially if you’re constantly worried about your luggage or valuables getting stolen. That’s why anti-theft designs like Pacsafe’s EXP45 are becoming increasingly common, particularly for international trips. Like most of Pacsafe’s offerings, the EXP45 is packed with protective features, from cut-resistant materials to lockable and puncture-resistant double zippers and built-in stainless steel cable locks. Importantly, these are nicely integrated and don’t detract too heavily from the Pacsafe's functionality as a travel pack—it’s still well organized with ample interior and exterior pockets and compression straps, offers multiple carry options, and is carry-on compliant.

That said, the Pacsafe EXP45 is a pretty niche design that prioritizes safety over carrying comfort and access. The pack is on the heavier end at over 4 pounds due to all the protective features, the padding along the shoulder straps and hipbelt is firm (albeit decently thick), and there are no load-lifter straps to pull the pack closer to your body. Another downside is that the laptop sleeve is positioned at the front of the bag—we prefer when heavier items are situated close to the back for better weight distribution—and accessing items here can be difficult due to the half-length zipper design (we wish it had a clamshell opening like the main compartment). In other words, comfort- and convenience-focused travelers will likely want to look elsewhere, but the Pacsafe has its place for those who prioritize safety and security. For a cheaper and lighter option that doesn’t skimp on safety features, we also like Pacsafe’s Go 44L , although frequent travelers will likely prefer the more premium EXP45. See the Pacsafe EXP45

15. Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L ($199)

Patagonia’s Black Hole is legendary in the world of duffel bags, and the Mini MLC 30L travel pack variation shares that bag’s excellent durability and good looks in a more organized and carry-on-friendly design. Like the duffels, the Black Hole pack is made of strong (and recycled) polyester ripstop that’s highly tear-resistant with a TPU film on the exterior for fending off precipitation. It also boasts the signature daisy chain webbing along one side for securing extra gear. Importantly, however, the travel focus is clear: You get three carrying options (backpack, over-the-shoulder, or briefcase-style), compatibility with a roller bag, and a generously sized opening with two separate chambers for customizing organization.

Why do we rank the Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L here? The most glaring downside is its 30-liter capacity, which is undersized for trips lasting longer than a few days (unless you’re a staunch minimalist). Patagonia does offer a larger 45-liter variation for $40 more, although we found it to be lacking in structure, which caused the pack to feel noticeably bulky and cumbersome when stuffed full. Thankfully, both options feature the same well-executed backpanel design that we love, which comprises sleeves at one side for a laptop and tablet with zippered and drop-in pockets at the other for divvying up cords and accessories. Again, the Mini version is underbuilt for extended trips abroad but remains an excellent pick for commutes, daily use, and as a secondary bag for travel. See the Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L

16. Nomatic Travel Bag 40L ($290)

Many of the picks above are built by reputable backpacking manufacturers, but Nomatic is a travel company first. Their Travel Bag 40L embodies that focus, combining thoughtful organization and storage with easy access in a sleek and minimalist package. Feature highlights include a customizable strap design that allows you to easily alternate between backpack and duffel carry, dedicated compartments for shoes and clothing at the top and bottom of the bag, and even a mesh laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate during travel. We also love the exterior pocket at the right side, which opens wide for easy access and features an array of mesh, fleece-lined, and zippered spots to organize electronics and cords, along with an RFID pocket for passports and other scannable documents. All told, it’s clear that Nomatic put a ton of thought into the design. 

It’s worth noting that Nomatic offers another intriguing option in their Navigator , although we consider the Travel Bag the more competitive all-around design. In parsing out the differences, the Travel Bag costs $110 less and is lighter by nearly 2 pounds, although it forgoes the Navigator’s expandable main compartment that allows you to alternate between 32 and 41 liters depending on your storage needs. The Navigator also includes load lifter straps and a sculpted foam backpanel for a boost in carrying comfort, but the Travel Bag is no slouch. And from a features perspective, we appreciate the Travel Bag’s dirty shoe compartment and included laundry bag. Those with smaller frames may have trouble dialing in a secure fit—our female tester (5’6” and 135 lb.) maxed out the Travel Bag’s hipbelt, for example—but the intentional organization layout and travel-ready feature set are undeniable selling points. See the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L

17. Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 ($249)

Along with Osprey’s Sojourn Porter 46 above, Mystery Ranch’s Mission Rover 45 is a great option for those of us who aren’t particularly adept at packing light. Touted as a “workhorse gear hauler,” the Mission Rover offers three functional carry options (as a suitcase, shoulder bag, or standard backpack), has a well-organized main compartment with zippered dividers and a wraparound clamshell opening, and even includes separate areas for shoes and dirty laundry. As expected at this price point, you also get most of the standard travel-ready features that we look for, including a stowable hipbelt, lockable zippers, a sleeve to secure to a rolling suitcase, and a padded laptop space that can accommodate computers up to 15 inches wide. Finally, like many of Mystery Ranch's backpacking offerings, the Mission Rover has a premium feel with a thick nylon exterior and water-resistant YKK zippers.

However, as with the Pacsafe EXP45 above, the Mission Rover’s laptop sleeve is situated at the front of the pack, which detracts from carrying comfort and convenience. The Mystery Ranch is also on the heavier and pricier end of the spectrum at 4 pounds 4.8 ounces and $249, although the 45-liter capacity is undeniably generous (and the pack is still compliant with most carry-on size restrictions). Finally, the bag is relatively dated-looking and lacking in modern appeal compared to offerings from Topo Designs, Peak Design, Cotopaxi, and others above. In other words, the Mission Rover doesn’t stand out in any one area (hence our ranking), but it’s another durable travel pack with a nicely executed feature set. See the Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45

Travel Backpack Comparison Table

Editor's note: "Carry-on" refers to whether or not each pack meets standard domestic and international air travel restrictions, which must be under 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 45 linear inches when adding L+W+H.

About Our Testing Process

True to our name, globetrotting is a big part of what we do at Switchback Travel. Managing editor Sarah Nelson put together our initial list of 16 picks in 2022 after a trip to El Chaltén in southern Argentina with fellow staff members and gear testers. From takeoff to our return flights home, we put our packs through their paces by stuffing them to the brim with two weeks’ worth of clothing and gear, schlepping them through domestic and international airports, shoving them into overhead compartments and below our seats, and getting intimately familiar with organizational layouts for divvying up our documents and electronics. Upon our return, we also evaluated each pack closely for signs of wear like tears and stains.

Our current list of 17 picks reflects our own experiences as well as feedback from our freelancers, travel-savvy friends, and the online travel community. We continue to test travel packs on adventures near and far, adding and removing designs as the market shifts and as we get firsthand experience with more options. For example, on a recent trip to Chilean Patagonia in February 2024, we brought along two new-to-us travel packs: The North Face Base Camp and the Nomatic Travel Pack, both of which are now featured in the guide above. We’ll be sure to add any other standouts and favorites to the list above with each update.   

Travel Backpack Buying Advice

Size and capacity.

• Carry-on Size Restrictions

Organization: Pockets and Main Compartment Access

Carrying comfort, grab handles and alternate carry methods.

• Other Features

Construction and Durability

Fit and sizing, women’s-specific travel backpacks, sustainability, packing cubes and other accessories, do you need a travel backpack.

The first question to answer when choosing a travel pack is how much capacity you anticipate needing. For reference, the options above range from 30 liters on the small end (the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag ) all the way up to 70 liters for the Osprey Farpoint 70 (with the 15L daypack attached). Most travelers will land on something in the middle, with the sweet spot for many being in the 40- to 45-liter range—it’s no coincidence that well over half of the models above fall into this grouping, which is largely due to their carry-on-compliant dimensions.   

In general, we’ve found that packs of this size can easily accommodate a week or two of clothing, toiletries, and other travel accessories (and even more if you pack light). For reference, we had no issues fitting 14 days’ worth of belongings into the 40-liter version of Topo Designs’ Global Travel Bag on a recent trip to Patagonia. If you stick to weekend adventures, you can keep things lighter and more compact (and save some cash in the process) by opting for the smaller, 30-liter variation. On the flip side, those embarking on longer expeditions abroad might need to step up to a larger design like the Osprey Farpoint 70 or 80 (at the sacrifice of carry-on compatibility).  

Travel Backpack Dimensions

Dimensions are a crucial consideration for most travelers, and especially those headed abroad. With that in mind, we’ve listed the length, width, and height measurements for each travel pack above both in the write-ups and in our comparison table . As you may notice, similarly sized travel packs don’t vary too considerably in terms of dimensions. This is mainly due to carry-on size restrictions, which we break down more in depth below. Carry-on Size Restrictions Right off the bat, we’ll note that there is technically no standardized size requirement for carry-on luggage domestically or abroad. That said, the universally accepted dimensions within the U.S. are 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 45 linear inches when adding L+W+H. We’ve indicated whether each travel pack above meets these requirements in our comparison table, and REI Co-op does the same on each of their product pages. The only exception above is the Osprey Farpoint 70 , which measures 25.6 x 15 x 12.6 inches.  

