tourist bag 40 l

The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

Opening up your favorite carry-on travel backpack—with all of your stuff in the right place and easy to reach—should feel like you’re opening the door to a well-organized closet or sitting down at a clean desk.

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

What we considered

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

Clamshell designs open like a book and are easiest to pack, but bags that open traditionally tend to have more structure.

Ideally, a travel backpack has handles on all sides, especially the bottom, for pulling it out of overhead bins or from under seats.

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

We spent six months testing 22 bags and flying across the country with all of our picks.

In the end, we chose two as our top picks: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (for most trips) and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . 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 is not a style of packing that’s for everyone, but once some people try it , they’re forever hooked. However, finding the right bag is a personal choice, and no single bag will appeal to everyone.

That’s why we have picks that are great for people traveling for work , others designed to be carried over long distances , picks for maximizing your packing space , and budget options for travelers who want to give the one-bag strategy a try.

The research

Why you should trust us, best small carry-on bag for most situations: cotopaxi allpa 35l, best large bag for most situations: peak design travel backpack 45l, best bag for document organization: topo designs global travel bag 30l, 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 40l, best affordable large backpack: ebags tls mother lode weekender, other good carry-on travel backpacks, who this is for, how we picked and tested, what to look forward to, the competition.

I’ve been covering aspects of luggage and travel bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade and have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. And as members of a remote organization, our editors and writers travel a lot and are continually testing the gear we recommend—our travel gear guide remains a perennial favorite among staff members. 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 another six months nomadically couch-surfing in New York City.

In addition to documenting our own experiences, I reached out to experts and writers who specialize in traveling the world carrying everything they need in a single bag. Eytan Levy is the owner and operator of the Snarky Nomad travel website, which combines travel guides and tips with in-depth gear reviews. James Feess is the founder of The Savvy Backpacker and author of The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to Europe on a Budget . And Sharon Gourlay is the writer 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 .

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A versatile small pack for a week or a weekend.

The Allpa’s clamshell design makes organizing your things simple. The strap design lets you easily wear this durable bag on your back or carry it in your hand while you’re on the move.

Buying Options

Get this if: You want an easy-to-organize, comfortable-to-carry bag with a rainfly for downpours or you want to support a B-corp and its related social and sustainable missions .

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L features an easy-to-pack clamshell design and highly adjustable straps that make it a great all-around bag for any traveler who’s dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. Handles on all four sides of this bag make it easy to grab no matter where you’ve stowed it. It’s also protected by a full lifetime warranty and 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.

Cotopaxi also makes the Allpa in 28 - and 42 -liter sizes. But the 35 liter is, for us, the best. At 42 liters, this bag becomes heavy for most people to carry when its fully packed, and for a bag that big, 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 any shorter trip, such as an overnight. Cotopaxi also makes a hip pack that’s designed to fit snugly into the Allpa’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.

The Allpa has a clamshell design, which means it opens like a hard-sided suitcase: A large YKK zipper runs around three sides of the bag, letting it 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 clothes (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 are two smaller pockets with high-visibility backing—useful when you’re looking for hard-to-differentiate personal items.

The Allpa’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 is decently comfortable 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, unlike the shoulder straps on our other picks, the Allpa’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 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.

The Allpa is made with 1680-denier ballistic nylon, similar to the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag or the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 . This feels similar to a strong canvas, but it has a more prominent weave. The Allpa is the kind of bag you can toss as easily into an overhead compartment as you can into the back of a rusty pickup truck. Uniquely in this category, the Allpa also includes a rainfly.

Flaws but not dealbreakers The Allpa 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.

Cotopaxi does enjoy playing around with fabrics and colors. Sometimes the company has released the Allpa without the TPU-lined front panel. The TPU panel improves water resistance, but we’ve found after many years of travel with our bag that the TPU layering can begin to flake in spots. We’d love to see the all-nylon option return at some point, for people who prefer the added robustness and don’t mind sacrificing a bit of rain coverage.

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, but 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.

Get this if: You travel often with expensive camera gear and need easy access and many storage pockets, or you just prefer a backpack-based packing system with plenty of adaptability and customization.

Some bags in this category are built to do one thing extremely well—be luggage 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. Not so with the Peak Design: It looks just as good fully packed at 45 liters as it does compressed to a 30-liter daypack.

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 that 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. It will still feel larger than a normal daypack in this configuration, 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 400D nylon and polyester fabrics. It feels tough, but not as tough as some other bags we’ve tested, such as the Cotopaxi Allpa .

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 comfortable. The hip belt isn’t quite as plush as the one on the Tortuga ; still, even when the Peak Design is fully loaded, the belt doesn’t pinch or dig into the body.

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 three 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 (the 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.”

Peak Design also makes a line of ultralight packing cubes . They’re good cubes, and they compare well to the ultralight Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube set, our pick for light packers . However, the Peak Design cubes are sized specifically for this bag and fit just so inside it, especially when combined with other Peak Design gear cubes and accessories, like the toiletry bag . (Chase Reeves has done an in-depth video review of these cubes; it’s a good resource for anyone who’s on the fence about buying them.) After testing the cubes (and this is not a mark against the Eagle Creek or the Peak Design ultralight cubes, both of which are excellent), I personally still prefer the more-rigid Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal set, one of our longtime picks .

Flaws but not dealbreakers The Travel Backpack has few flaws. It is expensive—especially if you commit to the entire system of packing and camera cubes. 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 instead.

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

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L

Combines more organization with a simple interior.

This bag’s open interior makes packing easy. Those who travel for work will appreciate the Topo’s accessible front pockets and holders for organizing books, papers, and assorted miscellaneous items.

Get this if: You travel often for work and prefer a bag that’s much easier to work out of than most of our other picks. The front panel and assorted pockets are like a small traveling office space.

Of all the bags we recommend, the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L comes closest to the style of an everyday carry backpack, due to its small size and minimal external features. This bag is perfect if you have to travel to a work event, get off the plane, and then use it as a daily backpack without drawing too much attention to yourself. Topo also includes built-in attachment clips, if you want to piggyback a smaller daily-carry backpack to your Travel Bag. I know people who love to do this. I personally do not. But it’s a good feature, especially if you’re committed to Topo gear in general. However, given its basic strap system and flat nylon back, the Topo is not built as well as our other picks for longer hikes.

The Travel Bag is one of the simplest bags we tested, with a main compartment and some basic document organization in the front pocket. This bag is a front-panel loader (which we find very easy to pack), organized around a main pocket that can fit two large packing cubes. Inside, the lid of the bag also has two mesh dividers, for a small amount of organization. Outside, the bag has two small zippered pockets for travel accessories (such as earbuds and a passport) and a larger organizer pocket for books, tickets, and snacks. The Topo is constructed with heavy YKK zippers and, similar to the Cotopaxi Allpa, has built-in zipper security loops (strong loops of fabric that secure your zippers when the bag is shut), if you want a touch more security.

Similar to our other picks, the Travel Bag is backed by an excellent lifetime warranty and repair program from Topo. However, Topo’s gear is made from 1000D nylon (a dense and very tough fabric) and built like a tank; it has rigid padding throughout, and there is an attention to detail (particularly in the stitching around the zippers and handles) that’s a mark of quality to any savvy bag enthusiast. The point is, you would really have to get into some trouble to need the repair program. But it’s there if you do need it.

If you want to carry as much as possible, the Travel Bag also comes in a 40L model . It’s a fine bag at that size, and it does include a small yet stowable waist belt to help carry the weight. But we prefer our larger picks, like the Tortuga (more carrying capacity) or the eBags TLS Mother Lode (less expensive).

The Travel Bag has a built-in laptop compartment that fits most 15-inch laptops and is situated close to your back; this protects the computer and keeps its weight closer to your body. The Topo is well padded on all sides, and it is stitched in a way that keeps the edge of your computer from the bottom of the bag and should protect your computer from all but the worst drops. This bag, like most of Topo’s gear, is designed to work with Topo dopp bags , accessory bags , and packing cubes . Fully packed, it can carry two large packing cubes, two medium accessory bags, and a dopp kit.

Flaws but not dealbreakers Despite its travel-document organization, the Topo bag lacks the large internal pockets of our other picks, and the bag’s main compartment isn’t quite as spacious as that of our other picks. People who like a deeper main compartment might prefer the Cotopaxi or Tortuga bags. The Topo bag’s compartment is a little tight for large laptops, so it isn’t the best when going through security. We’d love to see a little more attention paid to the back contouring and straps of this bag, to make longer walks more comfortable.

Capacity: 30 liters Weight: 2 pounds, 10 ounces Main compartment access: front-panel loader Style: retro Colors: Navy, Black, Clay, Charcoal, Olive

Osprey Farpoint 40

For long distances on foot.

A great starter option for one-bag travel, the Farpoint is easy to pack, adaptable to most situations, and sturdy enough to take with you as you travel the world. And it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.

Osprey Fairview 40

For smaller torsos.

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

May be out of stock

Get this if: You’re starting out with one-bag travel and aren’t sure which style of bag is best for you, but you want one that’s easy to carry over long distances.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 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 applies to the Fairview as well.) Osprey makes excellent backpacks for hauling around, and its lifetime warranty is renowned within the industry . The Farpoint also has an optional messenger bag–style strap, which offers some flexibility when you’re maneuvering tight spaces like subways or crowded city centers.

If you’re just starting out with one-bag travel, or you aren’t sure what type of travel bag best suits your needs, the Farpoint is an excellent first choice.

The Farpoint is easy to pack. Opening the bag reveals a clamshell design; it’s deep enough to accommodate most large items, without your having to fumble awkwardly with zippers once it’s time to close up the bag. The feeling you get is not unlike packing a bit of sturdy luggage, which is something we love about bags like this—especially when you pack with packing cubes . Osprey says this bag, when fully packed, can carry 40 liters. But after using the Farpoint 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 available space in the Farpoint is closer to—but still less than—that of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

Like all Osprey bags, the Farpoint has very comfortable shoulder straps. The years of design and consideration that Osprey has put into its line of hiking backpacks are quite evident in the Farpoint. After more than six years of long-term testing this bag, we’re still surprised by how great it feels to put on when it’s fully packed. Crucially, the straps of the Farpoint 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 is more flexible and lets you hide the waist straps while the bag is on your back.

As some reviewers have pointed out, smaller individuals may appreciate the lighter weight and more-compact design of the Farpoint or the Fairview (which basically have the same design, but the Fairview is made for someone with a more-diminutive torso). 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.

Flaws but not dealbreakers For a smaller carry-on travel backpack, this one has little not to 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): Gopher Green, Tunnel Vision Grey, Muted Space Blue, Black Colors (Fairview): Winter Night Blue, Zircon Red, Night Jungle Blue, Black

Tortuga Travel Backpack 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.

Get this if: You want to maximize your packing space in a bag that’s durable, customizable to fit most torso lengths (there’s also a 30L version ), and water-resistant, and that has organizational features to suit any digital nomad.

The Tortuga Travel Backpack 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.

When it comes to packing, the Tortuga 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 bag (the max space for a carry-on bag), which we tested, along with the 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 .

However, the Tortuga is the most adjustable bag we’ve tested five years in a row, 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. This design (with its included load-adjuster straps at the top, to prevent the bag’s weight from sagging toward your lumbar region) is the best of those we’ve tested at distributing the weight of the bag (4.5 pounds when empty—roughly a pound and a half 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.

