20 Best Women’S Backpack For Travel (2023 Updated)

I just got back from a 2 month traveling and farming trip throughout a couple states in the US. I brought this pack on trains, planes and buses. I found the zip-able backpack straps extremely helpful when checking the bag in at the airport (this bag was too large to have as a carry on for my airline) and convenient when I wanted to just carry the bag as a duffel.

I really like the space of this backpack, but after traveling with it, I think I am leaning towards retuning it for a different Osprey “backpacking” backpack. This backpack is very luggage- like. After my experience, I find myself wanting more pockets and functions for storage and organization as opposed to the giant cavity that the main pack (40 L) opens up to- like a suitcase.

Overall, convent and spacious, but felt like luggage on my back as opposed to the type of traveling/ backpacking backpack I’m in search for now. Fabric and zippers feel very durable and I really liked the small clip that secures the daypack onto the large pack after you zip the small on.

Would recommend this to a friend, but it definitely depends on your intentions with the pack. I was able to pack 25 pounds.

I absolutely love this backpack! I bought it to backpack through Europe for two weeks. Through the trip I learned how to pack it better and found it to be much more roomier than what I originally thought.

For flying, I had no issues taking it as a carry on (as long as you remove the day pack, I had the big bag on my back, and the little one in front). I flew Delta, KLM, Air France, and British Airways.

British Airways was the only one that actually made me check the dimensions and they still let me through. Highly recommend this backpack for traveling! And I was actually surprised at how much I liked the day pack.

Not to big, not too small, perfect for day adventures through a city.

I was originally going to buy the Ozone Duplex but after reading some reviews, decided against it and tried this one instead. I’m glad I did because I have no complaints about this one. I’ve used this backpack for 2 trips now and absolutely love it.

I used it for a 2 night road trip as well as a 4 day getaway. It fits plenty of clothes for a short trip. I haven’t used it for anything longer but could see it working for 2 weeks- 1 month if you pack light, use a 5-4-3-2-1 method, and/ or packing cubes.

It was SUPER convenient as a carry-on. I connected the 2 packs together while we got through security so I could just wear it as backpack and then once at our gate, when it was close to boarding time, zipped the daypack off to stow under my seat.

I had packed things I wanted to have handy during the flight in the small bag (chap stick, passport, a book, snacks, water, etc) and everything else in the larger bag. I put the cover on over the straps of the big pack to make it nice and neat to put in the overhead bin.

It fit in the overhead bin perfectly, even in a small plane we were on. We were never questioned about the size of it. My husband has the “men’s version” of this pack and also loved it. We used the small day pack a lot while out sight-seeing.

It’s the perfect size to pack your water, a jacket, snacks, and/or small things you buy while out and about.

I wanted to love this pack, I travel for business and my wife has a pack with a detachable day pack. I, being the habitual 1up’r, wanted one with a little more room and a more comfortable day pack. On paper this pack was the one.

In real life it was not. The day pack was good. But the ergonomics of the straps and the ability to access things was horrific. When trying to fully access the pack you must always detach various clips, no matter if it is fully together or just the day pack alone.

I will say that it seems to be well made and I would speculate it is durable, I will never know. The frustration with this pack is in-excusable, stay away, dont give it a chance. If you do, order something else along with it.

I ended up with a Thule Landmark and love it.

The backpack is very well designed, the place of the pockets and the zippers are very convenient. It’s a good backpack if you’re not going to fill it to maximum capacity. The only flaw is that it’s a bit heavy to carry when attaching the two bags together on your back.

So if you don’t put too many stuff in both bags, it won’t look too big to carry on your back. But like that maybe some other 65l bags may be more spacious. Otherwise, if you really stuff both bags, you’ll have to carry them separately.

Amd the strap for the bag to carry on your shoulder is not very comfortable.

but it’s not well-executed. I bought this bag for an extended-duration, multi-flight work trip. This trip required me to pack two large checked bags, have a day pack while there, and pack enough stuff in my carry-on to be able to report to duty if my luggage was delayed.

In theory, the Ozone Duplex was the perfect bag- hands-free for handling luggage, small enough daypack to be manageable at work, and big enough carry-on for boots, a full change of clothes, and all my toiletries, meds, etc.

