Best Travel Backpacks

A well-designed travel backpack is absolutely essential for durability, organization, the ability to walk around freely without the hassle of a suitcase, and limited strain on your neck and shoulders–all while carrying a week’s worth of clothing. Here are VUE NJ’s best travel backpack recommendations for all price ranges. 

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack – $200

This backpack’s water-resistant exterior is built to handle all weather conditions, including rain and snow. Like any great travel backpack, there are multiple compartments to maintain organization while packing or retrieving something when needed. The zippered mesh compartments are designed for clothing and toiletries, while there are padded laptop and tablet sleeves. The bag is also friendly for hikes or long walks with its padded shoulder straps and optional waist belt. The bag can also turn into a duffle with side handles with its backpack harness system. While it may be spacious enough for a week-long trip, it’s also compact and carry-on friendly. 

The Outdoor Convertible Backpack 45L – $220

The Outdoor Convertible Backpack 45L is the perfect bag for longer excursions, fitting as much as a carry-on luggage would right on your back. The dual compression system maximizes space and efficiency, and the comfortable chest strap ensures a long-distance walk or travel day won’t be deterred by carrying almost a week’s worth of belongings. The hidden passport pocket, laptop compartment, and exterior daisy chains for attaching accessories ensure your items stay organized and easily accessible, making the packing process more streamlined and hassle-free.

Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack – $40

For an excellent balance of affordability and functionality, this backpack meets the carry-on requirements, has a very spacious main compartment, a large laptop sleeve, and many different pockets. Three packing cubes are included with this purchase that fit perfectly in the roomy backpack. Most importantly, the padded shoulder straps and lightweight design ensure a comfortable travel experience. If you’re looking for a durable, good-quality travel backpack that doesn’t break the bank, this bag is for you. 

Nomatic Travel Pack – $280

Priced at $280, the Nomatic Travel Pack is designed for organization and security. Its anti-theft zippers are lockable to protect valuables, such as passports or wallets. Additionally, the pockets are hidden by its sleek design which minimizes external access points. Busy or high-risk areas call for this advanced backpack. And of course, the exterior is water-resistant, making it a strong choice for all weather conditions. 

Osprey Fairview 40L – $185

This backpack is designed especially for women with a fit that caters to a woman’s body. It features a shorter torso length than most travel backpacks, and provides better weight distribution and comfort, reducing strain on the back and shoulders. The stowaway harness system allows for easy transport, and the overall structure ensures that the bag remains secure and stable during use.

Tropicfeel Shell Backpack – $249

Made using eco-friendly materials, the Tropicfeel Shell Backpack has an expandable capacity of 22L to 40L, making it suitable for short-day trips or longer trips. This bag accommodates a wardrobe insert, packing cubes, and different sections for different types of belongings. It is also water-resistant, includes a laptop sleeve with padding, and the expandable straps allow for additional gear. 

Osprey Farpoint 55 Men’s Travel Pack – $220

This bag is a popular one for multi-day travelers, combining a 55-liter capacity with a detachable 15L daypack. Thus, customers have a daily use option as well with the option of leaving the larger pack behind. The stowaway suspension system allows you to tuck away the backpack’s shoulder straps, hip belt, and harness into a zippered compartment when not in use, a great feature for storing the backpack in tight spaces like the plane. Even when the bag is fully packed, the padded straps, hip belt, and ventilated back support keep you cool and comfortable at all times. 

Osprey Fairview 55 Women’s Travel Pack – $220

This bag’s women-specific fit is designed for shorter torsos with supportively shaped shoulder straps and a hip belt. The 55L capacity includes a 15L detachable daypack included in this purchase. This bag is made with durable materials but feels extremely lightweight and has lockable zippers for extra security. This pack is ideal for both urban areas and outdoor adventures. 

Gieury Carry On Backpack – $32

This affordable and very much expandable backpack meets airline carry-on requirements while fitting clothing, shoes, and essentials. The convertible design allows it to transform from a backpack to a suitcase style, with a TSA-friendly laptop compartment (that fits up to a 17-inch laptop) that opens 180 degrees for quick security checks. The built-in USB charging port (power bank not included) allows you to charge your phone while on the go!

The Backpacker 45+20L – $380

Although on the pricier side, ‘The Backpacker 45+20L’ is considered a premium option for serious travelers. The versatile backpack offers a combined capacity of 45 liters, which can be expanded by an additional 20 liters when needed, hence the name. This bag accommodates souvenirs and extra gear that tacks on when returning home. The adjustable harness, hip belt, padded back panel, load lifters, and sternum strap all facilitate breathability and ease. In terms of sturdiness, the reinforced zippers and buckles combined with the water-resistant materials make certain that the bag can handle rugged use. The hydration reservoir pockets are compatible with any size of hydration bladder and allow travelers to stay hydrated during long walks or hikes.