Flaws but not dealbreakers Some people, especially those who are hard on their gear, may consider not being able to remove or stow the Tortuga’s 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. Personally, it still makes me nervous to see the Tortuga traveling on the luggage belt toward mysterious machines and conveyors beneath the airport—all of which, in my imagination, are waiting to tear the hip belt from the bag or slice open the sailcloth exterior. But the Tortuga appears to shrug it all off with ease. 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 Travel Backpack .

We’ve also fielded complaints from some testers 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 4.5 pounds, the new Tortuga 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 . But if you feel like you would struggle carrying this model, we strenuously encourage you to consider one of our more-manageable picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

Capacity: 40 liters Weight: 4.5 pounds Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: minimal, with a rigid construction Color: black

eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender

Affordable capacity and organization.

The Mother Lode offers the organizational features most travelers want, at an affordable price. However, it’s not as comfortable to carry as pricier options, and it can expand well past the limits of most overhead bins.

Get this if: You want an affordable bag with a traditional look, to carry as much as you can—potentially more than you’re allowed by airlines.

If you like the concept of the large Tortuga Travel Backpack but not its price, the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender is a great option for infrequent travelers who are willing to give up some features, such as a decent hip belt. It’s not comfortable enough for trekking long distances on foot, but there are plenty of external pockets for organization, a laptop sleeve that holds the weight of your computer high up on your shoulders, and an easy-to-access main compartment. This bag also has the largest capacity of any of those we tested, expanding to 65 liters—well beyond any airline’s regulated 45-liter limit. However, the bag’s more-casual looks might not be to everyone’s taste.

The Mother Lode is a good suitcase built around a basic (if slightly underwhelming) backpack. That’s the tradeoff you make for its low price, which is less than half that of other models. Unlike our other picks, the Mother Lode is not for carrying over long distances, especially when it’s full. If you know you’re going to be walking long distances (say, over a mile or so) with your pack on, you might want to consider one of our other picks. That said, if you’re carrying your bag only from a taxi to the airport security line but you want to avoid checked-item fees, the Mother Lode might be the bag for you.

The best part of the Mother Lode is the interior layout: It is easy to pack, and it’s smartly organized but still adaptable enough to mold to your preferred style of packing (meaning you can find what you need when you need it). However, the intense design focus that’s evident in the interior of the bag seems to have slipped a bit when it came to the exterior. Compared with those of several other picks in this size, this bag’s slim straps and barely there hip belt are noticeably lacking, especially if you’ve maxed out the bag’s ludicrous capacity.

The clamshell opening of the Mother Lode is similar to the Tortuga’s or the Cotopaxi Allpa’s. This space is augmented by a separate front compartment and organization panel for quick access to mid-size items like a toiletry kit; a top compartment for keys, small books, or sunglasses; and a front pocket organizer for smaller flat items, like travel documents and wallets. The laptop pocket is large and well protected, and it has a strap to help secure and position your laptop’s weight higher up your back if you wish.

Flaws but not dealbreakers There are plenty of flaws with this bag, if you choose to see them as flaws instead of the necessary consequences of the Mother Lode’s inexpensive price. During testing, we packed as much into the Mother Lode as we did in the Tortuga (more, if we expanded the Mother Lode past strict carry-on dimensions). The problem with that much capacity? It becomes an absolute bear to carry. And the flimsy waist belt is almost useless at distributing weight across your hips. Several times during testing I considered just cutting it away. This is a shame, since the bag could go from “decent for the price” to “fantastic, especially at this price” with just a few upgrades.

Capacity: 45 liters (expandable to 65 liters) Weight: 4 pounds Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: casual Colors: Eggplant, Garnet, Slate Blue, Heathered Graphite, Pine Green

If you want to travel like a backpacker but fit in at a board meeting (and have the budget to do so): Consider the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 —its 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 $33 internal frame , the $33 hip belt , and (if you’re traveling with a suit or jacket) the $33 shoulder strap (all prices at the time of writing). This all adds up on a bag that already costs $330. Even though everything about the Tom Bihn (the fabric, the zippers, the quality of construction) feels like an upgrade from other bags, 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 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.

Anyone who wants to travel light and stay flexible should seriously consider using a carry-on travel backpack. 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. It’s easy to remain more mobile when you’re not loaded down by heavy luggage and easier still 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. And as airlines charge more and more for checking baggage, traveling with just a carry-on bag (frequently referred to as one-bag travel ) is becoming less of a lifestyle choice and more of a survival skill. At its heart, one-bag travel allows you to discover more—not just about the places you’re going but about yourself and what you really need day to day.

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 are not carry-on-friendly, though, especially in Europe, so be prepared to check them. We also have a guide to wheeled carry-on bags , which are designed to hold a lot of stuff while remaining easy to maneuver around airports. However, wheels, retractable handles, and frames subtract from precious packing space and add weight, and can make a bag difficult to manage on busy city streets.

There’s no single backpack that is perfect for everyone. Before you make any purchase, consider some basic points. How much can you carry? And where do you usually visit: city or outback? Travel gear should feel like a welcome companion—there to support you when you need it, but unobtrusive when you do not. The best bags are built to survive a lifetime of use and, if cared for properly, should be something you develop a bond with over time.

To compile our list of possible models, we scoured the world of travel blogs and product reviews (most driven by a similar affiliate revenue model to ours), including The Savvy Backpacker , Snarky Nomad , The Travel Hack , Nomadic Matt , The Travel Tester , Where’s Sharon? , Y Travel Blog , Lengthy Travel , and GearLab . Additionally, we lurked on Reddit’s r/onebag  and r/heronebag forums, and emailed and had phone interviews with the moderators of those subreddits, Addison Ryan and Lindsay Lorraine Calderón, respectively. Additionally, we spoke with the prolific travel bag reviewer Chase Reeves to get his thoughts on what most great bags have in common. We ended up with a list of 60 candidates and then narrowed this list down to 22 finalists using the following criteria: capacity, compartment design, aesthetics, reviews, and reported comfort.

There isn’t one perfect bag to please everyone, but there are tools you can use to find what’s best for you. We did a lot of our own research to compare models of travel bags, but r/onebag moderator /u/-Nepherim created one of the best product-comparison spreadsheets we’ve seen . If you want to keep researching your own pick, this spreadsheet is a great place to start.

Even if you aren’t convinced by our picks, we do think we can help you figure out what parameters are best for travel bags of any size. We’ve narrowed down our specifications to the following list of features, ordered from most to least relevant.

• Panel-loading or clamshell opening for the main compartment: As with any good piece of luggage, with these bags, you want to be able to open them and see everything you’ve packed. A panel-loading or clamshell design—rather than a traditional top-opening design—lets you pack and unpack these bags 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, 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.
• 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.
• 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 such exotic, light, and strong materials 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 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, while others may find that feature constricting and unadaptable. We prioritized simple designs that guided our packing without constraining us.

During testing, we flew with these bags across the country, 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.

The Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L has an updated design featuring a new hip belt, which brings it back into class with many of its competitors in this category. In the past, the MLC’s straps were too slim and unsupported for the bag’s 45-liter capacity. Also, its lack of any framing gave the bag a soft and unsettling feeling if it was anything but fully packed. We’re looking at the newest model to see if some of these problems have been corrected and if a former champion travel backpack can regain the spotlight.

Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack : This mind-bendingly inexpensive bag (which includes three packing cubes, all for $45 at time of publication) is a remarkable testament to the cutthroat logic and efficiency of a globalized free market. Is it attractive? No. Is it comfortable to carry? Not particularly. Is it durable enough to withstand years of travel? Unlikely. Is it $45? Yes! If you want the absolute least expensive carry-on travel backpack we’ve ever seen, this is it. But you’ll get more with the TLS Motherlode , which, although double the price, is still very affordable.

Away F.A.R. Convertible Backpack 45L : A rare miss from the Away team. This bag is resoundingly average for the price. Admittedly made of 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.

Cabin Max Metz (and the nearly identical AmazonBasics Carry-On ): This cheap, no-frills bag is enticing for the price. But after comparing these bags to the TLS Mother Lode, we think you’re better off paying twice the price for way more than twice the value. The Mother Lode is more reliable and built from stronger materials, and it will hold more stuff comfortably than either of these bags.

GeniusPack Travel Backpack: The GeniusPack is the only model we came across that tried to fit a suit into a travel backpack. Though some people might need this, 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 has a version 2 of this bag, but our conclusion hasn’t changed.)

Goruck GR2 : I’m a big fan of Goruck bags, and I use the GR1 regularly as my daily work and travel bag. These bags will last a lifetime. However, the GR2 is too expensive and too large (its 40L size is a true 40L) for many people, especially since none of the three sizes (26L, 34L, and 40L) comes with a hip belt. We wish the GR2 had a removable hip belt, something similar to what’s on the GR3. That said, this bag is simple, sturdy, and stoic. There is a lot to love about it. And if you don’t mind the high cost, this bag will probably outlast your corporeal self.

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

Kelty Redwing 44 : When we got our hands on the Redwing, we realized that it was closer to a top-loading light camping backpack than to the panel-loading packs we tested. It didn’t quite fit the scope of this review because of its design.

Hynes Eagle 40L Flight Approved Carry-on : This pack is very similar pack to the eBags TLS Mother Lode and the Cabin Max Metz models. It might be useful as a weekend traveler, but we don’t think it would hold up for longer trips.

MEI Voyageur : There’s a lot to like about this bag, especially for the price. It features 1000D Cordura nylon and YKK zippers, and it has a spacious design and decent shoulder straps. But we’re still on the fence about recommending it. The lack of recent reputable reviews gives us pause, along with the sparse Shopify website, which, the last time we checked, in 2024, wasn’t operational. (The company now appears to be selling directly via PayPal.)

Minaal Carry-on 2.0: This bag was designed to be the absolute best travel backpack for business people. But if you’re a business person, you’re probably wearing at least a blazer, so you wouldn’t use a backpack in any case. Even so, 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, you should know that many travel writers have spoken highly of this bag, despite its high price. This does look to be a well-thought-out pack, but we think our picks are more versatile for world travel. (Minaal has since introduced a 3.0 version ; our thoughts about it remain the same.)

Osprey Porter 46: This was a slightly larger sibling of the Farpoint 40 . It’s about 2 inches longer, and it pushes right up to most airline limits. If you don’t mind possibly having to gate-check your bag at the last minute, this would have been an excellent alternative to the Farpoint 40. (It has since been replaced by the Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 ; we may take a look at it.)

Trakke Storr Carryon : Travel-bag enthusiast Chase Reeves used to list this bag as one of his top picks for a medium-size carry-on bag, and it looks very well built . But at $500, plus shipping from Scotland, it is simply too expensive for most people.

We also tested and dismissed The North Face Overhaul 40, which has since been discontinued.

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.

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.

I Took 5 Trips in 6 Months. My Go-To Weekender Bag Was This Surprisingly Spacious Backpack.

by Elissa Sanci

Struggling to pack for your weekend away? The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L fits so much more than you’d expect.

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.

The Best Travel Backpacks of 2024

Whether weekend road-tripping or jet-setting around the world, you’re going to need a pack to toss over your shoulder. Here are the best travel backpacks for every adventure.

There are a lot of great travel backpacks out there, but not all of them are created equal. A travel pack needs to be comfortable to carry, easy to organize, and durable enough to withstand being toted from place to place.

From hitting the road for the weekend to spending months traveling abroad, we’ve put nearly 30 different travel backpacks through the wringer. We tallied our airline miles, punched our tickets, and put our tray tables in the upright and locked position for close to half a decade now, taking domestic and international flights to as far as Iceland and as close as 30-minute island hops. And while there isn’t a single pack that suits every traveler, we’ve highlighted a variety of designs and price points to help you find the perfect travel backpack.

