Best Adventure Travel Backpacks of 2026
Best backpacks for travel, adventure, commuting, and one-bag minimalist travel
August 24th, 2026, updated with 8 new travel packs
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The adventure travel backpack category exists because most trips don't fit neatly into "hiking pack" or "rolling luggage." A weekend that starts with a flight, moves to a hike, and ends at a dinner reservation needs a bag that can do all three without looking wrong in any of them. The difference between a pack that handles that gracefully and one that doesn't shows up in airport security lines, on hostel room floors, and at mile six of a day hike with a too-heavy load.
Our team of testers field tested adventure travel backpacks across a genuinely wide range of trips: a week of adventure travel in Northern Ireland, crewing an ultramarathon in Mexico, a flight from Colorado to Edinburgh for highland hiking, long weekends across 15 states, outdoor festivals, family trips, and urban commutes. Our collective testing drew on thousands of miles of hiking experience and tens of thousands of miles of frequent flying.
What separates a good adventure travel pack from one that frustrates you comes down to how well it transitions between contexts — specifically whether the straps stow cleanly for airport handling, how accessible the organization is mid-trip without unpacking everything, whether the hip belt and shoulder system carry load comfortably for more than an hour, and how the pack holds up across repeated weather exposure and hard use.
Top Pick: The Cotopaxi Allpa 42 earns our Best Overall award. It stood out for its suitcase-style clamshell opening that makes finding gear easy without digging, stowable hip belt and shoulder straps for airport and urban use, weather resistance with an included rain cover, and a range of capacity options from 26L to 42L that cover everything from day trips to week-long expeditions.
Gearing up for a trip? Check out our Adventure Travel Gear Checklist: The Complete Packing List for Any Trip.
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Comparison tables
Weight, Capacity, straps and hipbelts
| ADVENTURE TRAVEL PACK | TREELINE AWARD | MSRP | AVAILABLE VOLUMES | WEIGHT | VOLUME/WEIGHT | SHOULDER STRAPS STOWABLE? | HIPBELT | HIPBELT STOWABLE? | HIPBELT REMOVABLE? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotopaxi Allpa 42 L Travel Pack | Best overall Read why |
$255 | 26, 28, 35, 42, 50 L | 3.13 lb | 13.4 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NEMO Vantage 40 L Overnight Pack | Most comfortable Read why |
$250 | 20, 26, 30, 40 L | 3.68 lb | 10.9 L/ lb | -- | N/A | Yes, on 40L | -- |
| Peak Design Travel Pack 30 L | Best carry on Read why |
$250 | 20, 30, 45 L | 3.17 lb | 9.5 L/ lb | ✓ | Sold separately | N/A | ✓ |
| REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 (men's) | Most affordable Read why |
$159 | 30, 40 L | 2.81 lb | 14.2 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | -- |
| REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 (women's) | Most affordable Read why |
$159 | 30, 40 L | 2.69 lb | 14.9 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | -- |
| Matador Global 35 L Travel Pack | Best organization Read why |
$279 | 35, 45 L | 3.69 lb | 9.5 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ULA Equipment 30 L Ultra Dragonfly | Best lightweight Read why |
$290 | 30, 36 L | 1.71 lb | 17.5 L/ lb | -- | Sold separately | -- | ✓ |
| ULA Equipment Ultra Node | Best for hiking Read why |
$230 | 20 L | 1.26 lb | 15.9 L/ lb | -- | Sold separately | -- | ✓ |
| Osprey Fairview Trek 55 Travel Pack | Best for women Read why |
$275 | 55, 70 L | 3.86 lb | 14.2 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | -- |
| Gossamer Gear Aero Jet | Best for digital nomads Read why |
$225 | 35 L | 2.24 lb | 15.6 L/ lb | ✓ | Sold separately | -- | ✓ |
| Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 Travel Pack | Best for long trips Read why |
$200 | 30, 46, 65 L | 3.4 lb | 13.5 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | -- |
| No Reception Club The Getaway Bag | Best for families Read why |
$235 | 25 L | 2.99 lb | 8.4 L/ lb | -- | -- | N/A | N/A |
| The North Face Base Camp Voyager 35 L | $180 | 26, 35 L | 3.46 lb | 10.1 L/ lb | -- | -- | N/A | N/A | |
| Gregory Border Carry-On 40 | $240 | 30, 40 L | 2.93 lb | 13.7 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Six Moon Designs All Day Carry Travel Backpack - 35L | $335 | 35, 45 L | 2.0 - 2.25 lb | 17.5 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| RTIC Ultra-Dry Duffle Pack | $150 | 60 L | 5.29 lb | 11.3 L/ lb | ✓ | -- | N/A | N/A | |
| Fjallraven Raven 28 | $130 | 20, 28 L | 2.2 lb | 12.7 L/ lb | -- | -- | N/A | N/A | |
| Kelty Redwing Traveler 40 | $180 | 30, 40, 50 L | 3.43 lb | 11.7 L/ lb | -- | ✓ | ✓ | -- | |
| Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25 L | $155 | 25, 32 L | 1.4 lb | 17.9L/lb | -- | -- | N/A | N/A | |
| Osprey Fairview 40 | $200 | 40, 55, 70 L | 3.4 lb | 12.4 L/ lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | -- |
Carry-on travel-friendly features, pockets
| ADVENTURE TRAVEL PACK | TREELINE AWARD | CARRY ON? | LAPTOP SLEEVE | EXTERIOR POCKETS | RFID BLOCKER | LUGGAGE PASS THROUGH | AIRTAG POCKET | WATER RESISTANT? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotopaxi Allpa 42 L Travel Pack | Best overall Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 4 | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ |
| NEMO Vantage 40 L Overnight Pack | Most comfortable Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 3 | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ |
| Peak Design Travel Pack 30 L | Best carry on Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 3 | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ |
| REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 (men's) | Most affordable Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 4 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ |
| REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 (women's) | Most affordable Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 4 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ |
| Matador Global 35 L Travel Pack | Best organization Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ULA Equipment 30 L Ultra Dragonfly | Best lightweight Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 5 | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ |
| ULA Equipment Ultra Node | Best for hiking Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 3 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ |
| Osprey Fairview Trek 55 Travel Pack | Best for women Read why |
-- | ✓ | 6 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ |
| Gossamer Gear Aero Jet | Best for digital nomads Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 Travel Pack | Best for long trips Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 3 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ |
| No Reception Club The Getaway Bag | Best for families Read why |
✓ | ✓ | 6 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ |
| The North Face Base Camp Voyager 35 L | ✓ | ✓ | 5 | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ | |
| Gregory Border Carry-On 40 | ✓ | ✓ | 3 | -- | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Six Moon Designs All Day Carry Travel Backpack - 35L | ✓ | ✓ | 10 | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ | |
| RTIC Ultra-Dry Duffle Pack | ✓ | ✓ | 2 | -- | -- | -- | Waterproof | |
| Fjallraven Raven 28 | ✓ | ✓ | 5 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ | |
| Kelty Redwing Traveler 40 | -- | ✓ | 8 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ | |
| Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25 L | ✓ | ✓ | 4 | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ | |
| Osprey Fairview 40 | ✓ | ✓ | 4 | -- | -- | -- | ✓ |
The winners
Best overall adventure travel backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 42
Volumes available: 26, 28, 35, 42, and 50 L
Capacity: 42 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Water-resistant? Yes + rain cover
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included: Yes
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes, low-profile padded hipbelt is stowable and removable
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Volume to weight ratio: 13.4 L/ lb
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 3.13 lb.
