As a frequent flyer and carry-on-only fan, I've spent years dialing in everything I want in a carry-on suitcase. But a trip around Europe where I frequently hopped on and off trains had me rethinking my setup, especially when I saw how flawlessly my travel partner managed it all with just an oversized backpack.
A roller bag is great on a smooth airport floor, but it's less impressive on cobblestones, up subway stairs, and into cramped European hotel rooms.
A good travel backpack changes that equation. And these aren't backpacks with a few extra pockets. They open like luggage, hold several days of clothes, and use padded, adjustable straps to make a substantial load easier to carry.
After using travel backpacks on several family trips, I've found that the right one can make the trip from the airport to the hotel much easier. Here are the backpacks I recommend for parents, business travelers, chronic overpackers, and more.
In this article
- Best for Backpack Newbies: Adventurist Carry On Duffel/Backpack
- Best for Organized Travelers: The North Face Base Camp Voyager Pro Travel Pack
- Best for Overpackers: Briggs & Riley ZDX Large Convertible Backpack Duffle
- Best for Family Travelers: No Reception Club Getaway Bag
- Best for Suitcase-style Packing: Forclaz Travel 500 Organizer 40L
- Best for Travel to Trail: Six Moon Designs All Day Carry V2 Travel Backpack
- Best for Business Travelers: Mission Workshop Control EPX Backpack
- Best for Photographers: Peak Design Travel Backpack 2-in-1
- The Shortcut
Best for Backpack Newbies: Adventurist Carry On Duffel/Backpack
The Adventurist Carry On Duffel/Backpack is one I'd recommend to travelers looking to dip their toe into backpack life, since its lower price point makes it less of a commitment. I also think its overall design feels more like a suitcase than other backpacks on this list.
With a capacity of 45 liters, its interior space is comparable to that of any other generous carry-on.
One of my favorite features is that it can be worn multiple ways. In addition to perching it on your back, you can also carry it like a duffel by unclipping and stowing the backpack straps, or swap in the included strap to wear it crossbody-style.
Just know that it's less structured than other backpacks, so don't overfill it or it may sag. Packing cubes go a long way in keeping the interior compartment under control.
Best for Organized Travelers: The North Face Base Camp Voyager Pro Travel Pack
The Base Camp Voyager Pro Travel Pack feels like a backpack designed by someone who understands how messy packing gets.
Its 36-liter main compartment opens completely flat and features a zippered divider, cable loops, mesh pockets, and a separate shoe compartment, which is especially helpful when you're packing dirty hiking shoes.
My college-aged daughter gravitates toward this bag because she likes that there's a dedicated spot for everything, and the padded back panel, sternum strap, and padded shoulder straps help distribute the weight of heavier loads, which is useful for a smaller frame.
One of my biggest pet peeves about backpacks is that the pockets can be too small, but you don't have that problem here. The stretch mesh pocket on the left strap fits my iPhone 14 Pro Max, and the mesh water bottle pocket easily fits a Nalgene bottle.
Optional add-ons take this backpack to the next level. When I know I'll need a smaller pack for day use, I clip on the Voyager Pro Lightweight Pack to the back of this travel pack. A crossbody bag and travel pouch also clip onto the backpack, so you can stay fully hands-free.
Best for Overpackers: Briggs & Riley ZDX Large Convertible Backpack Duffle
This is the travel backpack I'd consider for an unapologetic overpacker.
The ZDX Large Convertible Backpack has a 55-liter capacity that expands to 65 liters, yet its listed dimensions start at 21 by 14 by 8.75 inches. That's carry-on territory when compressed, though expanding it to 11 inches deep pushes it beyond what many airlines allow in the overhead bin.
At 4.4 pounds, it is heavier than several other travel backpacks, but the trade-off is a clamshell opening that lets me pack it like a suitcase, and it also has a padded compartment for a 17-inch laptop.
The backpack straps tuck away if you’d rather carry it by the handle, and there's also a removable shoulder strap and luggage-handle sleeve. I'd use packing cubes for clothing and leave the bag's built-in organization for electronics and travel essentials.
Best for Family Travelers: No Reception Club Getaway Bag
As a mom of three, I love the No Reception Club Getaway Bag because it solves a problem a suitcase can't: keeping all the little things you need for kids organized and within reach.
