Although no one is travelling anywhere at the moment, now is the perfect time to get planning for that trip. And whether you’re planning the hike of a lifetime, an interrailing trip across a continent or a long city break, the right backpack can free you up to enjoy even more of your trip.
We tested these packs for comfort – both fully and part loaded – and for design, looking for bags that had good load distribution – so you can make the most of the volume – and clever packing innovations, like multiple compartments and easy access for important things like waterproofs, snack bars and a camera.â
We took the packs for hikes before lockdown happened and tested the others on our daily walk, to make sure they stayed comfy over a distance. We also measured the smaller, cabin bag-size packs against standard luggage compartment dimensions, to make sure they tuck into coach lockers and under plane seats.
We found that around 50-55l was the sweet spot for a travel backpack, particularly if you use all the extra pockets for a first access kit. That leaves you more than enough room for a couple of pairs of shoes, clothes for a week, plus extra room for a camera. Packed for hiking, it was enough to fit our standard camping kit; a small two-man tent, sleeping bag and mat.
For longer trips, it’s important to make sure the bag is a comfortable fit, particularly if you’re doing any hiking or if you’ll be carrying a lot of weight. All the larger bags we tested have adjustable frames: to fit them to yourself, adjust the shoulder straps so the hip straps sit comfortably above your hip bones, then adjust the back length so the shoulder straps tuck in behind your shoulder blades and follow the natural curvature of your back. The American outdoor store REI has a helpful online guide to get you started.
Your hips should take most of the weight of your bag, particularly if it’s very heavy, with your shoulders carrying only a very little bit of the load. To make that happen, pick up your pack – keeping your knees bent if it’s weighty – and swing one arm through one strap, then the other. Once the pack’s on shrug your shoulders to lift it slightly and, as you do so, fasten the waist belt so it’s sat just on top of your hips.
Adjust it so you feel like most of the weight is securely carried there, and then tighten the shoulder straps until you feel like they’re carrying the rest – but not much – of the pack’s weight. Fastening the chest strap, if the bag has one, will help keep the weight centred.â
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Gregory tribute 55
The most versatile pack we tested, the tribute – which has a men’s equivalent called the tetrad – boasts every kind of carrying combination you could think of. As well as a built-in, detachable daypack, the main backpack has three comfortably padded handles on the sides so you can carry it like a suitcase.
So far, so ideal for travelling: particularly because the daypack, when docked, sits flush against the main pack so you don’t have a cumbersome and bulky silhouette. But because Gregory is a trekking expert brand, it also has superb hiking tech built in.
The bag felt really comfortable to wear, even fully loaded; it fitted our overnight camping gear easily; and the odour-proof compartment was exactly the right size for a pair of trainers. A smart and compact bag for on and off the trail.
Buy now £175.00, Gregory
Exped thunder 50
A light and handsome backpack that’s as suited to a hike to base camp as it is a month on the road. The Thunder 50 weighs in at just over 1.5kg, which is amazing given its generous, 50l capacity, stretchy side pockets and expandable top with floating lid.
The outstanding feature is the huge zipped panel at the front, which opens to give you access to everything in the bag without having to unpack from the top: invaluable if you want to grab a camera or waterproof layer while walking, or your overnight stuff for a night in a hostel.
A light aluminium frame, subtly padded shoulder straps and comfortable hip strap and waist belt distribute weight well, making this a comfortable pack even when it’s heavily loaded.
Buy now £139.99, Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Jack Wolfskin kalari kingston kit
An innovative and well designed backpacking system from Jack Wolfskin, this kit pairs two of our reviewer’s favourite backpacks, the 56l Kalari and the 16l Kingston, to make a versatile 72l pair.
The smaller daypack clips to the front of the shoulder straps of the big backpack so you can wear it on your front in the time-honoured gap year style; or it clips onto the outside of the bigger backpack itself.
Ideal for long trips where you might leave your larger bag in the hostel and take the daypack out for a walk, the whole set is also surprisingly adapted to hiking as well – worn on the front and the pack it feels well-balanced, both packs have hydration pouches, and the set comes with a reusable rubbish (or laundry) sack.
