Whether you’re hopping on a bike, trekking across rugged terrain, sightseeing, shopping, or jetting off to a business meeting, the best travel backpacks give you the freedom to explore hands-free. We’ve rounded up 24 of the best bags to throw over your shoulders, from the chicest carry-ons to super durable options that prove there really is a backpack for every occasion and vacation. Ahead, discover weather-resistant carry-on bags, ultralight hiking backpacks, sleek urban options, sling styles, and more.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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Rains Rolltop Rucksack
Rains’ roll-top rucksack is a solid travel backpack for nearly every occasion. You can take it anywhere, no rain cover required, thanks to its water-resistant material and hardware. It’s front-loading and has a side zip pocket, allowing for easy access to whatever you need while on the go. Find it in five colors: navy, olive, grey, maroon, and black.
Baboon 40L Go-Bag
This duffel bag-backpack combo from luggage brand Baboon to the Moon is big enough for about three days of gear and ensures three things: One, you’ll never lose your bag in a sea of black carry-ons should you have to check it at the gate. Two, you’ll be able to take it anywhere, thanks to its ballistic shell exterior, which is both impressively sturdy and waterproof. Three, you can carry it whichever way you want: by its side handles, the adjustable shoulder strap, or as a backpack. In short, it’s high-quality travel gear at its finest—and it’s available in an ever-changing array of colors.
Cotopaxi Tarak 20L backpack
This colorful backpack accommodates the needs of both day climbers in Southeast Asia and backcountry skiers in Europe alike. It includes dedicated space to carry heavy-duty gear like ropes and an ice axe with ease, and two exterior pockets to keep smaller items organized. The top access offers a convenient way to pack and secure your items: Simply pull the drawstring closed and cover it with the flap, secured with a hook and loop, for protection. The backpack’s original look—each bag comes from repurposed materials which vary slightly—helps reduce waste, making it a more environmentally friendly pick, too.
Lululemon City 17L Adventurer backpack
Bigger isn’t always better—if you’re looking for something to take around the city or out on day trips, a smaller backpack might be preferable to help lighten your load. This lightweight, slim pack has well thought-out functionality with expandable pockets, a laptop sleeve, quick-access outer pockets, and reinforced straps. As an added bonus, the water-repellent fabric is easy to clean. Seen here in gray, it’s also available in black.
Cuyana large leather backpack
Stow all your daily essentials in this large Italian leather bag. It’s available in four gorgeous options—black with crocodile texture, pebbled black, pebbled stone, and pebbled caramel (pictured)—all of which are nice enough to bring into the office once you’re commuting again. Other perks: The straps are adjustable, and it can be worn as a backpack or shoulder bag.
Fjällräven Kånken No. 2 laptop backpack
Fjällräven was probably our first intro to Swedish one-ups, and some Traveler editors have even been carrying their classic Kånken backpack since college. The bag fits a 15-inch laptop in a padded pocket and offers easy access without the fuss of too many pockets. If you consider yourself a minimalist, this is the backpack for you. The backpack is available in eight colors: acorn, navy, green, plum, deep red, black, deep blue, and olive (pictured).
Away Backpack
Since Away—with its hard-sided, monochromatic luggage—expanded to garment bags, packing cubes, Dopp kits, and backpacks, you could ostensibly only own Away gear. This backpack, though, is special in its own right. Each feature was designed with easy access at the airport in mind. The front pocket is built for large, flat items like books and magazines. A hidden zipper in the back panel opens up a pocket that perfectly fits a passport, and outer pockets expand for reusable water bottles and umbrellas. There’s also a 15″ laptop pocket, and the entire bag is made of water-resistant nylon. Buy it in navy, cream, or forest green.
