How do you choose a travel backpack? Start from the way you travel: a small carry-on-size pack for a weekend or a trip without checked baggage, a clamshell (suitcase-style) opening for a multi-stop trip, a hiking pack if you walk for hours with your load. Carrying comfort (back length, hip belt) matters more than the number of pockets.
This guide recommends no brand: it gives the criteria for comparing models in a store or online, and the mistakes to avoid. Cabin bag dimensions depend on each airline, so check them on its website before you buy a travel backpack.
The essentials for choosing a travel backpack
- The right volume depends on trip length, climate and transport, not only on the number of days.
- Clamshell opening (zip around the whole front panel): easier for packing and unpacking at every stop.
- Fit: adjustable back length or a size that suits your torso, and a hip belt that moves the weight to your hips.
- Flying: cabin dimensions and weight limits vary by airline and fare; measure the bag when it is full.
- Try the pack loaded before you buy, and check its empty weight.
What volume should you choose?
Volume in liters is the first criterion, but it should follow how you pack: three weeks in a hot climate can fit in the same bag as a winter weekend in the mountains. The table below gives rough figures commonly used by manufacturers and travel guides; they are indicative only.
| Type of trip | Indicative volume | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend, city break | 20 to 35 L | Carry-on size, laptop sleeve if needed |
| Flight without checked baggage | Depends on the airline (measure the packed bag) | Soft bag, dimensions that match your fare |
| Multi-stop trip of 2 to 6 weeks | 40 to 50 L | Clamshell opening, hip belt |
| Round the world, long trip | 45 to 60 L | Adjustable fit, detachable daypack |
| Trek with gear (tent, sleeping bag) | 55 L and more | Technical hiking pack |
One tip comes up with most travelers: sort out what you will take first, then choose the volume, not the other way round. Our packing list helps you decide what to leave behind.
The three main types of travel bag
| Type | Strengths | Limits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clamshell (suitcase-style) backpack | Direct access to everything, easy packing with cubes | Less technical carrying system than a hiking pack | Multi-stop trips, backpacking by city and bus |
| Hiking / trekking pack | Comfortable over long distances, fine adjustments | Top-loading, less convenient to pack and unpack | Treks, trips with daily walking |
| Convertible bag (wheeled backpack, duffel with straps) | Carried by hand or on the back, easy to organize | Limited comfort over time | Short hops between station, hotel and airport |
Comfort features to check
- Back length: pick the right size or an adjustable back; a badly fitted pack weighs on your shoulders.
- Hip belt: padded, it moves most of the weight to your hips. Essential beyond a small volume.
- Chest strap and load-lifter straps: they stabilize the pack and pull it closer to your back.
- Ventilated or contact back panel: a ventilated back limits sweat in hot climates; a contact back keeps the load closer to your body.
- Empty weight: compare it on the product page; every kilo (2.2 lb) of bag is a kilo less of belongings if your luggage has a weight limit.
- In-store trial: ask to load the pack (many stores provide weights) and walk for a few minutes.
Travel backpack on a plane: carry-on or checked?
Each airline sets its own dimensions and maximum weight for carry-on bags and for the small personal item that goes under the seat, and these rules often depend on the fare you bought. Before you buy a « carry-on size » pack, check the conditions of the airline you fly most. Measure the bag full: a soft bag swells quickly. Our guide to the carry-on bag lists the points to check.
- If you check the bag, protect the straps (travel cover or a large bag) so they do not catch in baggage conveyors.
- Keep your documents, medication, chargers and valuables in the cabin.
- Liquids in the cabin follow the security rules of the departure airport: in the US, the TSA limits them to containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in a quart-sized bag (tsa.gov, checked 12 November 2026); in the UK, most airports limit hand-luggage liquids to containers of 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) or less, but some allow more (GOV.UK, checked 12 November 2026). Check the rules before you fly.
Practical details that make a difference
- Lockable zips: useful on public transport and in dorms.
- Rain cover: built in or sold separately; most fabrics are not fully waterproof.
- Laptop compartment you can open without unpacking everything, if you work on the road.
- Detachable or foldable daypack for sightseeing.
- Handles on the side and top so you can carry it like a suitcase.
- Durability: seams, thick fabric on the base, manufacturer warranty.
The most common mistakes
- Buying a pack that is too big: you always fill it, then you have to carry it.
- Choosing by number of pockets rather than carrying comfort.
- Not trying it on loaded.
- Forgetting to check your airline’s cabin dimensions.
- Ignoring the empty weight.
Leaving for several months? Our guides to multi-stop travel and round-the-world trips complete this advice, and our page on solo travel covers keeping your belongings safe.
Frequently asked questions
What size backpack for travel?
For a multi-stop trip of a few weeks, many travelers choose a 40 to 50 liter pack. A weekend usually fits in 20 to 35 liters. Start from your real belongings to decide.
Does a 40-liter backpack fit in the cabin?
It depends on the dimensions of the packed bag and the airline’s rules, not on the volume. Compare the dimensions on the product page with those your airline and fare allow.
Hiking pack or travel pack: which to choose?
A clamshell travel pack is more practical for a trip with city stops and public transport. A hiking pack is more comfortable if you walk for several hours a day with your load.
Do you need a men’s or women’s model?
« Women’s » models often have a shorter back and differently shaped straps or belt. The right criterion is fit for your body: try both.
Backpack or wheeled suitcase?
A backpack suits cobblestones, stairs, dirt tracks and local transport; a suitcase is more comfortable for a stay at one hotel with car or taxi transfers.
Our sources
- This page gives general selection criteria, with no brand recommendation and no price. Cabin baggage rules are specific to each airline: check its website before you travel.
- Transportation Security Administration, « 3-1-1 Rule (Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels) », tsa.gov, checked 12 November 2026.
- GOV.UK, « Hand luggage restrictions: liquids », gov.uk, checked 12 November 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.