Shopping online is supposed to make everything easier, but let’s face it – it can be almost as tiring as actual shopping. Â
Why? Â Because shopping online can be like visiting the world’s largest mall, and you can easily get lost in the shuffle trying to find what you want.
Plus, you don’t get to touch any of the products – yet solely rely on your eyes. How can you be sure which product is good and which one isn’t?
Ask someone else. And that’s why we’re glad you are here!
If it is a top rated travel backpack you are after for an upcoming vacation, we’ve gone out of our way to highlight 4 super stylish and reasonably priced travel backpacks.
Our Guide to Choosing the Best Travel Backpack
But first.. peruse our guide to choosing the best travel backpack.Â
Without this knowledge, you may be lead astray in the vast universe of backpacks and the bad advice that is out there. So keep on reading!
Different Styles of Backpack
The best way to find the style of backpack for your needs is to determine its type.
This will tell you a lot about its use and intended purpose. Here are the most common backpack types:
- Daypack
- Rucksack
- Anti-theft backpack
- Laptop backpack
- Drawstring backpacks
- Biking backpacks
- Hiking backpacks
- Duffel backpacks
- Backpacking backpacks
- Wheeled backpacks
- Other backpack types
There are many more sub-categories, but these are the most common backpack styles you are likely to encounter.
Learning more about each one of them will help you find the best backpack style you require for your vacation, so let’s get to it.
Daypack
The most common backpack style is called a daypack, which are used by both men and women, big and small, for almost anything – work, travel, hiking, mountain climbing, cycling, school, lugging around your laptop, walking around Disneyworld… whatever!
Daypacks look like your standard backpack, with a large accessible pocket on the front, padded shoulder straps, and a grab handle.
They are used generally for daytrips, and can hold a day’s worth of stuff – food, supplies, books, clothes, etc. But they’re not designed to be overly roomy.
It’s worth saying that “daypack” can also be taken as a catch-all term for simply a backpack in some cases, so, depending on where you buy one, the term “daypack” may sometimes be confused with just a regular backpack. Â
The downside of your average daypack, is that they don’t usually have many “extras”, as they are just a common backpack with no special purposes other than to carry a few of your things.
As they are not overly packed with features, they’re generally inexpensive compared to some other types of backpacks, so that’s a plus.
Would we recommend them for traveling on longer vacations and/or hikes? Sure, many people use daypacks for this and much more, although there are better backpacks for such excursions that will give you more features that could be handier. More on those soon.
Also, daypacks aren’t known for their extreme durability. Even when it’s a daypack made for hiking, you can usually find more rugged bags.
Daypacks are just simple all purpose backpack that you can use for whatever you need them for.
Who makes the best daypacks these days? Tortuga, Osprey, Deuter, and North Face, to name but a few.
Rucksack
A rucksack is superficially somewhat like a daypack, in that they are both backpacks, but it has a few key differences, considering, once again (like the daypack), the word “rucksack” is often used colloquially as a descriptor for any bag or sack. Â
In German, Rücken means “back”, and sack means, well, sack. But there is also an activity called rucking, which means to walk carrying a load, that is common in the military, but also performed by civilians.
Watch this video featuring a man who enjoys rucking for its fitness benefits.
So, as you can see, rucksacks usually appear to be quite rugged, made of waterproof canvas or similarly tough materials, and are decked out with many pockets on the back and sides for all of your carrying needs.Â
Notably, the grab handles on rucksacks are usually a lot stronger than those found on some of the cheaper daypacks, so be aware of that as well.
Rucksacks further distinguish themselves by having multiple clasps and latches, adding to their rugged appearance. As their namesake implies, they are often used for hiking, trekking, joining the army, and camping.Â
At the same time, backpack enthusiasts don’t shy away from rucksacks for all forms of trips, including business trips, commuting, daycare, the gym, festivals, marathons, long distance walks, portaging, and more!
Anti-Theft Backpack
Even though anti-theft backpacks are considered just like any regular backpack, they have one main purpose which brings a huge difference to its design.