What we liked: Capacity options, layout, durability, weather resistance, carry-on compatibility, color options, Cotopaxi’s sustainability efforts
What we didn't like: Not our favorite shoulder straps
The Cotopaxi Allpa is a versatile, durable, spacious, stylish, and well-organized travel backpack. After taking it on a long road trip to the Midwest and a flight from Colorado to Edinburgh, Scotland for explorations in the city and the Scottish highlands, we found this pack to excel in a variety of weather conditions and travel use cases.
Treeline testers have taken it to conferences, family reunions in Japan, on a four-state book tour, and week-long work trips, and we came to depend on its suitcase-like, clamshell zipper opening, allowing you to easily find what you need without digging around.
You can learn more about this travel backpack in our in-depth review of the Cotopaxi Allpa.
Cotopaxi Allpa 42
We appreciate a lot about this pack, including its sizes and organization options. The range of capacity options is useful for different scenarios—28L is great for day trips, 35L for long weekends, and 42L for week-long trips, for example. Cotopaxi uses recycled materials for the Allpa 42, which we also appreciate.
Cotopaxi is also impressively sustainable. 100% of their product materials are either repurposed, recycled, or responsibly certified. Learn more about their Sustainable by Design promise.
It's also worth noting the Cotopaxi Allpa comes in many capacity options, including 26L, 28L, 35L, 42L, and numerous checked-bag and personal-item sizes. This is an impressive number of options, which really allows you to tailor the size you need for the types of trips you take and where you are going. No other bag we tested has so many options.
Most comfortable adventure travel backpack: NEMO Vantage Overnight 40L Endless Promise Pack
Volumes available: 20, 26, 30, 40 L
Volume we tested: 40L
Carry-on compliant: Yes, most U.S. airlines
Water-resistant? Yes
Hipbelt included: Hipbelt only available on 40L pack
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes, on 40L/No
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? Yes, on 40L pack
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Weight: 2 lbs 11 oz (20L), 3 lbs 2 oz (26L), 3 lbs 1 oz (30L), 3 lbs 11 oz (40L)
Volume to weight ratio: 10.9 L/ lb
What we liked: Comfortable shoulder pads and back panel, durable and high-quality materials and construction, excellent organization, super sustainable through NEMO’s Endless Promise program
What we didn't like: hipbelt only on 40L, hipbelt is minimal
The NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack was almost our best overall winner—the organization and overall design are incredible, it’s in its own league as far as comfort, and NEMO’s Endless Promise line is impressively sustainable. Ultimately, we decided the Cotopaxi Allpa offered more versatility and more size and color options for more people. The Vantage is a durable, comfortable, and ergonomically and thoughtfully-designed travel pack.
The padded shoulder straps and airy back panel—made with a material called CCubed, which is mostly air—are the most comfortable of all backpacks we’ve tested.
You can learn more in our in-depth review of the NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Overnight Travel Pack.
NEMO Vantage Overnight 40L Endless Promise Pack
We’ve tested the NEMO Vantage Endless Promise 40L Overnight Travel Backpack and the previous model in 30L over two years of international and domestic travel, from day trips in Colorado to a week-long adventure travel trip in Ireland, Asia, and countless trips around the U.S.
This travel backpack has a large zippered main compartment, plus smaller compartments and pockets. The tech compartment is padded and divided for better organization, and there’s a hidden bottom compartment that’s great for dirty laundry or a pair of shoes. It isn't quite as much as the Matador Global Pack but it is more than the Cotopaxi Allpa, making organization easy.
Perhaps the best feature? As part of NEMO’s Endless Promise line, this pack is made entirely of recycled materials and is fully recyclable at the end of its life. NEMO will even do the recycling for you. And the materials and construction are of such high quality that this durable pack should last you a long time.
In testing, we were impressed with the variety of trips the NEMO Vantage worked well on—from a week of adventure traveling in Northern Ireland, to crewing an ultramarathon in Mexico, day trips into the mountains, commuting from work to workouts, and much more.
It’s carry-on compliant and has a sleek design. It works for daily trips and workouts because of the easy zip opening that works for daily activities where you want quicker access to things like gym clothes. It works well for international travel because of the organization inside that separates what you don't need access to often like dirty laundry from gear you need often, like passports.
It doesn’t come in as many different capacities as the Cotopaxi Allpa (which includes 28L, 35L, 42L, and numerous checked-bag and personal-item sizes), and it only comes in two color options.
The updated version of this pack now comes in 20L, 26L, 30L, and 40L sizes. Confusingly, the 20 and 26L versions are called "Everyday Adventure Daypack" while the 30 and 40L are called "Overnight Travel Backpack.” The 40L pack we tested offers all the perks of the previous version with thoughtful upgrades, like larger side water bottle pockets, larger and longer zippers, and more carrying handles. There’s also a new magnetic buckle at the top, replacing one that slid into place.
Best carry-on travel pack: Peak Design Travel Pack 30 L
Volumes available: 20, 30, 45 L
Volume we tested: 30 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? No, available for separate purchase
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes, optional hipbelt stows and is removable
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 3
Weight: 3.17 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 9.5 L/ lb
What we liked: Sturdy and sleek design, quality materials, comfortable straps, carry-on compatibility, travel-friendly features
What we didn't like: Fewer compartments than other packs, filet-style main compartment can be difficult to access on the go
The Peak Design Travel Backpack wins Best Carry-on Adventure Travel Backpack due to its sturdy structure, large main compartment, air travel-friendly features, and sleek design. This is a great adventure travel backpack for jetsetters, nature photographers, digital nomads, and work commuters.
The pack is made with weatherproof, DWR-treated fabric and offers ample storage space for long weekends (perhaps up to a week if you’re packing really light). It features zippers that lock together and zipper locks to keep them in place during travel, a waterproof bottom, stretchy side pockets, a secure tech compartment for laptops or tablets, and grab handles on all sides of the pack. You can expand the capacity for more space and still maintain its carry-on compatibility.
This adventure travel backpack covered us throughout a lot of travel situations, including work commutes and a long weekend in Seattle that included work, walking around the city, and nature walks. Learn more in our in-depth review of the Peak Design Travel Backpack.
Peak Design Travel Pack 30 L
While this pack is great for air travel, work and professional events, and for photographers, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for those who will primarily be outdoors. The Travel Backpack certainly can accompany you on day hikes—in fact, Peak Design caters their design to nature photographers—the filet-style opening (similar to a clamshell opening but opens forward/longways rather than outward like a book) of the main compartment can be difficult to access on the go, and there isn’t an obvious solution for separating dirty clothing or gear other than adding packing cubes.
However, if you’re looking for a travel pack primarily for air travel and/or work that can transition to outdoor activities, or if you prefer a simple and sleek style, this is our top choice.
