Courtesy
I have a confession to make: I am, in fact, quite biased on the subject of bags. In my humble—also professional, might I add—opinion, backpacks are the superior form of bag. Think of your posture! Hands-free? All the time, please and thank you. Totes and duffles have their time and place, sure, but nine times out of 10, I’m going to choose a backpack.
That said, I know a good backpack when I see one. A good travel backpack will have pockets and organization. It should be durable, ideally even waterproof. It should be capacious while adhering to airline carry-on restrictions. And it should be comfortable to wear, of course. The best bags will provide you with a feature you didn’t even know you needed (hanging organizer, anyone?).
I’ve gathered my own research and combined it with that of the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute to bring you the definitive guide to the best travel backpacks. When I tell you that the GHK testers have literal doctorate degrees, I’m not being facetious.
Whether you’re packing a weekender bag or spying the hottest spring bag trends, here are 15 of the best travel backpacks.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Under $100
Calpak
Luka Laptop Backpack
Amazon’s Choice
Lubardy
Travel Carry On Backpack, 40L
Top Rated
The North Face
Borealis Laptop Backpack
Best for International Travel
Tortuga
Outbreaker Backpack 35L
Best for Students
Dagne Dover
Dakota Neoprene Backpack
Best Organization
Beis
The Hanging Backpack
Best Front-Opening
Samsonite
Silhouette 17 Backpack
Lightweight
L.L. Bean
Stowaway Pack
Best for Day Travel
Osprey
Daylite Plus Daypack
Best for Work
Timbuk2
Parker Commuter Backpack
Designer
Coach
Charter Backpack
Shelving Organization
STM Goods
Dux Backpack 30L
Stylish
Fjallraven
Kanken Classic Backpack
On Wheels
Matein
Rolling Backpack
Patterned
Herschel
Herschel Nova Backpack Meg Donohue Associate Fashion Commerce Editor Meg Donohue is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
:quality(85):upscale()/2024/11/07/930/n/1922564/a2d3a981672d2eff2fa4b3.27830525_.png "Vera Bradley Women’s Cotton Hathaway Tote Review With Photos")
:quality(85):upscale()/2025/05/15/715/n/1922564/ab90e60a682611e7f06d97.77199685_.png "12 Free People Summer Must Haves in a Shopping Editors Cart")
:quality(85):upscale()/2026/06/12/673/n/1922564/007836996a2c211b8b6222.27413131_.png "10 Fathers Day Gifts at Tecovas, From Bestselling Boots to Elevated Basics")
:quality(85):upscale()/2026/06/09/732/n/49352476/33700b5b6a28408346cd80.35100877_.png "Timothée and Kylie Are the Best Dressed Courtside Couple – Shop Their Looks From")
![[Review] On the Trail of UFOs: The Disclosure Era – Episode 1](https://ihorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/C9431.MP4.04_18_00_19.Still001-1024x576.jpeg "[Review] On the Trail of UFOs: The Disclosure Era – Episode 1")