However, once it was fully-loaded, some critical flaws exposed themselves. The good: Hands-free through multiple airports; Durable and high quality- it still looks new, 10,000 miles later. The bad: -The frame necessary to carry both the backpack and carry-on means that the backpack isn’t very “squishable” under plane seats, no matter how empty it is.

-Access to the main compartment of the backpack is on the back, adjacent to the straps. The load lifters have to be disconnected every time you access the main compartment. -The shape of the backpack that is necessary to accomodate the carry-on means that it packs oddly and things tend to sink to the bottom.

The main compartment needs to be opened halfway or better to access the contents, making them prone to spilling -When connected, the weight is far away from your core, making it feel heavier than it is.

-Attaching the carry-on is about impossible if the backpack is full. The bulk of the backpack volume is near the bottom, which only exacerbates the problem. In hindsight, I should have bought a Fairview 40 and packed a small backpack (think REI Flash 18) inside it or inside my checked bag.

Quite a bit cheaper and less hassle. I appreciate that Osprey’s designers have tackled this travel challenge, but this is the first Osprey product to disappoint me. REI, can I return it?.

I love the new water resistant durable material. I have owned the Vera Bradley bags in the past. The ones made of fabric do not last. I’m glad this new material was created. I love the floral prints, since I am 37 years old, I have noticed there are not many color options for mature older women.

The floral prints seem to fit more younger women so, I have to go with the black. I would have liked, to see more solid colors or more mature flower patterns. I almost went with the dark green with flowers but, decided on the black for that reason.

I would have liked to see maybe solid dark green, burgundy, brown, or solid sea blue. Some kind of color combination like that or more solids. Please make color options patterns for mature women, as well as younger girls.

I would have also like to have seen a compartment lined with insulation for food, but the sunglasses pocket can be used for that. Thanks for this awesome bag!.

I was weary of this backpack at first because many other reviews said it was smaller than expected, and I needed a backpack that could hold a lot and provide organization as I commute by bus to work and I have to bring all my work materails and laptop home every day.

but I couldn’t stop thinking about this backpack so I got it anyways, and I am so glad I did! The laptop pocket fits my (chunky) work laptop and a padfolio/folder or two with papers in in very well, the main compartment has wonderful organization and holds my 32oz waterbottle, a few notebooks, my laptop charger, a pencil bag, and a handful of other misc things (and still has room!), the larger front pocket is great for odds and ends like pens, keys, makeup bag, etc.

, and the smallest pocket on the front is as deep as my hand! I can fit my chapstifck, lipstick, ear buds, pill compartment, sunglasses, and so much more in there! Overall, I love my backpack and the support (and comfort!!) it gives my back, even with so much weight in it.

The side pockets don’t really fit anything over a slender water bottle (20oz or less, I’d guess), but is perfect for an umbrella or travel coffee mug. I’ve recommended this backpack to fellow commuting work friends.

This is my first Tumi piece. It is the perfect size to carry on while traveling. It is sleek, smart and stylish for a woman to carry. I really like the cell phone pocket on the side, and I wish one side had a water bottle holder as well.

That would make it convenient to fill up a travel bottle once getting through gate security. On my first trip with this backpack a lady next to me spilled apple juice on it. UGH! It wiped right up and did not stain in any way.

My only complaint is that the zippers seem to get stuck, and I feel like at this price range the zippers should flow smoothly. I wish the store we bought this at had had the black quilted version! Overall, I am satisfied in this purchase.

Bought my bag in a store so I can see before buying. I’m using my backpack as a diaper bag for daily use and I already love it. The adjustable straps have the ends folded in, which I love so no dangling things! The bag is super light weight, but no support or padding.

I didn’t mind at all. I love the pouch it fits in. I use it for my personal stuff when using the backpack as a diaper bag. The front pocket is huge! Perfect for my small wallet and iphone plus. The only thing I wish was that the straps were a little thicker.

I pack lightly so it doesn’t dig in my shoulders. But if I was to add a full water bottle, I’m sure it would get uncomfortable.

I have a few comments about the “gendered” backpack discussion point raised by an earlier reviewer. First off, I’m a field archaeologist and I have to be able to depend on good, rugged outdoor gear for my fieldwork.