Best affordable travel pack: REI Ruckpack 40
Volumes available: 30, 40 L
Volume we tested: 30L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? Yes
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes/No
Luggage pass-through? No
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 2.81 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 14.2 L/ lb
What we liked: organization, value for the price, highly durable
What we didn't like: shoulder straps uncomfortable for long-term use
The REI Ruckpack 40 is a budget-friendly, versatile adventure travel backpack. It’s rugged enough for outdoor adventures with a DWR finish and included a rain cover, is carry-on compatible, and has travel-centric features like lockable zippers.
We tested this pack as the solo backpack our tester brought to a month-long educational summer camp. This bag carried this carry-on for everything we needed for a month, from clothes to a laptop, books, and snacks. We chose this pack over the Cotopaxi Allpa, our overall winner, due to its bigger water bottle pockets. Since we were also using this pack as our school backpack and as a hiking backpack for field trips that involved hiking, kayaking, and swimming at a dry, high altitude, those bigger water bottles were a must.
Check out our in-depth review of the REI Co-op Ruckpack 30 Adventure Travel Backpack.
REI Ruckpack 40
Men's
Women's
The Ruckpack is designed for both outdoor excursions and long travel days, with a removable hip belt, a sleeve for either a laptop or a hydration system. It has a split-webbing daisy chain for lashing on gear, it lacks the features of other winning packs in this guide: like super comfortable shoulder straps, adjustable interior compartments, highly durable and lightweight materials, etc.--it provides a thoughtful, streamlined design for adventure travels at a low price. You’d be hard pressed to find a better value for $159.
Best adventure travel backpack with organization: Matador Global Travel Pack
Volumes available: 35, 45 L
Volume we tested: 35L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? Yes
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes, stowable and removable
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? Yes
RFID blocker? Yes
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 3.69 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 9.5 L/ lb
What we liked: Many pockets, great layout for organization, high-quality materials and durable construction
What we didn’t like: Expensive, clamshell makes main compartment harder to access on the go
The Matador 35L Global Travel Pack is our pick for best organization because of its plethora of pockets and thoughtful setup. With a total of 17 pockets, it has the most of any pack we’ve tested. We also appreciate the clamshell opening to keep clothing separate from toiletries and accessories, an admin external pocket to organize work items, and a cushioned and protective tech compartment with a false bottom on the laptop pocket for security.
In addition to the effective use of space and plentiful pockets, the Matador Global Travel Pack has lots of adventure-travel-specific features, like a shock cord external stash to keep a jacket handy, a high-vis interior and reflective elements on the exterior, and a hidden pocket that blocks RFID.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the Matador Global Travel Pack.
Matador Global Travel Pack
In addition to the long list of features, this backpack has comfortable, plush shoulder straps with adjustable sternum straps and a padded hip belt, both of which are stowable. In testing, we found this comfortable for long travel days, just falling short of the most comfortable adventure travel pack, the NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack. The hipbelt is stowable in a way that works well for checking in luggage, but can create a bulge while walking without a hipbelt.
The main downsides of this pack are that it’s more expensive than other packs of the same volume, and the clamshell opening makes accessing the main compartment more difficult on the go. We also didn't like that the 24L and 30L versions have different names than the 40L, but very similar designs, a complaint we also had with the NEMO Vantage.
If you are looking for a pack that keeps you organized for adventure travel trips up to a week, the Matador Global Travel Pack is a premium full-featured pack that feels like a good value.
Best lightweight adventure travel backpack: ULA Equipment Ultra Dragonfly 30 L
Volumes available: 30L, 36 L
Volume we tested: 30 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No/Yes
Hipbelt included? No, sold separately
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes, but sold separately
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 1.71 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 17.5 L/ lb
What we liked: Ultra fabric is waterproof and durable and lightweight, top-entry and front-loading gives flexibility, made in US, lightest full travel pack, white interior
What we didn't like: Price, not suited for heavy packers, only available in black
The ULA Ultra 30L Dragonfly is the best ultralight travel pack. As an ultralight travel pack, the Dragonfly has got everything you need, nothing you don't. It's sleek, professional, waterproof, abrasion-resistant, lightweight, and simple. The Dragonfly is as durable and comfortable as a thru-hiker's pack, with a commuter and travel-friendly capacity and modern style.
The Dragonfly is made of Ultra fabric, a lightweight, waterproof, and abrasion-resistant fabric popular in thru-hiking packs. But unlike backpacking packs, the Dragonfly has an easy-to-access front-open design and an external zipped laptop pocket (similar to the Matador Global Travel Pack).
The ULA stands out among traditional hiking and travel packs due to its lightweight, sleek and professional design, and rugged, outdoor-friendly Ultra material. Read more in our in-depth review of the ULA Dragonfly Travel pack.
ULA Equipment Ultra Dragonfly 30 L
We love that the pockets are tall enough to secure our 70 oz vacuum-sealed water bottle. It has a shock cord on the outside to attach a jacket or travel pillow. There are zippered pockets on the outside that can fit smaller items like sunglasses, lip balm, and snacks. There are small mesh pockets on the inside where you want more security for passports and keys.
Compared to other travel packs we tested, the capacity is smaller, and the carry is aimed towards one-bag minimalist travelers due to lack of luggage-pass through (though they sell a version with the pass-through). If you will be carrying more gear, the Gossamer Gear Aero Jet or the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry may be a better choice.
If you're looking for one bag to take with you from the airport to the coffee shop to the train to the trail, the ULA Ultra Dragonfly is it.
Best personal item for hiking: ULA Ultra Node
Volumes available: 20 L
Volume we tested: 20 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt included? Sold separately
Hipbelt stows/removable? No/Yes
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 1.26 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 15.9 L/ lb
What we liked: Ultralight, sleek design, durable
What we didn't like: Too small/minimalist for long trips
The ULA Equipment Ultra Node 20L is a sleek, stylish, minimalist day pack and commuter pack for ultralight travel, daily commutes, and adventure.
This is a pack that looks just as cool in a coffee shop as it does during travel, yet is durable enough for intense hikes and scrambles. It’s made with premium, water-resistant ultralight ULTRA X fabric, and is one of very few backpacks in this category made in the USA.
The phrase “can do it all” is a tall order for a personal item, but this one pack excelled for daily commutes, stuffing under the airplane seat in front of us, and scrambling up peaks.
The ULA Node is a very small pack and we were initially skeptical, but it has become our go-to pack for daily commutes, air travel, and urban hikes.
Read more in our in-depth review of the ULA Equipment Ultra Node 20L travel pack.
ULA Ultra Node
Our testers have stored this weekender bag under countless airline seats for travel, biked to coffee shops with my laptop, and summited snowy peaks with this pack. I’ve worn it with a blazer to financial meetings where I was trying to impress other people. I’ve also worn it off-trail bushwhacking and scrambling in wilderness areas where no one will see me.
The ULA Node has got a sleek, clean design that looks sophisticated enough for urban streets. It has enough pockets for daily commuters, including a laptop sleeve and mesh iPad pocket. It looks like a digital nomad adventure travel pack but performs arguably better than most ultralight daypacks. It’s free of logos, making it an inconspicuous bag for travel.