They have no zippers at the front, yet instead, they rely on the hidden zippers closer to the person’s back. But what you can’t see is that these backpacks use special tear-proof material.
Some high-end anti-theft backpacks feature RFID blocking pockets so you stay protected against the electronic theft as well.
Laptop Backpack
This type of backpacks is pretty self-explanatory. While laptop pockets can be found in other backpack styles as well, this type of backpacks is really useful for people who travel often with a laptop.
They often come in different sizes to match different laptop sizes, so that’s one thing you should check out before the purchase.
The inner laptop pocket is exactly what makes this style of a backpack, but you should be aware that laptop backpacks come in different styles.
Therefore, you should always look for a laptop pocket in order to ensure that it’s actually a laptop backpack.
Drawstring Backpack
Drawstring backpacks are often seen being used as gym backpacks, and you’ll easily recognize them for their drawstring closure and shoulder straps.
They’re very small and aren’t highly functional – but they do offer one main purpose. It’s staying light while carrying only a few lightweight items, such as clothes, for example.
Therefore, they might be a good idea for short trips to the beach.
Biking Backpacks
There are actually quite a few subcategories of biking backpacks, but you will most likely find either a backpack that can pack a lot of gear, or a backpack that can pack a lot of hydration packs.
Hydration biking backpacks don’t have a lot of room, yet only a room for necessities while biking gear backpacks are much larger and have plenty of space in their main compartment.
They’re often as small and lightweight as possible but have the pretty decent capacity. If you’re doing a lot of biking for traveling – this is an ideal type of a backpack.
Hiking Backpacks
Hiking backpacks are the most ideal option for traveling because they meet a lot of requirements that most average travellers have.
These backpacks have multiple attachment points, are comfortable, and have a large main compartment. They come in different sizes, but they also come in two different types.
These types can either be framed or frameless. Framed hiking backpacks have a support frame installed which offer better organization and they’re a bit more stable.
However, frameless hiking backpacks are very lightweight and are only suitable for lighter loads.Â
Duffel Backpacks
In case you didn’t know, there are duffel backpacks which include with straps that allow you to carry it.
These are ideal for the gym, but, since they have a large capacity, they’re also great for traveling.
They often have a capacity of 120+ liters and they offer great organizational capabilities.
Backpacking Backpacks
You might not believe that there are backpacking backpacks, but these too have their own category.
They might look like hiking backpacks, but they have completely different features. In fact, they’re used by people traveling across the country on long journeys.
Ever thought of backpacking through Europe? This is the backpack you’d most likely take on the journey with you.
They often have huge capacities of up to 150 liters and even though they don’t have a lot of compartments – they are comfortable and very easy on the shoulders.
Wheeled Backpacks
You must have seen a backpack which looks just like a regular backpack and yet it can be wheeled like luggage, right?
That’s exactly what a wheeled backpack is and it’s one of the most functional backpacks.
It’s ideal for daily use since it has decent organizational compartments, plenty of space, and you don’t have to worry about the weight or shoulder straps.
Most of these backpacks come with a function to carry them as a regular backpack but also wheel them.
Other Backpack Types
There are also carry-on backpacks, different types of sports backpacks, mini fashion backpacks, tote backpacks, and still others.
They can be considered as subcategories of existing types, and if you are looking for a very specific use of a backpack for a specific purpose, they are worth checking out.
Also, if you’re traveling using airlines – you should make sure they’re TSA-friendly, which is just another sub-category of standard backpacks but are important to check out.
Lightness
Is the backpack heavy on its own, or has the manufacturer managed to make it not feel so cumbersome?
Remember the old school backpacks? They were heavy even without the books inside them. Take this example into consideration when looking for your perfect vacation backpack.
You would want a pretty lightweight backpack that will go easy on your shoulders during your backpack traveling yet still has plenty of features to offer without sacrificing even the smallest details.
Therefore, we highly recommend you to look into the material which is being used to produce the backpack. This will also tell you how durable is the backpack which is the next thing you should consider.