And like that reviewer, I get annoyed when the “Women’s” version of a product is made of wimpier material, or cut in ways that make us look cute but restrict our movement. Puhleeze, folks, treat women like grownups! HOWEVER, that’s not what’s going on with this backpack.

The material is just as rugged, the engineering just as good as the Men’s version. It’s just they have made this backpack to fit a woman’s back. For years I had neck and back pain because I was using backpacks designed for a male frame.

My shoulders are narrow and I’m short in the torso. Those other backpacks just never sat right. TNF Women’s backpacks are designed for a female frame, not for the Incredible Hulk, and I sure appreciate it! The volume may be slightly less, but I can carry more weight in the TNF Women’s Recon than in other standard-sized packs, because the weight is distributed where it needs to be.

Women who are lucky enough to have broader shoulders or a long torso can go shop in the Men’s section if that’s what fits them, but I am so grateful that this sizing exists for folks like me. Thank you! A final word, I liked the distribution of pockets in the old Recon better than this new version.

The sunglasses-or-phone small zip in the old recon was hugely helpful, and I liked the laptop sleeve rather than a separate laptop compartment. And the external pockets for water bottles and stuff were better on the old Recon.

Eliminating the lower portion of the area below the mini-pouches also is not helpful – that’s where I stick stuff that I don’t need often, but don’t want to lose. So I’m not a fan of the recent pocket redesign.

it looks more streamlined for city folks, but functionality for fieldworkers is not as good.

I purchased my Surge backpack becuase I had bought one for my son during the spring. I really liked his, so bought one for myself for travel and graduate school. My son is 6’4″ and built like a football player so it fits him well.

I’m 5’3″ and mine fits me well too, even though it’s big. It’s a physically big backpack so be prepared for that. The back is very firm and does not bend but that seems to be for the wearer’s back support.

I’m able to easily fit my MacBook Air comfortably in the computer sleeve, and could probably comfortably fit a Pro. There’s also a sleeve for an iPad. The bottom expands to make the bag wider. A cool feature is the front side pockets.

They seem as though they would only hold a small amount, but they’re deceiving since they hold incredible amounts and don’t bulge out. Overall, it’s a good backpack. I ordered it in the wild ginger heather color since I wanted something different.

It’s a pretty color. I’ve already been asked 2x where I purchased this color from and I let them know it’s from the website. Also, I purchased the Never Stop Crossbody bag in wild ginger to match. That way, when I’m wearing the backpack, and the crossbody at the same time, I don’t have to worry about colors clashing.

Overall, a good backpack and glad that I purchased.

I used a North Face backpack when I was in school and I still have it today (20 years later). We bought this for our child going into the 6th grade. After one week of use, we would return this if we could.

The zipper pull on the main compartment has already broken. Once the string for the pull is broken, it is impossible to use the zipper. We had to quickly make a new pull for the bag to replace the one that was broken so she could use the bag.

The chest strap will not stay connected to the shoulder strap. This was something our child wanted on the bag as it greatly adds to the comfort of using the bag for her, but this design is useless. This strap has popped off twice in the first week of usage, luckily we have not lost it yet, but it is probably a matter of time.

The capacity of the bag is overstated, there are other 30L bags that provide a lot more usable room. My child barely has enough room in the bag for 2 spiral note books (5 subject) and one three ring binder (1.

5″) in the main compartment. If the school gives her textbooks there is no way that we can continue using this bag to carry what she needs for one day. This might be ok for elementary school, but I would not recommend for anything above that.

As a user of various North Face products over the years, I expected a better product. I will be very hesitant to pay the premium prices for North Face products again.

I am very happy with the sight. Easy to install, just make sure you read the instructions and try not to hurry. Was instructed to install a small knob, had to tape in to the outside of the housing so it would stay in place while I put the two haves together.

Easy alignment of the sight, works just fine. Be sure not to cross thread the cap that hols the batteries in.

Does exactly what it says it will do. Thank you

worked and fit perfect

Great design. I especially love the detachable daypack as well as the cover over the straps to make the backpack more streamlined when going through the airport. On the plane my backpack serves as a carry-on and the daypack as my personal item.