It’s also important to call out expandable models here like the Peak Design Travel Backpack , which is carry-on compliant when compressed to 35 liters (22 x 13 x 9.5 in.) but not when expanded to its maximum 45-liter capacity (22 x 13 x 11 in.). You may be able to get away with carrying these bags onboard, but don’t count on it, especially if you’re traveling during peak season to a popular destination. When in doubt, you can always check with your airline ahead of time.  

All of the packs above are purpose-built for travel with extensive organizational layouts and thoughtfully placed pockets for separating valuables, electronics, and other accessories. That said, some layouts are more functional than others, and a final decision will largely come down to your intended use and what works best for the items that you plan to bring along. For instance, sleek options like the Peak Design Travel Backpack and Nomatic Travel Bag are great for digital nomads and remote workers who need to organize a lot of electronics, while backpacking-inspired designs like Osprey’s Farpoint and Sojourn Porter offerings have fewer tech-focused features but work great for adventure travel. We break down some of the key organizational components below, from laptop and tablet sleeves to water bottle storage and pack opening styles.  

Laptop and Tablet Sleeves Laptop storage is a requisite feature in a travel pack, and all of the picks above come with a dedicated spot to stash larger electronics. In terms of dimensions, most sleeves can accommodate up to a 15-inch laptop, and many come with separate smaller compartments in the same space for a tablet, too. This area is typically well padded to protect electronics and positioned along the backpanel for the best access and weight distribution (keeping heavier items closest to your back will help maximize comfort and balance). A couple exceptions to this rule are the Pacsafe EXP45 and Mystery Ranch Mission Rover 45 , both of which have the laptop sleeve at the front of the pack and can feel a little less well balanced with heavier electronics situated farther away from your body.  

Water Bottle Pockets Unlike laptop sleeves, side water bottle pockets aren’t a standard feature on travel packs. Some models that include them are the Topo Designs Global Travel Pack, Peak Design Travel Backpack, Osprey Farpoint 70 (on its removable daypack), Eagle Creek Tour , and Thule Aion, while the Cotopaxi Allpa and Amazon Basics Carry-On leave them out. And it’s worth noting that the Farpoint’s removable daypack is also compatible with a hydration reservoir, including a sleeve and access ports at either side for a tube (Note: This area on the daypack doubles as the laptop sleeve).   

Opening Styles and Access Easy access is a hallmark of a good travel backpack. The clamshell-style opening is far and away the most popular design and for good reason: With the pack laid flat, you can easily see and access the entirety of the main compartment. Some backpack-inspired designs, like Osprey's Sojourn Porter 46 and Farpoint 70, utilize generous U-zip designs instead, which are pretty functional but make it a little harder to reach contents at the very bottom of the bags. Finally, it's important to note that some bags come with multiple access points: The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L, for instance, includes both a full wraparound zipper and “shortcut” side zip next to the backpanel for easily retrieving items while on the move.  

Comfort can be somewhat subjective, but a few features help certain travel packs stand out from the rest of the market. Typically, the most comfortable designs boast shoulder straps and hipbelts with thick padding and good adjustability for dialing in fit. Sternum and load-lifter straps can also be very helpful in effectively distributing a heavy load. One brand that stands out in this area is Osprey, which makes sense given their expertise in the backpacking pack market. One of our favorite options for shuttling heavy loads over long distances is Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 , which features thick cushioning and good adjustability at the shoulders and waist belt and comes with load lifters for bringing the weight closer to your back.  

On the flip side, models without hipbelts are generally the least comfortable, especially when wearing them for extended stretches. From the list above, only the Thule Aoin doesn’t come with one, although their Aion Sling Bag (sold separately for $50) can be attached to serve as a hipbelt. Thin webbing designs—like what you get with the Amazon Basics Carry-On and Yeti Crossroads —aren’t much better, providing very little support and structure for keeping the weight of the pack on your hips (rather than your back). If you plan to be walking long distances with your pack through airports or city streets, we consider a well-padded waist belt a critical feature and worth the added investment.   

The models above are designed to be worn on your back as backpacks, but many travelers appreciate the ability to carry their pack suitcase-style or over the shoulder. These options are especially helpful when standing in line to check in at the airport or retrieve travel documents. For instance, the Peak Design Travel Backpack boasts 360-degree grab handles that make it quick and easy to take the pack off and carry it one-handed through security checkpoints or narrow airplane aisles. Designs like the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L also come with detachable straps for shoulder carry, which can be helpful when you need to access items inside but want to keep the pack off the ground and remain hands-free. Finally, many of the offerings here can be secured to a roller bag via pass-through sleeves, which we cover more below.  

Other Travel Pack Features

In addition to pockets and electronics sleeves, there are a few other features specific to travel packs that are worth having on your radar. Lockable zippers are fairly standard at the mid to upper end of the market (budget designs like the Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack forgo them), as are removable and/or stowable straps and compression straps or dividers to keep things tidy in the main compartment. As is common with backpacking models, some travel packs also come with built-in rain covers that stow away when not in use, including Cotopaxi’s Allpa 35L and Eagle Creek’s Tour 40L. Finally, many will appreciate the ability to attach their travel pack directly to a rolling suitcase via a pass-through handle or sleeve (like what you get with Yeti Crossroads 35L and many others above).  

Given the inherently rough nature of travel, all of the packs above are well built and hardwearing enough to withstand frequent use. That said, some are certainly more durable than others, and looking at denier (a measurement of fabric thickness) can help differentiate between models. For instance, the Gregory Border Carry-On 40 is pretty average with a mix of 210- and 450-denier (D) materials, while the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is one of the thickest and most abrasion-resistant options on our list with a combination of 1,000D polyester and 840D ballistic nylon (Topo Designs' Global Travel Bag uses a similar combo but with 1,000D nylon and 1,680D ballistic nylon). Pacsafe’s EXP45 is another standout, with stainless steel wire mesh built into the 400D nylon body to guard against theft. At the thinner end, Matador’s GlobeRider45 uses a mix of mostly 100 and 420D fabrics, although the nylon body is coated with a PU laminate to boost weather and abrasion resistance, and Matador included reinforcements in high-wear areas.  

Other durability-related additions to keep an eye out for are thick padding along the interior to promote structure and protect your belongings, weather-resistant details like YKK zippers and DWR coatings on the outside to fend off precipitation, and thicker materials at the base to help protect the pack when you set it down. And we should note here that cost often correlates pretty closely with overall quality. In other words, a budget pack like the Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack feels noticeably cheaper than most other options above and will likely wear down far more quickly. If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s almost certainly worth investing in a pricier and more premium option that will last.  

The weight spread isn’t huge among travel pack designs, but even a 1-pound difference may still be noticeable during long treks across town or the airport. For reference, the lightest options on our list are Eagle Creek’s Tour 40L and Topo Designs’ Global Travel Bag 30L (both 2 lb. 10 oz.), while the Osprey Farpoint 70 is the heaviest at 5 pounds 6.6 ounces. Most models fall somewhere in the middle, with the majority of 40- to 45-liter designs hovering somewhere between 3 and 4.5 pounds. In the end, weight won’t be a primary consideration for many travelers, but those backpacking through Europe or expecting to cover serious ground will probably want to shop toward the lighter end.  

Unlike their backpacking pack counterparts, travel packs are most often only offered in a single unisex option. This can make it difficult to dial in fit, especially for those with particularly narrow or broad builds. One exception above is the Eagle Creek Tour 40L , which is offered in both S/M and M/L torso sizes, while a couple others (which we cover below) are sold in dedicated women’s models for better customizing fit. Regardless of which option you choose, we always recommend trying on multiple packs before buying to see which fits you best (or at least purchasing from a reputable manufacturer with a generous return policy). You’ll want to be sure that you can adjust the shoulder straps and waist belt to be snug around your torso and waist. Sternum straps and load lifters can also be helpful for bringing the load closer to your back to maximize comfort and weight distribution.

As we mentioned above, most travel packs are unisex by design. In fact, only one model on our list is offered in a dedicated women’s-specific version: the Osprey Fairview (the Farpoint’s counterpart). Key differences include varying colorways, minor weight variations, and slightly smaller torso and waist measurements. The Fairview also has more contoured shoulder straps and a curved hipbelt to better conform to narrower torsos/shoulders and larger hips, although the packs share an otherwise identical overall construction and feature set. Regardless of designation, we always recommend choosing the pack that fits you best.  

