They're made to handle the outdoors and every kind of weather. A properly fitted backpack and hip belt will help you avoid back, neck, and shoulder pain.Ī great suspension system will make you feel like you aren't carrying anything, even though you have two weeks of stuff on your back. That way, your stronger leg muscles-not your weaker shoulders-are carrying your bag. A padded hip belt will shift 80% of your backpack's weight off of your shoulders and onto your hips. The shoulder straps will cushion your load, an adjustable sternum strap will keep it balanced, and load lifter straps will keep your pack close to your body for better weight distribution. To be as comfortable as a hiking bag, a travel backpack must have a great suspension system with comfortable shoulder straps and a weight-bearing hip belt. Compared to that, carrying your bag through the airport and around town should be easy. Hiking packs set the standard for comfort because they're meant to carry tens of pounds for an entire day of hiking.
You'll be carrying your bag, so it must be incredibly comfortable. Like a hiking backpack, a travel backpack is comfortable and durable. No need to pack and unpack everything like with a hiking bag. With everything in reach, you can grab what you need and close up your bag. The large opening of the main compartment lets you see all of your stuff at once. Packing a top-loading bag is like packing a garbage bag.Ī front-loading backpack opens from right to left like a book. OrganizedĪ travel backpack must be front-loading like a suitcase, not top-loading like a hiking bag. At the higher end, international carry on limits are around 39L and US limits are 45L. At the low-end, 30L will be enough for weekend trips or for a minimalist traveler. The ideal carry on backpack size is 30-45 liters in volume. You'll just breeze through the airport and be on your way. You'll never wait around at baggage claim hoping that your luggage shows up. You'll save $50 per flight in checked bag fees. Traveling with a carry on-instead of checking luggage-will save you money, time, and hassle. Like a suitcase, a travel backpack is carry-on-sized, organized, and easy to access. The best travel backpack combines the best features of a hiking backpack and a suitcase without the drawbacks of either.Ī travel backpack packs like a suitcase and carries like a backpack. We couldn't find the perfect travel backpack so we made it. That trip taught us how hard it is to travel with the wrong gear. Jeremy’s shoulder strap ripped off on the first day, and Fred’s giant hiking backpack was a mess. The trip was a blast, but our luggage was a disaster. We flew into Frankfurt then traveled on by train to Prague, Budapest, and Hvar, Croatia. We-Fred and Jeremy, the co-founders of Tortuga-learned this the hard way on a backpacking trip to Europe in 2009. You can't spend your trip packing and unpacking every single day. You have to dump everything out to find what you need then repack your whole bag. They're too big to be carried onto a plane and too disorganized when you're on the move. Those giant, cylindrical bags are made for hiking, not for traveling. The tall, skinny packs for "backpackers" aren't much better. Suitcases are the opposite of hands-free travel. Try dragging a suitcase with cheap plastic wheels over cobblestone streets and up a few flights of stairs to your Airbnb.