The 13 Best Travel Backpacks of 2025

Travel backpacks have become a common staple for most travelers. Whether you want to bounce from place to place with one carry-on, saving you hundreds of dollars in baggage fees or need to keep work items available for work on a plane or train, or something in between, we have the right travel backpack for you in our guide.

When you begin searching for the perfect bag, you must know what factors matter most to you. You may only be concerned with price, but it is also important to consider the size and the design of the bag. There are also more nuanced features, like the size of the bag’s main compartment, its weight, packability, and even the quality of its zippers.

Before you hit purchase on the order in your cart, let’s do a deep dive into the best travel backpacks and explore the factors to consider when choosing the perfect travel bag for you.

Travel Backpack Buyer’s Guide

Why trust our Travel Backpack Buyers Guide

Outoria reviewers spend weeks to months with each travel backpack before we review them. All of our expert product reviewers look for specific criteria to determine which bags are worth your money and which ones are all hype.

There were many eyes and minds involved in the testing and reviewing of these bags. Three editors, a staff writer, and two freelance reviewers worked to test, review, and select the top bags featured in this list.

We tested 20 bags, and this list represents the very best bags we have tested thus far and will continue to refresh this list as we test even better packs as they are released.

How Outoria Tested The Travel Backpacks On This List

Our experienced reviewers and seasoned writers take these backpacks on trips throughout the world, testing them in real-life travel scenarios. They have passed through the strict TSA rules in America and security in countries around the world.

Some of the best travel backpacks on this list have endured multi-day hikes in places like Patagonia, and others have traveled through nearly a dozen countries in the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia. All of these journeys help our reviewers to know for sure which travel backpacks are only decent and which ones are truly exceptional.

Finding The Perfect Size: Carry-On Versus Check-in Backpack

Travel backpacks fit into a few size categories. The main three sizes are travel backpacks you use as a carry-on bag, backpacks you use as a personal item, and travel backpacks you use as checked luggage.

• Carry-On Travel Backpacks: This is the most popular type of travel backpack. Travel backpacks that can be used as carry-on luggage are represented throughout the entirety of our best travel backpacks list because they represent all the best backpacks for one-bag travel. The size of carry-on travel backpacks tends to be 35L to 40L, or even as large as 46L, as is the case with the Osprey Sojourn Porter. These bags have varying levels of organization and are often designed with jet-setting backpackers in mind.

• Travel Backpacks Used As Personal Items: Smaller travel backpacks exist for those looking for a bag that can be used as a personal item. These are smaller bags, usually between 20L and 30L, like the MATEIN Travel Backpack, or Gregory Border Traveler 30, which can fit underneath a seat on an airplane if not fully stuffed. These packs often double as laptop backpacks for digital nomads or daypacks for hiking enthusiasts.

• Travel Backpacks For Checked Luggage: There are also large pieces of travel luggage that must be checked when traveling through Europe and throughout the world by airplane. These tend to be 45L or larger and are great large luggage bags for those traveling in areas with uneven or unpaved terrain. Larger 60L backpacks can work as checked bags. Osprey’s Sojourn Porter and Farpoint and Fairview travel backpacks come in these larger sizes, too.

Durability and Overall Quality

When you are searching for the perfect travel backpack, the bag’s durability and quality are crucial. The better the quality and the more durable the bag, the longer the bag is likely to last. This will help you rest easy as you travel as you know you have a bag that is built to last.

It is also likely that you are bound to get more years out of a higher-quality bag. This translates into money well spent. The key factors to examine when you examine a bag’s quality and durability are the materials the bag is made of and the hardware the company uses.

Backpack Materials

The materials the bag is made of should be one of your top considerations. Travel backpacks come in all sorts of different materials, and many packs use various material types in different parts of the bag to ensure durability and longevity.

Below is a list of popular backpack materials and why you should (or shouldn’t) consider purchasing a travel backpack with these materials.

• Ripstop Nylon: This is a popular material on high-end bags like the Matador Globerider 45. It does a great job of preventing the inevitable wear and tear that happens when bags travel on various forms of transportation and in the wild.

• Polyester: Polyester can be both high and low quality. Coated polyester, like the type found on the Cotopaxi Allpa travel backpack, is durable and high quality. Polyester on the AmazonBasics Carry-On is durable but bulky and cheap-looking.

• Polypropylene: This is an ideal fabric for those seeking a waterproof travel backpack. Polypropylene is the ideal material to keep water out of your bag and away from your vulnerable belongings.

• Leather: Leather looks great and stylish, and it is used because it is also quite durable. The downside of leather is it shows its wear, it isn’t easy to clean, and it is also quite heavy. This is why you don’t find it used much on the bags in our list.

