Travel Backpack: Which One Should You Choose?

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Some people need a travel backpack for a weekend getaway, some are about to travel around the world, and others – like digital nomads – decide to sell everything and make a backpack their new home.

Choosing the right travel backpack can be more complicated than you think. There are loads of options on the market and everyone has different needs, but after trying out plenty of different ones over the years, I think I’ve figured out what works and what doesn’t.

With this guide I’ll try to help you make the best choice.

Quick menu

• Advantages of a travel backpack
• Ideal size and features
• The best travel backpacks
• How to organize your backpack

Advantages of a travel backpack

Travel backpack or rolling suitcase?

Be warned: going up and down stairs with a rolling suitcase is a real nightmare, one hand is always occupied the whole time you’re on the move, and walking through crowded places can be extremely frustrating.

The only upside is that you can carry luggage that isn’t exactly light without too much trouble. But the real challenge is always managing to travel light!

Travel backpack or hiking backpack?

The main problem with a hiking backpack is the opening. They all load from the top and have no front opening that lets you easily get to everything inside. So you’ll be forced to empty it out every single time you’re looking for something.

On top of that, there are loads of useless straps designed for carrying ice axes, trekking poles, sleeping bags etc. etc., no problem until those straps get snagged on something!

For the security freaks out there, these backpacks can’t be locked with a padlock, because the main compartment has no zippers and closes with a drawstring.

Wheeled travel backpack?

These backpacks are a great alternative for people who can’t give up the convenience of a rolling suitcase or who, for whatever reason, can’t cover long distances on foot with a backpack on their shoulders.

The biggest downside of these backpacks is the frame the wheels are attached to, which makes them much heavier, less comfortable and more expensive than similar backpacks without wheels.

Also, in some developing countries, the roads and sidewalks often don’t make it easy to use them like a rolling suitcase.

Basically, I don’t think it’s the ideal solution for everyone, but it can definitely be for some people or types of trips. My advice, as always, is to travel light and not need wheels to carry your luggage.

Ideal size (how many liters)

Let’s start with a mistake that almost everyone makes: bringing more than you need.

The length of the trip doesn’t matter… clothes can be washed! A week or a month makes no difference to the size of your backpack.

If you spend every night in a hostel or a hotel – so you don’t need camping gear – 40-50 liters of volume will be more than enough to carry everything you need. Life as a backpacker will be so much easier and more comfortable, giving you the highest degree of freedom.

This size is ideal especially for anyone who wants to travel with a single backpack that falls into the “carry-on” category. It’s big enough to travel anywhere as long as you’re not going through extremely different climates. Paired with a smaller 10-20 liter backpack, it’s my favorite solution.

Unfortunately, there’s no standard size for the famous “carry-on”. Every airline has its own restrictions on height, width, depth and weight, so some backpacks may be slightly shorter, wider or narrower.

The nice thing about backpacks is that they aren’t exactly rigid and can be squeezed into the sizer frames at boarding (if you’re even asked to do it). Pay attention to the weight – they’re usually much stricter about it – the limit is almost always around 10kg.

Here you can find an up-to-date list for almost all airlines.

In any case, never go over 60L unless you have special needs.

Features to look for in a good travel backpack

Let’s look at the factors to take into account:

Front opening: A front opening combines the convenience of a rolling suitcase with the practicality of a backpack, taking the best of both. Whenever you need to take something out of your backpack you won’t have to empty the whole thing, and everything will be within reach just like in a suitcase. Once you’ve tried it, you won’t be able to do without it.

Water resistance: Nobody likes ending up with the contents of their backpack completely soaked, but note that “water or splash resistance” doesn’t mean the backpack is completely waterproof.

Durability: When you’re traveling, your backpack is your home! Invest in a good-quality backpack. Nobody likes having to replace their backpack after every trip, let alone having to replace it during the trip itself.

Comfort: Make sure you buy a backpack that fits your body, taking height and gender into account. Other features that affect comfort are the padded shoulder straps, the hip belt and a ventilated back panel. Remember to adjust everything properly, this video explains how to do it. Women should consider buying a backpack with curved shoulder straps, especially if they have a large bust.