Best adventure travel backpack for women: Osprey Fairview Trek 55 Travel Pack
Volumes available: 55, 70 L
Volume we tested: 55 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? Yes
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes/No
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 3.86 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 14.2 L/ lb
What we liked: Comfortable, durable, large capacity
What we didn't like: Only available in 55L and 70L
The Osprey Fairview 55 Trek is the best adventure travel pack for women who want one comfortable and functional travel pack. Unlike almost every travel pack we tested, the chassis, harness, and frame support system on the Osprey Fairview 55 Trek are robust enough for backpacking. It's incredibly convenient for multi-week travel trips where we wanted to sneak in a few overnighters in the nearby mountains.
The Fairview Trek marries what we loved about the Osprey Fairview and Farpoint travel packs and Osprey's overnight backpacking backpacks.
Read more in our in-depth review of the Osprey Fairview 55 Trek travel pack.
Osprey Fairview Trek 55 Travel Pack
We tested the women's version, the Osprey Fairview 55 Trek Travel Pack, for a year's worth of travel from planes to road trips to backcountry backpacking. It's got a women's specific chassis that is narrowed, adjustable sizes for shorter options for torso, as well as contoured and smaller options for waist and hipbelt to accommodate curvier bodies.
We've traveled with this pack everywhere from conferences in Colorado to week-long camping trips in the California Redwoods and Big Sur. We hiked it into riverside yurts, fall aspen on the Colorado Trail, off-grid hot spring resorts, and remote cabins in the Eastern Sierra. We've flown multi-city trips, living out of the Osprey Fairview for travel in fifteen cities in addition to a slew of backcountry hike-in destinations.
With full-view, easy-access organization, and rugged materials that can handle airline travel, the Osprey Fairview 55 Trek pack is luggage for people who never want to be caught with a suitcase. The comfortable chassis is smooth going through airports, loading and unloading on road trips, and living out of hotels, Airbnbs, and campsites.
It's worth noting that this pack, and the similar and been-around longer classic Osprey Fairview, are notorious for getting gatechecked, especially from European airlines. We've never been stopped in countless domestic flights, even on Frontier Airlines, but we've been nervous.
While there are lighter-weight packs for backpacking and more luggage-specific travel packs, for the type of adventure traveler who needs one pack to do both, the Osprey Fairview Trek and Farpoint Trek are a good choice.
Best adventure travel backpack for digital nomads: Gossamer Gear Aero Jet
Volumes available: 35 L
Volume we tested: 35 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? Sold separately
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes
Luggage pass-through? Yes/Yes
AirTag Pocket? Yes
RFID blocker? Yes
Exterior pockets: 7
Weight: 2.24 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 15.6 L/ lb
What we liked: Ease of accessing electronics pockets, lightweight, value for price, travel-friendly features like luggage pass-through and RFID blocker
What we didn't like: Not waterproof, no color options, no size options
The Gossamer Gear Aero Jet carry-on pack is the best adventure travel pack for digital nomads. If you're carrying a laptop, iPad or tablet, headphones, and other tech to make your office anywhere away from home, this pack did the best job of organizing the office on your back. The well-organized zip tech pocket can be opened from the top instead of the side like most packs, which made it easier to access when stored in tight spaces under the seat in front of us.
The updated version is even lighter and has travel-specific features like a hidden AirTag pocket and RFID-blocking pocket (even better for folks who may be traveling with company credit cards). It's also got a luggage pass-through to use with a rolling suitcase (be that your overhead carry-on or checked baggage).
Best yet, it's a more affordable travel pack than many of the others we tested making the Gossamer Gear Aero Jet an excellent deal.
Gossamer Gear Aero Jet
We've lived out of this pack for three weeks, covering over 3,000 miles on planes, trains, Lyfts, and road trips. We used the Aero Jet pack on flights to conferences, on overnight road trips in Colorado, and as a daily commuter pack while working in coffee shops, libraries, and various hotels and Airbns. We wore it all-day, every day at Outdoor Market Alliance running from booth-to-booth and found the harness comfortable and the 3D mesh back panel to provide a lot of airflow (appreciated during 90°F days).
With a sleek, black design with reflective elements, it looks professional, keeps you seen when walking in the dark, and doesn't show dirt after sitting on the coffee shop floor all day. The Gossamer Gear Aero Jet isn't too big for daily commuting but is quite roomy when it is your one-bag for travel. Due to its incredibly easy-to-access tech organization, this pack should be on every digital nomad's short list.
Best adventure travel backpack for long trips: Osprey Sojourn Porter 46
Volumes available: 30, 46, 65 L
Volume we tested: 46 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? Yes, padded
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes, stows
Luggage pass-through? No
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 3
Weight: 3.4 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 13.5 L/ lb
What we liked: Great organization and pockets, convertible from backpack to side-carry bag, sleek design as both outdoor pack and travel pack, super stretchy water bottle pocket
What we didn't like: Heavy for long days of outdoor use
The Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 transforms seamlessly from long weekend trips to extended travel adventures due to its large capacity and adventure travel-friendly features. It can serve as both a carry-on and checked luggage bag or as a backpack for urban adventures and outdoor excursions.
The compression system of the Sojourn Porter allows you to convert this full-sized pack into a compact daypack ideal for exploring cities, working from cafés, or spending a day on the trail or at a park.
To learn more, check out our in-depth review of the Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 travel pack.
Osprey Sojourn Porter 46
We appreciate the exceptional organization of the travel backpack, which includes dual-padded laptop/tablet compartments, key clips, pen holders, and designated compartments for everything you’d need for up to a week’s worth of travel. And since most adventure travel backpacks seem to have bewilderingly tight water bottle pockets, it’s worth noting that, while the Sojourn Porter only has one water bottle pocket, it’s stretchy and easily fits wide bottles.
Due to the large 46L capacity and organization features, we think this pack is great for travelers needing one bag for diverse trips—from business travel and urban exploration to outdoor adventures—especially those carrying laptops or tablets. This pack seamlessly transitions between work trips, museum visits, and waterfall hikes.
Best adventure travel backpack for families: No Reception Club Getaway Bag
Volumes available: 25 L
Volume we tested: 24L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt included? No
Hipbelt stows/removable? N/A
Luggage pass-through? No
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 6
Weight: 2.99 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 8.4 L/ lb
What we liked: Excellent/customizable organization, storage for kid-specific items, quality and sleek design, carry-on compatibility
What we didn't like: Smaller than other adventure travel backpacks, bundle accessories can make this expensive
The No Reception Club Getaway Bag is our top adventure travel backpack pick for families because it is tailored specifically to traveling with small children. It features diapering accessories, a cooler bag for a bottle or snack storage, and pockets that are easily accessible from the overhead bin of a plane or the back seat of a car.
Our tester has used this pack for 9 months of travel – on family road trips, ski trips, and on cabin and camping trips. It was useful for on-the-fly diaper changes, hauling bottles and snacks for our tester’s son, treats for the family dog, and even some snacks for mom and dad for long days in the car.
This pack was shoved into corners of a packed car and tossed around in snowy parking lots. It remained functional, durable, and comfortable to carry our gear throughout long trips, and we were constantly impressed with the thoughtful organization of this pack that worked as well when traveling with a 10-month-old baby as it does with a now 1.5-year-old toddler.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the No Reception Club Getaway Bag.