Zippers, Buckles, And Hardware

Just as travel backpack materials must be high quality and durable if you want your pack to last, the zippers and hardware must also be top quality. Zippers are particularly important as you are bound to use zippers more than any other piece of hardware on the bag. They are also likely to deal with a lot of stretch and pull due to overstuffing, a reality that faces many backpackers, especially towards the end of a trip.

Quality YKK zippers are always something to look for. Most reputable brands use either YKK zippers or their proprietary brand of zipper. You may also want to consider waterproof zippers like those found on the Matador Globerider 45 if you are looking into a waterproof or water-resistant travel backpack. Anti-theft zippers, like those on the Gregory Border Traveler 30 are great for those who take frequent bus journeys or need to leave their travel bag out of sight from time to time.

Hardware should be examined for quality and feel. Check the buckles to see how easy they are to clip and unclip. You can often feel if a plastic buckle is made well or feels cheap and fragile.

Travel Backpack Comfort And Fit

Another major factor to think about when you are looking for the perfect travel backpack for exploring the world is its comfort and fit. This is particularly important for those traveling on extended multi-country adventures but is a factor worth noting even for those who plan to use a travel backpack for long weekend getaways. Below are aspects of a travel backpack you should take note of, as they can have a major impact on its fit and comfort.

Men’s vs Women’s Focused Fit

You will notice early on in your search for the best travel backpack that some backpacks are geared towards a specific gender, like the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview 40 travel backpacks, while others are unisex. No body shape is the same, but backpack manufacturers that make both men’s and women’s versions tend to have a more comfortable and natural fit, especially around the shoulders, hips, and chest.

If you opt for a unisex backpack make sure you read the sizing chart and reviews carefully to ensure you have the best-fitting backpack. Look for backpacks with shoulder straps that adjust and a moveable harness system to adjust to your unique frame.

Backpack Straps And Grab Handles

One key part of any backpack that deserves a closer look is the straps and grab handles. After all, the shoulder straps and arm handles are the pieces of the bag that your body will touch the most.

Therefore it’s important the backpack straps and all grab handles are well-constructed, as is the case with several bags on this list, including the Stubble & Co Adventure backpack.

In addition to quality materials, smart design, and built-to-last construction, these handles should have good cushioning and airflow. Without good airflow, you will become unnecessarily sweaty, and your travel backpack might even become too slippery to grip easily.

Hip Belts

Many travel backpacks now include hip belts. While hip belts are a feature traditionally found on hiking backpacks, you will find that all sorts of carry-on travel backpacks include a hip belt. Hip belts help to distribute weight, making it easier to carry your backpack for long distances without straining your back or shoulders.

If, however, you aren’t a big fan of hip belts, you might want to look for a backpack with a detachable hip belt or one that can tuck away, like on the Peak Design Travel Backpack or  Matador Globerider 45. Otherwise, this bulky feature will likely cause you more frustration than comfort, as is the case with the AmazonBasics Carry-On.

Sternum Straps

Sternum straps are another great feature to have on a travel backpack to help with the ease of carrying the pack longer distances, and they help with evening out weight distribution.

When you look for travel backpacks with sternum straps, look for quality buckles that won’t crack under pressure. The Osprey Farpoint 40L travel backpacks have great sternum straps that even feature a built-in whistle.

You should also seek a pack with sternum straps that can tuck away. Otherwise, they will always dangle or get in the way when not in use, as is the case with the AmazonBasics Carry-On.

Back Panel

You can’t see your back panel when you wear your travel backpack, but it is one of the most important design elements of the entire pack for comfort and fit. Look for a back panel that offers cushioning support.

This is crucial as without this support, items inside your backpack can dig into your back, causing extreme discomfort. You should also look for back panels with great airflow like the airscape system featured in the Osprey Farpoint 40L and Osprey Sojourn Porter.

The Price Of The Travel Backpack

While every aspect is worth considering when you are on the hunt for the perfect travel backpack, perhaps no factor holds more weight or pull than your budget.

Packs like the carry-on compliant travel backpacks found on this list range from as low as $30 – $50 for the AmazonBasics Carry-On and MATEIN Travel Backpack to $300 for the Matador Globerider 45 and others. There are even specialty designer travel backpacks that can cost you well over $1,000. Therefore, while there is a backpack for nearly every budget, it is important you know your budget before you start your search.

Design And Packability

Travel backpacks come in endless designs with many different travelers in mind. Some designs are great for certain travelers, but they might not work well for others. Below are some design features you should think about as you decide the travel backpack design that is ideal for you.

