Best Adventure Travel Backpacks of 2025
Best backpacks for travel, adventure, commuting, and one-bag minimalist travel
August 14th, 2025
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Our testers have spent the last year field testing 16 adventure travel backpacks—from a week of adventure travel in Northern Ireland to crewing an ultramarathon in Mexico, on long weekends jetsetting to 15 states around the US, outdoor festivals and retreats, family outdoor trips, work commutes, and many more excursions. After comparing notes we’ve identified the 8 best adventure travel packs based on utility, design, comfort, storage, features, materials, and sustainability.
Our testing and evaluation combined our collective thousands of miles of hiking experience and tens of thousands of miles of frequent flying and travel. We took these bags for traveling for all sorts of adventure-centered trips, including climbing, hiking, running, and while working remotely. This allowed us to test packs in a variety of environments and weather while also seeing how they perform for adventurers, travelers, and work commuters.
We took these packs on airplanes, buses, ferries, trains, camping, ski, and road trips. We took them to hostels, hotels, cabins, campgrounds, and B&Bs. They accompanied us on day hikes, before thru-hikes, beach days, walks all around the city, visiting family in outdoor destinations, urban commutes to the coffee shop, and to the crag. In short, they accompanied us everywhere so we could prioritize assessing them based on what matters most for adventure travelers—specifically versatility, comfort, durability, and organization.
But what is an “adventure travel pack” and who might an “adventure traveler” be? In this guide, we tested packs that bridge the gap between traditional travel bags (think airline luggage) and hiking backpacks. To us, “adventure travel” allows people to decide for themselves if it feels right. Does your weekend trip to West Virginia include a wedding and a hike? Going to backpack in the Scottish Highlands and tour Edinburgh? Spending the night with family at a cabin and heading to the mountains with the kids the next day? Commuting to the gym, then work, then happy hour? All that sounds like adventure travel to us.
To determine our top pick and other winners, we kept in mind all the ways in which one might be an adventure traveler. The Cotopaxi Allpa 42—with its capacity, organization, travel and adventure-oriented features, and style options—offered the most versatility for most people. Learn more in this guide about the Allpa and our other winners, as well as what to look for in a travel pack, packing tips, and more.
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Comparison table
| TRAVEL PACK | TREELINE AWARD | CARRY ON? | AVAILABLE VOLUMES | WEIGHT | WATER RESISTANT? | SHOULDER STRAPS STOWABLE? | HIPBELT STOWABLE? | EXTERIOR POCKETS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotopaxi Allpa 42 L Travel Pack | Best overall Read why |
Yes* | 28, 35, 42 L | 3.13 lb. | Yes + rain cover | Yes | Yes | 4 |
| NEMO Vantage 30 L Pack | Best upgrade Read why |
Yes | 20, 26, 30, 40 L | 3.06 lb. | Yes | No | No hipbelt | 3 |
| Peak Design Travel Pack 30 L | Best carry-on Read why |
Yes | 30, 45 L | 3.17 lb. | Yes | Yes | No hipbelt | 3 |
| REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 Pack (men's) | Best affordable Read why |
No | 18, 30, 40 L | 2.81 lb. | Yes + rain cover | Yes | Yes | 4 |
| REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 Pack (women's) | Best affordable Read why |
No | 18, 30, 40 L | 2.69 lb. | Yes + rain cover | Yes | Yes | 4 |
The winners
Best overall adventure travel backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 42
Capacity: 42 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 28, 35, 42 L
Water-resistant? Yes + rain cover
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt stows? Yes
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 3.13 lb.
What we liked: Capacity options, layout, durability, weather resistance, carry-on compatibility, color options, Cotopaxi’s sustainability efforts
What we didn't like: Not our favorite shoulder straps
The Cotopaxi Allpa is a versatile, durable, spacious, stylish, and well-organized travel backpack. After taking it on a long road trip to the Midwest and a flight from Colorado to Edinburgh, Scotland for explorations in the city and the Scottish highlands, we found this pack to excel in a variety of weather conditions and travel use cases.
Treeline testers have taken it to conferences, family reunions in Japan, on a four-state book tour, and week-long work trips, and we came to depend on its suitcase-like, clamshell zipper opening, allowing you to easily find what you need without digging around.
You can learn more about this travel backpack in our in-depth review of the Cotopaxi Allpa.
Cotopaxi Allpa 42
We appreciate a lot about this pack, including its sizes and organization options. The range of capacity options are useful for different scenarios—28L is great for day trips, 35L for long weekends, and 42L for week-long trips, for example. Cotopaxi uses recycled materials for the Allpa 42, which we also appreciate.
Best upgrade adventure travel backpack: NEMO Vantage 30L Endless Promise Adventure Daypack
Capacity: 30 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 20, 26, 30, 40 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt
Exterior pockets: 3
Weight: 3.06 lb.
What we liked: Comfortable shoulder pads and back panel, durable and high-quality materials and construction, excellent organization, super sustainable through NEMO’s Endless Promise program
What we didn't like: Expensive
I wanted to name the NEMO Vantage 30L Endless Promise Adventure Daypack our best overall winner—the organization and overall design is incredible, it’s in its own league as far as comfort, and NEMO’s Endless Promise line is impressively sustainable. Ultimately, we decided the Cotopaxi Allpa offered more versatility and more size and color options for more people at a more affordable price. But if you have the budget for it, the Vantage is a durable, comfortable, and ergonomically and thoughtfully designed travel pack.
We took the NEMO Vantage 30L travel pack to separate trips to Scotland, the Netherlands, and Northern Ireland, as well as countless trips in the U.S. You can learn more in our in-depth review of the NEMO Vantage 30L Endless Promise Travel Pack.