No Reception Club Getaway Bag
What we appreciated is that unlike many family bags on the market, the Getaway bag isn't just a diaper bag or kid travel pack—it’s designed with parents in mind, with a padded tech compartment and attractive, sleek design.
One downside of this family-friendly adventure travel pack is that it’s the smallest we tested with only 25 L of capacity. And if you bundle with additional features like the Sidekick waist bag and changing pad, insulated lunch pouch, and stroller attachment straps, it costs more than most packs we tested.
However, the organization and features are so convenient and clearly designed with parents in mind, that we recommend this pack for traveling families with small children if your budget allows it.
Other adventure travel backpacks we tested
The North Face Base Camp Voyager
Volumes available: 26, 35 L
Volume we tested: 35 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? No
Hipbelt stows/removable? N/A
Luggage pass-through? No
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 3.46 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 10.1 L/ lb
The North Face Base Camp Voyager 35L offers among the best organization of the packs we’ve tested due to its number of pockets and compartments, including adjustable compartments that allow you to optimize your carrying space. But it loses out to the Matador Global Travel Pack because of durability concerns and a lack of hip belt at the 35L size.
This adventure travel backpack has a whopping six zippered pockets, seven non-zippered organization pockets, and two water bottle pockets. The main compartment features an adjustable divider that can be great for separating dirty and clean clothes while traveling. The tech compartment is padded and fleece lined, which was a comforting touch while traveling with work laptops.
Unlike the Matador Global Pack, it doesn't have a hipbelt. But some people hate hipbelts, so if that is you, consider the North Face Base Camp Voyager. This pack is also much more affordable than the Matador, which may also appeal to some travelers.
The North Face Base Camp Voyager
Volumes available: 30, 40 L
Volume we tested: 40L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? Yes (lightly padded hipbelt only available in 40L)
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes/Yes
Luggage pass-through? No
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 6
Weight: 2.93 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 13.7 L/ lb
The Gregory Border Carry-On 40L backpack is probably the pack we use the most that didn’t quite win an award in this category. It has a clamshell opening to two main compartments, which is great if you want to separate clean and dirty clothes.
This design alone made it a go-to option for trips that required more shoes, outdoor gear, or laundry, such as our trip that included backpacking in Scotland and a wedding in the Netherlands, a trip to West Virginia that also included hiking and a wedding, a road trip through Arizona to California and Colorado, and even a full day starting with working in a coffee shop and led to meeting friends at the crag to climb.
Gregory Border Carry-On 40
The updated model of the Gregory Border comes with great upgrades, like better zippers than the previous version, an AirCushion mesh back panel for improved airflow, a protective padded front panel with molded grab handles, and 100% recycled polyester fabric to reduce the pack’s carbon footprint. However, we were disappointed to see the odor-resistant and easy-to-clean ActiveShield interior of one of the compartments disappear in this update. Beyond just sounding cool, we actually thought the "dirty laundry" section of the pack worked and added value to the bag over others we tested.
You can fit a lot in this backpack due to their more-than-typical-travel-bag efficient use of space, making it a great option for longer trips or trips that fit in a lot of different adventures.
Volumes available: 35L, 45L
Volume we tested: 45L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? Yes
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes, stowable and removable
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 10
Weight: 2.0 - 2.25 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 17.5 L/ lb
The Six Moon Designs All Day Carry (ADC) Pack can function as a backpack, suitcase, or urban tote with ease, but it shines brightest as a trekking pack for hut-to-hut routes. In particular, we found we loved this pack for the Camino de Santiago. With water-resistant, durable materials, a traditional backpacking backpack's harness, and plenty of pockets, it's designed for long distance backpacking in more urban environments.
It previously won our award for best lightweight adventure travel pack, but the ULA Dragonfly is more lightweight at 1.7 lbs compared to 2.0-2.25 lbs (depending on the custom fabric you choose). It's a bit of an unfair comparison given the difference in volume, but the Dragonfly has a lighter volume to weight ratio, which is a better indicator of weight.
Learn more about the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry Adventure Travel Pack in our in-depth review.
Six Moon Designs All Day Carry
Volumes available: 60 L
Volume we tested: 60 L
Water-resistant? Waterproof
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt included? No
Hipbelt stows/removable? N/A
Luggage pass-through? No
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 2
Weight: 5.29 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 11.3 L/ lb
The RTIC Ultra-Dry Duffle Pack is a unique travel pack with an extremely minimalist design, but has a large capacity and is the only fully waterproof pack we’ve tested.
The RTIC Ultra-Dry Duffel Pack has an IPX6 waterproof rating (which means it can resist at least three minutes of high-pressure water flow at 100L/minute), with RTIC EZ waterproof zippers, waterproof fabric, and welded seams.
To achieve this waterproofness, the pack has few pockets. The Ultra-Dry Duffle Pack is one large 60L compartment with two interior mesh pockets and one exterior pocket that doesn’t fit much.
RTIC Ultra Dry Duffle Pack
We took this pack on winter and spring road trips in Colorado and on a flight to Montana. In our testing, we found this worked well as large luggage (that is still carry-on friendly for most airlines) or for road trips and car camping trips. This is especially handy if you’ll be traveling to places that get a lot of heavy rain or on a boat. (We even just found it nice to have peace of mind while watching airline employees transfer them on and off our planes in the rain.)
The downsides of this pack are that it is heavy, lacks organization, doesn’t have a tech compartment, and is more luggage forward than adventure travel forward. But it’s among the most affordable options and is great for lengthy trips or trips to wet places.
We also question this bag's volume. While it feels larger than other packs we tested, we're not convinced it is 60L. Its dimensions are listed at the upper limit for most airline carry-on bags (22" x 14" x 9"). If that's true, then the internal volume of this bag comes out to 45 liters - not 60L.
Volumes available: 20, 28 L
Volume we tested: 28 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt included? No
Hipbelt stows/removable? N/A
Luggage pass-through?
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 2.2 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 12.7 L/ lb
The Fjallraven Raven 28 is a durable travel pack with a classic backpack design. It has a similar compartment setup to the NEMO Vantage 40L (other than how the main compartment opens) but with Fjallraven’s classic design.
While this backpack doesn’t offer the frills of other packs we’ve tested, it is durable, stylish, and practical for everyday use. We love that Fjallraven started producing PFAS-free clothing and gear in 2009 and is committed to sustainability efforts.
We used this pack for work commutes and one-night stays, but probably wouldn’t choose it for longer trips. If you like the look of Fjallraven gear and want a backpack for daily work or school commutes, day trips/hikes, and everyday use, this is a worthwhile option.
Fjallraven Raven 28
Volumes available: 30, 40, 50 L
Volume we tested: 40 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt included? Yes
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes/No
Luggage pass-through? No
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 8
Weight: 3.43 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 11.7 L/ lb
The Kelty Redwing Travel is among the most affordable travel packs out there. With fully-zippered water bottle side pockets and numerous full-zippered front pouches, it is designed for taking on planes.
We took the Kelty Redwing Travel as carry-on from Denver to LA jam-packed full of stuff coming back from a conference. We've taken the Kelty Redwing Travel on countless flights, on a 2,000-mile, eight-city road trip, and on a camping and hiking trip.