Top-loading Versus Clamshell Backpacks

Packability is important for any backpack, and different travelers have different preferences. When it comes to packability, the main compartment is the most important area of focus. Generally, a travel backpack has two design options – top-loading main compartments and clamshell (also known as panel loading) compartments. Each type has its unique pros and cons to consider.

Clamshell or panel-loading travel backpacks are ideal for those using a travel backpack for one-bag travel or as luggage. They are much easier to work out of, as the opening has much larger access. You can find things easier and be much more strategic in your packing.

If you are using your travel backpack primarily for long-distance hiking, however, you might want to consider a top-loading travel backpack. This is because a top-loading travel backpack is designed to take the weight off your back and make it easier to travel for long distances.

Modular Backpack System

If you are a traveler who has ever-changing needs, then you might need a travel backpack that can adapt to your ever-evolving requirements. Modular backpack systems represent a trending design category in travel backpacks. These backpack systems can adjust and adapt for different travel needs, as is the case with the Stubble & Co Adventure backpack, and others.

If you are looking for a travel backpack that can offer your back and hip support on long hikes but can also be carried like a suitcase when you are in an airport, then a modular backpack system is the way to go. Modular backpack systems are great for digital nomads who travel with electronics but also use a travel backpack for adventures into the wilderness.

Packing Cubes Versus Prefabricated Internal Compartments

Some prefabricated internal compartments can take away from the true volume of the bag. A bag’s “true volume” is its actual usable amount of space. If a bag has many prefabricated compartments, the true volume can decrease, and these compartments eat away at the usable space.

If you like to use your great packing cube set, a bag with the maximum amount of true volume and fewer prefabricated compartments is usually ideal. Osprey does this well in their Sojourn Porter and Farpoint/Fairview travel backpacks.

Some bags meet in the middle, like the Cotopaxi Allpa and Matador Globerider 45. These bags have a large main compartment but also multiple interior pouches for organization that doesn’t take away from the large main compartment. This allows you to use your packing cube system and also utilize the provided internal compartments.

Compression and Expandability

Packing cubes are not the only way to compress and expand your luggage. Many suitcases and travel backpacks offer different levels of compression and expandability.

Compression is key for those who want to pack as much as possible into an airline-approved carry-on bag. Compression makes packing much easier, as you simply need to ensure your bag zips, and you can use external compression straps or zippers to make your bag smaller. One example of a bag with strong and durable compression straps is the Osprey Sojourn Porter.

Expandability is also worth considering, like on the Peak Design Travel Backpack. For those who like to shop on vacation, you are all too aware that your suitcase will have more in it coming home than when you leave.

While compression and expandability are both great features to seek in a bag, they mustn’t make the bag bulkier or more difficult to use. Some compression systems involve additional materials and zippers that can make the bag bulkier, and others use additional straps that make accessing the main compartment more cumbersome.

Travel Backpack Special Features Worth Looking Out For

Travel Laptop Backpacks

Most of the bags on this list feature a laptop compartment, with some bags having larger and more padded compartments than others. The MATEIN Travel Backpack is specifically geared towards the laptop-carrying digital nomad and even features a USB port for easy charging. Make sure you choose a laptop travel backpack that supports the size of your laptop and is easy to access.

Camera Backpacks For Travel

Many world travelers are also amateur or professional photographers. After all, if you can see the world, you might as well document and share these beautiful sites with others.

The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is an exceptional example of a travel backpack geared toward those carrying cameras and equipment. Cameras and lenses are particularly fragile and can be insanely expensive, so choosing a bag that caters to camera equipment is a smart call if you plan on traveling with a nice camera setup.

Water-Resistant Travel Bags

Weather can be unpredictable when traveling, and backpackers are not always protected from nature’s elements. You can opt for a waterproof rain cover for your travel backpack, like on the Cotopaxi Allpa.

Or opt for a bag with water-resistant materials and waterproof zippers like the Matador Globerider 45. Remember that while several of the bags on this list are water resistant, it is always a good idea to put vulnerable electronics in a reliable dry bag for extra safety.

Lightweight Travel Backpacks

The weight of your travel backpack is also important to consider. This is particularly important for those who are using their bag as a carry-on or as a personal item, as many airlines have strict weight standards for these items.

The MATEIN Travel Backpack and the Gregory Border Traveler 30 are both compact and lightweight bag options for those looking for smaller travel backpacks, but most bags on this list try hard to minimize their weight.

Backpacks with Wheels

You may also want to consider a travel backpack with wheels. These backpacks are helpful for those with back issues or who may find it difficult to lift a heavy backpack for prolonged periods. Keep in mind, however, that travel backpacks with wheels may add weight to the bag and take away from the bag’s true volume.