Buy now £175.00, Jack Wolfskin
Arc’teryx alpha 55
Sleek, beautiful and very comfortable, this bag is a highly technical backpack that looks like a smart city bag. Because it was designed for Alpine sports like ski touring, it’s phenomenally light – just 1.3kg – which makes it ideal for travellers who are planning a lot of walking or travelling between airports and hotels.
It has some impressive technical features – including a tear-proof, liquid crystal outer layer and waterstop zips – as well as plenty of practical additions, like generous side and lid pockets. For the specs and the brand – Arc’teryx packs are reliably durable – the price is excellent.
Buy now £170.00, Arc’teryx
Osprey archeon 65
As the best looking bag we tested, Osprey’s big traveller’s rucksack is also the most environmentally friendly, made entirely from durable, recycled fabrics – even the detachable raincover is recycled – with classy metal buckles and clips throughout.
It’s not light, at 2.8kg, but it is very spacious: it held our entire camping kit with ease, plus a couple of warm coats for good measure. It also makes the most of Osprey’s excellent construction and carrying system, and felt comfortable even when fully loaded.
£250.00, Osprey
Fjallraven kajka 65
Fjallraven’s wooden frames take some getting used to, but they are undeniably eco-friendly and a talking point when you’re on the trail. Our reviewer has been using this pack for almost a year, and thinks the slight adjustment period is worth it.
The bag is very comfortable for its weight, which is a hefty 3.2kg when empty, and stylish, made out of the company’s iconic blend of tough canvas and leather.
There are plenty of features for walkers, including separated wet and dry compartments and multiple access points (at the top, along the front and at the bottom); but if you plan to use it primarily for hiking, because of the weight and the unusual frame, take the pack for a few day hikes first to check the frame is right for you.
Buy now £320.00, Fjallraven
Vango ozone
A trusty and dependable little bag from Vango that packs in plenty of features for its reasonable price, the Ozone is one of the lightest bags we tested, at just over a kilo in weight.
It is smaller than our ideal size for travelling, but its 40l capacity is boosted by generous, stretchy mesh side pockets, hip belt storage, and a front pocket that we managed to stuff with a tent flysheet for one test hike and a spare coat for another. A great pack for casual walkers and shorter trips.
Buy now £85.00, Vango
Snow Peak active backpack type 01
An expensive but technical bag from Japanese company Snow Peak, this pack had some of the most creative storage options of any of the bags we tested. The capacious bottom pocket fits two pairs of shoes – or one pair of boots – while a panel zip gives generous access to the whole main compartment from the front.
Two long pockets on the front of the bag, both of which also have a zip-access at the side, are undoubtedly excellent for technical equipment; we found they were exactly the right size for a pair of sandals. For the price, we would have liked a little less crinkle in the waterproof fabric; we also found the bag fitted men better, particularly across the chest.
Buy now £412.00, Snow Peak
Patagonia nine trails
One of the smallest packs we tested, it’s a great bag for a weekend away or a short hike. At 26l it has enough capacity to support a light packer for a week or so, while at under a kilo in weight – around 900g empty – it’s barely noticeable if you decide to take it out on the trail.
The huge, U-shaped zipper on the front gives you access to most of the main compartment quickly, while stretchy side pockets and a front pocket add a bit of extra room if the main compartment isn’t enough.
It is plane cabin friendly, and because it has a sleek silhouette, slides into overhead compartments and under minibus seats.
Buy now £130.00, Patagonia
Montane yupik 65
A really good all-rounder, the yupik boasts an above average capacity and weighs just 1.5kg: it felt very light even when loaded. It has plenty of features that you would expect in a much more expensive pack: two long zippered compartments on the front, a separate base compartment, and two huge bucket pockets on the side, big enough to fit our sleeping mat or a water bottle.
It doesn’t look as bulky as most bags its size either – because it’s so streamlined, it doesn’t have that “gap year backpacker” look about it – making it an ideal choice for people on sabbaticals, or anyone planning a trip based in hotels and hostels.
Buy now £160.00, Montane
The verdict: Backpacks for travel
We loved the versatility of Gregory’s system, particularly given how small it packed down when the two bags were docked together. For a long trip, or the hiking adventure of a lifetime, the Osprey archeon is a smart and ethical choice.
