How To Choose The Best Travel Backpack | Part 4: Aesthetic | The Right One Bag Carry-On Pack For You

0:00 - Intro
1:57 - Minimalist style travel backpacks
3:22 - Tacticool style travel backpacks
4:37 - Outdoor & hiking style travel backpacks
5:19 - Heritage style travel backpacks
6:18 - There is no "Best Travel Backpack" but there is a "Best Travel Backpack" for you
6:35 - If you have questions on a specific pack - let us know in the comments below and we'll try help out! (no matter how long this video has been live for).

VIDEOS IN THE "HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST TRAVEL BACKPACK" GUIDE

Choosing the best travel backpack for one bag carry-on travel can be a tough endeavor. There are so many brands and models to choose from with varying degrees of durability, price, and try-on-ability (we made this word up for trying something out before buying it online). Add varying views and opinions into the mix from folks with different values, needs, and body types—and you’ve got a veritable clusterf*ck of options to wade through. Whether you’re a new traveler gearing up for your first trip, a digital nomad going through a “sell-all-my-stuff-and-put-it-in-a-backpack” phase, or somewhere in between, it’s essential to have the best travel backpack that works for you.

Here’s the bottom line: There is no “best” backpack that is perfect for every traveler in every scenario. However, we believe it is possible for everyone to find a pack that’s perfect for their unique needs. In this guide, we’ll break down the factors we think are most important when choosing the perfect one bag travel backpack for you.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO SERIES

GORUCK GR2

Peak Design Everyday Backpack

Wandrd PRVKE

Aer Travel Pack

Aer Flight Pack

Mission Workshop Fitzroy

Minaal Carry-on 2.0

Patagonia Arbor Pack

Tortuga Homebase

Magpul Daka Pouches

GORUCK Padded Field Pocket

Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Cubes

Timbuk2 Rapid Pack

Fjallraven Kanken

CONNECT WITH US

TERMS

[twahlinph]

Do you have a favorite one bag travel backpack or have any questions about one in particular before buying it? Let us know in a comment and we'll do our best to help out! We're glad you're here.

[kenvererer]

Something else to consider about color: a lot of us prefer bright color lining. It's always hard to see what's in your bag, so having some bright lining material sort of turns a light on.

Tom Bihn is good in that regard.

[unidentified]

Just discovered your clips and subbed. Sucks that all these bags are not designed for kid size adult. I'm only 4'10 and it's much harder as I am a woman too. I usually would just have to pack a separate checked in luggage and then pack a personal item or smaller backpack but I really can't pack those bigger sized ones for backpacking or ones that fits the overhead storage in the airplane. Can't reach that high and would always need someone to help which can create traffic when it's time to get out and everyone just wants to get off. All travel backpacks are just too ridiculous for my stature and weighs me down. :(

[imsohamdesai]

Hey, First of all thank a lot for all the all the wonderful videos you guys do on everything related to travel. They are all very informative and helpful.

Now, I specifically need your inputs on a choosing a backpack which cover these 3 things,
1 - Compartmentalization (shoes, sweaty cloths, laptops, books)
2 - Crossover sort of pack between Day pack and Travel Pack
3 - Minimalist aesthetics (subtle looking but does the job)

I know, am asking for too much - yet I am confident you guys can throw in options.

Thanks a ton. Looking forward for your inputs.

[sierrasukalski]

Hi. I have an e-cargo bike, from blix bikes- the packa, a mid-tail bike. I want to range far and wide, without worry about getting back or being somewhere by a certain date. That said, I'm not focused on zipping anywhere at top speed. I like to go slow and steady, and to take my time observing the world. I've been looking for a bag for atop the large rack, to carry most, if not all of what I need, thinking I'll carry solar panels on the side. I've been looking at Ortlieb. I plan to go wet and wild places, and to camp out. They have duffels, a rack pack, and their crowning jewel, Atrack backpacks. I've been eyeing the Atrack ST (short torso) 34L. Is it a touch too small for the one bag + camping approach? Is it nice to carry? Does the versatility stand up to expectations? If I wanted to lash a bear box to it with some paracord, how bad an idea would that be? Should I really be looking at a two bag solution for long rambles that may, or may not last at least a month? Inquiring minds want to know! 😉

[ScaryFear]

I just watched most of your videos and really enjoyed the reviews. I personally love bright colors like turquoise or lime green. I had very colorful backpacks for school with characters and never will grow out of that. I have the farpoint 40 in blue and recently ordered a lime green North Face for a day pack. I hope that will work out for me but seemed to have nice compartments and space for my electronics. I'm just a colorful person and find blacks, browns and greys boring. They make me think of miserable winter conditions. But color is the last thing I consider as it's more important for me to find stuff that works. Sometimes I have no choice but to get something in black.