NEMO Vantage 30L Endless Promise Adventure Daypack
This travel backpack has a large zippered main compartment with other smaller compartments and pockets. The tech compartment is padded and divided for better organization, and there’s a hidden bottom compartment that’s great for dirty laundry or a pair of shoes. There are so many pockets we even discovered a new one after six months and a lot of travel with this pack. The padded shoulder straps and airy back panel—made with a material called CCubed, which is mostly air—are the most comfortable of all backpacks we’ve tested.
Perhaps the best feature? As part of NEMO’s Endless Promise line, this pack is made entirely of recycled materials and is fully recyclable at the end of its life. NEMO will even do the recycling for you. And the materials and construction are of such high quality that this durable pack should last you a long time.
In testing, we were impressed with the variety of trips the NEMO Vantage worked well on—from a week of adventure traveling in Northern Ireland, to crewing an ultramarathon in Mexico, day trips into the mountains, commuting from work to workouts, and much more. It’s carry-on compliant and has a sleek design.
We landed on naming this the Best Upgrade option rather than Best Overall because it doesn’t come in as large of capacity options as the Cotopaxi Allpa, only comes in two color options , and costs more. With that higher cost, though, comes immense comfort, the most ergonomic design, and NEMO’s Endless Promise.
This pack now comes in 20L, 26L, 30L, and 40L sizes. Best carry-on adventure travel backpack: Peak Design Travel Backpack
Best carry-on travel pack: Peak Design Travel Pack 30 L
Capacity: 30 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 30, 45 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt
Exterior pockets: 3
Weight: 3.17 lb.
What we liked: Sturdy and sleek design, quality materials, comfortable straps, carry-on compatibility, travel-friendly features
What we didn't like: Fewer compartments than other packs, filet-style main compartment can be difficult to access on the go
The Peak Design Travel Backpack wins Best Carry-on Adventure Travel Backpack due to its sturdy structure, large main compartment, air travel-friendly features, and sleek design. This is a great adventure travel backpack for jetsetters, nature photographers, digital nomads, and work commuters.
The pack is made with weatherproof, DWR-treated fabric and offers ample storage space for long weekends (perhaps up to a week if you’re packing really light). It features zippers that lock together and zipper locks to keep them in place during travel, a waterproof bottom, stretchy side pockets, a secure tech compartment for laptops or tablets, and grab handles on all sides of the pack. You can expand the capacity for more space and still maintain its carry-on compatibility.
This adventure travel backpack covered us throughout a lot of travel situations, including work commutes and a long weekend in Seattle that included work, walking around the city, and nature walks. Learn more in our in-depth review of the Peak Design Travel Backpack.
Peak Design Travel Pack 30 L
While this pack is great for air travel, work and professional events, and for photographers, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for those who will primarily be outdoors. The Travel Backpack certainly can accompany you on day hikes—in fact, Peak Design caters their design to nature photographers—the filet-style opening (similar to a clamshell opening but opens forward/longways rather than outward like a book) of the main compartment can be difficult to access on the go, and there isn’t an obvious solution for separating dirty clothing or gear other than adding packing cubes.
However, if you’re looking for a travel pack primarily for air travel and/or work that can transition to outdoor activities, or if you prefer a simple and sleek style, this is our top choice.
Best affordable travel pack: REI Ruckpack 40
Capacity: 40 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 18, 30, 40 L
Water-resistant? Yes + rain cover
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt stows? Yes
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 2.81 lb.
The REI Ruckpack 40 is a budget-friendly, versatile adventure travel backpack. It’s rugged enough for outdoor adventures with a DWR finish and included a rain cover, is carry-on compatible, and has travel-centric features like lockable zippers.
We tested this pack as the solo backpack our tester brought to a month-long educational summer camp. This bag carried this carry-on for everything we needed for a month, from clothes to a laptop, books, and snacks. We chose this pack over the Cotopaxi Allpa, our overall winner, due to its bigger water bottle pockets. Since we were also using this pack as our school backpack and as a hiking backpack for field trips that involved hiking, kayaking, and swimming at a dry, high altitude, those bigger water bottles were a must.
REI Ruckpack 40
Men's
Women's
The Ruckpack is designed for both outdoor excursions and long travel days, with a removable hip belt, a sleeve for either a laptop or a hydration system. It has a split-webbing daisy chain for lashing on gear, t lacks the features of other winning packs in this guide: like super comfortable shoulder straps, adjustable interior compartments, highly durable and lightweight materials, etc.--it provides a thoughtful, streamlined design for adventure travels at a low price. You’d be hard pressed to find a better value for $109.
Best lightweight adventure travel backpack: Six Moon Designs All Day Carry
Capacity: 45 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 35, 45 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt stows? Yes
Exterior pockets: 10
Weight: 2.94. - 3.06 lb.
What we liked: Ultralightweight, super durable and weather resistant, suspension system, internal straps
What we didn't like: More trekking-specific design makes it less versatile than other travel packs, expensive
The Six Moon Designs All Day Carry (ADC) Pack can function as a backpack, suitcase, or urban tote with ease, but it shines brightest as a trekking pack for hut-to-hut routes. In particular, we found we loved this pack for the Camino de Santiago. With waterproof, durable materials, a traditional backpacking backpack's harness, and plenty of pockets, it's designed for long distance backpacking in more urban environments.
Learn more about the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry Adventure Travel Pack in our in-depth review.
