Selecting the right travel backpack is crucial for any journey, whether you’re embarking on a weekend getaway or a year-long adventure. The market is flooded with options, making the quest for the Top Rated Travel Backpacks seem daunting. This guide breaks down the essential factors to consider, ensuring you choose a backpack that not only carries your gear but enhances your travel experience. We’ll delve into size, volume, access types, durability, materials, and more, helping you navigate the sea of choices and pinpoint the perfect backpack for your needs.
Best Backpack Size & Weight for Carry-On Air Travel
For air travel, especially if you aim to avoid checked baggage fees and the hassle of lost luggage, opting for a carry-on compliant backpack is a smart move. While it might seem challenging to condense your life into a 40L bag, the freedom and agility it offers are invaluable. Even an 18L backpack can suffice with disciplined packing. However, for most travelers, staying under 50L is a practical recommendation for one-bag travel. This sweet spot provides enough space without becoming cumbersome. For those needing a bit more capacity, pairing a travel backpack with a sling bag worn on the front can be an effective strategy.
Airlines are increasingly strict about carry-on weight limits. Therefore, the backpack itself should be lightweight to maximize your packing allowance for clothing and travel essentials. Starting with a heavy backpack before you even pack is a recipe for overweight baggage fees. To assist in your selection, we assess the carry-on compliance of every travel backpack we review on our site, using dimensions and airline data from across the globe. This helps you identify top rated travel backpacks that meet airline regulations.
True Volume
The liter capacity of a backpack is frequently discussed, yet it’s not always a standardized measure. A 40L backpack from one brand might feel different in size compared to another’s 40L offering. The “True Volume” and the usability of space are more critical factors. A backpack with an awkward, trapezoidal shape may be less efficient than a rectangular design with similar liter capacity.
The material’s thickness and flexibility also play a significant role. Thin, strong materials maximize internal space, whereas thick padding can reduce it. Conversely, rigid materials like Dyneema offer less give when you’re trying to pack your bag to its capacity. Space efficiency is a key differentiator among top rated travel backpacks.
Pack’s Exterior Profile
A backpack’s profile significantly impacts its usability. Slim backpacks, where weight is held close to your back, often feel lighter and are easier to maneuver. A smaller form factor is beneficial on public transport and when navigating crowded spaces like airplane aisles. You’ll be less likely to bump into fellow travelers.
However, slim, high-capacity backpacks can sometimes have longer back panels, which may be uncomfortable for individuals with shorter torsos. Finding the right fit is crucial for comfort, and we’ll address this in more detail later.
PRO TIP: Backpacks with a more “square” shape tend to maximize packing space compared to oddly shaped bags, though some may find the aesthetic less appealing.
Max Legal Carry-On
The term “MLC,” or Max Legal Carry-On, refers to the largest backpack size generally accepted as carry-on by most airlines. It’s always advisable to confirm specific size limits with your airline before heading to the airport, as these can vary. Selecting a backpack within MLC dimensions is a hallmark of top rated travel backpacks designed for air travel convenience.
Alt Text: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L in use at Minneapolis airport, demonstrating its carry-on size compliance and suitability for air travel.
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is an exemplary travel bag from a company renowned for innovative backpack designs. This maximum legal carry-on backpack is well-suited for one-bag travel, photography enthusiasts, and digital nomads. Its thoughtful design makes it a joy to use across various travel scenarios.
See Full Review & Buying Options
Check Price at Peak Design Check Price at REI Check Price at Huckberry Check Price at Amazon
Top-loading vs Panel-loading (Clamshell) Backpacks
A significant point of consideration when choosing from top rated travel backpacks is the opening style: top-loading versus panel-loading, also known as clamshell. For one-bag travel, clamshell designs are often favored due to the enhanced visibility and accessibility they offer.
Clamshell backpacks function similarly to suitcases, opening fully like a clam. This design allows you to lay the backpack flat and view all contents at once, simplifying organization and packing, especially when using packing cubes.
Able Carry Max Backpack | Using the backpack in Detroit
Alt Text: Able Carry Max Backpack clamshell opening shown in use in Detroit, highlighting easy access to the main compartment for organized packing.
The Able Carry Max Backpack is a prime example of a clamshell-style backpack. It opens wide, providing excellent access to its spacious main compartment, ideal for packing cubes or rolled clothing. It also features a conveniently large yet discreet water bottle pocket.
See Full Review & Buying Options
Top-loading backpacks excel in outdoor activities like multi-day treks. They often feature a roll-top closure instead of zippers, enhancing weather resistance and reliability, especially in challenging environments where zipper failure could be problematic. However, accessing items at the bottom requires removing everything above, which can be inconvenient in transit. Some designs, though, cleverly incorporate side access zippers to mitigate this issue.
Thule Subterra in Spain
Alt Text: Thule Subterra 34L top-loading backpack in use in Spain, demonstrating its roll-top closure and side zipper for main compartment access.