In 2024, it’s pretty common to see pack manufacturers incorporating eco-friendly practices into production, including measures like recycled and bluesign-approved fabrics and PFAS/PFC-free DWR coatings. A couple examples include Pacsafe’s Venturesafe EXP45, which uses polyester that's made from recycled water bottles and other plastics, and Patagonia’s Black Hole Mini MLC 30L, which uses recycled and bluesign-approved (i.e., environmentally safe) polyester and is certified to the Fair Trade standard. A final feature to look out for is a PFC-free DWR coating, which forgoes the use of per- or polyfluorinated chemicals—"forever chemicals" known to be harmful to the environment. With many states stepping up to ban the sale of items that include PFCs, the outdoor industry is seeking better solutions for water- and stain-resistant finishes (for more, you can read about Patagonia’s take on the issue ).  

Packing your travel pack can often feel like playing a hard game of Tetris, especially for those of us who aren’t great at traveling light (this author included). To help, many of the brands above offer compatible accessories for their packs, from packing cubes to protective hard cases for electronics and more. Importantly, these add-ons are often modular and fit neatly into the main compartment of a compatible backpack. Some of our favorites include Topo Designs’ Pack Bags , Peak Design’s Packing Cubes and Tech Pouches, and Eagle Creek’s Pack-It compression cubes. In the end, these accessories aren't a necessary purchase for many travelers (and you certainly don't need to buy them from the same manufacturer as your pack), but they can go a long way toward maximizing organization and space and streamlining your load.  

The packs above make it easy and comfortable to shuttle your belongings across the globe, but not everyone needs a specialized design for travel. Duffel bags are another popular way to fly with a lot of clothing and gear, and many modern designs come with deployable backpack straps for more easily hauling through airports and around urban areas. However, duffels lack the impressive assortment of dedicated storage compartments and pockets for items like keys, passports, and electronics, are generally less comfortable to carry over long distances, and often don’t meet carry-on size requirements.  

Alternatively, some travelers may opt to use a standard backpacking pack . This can make a lot of sense when you’re traveling to hike, backpack, or embark on other adventures and plan to use your pack both for travel and for outdoor use when you arrive. Again, however, the lack of travel-specific features and organization options can make it harder to effectively divvy up your belongings. In the end, if you plan to fly domestically or abroad with any regularity (more than a couple times a year), we think most will find the investment in a dedicated travel pack worth it. Back to Our Top Travel Backpack Picks   Back to Our Travel Pack Comparison Table

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The 14 Best Carry-on Backpacks of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

These spacious and comfortable carry-on backpacks can easily replace a suitcase.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Tips For Buying
• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim

Skip the stress of checking in a bag or lugging a traditional carry-on suitcase around an airport by adding a carry-on backpack to your travel gear. Practical, functional, and hassle-free, a carry-on backpack can fit up to a week’s worth of clothes, depending on your wardrobe and packing prowess. Whether you’re backpacking through Europe or embarking on a weekend getaway, this style helps make your trip as efficient and enjoyable as possible.

We tested dozens of carry-on backpacks and evaluated them based on traits like capacity, comfort, durability, and design. First, we tested the backpacks in our New York City lab and utilized our airplane set complete with row of real plane seats and overhead storage bins. We then took them out into the world for six months to further test each bag on a variety of trips. From rugged to sleek styles, we tested plenty of carry-on backpacks ranging in design and size that impressed us.

Best Overall

Cotopaxi allpa 35l travel pack.

• Capacity 5 /5
• Design 5 /5
• Durability 5 /5
• Comfort 5 /5

The backpack has an unstructured style that makes it easy to pack clothing and accessories, plus a plethora of thoughtful features catered to frequent travelers.

There isn’t a designated water bottle holder.

Salt Lake City-based outdoor gear brand Cotopaxi builds brightly colored clothing and accessories to last. The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack earned our top pick as the best carry-on backpack with its perfect performance in all categories of our testing. We loved its high capacity and thought the unstructured style was ideal for wedging clothes into every corner, maximizing packing space in the clamshell-style compartments. The shell is made of a TPU-coated 1000D polyester with a rubbery feel, and although it feels resistant to liquids, the backpack comes with a rain cover to ensure that your belongings stay dry while traveling. Handles on all four sides of the backpack make it easy to carry and lift into an overhead bin from any angle. The only downside to the bag is that it doesn't have a water bottle holder on the sides, so you'll have to carry one or try to fit it in the top pocket in the front.

We think this durable Cotopaxi bag will remain in excellent condition no matter how many times it hits the road, as it was not damaged at all after we repeatedly tossed it onto the ground. The rubber texture also seemed easy to clean and resistant to liquid spills. After six months of regularly using the bag, we found that it's the perfect size for long weekend trips and helps keep all of our items organized and easy to access. Both stylish and functional, this backpack can even be made one-of-a-kind by choosing the surprise colors option when purchased through Cotopaxi’s website.

The Details: 35 liters | 20 x 12 x 8 inches | 3.8 pounds | TPU-coated 1000D polyester, nylon | Padded laptop sleeve

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Travel + leisure / Jhett Thompson

Best Convertible

Away the outdoor convertible backpack 45l.

• Design 4.5 /5

We love how comfortable it is on your shoulders and back thanks to the soft materials and cushioned shoulder straps.

At nearly 22 inches tall, this pack may be too long for those with shorter torsos.

You'll be surprised by just how spacious this backpack is. The main compartment opens up like a clam shell for easy access to items that allowed us to fit an entire four-day packing list with ease — plus a few extra items. There are multiple large compartments, compression straps, and a few pockets in this backpack that are ideal for organizing clothes, gear, and accessories. While the 45-liter backpack can grow heavy when completely filled, the padded shoulder straps are supportive and keep you comfortable when walking for long periods of time. Plus, the convenient duffel handles allow you to switch up your carrying style if you do grow fatigued.

This backpack also sports a well-padded laptop sleeve that protected our testing laptop when we threw the fully packed bag off a counter three times. There was also no sign of rips, scuffs, or tears in the bag's fabric after our tests. This water- and abrasion-resistant backpack would be perfect for avid travels who are looking for a sleek backpack to take them from city explorations to camping adventures.

The Details: 45 liters | 21.7 x 13.6 x 9.5 inches | 3.32 pounds | Water-resistant

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Best Budget

Asenlin 40l travel backpack.

It’s spacious and comes with three packing cubes to stay organized while traveling. 

After six months of use, the bag is scuffed up with noticeable scratches.

Perfect for travelers on a budget, the Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack impressed us with its packing features and comfortable fit. We thought the bag provided excellent organization thanks to the interior and exterior compression that provided extra room for packing. The backpack comes with three different packing cubes in small, medium, and large. We also like that this backpack includes both a suitcase strap and a handle to hold it horizontally. The backpack itself also features straps inside and a laptop sleeve to easily hold down items and pack electronics.

The design didn’t blow us away like those from some of the more costly brands, but it does have a laptop sleeve and a water bottle holder. We also liked the flexibility of being able to wear the Asenlin as a backpack, hold it like a briefcase, or use the trolley sleeve to slide it onto a roller suitcase’s handle. However, a bigger adjustment range for the chest strap would have been ideal. During our durability tests, the backpack didn’t scuff or show signs of damage. We think this budget pick is well worth the low price for those looking to get a durable, comfortable, and spacious carry-on backpack. 

The Details: 40 liters | 18.5 x 12.5 x 9.5 inches | 2.7 pounds | Polyester | 17-inch laptop pocket

Best Traditional

Samsonite silhouette 17 backpack.

• Design 4 /5
• Durability 4 /5

Thanks to its clamshell design, it’s like a suitcase without wheels.

Some of the straps weren’t intuitive to use.

The Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack is ideal for travelers who like the structure and sleek, minimalist style of a traditional suitcase but want the portability of a backpack. We love that this bag opens like a suitcase, making it easy to access everything inside. There was plenty of space leftover after packing the backpack, and the classic clamshell opening allowed for easy access to items in the compression-strapped main compartment and the zippered pockets on the inside of the front flap. All of the interior and exterior pockets, including the water bottle holder and padded laptop sleeve, are useful for traveling. You can convert the backpack to wear as a duffel bag or a briefcase, and it has a rear strap to place on a rolling suitcase if desired. The straps were easy to adjust, and it felt like the weight was nicely distributed thanks to the structured style of the backpack. There was a small scuff on the bag after we tossed it on the floor during our durability tests, but the contents of the backpack remained unharmed. When flying with the bag during our six-month testing period, we found that it easily fits in airplane overhead bins and under the seat. Overall, it’s a backpack with the features of a well-compartmentalized suitcase and much more.

The Details: 13 x 20.5 x 10.5 inches | 3.31 pounds | Polyester, recyclex | Padded laptop pocket | Convertible straps

Best for Photographers

Peak design travel backpack 45l.

• Value 4.5 /5

You can access the main compartment on the bag from four different exterior zippers.

This is one of the most expensive backpack on our list.