Choosing a travel backpack can be a dizzying experience, and we’ve shaken down the best to sort through the static. Each pack has seen its time on the baggage carousel, hostel luggage cart, and we’ve even had a few go missing for the full experience. We fully pack and live out of these bags to test them, and in the end, we’re confident that the 15 packs collected here are the best travel backpacks available today. Check in and check them out.

For all your travel pack questions, consult our buyer’s guide , where we’ve laid bare all the essentials. Compare each of the packs using our handy comparison chart , and if you’ve still got questions, check out our FAQ section.

Editor’s Note: We updated our travel backpack guide on March 20, 2024 to add the Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L — a supremely nice commuter-style travel pack, as well as the Thule Aion 40L and Osprey Archeon 30L .

• Best Overall Travel Backpack: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
• Best Budget Travel Backpack: Dakine Campus 33L Backpack
• Best Carrying Travel Backpack: Osprey Farpoint & Fairview 40 Travel Packs
• Best Organization in a Travel Backpack: Matador SEG45 Travel Pack
• Best Shoulder Bag: Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L
• Best Commuter-Style Travel Backpack: Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L
• Best Personal Item Travel Pack: TimBuk2 Never Check Expandable Backpack

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

• Capacity 45 L (collapses to 35 L)
• Weight 4 lbs., 8 oz.
• Dimensions 22" x 13" x 9.5" standard, 22" x 13" x 11" expanded
• Compartment access Back panel clamshell design with #10 zipper
• Material Weatherproof, 100% recycled 400-denier nylon canvas shell; 900-denier waterproof bottom

• Compresses down to maximum airline carry-on size, and then expands once you’ve hit your destination
• Burly construction
• No details are overlooked in the design
• Side-carry handles are offset in an awkward position

Perfect is a dirty word in product design, but we’re about stumped when it comes to drumming up a quibble about the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45 L ($300). This redeye-ready clamshell design is made to the highest of standards.

It’s made of quality materials, utilizing aluminum hardware and a burly 400-denier nylon canvas — and it easily ticks all our boxes for the best overall travel backpack. The interior of the bag is split into two compartments: a larger main area for storing the majority of your kit and a secondary sleeve at the front of the bag with five zippered pockets. The main pocket also sports a foam-padded laptop sleeve and three more pockets.

One of the more impressive aspects we discovered along the bag’s inaugural leg from Seattle to Anchorage was how easily the straps of the Travel Backpack stow away into the bag. Two foam panels on the back of the bag flip away to secure them and then close with a magnetic closure — very slick. This was our favorite strap-stowage system, with the zippered panels of the Matador GlobeRider45 coming in a close second. We find the Peak Design bag compresses smaller.

Then there are the little details. An ID-size sleeve on the back panel provides all the information should your bag get separated from you. Zipper pulls thread through one another to keep what’s yours safe. And a collapsible system adjusts the bag from a full 45 to 35 liters.

In our review, there’s little about the Peak Design pack that misses the mark. The company leans heavily toward the camera-toting travelers among us, but the 45 L Travel Backpack makes no compromises and works just as well for any user group. The high price is undeniable, but for the scope of the travel pack, it’s a buy-once-cry-once purchase we would make again.

Also available in a 30L size , the range of Travel Backpacks from Peak Design is so well-thought-out that you can practically see the cogs turning in their creators’ heads. We think they make the best travel backpacks on the market.

Dakine Campus 33L Backpack

• Capacity 33 L
• Weight 1 lb., 10.6 oz.
• Dimensions 20.5" x 13" x 8"
• Compartment access Zippered top access
• Material Depending on print type, can be 600-denier recycled polyester, 420-denier recycled nylon, 630-denier recycled nylon, or 1,200-denier recycled polyester

• Cheap price
• Available in many different fabric prints
• Unique insulated cooler pocket
• Not many travel-specific features
• Straps don’t pack away

Even at the regular price, the Dakine Campus 33L Backpack ($75) is a great deal. And considering you can grab one on sale for $45, it’s a must-have budget travel backpack.

It has everything you need to keep your travels organized, without getting too big or complicated. This design has a padded laptop sleeve and a fleece-lined top pocket to keep your sunglasses safe. There’s an organizer pocket that’s perfect for pens, a phone, and easy-access essentials. We love pockets, and this backpack has plenty.

And if that weren’t enough, it also has an insulated cooler pocket to keep your snacks fresh on the go, plus double side pockets keep drinks handy. We found the straps comfortable during long travel days. Be sure to use the sternum strap when carrying a heavy load for the best fit.

While this bag does excellent at travel, it isn’t quite what the bag was designed for, thus it’s missing a few travel niceties like a compression system or the ability to pack away the straps. We didn’t find that we missed them desperately, but they would have been nice for a few instances. For similar-sized backpacks with more of a travel bend to them, look to the sleek Timbuk2 Never Check, or the uber-customizable Tom Bihn Synapse 25. But prepare to shell out some more for them.

If you’re looking for a sub-$100 backpack (under $60 during sales!) that does the basics, then the Dakine Campus Backpack is for you. It comes in a variety of colors and is also available in a 25L capacity .

Osprey Farpoint & Fairview 40 Travel Packs

• Capacity 40 L
• Weight 3 lbs., 7.6 oz.
• Dimensions 22" x 14" x 9"
• Compartment access Zippered back panel clamshell design
• Material Bluesign-approved 450-denier recycled polyester

• Supreme suspension system offers the best carry of any pack we tried
• External compression straps limit the volume well
• Comfortably padded grab handles
• Not much internal organization

No stranger to producing supremely comfortable suspension systems, Osprey injected a good bit of its tech into the Farpoint and Fairview packs ($185), which both sport LightWire frames, load lifters, and breathable framesheet and suspension straps. Our Farpoint pack was easily the best load carrier of any we tested and a close contender for the best travel backpack overall.

Far beyond what any of the other travel packs offer, the pack even allows you to adjust the torso length — unheard of in the typical travel pack. Newly updated, these packs have been tweaked to ride the line between traditional backpacks and functional luggage, a claim we can substantiate.

The 40-liter capacity is just about the sweet spot for domestic carry-on luggage limits, and these packs make good use of the space. We could easily pack away a long weekend’s worth of travel essentials into the bag with a little space to spare.

Whereas many other travel packs stash straps away into the body of the pack, the Farpoint and Fairview move in the opposite direction with a deployable strap cover that neatly seals in the suspension for safekeeping when checked. This produces a clean profile that’s ready to be slung around, but it’s not quite as easy and quick as the magnetic panels of the Peak Design Travel Backpacks, as you need to unclip straps to tuck them away.

The interior of the pack is rather spartan, incorporating only one zippered pocket, a laptop sleeve, and two internal compression straps. We would have rather seen a bit more organizational features involved like those that the Matador GlobeRider and Topo Designs Global Travel bags incorporate, but for those who stuff more than pack, the Farpoint and  Fairview may very well punch the ticket.

With one foot on the platform and one on the trail, these packs from Osprey will get you where you’re going and carry a trip’s worth of kit with ease.

Matador SEG45 Travel Pack

• Capacity 45 L
• Weight 2 lbs., 8 oz.
• Dimensions 22" x 13.4" x 10.2"
• Compartment access Full clamshell interior, additional front zippered access
• Material 420-denier nylon exterior, 100-denier Robic Dynatec interior

• Excellent storage organization options
• High-quality, strong, and lightweight construction
• No frame to speak of
• Shoulder straps don’t pack away

Aiming to do more with less, the Matador SEG45 Segmented Backpack ($200) proposes a future free of packing cubes and splits up the bag for you, making the organization of your travel pack a breeze.

The full 45 liters of volume is shared among the five segments (6, 9, 15, 9, and 6 L) and trades volume between the full clamshell compartment and the segments. Each of these segments is accessible via its own water-resistant zippers and can be collapsed as your needs change.

We found organizing by clothing type made the most sense in our own packing, but you could even pack based on the day of the week or the use. The clamshell-accessed main compartment was ideal for holding larger items like spare shoes or quarantining spent outfits.

Known for its overbuilt but lightweight bags, Matador didn’t spare the SEG45, utilizing 420D UHMWPE-reinforced nylon in the pack body, as well as 100D Robic Dynatec weave on the interior. It should be noted that this travel backpack doesn’t have any kind of frame and will rely on being packed well to carry correctly. Because of this, this pack won’t carry as well as bags like the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview, so consider packing mostly clothing in the SEG45.

Our testers felt this bag excelled as a travel bag you might deploy once you’ve hit your destination, as it packs away into larger bags so well. Unfortunately, however, the shoulder straps don’t pack away into the bag itself, so you’ll have to wrangle them into place to keep things tidy.

No matter what you’re up to, everything has got a spot to live in the SEG45 . Need a bit less space? Matador offers the SEG28 ($250) for that.

Read Review: Dresser in a Backpack: Matador SEG42 Review

Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L

• Weight 3 lbs., 10.3 oz.
• Dimensions 22.8" x 8.6" x 14.5"
• Compartment access Back panel zippered clamshell design
• Material 900-denier recycled polyester ripstop with a TPU laminate

• Multiple ways to carry the pack
• Many different storage and internal organization options
• Burly external fabric
• Doesn’t carry the best as a backpack

Looking to squeeze out every last liter of allowed space? Patagonia named this pack in honor of the cause: the Patagonia Black Hole Maximum Legal Carry-On 45 L ($239). This bag can be carried in a number of different ways, but we found it shined during travel as a shoulder bag.

Borrowing fabric from Patagonia’s line of burly Black Hole Duffels , the MLC 45 is made for the long haul. The 900-denier polyester ripstop is coated in a TPU laminate and feels ready to take on the surliest baggage carrier. We certainly felt no remorse in tossing the bag around.

At 45 L, the MLC is certainly right at the cusp of the maximum allowed size, but thankfully that space is well divided up inside the pack. Inside the main clamshell-accessed compartment is a blizzard of zippers and mesh pockets and dividers. Anything we tossed inside was well-stabilized.

Because there isn’t much of a frame to speak of, the Black Hole MLC doesn’t carry the best when slung over both shoulders and can sag when not entirely full. But over a shoulder with the included shoulder strap, this pack feels great and can be easily accessed on the go. This is one of the only packs in our testing to feature a shoulder strap (the other being the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag).

On top of all this, we greatly appreciate that the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45 L is made with 100% recycled body fabric, lining, and webbing. Perfect for grabbing and going, this pack is ready to move.

Read Review: Patagonia Black Hole MLC Bag Review: An Organized, Carry-On-Size Wonder

Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L

• Capacity 24 L
• Weight 3 lbs., 1.6 oz.
• Dimensions 18" x 7: x 11.5"
• Compartment access Zippered clamshell
• Material 840D ballistic nylon 6, 420D HT nylon

• Functions as both a laptop backpack and suitcase
• Well-structured and protected
• Full panel loading access
• Limited colorways

With an understated look that betrays the truly impressive fit and functionality inside, the Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L ($279) doesn’t need to brag — it knows it’ll tote your kit through the worst of your travel or everyday commutes without missing a beat. This bag is our newly anointed best commuter-style travel backpack.

From a fabrics and materials standpoint, it’s clear that someone at Evergoods truly nerded out when they brewed up this bindle. The 840D ballistic nylon 6 that makes up the exterior of the pack is burly (errantly spilled coffee wipes right off), and compliments the thick #10 zippers and spacer-mesh back panel. Even the Evergoods logo is low-key: a simple 2×2” patch on the front of the bag with a slash. That’s it — and we dig it.