Six Moon Designs All Day Carry
The ADC is designed with trekking in mind, starting with the option to choose between three immensely durable materials—Robic nylon 200D (water resistant and the least expensive option), Challenge Sailcloth EcoPak EPX 200 (waterproof and the middle-ground price, though the heaviest option), or Challenge Sailcloth Ultra 200 X (waterproof, extremely durable, lightweight, and the most expensive option). These are the same materials you'll find in high-end lightweight backpacking packs.
The pack also features waterproof zippers, an adjustable torso, thoughtful straps (including internal straps to keep things in place), and plenty of compartments and pockets (including trekking pole mounts).
This pack isn’t without its air travel-friendly features too, with a roller bag handle pass-through sleeve and suitcase-like clamshell opening for easy access to all your belongings. We wish the pass-through sleeve were bigger, though.
Its biggest drawback is the price: the ADC starts at $275 for the 35L Robic nylon and jumps up to $450 for the 45L Challenger Sailcloth Ultra 200 X. However, if this pack fits your budget and you’re looking for a lightweight trekking pack that works well for all kinds of travel situations, this is our pick.
Best adventure travel backpack with organization: The North Face Base Camp Voyager
Capacity: 35 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 26, 35 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 3.46 lb.
What we liked: Plenty of pockets and organization options, excellent weather resistance, air travel-friendly features, relatively affordable
What we didn't like: No hip belt, didn’t love the filet-style opening of main compartment
The North Face Base Camp Voyager 35L offers the best organization of the packs we tested due to its number of pockets and compartments, including adjustable compartments that allow you to optimize your carrying space.
This adventure travel backpack has a whopping six zippered pockets, seven non-zippered organization pockets, and two water bottle pockets. The main compartment features an adjustable divider that can be great for separating dirty and clean clothes while traveling. The tech compartment is padded and fleece lined, which was a comforting touch while traveling with work laptops.
The North Face Base Camp Voyager
There are also three padded grab handles for easier hauling, daisy-chain webbing all around the pack for attaching things, and 360-degree reflective features for better visibility while traveling in the dark.
This pack is also one of the more effectively water-resistant packs we tested, which makes it a great option for anyone spending some time in rainy or wet environments. While our home base for testing is the relatively dry Colorado, we took this backpack to a very rainy Scotland and appreciated how well it kept the contents dry.
We brought this pack on a wide variety of adventures with almost no issues, including a trip that included both backpacking in Scotland and a wedding in the Netherlands, a month-long road trip through Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and California, a long weekend in Seattle, several day trips into the Colorado mountains, and more. We also used this as a daily work commute backpack, as it easily stows the two laptops, post-work workout apparel, shoes, and anything else we might need over the course of the day.
On several occasions, we also managed to fly with this pack not just as a carry-on bag, but as a personal item while on United and Alaska Airlines flights. We’re not saying you can get away with this all the time, or ever, because technically this is much bigger than a “personal item.” We got lucky. But we are saying we did, and it stowed under the seat no problem. (Note: the author previously worked as a tech writer for Frontier and feels confident you would not get away with this on a Frontier flight.)
We have a few small concerns with the pack’s construction and design. When the pack is filled and heavy, a hip belt would go a long way for all-day comfort. Most brands don’t include a hip belt until you reach 40L capacity, but because you can fit a lot in this 35L pack and might be wearing it for long periods of time, we feel an optional hip belt would be helpful. Also, you have to be careful opening the main compartment if you’ve put something heavy or valuable in the front pockets, as the fillet-style opening will flop forward. We also noticed some light fraying at the corners, though that has not been a huge concern.
If you’re looking for a versatile adventure travel backpack with tons of storage and organization options that handles the outdoor elements well, The North Face Base Camp Voyager 35L is the way to go.
Best adventure travel backpack for long trips: Osprey Sojourn Porter 46
Capacity: 46 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 30, 46, 65 L
Water-resistant? No
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt stows? Yes
Exterior pockets: 3
Weight: 3.44 lb.
What we liked: Great organization and pockets, convertible from backpack to side-carry bag, sleek design as both outdoor pack and travel pack, super stretchy water bottle pocket
What we didn't like: Heavy for long days of outdoor use
The Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 transforms seamlessly from long weekend trips to extended travel adventures due to its large capacity and adventure travel-friendly features. It can serve as both a carry-on and checked luggage bag or as a backpack for urban adventures and outdoor excursions.
The compression system of the Sojourn Porter allows you to convert this full-sized pack into a compact daypack ideal for exploring cities, working from cafés, or spending a day on the trail or at a park.
Osprey Sojourn Porter 46
We appreciate the exceptional organization of the travel backpack, which includes dual-padded laptop/tablet compartments, key clips, pen holders, and designated compartments for everything you’d need for up to a week’s worth of travel. And since most adventure travel backpacks seem to have bewilderingly tight water bottle pockets, it’s worth noting that, while the Sojourn Porter only has one water bottle pocket, it’s stretchy and easily fits wide bottles.
Due to the large 46L capacity and organization features, we think this pack is great for travelers needing one bag for diverse trips—from business travel and urban exploration to outdoor adventures—especially those carrying laptops or tablets. This pack seamlessly transitions between work trips, museum visits, and waterfall hikes. To learn more, check out our in-depth review of the Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 travel pack.
Best adventure travel backpack for families: No Reception Club Getaway Bag
Capacity: 24 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 24L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt
Exterior pockets: 7
Weight: 3.4 lb.
What we liked: Excellent/customizable organization, storage for kid-specific items, quality and sleek design, carry-on compatibility
What we didn't like: Smaller than other adventure travel backpacks, bundle accessories can make this expensive
The No Reception Club Getaway Bag is our top adventure travel backpack pick for families because it is tailored specifically to traveling with small children. It features diapering accessories, a cooler bag for a bottle or snack storage, and pockets that are easily accessible from the overhead bin of a plane or the back seat of a car.