This 45-liter backpack has a main compartment that is spacious enough to fit clothes for at least four days, and its expansive design is helpful for packing bulky items like jackets and shoes. Placing the clothes and shoes into the bag during testing was efficient and simple thanks to a removable divider sleeve and compression straps to hold everything down securely. Designed with photographers in mind, this backpack functions similarly to a camera bag . It can fit camera cubes, and it has four points of entry to the main compartment, allowing travelers to quickly grab clothes or accessories without unzipping the backpack. There is a padded laptop sleeve and stretchy side pockets for water bottles or a camera tripod. 

Peak Design didn’t let any space go to waste on its backpack, so even the hip belt has a small pocket on it for storage and can be packed away when you’re not looking for extra support. It’s also easy to adjust all of the straps to prevent weight imbalances and pinching. Made of weatherproof and water-resistant recycled nylon, the bag held up perfectly after we tossed it on the ground, showing no signs of scuffs or damage — exactly what you want in a durable backpack . Although the price of this bag is steep, it comes with plenty of helpful features for travelers, and the stellar performance leads us to believe that it would last a long time. 

  The Details: 45 liters | 13 x 22 x 9.5 inches | 4.8 pounds | Nylon, polyester | Laptop sleeve | Expandable

Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph

Best Compression

Tropicfeel shell backpack.

• Comfort 4 /5

It can be converted from 40 liters for traveling to 22 liters to use as a daypack. 

The handle on the top of the bag wasn’t as comfortable to hold onto as we hoped. 

We love this backpack’s thoughtful features geared toward all types of travelers. The Tropicfeel Shell Backpack has the ability to store up to 42 liters worth of clothing for a weekend or week-long trip, but you can also use it as a 20-liter backpack for day trips, sightseeing, and everyday use. After regularly using the bag for six months, we found it to be incredibly sturdy and durable. We had no issues fitting our full packing list and found that there was plenty more room thanks to the variety of buckled straps that allow you to adjust the size of the bag. You can loosen the front buckle to allow the roll-up opening flap to expand to fit more items, and there is a kangaroo pouch at the bottom of the backpack that provides an additional six liters of space for shoes or other items you want to keep separate. There’s also a padded compartment in the back of the backpack that can fit laptops up to 17 inches long. We thought the backpack was comfortable to wear after adjusting the shoulder and waist straps, but we found that it might take some effort to get the buckles into your desired setting. 

The Shell Backpack didn’t show any signs of damage throughout testing, and the material is weather-proof. For travelers looking to add upgrades to their backpack, the brand has an organization system and accessory pouches that you can add on for additional fees. If you need an all-in-one backpack, we think this backpack’s versatility makes it well worth the higher cost. 

The Details: 20-42 liters | 12 x 20 x 7.5 inches

Best Organization

Topo designs global travel bag 30l.

Topo Designs

• Capacity 4 /5

There are tons of pockets and a laptop compartment to help you organize your belongings.

After six months of use, we noticed the bag can feel quite heavy if packed full.

Packing for a trip can often feel tedious, but the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L helps make it easy and efficient. We loved how convenient it is to store a laptop up to 15 inches in the padded compartment in the back of the bag, and there are two front pockets for easy access to a tablet or phone charger. There are a ton of compartments and pockets that offer plenty of options for staying organized with small or loose items in the absence of packing cubes, with places to stash cords, travel documents, electronics, water bottles, and more.

The adjustable shoulder straps and straps that go across the chest and waist help evenly distribute the backpack's weight, making it more comfortable to carry around, although we noticed during our long-term testing that the bag can still feel heavy if you pack it completely full. The 100 percent recycled nylon material felt durable and would likely stay in good condition over time. 

The Details: 30 liters | 12.5 x 20 x 7 inches

Best Customizable

Roam the continental.

• Capacity 4.5 /5
• Comfort 4.8 /5

You can choose from four colors to customize the shade of the front, back, sides, and straps of the backpack. 

The laptop sleeve isn’t padded.

Customized luggage can be hard to come by, but Roam’s The Continental backpack makes it easier than ever to build the carry-on backpack of your dreams. The front, back, sides, and straps of the bag can be red, green, black, or blue, or you can keep the backpack all one color for a monochromatic look. We were a bit worried about the light colors when we first got our hands on this bag, but after four months of traveling, is has no signs of wear and tear, there are no stains or loose threads, and everything is still in good shape. We were also impressed by the exterior pockets to stash headphones, snacks, chargers, water bottles, or anything else you could need whether lounging in the airport or mid-flight. The bag is made with a lightweight, water-repellent fabric and YKK zippers so it easily handles temperamental weather while traveling. Spacious and easy to access, the front flap opens wide so packing the bag with clothes and shoes was a breeze, too. The laptop pocket in the back could easily fit a 17-inch device, but it isn’t padded, so you may want to store your computer in a case to be on the safe side. 

The Details: 26 liters | 17.75 x 14 x 8 inches | 2.4 pounds | Water-repellent fabric | Laptop pocket

Travel + Leisure / Jessica Juliao

Best Expandable

Nomatic travel pack.

• Capacity 4.8 /5
• Comfort 4.5 /5
• Durability 4.5 /5
• Value 4.8 /5

The expandable zippers add an extra 3.5 inches of space which increases the capacity to 30 liters.

Some of the pockets feel unnecessary.

The Nomatic Travel Pack is the ultimate versatile carry-on backpack thanks to its expandable zippers that add an extra 10 liters of space. Ideal for an overnight trip or a long weekend getaway, the bag has a variety of pockets and compartments to efficiently organize shoes, clothes, accessories, and technology. While the number of pockets on the interior was a bit overwhelming at first, travelers who like to be extra organized will appreciate the designated padded laptop sleeve, sunglasses case, discrete passport pocket, and plethora of slip and zippered pockets in the main compartment. The handles and padded shoulder straps are comfortable for carrying the bag, and the small-to-medium size of the backpack makes it super comfortable to carry since it doesn’t feel bulky or heavy. We used this bag on a variety of international trips throughout four months of testing, and it still looks new, despite rough handling and being shoved under airplane seats.

The Details: 20 liters (expands to 30 liters) | 18.5 x 12 x 6-9.5 inches | 4.16 pounds | 16-inch laptop pocket

• Travel + Leisure/Jessica Juliao

Matein Travel Backpack

• Durability 4.3 /5

It has several compartments for keeping clothing, shoes, tech, and accessories organized.

The materials feel a little lower in quality than other backpacks we tried.

If you’re not ready to invest in a pricier carry-on backpack, you can always dip your toes with this functional and spacious one for under $60. This 40-liter backpack has one large main compartment that can fit several tops, bottoms, and a toiletry case without any issues. We particularly love the separate footwear compartment to prevent the bottom of your shoes from coming into contact with clean clothes and that storage can even fit pairs up to size 12. In addition, there is a laptop pocket and a large front pocket with spots to put items like phone chargers, headphones, and other small accessories that could get lost easily. Compared to the pricier bags we tried, this one feels a bit lower in quality, but none of the nylon fabric tore and scuffed during our durability tests, so we still think this bag has a good lifespan ahead of it. 

The Details: 40 liters | 20 x 13 x 8 inches | 2 pounds | Water-repellent nylon

Best for Hiking

Kühl eskape 25.

The 25-liter capacity makes this backpack versatile for an airplane or the great outdoors.

It takes some adjustments to get it to fit comfortably on the back.

This rugged carry-on backpack from Kühl is the perfect option for travelers embarking on an outdoor adventure. The smaller size of this bag is its greatest strength since it can easily fit enough clothes for a weekend trip, or you can use it as an adventure pack for day hikes or camping trips. There are a variety of thoughtful features for hikers including a stowaway hip belt for extra support while trekking, load-lifting shoulder straps, and the bag is made with durable TPU-laminated nylon. Plus, the chest strap slides up and down the shoulder straps so travelers can get the most comfortable fit for their upper body. We found that it takes some extra effort to adjust all of the straps for the right fit, but once you do, the bag is comfortable to carry for long periods of time. For even more versatility, the bag has a padded laptop pocket and a variety of other small and large zippered pockets to stay organized if you’re commuting or traveling for work. 

The Details: 25 liters | 20.5 x 9.5 x 12.5 inches | Waterproof nylon | 17-inch laptop pocket

Best Waterproof

Tortuga travel backpack.

This bag is basically a suitcase without wheels thanks to its large capacity and clamshell-style opening.

The bag can feel a bit heavy to carry when it’s fully packed.

If you’re traveling somewhere with a rainy climate, you’ll want a carry-on backpack like this one from Tortuga that can ward off the elements. It’s made with the brand’s 100 percent recycled and waterproof Shell200 or “sailcloth” material to protect your belongings and prevent bad weather from putting a serious damper on your trip. During a rainy overnight camping trip, the Tortuga Travel Backpack essentially sat in a puddle for hours, yet none of our gear or clothing inside got wet at all, and the bag was easy to clean with just a wet cloth.