Bar none, the Civic Panel Loader has the best laptop sleeve we’ve ever encountered in a backpack, and that’s saying something. The side-accessed zippered aperture can hold a 17” Macbook Pro, and nestles into a fully padded space at the rear of the pack. This sleeve is suspended from the bottom of the bag, as we’ve seen in many forward-thinking bags, but goes a step further and protects the laptop from the side with an aluminum stay — the primary functionality of which is to support the side handle on the bag. Genius.

The high-polish finish on the CPL24 feels reminiscent of the attention to detail we loved about the Tom Bihn Synapse 25, but we ended up enjoying this pack even more for a simple reason: side carry. The broad handle on the side of the pack is reinforced by that aluminum stay, and it creates a perfectly supported carry for jostling through crowded terminals.

On the interior of the pack, two large pockets are subdivided with a few smaller sleeves and pockets, which are oriented to be accessed with the bag on its side. We carried this pack for a month straight of remote work, lugging it to coffee shops and co-working spaces, and it supplanted all other packs we’ve used previously. “It’s hard not to love a pack that makes your life easier,” says Senior Editor Nick Belcaster. “This pack does that. Laptop, headphones, notebooks — a whole lot goes into the pack without a care.”

Up there with Nomatic, GORUCK, and Tom Bihn, Evergoods is certainly among the pack-makers that put intelligent design and smart material choice above all else. The Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24L is the final word when it comes to a travel pack you can carry every day. We certainly do.

Timbuk2 Never Check Expandable Backpack

• Capacity 27.5 L
• Weight 2 lbs., 9 oz.
• Dimensions 18.9" x 11.4" x 5.9"
• Material 420x2000D Cordura nylon, 135D polyester

• Dang good looking
• High-quality trim and details, including anodized G hooks and supple webbing
• Supper cushioned back panel
• Exterior expandable water bottle pocket is a bit slim
• Pack straps don't stow away.

Pulling off a good expandable backpack can be a tough task, with fabric accordion folds often taking up valuable real estate on the interior when collapsed in lesser bags. Not so with the TimBuk2 Never Check ($209), which takes a simple backpack shape and elevates it with premium materials and design to create one of our favorite travel backpacks for tucking under an airliner seat.

Unlike a lot of the pure-function rectangular bags in our lineup, the Never Check is a real looker — easily one of the best styled in our testing so far, and we’d have no qualms about bringing it along as a business bag. Small details like rubber-covered zipper pulls, anodized G hooks, and supple webbing keep it looking sharp. The 27.5-liter size is just about dead-on for most airline ‘personal item’ size requirements, and this bag easily slides under a seat.

The main compartment is accessed through a clamshell zipper on the front of the bag, which is gusseted to hang open while you’re loading it up. During the few national and international flights our Senior Editor Nick Belcaster deployed the bag on, this was easily enough space for everything you might want during a plane ride. And for everything else, a front pocket is lined with multiple drop and zip pockets for organizing small gadgets like chargers or keys.

The back panel of the Never Check is a plush ½ inch of comfortable foam, and combined with the equally padded shoulder straps made for a very nice carrying bag. The straps unfortunately do not stow away, but on a lower volume pack such as this, it’s a much less useable feature in our opinions.  And finally, one of our favorite features: the wide laptop sleeve. This 15” opening is generous enough to accommodate the larger laptops of today, and is suspended from the bottom of the backpack to ensure bumps don’t turn into bruises.

Just like the name suggests, the Never Check Expandable Backpack provides a svelte solution to bringing a bag with you during airline travel — or even just to the office. Its clean profile and attention to detail impressed us, and it would make an excellent work-to-weekend bag.

Matador GlobeRider45 Travel Pack

• Dimensions 22" x 12.8" x 11"
• Compartment access Zippered clamshell design
• Material 420D UHMWPE-reinforced ripstop nylon, 100D Robic nylon mini-ripstop

• Incredible density of pockets and sleeves
• Tough UHMWPE outer fabric can be tossed around
• Shoulder straps tuck away in a novel and smart manner
• Laptop sleeve opening is a bit tight
• Price is up there

With a pocket or sleeve for pretty much everything, the new Matador GlobeRider 45 ($350) gives the Peak Design Travel Pack a run for its money when it comes to the best overall travel pack. 

Our Managing Editor raved about the GlobeRider after serious testing where she pretty much lived out of it for 3 months: “If you travel often and look for crucial components like internal and external pockets, laptop storage, and backpack and hip straps, consider the Matador GlobeRider 45. It’s a unique design in that the [pack] seems to have it all — every feature I’ve needed so far, both living out of it and in my travels — in a pretty packable size.”

What impressed us most was the way the GlobeRider was able to balance both an eye-watering amount of organization and versatility, and burly durability that ensures that this pack won’t shy away from tough travel conditions. In total (and we double-counted) there are 19 individual pockets on the pack, in all types of stretch mesh, zippered, and collapsible configurations. When good organization is key, the GlobeRider reigns. 

On the back panel of the GlobeRider, one of the more novel stowage systems we’ve seen packs away the shoulder straps and hip belt for when you want to slim down the pack. Two zippered panels — similar to the structure of the Peak Design packs, save for the closure — envelop the straps when not in use, and provide a lump-free panel for toting around. 

When it comes to downsides, the GlobeRider doesn’t miss much. The laptop sleeve aperture is a bit small at 9.5”, which in today’s age of mondo-screened computers may be limiting to some with larger devices. There also is no ability to convert the pack to a shoulder bag like the Patagonia MLC does, which can be handy when moving quickly through the airport.

Dang-near the top of the list, the Matador GlobeRider 45 would be an excellent choice for anyone who practices one-bag travel, or desires to have a place for everything in their journeys. The price does sting a bit, but based on the long-term testing we’ve completed so far, we’ve seen no indications that this pack will fade away anytime soon.

Read Review: I Lived Out of This Backpack for 3-Plus Months: Matador Globerider45 Review

Thule Aion 40L

• Weight 3 lbs., 3 oz.
• Dimensions 13" x 9.1" x 20.5"
• Material Waxed P600 polyester canvas

• Maxes out on carry-on-compliant space
• Internal roll-top TPU bag separates the clean from the to-do laundry
• Waxed canvas exterior has a classy look
• Centered side handle carries well
• Well-cushioned back panel
• No shoulder strap stowage option
• No hipbelt on a 40L is pushing it

Better known for their roof boxes and racks, it’s fair to say that Thule knows travel, and the addition of smart, organized, and comfortable travel packs like the Thule Aion 40L ($200) makes all the sense in the world to us. This pack is a finely-honed bag for international and local travel alike, and is decked out in some high-class materials.

Like the Patagonia Black Hole MLC pack, the Aion 40L aims to go for the maximum allowed capacity, and at our measurements (21.5” x 15” x 8”) the pack slides in just half an inch less than the normal 45 linear inches typically allowed. That’s efficient. The space is split up into two main compartments and a laptop sleeve, with the larger opening with a full clamshell zip.

This inner compartment hosts a few zippered pockets and internal compression straps, but the star of the show here is the integrated TPU rolltop bag. This sack can be used to cordon off your liquids (and easily presented for inspection), as well as separate your pile of ‘to-do’ laundry. This reminds us of the ActiveShield compartment in the Gregory Border Traveler pack, but we enjoy the removable aspect here even more. 

Round the back of the pack, the spacer-mesh swaddled laptop sleeve rivals the Evergoods Civic Panel Loader , and has an additional sleeve for items like tablets, notebooks, or chargers. The back panel itself is impressively cushioned (one of the more luxe in our testing) and that extends to the shoulder straps. 

Unfortunately, there’s no shoulder strap-stowage system here, so you’ll have to wrangle those yourself, and while we typically enjoy the lack of a hip belt in smaller travel packs, the absence in a 40-liter pack is a little puzzling. Fully loaded, the Aion could certainly benefit from one, and while a separate sling bag can be added to function as one, you’ll need to fork over $50 for it.

Ranking high up there with your Peak Designs and your Ospreys, the Thule Aion 40L nails the style and material departments, and with a full 40 liters of space on board, has all the room to pack for your week-long trips — no roof box required.

Osprey Archeon 30L

• Capacity 30 L
• Weight 3 lbs.
• Dimensions 20.5" x 13" x 11.4"
• Compartment access Zippered top-access
• Material 840D ballistic polyester with carbonate coating

• Extra-tough exterior fabric with carbonate coating
• High-polish details such as seatbelt webbing straps
• Mini-wing hipbelt tucks away easily when not needed
• Smart internal storage pockets that lay flat when not needed
• Laptop sleeve opening is a bit too snug
• Compression straps lay over the main zipper

First off, one word: Rugged. The Osprey Archeon 30L ($250) is a high-end build that spares little in the material department, and looks dang good while it’s at it. The 30-liter size makes this bag weekend travel-ready, and we greatly appreciated the fit and finish.

The overall design of the Archeon reminds us a good bit of the Peak Design Travel Bag (certainly the all-waterproof exterior zippers and curved side-entry pockets), but it’s the exterior fabric that really impressed. The 840D ballistic polyester is coated with a carbonate polyurethane coating, a bolstered recipe that increases durability by a magnitude over traditional PU coatings. In testing, we wore out before putting a dent in it.

The pack itself breaks down into two main compartments, with the main pocket opening behind a curved clamshell zip (we did have a little trouble with the zipper passing behind the exterior straps. Removing them fixed that). Inside, three expandable tech pockets tuck away all of your small kit, and do a good job of keeping things tidy on the interior.

On the exterior, Osprey doesn’t disappoint when it comes to suspension straps, which are comfortable, adjustable, and stashable. The mini wing-style hip belt earns special praise on packed flights, where we find traditional hip belts to be a hassle to store, and combined with the slick shoulder-strap stash pocket, the Archeon converts to minimal mode in under a minute.

Something the Archeon certainly could use, however, is a slightly larger aperture into the laptop/tech compartment. As-is, the zipper doesn’t quite extend down far enough to truly open up the pocket, and as such it can feel a bit like rummaging around in the dark looking for cords and chargers in the bottom of the pack. Extending these zippers down to the middle of the pack would seem to fix the issue, and we hope a later iteration might address this.

Nonetheless, we were still impressed by the Osprey Archeon 30L . There’s also a 40-liter version if you’re looking for a max-capacity carry-on, and even a smaller 24-liter for kicking around coffee shops day-to-day.

Read Review: Hack Carry-On Rules: Osprey Archeon Kit Gives Power Back to Passengers

Arc’teryx Granville 25 Backpack

• Capacity 25 L
• Weight 1 lb., 14.5 oz.
• Dimensions 22" x 12" x 9"
• Compartment access Drawstring top-entry
• Material N400r-AC² nylon ripstop

• Tough and waterproof exterior fabric
• White interior for easy viewing
• Floating laptop sleeve
• Not very much interior organization
• Simple webbing waistbelt

Made for moving through the city over the concourse, the commute-ready Arc’teryx Granville 25 ($220) takes travel backpacks to the streets in a sleek and tough design that we couldn’t keep from grabbing every day.

Crafted from the same N400r-AC² nylon ripstop as Arc’teryx’s high-end climbing packs, the mountain DNA is strong in the Granville, with fully taped seams that make the pack highly weather-resistant. In our impromptu “rain” test, a garden hose fired directly at the pack wasn’t able to get a drop past the tough exterior.