Dagne Dover Dakota backpack
This sleek backpack is plenty functional: It has a two-way zip-around closure, a laptop sleeve inside, side pockets, and a small pocket at the top for your cell phone. It includes a detachable pouch, a key leash, and mesh shoe bag, and is also just a gorgeous bag: “Looks and feels beyond expensive and luxurious, plus it’s so roomy and great to carry,” says one reviewer. Get the Dakota backpack in neutral colors like heather gray or moss, or a seasonal hue like light blue.
Tortuga Setout packable daypack
Need something lightweight for sightseeing or pedaling around town? This functional nylon daypack has you covered. Store souvenirs in the main compartment, essentials in the front zippered pocket, and water bottles on each side. Don’t worry, this 19-liter water repellent bag can handle it. The sturdy mesh straps provide balance and the removable sternum strap adds extra support. When not in use, compress the Tortuga into its front pocket for easy storage.
Lo & Sons The Rowledge backpack
This sleek, convertible pack is well-suited for a business traveler. It features a 13-inch laptop compartment and can easily transition to a tote thanks to backpack straps that tuck into a back pocket. It has plenty of pockets for organization—including a hidden one at the top for slipping your passport and boarding pass into while at the airport—plus a sleeve for easily sliding over your suitcase handles. It’s made of a mix of nylon and leather, and has memory foam straps for extra comfort.
Patagonia Atom 8L sling backpack
Sling backpacks are great for staying balanced while biking, making this particular style a cyclist’s go-to. It’s equally great for hiking and day trips where you don’t have a ton of gear to schlep. The nylon backpack is available in green, purple, and black (pictured).
MZ Wallace Metro backpack
Fashion meets function with this sleek, lightweight backpack that’s perfect for the urban traveler. It has a detachable pouch for small items, padded shoulder straps, and fits a 15″ laptop. We love the quilted design and metallic finishes, and like the MZ Wallace Metro tote, another Traveler favorite, it is practical, roomy, water-resistant, and stylish.
Monos Metro backpack
This design-forward vegan leather bag is just the thing for urban travelers, whether you’re headed on weekend trips, carrying necessities on your daily commute, or using it as a carry-on bag. The inner laptop compartment fits a 15″ laptop, and there’s a built-in trolley sleeve, top-carry handle, and adjustable shoulder straps. The bag also comes with a Metro Kit, a modular pouch that snaps securely onto the front of the backpack, so you can keep essentials like a phone, earbuds, and hand sanitizer nearby.
Herschel Little America laptop backpack
This bag—with its cinch top, magnetic straps (no need to fiddle with the buckles), comfy mesh back padding, and 17-liter capacity—is that good, sturdy, classic backpack we’ve come to know from Herschel. It’s fuss-free and straightforward, but just stylish enough to merit its price point. The backpack comes in more than 40 colors, giving this luggage a little more personality than most.
Whether you’re taking it on the open road, up a trail, or just to class, it has you covered. “I am a stenography student. I have a laptop, textbooks, folders, a tripod, my stenography machine in its case, a pouch for my pens and pencils, and a pouch for my chargers and wires. Everything fits in this bag, and I also can fit my wallet as well as my thermos,” reports one satisfied student.
Osprey Farpoint Travel Pack 55
Our first tip for finding the best heavy-duty hiking or long-haul trek backpack is simple: trust the pros. Head to a nearby sporting goods store and try on plenty of them. If you’re a woman, make sure to check out ones built specifically for your torso size. This Osprey pack comes in small/medium and medium/large, which helps customize the bag based on your height, plus it has a detachable daypack on the front so you won’t have to lug your big bag from everywhere. When you do need to haul it, the Farpoint comes with a top and side handles to make it a little easier. The Osprey Farpoint 55 comes in either black or red (pictured).
Yeti Crossroads 27L backpack
If you’re looking for one bag to meet all your backpack needs, this Yeti pack is a safe bet. It’s got 360-degree padded laptop protection for digital nomads, foam-padded shoulder straps for all-day hikes and excursions, and is still carry-on size for the frequent flier. It has a 27-liter capacity and weighs less than four pounds empty. Find it in black, navy, fuchsia, and deep teal.
