The “best” travel bag is vital when looking for a backpack to accompany you on your next excursion, whether it is your dream destination or for business. However, choosing that bag can be a challenging endeavor. There are multiple brands and models from which to choose, with a wide variance in durability, price, and features. Add to that conflicting views and opinions from reviewers with different values, needs, and body types—and you have myriad options to wade through.

No one backpack is “best” for every traveler, but it’s essential to have the best travel backpack that works for you, so where do you begin?

Here are some things to consider:

1. Size and Weight
2. Volume
3. Max Legal Carry-on Size
4. Weather Resistance
5. Durability and Quality
6. Security Features

Size and Weight

Airlines are pretty stingy about the weight you can bring on board. So it’s essential to ensure your backpack isn’t too heavy. Starting with a bag that is too heavy before you’ve packed it is just setting yourself up for failure! Instead, consider smaller bags that’ll fit under the seat in front of you. Life is just more manageable with a smaller & lighter gear. If you need additional space, try a sling bag on the front with the backpack on your back.

Volume

There’s no “industry standard” around the liter size of a pack; it can vary from brand to brand. A backpack’s “True Volume” and useable space are more critical than its rated liters. Something with a larger, rectangular compartment is easier to load. Likewise, the material thickness and flexibility matter; thin, strong material will give you more space inside a backpack than something with thick padding.

Max Legal Carry-On Size

Max Legal Carry-On size, or “MLC,” covers the largest acceptable size for carry-on bags. The “MLC” is the sum of the bag’s height, length, and width. Before arriving at the airport, check your airline’s restrictions, as size limits vary based on the airline.

Weather Resistance

Look for packs with excellent weather resistance that’ll get you through light rain and ideally through 15 minutes of heavy rain. But, of course, there’s a big difference between waterproof and water-resistant bags. Waterproof is more secure but focus on the latter, as this will be plenty in most situations. There is no need to buy an entirely waterproof bag if you’ve got something that needs additional weather protection. Instead, you can purchase separate waterproof pouches, which also double as organizers, separating your water-sensitive gear from the rest of your load.

Durability and Quality

Investing in a high-quality backpack will prevent loss and damage to your gear and last several years. Higher durability tends to mean heavier weight, but not always. Zippers and backpack fabric are two crucial considerations when evaluating durability.

YKK zippers are the most popular, accounting for about half of all zippers worldwide, and the better brands tend to use them. They’re strong and come in different weights depending on where they are deployed on the bag. RiRi zippers are also well regarded. Both RiRi and YKK are superior to most zippers made in-house by bag manufacturers.

There is a multitude of fabrics and materials used to construct backpacks. Here are some materials you’ll come across when selecting your pack:

1. Nylon - has an incredibly high strength-to-weight ratio and is highly resistant to rips and tears.
2. Polyester - is not the most durable fabric, so you’ll usually find it on lower-end packs.
3. Polypropylene - It’s cheap. It’s a good insulator because it doesn’t transfer heat very well and won’t absorb water since it’s hydrophobic but not very UV resistant.
4. Canvas - is very thick and sturdy but usually heavy, not overly water-resistant, and easily damaged by abrasion.
5. Leather – is heavy, and there is also a lot of potential care involved. Between protective oils and various cleaning techniques,
6. Sailcloth - is the most lightweight and waterproof material on this list but is also stiff and crinkly with zero stretch.

The “one size fits all” harness has been the standard, but there is a growing market trend towards women’s and men’s focused fit travel backpacks. The differences are subtle but significantly impact how comfortable the harness system is on your frame. For example, a women’s fit typically provides:

1. Thinner shoulder straps for a narrower frame
2. Shorter shoulder straps that position the bag higher up the back
3. Smaller hip belt with a more pronounced curve

Look for bags with high-quality straps. Thinner straps may be more comfortable than thicker, bulkier straps. Straps with swivels and pivots make it easier to turn the pack around, giving quicker access to the pockets.

Sternum straps are all pretty much the same across the board, but some have elastic portions that allow the strap to flex as you walk. Second, some sternum straps can be detached, making them vulnerable to falling off when not used.

Security Features

Things to look for:

1. Are the zippers lockable with TSA-approved locks?
2. Is there a security compartment to stow your passport and other valuables in secret or hard-to-reach places?
3. Is it made of durable material to hamper the quick slash-and-grab?
4. Are there minimal outer pockets to make it hard for thieves to unzip and grab what they want?

Having RFID-blocking technology covering an entire backpack is probably overkill. However, if you’re concerned with thieves electronically scanning your passport, you could get a special RFID blocking wallet or wrap your passport & cards in aluminum foil.