[KatonFalk]

Im going to japan on a 4weeks tour trip and I wont stop moving city to city. I want to go with a backpack, the problem is that i can't decide between Aer backpack and Tortuga Setout, I love both bags and i saw lots of reviews and your guide to choose the right backpack, but still i dunno which one should I get. Tortuga havr the hipstraps but Aer can work as a Daily backpack. Im pretty lost and i beg for your experience and opinion please. I love your channel and i'm already subscribed.
Keep it up with the great job!!

[phantom]

I´m looking for a backpack with the following criteria:
1. Carry-on compatible, 40-45 liters
2. Hip strap for carrying heavier loads, around 8-10 kilos of camping gear
3. Sleeve close to the back to hold an hydration bladder


I like the Osprey Farpoint 40 a lot; I can store the hydration bladder inside the main compartment, using the compression straps to secure it and cut a hydration port to route the tube through, but this is not ideal. Do you know any packs that fulfill all three criteria?

[timothymiller]

Awesome series, I hope it takes off! I have been trying to narrow down my new every day bag before my next trip in a month. I really, really like the Peak Design Everyday 20L or 30L, but I want to make sure I look at all of the options first... especially given that it's meant to be a camera bag and I don't even own a good camera.

[chacon]

Hi, great video series. I would like to ask, is there any website where you can buy a not-so-expensive travel backpacks? Here in Colombia you can only find hiking backpacks, which I don't find that useful, because they are less practical to pack.

[philipthao]

Could you guys do a review on the Incase Tracto duffle backpack? I think it is comparable to the Aer.

[dalynnmills]

I am getting ready for 2 trips Fiji/Australia and Barcelona both for about 8 days. As a female I want a pack that looks inconspicuous (like you stated is better for travel) but also full of function and fits a slim female frame (unisex seems bulky a lot of the time). Currently looking at the REI Ruckpack 40 and came across the REI Trail 40 (currently on sale for under $60) both in black. The thing that holds me back from the trail is it looks like a hiking backpack but the price is amazing.


All that to say... 1. do you think the Trail 40 looks too touristy? 2. what are your top 3-5 picks for women for week trips (will carry all day in Fiji for 2 days)?

[ACEdaSDA]

I'm traveling to Japan at the end of this year and am on a bit of a budget. This may be the only time I use this bag for the next year. Is there a bag you could recommend for a week in Japan under $100?

[jirubalcava]

Do you have recommendations for a petite person (that's not Osprey)? All of these bags are great for an average sized person but fit can be a huge issue for someone with less than a 17 inch torso. I'm specifically interested in a clamshell, minimalistic look.

[LMFAO]

I’m looking for a new travel bag that works for weekend travel but also week long get a ways. One of the only bags I know of right now is the peak design travel bag that is 45 l. I normally have a 16 in macbook pro, 12.9 in ipad pro 2019, and then some other tech. Then a couple pairs of jeans a hoodie or two then the rest of what you would normally pack clothes wise and hygine wise. Any advise and recomendations would be great. I normally fly or take the train. Thank You

[chooseboost]

But what if I like a minimalist that has a camo pattern? Would this be a problem in some countries? 🙄

[martinharinga]

Hi, can I ask you if you tested Fjallraven and their material G-1000?

[headwnd]

Did you guys test the Peloton Asphalt?

[AtlanticusGlaucus]

First of all, thanks for the quality content! I've been on the lookout for a new backpack for quite a while now, and what you're breaking down really reflects the process during my research.

Anyway, I would be super happy to hear your opinion on my search so far.

What I'm looking for in my new backpack:

- "One to rule them all" is the main criteria. Meaning it should be able to handle the needs as an EDC and a travel pack.
* Therefore: adjustable capacity. Low profile for daily use + ability to pack more if needed. For example compression straps. Or...
**Therefore: Preferably main compartment with rolltop or flap. But(!) with a quick access zip on the front or the side.
- Ruggedness. Doesn't have to be bombproof, but should be able to take a beating and handle a short downpour.
- Organisation. I tend to have quite a few tools and daily essentials with me, so I want the extra pockets to organise my stuff and keep it accessible.
- Outside attachment points/system. I heavily enjoy having my jacket handy on the outside or my shoes (e.g. climbing shoes) securely attached to let them air out.
- Affordable. I got a new job, which finally gives me the opportunity to invest in a proper backpack, but still can't go all out]
- The looks. The aesthetics don't play a major role, but I would like to keep it simple and low profile.

So, regarding all of that I got two bags that seem to fit my needs:
Lots of capacity, like the outside organisation, plus the Eclipse version reflects in the dark, which is appealing to a cycling commuter like me. Downside are the shipping costs, as this bag is produced and shipped from Indonesia (needs to get to germany).
It's a quality product by a renowned manufacturer. Don't really need the photography compartment, even though I work in the film industry. Not sure about the capacity and the outside attachment. But should work with the rolltop closure straps.

This comment turned out way longer than expected, but well, the last weeks I put quite a few hours into the research and I got a rather specific idea of what I want.
But feel free to give me suggestions outside the box I created. I would be very happy to hear from you.

Sam