Top 10 Best Travel Backpack Reviews of 2017

There is little surprise that the Osprey Farpoint has exploded in popularity since it's initial launch. The have managed to pack in pretty much every feature that makes a great travel bag and set a new standard for those who enjoy life on the road. The Farpoint comes in 3 sizes, the 40L, 55L and a huge 70L. We recommend looking at the 40L or 55L, as both can be used as carry-on luggage with most airlines, while still providing tons of space for all your essentials. 

​The rock solid construction is backed by Osprey's famous lifetime warranty, so you can feel free to use and abuse this backpack to your hearts content. The design has 2 carry handles one on the top, and one on the side, which makes grabbing it from overhead compartments super easy. The shoulder straps can be zipped away easily to avoid snagging on anything while stowed, and the compression straps help save space.

One of the best things about the Osprey Farpoint  series of packs is the U-shaped zipper design of the main compartment, which means you can unzip and fold down the entire front of the bag for super easy access to everything inside, without having to dig down into the bag from the top. This is a real sanity saver for those who need quick access to all their travel gear while on the go and hate having to pull everything out each time.​

The Tortuga is a bag designed by travelers for travelers. Their goal was to create the ultimate carry on backpack that fits all airlines strict regulations and provide a travel pack that is loaded with features. This 44L model is made from a super rugged and tear resistant nylon, which helps save on weight. The adjustable straps have a full suspension system built in and the waist strap is removable if you like. Security wise, all the zippers feature a lockable design compatible with most TSA style travel locks. 

We love the design itself, where the backpack unzips and folds open like a suit case so you can access everything inside easily and has tons of organizational pockets. There is also a separate laptop sleeve pocket that can be zipped open to lie flat for going through airport security so you don't have to take your laptop out every time. It can hold up to a 17" laptop which means there is lots of space for your macbook or PC laptop and accessories. Thanks to this well though out design the Tortuga backpack is super popular in the growing digital nomad community, people who travel and work anywhere in the world.

While it doesn't look as sleek as the Osprey Farpoint, the more rectangular design actually helps optimize the interior space a bit more and we were able to fit a bit more gear inside than the Farpoint would comfortably hold. Tortuga really listens to the travel community when designing their gear and the result is an extremely high quality backpack.

The Kelty Redwing has a special place in our hearts. It is probably the most comfortable option out of all the models we have tried out. The backrest is loaded with padding on top of the internal frame, along with the nice thick shoulder straps. This make the weight distribution over the entire bag extremely efficient.

When you take the super sturdy waist strap into account and use it properly, it moves most of the load onto your hips and makes carrying this bag for extended periods of time pretty effortless. This is a great option for those who like to spend a lot of time walking around while wearing their pack, and not just hopping off and on planes and buses. This makes it good choice for more active travelers, as it shares many similarities with larger hiking backpacks. However unlike huge, cumbersome hiking packs, the Redwing can be both top loaded, or fully unzipped to have full access to all your travel gear.

In terms of construction this bag is really tough, a super durable/tear resistant fabric is designed for outdoors enthusiasts along with travel geeks, and the padded laptop sleeve rests against the sturdy internal frame for extra protection. The one downside is the lack of lockable zippers, however, given the medium size of the bag, it fit into almost every locker at all the hostels we visited on our recent trip across Europe, and we had no issues. This is the perfect piece of travel gear for the more rugged, adventurous type of traveler who loves to spend time outdoors.

The North Face is known for their extremely high quality outdoors gear, and the Router no slouch that's for sure. This is the largest model of backpack that The North Face produces, coming in at 41L worth of space, it will fit all your essential travel gear with a bit of room to spare, despite the more compact looking appearance. The large, undivided interior portion is accessible with a 3/4 opening zipper, giving you a large single space to pack all your gear efficiently.

The exterior is made from a super durable fabric that while not 100% waterproof, is designed to be water resistant. Water will bead up and drip off the exterior in most common situations, tropical rainstorms not withstanding. In terms of functionality, there are lots of smaller pockets on the exterior of the bag, and a separate laptop compartment big enough to fit a large 17" macbook, or even 2 medium sized 13-15" laptops. It is heavily padded to protect your tech which makes it great for business casual travelers. The North Face brand means it is coming in at a more premium price point, however as with all their gear you really do get what you pay for: extremely high quality construction and a slick looking design.

The one downside is the lack of a super padded waist strap, which not essential on these size backpacks could be an improvement for those who tend to pack a heavy load. The belt loop can be hidden behind the back pad which is great for those who hate messy dangling straps. The shoulder straps themselves are functional while not overly bulky. There is also an emergency whistle tucked into one of the straps, which is a nice added touch. The North Face Router is a great choice for the business casual crowd, digital nomads or those looking for a trendy yet functional pack to go with the travel blogger lifestyle. 

If you  liked the sound of the Osprey Farpoint 40, but think you need a bit more space, the Porter comes in at a larger 46L of size. Sharing many of the same design aspects of the Farpoint above, The Porter actually seems a bit higher on the durability scale, thanks to being constructed from a heavier fabric type and the padded side panels that provide some extra protection. This bag can really take a beating.

Those padded side panels provide more than just protection, they work as compression straps, which means once you are packed, you can firmly cinch the 2 connecting straps and it will help compress any empty space within the bag to provide a more compact travel pack. You can also use this 2 strap system across the front to attach a separate day pack, the Osprey Day Lite pack is designed exactly for this. Finally, all the straps are designed to quickly hide away by sliding into slots quickly, which makes dangling loops and mess a non issue, great for storing in overhead compartments.

