7 BEST TRAVEL BACKPACKS

Sack Up: The 7 Best Travel Backpacks
By M. W. Byrne, Hi Consumption, 19 August 2014.

Travellers have long felt a gap in their options for luggage. Backpackers had their hefty frames that let them go for days in the wilderness. Business travellers had their briefcases and cute little rolling suitcases, but what about the people in-between? The people that wanted a pack that gave them less than a framed pack but more than just a suitcase? Something with options, something with versatility, something with pockets for all their stuff? Something that could protect their electronics, hold their clothes, and still let them access it without pulling out half their wardrobe? For those people there is the travel backpack.

Travel backpacks are intended to be carry-on bags that kick ass. They do everything a suitcase does and everything a backpack does. Some come with frames, some have a rolling option, and some can double as duffels. Each is a strange and unique creature meant to tote around enough to live on yet fit in an overhead bin. For travellers both foreign and domestic who choose to fly rather than hike here are our 7 best travel backpacks.

1. Kelty Flyway

Pros: Backpacking ready
Cons: Pockets bulge and snag

Backpackers Pal: The Kelty Flyway is the travel backpack that isn’t meant for businessmen on the go or the person moving from hotel to hotel but rather someone who could decide at any moment to go on a short survival trek. It is built out of durable polyester with a separate padded sleeve for your laptop that has easy access when you go through security. You can load it from the top or use the bulging side pockets to store all of the gear and tackle you desire. It does have a built-in aluminium frame which, while very light, can be overkill if you never intend on doing any day hiking or backpacking with it. Comes with hip and sternum straps for increased fit and weight distribution. You can buy it in sizes ranging from 43-litres (L) to more than 50L. For those that need something smaller, try the Kelty Redwing. [Purchase: US$115]

2. Crumpler Low Level Aviator

Pros: Opens like a suitcase
Cons: Heavy

Wide Open: Forget digging through a satchel trying to find headphones that have mysteriously found their way to the bottom of the bag, defying all physical laws. The Low Level Aviator has a middle storage compartment that opens like a notebook. A few well-placed interior pockets hold everything in place and allow you to see each of your 400 electronics, your book, and your air sickness medication. The six storage zones allow for easy packing and easier unpacking, even when working in tight quarters. The whole company was designed by an Australian who needed a strong bag to carry beer around, so you know they are well made and durable. It is 60L in total size so it can carry a lot and still fit in an overhead bin. [Purchase: US$168]

3. Minaal Carry-On

Pros: Compact
Cons: Straps uncomfortable for long wear

Minimalist: The Minaal Carry-On was made by two veteran travellers who were sick of dealing with the extra garbage that bag manufacturers thought people might want. It is the travel backpack for the person who wants everything in its place. It opens like a suitcase for easy packing and unpacking and has a lockable laptop compartment so even if you decide to check it, thieves and baggage handlers with sticky fingers can’t access it. There are no dangling zippers or weird bits hanging off that can snag and break. Even the shoulder straps tuck away. There are multiple exterior pockets that allow easy access without opening up the main storage areas. It even comes with a rain cover to protect anything inside from the elements. The main problems are the lack of a hearty hip strap and uncomfortable shoulder straps that dig in deep with extended wear. Only holds 35-litres as well. [Purchase: US$300]

4. Tom Bihn Aeronaut

Pros: Tons of pockets
Cons: No designated laptop compartment

Pockets Galore: Most travel backpacks still hold to the out-dated principle that people want one large, primary compartment in their bag. The Tom Bihn Aeronaut breaks with tradition and instead gives those on the go lots of little hidey-holes and pouches for a myriad of miniscule things. It still has a main area that is accessed by a U-shaped opening that is much easier to pack and unload than a standard bag. Though it has lots of expandable space, there is no place padded and secured for a laptop. The 45L total storage capacity is spread through the sides, the middle, and around the back. The backpack straps zip away when not in use and there is also the option of carrying it like a duffel bag or wearing it like a messenger bag depending on your preference. Also has a 30L option. [Purchase: US$250]

5. Kelty Ascender 22

Pros: Removable rolling chassis
Cons: Changing sizes can be awkward

More than Meets the Eye: Michael Bay may have ruined Transformers forever and left its smoking corpse in a field, but real-world transformers are still going strong. The Kelty Ascender 22 is part rolling bag, part backpack depending on your needs. It comes with a removable metal frame that let’s you either roll it along or carry it. Unlike other rolling bags the wheels and exoskeleton are completely detachable so you don’t need to take the extra weight on your back. Even better, it can be used as a 40L, 55L, or 70L bag thanks to the expandable storage. Whether taking a weekend flight or off to tackle the Adirondacks the 1280D ballistic polyester is tough enough for it all. [Purchase: US$200+]

6. Tortuga V2 Backpack

Pros: Lots of organized compartments
Cons: Single size can be awkward

Easy Access: The Tortuga V2 is a revamp of the original Tortuga travel backpack and they have made some great improvements. The multiple compartments have the easiest access of anything we’ve seen with intuitive divisions that keep all your stuff tucked away yet easily reached by opening only one zipper. You can front-load, top-load, and side-load. With a little work you might even be able to bottom-load, though that would probably end badly. There are even pockets on the padded hip-belt for wallet and passport carrying. A locking storage compartment for your laptop keeps thieves at bay. The buckles are all Duraflex, the zippers are all YKK, and the body is tough polyester. The only drawback is the single size does not fit all. [Purchase: US$200]

7. Osprey Farpoint

Pros: Very sturdy and comfortable shoulder straps
Cons: Compression straps limit easy access

Tight as a Drum: Nearly anything on the Osprey line works well as a travel backpack, though many complain that the compression straps that go around the outside can distort the bag and make easy access impossible. They do help keep size to a minimum, but don’t pack anything in the main compartment you plan on needing. Despite that, the Osprey Farpoint is easily one of the most comfortable bags around with amazing shoulder straps that are comfortable and durable. The 40L size coupled with the compression capacity means you can stuff it to the gills with your gear and it has a separate laptop compartment but the standard loading means you can expect to do a bit of digging even if you can get into the main section. [Purchase: US$147]

+ Soot Electropack

Coming Soon: The Soot Electropack is high-tech hotness that has us drooling. They recently hit their Kickstarter goal, which means soon we’ll be seeing this fully charging travel backpack system. It is a 10L messenger bag and a 24L backpack that can be used individually or combined to create a 34L carry-on, but that isn’t what makes it amazing. Both the messenger bag and the backpack have integrated 10,000mAh batteries with 5.1V/2.1A output that can charge a total of 4 USB devices simultaneously when they are put together. Even on long flights you’ll never run out of power and be forced to have a conversation ever again. You can even take the batteries out if you don’t need the bag for use wherever you are. You can’t buy it now, but you can sign-up on their website to know when their store goes live or try to get one through their Kickstarter page. [Purchase: US$349]

[Source: Hi Consumption. Edited. Some links added.]