It’s also durable. In the last 4 years I’ve used this backpack for both backpacking hikes and travels abroad, and it has held up well — it still looks new! Perfect fit. I’m petite at 5’3″ and it fits my waist and shoulders securely.

I also adore the rainforest green color!.

This is my second TUMI backpack. My first one was still functional when given up but the black color was fading after almost 10 years in the Arizona desert environment. My first backpack was a bit smaller and unable to carry much more in the way of electronics than a standard size iPad.

The Hilden Voyageur can handle my 13” MacBook Air + some other stuff with no problem. Like all the extra compartments and there is nothing on the outside that can fall out because all compartments are zipped.

Two key chains are nice to have as well. My old one did not have. The light blue leather accents make it look very attractive. I would definitely purchase TUMI products again, they are a bit pricey but worth the extra in the long run!.

This one is a miss for me. I have the Tumi Sheryl tote in black nylon which I love. However, I travel a lot for work and I’ve been wanting a backpack style for airports. This bag is just an inch too small in just about every way.

My work-issued Surface Pro and regular iPad both fit together in the laptop sleeve so that was fine, but I would be limited on the size of any future laptop purchase if I wanted to still use this bag.

All other pockets are generally too small to be functional. I can just barely fit the bare travel essentials such as my a thin wrap scarf that I take for chilly airplanes. My iPhone 12 Max with slim case does fit in the top pocket but there is no extra space, meaning I have to use two fingers only to grab it out.

Same with the side back pocket. It’s quite small and can only fit my phone if I put it at the exact right angle going in and coming out. For security purposes I like to keep my phone and wallet in the back hidden pockets but that’s just not practical with this bag.

Others have commented on the water bottle sleeve and I agree. Too small to be functional. My bottle fits in the sleeve but I can’t get it out of the side zip so it can’t be accessed without opening the main compartment.

I was thinking about using that pocket for my wallet, but I’ve decided that there are just too many negatives and I plan to return it. The pros: the lily indigo color is gorgeous, although the gold bling is just ever so slightly too much for my taste.

The quality is top notch as expected from Tumi. The straps were comfortable for me. Improvements needed: Slightly larger. Need something between this size and the Carson. Also the Carson colors and style are a little too generic.

Bigger, more functional pockets. Would have preferred the back luggage sleeve to have a zippered bottom and magnetic-close top to use as a secure pocket when not needed for luggage. Functional water bottle sleeve.

Need a larger, elastic interior pocket for laptop charger. My Sheryl tote is also lacking this and my charger just has to be loose in the bottom of the main compartment as the other pockets are too small with tight openings.

If you are petite and/or looking for more of a daypack instead of a work travel bag, this might be a great bag for you.

As a frequent traveler, I observe what luggage other travelers frequently use also. I had another popular backpack, but it was just too large for my petite frame. One of my coworkers recommended getting a Tumi backpack instead.

After eyeing all the available colors, I really liked how the turquoise one stands out from all the black, grey and navy out there. I’m really glad I was able to get it on clearance sale as a souvenir from a special vacation.

I’m still able to fit everything that went into my larger backpack, without taking as much space on me. In addition, on some of the smaller planes, I do not have any problems fitting my new Carson under the seat in front of me.

This is the perfect bag for business & pleasure. The slimmer, smaller profile for women hugs my body better and makes it easier to manage. I like the clamshell design that blends backpack and suitcase elements; it is easier to organize than a top loader.

The laptop slot is in an optimal position against your back- having the heaviest item against my body gives me better balance and stability. The fabric is thin, yet strong and flexible, without a lot of padding to weigh you down.

The sternum straps & shoulder straps adjust easily and they can be stowed away so you can convert it from a backpack to a carrying case. The larger compartments and efficiency of space are very useful.

I was able to pack two full size pillows during my “bulkiness test” and it still had room without feeling awkward, the expansion is great. There is a packing cube you can use for dirty laundry or shoes, which comes in handy.

I appreciate the NFC capability as an added safety measure in case I misplace it during travel. In all, the Avanti Carry On is versatile, lightweight, and combines function, form, & aesthetics. Deuter did a wonderful job of making a hybrid bag for women on the go.

I would highly recommend this to city travelers, business professionals, and weekend warriors.