The Thule Subterra 34L is a top-loading backpack that addresses the typical drawbacks with a side zip for easy access to the main compartment. This feature is particularly useful when you need quick access to items without fully unpacking the roll-top.
See Full Review & Buying Options
Weather Resistance
Weather resistance is a vital feature to consider when evaluating top rated travel backpacks. Protecting your tech gear and valuables from moisture is paramount. Look for backpacks with good weather resistance capable of withstanding light rain and ideally, a sudden downpour.
It’s important to distinguish between water-resistant and waterproof. Most travel backpacks focus on water resistance, which is sufficient for typical travel scenarios. Waterproof backpacks are more specialized and generally unnecessary unless you anticipate prolonged exposure to heavy rain or submersion. For most travelers, a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating is adequate.
Mission Workshop Fitzroy VX
Alt Text: Mission Workshop Fitzroy VX backpack demonstrating weather resistance, highlighting its material and zipper construction designed to repel rain.
The Mission Workshop Fitzroy VX is constructed with weatherproof materials and water-resistant zippers. Its PET waterproof membrane provides reliable protection even in heavy rain.
See Full Review & Buying Options
Check Price at Mission Workshop
For extra protection of sensitive items, consider using accessories like a DAKA Pouch. These pouches offer an additional layer of weatherproofing and organizational benefits, ensuring your valuables are safe and separate within your backpack.
Durability and Quality
Whether your trip lasts a week, a month, or longer, your travel backpack essentially becomes your portable home. Durability is therefore paramount. A breakdown, like a zipper failure, can lead to lost or damaged items. Investing in a high-quality backpack is an investment in peace of mind, safeguarding your belongings and ensuring longevity. While assessing durability upfront can be challenging, thorough testing helps identify potential weaknesses. Higher durability often correlates with increased weight, but not always. Key factors in backpack durability include zippers and fabric.
Topo Designs Travel Bag 40L In Use
Alt Text: Topo Designs Travel Bag 40L in use in Detroit, showcasing its robust construction and durable materials suitable for travel.
The Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 40L is built for durability. Its 1000D nylon, robust YKK #10 zippers, and simple, sturdy design ensure it won’t let you down.
See Full Review & Buying Options
Check Price at Topo Designs Check Price at Backcountry
Zippers
Zippers are a critical component in backpack durability. YKK zippers are widely recognized as industry-leading, and many top rated travel backpacks utilize them. Known for their strength, YKK zippers come in various weights, with heavier gauges like YKK #10 used for main compartments and lighter ones like YKK #5 for smaller pockets. Larger gauge zippers are visually more substantial, reflecting their increased robustness.
Best Travel Backpack YKK Zipper
Alt Text: Close-up of a YKK zipper on a travel backpack, emphasizing the quality and detail of YKK zippers as a mark of top rated travel backpacks.
YKK’s commitment to quality is evident in their vertically integrated production process, from smelting brass to manufacturing their own zipper-making machines. YKK zippers account for approximately half of the world’s zipper market, a testament to their quality and reliability.
RiRi zippers are another excellent, though less common, alternative. Zoom Zippers are also improving in quality, though occasional issues are still reported.
To identify zipper brands, check for markings on the zipper head or pull (e.g., “YKK,” “Z”). Product specifications often list zipper brands, and backpack reviews, like ours, typically include this information.
Backpack Fabric and Material
The choice of fabric significantly influences a travel backpack’s durability, weight, and weather resistance. Fabric thickness is often denoted by denier (D) – e.g., 250D, 950D, 1500D. Denier measures yarn thickness and weight; higher denier generally indicates a thicker, more durable fabric, but also heavier. However, material type, weave, and manufacturing process are equally important. Here’s an overview of common backpack materials:
Ripstop Nylon
Alt Text: Close-up texture of ripstop nylon fabric, highlighting its characteristic square weave pattern known for tear resistance in top rated travel backpacks.
Ripstop nylon is similar to standard nylon but features a distinctive square weave that prevents tears from spreading. It offers a high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent resistance to rips and tears due to reinforced fibers woven into the fabric. While the square pattern gives it a somewhat outdoorsy look, some designs minimize this. Developed during WWII for robust parachutes, ripstop nylon is incredibly durable.
Ballistic Nylon
Ballistic Nylon
Alt Text: Ballistic nylon fabric sample, showcasing its basket weave structure and robust texture often used in durable top rated travel backpacks.
Ballistic nylon refers to nylon with a “ballistic weave,” a variation of the basketweave, providing exceptional tensile and tear strength, especially in layered applications. It’s heavier than many other materials and almost exclusively comes in black. Originally used in flak jackets for WWII airmen, ballistic nylon is exceptionally tough. (Note: Backpacks are not recommended for protection in war zones.)
CORDURA® Nylon
Alt Text: CORDURA® nylon fabric swatch, emphasizing the brand recognition and quality association of CORDURA® in top rated travel backpacks.
CORDURA® is a brand encompassing various high-performance materials, from cotton to nylon and polyester. CORDURA® sources fabrics from mills, ensures they meet strict standards, and then brands them with the CORDURA® tag. Despite being a brand rather than a specific fabric, CORDURA® materials are known for high quality and durability.