But other than the lightness and durability, don’t forget to be a little bit selfish and think how well will the backpack fit on your back and shoulders. Shoulder straps can tell you a lot more about the weight of the backpack, and also how well & comfortable will the backpack be with some extra weight inside.
Durability
You are carefully choosing your next backpack for vacation, and you don’t only want it to last – but you need it to last and do its job. No one wants to be stranded on a vacation with a broken backpack, right?
But believe it or not, backpacks don’t have to look rugged to be durable and even weatherproof. Â
Even you might not think up-front, you should take every possible scenario of use into consideration. Especially if you’re hitting the beach during your travels – it’s clear you will need a backpack that can get wet and get slung around, without getting damaged or torn.Â
Whether you’re going hiking or on a beach, it would be ideal to go for a multi-purpose waterproof hiking backpack. This way, you won’t need to carry a few different backpacks.
Yet instead, you could do both hiking trip and trip to the beach with a single multi-purpose backpack.
Some of the most popular, durable & lightweight materials used to produce quality backpacks are Cordura, cotton canvas, nylon, and even rip-stop nylon or polyester.
We highly recommend Cordura material which is a material that is water-resistant, durable, abrasion-resistant, and it’s even used in military purpose – so you know you won’t make a wrong choice. And even better yet, you won’t have to think twice before throwing your backpack on the rough or wet surface.
Space Efficiency
Once again, a backpack doesn’t have to look gigantic to have lots of space. And you shouldn’t determine the space efficiency of a backpack judging it from the outside.
Most modern backpacks come with integrated departments inside the backpack which just gives you a lot more space since you can place specific items in each compartment. This also boosts your organization without any further planning necessary – which is never a bad thing, right?
The worst-case scenario is having to take out an item that’s at the bottom of a heavy backpack, and you just don’t want to find yourself there.
Therefore, you’ll find backpacks which can fit 15″ or even 17″ laptops thanks to a designed compartment. But you will also find compartments for clothes, water bottles, smaller items, and even gadgets and devices.
But as much as important is the interior, you shouldn’t ignore the exterior either. You want to find a balance between a bulky backpack and a shallow backpack.
If you are catching a flight, can you fit it in the overhead compartment? That’s just one of the many questions you will have to deal with if you choose an overly-sized backpack.
You want to stay light, organized, and not have to worry about the durability either. And if that’s everything a stylish backpack that caught your eye can do – it’s the right one.
As much as this sounds as purchasing a wedding ring, it’s not so complicated – and you will know exactly when you find the right backpack that ticks all the boxes.
Colour Selection
Everyone likes to have options when it comes to style and design. Does your backpack offer a good selection?
Are you a person who likes to go for extraordinary colors or you would like a backpack that will fit in everything and everywhere you go?
Colorful backpacks still have a great purpose. You will always know which one is your backpack within seconds, and in case you lose it – it’s going to be easy to describe it and even spot it in the crowd.
On the other hand, backpack colored in most common dark colors such as black and grey will still have a bit of an advantage. You will be able to pair them with anything you’re wearing and still look as stylish.
Some manufacturers rely solely on the most common colors, but you still can find some really interesting colors – even pink, if you look hard enough.
What most people overlook in the color selection is safety. Most backpacks come with integrated reflective colors which are really helpful to have at night. No matter where you go, you will be easy to spot on a long-distance by vehicles and motorists.
Backpack Handle
When you are traveling short distances, not carrying a lot of load, and are just looking to give your shoulders some rest – this is where backpack handle comes in handy.
Most backpacks will come with a simple handle that is, in most cases, no comfortable for any longer use. However, you will want to look out for a handle that is either padded or has an extra material added around the handle to make it comfortable.
Also, you want a handle that’s well-integrated and is made out of quality material, since the weight of a backpack can easily rip it out after prolonged use.
But if you’re someone who doesn’t use the backpack’s handle at any cost – then you can simply skip this step!
Best Travel Backpacks For Vacation
With all these considerations in mind, we now present you with 4 awesome travel backpacks that hopefully tick off all the above boxes!