Versatility: Especially if you decide to travel with just one backpack, consider buying one with a small detachable daypack attached. Alternatively, you could pair the big backpack with a super light, packable daypack of about 15 – 20 liters, useful for getting around and exploring.

Security: Are you a security freak? Starting from the fact that I strongly believe that safety while traveling depends mostly on everyone’s common sense, a few precautions could be making sure that the zippers can be locked with a padlock (ideally TSA-approved), that there’s some secret pocket or hidden compartment where you can put your most important documents, that the outer material is cut-resistant to discourage would-be thieves, and that the backpack isn’t a flashy color that draws too much attention.

The best travel backpacks

Below I list what I think are excellent choices for quality and price, keeping in mind that there are countless products on the market and listing them all is impossible. Here you’ll find my video review (in Italian, but you can turn on the subtitles).

Osprey Farpoint 40 liters

N.B. Osprey has released a new version of the Farpoint 40, which you can find at this link. The main differences are: a new back panel adjustment system (there are no longer different sizes) and the padded laptop compartment is now at the back. You can find a great video at this page. 

It’s probably the most popular travel backpack in the world, the quality of the materials is excellent and it offers great value for money.

Osprey Fairview 40 is essentially the same backpack, designed specifically to give women maximum comfort.

Features

• Ventilated back panel.
• Front opening.
• Padded laptop compartment.
• Padded, adjustable hip belt.
• Two sizes: S/M and M/L.
• Carry-on (it fits the size limits, but always check the airline’s website).
• You can stow away the shoulder straps and the hip belt quickly and easily, which makes it easier to carry.
• Zippers that can be locked with a padlock.
• Side handle.
• Water-resistant (not waterproof).

Osprey Farpoint 55 liters

N.B. Osprey has also released a new version of the Farpoint 55, which you can find at this link. You can find a great video at this page, while here you’ll find my video review of the old model (in Italian, but you can turn on the subtitles).  

Osprey Farpoint 55 is essentially a Farpoint 40 with a 15-liter daypack attached to the front. That makes it extremely versatile.

Osprey Farpoint 55 Trek → It’s a single backpack, so it can’t be used as carry-on. As the name suggests, it’s designed for people who want a backpack that’s also suitable for trekking.

Osprey Fairview 55 → same backpack but for women.

And in case you need some extra space, I recommend taking a look at Osprey Farpoint 70. It’s basically the same model, except that the main backpack is about 55 liters while the size of the daypack doesn’t change.

Features

• Same features as the Farpoint 40L.
• A 15-liter daypack attached to the front, which you can now buy separately if you want.

Kelty Redwing 50 liters

The Kelty Redwing 50 and its little brother, the Kelty Redwing 44, are a hybrid between a travel backpack and a hiking backpack; compared to the Osprey Farpoint it’s more backpack and less suitcase. Here you’ll find my video review (in Italian, but you can turn on the subtitles).

It’s a great alternative especially for people who want a backpack for both traveling and hiking.

Features

• Ventilated, adjustable back panel.
• Front opening.
• Compartment for a laptop or a hydration bladder.
• Padded, adjustable hip belt (it can be removed if needed).
• Carry-on: it slightly exceeds the standard size limits, but there shouldn’t be any problems as long as the backpack isn’t completely full.
• External pockets for a water bottle and trekking poles.
• Water-resistant (not waterproof).

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45 liters:

A travel backpack with a ton of unique features, ideal in my opinion for anyone who wants to travel with carry-on only, or at least with a single backpack. Given the price, it’s definitely in the premium category and definitely not a budget option. That said, if budget isn’t an issue, I’ve seen a lot of backpacks and I think there’s more than one reason to consider this particular model. Here you’ll find my video review of the backpack and some accessories (in Italian, but you can turn on the subtitles). There’s also a smaller 30-liter version with very similar features (Travel Backpack 30L). 