This is a seriously spacious bag at 40 liters, so we found that you can seamlessly fit a week’s worth of clothing (or more) between the two clamshell compartments. Because of the split style of the bag, packing it up is hassle-free since it’s easy to see exactly how much space is left on each side. And if you run out of space in the main compartments, there are top, front, and side exterior pockets to store a laptop, accessories, water bottles, and more items that you’ll want to have handy while traveling.

The Details: 40 liters | 21.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 inches | 4.5 pounds | Waterproof sailcloth | 16-inch laptop pocket

Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox

Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack

This lightweight backpack has a sleek and contemporary design that comes in several earthy colors.  

It has a smaller capacity than many backpacks and can only fit a day or two of clothes.

If you’re looking to travel in style, Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack is the perfect fit. Functional and contemporary, we found it to be best suited for weekend trips because of its smaller capacity. The bag fit all of the packing items during testing, but it would be difficult to fit much more in the main compartment. The ReNew Transit was comfortable to wear thanks to its lightweight polyester material and compact build. The front flap of the backpack has an external pocket for smaller items, and it folds over to attach magnetically to the front of the backpack. During our durability tests, the front magnets stayed securely together, and the body of the backpack didn’t get crushed or damaged. We liked how it can fit under an airplane seat, making it a versatile backpack for traveling with or without other pieces of luggage. There is a laptop sleeve in the back of the bag as well as a water bottle holder on the side and a front zippered pocket below the folding magnetic lock. With four earthy tones to choose from, this is a bag to fit all travel style preferences. 

The Details: 27 liters | 12 x 17.5 x 7.25 inches

Best for Foot Travel

Osprey fairview 40.

The compartments and various straps made packing effortless. 

It’s a large bag, but it wasn’t so heavy that it was uncomfortable to wear.

For travelers journeying on foot, the Osprey Fairview wowed us with its spacious interior and comfortable fit. The straps for walking longer distances are really the best part — making your bag feel like you're carrying less since the weight is so well distributed. The bags have the same storage capacity and general style, but Osprey’s women’s backpacks are designed to fit a smaller torso with waist and chest harnesses that sit upward and outward for a more comfortable carry. In testing, the main compartment and mesh zippered pouch on the front flap proved to be spacious. There are two internal compression straps and one external strap that kept belongings secure through our rough handling, so we think the bag would provide sufficient protection if you do need to check it in for a flight. 

We appreciated the padded shoulder straps and back that made wearing the backpack comfortable, despite the weight of its contents. The Osprey Fairview bags have an internal suspension the brand calls “LightWire” that distributes the weight from the harness to the hip belt, and our shoulders didn’t hurt after carrying the backpack since most of the weight shifted to the lower body.

The Details: 40 liters | 22 x 14 x 9 inches

Travel + Leisure /Jhett Thompson

Other Carry-on Backpacks We Liked

While we tested plenty of high-scoring carry-on backpacks, there were some that almost made our list but didn’t quite make the cut due to several weaknesses revealed during testing. 

Bellroy Transit Backpack Plus : We loved the adjustable sternum and waist straps that you can tuck into the bag when not in use, but we think there are better bags out there for a fraction of the price. 

AmazonBasics Carry-on Travel Backpack : It had plenty of compartments for staying organized and the material felt durable, but there weren’t any standout features that made it a must-have backpack. 

Vancropak Carry-on Backpack, Extra Large 40L : This backpack fits all of the packing items, and it even fits under an airplane seat, but our budget pick performed slightly better and it costs less. 

On two separate occasions, we tested carry-on backpacks in our New York City lab to make sure we were creating this list with the best options from trusted luggage brands. For our latest tests, we built a specially designed airplane set that includes a row of real airplane seats and an overhead storage bin. To date, we've put over 34 carry-on backpacks through a series of trials that compared capacity, design, comfort, durability, and overall value. After completing our in-house testing, we sent the backpacks out with our Travel + Leisure editors to give us insight on how they fared during real-world travel. We have been updating this article with long-term testing insights as soon as they become available. 

To test for capacity, we began by packing the bags with three shirts, two pairs of pants, one jacket, one pair of shoes, and a toiletry bag. We noted if any space was leftover as well as how functional the compartments were for organizing the contents packed. We evaluated the overall design of the bags by paying attention to how they fold out, how well the zippers and buckles work, and the functionality of each pocket or compartment. 

Next, we put on the backpacks and walked around for 10 minutes to rate comfortability. The highest scoring backpacks were exceptionally enjoyable to wear with the weight evenly distributed on the shoulders or hips.

Then, we threw the backpacks a few feet or off a countertop to test for durability. The highest-rated bags had no scuffs or tears after rough handling, and the packed items inside remained unharmed as well. 

Our testers had no previous knowledge of the cost of each backpack until after testing was completed. This allowed us to give an unbiased rating of overall values, where the top bags were determined to be fairly priced based on a high-quality performance, especially for the pricier bags. After our lab tests, the backpacks were sent out for real-world testing for up to six months.

Tips for Buying a Carry-on Backpack

Consider under-the-seat versus carry-on bags.

Not all carry-on backpacks will fit under the seat of an airplane, but if that’s your intended use, we recommend checking an airline’s underseat dimensions before heading to the airport. Similarly, with a carry-on backpack for the overhead bin, you’ll want to double-check the airline’s carry-on size restrictions to avoid paying unwanted fees if the bag is stuffed full of clothes. 

Keep in mind what the bag will be used for

For those traveling by foot, a smaller, lightweight backpack would be better for portability and comfort. For those traveling by air, a compression bag or backpack that has plentiful organization could be a better choice so you get the most out of the limited airline baggage space. When traveling by air, you might also want to consider an option with wheels for added convenience, like a rolling backpack, weekender, or duffel bag .

Frequently Asked Questions

During our test, we packed three shirts, two pants, one jacket, one pair of shoes, and a toiletry bag into each bag and often had extra space for more clothes. Many backpacks come with a laptop compartment , but you’ll want to make sure that feature is included before purchasing yours.

Carry-on size restrictions vary by airline, and it’s possible for a carry-on backpack to not fit within some limits. Most bags will have a product details section highlighting the dimensions of the backpack. If you’re looking to fit the bag solely under the seat , you should check to make sure the bag fits the dimensions while it’s packed.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a commerce writer at T+L, where she reviews travel products and writes the majority of the team's "Travel + Leisure Trusted" articles. Anna owns several carry-on backpacks, including the top pick from Cotopaxi, so she combined knowledge of traveling with just a backpack and the thorough lab testing and real-world insights to put together this list of the best carry-on backpacks.

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Her Packing List

Packing Light

The best 40l travel backpacks for women.

Travel backpacks come in a wide range of sizes, and the choices can be overwhelming. Here at Her Packing List , we love to pack light and avoid checking luggage .

So what’s the perfect size for packing what you need and still traveling with only a carry on ?

While you can certainly travel with even less, a 40L travel backpack just might be the perfect size . Please keep in mind that flying airlines with tight carry-on weight restrictions might call for a smaller travel backpack .

Why 40L is the perfect size for a travel backpack

A 40L backpack falls into the middle zone, making it not too big and not too small. It’s perfect for many reasons.

• The measurements fall within the carry-on restrictions of most airlines.
• It will hold plenty of stuff without tempting you to pack too many unnecessary extras .
• The compact size will help reduce the amount of space you have for heavier items.
• It’s small enough to manage and provide you with good range of motion.
• You won’t feel overly restricted in what you can bring on your trip.

How to choose the right 40L travel backpack

You’re going to be wearing this on your back and spending a lot of time with it, so you want to make sure you get the right one. Here are some things to consider when shopping for your new backpack:

• Decide if you prefer top loading or panel loading.
• Check the dimensions to make sure they work with your airline’s carry-on restrictions.
• Make sure there are enough pockets for your needs.
• Look for a rain cover.
• Adjust the straps, including the waist strap, to make sure it fits comfortably.

>>For a more in depth look, check out our ultimate female guide to picking a backpack here .

How much can you fit in a 40L backpack?

Here’s what I fit in my 40L backpack on my most recent trip:

• 2 pairs of shorts
• 2 pair of pants (plus I wore a pair of jeans on travel days)
• 4 pairs of socks
• 10 pairs of underwear
• 1 pair of shoes (clunky wedges)
• 1 bag of travel-sized liquid toiletries
• Make-up, deodorant , razor, hairbrush, prescription medication
• Laptop, charger, external hard drive

The only things I didn’t have inside the backpack were my rain jacket, which I either wore or had strapped to the outside of the bag, and my DSLR was in a separate camera bag as my personal item . Plus sneakers and the clothes on my back.

I easily could’ve cut back on the number of shirts. I wore each shirt twice without washing it. The only reason I had a cute top, one of the pairs of pants, and the clunky shoes is that I had to dress up for a show. Clearly I need better travel shoes!

Also, I pack lots of underwear because it means I can go longer without doing laundry. If you don’t mind doing laundry more often or you don’t mind washing underwear in the sink , definitely pack fewer pairs. I traveled for 18 days and did laundry once.