Ultimately, we found it heavy and the dimensions to be wide and stout. This made it more difficult to fit into smaller spaces. We also wanted more padding in the shoulder straps. This is still an excellent deal for a pack of this size, but is still $20 more than the similarly-sized REI Ruckpack.
Kelty Redwing Traveler 40
Volumes available: 25, 32 L
Volume we tested: 25 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt included? No
Hipbelt stows/removable? N/A
Luggage pass-through? Yes
AirTag Pocket? No
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 1.4 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 17.9L/lb
If you’ve spent any time in an airport, you’d be hard pressed not to see a Patagonia travel pack. Patagonia adventure travel packs are popular for a reason—thoughtful designs that work well in both urban and outdoors occasions, bluesign-approved and 100% recycled materials, and attractive designs. And the Patagonia Black Hole Pack line is no exception.
Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25
The material of the Black Hole is a durable 100% recycled polyester ripstop with a matte, weather-resistant, recycled TPU-film laminate finish that wasn't quite as durable as we would like.
We found taller and higher volume water bottles fall out. The large main compartment was difficult to pack with access from top only.
Ultimately, the Black Hole was too minimalist for many of our overnight travel needs.
Volumes available: 40, 55, 70 L
Volume we tested: 40 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt included? Yes
Hipbelt stows/removable? Yes/No
Luggage pass-through? No
AirTag Pocket? Yes
RFID blocker? No
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 3.4 lb
Weight to volume ratio: 12.4 L/ lb
The Osprey Fairview 40 is a versatile adventure travel backpack designed specifically for women, with adjustable torso straps, a suspension system, load-lifting LightWire frames, and a breathable harness and hip belt. This pack is spacious for longer trips, well organized, and equipped with outdoor and air travel-friendly features.
The Osprey Fairview 40 is a classic travel pack that is commonly seen on many travelers. We find that for our uses (travel to destinations and then doing some backpacking), the newer and re-designed Osprey Fairview Trek is a better fit. The harness, shoulder straps, and hipbelts are designed for backpacking and there's plenty of ventilation in the back, too.
The Fairview 40 has served us well over the years but there's a new kid in town and the redesigned features are worth making the upgrade.
Osprey Fairview 40
What to look for in adventure travel backpacks
Capacity
Most travel packs we tested have around 30-40L of capacity, which we found is ideal for long weekends. If you’re a minimalist packer, you may be able to get away with a week of travel in a ~40L pack. If you’re traveling for a weekend, the 30L should do.
However, this is super dependent on the nature of your adventures, too. If your weekend trip involves a lot of gear (e.g. hiking and dressing up for a fancy dinner or a show), you may need a larger bag or better organization. For example, while the author preferred the NEMO Vantage 40L Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack over all other packs for most occasions, she opted for the Gregory Border on days she went from work to the crag to climb with friends due to its specific compartment for dirty clothes (useful for climbing shoes, chalk, a harness, etc.).
Size considerations (carry-on compliance)
If you’ll be catching flights, you’ll want to opt for an adventure travel backpack that is carry-on compliant. This compliance varies from country to country, so we recommend looking up the requirements where you’re likely to travel. A standard carry-on size in the US is 22” x 14” x 9”, but it’s a good idea to check with your airline. Some airlines are more strict than others, and some gate agents within airlines are more strict than others.
Weight
If you’ll be carrying your travel pack on your back for long periods of time, you may want to consider weight. While capacity, organization, and comfort are probably more important factors, weight will be a consideration for travelers who will be doing a lot of walking or standing around with their pack on. Previously, our favorite lightweight option was the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry backpack because the pack is ultralight and constructed of extremely durable materials, leading to a longer life in your gear closet. It also has a suspension similar to a backpacking backpack as it is designed for thru-hiking the 500-mile long Camino de Santiago trail.
Comfort
Like with weight, if you’ll be carrying this pack on your back for long periods of time, it's important that the pack is comfortable. Cushioned shoulder straps and back panels go a long way here, as well as breathability and airflow along the back and optional sternum and/or hip straps. This is one way the NEMO Vantage 40L Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack stood out from other packs—the cushioned straps and breathable and thoughtfully-designed back panel make this pack the most comfortable full-featured backpack.
Organization and accessibility features
Every pack has its own unique organization and accessibility setup. Some zip open along the top like a traditional backpack, some butterfly-open into two main compartments, some zip down along the front, and some zip almost all the way around (clamshell/D-zip or fillet-style/U-zip access).
Each pack also has different compartment and pocket setups. To choose, we recommend considering your most common use cases and what you want to prioritize. For example, the Peak Design Travel Backpack is great for air travel and work commutes, but doesn’t have a compartment for laundry or shoes, whereas The North Face Base Camp Voyager 35L offers many compartments you can optimize for for work-to-gym days or adventure travel trips.
Durability for mixed environments
You’ll want a pack made of quality materials that can handle the environments you’ll be traveling in. If you’ll be in the rain a lot, you may want to consider waterproof packs like Six Moon Designs All Day Carry. Otherwise, water-resistant packs like the rest of our winners may do just fine (especially if you add a rain cover to pull out when needed). The REI Ruckpack 40 comes with a rain cover, while others would require a separate purchase.
Quality materials and construction is also important here because the goal is to only buy once (saving you money and keeping things out of the landfill!). Our testers (and the baggage handlers) are not gentle with gear, so we made sure to put these packs through it to ensure durability. This is what made the NEMO Vantage 40L a winner—it’s among the best as far as durability goes, plus it can be fully recycled at the end of its life as part of NEMO’s Endless Promise, making it a sustainable, worthwhile investment.
Adventure-specific features
Some packs offer convenient features for adventure travel, such as removable hip belts and sternum straps, hydration compatibility, carabiners and gear hooks, and easy-to-clean dirty laundry/gear compartments. Others include rain covers or other waterproofing.
Security features for travel
Travel packs may have security features, such as zippers that lock. The Peak Design Travel Backpack, for example, has zipper locks that hold the zippers in place and zippers that can loop together so the compartments don’t zip open. Other packs, like the NEMO Vantage 40L, have hidden pockets where you can stow sensitive items like a passport or wallet.
Versatility for different activities
Each of the adventure travel backpacks we tested shine in different ways and are best for different situations. We appreciate versatile packs that cover as many purposes as possible. Some packs are more rugged and better for outdoor adventures due to their waterproofness or durable construction, whereas others are more sleek and stylish for everyday commuting. Some have more or better organization options than others.
We recommend considering how you plan to use your travel pack and choose the one that offers the best range of uses for you.
Why you should buy an adventure travel backpack
Versatility
Adventure travel backpacks allow you to use one pack for a variety of scenarios, from air travel to day hikes and everything in between. Unlike travel luggage and hiking backpacks, an adventure travel pack should suit you for more than one purpose.
Comfort advantage
Another advantage to using a travel pack instead of wheeled luggage is in comfort and ease of travel. We assessed these packs on their comfort over long days of travel, and in some cases we wore them while also lugging around wheeled luggage. In this testing, we found we much preferred navigating transit and long travel days with a comfortable, padded adventure pack rather than traditional luggage. There’s nothing like hopping off a plane and walking with relative ease through crowds without worrying about luggage wheels on cracked sidewalks.
