<p>As someone who travels often and shops for a living, I know a good backpack when I see one. You want to opt for a travel backpack that has pockets and organization. It definitely should be durable, and ideally even waterproof. I’m looking for options that are capacious but not so large you’ll break a sweat cramming it into an overhead bin. Been there, <em>never</em> going back.<br> <br>When you’ve found the right backpack, you’ll think of it as your adventure buddy. Trust me. I’ve gathered my own research and combined it with that of the experts at the <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/travel-products/g31673527/best-travel-backpacks/” target=”_blank”>Good Housekeeping Institute</a> to bring you the definitive guide to the best travel backpacks. (When I tell you that the GHK testers have literal doctorate degrees, I’m not being facetious.) <br><br>Whether you’re packing a <a href=”https://www.elle.com/fashion/shopping/g27245/weekender-bags-travel-bags-for-women/” target=”_blank”>weekender bag</a> or looking for the <a href=”https://www.elle.com/fashion/accessories/g39025045/best-amazon-purses/”>best bags on Amazon</a>, here are 15 backpacks that make stellar travel companions.</p>” />
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Best Expandable Backpack
Beis The Expandable Backpack
Best Expandable Backpack
Beis The Expandable Backpack
If there’s one thing for certain, I don’t need another backpack. But after reading the reviews for this Beis bag…I just might have to get one for myself. It has specialized features like an expanding section and a water bottle holder that can be used in or outside the bag.
Colors: Black or Beige
Dimensions: Width: 13 inches x height: 15 inches x depth: 5-7 inches
Customer review: “Love how much room this backpack has! I took it on a trip to Italy and it was light/compact enough to put in luggage but can fit so many things. The design of this backpack is a 10/10 for me.”
Designer
Saint Laurent Joe Quilted Lambskin YSL Backpack Bag
Designer
Saint Laurent Joe Quilted Lambskin YSL Backpack Bag
Pros
- Quality investment
- Open top provides easy access
Cons
- Open top lacks security
- Expensive
If traveling in style is a priority for you, more power to you. This quilted leather backpack from YSL is the best way to take to show your fellow travelers that you have taste.
Colors: Black
Dimensions: Width: 8.7 inches x height: 11.5 inches x depth: 5.9 inches
Amazon’s Choice
Lubardy Travel Carry On Backpack, 40L
Amazon’s Choice
Lubardy Travel Carry On Backpack, 40L
A waterproof, high-capacity pack + a clamshell opening – an expensive price tag = the ultimate travel backpack.
Colors: Black, Blue, Grey, or Pink
Dimensions: Width: 13.38 inches x height: 20.74 inches x depth: 7.87 inches
Customer review: “Backpacked for 10 days in Greece with this! My friends bought $100+ backpacks, and mine worked just as well for a fraction of the price. I was able to fit a large packing cube with PLENTY of clothes, two pairs of shoes (sandals), a curling iron, a sweater, and my toiletries in this bag!”
Calpak’s Luka bag is an organizer’s dream because it’s chock-full of pockets. This versatile pack is great for everyday use or as a day bag while traveling.
Colors: 13 options
Dimensions: Width: 12 inches x height: 16 inches x depth: 7 inches
Customer review: “This backpack has been great so far! I use it for daily commutes, and it fits my 16” laptop in that compartment with ease. It is also great for being outdoors, got stuck in the rain and my laptop remained dry.”
Best for Students
Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack
Best for Students
Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack
Now 79% Off
Dagne Dover bags are super popular right now, and with good reason. Fashionable and versatile, they’re perfect for everyday use or as your designated school bag. Plus, Dagne Dover products are made with Repreve technology, meaning they’re sustainable.
Colors: 10 options
Dimensions: Width: 13.25 inches x height: 17.5 inches x depth: 5.25 inches (for large size)
Customer review: “I love this bag and its many pockets and pouches. I can easily organize everything with its numerous zippers, and it stores my laptop perfectly in the back. It’s super light, which is great for a backpack, but thick and good quality with its neoprene.”
Best for Day Travel
Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack
Best for Day Travel
Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack
Now 14% Off
Pros
- Durable
- Spacious
Cons
- Small water bottle pockets
At first glance, you might underestimate how much this backpack can hold. But don’t be deceived; it secretly holds a ton of stuff. That’s just one of the many reasons the Good Housekeeping Institute rated this Osprey as the best travel daypack.
Colors: 13 options
Dimensions: Width: 11 inches x height: 18.9 inches x depth: 9.45 inches
Customer review: “As a backpack hoarder, I’m always on the search for the perfect functional backpack. I bought the Osprey Daylite Plus to use on vacations where I’d also need to lug my work laptop along. I wanted something that is light enough to use on hikes and will work as a personal item when flying.”
Best for International Travel
Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack 35L
Best for International Travel
Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack 35L
Calling all fellow backpackers and hostel hoppers! If you’re trekking through Europe, or anywhere else for that matter, it’s best to keep your luggage light. This durable, waterproof Tortuga pack is the largest allowed carry-on for international flights, making it perfect for your next adventure.
