Inspired by the design of a Swiss army knife, this backpack is all about versatile functionality. Materials are the materials of the backpack breathable and made of mesh, especially around the straps and back area? Osprey says this bag, when fully packed, can carry 40 liters. Ive used a carry-on-sized backpack for three months in Europe and managed to pack two weeks worth of clothes in it (before needing to do laundry). Theyre probably not the best choice if youre a backpacker who is constantly on the go. Weve narrowed down our specifications to the following list of features, ordered from most to least relevant. Our biggest problem with the Farpoints design is the unusual positioning of the laptop and electronic gear pocket. Timbuk2 Division Laptop Backpack ($166): This is . However, finding the right bag is a personal choice, and no single bag will appeal to everyone. The Kroser Backpack is perfect for someone who just wants the basics and is looking for an inexpensive rolling backpack. This carry-on backpack with wheels has top-notch organization and dedicated sleeves for your tech gear, including a padded laptop sleeve that fits up to a 17.3 laptop. There isnt one perfect bag to please everyone, but there are tools you can use to find whats best for you. Make sure the wheels on your bag have good maneuverability. Can get heavy very quickly, especially for packs that hold over 30L. Make sure you can wear the pack for a decent amount of time so you dont always have to rely on rolling it when youre traveling through diverse terrain. And its not just good for photography gear, this backpack has two front pockets that hold up to a 17 laptop and 10 tablet. The Everki Atlas business backpack with wheels also features a tablet pocket and an RFID-blocking pocket for your credit cards and passport, as well as spaces for keys, water bottles, books, and more. That said, this bag is simple, sturdy, and stoic. The detachable daypack has a few different pockets and good internal organization. If you like the concept of the large Tortuga Outbreaker but not its price, the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender is a great option for infrequent travelers who are willing to give up some features, such as a decent hip belt. Position Of The Load Strap. And in terms of zippers, YKK zippers are usually a good bet in terms of durability and quality. On the outside, its tear-resistant sailcloth and sealed zippers provide ample protection from sharp objects and the elements. Bean. As Iylana of Penny Caravan points out, smaller individuals may appreciate the lighter weight and more-compact design of the Farpoint or the Fairview (which basically have the same design, but the Fairview is made for someone with a more-diminutive torso). In addition to documenting our own experiences, I reached out to experts and writers who specialize in traveling the world carrying everything they need in a single bag. ). The adjustable design and multiple zippers do add complexity, and complexity adds potential weaknesses. For the best in quality, performance, and aesthetics, the winner is without a doubt made by L.L. Before you make any purchase, consider some basic points. But unlike any other bag weve ever tested, this pack has magnetic flaps on the back panel that open and close with an almost magical snap. At its heart, one-bag travel allows you to discover morenot just about the places youre going but about yourself and what you really need day to day. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9 inWeight: 7lb 15 ozCapacity: 45L also offered in 60L and 80LBest for: Travel (carry-on and checked). Its hard to find good waterproof rolling backpacks these days, most are water-resistant. Wheeled backpacks are especially popular with business travelers, older travelers, those who take regular weekend trips, and travelers who want a versatile piece of luggage that they can both carry and roll. Get this if: You want an easy-to-organize, comfortable-to-carry bag with a rainfly for downpours or you want to support a B-corp and its related social and sustainable missions. The front compartment has a clamshell opening similar to a suitcase to make it easier to pack and unpack. Its a great professional backpack with wheels thats sleek, lightweight, and well-organized. This does look to be a well-thought-out pack, but we think our picks are more versatile for world travel. The Atlas Heart is a space where you'll find local tips, guides, and first-hand knowledge about gear & products, destinations, and everything the Golden State has to offer. Its a fine bag at that size, and it does come with a small yet stowable waist belt to help carry the weight. Its also a versatile wheeled backpack since the size of this bag fits most airline carry-on dimensions. Learn more. Best Backpack Under $100 - Kroser Rolling Backpack. Lyra Pierotti, The Best Travel Backpacks, GearLab, November 17, 2016, Chase Reeves, Matterful.co, phone interview, October 10, 2018, Addison