Freedom of movement
Alongside comfort, the freedom of movement you have while carrying an adventure travel pack rather than traditional luggage is a game changer. Our testers flew to other countries with many of these packs and loved that they could go from the airport, to the hostel, to walking tours, and to hikes and other outdoor activities with everything they needed on their back and their arms free.
Durability
We tested packs with quality materials and construction that could withstand the wear and tear of constant and varied use, like being tossed into cars or overhead bins, thrown to the dirt while crewing an ultramarathon, enduring long bouts of rain in Scotland and the Pacific Northwest, and being sprinkled with dirt and climbing chalk at the crag. A quality adventure travel pack should last for many years.
Organization benefits
A well-organized pack makes going from destination to destination much smoother. Since adventure travel backpacks are designed for both transit and exploration, you can pack, organize, and compartmentalize for both travel and, say, trail access.
Cost efficiency
Another benefit of choosing a travel backpack is in its cost efficiency–rather than purchasing luggage, a commuter bag, and a day hiking pack, you’re getting everything in one. Buying one quality pack that will last you years rather than multiple specialized bags saves you money, space in your closet, and trips to the landfill.
Adventure travel backpacks vs. traditional travel packs
Traditional travel luggage is great for air or car travel in that it is typically durable, has large capacity, and typically has features designed with airports in mind, like locks, wheels, and handles that tuck away. This is great if you only need to get from an airport to a hotel, for example. However, if you’re planning on bopping around cities, walking around for long periods with your luggage, or going straight to an outdoor activity, traditional travel packs are not convenient.
Adventure travel packs, on the other hand, are designed with both travelers’ and adventurers’ needs in mind. That means the packs have many of the same features traditional luggage has–durable construction, handles, straps that tuck away, hidden pockets, and zippers that lock together or tuck away–while also prioritizing comfort on your back, weather resistance, and convenient compartments for outdoor activities. Adventure travel packs, in short, are also designed for movement.
Types of adventure travel backpacks explained
Panel-loading vs. top-loading designs
A panel-loading, or front-loading, backpack works like more traditional luggage in that the main compartment opens up the front of the pack much like a suitcase. The benefit of this is easy access to the entire compartment and not having to dig around to find what you need, provided you have space to do this. This can be less convenient at, say, a crowded coffee shop.
Top-loading designs are more similar to hiking and backpacking backpacks in that you access the main compartment from the top of the pack. While this may mean digging for that one pair of socks that sank to the bottom, it can be more convenient when you’re on the go because you don’t have to spread the pack out as much. For example, while the panel-loading Peak Design Travel Backpack allows for great luggage-like organization, I found it more difficult to use in public because unzipping the main compartment resulted in a front-heavy leaning over and the risk of things falling out if I wasn’t careful.
So, in short, panel-loading or front-loading packs allow for better organization while traveling, whereas top-loading packs are easier for more moving around, whether that’s in from city to city or city to trail.
Some packs have unique compartment designs that don’t fit neatly in either category. The Gregory Border Traveler 30 unzips from the top, along the side, and across the bottom to butterfly open into two large compartments. This turned out to be convenient for travel and adventures that involved more shoes, laundry, or gear, as one compartment held clean clothes and the other held anything dirty.
Convertible vs. dedicated backpack styles
Convertible backpacks are ones that can be worn like traditional backpacks as well as a tote, duffel, messenger bag, and/or at your side like hand-held luggage. This offers more versatility than dedicated backpack styles, which are only worn as a backpack. We recommend a convertible style–like most of the packs we tested–if you’ll be taking your pack on a variety of excursions, especially if that involves air travel.
Carry-on vs. larger capacity options
Carry-on-compatible travel packs are convenient for frequent flyers looking to carry everything they need for short trips without having to check a bag. However, if you’ll be traveling for longer stints more often, are carrying more gear or apparel, or won’t be flying much, you may appreciate a 40-45L pack size.
Women-specific vs. unisex designs
When it comes to backpacks, a women's-specific design typically takes into account larger chest sizes, wider hips, shorter torsos, and more narrow shoulders compared to unisex designs. This isn’t to say women cannot wear unisex packs–our women’s testers found many of the unisex packs to be plenty comfortable–or that men couldn’t carry a women’s-specific pack. We believe in choosing the gear that is most comfortable for you, regardless of gender. We do, however, super appreciate when brands take into account the range of body types who enjoy the outdoors and travel.
The only women’s-specific travel pack we’ve tested is the Osprey Fairview 40L pack, which one of our women’s testers appreciated for its adjustable torso and load-lifting frame.
Budget vs. premium feature differences
We tested some adventure travel backpacks with really cool features we loved. However, you don’t need a fancy, expensive pack to enjoy adventure travel. Budget packs, like the REI Ruckpack 40, may not have the fancy zippers and leather features of the Peak Design Travel Backpack, or the ergonomic and breathable back panel design of the NEMO Vantage 40, but it’s still an effective adventure travel backpack.
If your budget allows for premium features, though, we recommend thinking about what you’ll be using your pack for most and what might be most important to you. If you’ll be doing a lot of air travel, zipper locking, stowable straps, carry-on compatibility, and a convertible design may be worth investing in. If you’ll be wearing your pack for long periods while traveling around cities or day hiking, strap comfort, back panel cushion and breathability, and multiple compartments/pockets may be your priorities. If you’ll be using this pack more in the outdoors than inside or in transit, waterproofness, hydration compatibility, lightweight materials, and gear-oriented compartments are likely more important to you.
Author Becca Downs sports the Gregory Border Traveler while Treeline writer Kai Burckhardt totes the Cotopaxi Allpa at the crag.
Packing tips for adventure travel backpacks
A huge benefit of adventure travel backpacks is how easy they make it to move from transit, lodging, and activities. This also tends to correlate with less packing space. Here is our advice for making the most of your backpack’s organization and capacity.
1. Select multi-use items
The first step is to consider how you can make the most of what you’re packing by choosing versatile clothing and gear options to save space. Clothing may be the easiest way to do this. We love clothing that works well for our adventures (e.g., is breathable, durable, moisture-wicking, and comfortable) and can be dressed up for days in town.
For example, the author often packs clothing from brands like Royal Robbins, Paka, Cotopaxi, and Fjallraven because their clothing tends to operate in both the outdoor and lifestyle realms. For shoes, she’ll pack shoes she feels comfortable both walking around town in and going for a run in.
2. Use Compression Straps
Stowing your items as small as possible will go a long way in allowing you to pack everything you need. Depending on the design of your pack, you can either utilize the compartments or use packing cubes to tighten your space (and, as a bonus, keep yourself more organized). For example, small interior mesh pockets may be great for socks and underwear. Folding or rolling your clothing in a packing cube will keep them as small as possible.
Another related strategy is to pack from largest to smallest: that is, place your larger items in the backpack first, then tuck in smaller items where you see room. It’s like a game of Tetris and gets easier with practice.
3. Think about Accessibility
Once you get your compression technique down, the next consideration is which items you’ll need easy access to at different points in your trip. For example, at the airport you will want easy (to you, not to others) access to your wallet and passport (hidden exterior pockets are great for this), and perhaps your water bottle, book, phone, and snacks. Depending on your TSA situation, you may want easy access to your electronics and liquids at that point in the trip.