What I love: The material is thicker than Osprey Fairview, hence perhaps it is a bit more durable. I am using this for traveling and as a carry-on on flights. The size is a little bit too big for carry-on, but I got lucky and haven’t been refused yet.

I know it would be safer to downsize to 40L, but I need the extra space. Osprey Fairview is taller than this bag, and will most likely get refused to be on the airplane. What can be improved: I feel the shoulder straps are not wide enough.

They could be a bit wider. And the material of the straps isn’t comfortable enough. It is not a comfortable backpack once the pack is loaded with heavy stuff. However, since this is only used for traveling not hiking, I think I can endure this small flaw.

This is an amazing bag for a long weekend of exploring and adventuring. The computer sleeve is super handy and the wide access zipper makes unpacking unbelievably easy. I love the organization internally as well.

Like all deuter packs, it’s super comfortable to carry (or run to my gate with LOL) and I’ve even managed to sneak it on as my “Carry On” with some budget airlines as it can be weaseled under the seat.

I have the Osprey Porter Travel Pack but I have really bad shoulder problems and thought I should switch over to roller bag, but still wanted the capability of on the back as I do a lot of adventure travel too, but that this could also work for work travel as well (the dark purple adds flare without being over the top).

-SPACE: The other reviews are accurate, that because of the shoulder strap design it does decrease cargo space however, I still find that the 36L is plenty of space – I was able to pack for 2 weeks (though about 4-5 days worth of clothing), including some camping gear (a sleeping bag) and multiple coats and fit between this and the 20L daylight daypack backpack.

I still think its plenty spacious for most flying travel if you’re not doing trekking of course which it’s not designed for and if you pack smart. If you are not checking the bag you can totally stuff extra coats in the area where the backpack straps tuck into to expand cargo.

Plus I have shoulder problems so this helped me pack light anyways. -BACKPACK DESIGN: The backpack straps and suspension I am really actually impressed with for a pack that’s not primarily designed for back wear — it’s way more comfortable than the Osprey Porter shoulder straps because it has the suspension/ventilation part and the padding on the straps is better.

-DURABILITY: I’ve taken it so far on planes and boats and is great – I checked it once on a plane and it held up fine. The satellite wheeler is a little more flimsy than a 2 rod design but I feel confident in Osprey’s lifetime warranty if I were to ever have an issue.

Also this bag attracts lint and cat hair like CRAZY. It gets dirty very easily but mostly because things stick to it.

I did lots of research and chose this pack for the capacity and the fact that it is sized for women with smaller torsos and narrower shoulders than the average man. I like all of these things and the pack is very comfy in those regards.

We are going to Patagonia and also on an Antarctica cruise. I will have high quality heavy camera gear so I bought this pack so I can trek around Patagonia or go see penguins on the ice with all my gear.

However I am amazed and disappointed that the waist straps are so short, that they won’t reach if I have some warmer clothing layers or a parka on. I will need warm clothes where i am going. I can only do the waist strap up with summer clothes and a light jacket.

I am not skinny but not particularly fat either and rather petit. These straps were not a fluke as we checked others in the store. I reached out to Osprey with the “Almighty Warranty” (NOT) and they are not shipping to Canada at this time or doing warranty work (WHAT??) So it was on my time and my dime to try and cobble up some longer straps for a $200+ dollar back pack.

So unless you never plan to go where you need some layered clothes and a warm jacket, or are as skinny as a rake, beware of those waist straps. Very disappointed in this as the cost to make them a couple inches longer would be minimal or non existent and it wouldn’t affect the function of the pack at all if they were pulled tighter on a person.

I paid a premium for this back pack and it has a major fixable flaw in the design.

The first thing I noticed about this bag is that it is very lightweight. It has both wheels and backpack straps and meets most carry-on requirements for international travel. I bought this as a carry-on so I don’t have to lug a backpack in the airport, or up stairs in subway and train stations in Europe.

The zippers are solid (though are not lockable), the pack has cinch straps in all the places I wanted them, and if you don’t want to use the hip straps in backpack mode, you can clip them back so they cover the wheels and aren’t flapping at your sides.

Negatives: – I have had convertible backpack/ pullman packs before; this one is lighter but it has a more cumbersome conversion from pullman to backpack- it takes a minute longer to put the backpack straps on, and longer if you want to cover the wheels by clipping the hip straps back to the front of the pack.