Features

• Unique accessibility thanks to the front opening, a back opening and even two side accesses.
• Laptop compartment.
• Good suspension system complete with a chest strap and padded shoulder straps and hip belt.
• Really versatile, it can be used in three different modes: 45, 35 and 30 liters. 
• Carry-on: it slightly exceeds the standard size limits when fully expanded to 45 liters.
• External pockets for a water bottle and trekking poles.
• Extremely water-resistant (400D nylon).
• Quick access to your camera using Peak Design accessories.

Buy on the official website.

Cabin Max 44-liter backpack:

Ideal for short trips. It fully meets the carry-on size limits (55x40x20).

The lack of a hip belt and a ventilated back panel makes it a backpack that isn’t suited to carrying around for long distances. Basically, it’s a suitcase without wheels but with shoulder straps. Here you’ll find my video review (in Italian, but you can turn on the subtitles).

Features

• Front opening.
• Laptop compartment.
• Carry-on: it’s probably the carry-on backpack par excellence.
• Really light at just 700 grams.
• Inexpensive.

Osprey Meridian 60 liters:

If you think a wheeled backpack is the best choice for you, then go for the Osprey Meridian. Like the Osprey Farpoint, it has a removable daypack on the front of about 16L, which makes it a great all-in-one solution.

Unfortunately it doesn’t have a hip belt, so it isn’t suitable for long walks. If you’re looking for something of the same size, without the removable daypack but with a hip belt, then consider Osprey Sojourn, which is definitely more backpack and less rolling suitcase. If instead you’re looking for a product that can be used as carry-on, then Osprey Ozone should do the trick.

Features

• Front opening.
• Laptop compartment.
• Water-resistant (not waterproof).
• A 16-liter daypack attached to the front.
• Ventilated back panel.
• Side handle.
• Shoulder straps can be stowed away quickly and easily to make it easier to carry.
• Zippers that can be locked with a padlock.
• Can be used as a rolling suitcase.

The North Face Terra 65

This backpack is ideal for anyone looking for a great hiking/travel backpack with a bit of extra space compared to the previous models. If, however, you want a backpack whose main compartment can be opened completely like the other models we just saw, and you can’t give up the extra space, I recommend taking a look at Osprey Farpoint 70. Here you’ll find my video review (in Italian, but you can turn on the subtitles).

Features

• Ventilated, adjustable back panel.
• Top-loading like classic hiking backpacks, but it also has a side access and an access from the pocket at the bottom (see video).
• Compartment for a hydration bladder (no laptop).
• Padded, adjustable hip belt.
• External pockets for a water bottle and trekking poles.
• Water-resistant (not waterproof).

The daypack

When I travel I always carry a small daypack that I wear on my front, because my valuables are inside and I never want to lose sight of it. The big backpack, on the other hand, which I carry on my back, works as my suitcase, and I have no problem putting it on the roof of a bus or leaving it at the hostel.

If you can’t stand the idea of traveling with two backpacks, you can buy a backpack like the Osprey Farpoint 55, which has the daypack built in, or an ultralight, packable daypack like the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil and the Osprey Ultralight, which you can simply stow in the big backpack when you don’t need it.

As with the big backpacks, there are tons of options, and in this article I go deeper into the topic, describing what I think are the best travel daypacks.

Tips on how to organize your backpack

• Pack your backpack the right way, putting heavy things as close to your back as possible. That way the heavy part of the backpack will be closest to your body’s center of gravity.
• Try to always pack your backpack the same way, so you’ll notice right away if you’re forgetting something.
• Adjust the tension straps, shoulder straps and hip belt correctly! Here it’s explained how to do it.
• Packing cubes are great for keeping the inside of your backpack tidy and making the most of the space. Separate your clothes by type and keep dirty clothes apart from clean ones, especially when your backpack has just one giant compartment.
• Roll your clothes to save space and avoid wrinkles.

Here’s the complete list of what to put in your backpack!

Final thoughts

I’m a born saver, but especially for long-term trips it’s better to avoid unpleasant surprises and set off with the right gear. When you travel, your backpack is the most important thing, and it’s definitely worth investing some money in a product that will last for years.

Planning a trip? Check out these posts:

Which travel insurance to choose

Which travel backpack to choose

The best cards for traveling

What to bring on a trip

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