Traveling with just one bag sounds impossible, but the right backpack makes it easy. A good 30–40 liter pack holds everything you need for a week or more, fits in overhead bins, and keeps your hands free for exploring. We tested dozens of travel backpacks to find the ones that actually work for real trips, from city weekends to international adventures.
1. Best for organization & minimal weight: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
The Allpa is beloved for its suitcase-style clamshell and internal mesh compartments that keep everything visible and tidy. Opening it feels like unzipping a duffel—you see all your gear at once instead of digging through a dark hole.
The latest version uses 100 percent recycled fabrics, adds a water-bottle pocket and luggage-pass-through, and still comes in light at 2 pounds 15 ounces. That’s impressively light for such a well-organized pack.
Stellar organization in a lighter-than-average shell, with a durable TPU-coated exterior for travel abuse.
2. Best urban/tech carry: Aer Travel Pack 3 (X-Pac)
A sleek, hard-wearing 35-liter carry-on built for city travel and tech lovers. You get a suspended 16-inch laptop pocket that protects your computer from bumps, a lay-flat main compartment, multiple quick-access pockets, load lifters, and all-around grab handles.
The X-Pac version is listed at 3.9 pounds and uses sailcloth fabric that shrugs off rain and rough handling. Every pocket has a purpose, from passport slots to cable organizers.
Premium build, excellent tech protection, and a place for everything without feeling fussy.
3. Best maximum-carry-on comfort: Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L
When you want to take everything in one bag without killing your shoulders, Tortuga’s height-adjustable harness and cushy hip belt shine. This pack packs like a suitcase, uses water-resistant ECOPAK sailcloth, and weighs 4.5 pounds—a tradeoff for the plush suspension that frequent walkers appreciate.
The harness adjusts to fit torsos from 15 to 22 inches, so it actually sits right on your back. That means the hip belt carries most of the weight instead of your shoulders.
The most backpack-like carry in a travel pack; the harness takes the load off on long transits.
4. Best overall for most travelers: Osprey Farpoint 40
If you want a proven, do-everything travel pack that still feels light on your back, this is it. The Farpoint 40 is carry-on sized, has a supportive frame with load lifters, an external toiletry pocket for security lines, and a 16-inch laptop sleeve.
Weighing just 3 pounds 6.4 ounces, this pack balances comfort with reasonable weight. Osprey built this specifically for travelers who walk between gates, trains, and hostels.
Comfort plus structure for longer walks between gates and stations, plus Osprey’s travel-friendly layout make this worth every penny.
5. Best compact, do-it-all weekender: Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L
Ideal for short trips and minimalist travelers who pack light. It expands from 27 to 33 liters depending on how much you stuff inside, has a rear full-hatch opening that swings wide like a door, stowable straps, and a padded laptop and tablet sleeve.
Weighing just 3 pounds 2.7 ounces, it’s comparatively light and sized perfectly for international carry-on limits. Peak Design added clever magnetic closures and hidden pockets throughout.
Tons of access in a tidy footprint; great as a primary for short trips or a secondary tech-and-essentials bag.
6. Best lightweight minimalist: Cabin Zero Classic 36L
Sometimes you just want a simple, lightweight bag without all the bells and whistles. Cabin Zero delivers exactly that with their Classic 36-liter pack, which weighs an astonishing 1 pound 9 ounces—less than half what most travel packs weigh.
The design is straightforward: one main compartment, a couple of pockets, padded straps, and carry handles. No frame, no fancy suspension, just a well-made bag that meets cabin size limits worldwide.
Ultra-light simplicity for minimalist travelers who pack light and don’t need heavy-duty features or extra organization.
7. Best hybrid duffel-backpack: Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 36L
Can’t decide between a duffel and a backpack? Eagle Creek solved that problem by making both in one bag. The Gear Warrior gives you backpack straps when you need them and tucks them away when you’d rather carry it like a duffel, plus it has four grab handles positioned around the bag.
Weighing 3 pounds 7 ounces, it uses abrasion-resistant fabric and a wide clamshell opening. The hybrid design works surprisingly well for travelers who want flexibility in how they carry their gear.
Versatile carrying options and rugged construction for travelers who want choices in how they haul their stuff.
