Best Travel Backpacks

Size & Capacity: How Many Liters Do You Actually Need?

Volume is the first decision and the one most people overthink. The sweet spot for carry-on travel is 35-45L — large enough to hold a week of clothes with packing cubes, a laptop, and toiletries, while still fitting in overhead bins on most airlines. Here's how sizes break down in practice:

• • 20-30L: Personal item or daypack. Fits under the seat. Works for minimalist weekend trips or as a secondary bag. The Osprey Daylite 26+6 lives here when collapsed.
• • 35-45L: Carry-on size. Holds 5-7 days of clothing, a laptop, and travel accessories. This is where the Osprey Farpoint 40 and Cotopaxi Allpa 35L sit — and where most travelers should start.
• • 45-65L: Checked bag territory. Necessary for extended trips (3+ weeks) or travelers who need specialized gear like camera equipment or climbing gear.

Opening Style: Clamshell vs Top-Loading

This is the feature that separates travel backpacks from hiking packs. A clamshell opening (sometimes called panel-loading) lets the bag open flat like a suitcase, so you can see and access everything without digging. The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L has one of the best clamshell designs on our list — it opens a full 180 degrees.

Top-loading designs force you to stack items vertically, which means pulling everything out to reach what's at the bottom. Fine for hiking, frustrating in a hostel at 6 AM. If your backpack is your only luggage, insist on a clamshell or at least a U-shaped front panel opening.

Comfort & Suspension System

A good hip belt moves most of the pack's weight from your shoulders to your hips. This matters less for a quick airport transfer and enormously for a 2-kilometer walk from the train station to your Airbnb in Rome. The Osprey Farpoint 40 has the best suspension system on our list — adapted from their hiking line — while budget options like the Matein skip the hip belt entirely.

Look for padded, adjustable shoulder straps with a sternum strap. Load lifter straps (the small straps at the top of the shoulder harness) are a bonus that helps pull the pack's weight closer to your body. If you're between 5'2" and 5'8", check whether the backpack comes in a women's/small torso version — fit matters more than brand. For more packing advice tailored to independent travel, see our gifts for solo female travelers guide.

Material & Durability

Most quality travel backpacks use nylon (measured in denier — higher = more durable). The Osprey Farpoint uses 450D recycled nylon with a DWR coating for light rain resistance. The WANDRD PRVKE uses a tarpaulin-style weatherproof shell. The Matein uses basic polyester, which is lighter but less abrasion-resistant. Many brands now offer recycled and animal-free materials — if sustainable and cruelty-free gear is a priority, see our sustainable and vegan travel gifts guide.

Zippers are the most common failure point. Look for YKK zippers on any backpack over $100 — they're the industry standard for a reason. Lockable zipper pulls are essential for hostel stays and checked bags.

Airline Carry-On Compliance

Most airlines allow carry-on bags up to 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 inches). The trick with backpacks is that they're flexible — even a 40L pack can compress down to fit stricter limits if it's not overpacked. Budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Ryanair have smaller limits for overhead bags, so check before you fly. Our top picks are all sized for standard carry-on limits, but an overstuffed pack can still fail a strict airline sizer.