How To Pick A Travel Backpack?
Getting ready to travel can make you feel many different things, from being excited about the trip to stressed out about what to pack and how to pack it. If you’re going on a backpacking trip or just want a small carry-on backpack, a good travel backpack will help you stay organized, comfortable, and hands-free. Before you go on a journey, getting your backpack ready and organized can save you time and stress later on.
Things To Look For In A Backpack For Travel
When picking out a backpack, consider what you’ll need on your trip. You might need to carry all of your things with you if you take a lot of plane or train rides. If so, bringing a backpack that can carry and store things well and spread the weight evenly so your back doesn’t tire is essential. If you won’t be moving around much and staying in one place for a long time, you can find a simple carry-on bag to go with your checked luggage.
In either case, the best travel backpack has many pockets and zippers to keep things organized and safe. It’s also made of light, long-lasting materials that can control all travel wear and tear. Here are the most important things to consider when picking out the best travel backpacks, from size to style:
Picking The Right Size Backpack
Before you pack your backpack for a flight, you should figure out what size you need. Remember that many airlines won’t let you bring bags wider than 36 cm, taller than 23 cm, or deeper than 56 cm. Each airline has its rules about how big your carry-on bags can be. Before you pack, check the airline’s website to see what you can fit in the above bin or under the seat in front of you.
Besides the outside measurements, backpack sizes are often divided by the number of liters of space they have. A rolled-up T-shirt usually takes up about a liter of space, which helps you picture how much can fit in that space. Even though you should bring more than just T-shirts, a 20-liter backpack should hold around 20.
Consider using a 40- or 45-liter backpack for a month-long hike. This size is usually just right for a carry-on and has plenty of room for clothes, essential gear, electronics, and other must-have travel items. Most people consider a 30- or 35-liter bag a small backpack, perfect for a short weekend trip or overnight stay.
It should hold enough gear, food, and light clothes for one or two nights. You should measure it first, but a backpack this size might even fit under the seat in front of you on an airplane. Check the airline’s rules first, but bags at most 46 cm tall, 36 cm wide, and 20 cm deep are usually fine.
Best Backpacks: Top-loading Or Front-loading
The type of opening on your backpack is important if you want to access your things quickly and easily while you’re traveling. Backpacks usually open in one of two ways: front-loading, which is also called a clamshell opening, or top-loading.
It’s usually easier to access things inside a backpack that opens from the top, like an everyday backpack since you don’t have to put the pack down to unzip it. You should choose a top-loading style, if you want to use your backpack for a day of sightseeing or to quickly access things when you’re in a small space, like on an airplane or in the back seat of a car.
One problem with a top-loading backpack is that you have to stack things vertically on top of each other. If you need something at the bottom of the bag, you’ll have to empty the whole thing to get it. A style of front-loading, or clamshell, might give you more room to put things. With this style, the pack opens more like a regular suitcase or duffel bag, making it easier to see what’s inside.
Picking Backpack Materials Based On Weather And Climate
It might depend on where you are going, the weather, and what kind of backpack material you pick. If you live somewhere that rains a lot, polyester and nylon are good choices because they are thick, strong, and made from weatherproof materials that will last through bad weather.
Best 2 Travel Backpacks In 2024
1. Briggs & Riley Convertible Backpack Duffle
Unlike most backpacks, this Briggs & Riley one has a proper clamshell opening in the central part for packing like a suitcase and a big front pocket big enough for shoes or toiletries. The zipper can be locked with most padlocks, and the outside is rugged, water-resistant nylon. It got good reviews during a recent weekend trip.
The tester liked how many pockets and pouches it had, and some of them had RFID protection for extra peace of mind. For longer trips, it’s a great choice. This bag is big enough to hold clothes for a week. It was also very comfortable to carry; the back had thick padding that kept my laptop from rubbing against my back.
Pros: It has many pockets, some of which block RFID signals to help protect your identity, and the backpack straps are comfortable.
Cons: It’s pricey.
2. STM DUX Versatile Tech Backpack
This bag has the organization of a suitcase and the ease of carrying a backpack. The one-of-a-kind design has a top-loading zip-up compartment that’s big enough to hold liquids, sunglasses, portable chargers, and anything else you might need quickly. Zip-up pockets on each side of the bag give you access to most of its space.
The space is divided by removable shelves, so you don’t need packing cubes. The bag also has two padded laptop sleeves, which are great if you take a laptop, a tablet, and some papers with you on a trip. The overhead bin on the plane will be a good fit so that you can leave your suitcase at home.
Pros: It’s easy to carry, has a top opening compartment, a side opening zipper that opens to reveal well-organized shelves, and a removable zip-up pouch.
Cons: It needs to be a little bulky.
Conclusion
Picking the right travel bag is vital for a smooth and planned trip. If you want to bring it with you, think about the backpack size and make sure it fits the airline rules. Choose between top loading and front loading styles based on how easy they are for people with disabilities. Choose fabrics that will work with the temperature and weather where you’re going.