The 40L Travel Backpacks Reviewed on HPL:

Osprey Fairview 40L

REI Trail 40L

Osprey Farpoint 40L

REI Lookout 40L

North Face Terra 40L

$139 – $165

Backpacks Nearly 40L:

Osprey Kyte 36L

Gregory Jade 38L

Kelty Redwing 44L

Osprey Talon 44L

Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L

>>Check out all our female backpack reviews all in one place.

What size travel backpack do you have? Do you think 40L is the perfect backpack size for females?

Written by Ali

Ali Garland is a freelance writer, blogger, and travel addict who made it to all 7 continents before her 30th birthday. She enjoys travel planning, encouraging others to see the world, and packing carry-on only. She and her husband are expats living in Berlin. You can find Ali at Ali's Adventures and Travel Made Simple .

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Travel resources, hpl learnables.

H PL Packing Method – Learn to pack your lightest bag ever in this revolutionary packing course by HPL founder, Brooke.

Book Your Trip

Viator – Enhance your trip experience by booking from thousands of tours across the globe.

Booking.com – Search for hotels, hostels, and apartments using this one resource. Use it for flights, car rentals, and airport taxis as well.

Trusted Housesitters – Save money on travel accommodation by becoming a housesitter. Housesitters often have extra duties, like caring for pets and gardens.

Reader Interactions

August 18, 2015 at 7:14 am

I have a Kelty Flyway (43 l), and while I like it a lot, I am eying the Tortuga Air – always on the hunt for an even better bag…

The Kelty Flyway is technically not carry on size, but I have not had any trouble with it so far, and it’s pretty much the perfect backpack to live out of on a trip, at least for me.

It’s definitely big enough to fit all the stuff I want to take, and even fits a decent amount of extras I might buy on the road. It’s not big enough to handle a major shopping spree, but for that we always take a duffle we can check on the flight back home 😉

August 18, 2015 at 5:09 pm

I thought 40L was perfect until I got my Tortuga Air. Maybe it is the same usable space given that most packs have curves and aren’t as squared as the Air, but I feel like my Tortuga Air holds nearly the same if not more than my REI Lookout 40. Though the Lookout 40 is definitely top of my list for amazing and if you’re on a budget, it is the perfect bag. I did a month in Kenya out of it very easily.

August 19, 2015 at 3:56 am

Argh, another step closer to ordering the Tortuga Air…

August 24, 2015 at 10:34 am

It’s worth it. I really was worried that I would regret spending that much on a bag, but after the last 4 trips with it, I have come to the conclusion, that you can’t put a price on the perfect bag. While it may not work for everyone (I’m definitely a minimalist traveler) I have yet to wish I had my money back.

August 19, 2015 at 8:58 pm

I like that you’ve put all the 40 litre bags you’ve reviewed in one place. That’ll make it easy to compare them. The bag you’re wearing looks so small!

October 23, 2015 at 5:44 am

I’d like to add in the 40L Mountain Designs Escape backpack – it’s amazing!

It has 3 sections – a large main packing section, a large front pocket to keep important stuff handy (I put a lock on it so I felt better about keeping things like bookings and other sensitive things close at hand) and a smaller top pocket. It also has bungy cords on the outside for strapping in things like jackets that you don’t want to carry. The best bit (and the thing that convinced my sister that she also wanted one) is the pack cover. It’s convertible – it can be just a rain cover for when the odd downpour hits, or it can zip over the entire bag as a protecter. It’s an awesome bag!

November 12, 2015 at 6:38 am

Hi Siobhan! If you’d be interested in writing a review of your backpack, let me know 🙂

December 17, 2015 at 11:55 am

Hi! i was just wondering with what you packed, what your bag ended up weighing? Thanks for the great resource!

December 18, 2015 at 2:15 am

Hi Danica! Unfortunately I didn’t weigh it. Had to be more than 7kg though because I had my laptop in there, and that weighs a little less than 3 pounds (maybe 1.3 kg?) by itself, plus I had those clunky shoes I wouldn’t normally travel with. When I’ve weighed my bag in the past, I usually end up around 10kg or so. The bag itself is 1.28 kg.

January 3, 2016 at 8:08 pm

I have the Tortuga and I love it. Perfect fit for my 5’3 1/4 body. Lots of room to fit plenty of clothes and 2 large mesh pockets for assorted things. huge sleeve for a laptop and roomy and convenient hip belt pockets to fit passports and other stuff.

April 2, 2016 at 9:44 pm

Just wondering if you have the Tortuga or the Tortuga Air? I”m 5’1 but with a longer torso than most shorter, petite females and I’m deciding between the Tortuga Travel Backpack or the Osprey Farpoint 40. Since I live in Canada, there isn’t a lot of options to return if things don’t fit me right.

January 19, 2017 at 1:54 pm

Just wondering what you went with? I’m also in Canada.

March 17, 2016 at 11:12 pm

This was really helpful! My husband and I are just getting into traveling quite a bit and we both agree that we hate lots of luggage. Our first couple of trips we used roller back packs which worked for cities since we didn’t have to keep the bags on our backs and there are plenty of places that will hold your bags while you’re site seeing. However we are going to Thailand next and roller backpacks won’t be so easy to hike with! Lol! Looking forward to going out and trying some of the bags you recommended above. Again, thank you for the helpful information! Great for us “newbies”!

April 10, 2016 at 5:31 pm

I would like the add the Litus 32 from The North Face. They also have a ‘female’ version of it but since I am tall 5’11” I need the male version. I am very very picky and have been looking for the perfect pack for some time. I bought the Kelty Redwing 40 for women, fell in love with the panel opening and the color, but the spine length just wasn’t long enough for me. Since I loved it so much because of all the pockets I bought the 50L mens one. The moment I stepped off the plane in Hawaii I already wanted to ditch it, it just doesn’t carry light. So I went to Sports Authority and they had an North Face Banchee 50l… put in all my stuff and it was so much lighter to carry. I decided to send half my things home and exchange the bag for the 35L one. It’s super light weight, but was a bit stiff and even though it was only 35L still bulky. I looked at the Ascensionist and love it is lightweight and compact, but does not have many pockets. In the end I found the Litus 32L and LOVE it! It is the perfect combo of all of them. Super lightweight, has many pockets, great panel or top opening and carries perfectly on my hips, not my waist. I feel like I’ve finally found the right pack 🙂

May 1, 2016 at 2:54 pm

no gregory packs! that’s a shame. i have a J53 (which is obviously bigger than this list) but i know they make similar packs in this range. i adore mine cause it zips open and fits everything, packs down small, and fits in overhead bins if it’s not overstuffed (tested on easyjet and other stringent european airlines). point is, if you’ve tried osprey packs and never thought they fit you right, try a gregory! the two brands design their packs very differently – i’ve never found an osprey to be comfortable, but i can wear my gregory pack for days.

July 1, 2016 at 5:13 pm

I travel everywhere with my Osprey Stratus 24L pack. It’s got awesome ventilation and plentiful, well-designed pockets, and is also very nice-looking. It’s perfect for my daily bike commute and as a carry-on/ day pack for vacation travel. I could go on and on about it! =)

July 3, 2016 at 10:58 pm

Awesome, Elena – have any interest in sharing your story/ backpack with us here at HPL?

October 30, 2016 at 2:11 pm

Great roundup! I’m hunting for a pack about this size, but I’m only 5’1″ and have a very short (<14") torso, so I find most of these options don't quite fit right. I want to downsize from my current pack to something more carry-on friendly. Right now I have the Gregory Deva 60 in a women's XS, which fits great, but the smaller Jade 38 doesn't have padded straps or hipbelt, which makes it less comfortable to carry. (Yes, even a smaller 38L pack, when fully loaded, is heavy for me — I'm a small person!) I'm going through the options you posted, and one at a time I'm eliminating those that only are designed for torso lengths of 15"-16" and up. Anyone have any suggestions for those of us on the more petite end of the spectrum?

November 3, 2016 at 8:59 am

I’m also 5’1″ but my torso is fairly average…my shortness is all from my short legs! Many backpacks come in S/M and M/L so it’s worth seeing if the S/M will work for you. I often test out the S/M options thinking, I’m short, this should work! But they always feel too short for my torso, so maybe they’ll be a good option. Also, check out this guest post about backpacks for petite women .