On the front of the pack, a single water-resistant zippered pocket was practically made for your keys, and could accommodate a few other essentials for when you’re on the go. Tossing back the shaped lid, a single drawstring entry leads to the interior space, which is mainly one large pocket, with a few zippered and drop pockets to separate smaller items. If you’re looking for the same style pack, but with a bit more organization built-in, the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 divides up its space well.

The padded interior laptop sleeve will accommodate up to a 16” laptop, and is suspended within the main compartment in a way that leaves us feeling confident in slinging our computer across a shoulder. Compared to other more airline-focused travel packs, the Granville 25 has its feet more firmly planted on the ground, and excels at bus, bike, or foot travel.

Whether your commute is just across town or across the country, the Arc’teryx Granville 25 makes for a good-looking carry-all that’s bound to be around for a while.

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 40L

• Weight 3 lbs., 10.4 oz.
• Dimensions 22.5" x 14" x 7.5"
• Material 1000D recycled nylon, 400D recycled nylon, 210D recycled nylon, 1680D recycled ballistic nylon

• Overbuilt design with tough materials and chunky zippers
• Plenty of organizational pockets
• Bright interior
• Not the cleanest strap stowage

Chunky zippers, an overhead-savvy profile, and multiple ways to sling it over your shoulder: The Topo Designs Global Travel Pack ($229) has honed in on much of what we love in a travel backpack.

During a recent trip from Seattle to Southern California we were heavily saddled with the maximum the airline would allow. But this pack made use of every inch of space and reached the allowance of what we could check as our carry-on. The 40 liters of internal capacity is broken down into a series of dividers and pockets, which made condoning off things like electronics from the rest of our kit easy. And the interior of this pack is a cheery canary yellow, which helps with ease and visibility.

On the exterior of this pack, three separate carry styles are available to get you through the concourse in whatever way you choose. We found the full-featured backpack straps to be our go-to, which even sport load-lifters for a comfy carry. This suspension system does tuck away for when you might want to check the bag, though we found the hipbelt to be a bit tricky to fully retract.

Rounding out this travel-ready backpack is a tough build that makes use of 1000D recycled nylon and heavy-duty zippers, and we had no qualms with tossing this bag around during our trip. Perfect for anyone who subscribes to the one-bag travel ethos, the Global Travel Pack from Topo Designs makes the grade for those who want the most out of their carry-on.

And if you’re only going to be away for a short trip, the Global Travel pack is also available in a 30L capacity .

Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack

• Capacity 28 L
• Weight 3 lbs., 4 oz.
• Dimensions 19" x 12" x 9"
• Material TPU-coated 1,000-denier polyester, 840-denier nylon paneling

• Burly exterior material holds up for the long run
• Plenty of zippered mesh storage pockets
• On the heavier side
• TPU-coated nylon can feel grabby

The Allpa 28L Travel Pack ($170) will change the way you travel. It’s sleek, durable, and able to fit an incredible amount of stuff in a small space. The zippered mesh pockets keep clothes organized. And the compression straps maximize what you can pack.

The tough polyester and nylon construction can take a beating without any signs of wear. And we appreciate that the externally accessed, padded laptop sleeve makes pulling out your electronics at security checkpoints a breeze. There’s also a small outer compartment to keep essentials at hand.

You can completely tuck away the backpack straps and carry the pack like a briefcase, or wear it comfortably as a backpack. We’ve stuffed this pack to the gills countless times and have never had a problem with the zippers. Light rain showers or spills roll right off the TPU-coated exterior, but for legit rainstorms, just pull out the included rain cover.

The Allpa also comes in 35L, 42L, 50L, and 70L capacities. As our editor noted in the 42L review , “Building on its fun and functional ethos, Cotopaxi beefs up its bestselling product. The Allpa Travel Pack earns big points for clever design, clean aesthetic, and a surprising number of handy — and hidden — features.”

Yes, the Cotopaxi Allpa packs are an investment, but anyone who travels regularly will find it a worthy one. These powerhouse travel backpacks are sturdy, versatile, and built to last.

Tom Bihn Synapse 25

• Weight 1 lb., 13 oz.
• Dimensions 13.4" x 20" x 9.1"
• Material 400-denier Halcyon, 420-denier nylon ripstop

• Many different fabrics and color schemes are available
• Built to last design and materials
• Removable webbing hip belt
• Suspension doesn’t pack away
• Side wing pockets are a little awkward to access

Refined and clean-looking, the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 ($243) is a high-end travel backpack we just can’t stop staring at. It just looks that good. Made of burly textiles and zippers, this pack was built to stand the test of tough travel and come out shining on the other side.

The Synapse 25 is the larger version of Tom Bihn’s Synapse 19 , a popular backpack made for daily carry. The bump in volume is appreciated in this travel-oriented version and is doled out in one large compartment as well as a set of pockets on the front of the pack.

We found all the pockets easily accessible, save for the side wing pockets. While these were excellent for the organization of smaller bits and bobs, the openings were a bit awkward to jump into.

Topped off by a cushioned suspension (the foam is a half-inch of supple EV50), this travel backpack didn’t weigh us down on long days of travel when fully packed. And when we wanted to go light, even the webbing hip belt was removable. In terms of the ability to bop around town as a daily driver, this pack is up there with the TimBuk2 Never Check and Arc’teryx Granville packs (we liked the back panel on this pack the most).

Along with being carry-on compliant, the Synapse is also one of the few bags on our list that are compact enough to fit under most airline seats without hogging too much precious legroom.

Osprey Nebula 32 Daypack

• Capacity 32 L
• Weight 2 lbs., 1.7 oz.
• Dimensions 19.2" x 12.2" x 11.4"
• Material 420-denier recycled nylon

• TSA-compliant laptop sleeve
• Many options for organization
• Water bottle pockets fit 32 oz. bottles
• Need to release two buckles in order to unzip the main pocket all the way

When it comes to backpacks, Osprey has put in the time — and it shows. The Nebula 32 ($140) feels like it’s all the brand’s most popular packs morphed into one. Most of all, we love how it seamlessly goes from city streets to trails.

This backpack can do it all, whether you’re hauling your laptop and books around town; water, food, and layers on an easy hike; or all of the above and then some for a weekend away.

The internal storage pockets are great for organizing all of your things for easy access. And while the Nebula 32 is top-loading, the main pocket opens up wide enough so you won’t have to unload everything to get to the one thing you want at the bottom. The sternum strap and hip belt are comfortable as well, especially when carrying a heavy load.

On smaller volume packs like this, sometimes design concessions need to be made to accommodate all the functionality, and on the Nebula it’s in the side compression straps. Like on the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview, the compression system of the pack overlays across the main compartment zipper, meaning you’ll need to undo some straps before rifling around in the storage area. Not a deal breaker, but a little annoying when the TSA line starts to back up behind you.

Overall, the Nebula 32 won’t disappoint if you make it your go-to smaller-volume travel backpack.

Travel Backpack Comparison Chart

How We Tested Travel Backpacks

The staff of GearJunkie is a hot-footed bunch, restlessly plodding across the country or around the globe in search of adventure and whatever else comes our way. And we have a lot of stuff, which necessitates having a travel bag or four in the stable.

Surely any old bindle will do in carrying your kit around, but having a travel backpack that is dialed into the needs of travel can turn a stressful situation into a manageable one. We’ve been testing travel backpacks since 2019 and have put the market slice through the wringer on thousands of miles of travel to weed out the best of the best.

Senior Editor Nick Belcaster has a zeal for international travel, and he leads up our current travel pack testing, logging almost 10,000 flying miles in the last year alone. From Iceland to Utah, Belcaster has carried these packs and lived out of them for weeks, relying on them to support back-to-back travel excursions. In testing, we looked for a number of features in our travel backpacks, including overall capacity, carry style, durability, and aesthetics. It’s important to think about how you’ll use your travel pack, and as such, every pack on our list is carry-on compliant for the worst-case scenario.

We know no trip will be like the next, so we took a broad swath of the travel backpacks on the market in order to create a list that will suit many different travelers. Packs in hand, over our shoulders, or on our backs, we hit the four corners and tested the best travel backpacks of 2024.

Curious about what we pack in our travel backpacks? We’ve penned up a list for both domestic and international trips .

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Travel Backpack

Travel backpack user profiles.

The International Jet-Setter: The term ‘One Bag Travel’ is no stranger to you, and you’ve just about got your life distilled down into 45 liters of space. If international travel is your bag, then a backpack that’s up to the task will be essential to see you through to further time zones. Efficiency will be the name of the game here, and going with a pack that is dang-near the carry-on maximums for international flights will mean you can make it through without checking a bag. Look for near to 45-liter packs with plenty of organization baked in, as well as a comfortable (and stashable) carry system.

For international travel, the bag we reach for most often had to be the Peak Design Travel Backpack , with a razor-thin second place going to the Matador GlobeRider45 Travel Pack . For an emphasis on organization, the Matador SEG45 splits up the volume well, and if you’ll be schlepping bags around a long way, the Osprey Farpoint & Fairview Packs have all the Osprey suspension we love.

The Weekend-Warrior: Maybe it’s a work trip, and maybe it’s just for fun, but it’s only going to take 2-3 days total, and you’ll need a bag that can pack it in. For weekend excursions, we find packs in the 25-35 liter range work well for the minimalists among us, and the 30-40 liter range for those who like a bit more options.

The Tom Bihn Synapse 25 is easily one of the most stylish packs in our review, only slightly edged out by the Timbuk2 Never Check , and both make the grade for a single overnighter in a foreign locale. For a bit more space, you can’t go wrong with the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 40L , a fun pack that is a lot tougher than the multi-colored exterior would let on.

The Commuter: No flight involved! Duty calls, and sometimes you’ll need to lug around a bit more kit than the old briefcase can allow for. Commuting with a travel backpack is a great way to stay comfortable on longer rides, as shoulder and handbags are cumbersome over the long run. Focus on a bag with a more traditional backpack shape that puts an emphasis on ease-of-access, and is in the 20-30 liter range.

For bumping around town, we’ve come to love the Evergoods Civic Panel Loader 24 , which not only lugs our remote office around with ease, but also looks pretty slick doing it. The drawstring opening here is a huge boon for quickly stashing a jacket, and the tough exterior fears no weather forecast. For a budget just-get-it-done choice, the Dakine Campus 33L will make it happen for less.

The right size pack for you depends on a few things. First, where are you going? And, how long do you plan to stay? Winter travel often comes with more gear, so you’ll need to pack extra layers. Longer trips often require larger bags.

That said, your personal packing style will be the most important factor. We know minimalists who happily travel for months with only a single backpack in tow and others who want the largest travel backpack possible in addition to a totally stuffed duffel bag . One method isn’t better than the other, but knowing your style is helpful when choosing a bag.

In general, we’ve found that something in the 28-45 liter range is ideal for comfort and packability. Many packs will also offer a compression system to allow you to limit the overall volume of the backpack. We’ve seen many different ways to accomplish this, but the most effective by far were the button snaps and expanding zipper of the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . Packs toward the 40-45 liter range will be your carry-on bags of choice, and the 45-liter Peak Design, Patagonia MLC , and Matador GlobeRider are perfect for maxing out your allowed space. The 40-liter Osprey Farpoint/Fairview packs give up a little internal room for the luxe suspension system they’re carried with.

Packs in the smaller end of the range, from around 25-30 liters, make better personal items, and the TimBuk2 Never Check , Tom Bihn Synapse , and Patagonia Black Hole backpacks all fit snuggly underneath an airliner seat. These small bags move through a city gracefully and look more like everyday carry backpacks than traditional luggage.