– The other spot where it loses some functionality for me is the single bar pull handle. With 2 bars, you can slide a bag with a pass-thru over the handle and it stays in place. With a single bar, the bag just keeps slipping around.

Keeping those 2 things in mind, and the fact that I have not used it in real life yet, at this point, it seems like the best available on the market for a convertible backpack/ wheeled carry-on sized bag.

You get what you pay for. It’s pricey but impressive- a lot of bang for your buck.

I was first introduced to Peak Design’s luggage lineup by their monster-sized 65L Duffelpack. Its innovative features and cargo capacity have made it useful for long and short work trips alike. When I needed a new dedicated carry-on backpack, I chose to buy this pack because of my satisfaction with its massive sibling, and it doesn’t disappoint.

At its smallest setup, it holds 35L and is compact enough for daily use. When fully expanded, it holds 45L while still remaining easy to transport. In its standard configuration, it holds 40L. Personally, I’ve found the standard configuration to be the most convenient.

In this mode, the bag will hold three units of Peak Design packing accessories and meet most airlines’ carry-on restrictions. As far as build quality, it’s up to Peak Design standards. The material is a thick and water-resistant nylon canvas.

The stitching is sturdy, and the handles feel rock solid. If I had one complaint, it would be that the shoulder straps aren’t foam-padded, but this is a small trade-off for their ability to fold into the bag and reduce its footprint.

On a recent trip, I loaded this bag with a camera cube and a packing cube, then used the free space at the top for bulkier items. I had room for four days’ worth of work and evening clothes, plus my SLR and lenses.

Traveling with this bag was a joy; the side zippers made it easy to access my gear quickly, and the fold-in straps made overhead bin stowage a breeze. I’m happy to say that this bag effortlessly matches the quality of its bigger brother.

This backpack has so many features that you can’t even really quantify them all in a single review like this one. Thankfully, Peak Design provides a very helpful video to explain and show all of what this thing can do.

It doesn’t feel nearly as large as it is when you’re wearing it, but it has a voracious appetite for gear. And the versatility is absolutely inasane! You can configure this backpack to haul just about anything and in most cases, I would reach for it before I look at my carryon spinner.

The strap design makes it super comfortable to wear, even when you have a really long walk. Also, it’s built to extremely high quality standards to ensure years of trouble-free use. It’s not the cheapest backpack for sure, but you’ll have no regrets about buying it and you will get your money’s worth.

I bought this bag back in 2017, meaning I’ve been using it for the past 5 years. Granted, during quarantine I was not using it at all, but I’ve brought this bag on 4 week long backpacking trips around the UK, a 2 week trip to Japan and just week trips to Mexico, everywhere.

I love the detachable day pack, such a great detail about this bag tbh. I’ve never checked in bag since buying this one. The main bag fits perfectly in the overhead bins and I’ve never been stopped by any of the workers for it being too big.

The day pack acts as my personal item and I board easily. I was only stopped once when coming back from Mexico for not being allowed to have 2 bags so I simply put the stuff in the day pack into the main bag and attached it.

The workers were definitely not happy lol because they wanted that money, but the looks on their faces was hilarious because they were not expecting that. All this to say, this bag is a great investment if you travel a lot and don’t check in bags.

Originally, I was between this and the duffel because I wasn’t sure if this was allowed as a carry on but I’m glad I went with this because there’s more space and walking around for hours with a backpack is a lot more comfortable than walking around with a duffel.

Also, the zipper on the front of the main bag that allows for you to view everything inside is great. No more digging around backpacks and dumping everything out.

I’ve been on a mad hunt for the perfect backpack—comfortable straps, padded backing, water bottle compartment, sunglasses compartment, laptop compartment, pockets for organization, professional look (but not black and boring), doesn’t get dirty ridiculously easy, a handle that doesn’t whack my neck when I walk, good quality & quiet zippers, excess strap tie back, big enough (to carry a notebook, 1” binder, a textbook, a light jacket, some snacks, a 13” laptop, a 24oz water bottle, and a few other small essentials)—yes, I’m being picky about it! I want something that I can use for grad school, short trips, and someday for a diaper bag.

