When you don’t travel very often, the piece of luggage you tend to pick out is often an overlarge, inefficient bag of questionable quality. Frequent travelers know picking the right backpack means finding one that doesn’t merely hold your things but is useful, well-designed, and ultimately durable.
Your luggage – backpacks, carry-on, daypacks and the rest – are arguably the most essential gear for a traveler. Even if you have travel insurance a torn backpack can stop your journey in its tracks. These are the backpacks that have been travel tested over countless kilometers to keep up with your boundless wanderlust.
Osprey Sojourn 25-Inch 60 Liter (Convertible Roller-Backpack)
There’s a perception that wheeled luggage isn’t quite as cool as the hiking backpack that every student abroad in Europe seems to be lugging around. Not that there’s anything wrong with them – a few of my favorites are listed below – in most cases wheels are more comfortable, especially if you’re carrying a daypack. (Yay, no double-turtle for you!) For those of you not ready to give up backpacking completely, the Sojourn comes with straps if you need them in rougher terrain.
The Osprey Sojourn is my current backpack of choice and extremely well constructed, resisting the beating it’s taken as checked luggage all over the world. As for the size, the Sojourn 60-Liter is a sweet spot for a single traveler and 80 might cut it for two light packers.
Osprey Sojourn Wheeled Luggage (25-Inch/60 Liter, Metal Grey)
Kelty Coyote 80 / Kelty Redwing 50 (Dedicated Backpack; Hiking)
The Kelty Coyote 80 is a hiking backpack which does well as a travel bag because it’s front loading (you really don’t want a top loader), put together with two reinforcing fabrics, and pockets, pockets, pockets.
Kelty Coyote 80 Internal frame Backpack, Forest Night, Medium/Large
At 80 liters the Coyote will probably encourage you to pack a lot more than you need (here’s how to put your backpack on a diet) so if you really like to travel light, the Kelty Redwing 50 might be the better size. Whichever you go with, remember it’s best to only fill up 80% of your bag to pack like a pro.
Swissgear ScanSmart Backpack (Carry-On)
The SwissGear computer backpacks are a perfect combination of padding plus pockets to protect a variety of gadgets. I have been using one which has gone with me everywhere for the past 10 years, with only two minor signs showing its age. Swissgear’s line of backpacks are just big enough to be good weekenders for business travelers or anyone who takes short trips – a great gift for the minimalist in your life.
SwissGear Travel Gear ScanSmart Backpack 1900 (Black)
There’s nothing fancy about the REI Stuff; it’s a single large pocket bag with two side holsters for bottles or smaller items. The nice thing about the REI Stuff is that is folds up into a small little ball for easy packing in a larger bag when it’s not needed.
Microluggage Scooter (Bag You Can Ride)
The Mirco Luggae Scooter is one of the most fun things I’ve ever reviewed because it makes being slightly late to an airport gate fun. As the name implies, the Micro Luggage Scooter is a carry-on sized bag that can be ridden as long as your legs are up for it. A good way to combine a workout when traveling.
Micro Luggage ReloadedProtect What You’re Packing
No matter how good of a bag you buy, be sure to think carefully about what you check in, remove old bingo tags, and prepare to track and recover your luggage if it does happen to get lost by an airline.
What are some of your favorite bags you would have added to those mentioned above? Let me know in the comments below!
Nice! We use Tom Bihn Aeronauts, and I couldn’t recommend them more. After years of other packs and carry-ons and rollers and all that, this one is my fave. I’ve never actually used the backpack straps, though, since carrying it is just as easy. Comes in 30 and 45L.
http://www.tombihn.com/PROD/aeronaut30.html
http://www.tombihn.com/PROD/TB0906.html (0)
Thanks for the recommendations, yes, I rarely use the backpack straps on my bags too. I think the only time was in some parts of India.
Over the years I’ve started to lose any interest in having wheels or straps, really. I wish the ones on my Aeronaut were removable, because I have no use for them and they’re just extra weight/space now.
Good to see your SwissGear bag is still going after all these years, thats one solid bag!
It’s great and although I think about getting a newer one sometimes, I can’t bare to do it to this one that’s been so reliable.
Good suggestions a good backpack is important. When I was young a cheap bag would suffice now it’s about something of quality.
Buying too cheap often costs you more in the long term you learn with experience!