What good would a bag be if you couldn’t get into it? From a simple drawstring to a thicket of Velcro and zippers, there are plenty of ways to keep your bag closed while you’re on the go, but not every one will be amenable to travel.

Zippered Clamshells: Most travel backpacks will use a clamshell-style design that opens up the backpack like a suitcase, allowing you to pack intentionally as opposed to stuffing things in. Oftentimes, an internal strap system will help keep your items contained while you’re on the move.

Packs with this clamshell design may also opt to add internal dividers to the main storage area, and make these dividers removable — should you need the entire storage area uninhibited. For packs without internal dividers or straps, consider adding a few packing cubes to keep your items organized.

In addition to the rear entry, some backpacks will offer additional entry points through the top or front of the pack. This can be helpful when you need to quickly retrieve something like a passport from your bag, without the need to totally spill the contents. The majority of packs in our review close in this clamshell manner, and a few of our favorites are the Peak Design Travel Backpack , Osprey Farpoint & Fairview 40 Travel Packs , and Matador GlobeRider45 Travel Pack .

Zippered Top-Access: Much like many traditional backpacks, zippered top-access packs load and unload from the topside, and generally only offer one point of entry/egress into the pack. For this reason, packs of this flavor are generally left packed during travel, as digging around for something at the bottom can be a hassle.

Bags of this stripe, including the uber-nice Tom Bihn Synapse 25 and expandable Timbuk2 Never Check , most often make better personal items over carry-ons, as their smaller volumes make for easier searching within.

Drawstring Top-Entry: While not quite as common as a zippered clamshell or top-access pack, drawstring top-entry packs can make for very quick and easy access to your kit if you’re on the move. These packs will integrate an extended fabric collar to the top of the storage area, which can be compressed when needed, or overstuffed with bulky items like jackets.

Commuters will find drawstring entry bags the most appealing, and the Arc’teryx Granville 25 has become one of our dedicated laptop toters for everything from remote work stints at the coffee shop to jumping on a ferry for work.

Carrying Options

There are plenty of ways to lug your kit to your boarding gate, but not all of them will be comfortable for everything. Over-shoulder backpack straps can support a good bit of weight but typically will need some type of frame to truly be supportive. The Osprey Farpoint/Fairview packs were the best-carrying packs in our testing, owed largely to the wire frame and Airscape mesh back panels, but we also enjoyed the carry of the aluminum frame stays on the Matador GlobeRider.

A shoulder strap travel backpack, like the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L , can be slung across your body and provide a great amount of accessibility on the go. Don’t expect to carry too much weight this way, however.

And then there’s the classic suitcase style, easily towed anywhere. It’s good to note many travel backpacks will have stowable straps to better streamline the pack for a trip through an X-ray machine or stowed under a seat. The strap storage design of the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L impressed us most of all, utilizing magnetic closure flaps to pack away the shoulder and hip straps neatly.

Pockets & Organization

There’s an organizational saying: “A place for everything and everything in its place.” And we couldn’t agree more. Keeping track of everything while you travel is key for organization. And while more pockets always seem better, there is a threshold where having too many simply becomes more places to misplace things. Instead, we recommend packs with three to six pockets.

The Cotopaxi Allpa and Topo Designs Global Travel Bags both have ingenious inner organization systems complete with large zipping “pockets.” It has just enough space to find room for everything but not so many compartments that you’ll be hunting all day for your misplaced passport. For even more organization, the Matador SEG45 splits into five different segments that are accessible from the exterior of the pack.

Bringing along a laptop is a necessary evil for some travelers, and having an incorporated laptop sleeve in your travel backpack can keep it safe during travel. Most laptop sleeves will be padded with some type of foam and nestle in close to the back for maximum protection. In order to be TSA-compliant, a laptop sleeve will need to fold entirely flat away from the pack to be scanned.

Because flying with liquids over 3.4 ounces is prohibited in the U.S., carrying all of these items in a separate toiletry bag can make your foray into the screening line a breeze. Many of the packs on our list incorporate many external pockets where such a bag could be stashed and produced when needed.

Travel luggage takes a beating, so durability is a top concern. Luckily, gear manufacturers realize this and are making increasingly burly yet portable packs. The fan-favorite Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L pack is made with a 900-denier ripstop nylon outer with a TPU laminate for extra durability. It’s nearly indestructible, water-resistant, and versatile.

If you’re traveling somewhere with inclement weather or if your pack needs to double as a climbing bag or hiking pack, durability is extra important. And it’s worth paying more for a backpack that is water-resistant.

Space Efficiency & Carry-On Compliance

Astute observers will note many of the packs in our review sport a rectangular shape, which is certainly due to designers aspiring to create a more space-efficient pack. This isn’t to say that more shapely packs won’t make it happen, but when you’re struggling to make every liter of space count, maximizing dimensions matters.

Carry-on luggage is any bag that you plan on bringing into an airplane and storing in the overhead bins. Because space is limited, airlines dictate the maximum size that any carry-on can be. In the U.S., the most common size is 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches, or 45 linear inches (length + width + height). However, this is just a rough guideline; some airlines differ from these dimensions, and you should refer to their information directly.

In general, these dimensions provide a travel backpack with around 40-45 liters of internal volume, so buying a pack that’s as close to that as possible will provide the most space allowed. Many of the packs on our list have the ability to compress to a smaller size, such as the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L .

Be mindful as well, that any protrusions from your travel pack such as shoulder straps or handles will also need to fall within the maximum allowed size. Many travel backpacks today incorporate some type of strap-stowing ability, such as the magnetic panels of the Peak Design packs, the zippered cover of the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview, and the hybrid zipper/panel of the Matador GlobeRider 45. All of these provide a more streamlined profile that should both hit the mark, and fit better into overhead bins.

Travel backpacks run the gamut of prices — from affordable to downright pricey. There are a number of factors that play into what you get for the money.

Budget-Minded Travel Packs

Travel backpacks, as a category, are generally a bit pricer than your average luggage, as they incorporate tough materials that can put up with extensive wear over the lifespan. Travel is tough on bags, so it’s unsurprising that even budget travel backpacks will cost you around $100-150. These packs often will incorporate more traditional architectures such as a zippered top access, as opposed to the more complicated (and spendy) full-zip clamshell designs. For example, the Dakine Campus ($75) is pretty much your average school bag.

Volumes, too, will be a bit limited in this price range — added material adds cost. The 32-liter Osprey Nebula ($140) is about the best price-to-volume ratio you can get.

Mid-Range Travel Packs

Mid-range packs make up the bread and butter of travel packs, and can be had for around $150 to $200. These designs are often more of the full carry-on variety, and aim to capitalize on permitted volume as much as possible. The 45-liter Matador SEG45 ($200), Patagonia Black Hole MLC ($239), 40-liter Osprey Farpoint/Fairview ($185), and Topo Designs Global Travel Bag ($229) all shoehorn in just about as much space as a friendly gate agent will let you get away with.

For the price, you also get a good variety of functionality that makes travel easier, such as stowable pack straps, interior segmented pockets and sleeves (done excellently on the $170 Cotopaxi Allpa ), and an external compression system that limits the space your bag takes up. Some packs, like the TimBuk2 Never Check ($209), don’t exactly hit these parameters, but instead make up for it in high-quality design and materials.

Premium Travel Packs

Above $250, you’re likely paying for premium materials or a to-the-hilt design that leaves absolutely nothing on the cutting room floor. The Peak Design Travel Backpack ($300) is a great example, and utilizes super high-quality nylon canvas, custom aluminum hardware, and supple seatbelt material webbing in its build, as well as fitting in just about every conceivable feature you could want in a travel pack. The same can be said of the Matador GlobeRider 45 ($350), which uses high-tech UHMPWE-reinforced materials and sports a total of 19 pockets.

The Tom Bihn Synapse 25 ($243) is a bit of an outlier, as it commands a high dollar amount not for the extreme amount of space it offers or amount of features, but for being a hyper-customizable, hand-made bag that uses the nicest textiles available, as well as the best zippers, webbing, and foam in its design. If you’re a fan of the finest materials, this is your daily driver pack.

What Is One Bag Travel?

The ‘One Bag Travel’ ethos and travel backpacks go hand-in-hand. Simply put, to travel in one-bag style is to be minimalist in your luggage choices, and only take what you can carry onto the plane/train/pack animal. Not only does this do away with the fuss of deciding what exactly to bring along with you, but it also allows for breezing through airports — skipping the need to check baggage, wait at baggage claim, or fear for lost luggage.

In order to most effectively travel with one bag, be sure to read up on exactly the baggage size allowances provided by your transportation. This can affect both overall size and weight, and having an expandable pack is a large benefit here. In this way, you can carry just enough to skirt through under the limit, and then expand the bag when you’ve hit your destination for more breathing room. If you aim for a 35-40 liter backpack, you’ll be right on the money for one-bag travel.

Finally, remember that this bag is going to be the only item of luggage you’ve got, so ensure it’ll be comfortable enough for the long haul. Look for padded back panels and hip belts that’ll transfer the load correctly, and if they stash away — all the better.

Our team unanimously agrees that the best travel backpack is the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . It’s extremely durable, and it offers plenty of organizational pockets to stash your kit away in. The clamshell opening makes packing a breeze, and we really appreciated the unique shoulder strap storage options available to turn the pack into a stripped-down bag that would slide into any overhead compartment.

The best size bag for traveling depends largely on your travel itinerary and mode of transport. The Cotopaxi Allpa packs range from 28 to 42 liters.

The 28-liter option makes for a compact and comfortable backpack that easily fits in overhead airplane compartments. The 42-liter option is a bit more like carrying a duffel bag on your back, but it still manages to fit in overhead compartments. It’s a great option for maximizing carry-on capacity in backpack form.

While both have their place in travel, a backpack can offer some advantages over a suitcase. Since they’re much more portable, backpacks can be brought to many more places where a suitcase won’t work. Suitcases can be your large load carriers, but a good travel backpack gives you the freedom to strike out on daily adventures.

Travel backpacks absolutely can be carry-on luggage, given they meet the size requirements. In the U.S., the most common maximum size is 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches, or 45 linear inches (length + width + height). But this is only a common size, and different airlines will have different specifics. Consult with your airline specifically to determine what they allow.

While different body types will find different travel packs comfortable, we can all agree that a good support system and ample foam make for a comfortable carry. In our own testing, we found the Osprey Farpoint 40 and Fairview 40 Travel Packs were by far the most comfortable due to their plush suspension systems.

Because many different airlines operate a slate of different planes, there isn’t a standard under-seat luggage size, although there is an average: 16 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches. Some airlines allow personal items larger than this, but you should consult with their customer service for specifics. Our favorite personal item-sized travel pack was the Timbuk2 Never Check Expandable Backpack , which at 24 liters compressed easily slides under a seat.

The Best Laptop Backpacks of 2024

Whether you’re headed to the office, class, or even the trailhead, here’s our top picks for the best laptop backpacks of 2024.

The Best Daypacks of 2024

We tested the best daypacks of 2024 with options for every budget. Top picks include Osprey, Cotopaxi, and more.

Hailing from the hemlocks and hanging mosses of Washington State, Senior Editor Nick Belcaster is an adventure journalist following threads of stories across the West. Cruelly stolen from the alpine swales of rural Wisconsin at a young age, Nick made do ascending the snows and granite of the North Cascades while completing a journalism degree. A long stint on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 codified a life bent on sleeping on minor slopes and picking devil’s club out of his shoes.