Tumi Alpha Bravo Nathan expandable backpack
Headed on an adventure? Set off in style with this ruggedly refined gray and black backpack from Tumi. Like most of the best travel backpacks, it features a two-way zipper, laptop compartment, and plenty of pockets for your assorted odds and ends. Other thoughtful touches: a key leash, so you’re not left emptying your bag when you return home, plus a padded tablet compartment and a luggage sleeve.
SwissGear 1900 ScanSmart laptop backpack
Arrange all your technology in this versatile backpack. It holds laptops (up to 17″) in a padded compartment that is secured by a removable padded strap. The laptop compartment unzips nearly all the way to lay flat, making it easy to take electronics in and out while you’re going through airport security (informed TSA agents will even let you keep this laptop in the bag). The tablet sleeve sits opposite for convenience, and there is a designated spot for your cell phone with USB charging capability. In the main pouch, you still have plenty of room for clothes, plus four additional mesh pockets for other supplies, including camera gear. The compression straps are an added bonus that keep you comfortable and supported through long trips. The backpack is available in three colorways: black with black stripes, black with red accents, and all black (pictured).
Peak Design travel backpack
Versatile, durable, and designed with camera equipment in mind, this backpack is perfect for amateur shutterbugs and professional photographers alike. It’s top-loading, with additional access via the front, sides, and rear. There are plenty of internal and external pockets to store all your equipment safely, too. Not only is the 100 percent recycled nylon and canvas shell weatherproof, so are the zippers—you’ll be prepared for rain, wind, snow, sand, and sleet with this backpack.
Venture Pal 40L lightweight backpack
This Amazon bestseller weighs less than a pound, making it easy to pack up in your luggage and use for day trips while on vacation. It’s waterproof, durable, has plenty of pockets (including water bottle pockets to house your hydration essentials), and comes in nine shades, some bright, some neutral. It’s also earned a 4.7-star rating from more than 5,000 reviews on Amazon, with customers praising its versatility and ability to fold into a compact bundle. One shopper loves that “this is a compact and easy-to-fold backpack. The color is great and it is truly a light bag. Perfect travel pack for hiking and small trips.”
Pacsafe Metrosafe LS450 25L backpack
If you’re at all worried about pickpockets, go straight to Pacsafe. This anti-theft backpack comes with all the bells and whistles, like slashproof straps and pockets, lockable zippers, RFID blocking materials, and security hooks that lock your bag strap around a chair or pole to prevent snatch and grabs. Inside, there’s a padded laptop sleeve and plenty of pockets to stash your keys, phone, and cards safely. This travel bag is available in black, dark tweed, and earth khaki (pictured).
Eagle Creek packable daypack
Fans of this backpack—which has a 4.9 out of 5 star-rating on REI—praise it for being simultaneously lightweight and durable. Also, unlike many other daypacks, it has a zipper closure for more security than a cinch-tie. For weighing a mere five ounces, the nylon bag holds surprisingly heavy loads (up to 13 liters). Plus, the price is hard to beat.
Tortuga Outbreaker 35L travel backpack
This clamshell backpack opens like a suitcase, making it simple and straightforward to pack. Given that it can fit up to seven days worth of clothes (plus toiletries), it just might replace your carry-on luggage altogether. It’ll keep electronics safe, too: padded laptop sleeves can fit computers up to 17″. Another bonus? No matter your height, you can adjust this backpack to fit you perfectly. The straps are adjustable, and there’s an ergonomic hip belt to support your lower back.
Osprey Porter 46 travel pack
The water-repellent Osprey Porter is a favorite among backpackers and frequent fliers alike. It’s heavy-duty, has a spacious interior, and fits into overhead compartments with ease. It can also easily convert into a duffel bag, thanks to the tuck-away backpack straps and attachable shoulder strap. The bag is available in black, navy, and olive green.
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