There is a dedicated laptop pouch that is on top of the main pocket, and makes accessing your tech gear for security checks super easy, but does not provide the same security as being up against the back panel like other designs on this list. It is a bit of a trade off for accessibility vs protection, but after several trips with this bag, it has never been an issue. The Porter also is built on a semi-rigid frame which gives it a bit more flex as opposed to the farpoints ridig frame design.

This is an ideal choice for those who spend most of their travel time hopping on planes, trains and buses and jetting between hostels and hotels and need a bit of extra space. 

For those who are on the more sporty side, the Deuter Transit is for you. It has something we wish more models incorporated: A separate bottom pouch designed to carry your shoes, a sleeping bag/pillow or even separate your dirty laundry from the clean in the main compartment. The bottom section of this backpack unzips to reveal a padded compartment designed specifically for shoes, but comes in handy for so much more.

This means people who love to bring athletic or hiking shoes with them on their adventures have a place to keep their dirty footwear and not create a huge mess inside the main compartment. While it does take away some space from the main compartment, this is a great trade off, and makes keeping things you need immediately accessible super easy. In terms of the rest of the pouches, there are some smaller exterior compartments for smaller items like headphones, sunscreen etc, but the main focus here is on the huge main compartment and the padded bottom pouch.

The Transit comes with a detachable shoulder sling that lets you carry it like a duffel bag in addition to the normal 2 shoulder straps which have a hideaway system like the Osprey Porter above. The overall silhouette and shape of the bag is compact and sleek with little in the way of bulky exterior pouches and hanging straps/buckles. 

For those looking for a smaller backpack for their travels, The North Face Borealis is a great option for those who like to bring their laptop on the road with them, while maintaining a smaller profile. This is one of the best travel backpacks for women (and men) who want a decent amount of space but hate lugging around a fully loaded full size pack. It is also makes a really kick ass day bag for those who like to leave their larger backpack at the hotel/hostel.

The Borealis offers 28 L of storage space, with one large main compartment that also contains the fleecy padded laptop sleeve, a medium sized secondary compartment and a smaller pouch for quick access to smaller items.  The medium sized middle compartment also contains a second smaller, padded fleece sleeve that is perfect for tablets and smaller netbooks. Finally, there is a bungee system on the front that comes in handy for strapping in random items like jackets which is very welcome when it comes to hopping on and off planes and buses. The only downside we could find is the lack of metal lockable zippers, you can fit a travel lock through them, but the pull strings while tough wont hold up to a knife. Although with a bag this size, it is most likely going to be with you all the time.

As this is a 28L backpack  there is less of a requirement for heavy padding on the shoulder straps or back panel, as you will be carry less weight in general. Still, The North Face didn't feel the need to skimp out and straps are filled with a compact yet dense padding that is comfortable even when fully loaded. The backplate is covered with a similar padding, with a lightweight mesh coating to keep you cool and your back sweat free. As with all North Face gear, the construction and quality of the materials used on this model are top notch.

The Timbuk2 Command shares quite a few similar design ideas as the North Face Router above, but is has a slightly more compact and minimal form. This is a 30L travel backpack designed with a simple exterior look, but a highly functional interior loaded with pockets and areas to stow your gear. There is a separate laptop compartment that is hidden behind the backrest, and the entire back of the back opens up after you unzip this. This keeps your electronics more secure and hidden from thieves, while leaving the main compartment free for larger items.

There are compression straps at the bottom of the bag if you need to save space, and given the 30L size of this bag, it makes for a great carry on for those who like to travel carry on only, while still having quite a lot of space for all your gear. It is clear a lot of thought went into the design of this bag, with plenty of pouches to keep smaller items neatly stowed away. While the original intention for this bag was for more urban day to day use, given the versatility it has quickly been adopted by many travelers thanks to the smart overall design and high quality construction.

For those of you who really want to bring along a suitcase but want something a bit more convenient, the eBags  Mother Lode could be the right choice. The entire bag is designed to act as a soft shell carry-on size suitcase. They might have lost the wheels and drag handle, but the addition of shoulder carry straps makes it much more versitile than lugging around  a cumbersome wheeled suitcase.

While not quite as rugged and over designed as some of the other traveler's backpacks on this list, this one is great for those looking for simplicity. If you are planning on traveling for a shorter periods of time and want an option that will allow you to keep your clothes folded flat and nicely organized, then the Mother Lode is a great choice. Thanks to the lay flat, front opening design, you quickly have access to all your belongings, and the adjustable internal divider allows you to segment the bag if you like to help with organization and to keep everything in place.

For those travelers who are looking for something more simple and trendy looking, Herschel Supply co has a wide variety of models made for the instagramer/travel blogger lifestyle. If you are going to be posing for some awesome pictures then these great looking backpacks will definitely add some stylish flair. 

The Little America is a classic looking bag that has a simple yet functional design. There is a large main compartment for all your stuff, and a smaller front pocket for accessories. This pack has a 25L carry capacity which makes it great for carry on only travelers who want to maximize their space in the main compartment. We were pleasantly surprised with how comfortable this travel bag was thanks to the extra padded shoulder straps and backrest, they definitely went all out when it comes to comfort, even for a 25L backpack. 

In terms of construction, these bags are made from tough polyester that is rugged enough to survive a trip to anywhere on the planet. There is beauty in simplicity and the Little America is one classically stylish design for those looking for a gorgeous travel backpack. Oh, and it comes in a TON of different colors and patterns!