Follow Us On

Subscribe Now

Get adventure news and gear reviews in your inbox!

Join Our GearJunkie Newsletter

Gear Top Stories Deals

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Want to pack light but don't know where to start? Let's find the perfect size bag using this quiz !

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 .

More posts you may like

Ultralight Packing List: I Traveled for 3 Weeks with a 12L Handbag

The Best Convertible Travel Clothing for Women: Pack Less & Do More

The 32L Zuca Pro Carry-on Suitcase: You Can Actually Sit on It

How Much Money Can You Save Packing Personal Item Only?

Gear we use.

Speakeasy Hidden Pocket Scarves

Splice Reversible Jaisalmer Tunic

Eagle Creek Compression Packing Cubes

Tom Bihn 3D Organizer Cube

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Daypack

Turkish Travel Towels

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

Leave A Reply Cancel reply

Find your perfect pack: Take the Quiz

Collection: 40 Liter Backpacks

All pro bundle, everything you need to pack for long trips. includes travel backpack pro 40l, packing cubes, travel sling, and travel organizer., travel backpack pro 40l, max-sized carry on for international trips. best for: more comfort, organization, and weather-resistance..

(84) 84 total reviews

Free Shipping

Helpful support, worldwide warranty, what is a 40 liter backpack.

A 40L backpack is a medium to large-sized backpack that can hold enouch clothing and other gear for 7+ days of travel. A 40L travel backpack is bigger than a typical daypack or commuter backpack but more compact than a hiking backpack for trekking. 40L is considered the international maximum-sized carry on.

What are the Benefits of a 40 Liter Backpack

Why do i need a 40 liter backpack.

A Travel Backpack 40L maximizes compatibility across airlines so you don’t have to worry whether or not your bag will fit. You’ll never have to check your Tortuga. Checked luggage has always been less than ideal, but this has become increasingly the case due to rising fees and growing instances of lost bags. Even if your bag does make it to your destination, you’re forced to waste time waiting at baggage claim. Oversized checked bags are also uncomfortable and inconvenient to carry and wheel around.

The Travel Backpack 40L offers the perfect alternative. Designed to make the most of every square inch afforded to you by airline carry-on luggage restrictions, it allows you to carry more clothing and gear in a compact package. It flies free thanks to the fact that it fits carry on limitations for all US airlines and many international carriers, and allows you to start your adventure from the moment you land without the need to stand around waiting at baggage claim. It also offers an outstanding level of versatility as it packs like a suitcase while carrying like a backpack. It offers capacity similar to a large duffel bag but with greater organization.

Expert reviewers love the Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack. TravelFreak calls it “one of the mightiest backpacks I’ve seen from one of the best backpack brands out there.” GearHacker named it “the Best One Bag Travel Backpack,” and Neverending Voyage deemed it the “Best Carry-On Backpack.” Outdoor Gear Lab declared that “there is no better option.”

Order your Tortuga Travel Backpack today and hit the road with a highly packable carry on that offers unrivaled quick access and multi-day capacity.

• Carry on compliant 40L backpack
• Comfortable shoulder straps and hip belt
• Back panel features secure laptop compartment

Best 40L Backpacks by Tortuga

The Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack is equipped with everything you want from a superior carry on. If you’re looking for a carry on that fits and organizes more stuff, offers greater comfort, and features outstanding design, you’ve found it.

No Baggage Fees

The Tortuga 40L is the ideal carry-on travel bag. It maximizes the amount you can pack into a carry on, thereby allowing you to avoid the fees and hassles associated with checking a bag. No fees, no waiting at baggage claim, no lost luggage. At the same time, it’s versatile enough to be used for day trips, multi-day trips, or longer.

Lighter Weight and Plenty Packable

The Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack doesn’t have heavy metal wheels or handles, which can take up to 20% of the weight you’re allowed to carry on. That means more weight allowance for more gear you actually want to bring. It is a front-loading backpack with a roomy, quick-access main compartment.

You’ll have plenty of space for packing cubes , and the Travel Backpacks boasts the most versatile organization features offered by any travel backpack. You’ll have easy access to side pockets, mesh pockets, a top pocket, an organizational panel with many smaller internal pockets, a vertical front pocket, and a back panel containing a laptop sleeve.

There are also two exterior water bottle pockets so that you never have to worry about hydration on the go.

Unrivaled Comfort

Reviewers have praised the Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack for its unrivaled comfort. Its well-padded shoulder straps and hip belt, along with its adjustable sternum strap, make it comfortable enough to wear through hours of travel. The bag is ergonomic because you can adjust it to your body, and its light weight makes it the perfect women’s backpack.

Built for Laptops and Tech

The back panel is ideal for carrying and protecting all your electronics and chargers. It has a padded laptop compartment with a soft tablet sleeve as well as internal mesh pockets for greater organization. The laptop compartment also offers easy access at TSA security checkpoints. All of this makes it a good choice as a business backpack for travelers who need laptop and tablet protection.

Anti-Theft Features

The Tortuga Travel Backpack has been designed with anti-theft features like TSA-compliant lockable zippers and discrete styling so that you won’t look like a tourist.

Water-Resistant, Long-Lasting Materials

Thanks to its tough, waterproof sailcloth exterior, the Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack is highly water-resistant (so there’s no need for carrying and struggling with a rain cover) and built to last through years of travel.

Benefits of Shopping Tortuga

You’re a traveler who needs to feel covered anywhere at any time. That’s why we offer a Worldwide Warranty that provides coverage no matter where you are.

At Tortuga, we stand by our products 100%. If your backpack fails due to a defect, you can count on us to repair it, replace it, or refund your money (at our discretion), depending on product availability.

Read the full details of our Worldwide Warranty .

You can forget about unexpected costs at checkout because Tortuga provides free shipping on all orders over $49. 

Read the details of our shipping here .

Home Try-On Program

You never want to travel with a backpack that doesn’t feel great every step of the way. 

To ensure that you’re picking the right bag, we offer a Home Try-On Program so you can test your backpack before you commit to a purchase. Order your bag, and if it doesn’t meet your needs for any reason, send it back within 30 days. We’ll pay for the return shipping and provide a 100% refund.

Tortuga Study Abroad Program

When you buy from Tortuga, you support the Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship which helps students achieve their dreams of exploring the world.

Frequently Asked Questions About 40L Backpacks

How big is a 40 liter backpack.

• A 40L backpac k is any backpack that offers 40 liters (2440.95 cubic inches) of capacity in its main compartment or between several separate compartments.
• They usually have dimensions equal to 20 x 13 x 8 inches.

How much can I pack into a 40L backpack?

• You can expect to pack for a at least a week or even significantly more if you’re a minimalist packer .
• Our carry on packing list will give you a better idea of how much you can plan on packing, including toiletries .

Does a 40L backpack fit laptops or tablets?

• The Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack includes protective sleeves for both laptops and tablets .

Does a 40L backpack count as a personal item in addition to a carry-on bag?

• No. Personal items must be able to fit beneath the seat in front of you, which is why they’re often referred to as underseat luggage .
• The Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack is designed as a carry on rather than a personal item .

Does a 40 liter backpack count as a carry on bag for international travel?

• It depends. With many international airlines you will have no issues carrying on the Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack.
• Some smaller international carriers do have smaller carry on allowances, and in these cases the Tortuga 30L Travel Backpack is an ideal option.
• Check your airline’s carry on luggage size allowance before your trip

Does your 40L bag come with a water bottle pocket?

• Yes, the Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack is equipped with two expandable water bottle pocket.

Helpful Resources for Your Trip

• How to Pack
• Packing Guide
• Packing Lists
• Travel Gear Guide
• Traveling Clothes Guide  

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.

• Best Sellers
• All Backpacks & Bags
• Travel Bags
• Laptop Bags
• Slings & Hip Packs
• Collapsible Bags
• Garment Bags
• Bag Bundles

• Best Selling Camera
• Camera Slings
• Camera Accessories
• Camera Bundles

• All Luggage
• Best Selling
• Carry-On Luggage
• Check-In Luggage
• Luggage Accessories
• Luggage Bundles

• All Accessories
• Travel Accessories
• Everyday Accessories

• instagram Instagram
• twitter Twitter

Travel Bag 40L

Designed to keep you organized and prepared during week-long excursions, the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L can seamlessly transition from a backpack to duffel while on the go. This bag includes our removable Nomatic Waist Straps for added comfort and a thoughtful feature-set purpose-built to secure your traveling essentials.  

The Nomatic Travel Bag 40L is built for the three to seven-day trip, and conveniently carries everything you need to live comfortably while on the move. With a durable construction of water-resistant materials and zippers, the Travel Bag 40L adds versatility to your travels thanks to our patented strap system, which easily transitions from duffel to backpack on the go. Each bag comes with our removable Nomatic Waist Straps, to evenly distribute weight while carrying as a backpack. Travel Bag 40L includes a custom laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate as you travel, and integrated compartments for shoes, clothes, a laptop or tablet, and a water bottle, to keep you organized during your weekend getaway or extended vacation. 

Seamless Carry | Transitions from duffel to backpack on the go

Waist Straps | Includes removable waist straps for added comfort

Room for Everything | Spacious, wide-open main compartment for easy packing

Travel like a Pro | Dedicated pockets for travel essentials (passports, water bottles, etc.)

Waterproof Storage | Dedicated internal water bottle pocket keeps valuables safe in case of spills

TSA-Ready | Carry-on size and easy access to your laptop and tablet 

Weight: 3.42 lbs Dimensions:9" H x 21" W x 14" D Large Opening Dimensions: 19" x 12" Laptop Compartment: 16" x 10.5" x 1.5" Volume: 40L Included Accessories: Laundry Bag, Waist Straps Exterior Materials: Polyester/Nylon Internal Materials: Polyester/PU foam Country of Origin: Philippines

- 40L Travel Bag - Waist Straps - Laundry Bag

The Nomatic 40L Travel Bag

Nomatic 40l travel bag.

With an incredible organization system that enables you to pack more in less space and look sleek wherever you go, this is the perfect companion for your travels.

A place for Everything

BUILT TO WITHSTAND

BACKPACK OR DUFFEL

Sail Through Security

40L Travel Bag

Walkthrough

Learn about all the features on the 40L Travel Bag

Travel Bag 40L FAQs

The 40L Travel Pack is made of a water-resistant tarpaulin material composed of 90% Polyester and 10% Nylon. The zippers are industry-standard YKK zippers. The bag is also vegan and made of 100% synthetic materials.

The 40L Travel Bag does not fit under airplane seats and is usually best-stowed overhead as it meets most airline max carry-on dimensions. Please remember to verify your airline requirements, especially on international flights. 

The 40L Travel Bag will hold a water bottle that is up to 9" tall.

Besides being 10L smaller than the 40L Travel Bag, the shoe compartment on the 30L has a ventilated door with a water-resistant flap allowing you to choose if you want to keep water out or allow for ventilation. 

The 40L Travel Bag does not include a ventilated shoe compartment but does come with a custom laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate as you travel. 

You may also like

Pack Hacker is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L Review

The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L has great materials and ample space. We just wish the backpack carry was better optimized.

Video Review

Our verdict.

Save time. Get access to brief summaries of our reviews so you can browse and make decisions more efficiently.

Join Pack Hacker Pro or, Sign In

• Made with recycled materials and a focus on sustainability
• Rectangular shape maximizes interior volume (great for packing cubes)
• Duffle packs into itself for easy, clean storage
• Duffle handles interfere with the backpack straps (and there’s no way to stow them)
• Backpack strap adjuster and excess strap can get in the way
• Bag doesn't perform well when not fully loaded

Technical Details

Carry-on compliance.