Ryan, moderator, r/onebag, email interview, September 8, 2018, Lindsay Lorraine Caldern, moderator, r/heronebag, phone interview, September 28, 2018. The more-diminutive version is a decent choice for weekend travel or for minimalist travelersbut for this size, we prefer the space-saving profile of the Allpa. Most bags worth considering are made of nylon, which resists abrasion more than polyester fabrics of similar density. This bag also has a foldable bottom design that allows you to fold the bottom of the bag when its not in use, allowing you to save storage space when youre carrying less gear. On both, the chest-strap clip is also equipped with a small security whistle thats surprisingly loud. This makes you have to look for a wall or chair to lean it up against so it sits up. However, Topos gear is made from 1000D nylon (a dense and very tough fabric) and built like a tank; it has rigid padding throughout, and there is an attention to detail (particularly in the stitching around the zippers and handles) thats a mark of quality to any savvy bag enthusiast. For such an affordable price, this pack is also surprisingly durable. Short on time? With that said, this bag is fairly simple in terms of ergonomic design so its not as comfortable to wear for long periods if youre carrying a lot of weight. The strap design lets you easily wear this durable bag on your back or carry it in your hand while youre on the move. However, the bags more-casual looks might not be to everyones taste. If you usually just go from point A to point B to drop off your luggage, they can be an ideal way to carry your things without straining your back or putting extra pressure on your shoulders. Velcro isnt great: It wears out, is difficult to keep clean, and clings to dirt. Most of the people we spoke with, however, preferred not to stick out like a tourist wearing a large, colorful backpack, if they could avoid it. If you use it enough, eventually the bottom will begin to crumple, which makes it a lot less stable. Another bonus is the pocket and side straps to lock in your tripod if you want to carry it on the bag. For a business wheeled backpack, youd be looking for style, compactness, carry-on dimensions, and good organization. Get this if: You travel often with expensive camera gear and need easy access and many storage pockets, or you just prefer a backpack-based packing system with plenty of adaptability and customization. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich. This design (with its included load-adjuster straps at the top, to prevent the bags weight from sagging toward your lumbar region) is the best of those weve tested at distributing the weight of an otherwise fairly heavy bag. If youre looking for rolling backpacks for travel that include a detachable daypack, the Hynes Eagle 2-in-1 Travel Backpack is an ideal option. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). However, if you can find a good waterproof wheeled backpack, thats a great feature to have because itll be more durable in any kind of weather. Its good to be aware of which type of wheeled backpack you might need and what to look for. Cookie Notice And this Osprey travel backpack with wheels is no exception in terms of a quality piece of gear thats long-lasting. Our picks for the best wheeled backpacks are the High Sierra Freewheel Backpack and the Osprey Sojourn. So, its really up to what youre looking for and whats most important to you in a backpack with wheels. Wheeled Backpacks vs Regular Backpacks Which One is Best? But the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is built to adapt. What do your dinged laptop, shvitzy gym clothes, and rumpled K95s have in common?They all belong in one of these, the very best backpacks for men. It feels tough, but not as tough as some other bags weve tested, such as the Cotopaxi Allpa. The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L features an easy-to-pack clamshell design and highly adjustable straps that make it a great all-around bag for any traveler whos dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. A panel-loading or clamshell designrather than a traditional top-opening designlets you pack and unpack these bags just as you would a suitcase. and our The Allpa has a clamshell design, which means it opens like a hard-sided suitcase: A large YKK zipper runs around three sides of the bag, letting it fall open into two halves when unzipped. Hynes Eagle 40L Flight Approved Carry-on: This is a very similar pack to the eBags TLS Mother Lode and the Cabin Max Metz models. If you travel with a camera, you dont have to use Peak Designs camera cubes, but they do make carrying that gear a whole lot easier. As a bonus, when you convert from rolling luggage to a backpack, theres a retractable wheel cover that protects the wheels (and your clothes) from dirt. This all adds up on a bag that already costs $320. Theres also a 10 pocket that can hold a tablet, Kindle, or other medium-sized electronics. The