January 16, 2017 at 10:48 pm

Hi! I’m switching from a small rolling bag that Ive been carrying on to just a pack. I’m still having a hard time making a decision. I’m going to Costa Rica for 2 weeks and will be on foot much of the time. I’d like it to be water resistant and front loading. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

July 11, 2018 at 12:10 pm

I can recommend the Deuter Aircontact Lite 35+10 SL (named ACT Lite until Feb 2018). I’ve used mine for a decade now, on several short trips per year, and I still wait for the first damage to occur. It has a trekking style suspension system that is adjustable from 38cm to 50cm torso length (according to the Deuter website) and is made for a female build with narrow shoulders and curvy hips. I often have the problem that I am too curvy for unisex and too tall for women’s size but this backpack is a great fit for me. If not fully packed (ca. 30l?), it can be downsized to 55x30x20cm. Also, (with the newest model) the lid pocket can be seperated and carried as a purse or fanny pack. So, depending on airline restrictions, the backpack might be taken as carry-on luggage. I did so on RyanAir flights within Europe. I think that this backpack is not as fit for carry-on as a more rectangular, broader shaped one with a suitcase-like opening would be, but it is a good allrounder for different types of travel. I do a lot of travelling by train with long city walks and public transportation inbetween and I really appreciate to have a good weight distribution and a bag that is only as broad as me when I have to squeeze through narrow gangways or store it between my legs or on my lap. There is a review for the bigger sister (ACT Lite 45+10) here on herpackinglist.

March 22, 2021 at 8:38 am

I travel everywhere with my Osprey Stratus 24L pack. It’s got awesome ventilation and plentiful, well-designed pockets, and is also very nice-looking. It’s perfect for my daily bike commute and as a carry-on/ day pack for vacation travel. I could go on and on about it! Thanks for you

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Thule Landmark 40L Review

The Thule Landmark 40L is a carry-on sized backpack that's designed specifically for traveling around the world.

Video Review

Our verdict.

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• The hip belt distributes weight well and can be hidden
• The SafeZone compartment can protect your valuable gear
• The side water bottle pocket is sleek and practical
• We have scuffs and marks already appearing on the fabric
• The sternum strap can fall off when it's not locked in
• Access to the SafeZone and the main compartment can be a bit too time consuming for our liking

Technical Details

Carry-on compliance.

View 39/145 Airlines

Disclaimer: We take the measurements of the bag provided by the manufacturer and compare them to the allowance listed on airline websites. This should be used as a guideline rather than a rule. Bags can change size as you pack them out, and every airline's interpretation of compliance is different. Just because a bag is listed as carry-on compliant here doesn't mean that the airline will interpret it that way.

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Polled on Instagram

Weight (lb)

3.17 lb (1.4 kg)

21.5 in x 13 in x 9.8 in (54.6 x 33 x 24.9 cm)

Notable Materials

Polyester, Duraflex Hardware, YKK Zippers

Manufacturing Country

Laptop Compartment Size

Warranty Information

Thule BringIt! Guarantee

Buying Options

Full Review

Jet-setting goals? There’s a pack for that. We review plenty of bags here at Pack Hacker, but the Thule Landmark 40L is designed specifically for traveling around the world—so you know we had to check it out. Thule describes the Landmark as a “travel pack ready for several months of passport-stamped adventures” with key features like a detachable daypack and built-in safety components.

That’s a pretty big promise, so we’ve been anxious to get our hands on this carry-on-sized travel pack for a while now—especially when you consider how much we loved the Thule Subterra 34L , one of our top-rated packs.

But does the Landmark perform as well as its sibling, the Subterra? We’ve been testing it almost daily for three weeks and we’re ready to tell you everything we’ve learned. Let’s get into it!

Materials & Aesthetic

First things first, let’s talk options. The Thule Landmark is available in both a 60 and 70 liter version in addition to the 40 liter pack that we’ve been testing. They’re all pretty similar; however, the 60 and 70 liter versions come with a detachable day pack on the front. That’s not usually our style, since we prefer the one-bag carry-on approach, but it’s there if you want it.

We should also just take a second to clarify that a 70 (and 60, for that matter) liter backpack is truly massive. It’s definitely not going to work as a carry-on bag, and it’s not going to be something you casually walk around with. We rarely feel the need to use packs over 40 liters, even for perpetual travel, but your mileage may vary.

A unique option on the Thule Landmark is that each size comes in either a men’s or women’s fit. The differences between them are slight changes in the harness system, which affect the way the bag carries. That’s not an option you see every day on a travel pack, and we like that Thule went in this direction to make the bag even more customizable for the right fit.

With its sleek and streamlined Scandinavian aesthetic, we’re digging the overall look of the Thule Landmark—however, it does lose a few points in a couple of areas.

The first issue we’ve noticed is the hard-shelled “Safe Zone” at the top of the bag, which looks a bit odd and out of place. Then on the very front of the pack, the fabric can slouch down a bit and become slightly creased even when it’s fully packed. A little bit of creasing isn’t a deal-breaker, but this was probably a design flaw that could have been corrected.

Never content until we get your opinion too, we asked our Instagram audience for some feedback on the look of the Thule Landmark. And the survey says … mixed opinions all around! About 52 percent of respondents liked it and 48 percent didn’t. Ready to be part of future tie-breakers? Join us over on Instagram @packhacker .

Thought we were done talking options? Not quite! When it comes to colors, the Thule Landmark is available in Obsidian and Dark Forest for the men’s version, and Dark Bordeaux and Majolica Blue for the women’s version. Why not the same for both—or, better yet, all four colors in either version? We’ve been asking ourselves that, too. It would have been nice, but in the meantime we’ll have to work with what they’ve got. We do like the muted tones and darker colors, since they typically perform better as travel bags by hiding scuffs and other marks.

From a branding perspective, it’s what you’d probably expect if you’re familiar with Thule. You’ll find a logo on the front of the pack—just like all of their other gear we’ve tested—and we like this fairly minimal approach. A small logo on the shoulder strap is also featured.

The materials include two different fabrics used on the outside of the pack. Thule went with a 420D Dobby polyester on the front and a 600D polyester on the bottom and back of the bag.

Compared to other travel packs on the market, these two fabrics are relatively thin materials. And while polyester isn’t necessarily bad, we typically prefer nylon for its greater strength. The pack has been holding up all right for now, apart from a few scuffs on the top of the Safe Zone area, but it is a pack for hauling from country to country, after all. Could Thule have used something better—an 800D nylon like on the Subterra 34L, for example—to make it more durable? Absolutely. But again, it’s tough to beat one of our top-rated packs.

On a better note, Thule hasn’t cut any corners with the hardware. The Landmark features YKK zippers and Duraflex buckles, which are ideal since both manufacturers make some of the best hardware available on the market and they’ve always performed well in our testing.

External Components

With a travel pack that promises to take you around the world comfortably, there’s no doubt you’ll need a solid harness system. The adjustable shoulder straps on the Thule Landmark are curved and densely padded, but we’ve found the side of the straps to be a bit hard. They don’t necessarily dig in, but they could certainly be improved for a more comfortable fit.

The back panel is padded and stiff, which makes it comfortable and prevents it from slouching down your back. That said, there’s very little ventilation here. While this isn’t a huge problem—back sweat is pretty much inevitable in most instances—just keep this in mind if you’ll be traveling anywhere hot and humid.

The Thule Landmark also comes with a detachable sternum strap. This sounds great in theory, but it’s unfortunately a bit too detachable. The strap works well while it’s locked in, but we were constantly worrying about it falling off when it wasn’t. We’re not exactly surprised about this, since the same thing has happened on other packs we’ve tested with similar sternum strap attachments.

The pack includes a hip belt, which is padded and provides a significant comfort boost when the pack is fully loaded. The hip belt helps to shift most of the weight from your shoulders to your hips, and you can’t beat that. Plus, you can hide it away when not in use. On the other hand, when each side is pushed all the way in, it can bulk up a bit and dig into your lower back.

The shoulder straps on the Thule Landmark can be stowed away, too. We think this is another nice touch, and the whole system is slick and easy to use. Overall, the Thule Landmark carry is okay, but it’s certainly nothing special for a one-bag travel pack that will see a ton of use—especially if you’ll be carrying it for long stretches while traveling.

Grab handles are found on the top and right-hand side of the pack. Neither are particularly comfortable (where’s that padding when you need it?) but they’re easy to grab and super-functional: you’ll surely use the top handle for hanging the pack up and the side handle comes in handy (ha) for snatching it out of an airplane overhead bin.

Finally, the zippers on the Thule Landmark have a few nifty features that you should know about. You can attach the zipper pulls to the outside of the bag, and the Safe Zone zippers at the top of the pack can be looped around a small attachment point. The main compartment zipper pulls can also be secured by passing one of the buckles through them and securing it in place. None of these aspects will necessarily stop someone from breaking into your bag, but they offer a solid deterrent. Plus, the main compartment zippers have a hole through which you can pass a padlock, making them completely secure. (Okay, you could argue that nothing is “completely” secure, but this is pretty solid in our eyes.)

Inside The Pack

Moving inside the pack, let’s take a closer look at that potentially troublesome Safe Zone compartment at the top. It is designed to hold valuables and its unique hard-shelled exterior should have no problem keeping them safe and secure.