If commuting to work, you may want easy access to your laptop. On the trail: hydration, snacks, phone, camera, binoculars, or whatever your adventure entails.
Since you’ll be packing relatively light, you may find yourself repacking at different points in the journey to optimize accessibility. Like with everything, this takes practice (but we think this is part of the fun!).
Care and maintenance tips
Your adventure travel backpack is likely to get dirty. Most packs are made from easy-to-clean materials and may just need to be wiped off with a towel. We recommend checking the manufacturer’s care instructions for specific cleaning instructions. If it has spent time on a baggage carousel, you may need to wipe around some scuffs and do some spot cleaning.
After an adventure, it's a good idea to check your backpack for any issues. Zippers, pockets, and anywhere materials meet can be particularly prone to damage. You may be able to make easy fixes yourself, while some brands will fix or replace parts for you.
In general, these packs are durable and can withstand a lot of tossing around and use. If you can hang your pack on a hook when not in use, that is one of the best ways to keep it in good condition, but it should be fine just about anywhere as long as it’s not encountering sharp things that could tear it or tight spaces that may deform the shape or compromise the design.
FAQ
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The adventure travel packs we tested range from 25-60 L in capacity. We found 30L to work well for weekend trips, and 40–45L to work well for up to a week of travel, depending on how you pack. This is, of course, dependent on what you’ll be packing—winter clothing and shoes take up more space than summer clothing, for example. If your trips often involve outdoor activities and more formal occasions, you may need more room to accommodate everything you’ll need.
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Most adventure travel backpacks work well for day hikes, but may be too small for backpacking trips. These packs have tech compartments and are designed more for travel rather than backcountry use. So while travel packs are great for their versatility, we wouldn’t recommend them for regular backpacking use. Instead, opt for a lightweight backpacking backpack for your overnight outdoor adventures.
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Most packs we tested are carry-on compliant. Some packs are not advertised as carry-on compliant, but we were able to get away with it. If you’ll be flying frequently, we recommend selecting a travel pack that specifically states it is carry-on compliant.
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Our testers have each honed their own packing skills. Some of the strategy comes down to the organization options your pack provides, but here are a few key philosophies.
Lay out everything you think you’ll need ahead of time. Over the course of the day, slowly remove items as you realize you won’t need them (this also gives you time to consider what you might have forgotten you’ll need, too).
Compartmentalize your clothing in a way that makes sense to you, like keeping undergarments together in one compartment. Packing cubes can be helpful if your pack doesn’t have many separate compartments.
Dedicate a compartment or cube to shoes and/or dirty laundry. This is important if you’ll be doing something like hiking—you don’t want dirt from your socks to get on the nice shirt you were going to wear for dinner, for example.
Versatility is the name of the game. Shoes you feel comfortable walking in all day, going for runs in, and wearing with casual clothes helps with keeping your pack light. Clothes you can wear for a variety of occassions—like a hiking dress you can wear on the trail and dress up in town—also helps.
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Adventure travel packs are designed for a variety of travel scenarios, like work commutes, air travel, and long days walking around. Unlike hiking backpacks, they have tech compartments. However, because they’re usually durable, weather resistant, and relatively comfortable and lightweight, they can also work for day hikes.
Hiking backpacks, however, are designed solely with hiking in mind. This means the organization, materials, and features are meant to cater to hikers and backpackers, such as hydration compatibility, comfortable hip belts and sternum straps, and a greater consideration for light weight. While adventure travel packs may also have some of the same qualities, they tend to be a bit heavier and not fully designed with hikers in mind.
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Some adventure travel packs are waterproof, like the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry, while others are water resistant and can withstand light rain for a little bit. If you’ll be carrying your pack in the rain frequently, it may be a good idea to add a rain cover.
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A quality adventure travel backpack can range from about $100 to nearly $400, depending on what features, materials, organization, and construction you opt for. Our Best Budget option, the REI Ruckpack 40, costs $159 and is an effective option for those looking to keep costs down.
For those willing and able to spend a little more for more premium features and design, the NEMO Vantage 40L costs $250 and offers significant comfort, durable construction, and thoughtful organization. The Six Moon Designs All Day Carry 35L costs $335 and is made of ultralightweight and durable materials with backpacking and outdoor-oriented features.
We recommend setting a budget and deciding which features are important to you.
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You can! Adventure travel backpacks hover around the ideal size for a trek like the Camino de Santiago–about 30–45L. Our top choice, if it fits in your budget, is the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry.
This pack comes in 35L and 45L sizes, is ultralight, and is made of incredibly strong, durable, and UV and water-resistant material. The pockets and features are designed and placed with hikers who may be flying to their destination in mind, like the clam shell opening, easy inner straps to cinch down packing cubes, easy-to-adjust harness, carry-on compatibility, easy access to phone, and a secret pouch with an airtag holder.
How we researched and tested
Our testers tested these travel backpacks on their adventures across the globe over the last year.
We tested them in:
the Scottish Highlands
Ireland and Northern Ireland
the Netherlands
Japan
Mexico
In the US: Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York.
We took them on adventure travel trips that included hiking, biking, surfing, swimming, kayaking, and rappelling. They accompanied us on day hikes, city explorations, road trips, climbing meetups, sightseeing tourist destinations, plein air art festivals, before thru-hikes, and work-to-gym-to-happy-hour days.
We took them on a four-state book tour, to conferences, and week-long work site visits as well as camping trips, ski trips, and family reunions.
While we traveled and adventured with these packs, we tested their durability, convenience and accessibility, organization, weather resilience, and how they performed across an array of trip and transit types. Our testers shared feedback with each other so we could determine which pack was best for various scenarios or qualities that matter to adventure travelers.
- Flights, buses, ferries, and trains
- Day hikes and city explorations
- Road trips and ski weekends
- Work trips and daily commutes
- Festivals, climbing trips, and family travel
- All-day carrying comfort
- Organization and accessibility
- Airport and transit convenience
- Durability and weather resistance
- Versatility across travel and outdoor use
Why you should trust us / About the author
Photo by Jon Rudolph
Becca Downs spends a lot of time on the go, from weekend trips on the road to backpacking trips in the mountains, from adventure travel abroad to visiting friends around the country, she’s accustomed to constant packing, unpacking, and repacking. Over the last couple years, she’s tested many travel packs in a variety of settings: commutes from work to trail runs or climbing sessions to happy hour, overnight trips in Colorado mountain towns, crewing an ultra in Mexico, spending a week adventuring around Ireland, and much more.
Becca also ran D1 cross country and track for Indiana University—Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and continued racing everything from elite miles to ultramarathons in her post-collegiate years. She earned a USATF Level 1 certification and coached boys and girls high school cross country and track in Indianapolis for four years. Becca then joined the IUPUI women’s distance coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 2020-2021. Her years as an athlete and a coach included a lot of travel.
She geeks out on trail running and track and field, and cries every time she watches a marathon (they’re just so beautiful!). After notching a few small FKTs on her belt in 2020, she was diagnosed with hip arthritis and now channels her passion for running into coaching, writing, creating training plans for her friends, hiking, snowshoeing, and running when her hip allows it.
You can read more of Becca's work at her website or on her author page.