View 1/145 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.

Like the Look

Polled on Instagram

Weight (lb)

2.05 lb (0.9 kg)

21 in x 13.7 in x 10.6 in (53.3 x 34.8 x 26.9 cm)

Notable Materials

Recycled Polyester, Ripstop Polyester, Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), Polyurethane, DWR Coating, YKK Zippers, Duraflex Hardware, Recycled Nylon

Manufacturing Country

Warranty Information

Patagonia Ironclad Guarantee

Buying Options

Join the Co-op and earn a lifetime of benefits.

Full Review

Plenty of space and simple organization make the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L a solid choice for those looking to use a duffle bag for travel.

Made with recycled materials, this carry-on-friendly duffle bag from Patagonia is described by the California-based brand as being “perfect for small loads and long weekends.” And we’ve been using it for just that—putting the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L to the test for three weeks across Detroit, Michigan and San Francisco, California.

While we’ve been testing the 40L version, this duffle is also available in 55L, 70L, and 100L at the time of this review.

Let’s check it out.

Materials & Aesthetic

The main fabric of the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L is a TPU-coated 900D polyester. And, you’ll find nylon webbing on areas like the daisy chain and grab handles on the sides.

The polyester exterior, polyester interior lining, and the nylon on this duffle bag is 100% bluesign®-approved recycled material.

And the same goes for nearly the entire Patagonia Black Hole line, which is great to see. We like that the folks at Patagonia are keeping a close eye on sustainability and always pushing their products to be more eco-groovy. They’re pretty much an industry trendsetter at this point. They also have a Worn Wear program where you can repair your damaged gear to extend its life, exchange your old gear for new gear, sell your old gear, or buy used Patagonia gear. Pretty cool, right?

At the time of this review, the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel comes in five different colorways. We deviated from our usual black and went with the Classic Navy for our testing purposes But this bag does come in Black—as well as Cobalt Blue, Deep Plum, and Hammonds Gold. Patagonia updates its colorways all the time, so other choices may be available by the time you’re reading this review.

All of the colorways for this bag look decently sporty, in our opinion. Each has that giant Patagonia logo on the sides, which will leave no confusion that you have a Patagonia bag. That doesn’t seem to bother our Instagram audience too much as 55% are digging the looks of this duffle. (Make sure to check out our Instagram to take part in future polls.)

Wrapping up the rest of the materials, you’ve got durable YKK zippers on the main compartment and the side pockets, and Duraflex buckles used to attach the backpack straps to the bag.

Exterior Components

Okay, so. Patagonia claims there are two different ways to carry the Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L—but we’ve found three.

First off, you can carry it by the buttonable handles on each side of the top of the bag. The carry handles are made from that nylon webbing we mentioned earlier, while the fastener that buttons them together is made from the same ripstop polyester found on the rest of the bag.

There is no padding on the fastener, but it does a good job of holding together and staying put. On some other duffles we’ve tested, we’ve found that the fasteners can be a little bit finicky and come unbuttoned when you fully pack out the bag with gear. Fortunately, this is not the case with the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel.

If you keep the handles buttoned together, you’ll likely have to unzip them to access the main compartment of the bag—especially if you want to open it way up. Generally, we think that carrying it by the handles is the best way to carry this specific bag, so we found ourselves buttoning and unbuttoning the handles quite a bit.

The Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L can also be carried in backpack mode, using the included backpack straps.

A quick note before we dive in: If you want to keep the backpack straps attached and still use the handles, we’ve found that you can sort of tuck the shoulder straps underneath the handles (laying it flat against the top of the bag). This works pretty well at keeping things tidy. Also, if you’re checking this bag for a flight, you may want to remove the backpack straps so they don’t get caught on things—the bag is definitely cleaner without them.

The shoulder straps attach and detach via D-rings at the top and the Duraflex buckles at the bottom of the bag. At first, this attachment system seemed a little bit precarious. In testing, however, we got used to it and more comfortable with the idea—plus, the D-rings are not very offensive when they’re just hanging off the bag without the backpack straps.

The buckles at the bottom of the Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L, on the other hand, stick out quite a bit. We like how other bags, like the Tom Bihn Aeronaut , have handled this. On the Aeronaut, the buckle kind of tucks into the fabric and gets it out of the way, giving it a much cleaner look.

The straps themselves are a little bit on the thinner side—though we still think they’re a great choice for this duffle bag. Although thin, the foam is dense which helps promote a comfortable carry.

Curving down the front of the strap, there’s a daisy chain you can use to attach a sternum strap if you’d like or any other accessories you want close access to at the front of your body.

The strap adjusters at the bottom of the shoulder straps seem kind of backward. Instead of pulling them down and towards your back like you’d typically adjust a backpack, these Patagonia straps need to be pulled up/out towards your chest. This style of adjustment is pretty similar to the Patagonia Black Hole MLC , which we’ve reviewed previously.

Pulling this way makes the straps feel a little more in the way than what we’ve seen with other bags—especially since there are no elastic keepers to help manage that excess strap. We understand that this is a byproduct of how the bag is designed and how these straps come off, but we’ve had a better experience with other duffle backpack hybrids in terms of the straps and how they are managed at the bottom.

One last note about backpack mode: When you put your arms through the shoulder straps to carry backpack-style, it’s very easy to put your hand/arm through the carry handles. We’ve gotten caught in the handles pretty much every time we’ve worn the bag backpack-style. It gets pretty old, pretty quick.

We’ve tried buttoning these handles behind our back, but with a heavy load, it kind of sticks into your back—yeah, not very comfortable. We’ve also experimented with attaching a carabiner to the side PALS-like webbing. It works but it’s not the cleanest way to deal with the handles—we would’ve liked Patagonia to figure out a fix for this.

Overall, this bag isn’t super comfortable to carry in backpack mode—but most duffle backpack hybrids are not, anyway. And it’s definitely less comfortable than carrying a dedicated backpack. That said, it sort of depends on how you pack out this thing (don’t worry, we’ll cover that later).

Next up, the third way we’ve found to carry the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L is on one shoulder. You simply clump up the two backpack straps (or remove one if you’re feeling crazy) and sling it over one shoulder. It’s kind of a mix between traditional duffle-style shoulder carry and too-cool-for-school backpack carry. Now, this is not the most comfortable way to carry this duffle, but it gets closer to that crossbody shoulder strap carry you’ll find on most Classic Duffles.

Wrapping up the rest of the exterior components on this duffle bag, you have a hauler handle on each side of the bag, which is great for grabbing onto and carting the bag around—especially when it’s open—or pulling out of an overhead bin. These handles are simple, folded nylon webbing, and they’re decently comfortable to grab despite not being super-padded (similar to the carry handles at the top). In the larger sizes, some foam padding would be nice, but it’s not a huge deal.

Finally, you’ll find two rows of PALS-like webbing on each side of the Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L. This is where we’ve been attaching those carry handles to get them out of the way in backpack mode. You can also attach any other additional accessories you’d like here, too—maybe a MOLLE accessory, a water bottle via carabiner, pretty much anything with a clip. The sky’s the limit.

Inside the Pack

Let’s start with the front pocket, shall we? It acts as your quick-grab pocket and opens right up to stow smaller items or empty your pockets into when going through airport security. The thin paracord pull on the zipper, paired with the sturdy YKK #8 zipper, feels nice in the hand and it’s easy to operate. Plus, there’s a zipper garage that will help deter water from entering this pocket when it’s fully zipped. This pocket is accessible from the exterior and the interior of the bag, which is a handy feature.

You’ll also find a plastic key clip inside—it’s nothing too special, but it’s a good place to stash your keys.

This pocket also acts as a stuff-sack for you to pack the Black Hole Duffel into. When we received the bag, it came perfectly compressed inside of this pocket. Unfortunately, though, we haven’t been able to get it back (neatly, anyway) ever since. And we had a bit of an issue figuring out which side of the pocket to pack it into/out of.

Pro Tip: Look for the double zipper (the one that has a pull on both sides). That’s how you’ll know the right opening to pack it into. It can get a bit confusing if you’re not paying close attention (it did for us, anyway).

Now, we wouldn’t consider this bag packable. The fabric is a bit rigid and it can be hard to fit it all in that zippered pocket. We’re also not quite sure why you’d want to pack it—it’s a pretty big package. If you’re packing it into another bag, it’d have to be a massive duffle (like 100L?). If you’re doing any type of one bag travel, that seems like overkill. Plus, you can find packable duffle bags (like the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Duffel ) that are designed specifically to compress small and pack into other bags, which would be a much better option.

The main compartment of the bag opens up horseshoe-style with a #10 YKK zipper. The zipper is protected by a TPU-coated storm flap for additional weather resistance.

When you open up this bag, you start to get the idea of why it’s called the Black Hole Duffel. There’s a ton of room on the interior to jam in packing cubes , compression sacks, loose clothing, and other gear you want to keep inside. We wish the interior liner on the Classic Navy colorway offered a little more pop so you could see darker colored gear and what’s going on inside of the bag more easily.

The rectangular shape on this duffle allows you to maximize the space inside—plus, it allows for easy stacking if you have more than one. The padded bottom of the bag gives it a little bit of extra protection, which makes total sense considering this is typically how you’re going to set the bag down. (And let’s face it, you’re probably not going to do so gently.)

Meanwhile, the top flap of the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L offers an additional zippered mesh compartment that’s ideal for things like socks and underwear, or anything softer and flatter. Remember: whatever you put inside of this mesh pocket is going to be directly against your back if you’re wearing this bag in backpack mode. It’s definitely something you’ll want to keep in mind.

While previous and larger versions of the Black Hole bags offer two separate mesh pockets on this top flap, the 40L version we’ve been testing at the time of this review, has one big mesh pocket.

Durability & Testing

Two members of the Pack Hacker team have been testing the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L for a combined three weeks across Detroit, Michigan and San Francisco, California.

On the road, it’s a great travel companion—especially if packed out correctly. During our testing, we’ve found the best carry experience, for both duffle and backpack modes, when you completely fill it up out with clothes and/or packing cubes. Plus, it’s a popular bag, so we saw plenty of other travelers using these in the wild. It feels like we’re part of a club.

We’ve also taken this duffle to the grocery store, filling it up with all our…groceries. It’s safe to say this is not really the best bag for that job. There’s very little structure to the bag (even though the fabric is more rigid than some other duffles we’ve tested) so carrying it when it’s full of apples, oranges, cartons of milk, etc. doesn’t work so well. It sort of creases and flops all over the place. You probably won’t use this as a grocery bag, but hey—we like to be thorough and test bags in different contexts.

Despite taking it on two plane rides, we’re happy to report that we haven’t noticed any durability issues. We usually get a lot of scratches on TPU and tarpaulin-like material like this, however, we haven’t run into that on the Black Hole Duffel so far.

Usage Timeline

Condition: Excellent

• Made of durable and water-resistant materials
• Compresses down into its own side pocket, but the stiff material makes it difficult to do so

The backpack shoulder straps are more comfortable than we thought—although the duffle carry handles get in the way. We’ve gotten caught in them quite a few times. Also, happy to report that there are no noticeable scratches on the TPU material.

Get your questions about the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L answered from our team and the Pro Community right here on the page. Plus, join discussions with other members about gear, guides, and more.

Sign up to get our 5 Minimalist Travel Hacks Guide. Plus, a weekly digest of our newest content in the newsletter.

Save 50% on your personalized daily skincare routine with Proven Skincare. Check it out →