Our tester has used this pack for 9 months of travel – on family road trips, ski trips, and on cabin and camping trips. It was useful for on-the-fly diaper changes, hauling bottles and snacks for our tester’s son, treats for the family dog, and even some snacks for mom and dad for long days in the car.
This pack was shoved into corners of a packed car and tossed around in snowy parking lots. It remained functional, durable, and comfortable to carry our gear throughout long trips, and we were constantly impressed with the thoughtful organization of this pack that worked as well when traveling with a 10-month old baby as it does with a now 1.5-year old toddler.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the No Reception Club Getaway Bag.
No Reception Club Getaway Bag
What we appreciated is that unlike many family bags on the market, the Getaway bag isn't just a diaper bag or kid travel pack—it’s designed with parents in mind, with a padded tech compartment and attractive, sleek design.
One downside of this family-friendly adventure travel pack is that it’s the smallest we tested with only 24 L of capacity. And if you bundle with additional features like the Sidekick waist bag and changing pad, insulated lunch pouch, stroller attachment straps, it costs more than most packs we tested.
However, the organization and features are so convenient and clearly designed with parents in mind, that we recommend this pack for traveling families with small children if your budget allows it.
Other adventure travel backpacks we tested
Gregory Border Traveler 30
Capacity: 30 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 30, 40 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? Yes
Exterior pockets: 3
Weight: 2.5 lb.
The Gregory Border Traveler 30 backpack is probably the pack we use the most that didn’t quite win a category. It has a clamshell opening to two main compartments, one of which has easy-to-clean and odor-resistant ActiveShield material great for storing dirty laundry or gear. This design alone made it a go-to option for trips that required more shoes, outdoor gear, or laundry, such as a trip that involved backpacking in Scotland and a wedding in the Netherlands, a trip to West Virginia that also involved hiking and a wedding, a road trip through Arizona to California and Colorado, and even from working in a coffee shop to meeting friends at the crag to climb.
You can fit a lot in this backpack, making it a great option for longer trips or trips that fit in a lot of different adventures. We nearly dubbed the Border Traveler “best for day hiking” since it works so well for outdoor activities. However, Gregory has since updated this pack and after a sneak peak of the new pack the ActiveShield compartment we liked so much may have changed. We’ll be testing the updated version soon, but until then, this version is still available and on sale.
Gregory Border Traveler 30
Author Becca Downs sports the Gregory Border Traveler while Treeline writer Kai Burckhardt totes the Cotopaxi Allpa at the crag.
Capacity: 28 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 20, 28 L
Water-resistant? No
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 2.21 lb.
The Fjallraven Raven 28 is a durable travel pack with a classic backpack design. It has a similar compartment setup to the NEMO Vantage 30L (other than how the main compartment opens) but with Fjallraven’s classic design.
While this backpack doesn’t offer the frills of other packs we’ve tested, it is durable, stylish, and practical for everyday use. We love that Fjallraven started producing PFAS-free clothing and gear in 2009 and is committed to sustainability efforts.
We used this pack for work commutes and one-night stays, but probably wouldn’t choose it for longer trips. If you like the look of Fjallraven gear and want a backpack for daily work or school commutes, day trips/hikes, and everyday use, this is a worthwhile option.
Fjallraven Raven 28
Capacity: 30 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 12, 30, 40, 35 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No
Exterior pockets: 7+
Weight: 3.1 lb.
Of all the packs we tested, the EXPED Skyline is the only one that is truly designed as a hiking pack, but we are including it in this story because it works great for travel. This hiking pack has travel-friendly features like an extra large zipper that runs all the way down on either side. This zipper means you can access the main compartment. This gives it more of a clamshell design compared to most backpacking or hiking backpacks we've seen.
EXPED Skyline 30
We tested the EXPED Skyline on cross country flights from Colorado to Oregon, Washington to California, and California to Illinois and Pennsylvania. The AirFlow back system meant we felt comfortable using this as a hiking pack, even on more humid days. It can also stow trekking poles.
One of our favorite features are the pockets. It has the sort of pockets you'd expect from a good hiking pack: hipbelt pockets, a front stretch mesh pocket, and a phone pocket on the shoulder strap. It also has excellent mesh side pockets that can hold water bottles that you can actually access while wearing the pack, a rarity among travel packs. It also is hydration system compatible, if you really want to use it for hiking.
On the travel to hiking pack spectrum, this pack is definitely a hiking backpack. But if you want one that works better for travel than most, the EXPED Skyline is a well-designed, functional, and relatively affordable option.
Packs we are still testing
Due to supply chain issues and tariffs, we weren't able to test all the packs we wanted earlier in the year. These are the packs that we still want to test for longer before writing a full review.
Kelty Redwing Traveler 40
Capacity: 40 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 40, 50 L
Water-resistant? No
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 3.4 lb.
The Kelty Redwing Travel is a new pack that is among the most affordable travel packs out there. With fully-zippered water bottle side pockets and numerous full-zippered front pouches, it is designed for taking on planes and not losing things. We took this on a flight from Denver to LA jam-packed full of stuff coming back from a conference and are looking forward to testing it more.
Kelty Redwing Traveler 40
Capacity: 25 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 25, 32 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 1.41 lb.
If you’ve spent any time in an airport, you’d be hard pressed not to see a Patagonia travel pack. Patagonia adventure travel packs are popular for a reason—thoughtful designs that work well in both urban and outdoors occasions, bluesign-approved and 100% recycled materials, and attractive designs. And the Patagonia Black Hole Pack line is no exception.
Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25
The material of the Black Hole is a durable 100% recycled polyester ripstop with a matte, weather-resistant, recycled TPU-film laminate finish. It has a large main compartment, a padded tech sleeve, a zippered mesh interior pocket, a zippered front stash pocket, and a small zippered pocket on the top of the pack for easy access of small items.
More than the features, we appreciate Patagonia’s commitment to reducing environmental impact. The body material, lining, and webbing are made with 100% recycled materials and the pack is made in a Fair Trade Certified factory.
We’re currently testing the Patagonia Black Hole 25L and look forward to updating this guide with our testing notes.
Capacity: 30 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 26, 30 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 1.75 lb.
Larger than the Black Hole 25 and more weather resistant, the Patagonia Refugio 30 is a great adventure travel backpack option for those who prioritize versatility and Patagonia’s design and environmental ethos.
It features a PFAS-free DWR finish, hydration hanger, and bike light clipping for outdoor adventures, as well as tech-friendly features, like a padded tech sleeve, Desk Caddy compartment, and tech-minded interior organization.
Patagonia Refugio 30
All fabrics on the Refugio are made from 100% recycled polyester except the stretchy mesh for the side pockets, which is a 72% recycled nylon and 28% spandex blend. This pack is made in a Fair Trade Certified factory.
While we tested a smaller version of the Refugio in our Best Day Packs for Hiking guide, where it won an award for best school backpack, we’re currently testing the bigger, more travel-friendly Patagonia Refugio 30 and look forward to updating this guide with our testing notes.
Capacity: 40 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 40, 55
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt stows? Yes
Exterior pockets: 4+
Weight: 3.4 lb
The Osprey Fairview 40 is a versatile adventure travel backpack designed specifically for women, with adjustable torso straps, a suspension system, load-lifting LightWire frames, and a breathable harness and hip belt. This pack is spacious for longer trips, well organized, and equipped with outdoor and air travel-friendly features. We’re currently testing this travel backpack and look forward to updating this guide with our testing notes.
Osprey Fairview 40
Capacity: 36 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 30, 36 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt (sold separately)
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 1.7 lb
The ULA Ultra Dragonfly is already an award-winning pack popular with the One Bag travel crowd, a minimalist travel style that involves carrying all belongings in a single backpack. We first encountered this bag in, of all places, a train ride in Japan where we couldn't help but ask its owner, "What is this pack?"
Constructed of Ultra fabric and UltraStretch mesh, this pack’s material construction is super strong and durable, and with a front-loading opening and pockets galore, this pack is designed for both air travel and mountain hikes. They even sell a version with a pass-through sleeve, so you can carry it atop a rolling suitcase.
We're currently testing this pack and are already loving it on our daily walking commute. We can already see why this is one of the most in-demand (and out of stock) bags out there. We will report back soon.
ULA Equipment Ultra Dragonfly
Capacity: 20 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 20 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt (sold separately)
Exterior pockets: 3
Weight: 1.2 lb
We're testing the new ULA Ultra Node, a sleek and compact commuter pack with a minimalist design. Made with Ultra X and UltraStretch mesh, this pack is incredibly durable and tear resistant. It feels like taking the best of a day pack and mixing those features with a commuter pack.
The Ultra Node has a roll-top closure and pockets galore, designed for working professionals and jet setters who may find themselves also exploring the outdoors or in harsh weather conditions. We're currently testing this pack and are already loving it on our daily walking commute. We will report back soon.
ULA Equipment Ultra Node
What to look for in adventure travel backpacks
Capacity
Most travel packs we tested have around 30-40L of capacity, which we found is ideal for long weekends. If you’re a minimalist packer, you may be able to get away with a week of travel in a ~40L pack. If you’re traveling for a weekend, the 30L should do.
However, this is super dependent on the nature of your adventures, too. If your weekend trip involves a lot of gear (e.g. hiking and dressing up for a fancy dinner or a show), you may need a larger bag or better organization. For example, while the author preferred the NEMO Vantage 30L Endless Promise Adventure Daypack over all other packs for most occasions, she opted for the Gregory Border on days she went from work to the crag to climb with friends due to its specific compartment for dirty clothes (useful for climbing shoes, chalk, a harness, etc.).
Size considerations (carry-on compliance)
If you’ll be catching flights, you’ll want to opt for an adventure travel backpack that is carry-on compliant. This compliance varies from country to country, so we recommend looking up the requirements where you’re likely to travel. A standard carry-on size in the US is 22” x 14” x 9”, but it’s a good idea to check with your airline. Some airlines are more strict than others, and some gate agents within airlines are more strict than others.
Weight
If you’ll be carrying your travel pack on your back for long periods of time, you may want to consider weight. While capacity, organization, and comfort are probably more important factors, weight will be a consideration for travelers who will be doing a lot of walking or standing around with their pack on. Our favorite lightweight option is the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry backpack because the pack is ultralight and constructed of extremely durable materials, leading to a longer life in your gear closet. It also has a suspension similar to a backpacking backpack as it is designed for thru-hiking the 500-mile long Camino de Santiago trail.
Comfort
Like with weight, if you’ll be carrying this pack on your back for long periods of time, it's important that the pack is comfortable. Cushioned shoulder straps and back panels go a long way here, as well as breathability and airflow along the back and optional sternum and/or hip straps. This is one way the NEMO Vantage 30L Endless Promise Adventure Daypack stood out from other packs—the cushioned straps and breathable and thoughtfully-designed back panel make this pack the most comfortable full-featured backpack.
Organization and accessibility features
Every pack has its own unique organization and accessibility setup. Some zip open along the top like a traditional backpack, some butterfly-open into two main compartments, some zip down along the front, and some zip almost all the way around (clamshell/D-zip or fillet-style/U-zip access).