Topo is well padded on all sides, and it is stitched in a way that keeps the edge of your computer from the bottom of the bag and should protect your computer from all but the worst drops. This is a shame, since the bag could go from decent for the price to fantastic, especially at this price with just a few upgrades. We all have probably had the trouble with slinging our packs off our shoulders, sitting it on the floor, just to have it fall over. Best Wheeled Backpack With Laptop Compartment, Dimensions: 20 x 13.5 x 8 inWeight: 4.65 lbCapacity: 34.5LBest for: Carry-on travel, business trips, gamers, college. Please try again. The bad-assness may be wasted on me, though. The 11 Best Backpacks for Women of 2023 That Are Actually Chic. And the great thing about rolling backpacks is theyre still much more convenient and versatile than traditional rolling luggage. On the right side is a deep compartment, spacious enough for two large packing cubes or half a suitcases worth of clothes (which you access through a mesh zippered flap). Some of the convertible luggage with shoulder straps have a rigid bottom and are freestanding. As a general rule of thumb, a 35L or less pack is good for weekend trips, and a 45L or over pack is better for longer jaunts. The zippers are smooth and made from quality materials as well. Additionally, we lurked on Reddits r/onebag and r/heronebag forums, and emailed and had phone interviews with the moderators of those subreddits, Addison Ryan and Lindsay Lorraine Caldern, respectively. This feels similar to a strong canvas, but it has a more prominent weave. Best Waterproof Backpack - Matein Wheeled Backpack. Stowable straps: These are nice to have but arent absolutely necessary. If you desire more creature comforts or more gear, or if you plan to be away for a long time across multiple climates, youll want a bigger travel backpack. Even if you plan to mostly wheel your backpack around, there might be times when you have to carry it more than you thought. My maxpedition falcon II kept falling over so I sewed some rubber feet on the bottom to help to stay up. And to be fair, that was probably the case when I used to only do that type of travel. However, if these mysteries beneath the airport also make you nervous, you might prefer one of our picks with easy-to-stow straps, like the Peak Design Travel Backpack. Goruck GR3: The GR3 is almost worth the cost for certain people. Features of this wheeled duffel include multiple pockets and good organization, quiet wheels that can roll over rough terrain easily, and two compression belts to keep weight centered and condensed. Even though everything about the Tom Bihn (the fabric, the zippers, the quality of construction) feels like an upgrade from other bags, its simply too pricey, and its design is too rarified and specific for most people. Once youve played with them, youll wonder why every backpack doesnt have something similar. In terms of comfort, this bag is comfortable to wear for long durations, featuring extra-wide and padded straps and a weight-balancing chest strap. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. put your heaviest stuff at the bottom of the bag. You can also add a hip belt to a backpack if yours doesn't have one. Extra features are another aspect to think about that maybe arent as important as the core parts of the bag, such as comfort and durability, but are still nice to have. Though this bag is not expressly built for long treks or cross-country hikes (the nylon back can get a little hot), the backpack straps themselves are well padded and stiff enough to distribute the weight of the bag evenly across your body. The single pole handles are not as good as the double pole kind. This bag was built with photographers in mind, but most travelers will appreciate its easy accessibility, clever tuck-away straps, and the elegant way the bag expands and contracts. You can also hide the handle when you convert it into a backpack with the zippered top pouch. Whether youre going to school, work, the gym, the store, or on vacay, you need a bag. This would be your go-to pack for heading to work, school, or sports practice. The Best Travel Backpack You'll Never Have to Replace: Goruck Slick GR2, $415. Capacity: 45 liters (expandable to 65 liters)Weight: 4 poundsMain compartment access: clamshell openingStyle: casualColors:Eggplant, Garnet, Brushed Indigo, Heathered Graphite, Solid Black. These backpacks can be all different sizes depending on the type of travel you usually do. This bag also has the largest capacity of any of those we tested, expanding to 65 literswell beyond any airlines regulated 45-liter limit. The Farpoint is easy to pack. We ended up with a list of 60 candidates and then narrowed this list down to 22 finalists using the following criteria: capacity, compartment design, aesthetics, reviews, and reported comfort. This is a moment to center yourself, no matter how chaotic the journey. And its comfortable to wear over endless milesas