At 25 liters, it's much smaller than a carry-on suitcase and qualifies as an international personal item. It’s also easy to tote since the luggage handle pass-through and detachable stroller clips hook onto a stroller or luggage.
The best part of the bag, though, is all the compartments that let you separate diapers, snacks, electronics, and parent gear. The internal shelves are adjustable, so you can really customize it to your family's needs. There's even a water- and odor-resistant compartment for soiled clothes, a feature I appreciate far more with kids than any old generic zippered pocket.
If you're going to be changing diapers on the go, I suggest bundling this bag with the Sidekick, a fanny pack with a one-handed wipes pocket, a changing pad, and a main compartment big enough for all the diapering essentials. And it fits perfectly into one of the Getaway Bag's pockets.
Best for Suitcase-style Packing: Forclaz Travel 500 Organizer 40L
I like the Forclaz Travel 500 because it is essentially a suitcase that just so happens to have backpack shoulder straps.
The 40-liter bag opens suitcase-style and has three interior compartments, plus a 15-inch laptop sleeve, a water-bottle pocket, and exterior pockets. I can pack it like a roller bag rather than digging through a top-loading backpack.
It measures 21.7 by 12.6 by 10.6 inches and weighs just 2.87 pounds, making it about the same height as a standard carry-on but slightly deeper. I especially appreciate the padded straps and lumbar belt because they shift some of the load to my hips. That’s something a suitcase obviously can't do when I'm navigating stairs or cobblestone streets.
The back panel admittedly has less padding than higher-end backpacks, but I find it's sufficient if I don't overload it. Best of all, its price point makes it a lower-cost investment.
Best for Travel to Trail: Six Moon Designs All Day Carry V2 Travel Backpack
My teen son reaches for the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry V2 Backpack, as the fit is similar to the hiking packs he's used to. With 35- and 45-liter options available, you can carry quite a bit, which makes the adjustable torso sizing, load lifters, and removable hip belt even more important for distributing weight off the shoulders.
Depending on the capacity configuration you choose, the pack weighs between 2 and 3.2 pounds. I'd use packing cubes for extra organization, although it has two interior mesh pockets for stowing smaller items.
If you go for the larger 45-liter size, avoid overstuffing it as you can start approaching checked-bag territory. If you do end up checking it, the shoulder straps conveniently stow under a zipper flap.
Best for Business Travelers: Mission Workshop Control EPX Backpack
The Control EPX Backpack from San Francisco-based Mission Workshop is my favorite for business travel when I want a sleek design with usable features.
This is one of the pricier backpacks on the list, but it's also the most customizable backpack I've come across, with add-on accessories that enhance functionality, from additional side zipper pouches to a water bottle pocket with drawstring closure.
The main compartment can expand from 24 to 28 liters, and it offers two ways to pack: a clamshell front opening for suitcase-style access or a roll-top for extra capacity for souvenirs or a jacket. Aluminum stays protect your laptop (which you can stash in a side zipper pouch) and also help support the load on your back.
The frame of this pack is pretty large, which is something to keep in mind if you are a smaller-sized person. But you can adjust the strap position via the Velcro back panel to get the fit you need.
Best for Photographers: Peak Design Travel Backpack 2-in-1
The Peak Design Travel Backpack 2-in-1 is the backpack I'd choose for photographers who don't want their camera gear to take over their entire trip.
The 34-liter main backpack pairs with a detachable 16-liter daypack, so you can leave the larger bag at the hotel and take only the smaller one out for adventures.
The main compartment opens fully like a suitcase, while Peak Design's removable Camera Cubes turn the bag into a camera pack with padded compartments for bodies, lenses, and accessories. Plus, you can tuck your tripod into the side water bottle pocket for easy transport.
The system also has dedicated laptop and tablet sleeves, and stowable shoulder and waist straps. The 40-liter version weighs just over 5 pounds with the daypack attached, but that weight offers a lot of flexibility.
The Shortcut
If your trip has more train platforms than taxi stands, bring the backpack.
Look for a clamshell opening. If you're digging from the top, you bought a hiking pack, not luggage.
Capacity isn't the number that gets you gate-checked. Depth is, so check it before you expand the bag.
A hip belt matters more on the walk from the station to the hotel than it ever will at the airport.
Softer bags sag when they're half full. Packing cubes fix that for about $20.