Each pack also has different compartment and pocket setups. To choose, we recommend considering your most common use cases and what you want to prioritize. For example, the Peak Design Travel Backpack is great for air travel and work commutes, but doesn’t have a compartment for laundry or shoes, whereas The North Face Base Camp Voyager 35L offers a many compartments you can optimize for for work-to-gym days or adventure travel trips.
Durability for mixed environments
You’ll want a pack made of quality materials that can handle the environments you’ll be traveling in. If you’ll be in the rain a lot, you may want to consider waterproof packs like Six Moon Designs All Day Carry. Otherwise, water-resistant packs like the rest of our winners may do just fine (especially if you add a rain cover to pull out when needed). The REI Ruckpack 30 comes with a rain cover, while others would require a separate purchase.
Quality materials and construction is also important here because the goal is to only buy once (saving you money and keeping things out of the landfill!). Our testers (and the baggage handlers) are not gentle with gear, so we made sure to put these packs through it to ensure durability. This is what made the NEMO Vantage 30L a winner—it’s among the best as far as durability goes, plus it can be fully recycled at the end of its life as part of NEMO’s Endless Promise, making it a sustainable, worthwhile investment.
Adventure-specific features
Some packs offer convenient features for adventure travel, such as removable hip belts and sternum straps, hydration compatibility, carabiners and gear hooks, and easy-to-clean dirty laundry/gear compartments. Others include rain covers or other waterproofing.
Security features for travel
Travel packs may have security features, such as zippers that lock. The Peak Design Travel Backpack, for example, has zipper locks that hold the zippers in place and zippers that can loop together so the compartments don’t zip open. Other packs, like the NEMO Vantage 30L, have hidden pockets where you can stow sensitive items like a passport or wallet.
Versatility for different activities
Each of the adventure travel backpacks we tested shine in different ways and are best for different situations. We appreciate versatile packs that cover as many purposes as possible. Some packs are more rugged and better for outdoor adventures due to their waterproofness or durable construction, whereas others are more sleek and stylish for everyday commuting. Some have more or better organization options than others.
We recommend considering how you plan to use your travel pack and choose the one that offers the best range of uses for you.
Why you should buy an adventure travel backpack
Versatility:
Adventure travel backpacks allow you to use one pack for a variety of scenarios, from air travel to day hikes and everything in between. Unlike travel luggage and hiking backpacks, an adventure travel pack should suit you for more than one purpose.
Comfort advantage:
Another advantage to using a travel pack instead of wheeled luggage is in comfort and ease of travel. We assessed these packs on their comfort over long days of travel, and in some cases we wore them while also lugging around wheeled luggage. In this testing, we found we much preferred navigating transit and long travel days with a comfortable, padded adventure pack rather than traditional luggage. There’s nothing like hopping off a plane and walking with relative ease through crowds without worrying about luggage wheels on cracked sidewalks.
Freedom of movement:
Alongside comfort, the freedom of movement you have while carrying an adventure travel pack rather than traditional luggage is a game changer. Our testers flew to other countries with many of these packs and loved that they could go from the airport, to the hostel, to walking tours, and to hikes and other outdoor activities with everything they needed on their back and their arms free.
Durability
We tested packs with quality materials and construction that could withstand the wear and tear of constant and varied use, like being tossed into cars or overhead bins, thrown to the dirt while crewing an ultramarathon, enduring long bouts of rain in Scotland and the Pacific Northwest, and being sprinkled with dirt and climbing chalk at the crag. A quality adventure travel pack should last for many years.
Organization benefits
A well-organized pack makes going from destination to destination much smoother. Since adventure travel backpacks are designed for both transit and exploration, you can pack, organize, and compartmentalize for both travel and, say, trail access.
Cost efficiency
Another benefit of choosing a travel backpack is in its cost efficiency–rather than purchasing luggage, a commuter bag, and a day hiking pack, you’re getting everything in one. Buying one quality pack that will last you years rather than multiple specialized bags saves you money, space in your closet, and trips to the landfill.
Adventure travel backpacks vs. traditional travel packs
Traditional travel luggage is great for air or car travel in that it is typically durable, has large capacity, and typically has features designed with airports in mind, like locks, wheels, and handles that tuck away. This is great if you only need to get from an airport to a hotel, for example. However, if you’re planning on bopping around cities, walking around for long periods with your luggage, or going straight to an outdoor activity, traditional travel packs are not convenient.
Adventure travel packs, on the other hand, are designed with both travelers’ and adventurers’ needs in mind. That means the packs have many of the same features traditional luggage has–durable construction, handles, straps that tuck away, hidden pockets, and zippers that lock together or tuck away–while also prioritizing comfort on your back, weather resistance, and convenient compartments for outdoor activities. Adventure travel packs, in short, are also designed for movement.
Types of adventure travel backpacks explained
Panel-loading vs. top-loading designs
A panel-loading, or front-loading, backpack works like more traditional luggage in that the main compartment opens up the front of the pack much like a suitcase. The benefit of this is easy access to the entire compartment and not having to dig around to find what you need, provided you have space to do this. This can be less convenient at, say, a crowded coffee shop.
Top-loading designs are more similar to hiking and backpacking backpacks in that you access the main compartment from the top of the pack. While this may mean digging for that one pair of socks that sank to the bottom, it can be more convenient when you’re on the go because you don’t have to spread the pack out as much. For example, while the panel-loading Peak Design Travel Backpack allows for great luggage-like organization, I found it more difficult to use in public because unzipping the main compartment resulted in a front-heavy leaning over and the risk of things falling out if I wasn’t careful.
