Travel days are stressful enough without lugging around a suitcase that you’re constantly tripping over. In the chaos of running to catch a train or trying to fit your carry-on into a crowded overhead bin on an airplane, the last thing you want to do is regret your travel companion: your luggage. Luckily, the best travel backpacks can hold all of your vacation essentials without the bulk or square footage of a suitcase.
Whether you’re flying across an ocean, taking a scenic road trip, or just heading to a friend’s for the weekend, ditching your clunky suitcase or duffel and finding the perfect travel backpack is sure to make your life easier. Carrying it on your back allows you to move more freely, and many feature different compartments for your laptop, water bottle, and other essentials making it easier than ever to keep track of everything. (The right pick could even double as a gym bag.) With so many durable, weather-proof, and anti-theft options on the market, the possibilities are endless.
We’ve scoured the internet to find top-rated picks for the best travel backpacks, so you can navigate your next trip with ease, hands free.
We combed through thousands of customer reviews and tested a few options ourselves to bring you the most effective and highest-rated travel backpacks available. Each backpack we didn’t try ourselves had close to five stars and more than 1,000 reviews.
Our top picks
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1
Best Travel Backpack Overall
Extra Large 52L Travel Laptop Backpack
2
Best Value Travel Backpack
Lightweight Hiking Backpack
3
Most Durable Travel Backpack
Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack
4
Most Popular Travel Backpack on Amazon
Travel Laptop Backpack
5
Best Weekender Travel Backpack
40L Travel Backpack
6
Best Travel Backpack for Backpacking
Atmos Ag 65 Backpack
7
Best Weather-Proof Travel Backpack
BackSåk Waterproof Backpack
8
Best Lightweight Travel Backpack
35L Ultralight Lightweight Backpack
9
Best Anti-Theft Travel Backpack
Travel Laptop Backpack
10
Best Travel Backpack With Compartments
1900 Scansmart TSA Laptop Backpack
14
Travel Anti-Theft Laptop Backpack
15
Best Travel Backpack With Top Handles
Laptop Travel Backpack
16
Flight Approved Carry-On Backpack
17
Vintage Travel Backpack
18
Vintage Laptop Backpack
19
40L Travel Laptop Backpack
20
Travel Laptop Backpack
How to choose the best travel backpack
What trips will you use it for? If you’re planning a trip overseas, you’ll likely be looking for an airline-friendly pack with anti-theft features and lots of storage. Thinking about what specifically you plan to use your travel backpack for will help you narrow down the features you want to look for.
Fit is key. If your backpack isn’t comfortable to wear, you’ll never want to use it. Be sure to look for options with adjustable straps or hip and chest belts so you’ll be able to adjust the fit to suit your needs—without hurting your back.
Consider bonus features. Whether you plan to use your travel backpack as a carry-on for a flight or as your sole piece of luggage for a camping trip, you’ll want to think of various compartments (is there a place for your water bottle?), materials (weather-proofing is essential for camping trips), and durability before purchasing.
Jenn Gonick Jenn Gonick joins Prevention as an editorial intern for e-commerce and gift guides.
