I've tested 317 bags.... These are the 10 best.

Best sling, best backpack, best travel bag, best messenger, and more!

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00:00 - Intro
00:30 - Best Sling
01:37 - Best Small Backpack
02:47 - Best EDC Backpack
04:21 - Best Personal Item Bag
05:50 - Best Large Travel Backpack
07:44 - Best Duffel
09:12 - Best Messenger/Brief
10:28 - Best Tech Pouch
12:20 - Best Tote
13:53 - Best One Bag Travel Pack

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ARE YOU READY FOR THIS YEAR'S POWER RANKINGS?

Find out which of these bags maintained their spot and which one overtook the others! Be ready for the best bag recommendations for every category there is!

🥇 #1 - 2024 BEST SLING 🥇
🛍️ Bellroy Venture Ready Sling 2.5L

🥈 Aer Go Sling 2 - RUNNER UP

🥇 #2 - 2024 BEST SMALL BACKPACK 🥇
🛍️ Able Carry 13 Backpack

🥈 Alpaka Metro Backpack - RUNNER UP

🥇 #3 - 2024 BEST REGULAR EVERYDAY CARRY BACKPACK 🥇
🛍️ FYRO BACKPACK

🛍️ Modern Dayfarer Backpack V2

🥇 #4 - 2024 BEST PERSONAL ITEM BAG 🥇
🛍️ Aer Tech Sling 2

🥈 Bellroy Venture Ready Sling 2.5L - RUNNER UP

🥇 #5 - 2024 BEST LARGE TRAVEL BACKPACK 🥇
🛍️ Tortuga Travel Backpack

🥈 Pakt Travel Backpack V2 - RUNNER UP

🥇 #6 - 2024 BEST DUFFEL 🥇
🛍️ Boundary Supply Errant Duffel

🥈 Bellroy Venture Duffel - RUNNER UP

🥇 #7 - 2024 BEST MESSENGER/BRIEF🥇
🛍️ Aer Pro Brief

🥈 Peak Design Everyday Messenger - RUNNER UP

🥇 #8 - 2024 BEST TECH POUCH 🥇
🛍️ Alpaka Vertex Pouch

🛍️ Evergoods Cap 2

🥇 #9 - 2024 BEST TOTE 🥇
🛍️ Day Owl Packable Tote

🥈 Boundary Supply Rennen Tote - RUNNER UP

🥇 #10 - 2024 BEST ONE BAG TRAVEL PACK🥇
🛍️ Able Carry Max

🥈 Minaal Carry On 3.0 - RUNNER UP

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Free Gear Disclosure: We often receive free gear for our reviews, but this does not influence our opinions. We always provide honest reviews—if a product isn't up to par, we'll tell you.

[Nomads.Nation]

What makes the list of your favorite bags? 👇

[blaster]

I'm really happy with your review style and having that little timer in the corner which hasn't changed since the beginning, a brilliant unique touch! Glad to have followed you since near the beginning! Glad to see you guys doing well! You deserve it with your great reviews!! 👏🏼👏🏼

[zerrubabbel]

Thanks for sharing, Aaron! I always like seeing what you have to say

My current line up:

Laptop Bag: Tom Bihn Side Kick... OK, this only works with a Surface Go 2, or a GPD Pocket 3... But if you use either of those, it's great... Also doubles pretty well as a tech pouch, or as a day sling

Tech Pouch: If not the Side Kick, then honestly just a good old fashioned Topo Designs Accessory Bag

Dopp Kit: Also the Topo Accessory

Daily Carry: I've also recently gotten into messengers... I can't decide between the Boundary Rennen Shoulder Bag (not the tote), or the Timbuk2 Classic... Hard to go wrong with custom options... These both do Laptop carry very well... Rennen maxes out around 13 inch devices, and the Timbuk2 has size options.

One Bag Travel: Tom Bihn Addax... Either size is just right, and the top loading aspect and the build quality address concerns about both zipper integrity and metro security.

Next bag I want: The Fyro... You got me hyped for it!

[jonathanklein]

I'm surprised the Aer Travel Pack 3 wasn't a contender for large travel backpack or one bag travel option.

[Gael_AG]

For the sling/messenger I love the ALPAKA bravo max sling . It’s so comfy even fully loaded and a perfect way to carry both MacBook Air 13+ iPad Pro 12.9+keyboard at the same time .
It’s very snuggly and unlike other big slings the weight is super distributed .
I just pimped it with wandrd pullers that you can purchase separately and are imho the best pullers ever !
Oh and I added a homemade 20cm elastic Leech where I attached a peak design anchor link to have blazing fast key holder access

[BY-ibew]

What’s the best ~30L bag with no laptop compartment? Looking for a personal item that can just straight maximize the amount of clothes I can put in there

[jonuiuc]

I like these list type videos, I'm with you on that venture ready sling, I've tried a lot of slings and its definately my favorite small one. I also use a lot of single strap briefcase/messengers for everyday work commutes and also like a softer, less structured bag, feels nicer at ones side. One of the ones in my rotation similar to the aer is the Bellroy Via Work bag, its a nice light, simple brief.