So, in short, panel-loading or front-loading packs allow for better organization while traveling, whereas top-loading packs are easier for more moving around, whether that’s in from city to city or city to trail.
Some packs have unique compartment designs that don’t fit neatly in either category. The Gregory Border Traveler 30 unzips from the top, along the side, and across the bottom to butterfly open into two large compartments. This turned out to be convenient for travel and adventures that involved more shoes, laundry, or gear, as one compartment held clean clothes and the other held anything dirty.
Convertible vs. dedicated backpack styles
Convertible backpacks are ones that can be worn like traditional backpacks as well as a tote, duffel, messenger bag, and/or at your side like hand-held luggage. This offers more versatility than dedicated backpack styles, which are only worn as a backpack. We recommend a convertible style–like most of the packs we tested–if you’ll be taking your pack on a variety of excursions, especially if that involves air travel.
Carry-on vs. larger capacity options
Carry-on-compatible travel packs are convenient for frequent flyers looking to carry everything they need for short trips without having to check a bag. However, if you’ll be traveling for longer stints more often, are carrying more gear or apparel, or won’t be flying much, you may appreciate a 40-45L pack size.
Women-specific vs. unisex designs
When it comes to backpacks, a women's-specific design typically takes into account larger chest sizes, wider hips, shorter torsos, and more narrow shoulders compared to unisex designs. This isn’t to say women cannot wear unisex packss–our women’s testers found many of the unisex packs to be plenty comfortable–or that men couldn’t carry a women’s-specific pack. We believe in choosing the gear that is most comfortable for you, regardless of gender. We do, however, super appreciate when brands take into account the range of body types who enjoy the outdoors and travel.
The only women’s-specific travel pack we’ve tested is the Osprey Fairview 40L pack, which one of our women’s testers appreciated for its adjustable torso and load-lifting frame.
Budget vs. premium feature differences
We tested some adventure travel backpacks with really cool features we loved. However, you don’t need a fancy, expensive pack to enjoy adventure travel. Budget packs, like the REI Ruckpack 30, may not have the fancy zippers and leather features of the Peak Design Travel Backpack, or the ergonomic and breathable back panel design of the NEMO Vantage 30, but it’s still an effective adventure travel backpack.
If your budget allows for premium features, though, we recommend thinking about what you’ll be using your pack for most and what might be most important to you. If you’ll be doing a lot of air travel, zipper locking, stowable straps, carry-on compatibility, and a convertible design may be worth investing in. If you’ll be wearing your pack for long periods while traveling around cities or day hiking, strap comfort, back panel cushion and breathability, and multiple compartments/pockets may be your priorities. If you’ll be using this pack more in the outdoors than inside or in transit, waterproofness, hydration compatibility, lightweight materials, and gear-oriented compartments are likely more important to you.
Packing tips for adventure travel backpacks
A huge benefit of adventure travel backpacks is how easy they make it to move from transit, lodging, and activities. This also tends to correlate with less packing space. Here is our advice for making the most of your backpack’s organization and capacity.
1. Select multi-use items
The first step is to consider how you can make the most of what you’re packing by choosing versatile clothing and gear options to save space. Clothing may be the easiest way to do this. We love clothing that works well for our adventures (e.g., is breathable, durable, moisture-wicking, and comfortable) and can be dressed up for days in town.
For example, the author often packs clothing from brands like Royal Robbins, Paka, Cotopaxi, and Fjallraven because their clothing tends to operate in both the outdoor and lifestyle realms. For shoes, she’ll pack shoes she feels comfortable both walking around town in and going for a run in.
2. Use Compression Straps
Stowing your items as small as possible will go a long way in allowing you to pack everything you need. Depending on the design of your pack, you can either utilize the compartments or use packing cubes to tighten your space (and, as a bonus, keep yourself more organized). For example, small interior mesh pockets may be great for socks and underwear. Folding or rolling your clothing in a packing cube will keep them as small as possible.
Another related strategy is to pack from largest to smallest: that is, place your larger items in the backpack first, then tuck in smaller items where you see room. It’s like a game of tetris and gets easier with practice.
3. Think about Accessibility
Once you get your compression technique down, the next consideration is which items you’ll need easy access to at different points in your trip. For example, at the airport you will want easy (to you, not to others) access to your wallet and passport (hidden exterior pockets are great for this), and perhaps your water bottle, book, phone, and snacks. Depending on your TSA situation, you may want easy access to your electronics and liquids at that point in the trip.
If commuting to work, you may want easy access to your laptop. On the trail: hydration, snacks, phone, camera, binoculars, or whatever your adventure entails.
Since you’ll be packing relatively light, you may find yourself repacking at different points in the journey to optimize accessibility. Like with everything, this takes practice (but we think this is part of the fun!).
Care and maintenance tips
Your adventure travel backpack is likely to get dirty. Most packs are made from easy-to-clean materials and may just need to be wiped off with a towel. We recommend checking the manufacturer’s care instructions for specific cleaning instructions. If it has spent time on a baggage carousel, you may need to wipe around some scuffs and do some spot cleaning.
After an adventure, it's a good idea to check your backpack for any issues. Zippers, pockets, and anywhere materials meet can be particularly prone to damage. You may be able to make easy fixes yourself, while some brands will fix or replace parts for you.
In general, these packs are durable and can withstand a lot of tossing around and use. If you can hang your pack on a hook when not in use, that is the one of the best ways to keep it in good condition, but it should be fine just about anywhere as long as it’s not encountering sharp things that could tear it or tight spaces that may deform the shape or compromise the design.