And yes, this backpack checks all these boxes, buuuut it’s simply too big for my 5’3” frame. It’s seriously been a struggle, and I’m very sick of purchasing and returning backpacks, but the hunt continues… The materials are nice on the inside and out—I love the stretch mesh pockets on the inside.

This pack doesn’t hurt my back, as many others have while carrying a heavy load. If you’re tall and want a spacious bag, then this is perfect for you. Bellroy is an expensive brand, yes, but that’s just the way it is nowadays if you want anything that’s decent quality.

Definitely have a pal measure how long your back is and compare that to the dimensions of this pack and any others your looking at.

I own several Bellroy things, and love their design and quality. Confusingly, though, depending on the color the fabric can be really different. I liked the LOOK of the Lunar type, but the fabric was not the best.

I much prefer the black, smoother fabric.

I bought this for my wife and she’s very happy with the look and features. She’s 5’4” and the height of the pack appears to fit her torso well. A waist belt, even if optional, might be useful, but probably not necessary for this 28L size.

Nicely done.

This is just about the most pack one can comfortably handle without getting load lifters above your shoulders with a rigid frame. For everything from a challenging half-day to 36-48 hours out this pack is perfect.

Works decently well for airline travel too as a carry-on. The absolute miracle here though is that the pack is so light for its size, comfortable, airy, and compresses so well that I want to use it for most of my regular day hiking as well.

Compressed, with a low weight, it feels nimble and body-hugging like the best daypacks for the sake of weighing just a couple ounces more than minimalist packs that you will never notice on such a comfortable suspension.

And you get great features (big usable belt pockets foremost) and a level of durability that you’re unlikely to find on a smaller capacity daypack. The only time I don’t want to pick it up is when I feel like I’d look silly wearing a large-ish, hip-belted pack on a highly trafficked local trail, or I’m really only going to be out long enough to need liter or two of water and a jacket.

Although really, in a muted color and compressed, this pack can look as sleek as many. Having used much lighter packs that were always a compromise in some way, and heavier, more luxurious models that were never worth the extra weight, I’m a little mad at myself that I didn’t give this pack a try earlier in my “career”.

My only gripes are that as much as I appreciate having a brain instead of zippers or a roll-top, it is permanently attached on the shoulder strap side, and can look a little disheveled when the pack is compressed.

(You can loop bungee the pole holders together to meet in the middle and hold it down for a tidier look. ) It’d be great to be able to fit a foam sleeping pad beneath a floating brain for overnights instead of being limited to just smaller items like jackets.

I’ve been a big fan of Osprey packs since the beginning, owning 7 different ones over the years. With this model, the size is just what I was looking for, and I appreciated the adjustable torso length.

I can’t understand why they designed a ‘fast and light’ style pack like this with placement of the side water bottle pockets which makes them impossible to reach while hiking. They could have added a side entrance to those pockets, as they do on the Aether and Atmos models.

The tiny, weird pocket on the shoulder strap also seems pretty useless, and a waste of valuable space that could have been used for a larger, stretch pocket which could actually hold a smartphone or GPS.

The hip belt pockets were decent in size, but also placed strangely far back on the belt, and extending the hip belt padding another inch or so forward would have been more comfortable as well. I unfortunately got the black model, which is entirely black, including all belts and buckles, making them impossible to see or find in dim light.

Making them a contrasting lighter color would make sense. I would also liked to have seen the top lid be both ‘floating’ and removable, rather than sewn on.

I’ve used this for two semesters of post-grad now, in all weather conditions. The drink pockets suck, but I’ve gotten around that by using bottles that have carrying handles, so that I can strap them in.

The laptop pouch performs well and protects my laptop. I have to carry a lot of stuff, including many books and lunch, and this is where it kind of falls even more. There’s a pouch on the top portion of the big pocket, so if you put anything in that (pens, etc) is cuts into the only space where you would be carrying books, lunch, notebooks.

I feel like that’s a big design flaw. Additionally, I have had two classes that use those stupid loose leaf books that you have to put in your own binder – this pack is filled very quickly by a binder and doesn’t want to hold much else after that.