long as you dont mind the heavier weight. Besides its size, its durability (especially its large high clearance wheels) makes it the best wheeled backpack for Europe travel when youre navigating those uneven cobblestones. Best backpack for college students with laptops: Rains Backpack Mini, $95. Its about 2 inches longer and pushes right up to most airline limits. Despite its travel-document organization, the Topo bag lacks the large internal pockets of our other picks, and the bags main compartment isnt quite as spacious as that of our other picks. If you want to use the bag as a daypack, you fold in the top corners and snap them down, reducing the bags volume to a slim 30 liters. If you fill it to the brim, you might have to check it. Ideally, you want a bags shoulder straps to adjust to the angle of your shoulders, said Eytan Levy of Snarky Nomad. There are three ways to carry the Travel Bag: the top or side handles (there isnt a bottom handle, unfortunately), a shoulder sling (which now comes with the bagyou used to have to buy it separately), or backpack straps (which stow in a zippable pocket when not in use). Trakke Storr Carryon: Travel-bag enthusiast Chase Reeves used to list this bag as one of his top picks as a medium-size carry-on bag, and it looks very well built. Check out these related articles below! Or do you need a wheeled backpack thats versatile enough for all types of travel? Those who travel for work will appreciate the Topos accessible front pockets and holders for organizing books, papers, and assorted miscellaneous items. Opening up your favorite carry-on travel backpackwith all your stuff in the right place and easy to reachshould feel like opening the door to a well-organized closet or sitting down at a clean desk. travel website. Another two Osprey backpacks with wheels, the womens Osprey Fairview and mens Osprey Farpoint, are the slightly smaller and less expensive cousins to the Osprey Sojourn. Wheeled backpacks can be great for people who often carry heavy gear or who deal with back and shoulder pain. As with all Osprey bags, the Farpoints shoulder straps are very comfortable. But at $500, plus shipping, it is simply too expensive for most people. Keep in mind that how you load the backpack, including placement and weight of items, may accelerate this. But the Farpoint is in danger of becoming outpaced by bags with newer designs. Although some people say a specific amount of liters translates to the number of days of clothes you can carry, I dont subscribe to that kind of thinking. The shoulder straps should sit evenly on the top of your shoulders. Theyre easy to convert either into a backpack or a rolling piece of luggage, depending on what I need in the moment. Theres not a ton to this backpack, its features are kept simple and streamlined. The Travel Backpack has few flaws. In the past, the MLCs straps were too slim and unsupported for the bags 45-liter capacity. Its a neat little addition to the bag and worth getting if you like wearing fanny packs while you travel. The simple design of this backpack includes a 15 laptop sleeve, a front organizer pocket, two large main compartments, a retractable handle that can be used at two different heights, and a side mesh pocket for a water bottle. If youre looking for a portable and versatile large travel pack with wheels thats perfect for checked luggage, and you liked the Osprey Meridian, the Hynes Eagle is the newest, best option on the market. If thats something you care about, you might want to go for a backpack with wheels that doesnt look like a traditional backpacking backpack. Its by far one of the top wheeled backpacks on the market today for those who are looking for a small, compact, and lightweight option. Of all the bags we recommend, the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L comes closest to the style of an everyday carry backpack, due to its small size and minimal external features. Though this isnt a huge issue, if you prefer a sleeker look or would rather have the option of using shoulder straps without hip straps, the Cotopaxi Allpa is more flexible and lets you hide the waist straps while the bag is on your back. Although rolling backpacks are more common with younger kids, if you want to protect your back while carrying heavy textbooks, it can be a good option for high school and college students too. With this bag, you can rest assured that your expensive camera gear is protected and secure, easily accessible, and organized. The years of design and consideration that Osprey has put into its line of hiking backpacks are quite evident in the Farpoint. 2022 The Atlas Heart | Design made in collaboration withInk & Honey Design Co.