Inside the top flap of the Safe Zone, a mesh compartment is available with some pen holders in front. The other side of the compartment has zippered access to two additional mesh sleeves and a key clip. We really like that Thule has tried something new with the Safe Zone compartment, but unfortunately we just don’t think it panned out in this case since it’s not quite necessary and also looks a little strange. Depending on how you plan to use this pack, though, it could be a major benefit.

Moving down the side of the pack, a sleek side water bottle pocket is hidden away by a zipper. This is honestly one of the best side pockets we’ve seen in a pack we’ve tested, so we’re pretty geeked about it. We like that it’s hidden when not in use, yet super useful and functional when needed.

To access the main compartment of the Thule Landmark, you’ll first need to undo all four buckles and unzip the entire front of the bag. Time-consuming, yes—but you’ll get slightly quicker with practice.

Once you’re inside, you’ll be greeted with one large bucket. As always, we highly recommend using packing cubes and pouches inside a large compartment like this. Otherwise, compression straps are available to hold everything down.

On the top flap, a zippered mesh sleeve is good for holding smaller and flatter gear and a covert cash-stash pocket is hidden at the top of this compartment (you wouldn’t know it’s there if you weren’t told about it—which is exactly the point!).

While this hidden pocket is a great place to put your cash and your passport, just remember that the access isn’t quick; if you’re going through an airport, for example, you’ll want to have your passport within easier reach.

Wrapping up the internal components, you’ll find a laptop compartment at the back of the Thule Landmark that can fit a 15-inch laptop (even with a sleeve on), and there’s even a pocket for a tablet (a 12.9-inch iPad Pro fits). The laptop area is a floating compartment, which is something we always appreciate in a pack that’ll be carrying your most expensive gear inside. The “floating” feature means the laptop space ends about an inch above the bottom of the bag—so if you drop the pack, your laptop should be just fine.

Durability & Testing

At the time of this review, we’ve been testing the Thule Landmark 40L around Detroit, Michigan for three weeks. The components and build-quality are great, which is exactly what we’d expect from Thule. But the thin polyester material—which makes up most of the pack’s exterior—gives us some pause. Especially since we found some scuffs and marks on the top Safe Zone compartment after only three weeks of use.

Beyond that, a small piece of stitching at the bottom of the pack’s laptop compartment keeps causing the zipper to get stuck. While this could technically happen at any stage, it’s frustrating and tends to be a sign of wear.

In testing, we’ve found the Thule Landmark 40L to be a welcomed addition to the adventure travel backpack market. Competing directly with the likes of the Osprey Farpoint , Osprey Fareview and the Eagle Creek Global Companion . However, while there are some unique and handy features, we were left wanting a bit more from this brand that has otherwise excelled with the other products we’ve tested to date.

Usage Timeline

Condition: Excellent

• Really excited to get testing this bag, it has a ton of potential!
• Digging the pockets and hard shelled “SafeZone” at the top.
• It’s smaller than we expected, but it’s still plenty big enough for one bag travel.

Loving this water bottle pocket but the pack is overall a bit time-consuming to access.

Condition: Good

Noticing some fabric fraying and scuffs; otherwise holding up well.

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We started Tortuga after a backpacking trip across Eastern Europe in 2010. The trip was a blast, but our luggage was a disaster. We couldn't find the perfect travel backpack, so we made it.

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• 【Travel-Friendly】Designed as a carry-on backpack, the Rinlist Backpack is perfect for travelers. Its compact size fits most airline regulations, allowing you to conveniently carry it on board. The dedicated laptop compartment provides secure storage for your tech gadgets, making it an ideal choice for business trips.
• 【Spacious Capacity】With its generous capacity, this personal item backpack can accommodate all your essentials and more. The main compartment is roomy enough to hold your laptop, books, clothes, and other belongings, while the multiple pockets and compartments keep everything organized and easily accessible.
• 【Premium Quality】 Crafted with the finest materials, this travel backpack is built to last. The sturdy fabric and sturdy zippers ensure long-lasting performance, providing you with a reliable bag that can withstand the demands of daily use.
• 【Innovative Design】The airline-approved backpack stands out with its unique and innovative design. The ergonomic shoulder straps and back panel offer maximum comfort, even during extended wear. The adjustable straps allow you to find the perfect fit for your body, reducing strain on your shoulders and back.
• 【Great Companion】The Rinlist casual backpack is a versatile companion that suits various occasions, such as outdoor adventures, daily commutes, business or study. Its sleek and modern design makes it the perfect accessory for any style-conscious individual.

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• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.9 x 11.8 x 16.9 inches; 1.92 Pounds
• Department ‏ : ‎ unisex-adult
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C58PZNB2
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ China
• Best Sellers Rank: #175 in Laptop Backpacks

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Customers say

Customers like the organization, comfort, ease of use, and storage of the backpack. For example, they mention that it's roomy with several compartments, holds a weeks worth of stuff, and is well designed. Customers are also happy with size, value, and weight.

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Customers are satisfied with the storage of the backpack. They mention that it has several compartments, pockets, and areas to keep all of their items. Some say that it holds a weeks worth of stuff and is perfect for carrying personal items on an airplane.

"I used this internationally and it was perfect for the extra space !..." Read more

"...The color is unique. I like several of the inside compartments and the water-resistant pouch. It is an excellent purchase." Read more

"This is a great travel backpack. It is roomy, lots of different compartments and it is easy to carry. Great purchase." Read more

"Exactly as pictured! Very spacious . Not a flimsy type of back pack. I love it and glad i ordered it!!!" Read more

Customers like the quality of the backpack. They mention it's well designed, well made, and holds quite a bit. They also appreciate the beautiful color and the fact that it'll hold up well over multiple trips.

"...I have used it for multiple trips now and it is holding up well . I have checked it once and it held up very well...." Read more

"...The color is unique . I like several of the inside compartments and the water-resistant pouch. It is an excellent purchase." Read more

"Exactly as pictured! Very spacious. Not a flimsy type of back pack . I love it and glad i ordered it!!!" Read more

"...Although only nylon type bag was nice looking . Had plenty of pockets.Hard to judge if they were “right size” or not...." Read more

Customers find the backpack very convenient for traveling, and say it's easy to carry on. They also mention it'll be perfect for a weekend getaway and cruise.

"The product has versatility and capacity, and it is easy to carry . The color is unique...." Read more

"This is a great travel backpack . It is roomy, lots of different compartments and it is easy to carry. Great purchase." Read more

"...Compartments were very useful. The backpack made it easy to carry . The straps were very comfortable. No issues flying American as a personal item." Read more

"... packs up and folds out just like a suitcase. there are tons of pockets including a water bottle, front, ipad/laptop, and other zippers...." Read more

Customers like the size of the backpack. They mention it's great sizing for personal items, fits neatly and compactly, and is the perfect size for a weekend getaway. Some say it fits into the personal item bins on discount carriers like Frontier. Overall, customers are satisfied with the size and recommend it for compact travel.

"...It fits under the seat , but it will take away from foot space, but also fits above just fine...." Read more

"...It is a perfect size for the personal item that is allowed free of charge and will fit under an airline seat. Very impressed...." Read more

"...reviews, but for now, I am super impressed with how spacious, yet small and practical it was." Read more

" Great sizing for personal item . I order black and white. My sister order green...." Read more

Customers like the comfort of the backpack. They mention that the padding on the back is comfortable, the straps are very comfortable, and the material is soft enough to be squeezed a little. They also appreciate the spaciousness and the many pockets.

"...The backpack made it easy to carry. The straps were very comfortable . No issues flying American as a personal item." Read more

"...Very happy with this. it was very comfortable to wear as a backpack . If you have prime, try it out if you don’t like it, you can send it back." Read more

"...Great quality and comfortable too" Read more

"...stashed under seat & carried backpack style.mayerial is soft enough to be squeezed a little ." Read more

Customers appreciate the value of the backpack. They say it's well worth the money, waterproof, and a good purchase.

"... Great purchase ." Read more

" Great product for the cost . Lots of room and is durable. Definitely worth the buy!" Read more

"... Very good quality for the price ." Read more

"...Used it recently for overnight travel. Well worth the money . My wife really loved the extra bag in side." Read more

Customers like the organization of the backpack. They mention that it has a fully open design that allows them to stack clothes inside.

"...There are so many pockets to store things in and keep things organized . I like that it came with small travel pouch included...." Read more

"The square luggage style configuration keeps everything organized , and the separate compartments for papers and meds are a plus...." Read more

"...It has so many compartments and it fits everything. It’s very easy to organize your things ." Read more

"I'm very happy with this bag. I felt very organized for my flight ...." Read more

Customers find the backpack easy to use and convenient. They say it keeps their stuff organized and easy to access.

"...of the pockets and areas to keep all of your stuff organized yet easily accessible !..." Read more

"...Everything is organized and easy to get to . I definitely recommend it." Read more

"It is so comfortable and easy to use and packin." Read more

" Easy to use ..." Read more

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