It’s like a tiny bit narrow. It seems like too much space was given for the laptop area that should have been devoted to the book/larger area. Moving to the smallest outside zip area, which does only have one zipper as others have mentioned, it doesn’t really fill OUT but instead fills IN so if you put things in the bottom of it, it will push into the book area.

It looks really big but just doesn’t pack very well for my needs. It is comfortable on my shoulders and has the expected quality of osprey, it just kinda falls in how it packs.

Pros: The best part of this bag is its space management. I have had other bags of a similar size that had a somewhat sub-par space management. The bag has a big main pocket large enough for me to keep my books — something that is important to me as a student.

The main compartment also has an inner pocket big enough for a 15 in laptop but not enough for a 17 in one. Its main compartment also has some more meshed inner pockets for keeping your cables i. e. laptop charger etc.

Other than the main compartment, there are two other pockets as well, one of which is big enough to carry food etc. (I prefer keeping food and books separate, for obvious reasons). The other pocket is also appropriately sized for keeping something else you’d like (medicines, glasses etc.

). It also has two vertical pockets, which are deep enough to keep a 1. 0-1. 5L thermos flask. If I keep my water bottles in the side mesh pockets, they keep falling off whenever I bend down to, let’s say, tie my shoelaces.

This also leaves my side mesh pockets free for other things. It has a raincover at the bottom which doubles up as a 30L bag as well (great!) but I do not understand why the rain cover compartment is not zipped and is closed only by a Velcro.

The hipbelt pocket provide easy access to keys, a sanitiser bottle etc. Cons: Lack of a top pocket for phone, wallet etc. But the another pocket in front with a side zipper does provide an easy access to your wallet/phone, but a top pocket would nonetheless have been better.

The back support is pretty good, but could have been better. It is better than my previous Wildcraft bag, but ain’t better than an Osprey Radial 27 bag I had.

This bag stood up to constant abuse over 7 weeks; under, in, and on top of buses, on the plane, and on my back. The two front zip compartments were perfect for my raincoat and travel towel, the side zip pockets held my liquids and the shoe compartment could fit my trainers, converses, sandals and flipflops (size 5, YMMV).

I didn’t think I’d use the detachable day bag but it became a very useful addition for carrying spare hoodies and raincoats. The detachable rain cover was nice and thick, and the ability to tighten the drawstring and carry it by the handles was very good for hopping on and off boats and buses in the rain.

The small zip pockets on the waist strap were brilliant for keeping my phone and wallet in in cities when I didn’t want to be rooting around in my bag. The straps and back padding felt comfortable. We were travelling in 30 degree heat and up to 90% humidity.

Cons: If you are looking for light weight bag then it is not for you. The weight of bag itself is up-to 2-3 kg. If you are looking for daily use than this bag is not for you Pros: This bag is very good for trekking, hiking and travelling.

The quality of the material used is very good. The chains are very solid and durable. It have a variety of compartments of different sizes, in total it have 7 different compartments. You can adjust your bag into different ways up – down, forward – backward.

Best part of this bag is that it have one small bag which is on the top of this bag which is detachable and can be served as a side bag. You can put around 2-3 jackets in this small bag.

For the price it is disappointing. The zippers are sticky and difficult to manage. Compartments are difficult to access and there is only one internal pocket. The best part is it is a breeze to travel with because of the straps.

A recent overseas trip with my child proved the quick conversion from backpack to shoulder straps to over the handle carrying is all you could ask for in a bag. Too bad the rest of the design fails to deliver.

could have been the perfect travel bag. Step up Travelpro! You can do better for this price!.

This bag was beautiful and I really wanted to love it. I love the convertible feature. The pockets weren’t spacious enough for me to really fit much in them however. Wiggling in my 13 inch macbook pro was tricky too.

The front pockets don’t open easily when the bag is full either.

I bought this bag to replace a cheap Muji backpack that was hurting my shoulders and also not water resistant enough to deal with NYC weather. I usually travel around town with my laptop, notebooks, and some gym clothes.

This bag is a little bigger than I need for daily life, but it is so comfortable that it’s worth it. The plus size is that it’s big enough for an overnight trip, or even a weekend trip if you pack light.

Product arrived nicely packed. Original tags and documentation inside the bag. Materials and internal storage same as per description on the Aer official website. I am very pleased with this product, will buy again from Bear & Bear!.