+Michelle Robins Creative. I used to be one of those travelers who scoffed at wheeled backpacks. Though these backpacks are great as companion bags for any trip, theyre designed to ultimately replace all of your other luggage and become your exclusive bag as you travel. Theres also a plushy front pocket to hold your smartphone and glasses. You can also get into the main compartment via two wing-like trapezoidal flaps that run along each side of the pack. Are you looking for a compact carry-on or a large wheeled bag to carry a lot of gear? Topo also includes built-in attachment clips, if you want to piggyback a smaller daily-carry backpack to your Travel Bag. And its easy to convert into rolling luggage from a backpack with shoulder straps that can be easily hidden in the back of the pack. $475.00. L.L. However, when youre using the shoulder straps, the design forces you to also use the hip straps. In the end, we chose two as our top picks: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (for most trips) and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L. If youre just starting out with one-bag travel, or you arent sure what type of travel bag best suits your needs, the Farpoint is an excellent first choice. Similar to our other picks, the Travel Bag is backed by an excellent lifetime warranty and repair program from Topo. All of the main compartment zippers are protected by security loops, which you thread the zipper through at the end of its run. The Osprey Farpoints high-contrast interior is easy to rummage through, even in low light. If you dont mind possibly having to gate-check your bag at the last minute, this would be an excellent alternative to the Farpoint 40. This convertible rolling backpack is ideal for college or business trips with an organization thats geared toward tech gadgets. Some bags in this category are built to do one thing extremely wellbe luggage on your back. Plus, you really cant go wrong with an Osprey bag. Its also designed with contoured straps that have extra padding for more comfort when wearing it as a backpack. Its a little too slim, though, for older laptops or laptop sleeves. Its all about your personal preference when it comes to style and also what you plan to use your rolling pack for. And if youre looking for an even larger backpack with wheels, theres a larger size in the Sojourn seriesthe Osprey Sojourn 80L pack. With that said, usually the more durable the bag, the more expensive its going to be. When choosing the right-sized wheeled backpack, it all comes down to your lifestyle, how you plan to use your pack, and how much weight and bulkiness you want to be carrying around with you. Whether youre flying through an airport or rolling across cobblestones in a foreign land, this backpack has a telescoping handle and durably designed wheels that are easy to direct. Position Of The Shoulder Straps. This pack is full of useable features that make it an excellent choice for backpacking. If youre looking for a lightweight rolling backpack, its good to find one thats around five pounds or under. The quality, features, and support that wheeled backpacks offer these days have improved a lot in the past decade. But the Tortuga appears to shrug it all off with ease. After testing three new backpacks, we stand by our original picks. Reddit, Inc. 2023. On the left, theres space for one more medium-size packing cube behind a zippered flap with high-visibility backing (which is good for hard-to-differentiate personal items). Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack has it all: a luxurious material, a spacious interior, and serious style. Even if you arent convinced by our picks, we do think we can help you figure out what parameters are best for travel bags of any size. It has a waterproof bottom panel and corner guards to protect the bag from wear, lockable zippers, rubber wheels, and a durable telescoping handle that can be adjusted to two different heights. This bag, like most of Topos gear, is designed to work with Topo dopp bags, accessory bags, and packing cubes. The Farpoint, practically an original in carry-on backpacks, hasnt been updated in a fair while. skis, golf clubs, etc). As I mentioned above, size and weight tend to go hand-in-hand. Goruck GR2: Im a big fan of Goruck bags, and I use the GR1 regularly as my daily work and travel bag. © Copyright 2006-2017 EDCFORUMS.COM All Rights Reserved. The bag also includes a deep front-access panel to hold miscellaneous items; its deep enough to carry several paperback books and a one-liter water bottle. Heres the Wirecutter-recommended carrying gear we love most. If youre willing to do laundry on the road, then one bag is all you need to travel indefinitely. Plus, theres a seam-sealed rain cover included to protect gear fully. This is the better option if youre going for carry-on-only travel since the Fairview and Farpoint are more compact and lightweight. Theyre good cubes, and they compare well to the ultralight Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube set, our pick for light packers. Hip and chest straps help balance the weight of the bag better and provide extra support. It didnt quite fit the scope of this review because of its design. There was an error submitting your subscription. Weve also fielded complaints from some testers that this bag was too heavy for them to carry, even with the padded hip belt and adjustable straps. Founded in 1973, Ventura, California-based outdoor equipment manufacturer, Patagonia is one of the most trusted brands in the business. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Things to look for in terms of picking a comfortable wheeled backpack include the following: Compression straps these allow you to compress the contents of the bag and condense it to a more centered weight load for your back. But if youre a business person, youre probably wearing at least a blazer, so you wouldnt use a backpack in any case. Privacy Policy. If you know you tend to carry a lot of gear and clothes with you, going for a bigger size can be better. The Travel Backpack looks good in any of its configurations. Travel gear should feel like a welcome companionthere to support you when you need it, but unobtrusive when you do not. In addition to the cavernous main pocket, along the sides there are four inner pockets, which are a little too small for anything other than socks and small personal items like toiletries. But after using the Farpoint for a few years, weve decided that its rounded shape seems to cut into that theoretical packable space more than the rectangular designs of the Goruck GR3 and the Tortuga Outbreaker do. Its a nearly perfect blend of backpack and luggage. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. Wheel Maneuverability you dont want to uncomfortably twist your wrists every time you need to change directions. Made in U.S.A. backed by our "No Bull" Lifetime Warranty. Its the Swiss Army knife of backpacks: adjustable, customizable, and (if you spring for the extra cubes and organizers) an almost perfect system for a photographer or gearhead on the move. But we prefer our larger picks, like the Tortuga (more carrying capacity) or the eBags TLS Mother Lode (less expensive). And its backed by a lifetime warranty. Wheeled backpacks for travel have come a long way in terms of comfortjust look at the Osprey Sojourn and Osprey Fairview or Farpoint. Not everyone needs a dedicated laptop pocket, but we prefer the more secure feeling of bags that do. In its natural shape, the Travel Backpack holds 35 liters, but an expansion zipper lets the bag swell to 45 liters. What is the search term/phrase for a laptop backpack that doesn't fall over when half-empty? Material quality: Durability is critical for any type of luggage, but especially for a backpack that will be your only bag. Cotopaxi also makes a hip pack thats designed to fit snugly into the Allpas front top compartment. And comfort isnt just in terms of wearing your pack like a backpack. Kaukko Travel Laptop Backpack. A 45L bag maximizes overhead space, but can get heavy when fully packed;. If youre sweating while lugging around a heavy pack, youll want to make sure its breathable and still comfortable to wear. It doesnt matter. The Topo is constructed with heavy YKK zippers and, similar to the Cotopaxi Allpa, has built-in zipper security loops (strong loops of fabric that secure your zippers when the bag is shut), if you want a touch more security. Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 10 inWeight: 5 lbCapacity: 36LBest for: College/school. . This might mean theyre able to swivel in all directions and durable enough to roll over most terrain. If the distance you need to walk between accommodations is relatively short and you plan to roll your luggage as much as (or more than) you plan to carry it, a wheeled backpack is a good option. Whether youre an athlete or musician, or you simply have a lot of heavy things, finding a durable, heavy-duty wheeled backpack is super important when it comes to transporting gear. The lack of recent reputable reviews gives us pause, along with the sparse Shopify website, which, the last time we checked, in 2023, wasnt operational. (The company now appears to be selling directly via Paypal.). One of the best aspects of this bag is its maneuverability. With the Victorinox Vx Sport, youll find multiple protected pockets to keep your items organized and secureincluding a laptop pocket with an anti-scratch lining that can hold up to a 16 laptop. Its not too big but big enough to fit a decent amount of clothes and gear for a weekend trip or something longer. These larger bags are not carry-on-friendly, though, especially in Europe, so be prepared to check them. Its not an uncomfortable backpack, but compared with several of our other picks in this size, this bags slim straps and barely there hip belt are noticeably lacking. My picks for the best wheeled backpacks, whether youre traveling or looking for a professional bag for work or school. The Granite Gear Blaze 60 has repeatedly earned the top spot in our Best Backpacking Packs for Men review. Similarly, the backpacks return policy can come in handy if you end up not liking the bag or there is some kind of malfunction with the bag you receive.