Kodra Nylon
Kodra Nylon
Alt Text: Kodra nylon fabric close-up, highlighting its similarity to CORDURA® and usage in high-quality backpacks like those considered top rated.
Kodra nylon is essentially synonymous with CORDURA® but manufactured in Korea. Peak Design used Kodra nylon in the initial versions of their Everyday Backpack, highlighting its quality and performance.
Polyester
Alt Text: Polyester fabric sample, noting its common use but lower durability compared to nylon in the context of travel backpacks.
Polyester is one of the most ubiquitous fabrics globally, made from plastic fibers and used in countless products. While common, polyester is less durable than nylon and is often found in budget backpacks. It’s not ideal for travel backpacks due to its lower durability and relatively heavier weight compared to nylon. Polyester may be suitable for low-cost daypacks but not for serious travel gear.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene & Nylon Blend
Alt Text: Polypropylene and nylon blend fabric, indicating polypropylene’s use in backpack components and liners despite UV sensitivity.
Polypropylene is a widely produced synthetic plastic polymer used in numerous products. In backpacks, it’s often found in minor components or as a liner. Polypropylene is inexpensive, a good insulator, and hydrophobic (water-resistant). However, it’s not UV resistant, degrading and fading with sun exposure, making it unsuitable for exterior backpack fabric but viable as a UV-protected liner.
Canvas
Alt Text: Canvas fabric texture, representing its historical significance as a backpack material but limitations in modern travel backpacks due to weight and water resistance.
Canvas is the original backpack material, historically made from cotton, linen, or hemp, often waxed for water resistance. While sturdy and thick, modern backpacks rarely use canvas due to its weight, limited water resistance, and susceptibility to abrasion damage. Canvas is more for nostalgic appeal than practical travel use.
Leather
Leather
Alt Text: Leather material sample, showcasing its premium look but highlighting its weight and maintenance needs in the context of travel backpacks.
Leather is another historically significant material, dating back to ancient times. While stylish for daypacks, leather is less practical for travel backpacks due to its weight and maintenance requirements, including oils and cleaning. Full-grain leather is the highest quality and most durable type, suitable if you desire a leather travel backpack, but avoid lower grades like genuine, bonded, patent, and corrected grain leather.
Sailcloth
Alt Text: Sailcloth (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) fabric, emphasizing its lightweight and waterproof properties used in specialized travel backpacks.
Sailcloth, or ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, is known for its use in sailboats. Rare in backpacks, brands like Tortuga utilize it for its lightweight and waterproof qualities. It’s the most lightweight and waterproof material listed, requiring no DWR or liners. However, it’s stiff, crinkly, and expensive, with limited stretch and moderate durability.
Dyneema® Composite Fabric
Dyneema® Composite Fabric
Alt Text: Dyneema® Composite Fabric texture, illustrating its high-tech, super-strong, and ultralight characteristics, positioning it as a premium material for top rated travel backpacks.
Dyneema® Composite Fabric (formerly Cuben Fiber) is a high-tech material initially designed for racing yacht sails. It’s incredibly light, strong, and expensive, akin to carbon fiber in the backpack world. Popular in ultralight backpacking, it’s emerging in the one-bag travel scene, representing top-tier backpack material.
X-Pac
Alt Text: X-Pac fabric sample, demonstrating its layered construction and properties like waterproofness and shape retention, suitable for high-performance travel backpacks.
X-Pac is a laminated fabric combining nylon, polyester mesh, and waterproof film. Inspired by sailcloth, it offers similar ultralight performance at a lower cost. X-Pac is shape-retaining, UV-resistant, and water-shedding, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and increasingly used in top rated travel backpacks for its balance of performance and cost.
TPU
tpu material best travel backpack guide
Alt Text: TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) material, highlighting its use as a coating or component to enhance durability and weather resistance in travel backpacks.
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a polymer enhancing material strength through coating or manufacturing processes. Used in products needing high durability, like rafts and phone cases, TPU is water and oil repellent, abrasion-resistant, and temperature-stable. UV-resistant and adding significant strength, TPU is a beneficial feature in top rated travel backpacks for added durability and peace of mind.
Putting It All Together
Ultimately, backpack durability depends on the overall design and production process, not just individual materials. High-quality components like zippers and robust construction are as crucial as fabric denier. Brands offering generous warranties, such as GORUCK with their “SCARS warranty” and Patagonia with their “Ironclad Guarantee,” demonstrate confidence in their product quality. Shorter or nonexistent warranties may indicate cost-saving measures that compromise quality. Investing in durable, high-quality top rated travel backpacks ensures longevity and reduces the need for frequent repairs or replacements, making it a worthwhile investment for any traveler.
Choosing from the top rated travel backpacks involves considering a combination of factors—size, access, durability, and materials. By understanding these elements, you can select a backpack that perfectly suits your travel style and needs, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable journey.
