Budget airline flyers, minimalists and Marie Kondo — listen up.
For those that travel light, hate checking a bag or just love having everything handy, having the perfect backpack can make or break a trip. It gets even better when the backpack can double as a carry-on, fitting snugly in the overhead or under the seat of the plane.
After the flight, a great backpack can be the perfect travel companion during your trip, too. Need a change of clothes and a towel for the beach? How about a liter of water, maps and hiking boots for an adventure? With a travel bag, you’ll never be unprepared again.
Since we want you to conserve your energy for planning your next vacation, we did the leg work to round up the best travel backpacks and carry-on backpacks the internet has to offer, looking at size, capacity, material and more. Read on for the best travel backpacks of 2023 and then, well, pack your bags!
This versatile bag looks sleek enough for a business trip and is function enough to fly on vacation. The backpack comes in an assortment of colors, with your choice of nylon or a vegan leather material.
This is more than just a laptop bag. The Calpak bag can fit 26 liters and can be converted from a backpack to a duffle with ease — and with the removable strap. It also has a luggage sleeve to sit on top of your suitcase for on-the-go.
Get away, but not without this backpack. This bestseller has a 26L capacity and comes with two water bottle pockets for the most hydrated hiking. Plus, it packs completely flat for easy storage and packing when going on a longer trip.
4. Carrier GSD Backpack, $72, original price: $90
Make sure you’re all charged up and ready before hitting the road. This backpack can help, as it comes with a USB charger right in the bag. The customer favorite also has a laptop compartment, sunglasses pocket, two water bottle pockets and a luggage sleeve.
5. Open Story Day Trip Backpack, $64, original price: $80
Take a day trip with Target. The Open Story brand bag is a bestseller, and is also a great backpack for your buck, now on sale for $64. It comes in two colors and has 22L capacity, a RFID security pocket for cards and passports and a laptop sleeve.
Are you packed and ready? If not, consider Pakt, as this backpack is the ultimate travel companion for those that like to pack smart and use a backpack as a carry-on. The bag comes with a suitcase clamshell design for clothes, as well as an anti-theft pocket, a removable hip belt, a water-proof pocket for toiletries and more.
No need to call the bellhop when all your belongs fit on your back. This Bellroy bag is great for hiking, but also great as a carry-on bag, with a 26L capacity, a quick-access top pocket for the necessities and then more storage below.
Been looking for the perfect bag? Hang in there, and let Beis help. This backpack is different than the rest, as from first glance it is a sleek backpack for work and travel, but once opened up, it can conveniently open up and be used for packing, like a garment bag but so much better.
9. Dagne Dover Walker Backpack, $149, original price: $185
Puffer coats are in, so what about puffer backpacks? The Walker from Dagne Dover is not only fun to look at and touch, but it is also a great travel companion for its many pockets, laptop sleeve and suitcase sleeve for airport travel in style.
Of course lululemon has exactly what we are looking for. This Wunderlust backpack surely inspires the travel bug in us. It comes in two colors and made of water-repellent material, has two side pockets, and even exterior straps to attach a yoga mat, coat or camping gear.
If you’re headed to a hike or just like to be prepared for anything, Cotopaxi is a brand to watch. The Travel Pack is obviously designed for traveling, with a 35L capacity, mesh pockets for internal organization, a rain cover and a side handle for easy carrying.
This travel backpack was made with women in mind, with padded straps for comfortable carrying, plus fun colors to choose from. It is TSA-compliant and even comes with a USB charger to keep you fully fueled before your flight.
This backpack is deserving of first class. The men’s travel backpack comes in both navy and black, with a fleece-lined sunglasses pocket and padded laptop sleeve for protection as well as an expandable zipper on the bag should you need to pack a bit more than expected.
If your journey requires some more gear, upgrade to this larger pack from Osprey. The backpack has a 65L capacity and comes with padded straps to help lighten the load. It also has easy top-access pockets as well as more storage in the main compartment.
Need a durable pack that will get you to Timbuktu? This backpack and duffle hybrid is great and will be your travel wingman, so to speak. The pack can be turned on its side and packed like a suitcase, with compartments for shoes and toiletries included. Then zip it up and throw on your back for easy travels.
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