[exergyone]

Aaron, kind of an odd time of the year for this video, but did enjoy it. Mostly disagree with you. Except on one category. I can only choose from the ones that I own, but do own a good number per category. Here's my picks:

Best sling: Peak Design 3L. It just has a very unique form factor that really kills it for me. Runner-up 1: Wandrd Rogue 6L, for when I carry camera gear. Runner-up 2: Wandrd D1, when I want to wear as a fanny.

Best small backpack: Topo Rover Classic. Minimalist, light weight, simple, badass look, very functional, even packable in a larger bag, can stow a laptop if it needs to. Runner-up: Aer City Pack.

Best EDC Backpack: Boundary Supply Errant: it's just rugged, badass looking, and so versatile. Also perfect size for me. Can accommodate a camera cube and still have room for my essentials. Runner-up: Minaal Daily 3.0. This one was tough for me to give it to Minaal because I really love the features of this pack and versatility, but there's one thing that really throws me off. The side-handle on the freaking opposite side is a nightmare for me, reason why I tend to stick with my Boundaries, Aers, Evergoods, and every option that gives me a side handle on the correct side for me.

Best personal item bag: Aer Travel Pack Small. I actually use currently the Evergoods CTB35, but it's risky. I have previously used the Aer Travel Pack 2 (big), The Heimplanet Transit 34L, and even the Thule Subterra 40L. Successful dozens of times on low-cost airlines. Unsuccessful zero times. Unlikely, but there's still a risk. You chose a tiny sling LOL.I need the space. Runner-up: CTB26.

Best Duffle: Boundary Supply Aegis. It's just so good and versatile with the option of pulling out those backpack straps. Runner-up: Evergoods TD35. It has a unique form factor that has worked well for me, a very protective shell, and the option to stow a laptop.

Best Tech Pouch: Aer Tech Kit v1 remains king for my use case. Runner-up 1: Evergoods CAP1 for minimalism. Runner-up 2. Alpaka Elements Medium (quite large). I use the small for everyday currently.

Best One Bag Travel: Topo Global Travel Bag. It is the largest that I own. It's supposed to be the same size as the Thule Subterra, but I can accommodate more stuff. It would not work as a personal item. Runner-up: CTB35. Currently my personal item, and the best overall travel pack that I have tested.

[Droxy-]

Question, for the Tortuga backpack, would I be able to to fit two laptops (16 inch and 13 inch) along with a keyboard?

[EdgarInouye]

Amazing Video ! I’m looking forward to the bellroy adventure ready 2.5l sling review. Any changes it’s coming soon ?

[mrkruzadar]

What about the Wandrd Transit Travel Backpack 30/35 L or 40/45 L Version? 🙂

[MarkCMoran]

A suggestion for you: As I'm preparing for a budget travel trip in Europe, I realize that it would be super handy to have a bag review that focuses on bags that one could take on Spirit, Frontier, RyanAir, Wizz, JetStar, etc., as a personal item bag. I mean, i would LOVE to take my PD Travel 45L, or my Aer Travel Pack 3, or my Minaal 3, but I doubt they would cut it on those budget airlines. But given all the bags you've reviewed, which ones would you use if you had to fly personal-item only on those budget carriers? I'd love to get your take and suggestions! :-)

[coorcoomsa]

Hey can you help me find a smaller backpack? I looked at your channel but can't seem to find a video the centralizes small backpack recommendations. I've looked at the Able carry thirteen and the Aer city pack, but I would love if you could suggest a few other options in that size range (12 - 15L). Cheers!

[Fnantier]

Does the release of the Aer Travel 3 Ultra change your assessment? As far as I can see it (3.7 lb ~ 1.7 kg) is now a fair little bit lighter than the Able Carry Max (3.9 ~ 1.8 kg).

[DmitryKaminski]

Thanks! Would be nice to also see a packable backpack category (like Aer go backpack/Pakt everyday 15l)

[Chinookman]

I travel on airplanes. I don’t like excess webbing or even straps when I must put my bag under my seat in front. So I’m always looking for stowable shoulder straps or at the least excess length webbing storage elastics or tuckable inside the attachment material. Nice video. Thank you for the efforts and obsession to details.

[Phrish]

Would also love to see another category. That category being compressible packable bags for travel.

[LuisAE]

I loved your review on the Peak Design Everyday BP 20L. I just purchased one primarily from watching your review. Did you consider it for best EDC? What if you added a category for best camera pack. Would you have placed it as your top pick? Thanks for the great content!

[andrei]

Hello, man! And how do you feel about peak design 45L, i’m still on the fence and can’t decide which is better option??

[musegg]

Did you decide to keep the fyro backpack clamshell or with gussets 😀