FAQ
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The adventure travel packs we tested range from 25-45 L in capacity. We found 30L to work well for weekend trips, and 40–45L to work well for up to a week of travel, depending on how you pack. This is, of course, dependent on what you’ll be packing—winter clothing and shoes take up more space than summer clothing, for example. If your trips often involve outdoor activities and more formal occasions, you may need more room to accommodate everything you’ll need.
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Most adventure travel backpacks work well for day hikes, but may be too small for backpacking trips. These packs have tech compartments and are designed more for travel rather than backcountry use. So while travel packs are great for their versatility, we wouldn’t recommend them for regular backpacking use. Instead, opt for a lightweight backpacking backpack for your overnight outdoor adventures.
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Most packs we tested are carry-on compliant. Some packs are not advertised as carry-on compliant, but we were able to get away with it. If you’ll be flying frequently, we recommend selecting a travel pack that specifically states it is carry-on compliant.
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Our testers have each honed their own packing skills. Some of the strategy comes down to the organization options your pack provides, but here are a few key philosophies.
Lay out everything you think you’ll need ahead of time. Over the course of the day, slowly remove items as you realize you won’t need them (this also gives you time to consider what you might have forgotten you’ll need, too).
Compartmentalize your clothing in a way that makes sense to you, like keeping undergarments together in one compartment. Packing cubes can be helpful if your pack doesn’t have many separate compartments.
Dedicate a compartment or cube to shoes and/or dirty laundry. This is important if you’ll be doing something like hiking—you don’t want dirt from your socks to get on the nice shirt you were going to wear for dinner, for example.
Versatility is the name of the game. Shoes you feel comfortable walking in all day, going for runs in, and wearing with casual clothes helps with keeping your pack light. Clothes you can wear for a variety of occassions—like a hiking dress you can wear on the trail and dress up in town—also helps.
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Adventure travel packs are designed for a variety of travel scenarios, like work commutes, air travel, and long days walking around. Unlike hiking backpacks, they have tech compartments. However, because they’re usually durable, weather resistant, and relatively comfortable and lightweight, they can also work for day hikes.
Hiking backpacks, however, are designed solely with hiking in mind. This means the organization, materials, and features are meant to cater to hikers and backpackers, such as hydration compatibility, comfortable hip belts and sternum straps, and a greater consideration for light weight. While adventure travel packs may also have some of the same qualities, they tend to be a bit heavier and not fully designed with hikers in mind.
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Some adventure travel packs are waterproof, like the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry, while others are water resistant and can withstand light rain for a little bit. If you’ll be carrying your pack in the rain frequently, it may be a good idea to add a rain cover.
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A quality adventure travel backpack can range from about $100 to nearly $400, depending on what features, materials, organization, and construction you opt for. Our Best Budget option, the REI Ruckpack 30, costs $109 and is an effective option for those looking to keep costs down.
For those willing and able to spend a little more for more premium features and design, the NEMO Vantage 30L costs $230 and offers significant comfort, durable construction, and thoughtful organization. The Six Moon Designs All Day Carry 35L costs $335 and is made of ultralightweight and durable materials with backpacking and outdoor-oriented features.
We recommend setting a budget and deciding which features are important to you.
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You can! Adventure travel backpacks hover around the ideal size for a trek like the Camino de Santiago–about 30–45L. Our top choice, if it fits in your budget, is the Six Moon Designs All Day Carry.
This pack comes in 35L and 45L sizes, is ultralight, and is made of incredibly strong, durable, and UV and water-resistant material. The pockets and features are designed and placed with hikers who may be flying to their destination in mind, like the clam shell opening, easy inner straps to cinch down packing cubes, easy-to-adjust harness, carry-on compatibility, easy access to phone, and a secret pouch with an airtag holder.
How we researched and tested
Our testers tested these travel backpacks on their adventures across the globe over the last year.
We tested them in:
the Scottish Highlands
Ireland and Northern Ireland
the Netherlands
Japan
Mexico
In the US: Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York.
We took them on adventure travel trips that included hiking, biking, surfing, swimming, kayaking, and rappelling. They accompanied us on day hikes, city explorations, road trips, climbing meetups, sightseeing tourist destinations, plein air art festivals, before thru-hikes, and work-to-gym-to-happy-hour days.
We took them on a four-state book tour, to conferences, and week-long work site visits as well as camping trips, ski trips, and family reunions.
While we traveled and adventured with these packs, we tested their durability, convenience and accessibility, organization, weather resilience, and how they performed across an array of trip and transit types. Our testers shared feedback with each other so we could determine which pack was best for various scenarios or qualities that matter to adventure travelers.
Why you should trust us / About the author
Photo by Jon Rudolph
Becca Downs spends a lot of time on the go, from weekend trips on the road to backpacking trips in the mountains, from adventure travel abroad to visiting friends around the country, she’s accustomed to constant packing, unpacking, and repacking. Over the last couple years, she’s tested many travel packs in a variety of settings: commutes from work to trail runs or climbing sessions to happy hour, overnight trips in Colorado mountain towns, crewing an ultra in Mexico, spending a week adventuring around Ireland, and much more.
Becca also ran D1 cross country and track for Indiana University—Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) and continued racing everything from elite miles to ultramarathons in her post-collegiate years. She earned a USATF Level 1 certification and coached boys and girls high school cross country and track in Indianapolis for four years. Becca then joined the IUPUI women’s distance coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 2020-2021. Her years as an athlete and a coach included a lot of travel.
She geeks out on trail running, track and field, and cries every time she watches a marathon (they’re just so beautiful!). After notching a few small FKTs under her belt in 2020, she was diagnosed with hip arthritis and now channels her passion for running into coaching, writing, creating training plans for her friends, hiking, snowshoeing, and running when her hip allows it.
You can read more of Becca's work at her website or on her author page.
