15 Best Travel Backpacks in 2018

The Farpoint 40 is the perfect weekend travel bag that can really step it up for a trip off the beaten track. Osprey doesn’t disappoint with this 40L pack, bringing its outdoor tech to an urban-cool rucksack that’s equally at home in the wilderness. Mesh back panels, dual compression straps and just enough attachment points to hook on extra gear, and the Farpoint 40 provides a sufficiently comfortable ride.

With a deceptively large inner space and lots of internal protection for your gadgets, the Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack is also small enough to use as a carry-on bag for plane travel. Throw in a stowaway system that can turn it into a super streamlined duffel and you’ll find navigating airport security and baggage reclaim a breeze.

For day-to-day use or a quick overnighter, then the Outlander offers exceptional value. This lighter than lightweight backpack is made from water-resistant nylon and at under ½ a pound, can work what seems like a miracle, packing away a supersized 33L of essentials.

Yes, it’s packable structure means it is a tad on the shapeless side and with its lack of internal padding you could probably feel your toothbrush poking you in the back but where it loses in comfort it more than makes up with versatility. And when not escorting you and your gear on your casual travels, it can be packed away into an inner pocket, shrinking to the size of a ‘generously sized hamburger’. All for under $2 – what’s not to like? Be sure to also check out our list of the best Patagonia Backpacks for more great items like this.

Life can get busy and sometimes you don’t know where you’ll be one day to the next. If this sounds like you, then a ‘grab and go’ travel bag like the Porter 46 Gear Hauler can make things a little bit easier. This bag is like a holdall version of Superman – by day an attractive but business-like duffel bag with everything you need to keep you super organized but when it’s time to head for the hills it transforms into a high-flying travel pack.

At a whopping 46L capacity but with its size still making it carry-on compatible, this is an extremely versatile lightweight backpack/duffel hybrid, with just enough features to take it beyond simple luggage and into short break traveler territory. So, if you’re an overnight or weekend traveler on the go, then this backpack could well be your superhero.

The Hynes Eagle Travel Backpack is a great little space-saver that’s deceptive in size – you’ll be amazed how much you can stash away and still use it as a smart looking carry-on for short business trips and weekends away.

It revels in its role as the bag around town, transforming from travel savvy luggage to city-ready duffel in seconds, and in a choice of over 20 colors and colorways you’ll be able to either fit in with or stand out in a crowd. Lightweight and uncomplicated, the Hynes Eagle Travel Backpack is also surprisingly sturdy and will take you from arrivals lounge to business – or social – meeting in no time.

Travelling often throws up unexpected opportunities and a two-in-one travel pack is the perfect companion for those looking to see where the road takes them. The Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Backpack provides an adequate main bag offering 42L of space while it’s zip-off 13L ‘mini-me’ is a versatile day pack for when the urge to sightsee takes over. Together, they are handy enough to keep your overnight luggage and your day-to-day accessories separate, primed and ready for whatever the day may bring.

The Farpoint 55 is also durable and contains a wealth of travel-specific features you would expect from Osprey, including a lightweight frame, mesh panels and padded hip belt and harness, plenty of gear loops as well as lockable compartments and compression straps. A mid-price travel rucksack that gives you a lot for your money, with its comfort, quality and flexibility justifying the price tag. Love this product? Check out our review of the best North Face backpacks for our top picks. 

Pounding the streets on a weekend city break, you need a travel backpack that can take the heat and stand up to the demands of an urban adventure. eBags’ TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible is well-equipped to take on the challenge, with its flight-friendly size and flexible internal space, heavy duty fabric and zippers, airmesh back straps and lightweight design.

With the waist strap lacking a bit in support, the TLS is more suited to weekend or city travel rather than anything more rugged, but it is in an urban environment that this clean and simple travel pack excels. It’s accordion-style packing system allows for all your weekend clothes without adding unnecessary bulk while its internal expandable laptop pocket will safely swallow up your tech gadgets no problem. A well-designed and deceptively spacious carry on backpack for the urban traveler.

Clean-lined and robust, the Osprey Daylite is an ideal lightweight backpack for the time-limited adventurer as well as a smart choice for the man about town. The Daylite may have city slicker looks but it’s also tough enough for a day on the trail, with just enough features to keep you hiking happy.

Less is more with the Daylite, and its well thought out design gives you ample room for essentials without over complicating things. Side mesh pockets securely hold water bottles and there’s also space for an optional water bladder to keep you hydrated when the heat is on. Internal clips to secure small items, breathable back panels and padded, easily adjustable straps all help to make the Daylite a comfortable ride. And when your travel plans demand more space, this versatile backpack has been designed to attach to several of Osprey’s larger travel packs to keep you on the road. For more great items like this check out our guide to best backpacking backpacks.

For those looking for a lightweight backpack that’s no wimp when it comes to travelling off the beaten track, the team at Deuter have come up with a beauty. The Deuter ACT Lite does what its name implies – it may feel a bit of a lightweight, but this comfortable, versatile 65L is built like a tank and more than tough enough for hiking rough terrain.

Deuter has packed in a range of essential features to support the most hard core of travelers – there’s nothing frivolous or surplus to requirements here. Compression straps, specialized compartments for your hydration pack, hiking poles, wet gear and clothing, additional pockets all in the right places – there’s even a label with life-saving tips should you get into a sticky situation. And its design keeps the load weight distributed close to your body, meaning you can keep going in comfort, for as long as the road takes you.

