The best travel backpacks you can buy
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Backpacks are perfect for when you don’t need a full suitcase, but you want more than a regular daypack or messenger bag. Based on our research and real-world testing, the best overall travel backpack is the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible.
The world is shrinking. Thanks to incredibly low prices and fares, travel is becoming more and more accessible to everyone, whether we're talking about quick jaunts out of town or longer trips overseas.
One of the reasons why air travel is becoming more affordable is that low-cost carrier airlines are expanding their reach to serve more people. By charging extra for things like food, drinks, and checked bags, the price of the base ticket can fall drastically lower. Airlines like Spirit and Norwegian have perfected this model, while larger airlines like United and American are starting to offer “basic economy” fares to compete. Those "basic economy" fares tend to start lower but the airlines even charge for carry-on roller bags or duffles.
Although roller bags are great when you’re trying to carry as much as possible without having to check a bag, they aren’t always the best choice. They can be unwieldy on city streets or on trains, while your standard duffel can be a pain to carry for more than a few minutes, even with a shoulder strap.
Enter the travel backpack. This bag is a hybrid duffel-backpack that takes the best of both types of bags and combines them into an easy-to-carry storage system that can fit under the airplane seat in front of you, but that's still able to carry enough for a long weekend.
Backpacks help evenly distribute the weight of your gear and include room for those modern-day essentials like laptops, chargers, and tablets. Check out our picks for the best travel backpacks in the following slides. You can also check out our guides to the best carry-on bags and the best checked bags.
Although the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the InCase EO Travel Backpack, the eBags Professional Weekender, the Timbuk2 Aviator Convertible Travel Backpack, and the Deuter Transit 50.
The best travel backpack overall
Why you'll love it: The eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible maximizes storage space so you can pack it to the brim, and it transforms into a duffle bag on demand.
eBags was founded as a retail website in 1998 and began selling products manufactured under its own brand a few years later. Taking advantage of the reviews left on its site, eBags tries to incorporate all of that feedback into its in-house products to make them better.
The TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible is the result of that smart, informed design process. The bag features a massive internal compartment, which is so big that one reviewer said she was able to use it for a week-long trip to Europe. The bag also has a laptop compartment with a separate opening to give you easy access to your computer while also keeping it safe and secure.
The Weekender has an expansion zipper to increase the storage space if you need a little extra room, and it has internal dividers and tie-down straps to keep your stuff in place. An easily accessible pocket on top means you can quickly access essentials, like liquids at security or travel documents.
To make it even easier to carry when stuffed to the brim, the bag has handles at the top and on the side. That way, you can carry it as a duffle if you want to take it off your back at any point. The backpack straps tuck away into the bag if you choose to carry it duffle-style, and there's an attachable shoulder strap.
Since the Weekender comes in eight colors, you're sure to find one you like, too. Overall, this versatile, convertible bag is an incredible option for travelers who want to make the most of their backpack.
Pros: Well-organized, maximizes storage space, great for traveling on foot, sturdy, turns into a duffle
Cons: Slightly rigid, not the most stylish, clips are made of cheap-feeling plastic
Buy the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible on eBags for $103.99 (originally $200)
Buy the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible on Amazon for $129.99 (originally $200)
The best travel backpack for style
Why you'll love it: The InCase EO Travel Backpack is a sleek, stylish bag that keeps you organized and looking sharp on the road.
If you find the eBags Motherlode too plain for your tastes, the InCase EO Travel Backpack is a much more polished alternative that looks stylish and still holds a ton of gear.
The EO unzips down the middle and opens like a suitcase, giving you access to the main storage compartment. It has two sections: a large packing area that can be closed with a mesh flap and a smaller mesh pocket that sits opposite the main compartment. The small pocket is good for socks or for dirty clothes you won't wear again.
The bag also has an expansion zipper. Even if you don't have a lot to pack, it's easiest to expand the bag, close everything up, and then close the expansion zipper. That way, your stuff is compressed and packed in easily. While the bag holds its shape well, the soft panels mean it's easy to fit under an airplane seat.
The laptop compartment can fit up to a 17-inch laptop, which should be big enough for just about anyone. Unlike many other bags, it also has a separate tablet pocket. The laptop compartment zips apart to lie separately, which can be helpful when going through security.
It also has a front organizer compartment with pockets for pens, chargers, and other accessories. All in all, the EO doesn't hold as much as the eBags Motherlode, but it still fits plenty more than a traditional weekender.
The EO Travel Backpack is made from a weather-resistant material, and it has several easy-access pockets for essentials. It also has a breathable mesh back and extremely comfortable adjustable shoulder straps. If you have to walk far with the EO before you reach your destination, you can use the included chest strap to help with stability. The bag also has padded carrying handles on the top and side to make it easy to grab.
Pros: Stylish, comfortable to carry, fits several days of clothes, protects laptop well
Cons: Slightly tighter than alternatives, backpack straps don't stow away, only two color choices
Buy the InCase EO Travel Backpack on Amazon for $145.90
Buy the InCase EO Travel backpack on eBags for $219.95
The best travel backpack for work trips
Why you'll love it: The eBags Professional Weekender's design is based on decades of customer feedback and research to create the perfect backpack for professional road warriors.
With a sharper look than many traditional travel bags and backpacks, the eBags Professional Weekender is perfect to take with you from your hotel to your meetings. This bag is ideal for those shorter business trips when you don't want to lug around a full-sized wheeled carry-on, but can't fit everything you need in a briefcase or traditional backpack.
The clothing compartment is designed for shorter 1-2-day trips, but it can be overstuffed to fit more. At the bottom of the bag, accessible from the back, is a crush-proof “AC-Adapter garage” to hold any heavy objects you want to keep away from the rest of your gear — or, alternatively, delicate objects you’re worried about breaking. You can also remove the compartment altogether to give the clothing compartment more room to expand.
The laptop section is isolated from the rest of the bag’s contents, so there's no need to share your dirty laundry with the boardroom when you pull out your computer at a meeting. An organizer pocket helps you keep track of your essentials, too.
What’s remarkable about this bag is how adaptable it is. The backpack straps are removable, and there’s a handle on the side so that you can carry it as a briefcase. There’s also an adjustable shoulder strap. When opting for backpack mode, there’s a breathable “Airmesh” back with well-placed padding to make it a comfortable carry.
If you’re bringing a roller bag as well, there’s a handy pass-through panel on the back so that you can place it around the roller bag’s handle. All in all, this bag is the ultimate business trip backpack.
Pros: Clean, professional look, well-organized
Cons: Some reviewers complain about plastic clips, no external compression straps
Buy the eBags Professional Weekender on eBags for $127.99 (originally $199.99)
Buy the eBags Professional Weekender on Amazon for $159.99 (originally $199.99)
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