Colors: Black
Dimensions: Width: 13. 8 inches x height: 21.7 inches x depth: 7.9 inches
Customer review: “Just returned from a two-week tour of Norway and Iceland, five different hotels, four flights. Outbreaker…made it so easy to effortlessly stay on the move…This was our first carry-on-only trip of this length, and I loved the ease of check-in and airport departure it gave us. With the hip belts to carry most of the weight, we did not suffer any back or shoulder strain.”
The genius product testers over at the Good Housekeeping Institute rated this the overall best travel backpack. As someone who has regularly used this as a carry-on for nearly six years, I’d have to agree. It stands up to the test of time and is great for short trips or as a day bag.
Colors: Lime, Taupe, or Orange
Dimensions: Width: 12 inches x height: 19.5 inches x depth: 6.5 inches
Customer review: “Awesome backpack. Large, spacious, and full of compartments. Suitable for any type of trip, I love it.”
Best Front-Opening
Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack
Best Front-Opening
Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack
In the luggage game, few brands are more well-respected than Samsonite. This sleek bag is essentially a suitcase you can wear on your back. Its simple construction and easy-to-use nature will give you peace of mind.
Colors: Black
Dimensions: Width: 12.5 inches x height: 2o inches x depth: 7 inches
Customer review: “Perfect in every aspect. Fits overhead and fits under the seat. It’s a backpack with the features of a well-compartmentalized suitcase and so much more. It’s also quite elegant and very well made.”
Pros
- Light
- Durable
Cons
- Pockets won’t fit large water bottles
The Good Housekeeping Institute voted this pack as the best lightweight bag. If you’re camping, hiking, or just trying to lighten your load, it’s a fantastic option that’s both durable and spacious.
Colors: Gold, Teal, Loden, Navy, or Black
Dimensions: Width: 10 inches x height: 19 inches x depth: 7 inches
Customer review: “Great bag. Love all the pockets, and it’s lightweight. Like how it can roll into a pouch.”
Pros
- Rave reviews
- Waterproof
Cons
- Expensive
Business trips shouldn’t be a chore…well, not more so than the actual business part. But packing for business trips definitely shouldn’t be a pain. Allow Timbuk2 to take the hassle out of packing.
Colors: Black
Dimensions: Width: 13.4 inches x height: 20.5 inches x depth: 5.5 inches
Customer review: “After using this pack for a couple weeks commuting, I can confidently say that it’s more functional, well designed, and comfortable than any other pack I’ve owned. The materials and build are incredibly high quality, and it sits perfectly on my back without adding strain, even when fully loaded with a laptop.”
Pros
- Stylish
- Durable
Cons
- Small capacity
Herschel makes some of the sturdiest backpacks in the game, and this mid-volume style comes in plenty of patterns, colors, and prints.
Colors: 28 options
Dimensions: Width: 12 inches x height: 16 inches x depth: 5.5 inches
Customer review: “Best backpack I’ve ever owned! I absolutely love my backpack! The fabric is sturdy and reliable, it is spacious, and the colors are beautiful! Not to mention how comfortable it is while on my back/shoulders.”
Pros
- Lots of color options
- Durable
Cons
- Lacks organization
Fjallraven: the bag that everyone has, but no one knows how to pronounce. While these bags don’t offer much in the way of organization or storage, they are extremely durable and available in a ton of colors and sizes.
Colors: 27 options
Dimensions: Width: 10.75 inches x height: 14.5 inches x depth: 4 inches
Customer review: “This Fjallraven has been to and all around Japan with me, and recently I started back to University…It’s not too bulky but surprisingly holds a lot.”
Pros
- Durable
Cons
- Expensive
Dux makes some seriously high-quality bags that are built to last. This pack, which features unique side flap storage, is great for toting equipment such as camera gear because it has a shelving internal organization system.
Colors: Black, Grey Camo, Grey, or Blue
Dimensions: Width: 13 inches x height: 20 inches x depth: 9.5 inches
Customer review: “While the Dux is among the higher cost options I’ve tried…the quality of workmanship and materials is top-notch, with everything I wanted…Amazing for travel with separation of everything I travel with, while at the same time, keeping it virtually at my fingertips…it’s the absolute perfect travel companion.”
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Two sizes
- Padded laptop sleeve
Cons
- Wheeling mechanism makes it heavier and less comfortable to wear than a traditional backpack
When I was in school, only the nerds had wheely backpacks. But now that I’m an adult, I’m starting to think they were onto something…
Colors: Black, Blue, or Floral
Dimensions: Width: 13 inches x height: 19.6 inches x depth: 9 inches
Customer review: “Perfect for carry-on to a plane or a cruise ship. Love the fact that one can carry it with the strap, pull up the handle and roll it or use the backstraps and carry it on one’s back.”
Associate Fashion Commerce Editor
Meg is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com where she researches trends, tests products, and looks for answers to all your burning questions. She also co-writes a monthly column, Same Same But Different. Meg has previously written for Cosmopolitan and Town & Country. Her passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and sustainability. She will never stop hoping for a One Direction reunion tour.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