When it comes to travelling light, a rucksack/duffel hybrid is the way to go and the Osprey Porter 30 is shaping up to be one of the leaders of the (back)pack. With the comfort of a rucksack and the storage simplicity of a duffel, there’s everything to like about this stylish bag. When a duffel isn’t enough and backpacking bags are too much, the Porter comes into its own.

This 30L travel backpack offers ample internal space yet is the perfect size for carry-on luggage.  The main compartment is perhaps too fuss-free, ie. no straps or internal sections, but a few packing cubes and you’ll have this sorted. The Porter also offers a comfortable and secure ride, complete with padded side walls and back suspension as well as a stowaway harness to keep things streamlined when needed.

The Osprey Atmos hiking backpack certainly makes light work of long haul and adventurous travel, with its innovative antigravity suspension system and 65L capacity enabling you to carry all your essentials in style and comfort.

Extending from the top of the back panel to bottom of the hip belt, a seamless mesh panel contours your body, evenly distributing the pack’s weight and allowing for unrestricted movement, no matter how tough the trail or incline. Adjustable hip belt and pack torso length work to optimize comfort, and the whole pack allows for effective ventilation when the heat rises. With more pockets and internal space than you can shake a (walking) stick at, and well-thought out zip positioning for ease of access, this impressive travel backpack means you can pack a serious amount of gear for your epic adventure. Our handy guide to the best Camelbak backpacks features more great products like this. 

The Kelty Redwing 44 is the workhorse travel backpack – described by its designers as utilitarian, you will be as impressed by its rugged simplicity and effectiveness as by its uncomplicated looks.  A multi-purpose travel pack that’s at home in the city or on a short haul weekender, the Redwing can equally step up when it comes to adventure. And boy, is this rucksack a tough cookie for its size, with practical features you’d more likely see on a larger, technical bag.

It’s aluminum suspension frame keeps weight off your shoulders and its hardworking airflow back panel along with mesh straps, foam waist belt and lumbar pad will keep you cool on the trail. It’s also hydration pack-compatible, with side mesh pockets for extra aqua supplies and there are just enough compartments and pockets to fit the essentials for pared back travel or an overnight on the trail.

We can all do without extra baggage in our lives, so the Osprey Ozone certainly comes in handy if you don’t want to be weighed down when travelling. At a neat but more than adequate 35L, the Ozone Travel Pack is a super lightweight backpack that’s ideal for an overnighter or a day’s hiking.

Its compact size means it is small enough as carry-on luggage while its deceptively main compartment and separate gadget sleeve means you can take everything you need for a short city break or a day in the mountains. And while it is amazingly light, it doesn’t cut back on comfort features such as a mesh back panel and padded hip belt, or external compression straps to help stabilize the load. And should you actually miss that extra baggage, this versatile carry on backpack can be anchored to any of the wheeled luggage in the Ozone series. Be sure to also check out our list of the best external frame backpacks for more great items like this. 

Whether you’re travelling long-haul, are on an extended adventure or exploring a new city, you can feel vulnerable when carrying your essentials on your back.  So, if security is a top priority in your travel plans then take a look at the popular Pacsafe range, which includes the rather impressive Venturesafe X30 Anti-Theft Adventure Backpack.

Lightweight and durable, this secure travel backpack comes loaded with anti-theft technology all neatly packaged in a sizeable pack that has simple outdoorsy good looks. A hidden steel wire mesh and ultra-strong strap webbing helps protect against slash and run thefts while RFID safe blocking material built into its pockets helps protect your ID and credit cards from hacker scanning. Even its design screams low profile, with just the right number of pockets and discrete looks to blend in with the crowd. Practical, lightweight and durable, the Venturesafe X30 Anti-Theft Adventure Backpack is a safe bet.

If you are looking for serious extended trip capability with hassle-free travel, then the Deuter Transit could well be the hiking backpack for you. A long- haul travel workhorse, the Transit packs a roomy 50L, with a handy bottom section for boots, sleeping bag or your dirty clothes. It also has enough external pockets and kit loops to keep you tidy on the road. The main section is a single large compartment which could make organising your clothes a little messy, but pop in a few packing cubes and problem solved.

Made of trail tough fabric, the Transit has a quick adjustable shoulder harness to fit your back length, a padded hip belt for comfort and a stowaway carrying system to make air travel a cinch. It’s detachable front pack can become your carry-on luggage while you check the large pack into the hold and the two-in-one design makes you totally trail or city tour ready when you arrive at your next destination.

The SwissGear Travel Gear is an urban rucksack with adventurous qualities, taking you from your daily commute to your favorite trail faster than you can say jack rabbit.

Made from durable polyester and designed with a host of convenient features, the Travel Gear Lightweight is great for college or urban travel, with oodles of interior space for your laptop, gadgets and papers. An easy access cell phone pocket and a headphone port will keep you connected and its external bungee system means you can tuck away extra gear.

And although compact, this travel backpack is built for comfort with contoured padded shoulder straps, airflow back system and easy access water bottle pockets. For an urban, lightweight backpack that performs well over a range of both inner city and open terrain, you can’t go wrong with the Travel Gear.