Picture yourself traveling through Europe with no internet access, no smartphone, and nothing more than a paperback guide book. Hard to imagine? Countless Americans were able to accomplish this thanks to the efforts of Rick Steves. Regarded as one of America’s foremost experts on European travel, Rick Steves’ travel empire encompasses more than just guidebooks: his brand also produces travel accessories that are easy on the wallet. This convertible carry-on bag is the ultimate Rick Steves accessory: a lightweight backpack/suitcase that can expand to fit everything you need for your next trip. We spent years traveling with this bag to help answer one question: is the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on bag convertible bag right for you?
| Pros | Cons |
| + Clamshell opening | – Backpack harness system is not very comfortable |
| + Massive capacity with lots of external pockets | – Lacks premium materials |
| + Lightweight | – Does not hold its shape well |
Who is Rick Steves?
Rick Steves is a legend in the world of travel. For decades, he has inspired people (mainly Americans interested in visiting Europe) to travel better, smarter, and further. He has published countless books, audio shows, and TV episodes throughout his career.
In many ways, Rick Steves was ahead of his time. He has always been an advocate of packing light & immersing yourself in the local culture which, while popular tenets of the travel world today, were adventurous ideas at the time. He is celebrated by travelers of all ages, and his products & services continue evolving to serve the needs of the modern explorer.
Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on Backpack Specifications
- Capacity: 41 liters (2500 cubic inches); expandable up to 49 liters (3000 cubic inches)
- Dimensions: 21” x 14” x 9” (53.3cm x 35.6cm x 22.9cm)
- Weight: 3 pounds (1.4 kg)
- Style: Clamshell
- Zippers/Hardware: Generic zippers & plastic buckles
- Laptop Sleeve: No
- MSRP: $99 (check latest price on Rick Steves’ website)
How does the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on look?
The Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on bag is offered in four colorways: black, graphite, blue spruce, and plum (the color of our bag).
This is a big backpack with limited compression. A packing “sweet spot” exists with this bag: pack it too light and it looks like a formless sack, but pack it too heavy and you will end up looking like Bowser while it is strapped to your back.
When packed just right, the back takes on a boxy, rectangular shape.There are multiple exterior pockets that line the outside of the bag. That is not a bad thing (these handy pockets are very easy to access), but the busy lines make for a crowded design.
The backpack harness & hip straps can be stowed to keep them out of the way and clean up the look when carrying the Convertible Carry-on by its side handles. This bag does droop when carried as a handheld suitcase, but it retains its general structure.
It is obvious that function triumphs over form with this bag’s design: it does the job well, but let’s just say the Convertible Carry-on won’t win any fashion awards.
How does the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on feel?
Considering how large this bag is, it feels extremely light. Rick Steves lists its Convertible Carry-on bag at 3 pounds so you won’t mistake it for an ultralight backpack, but its relatively light weight is remarkable when compared with similar bags (like the convertible eBags Mother Lode Travel Backpack we reviewed last year).
The light fabric is also very malleable. This makes it very easy to fold up when not in use, but some users may find this flexibility (which results in a bag that does not hold its shape well when empty) to be off-putting.
The actual fabric is a far-cry from some of the more premium bags we have tested: it is thin & pliable. However, this bag has survived dozens of trips over the years without developing any holes or tears. We weren’t convinced of this bag’s long-term durability, but this Rick Steves backpack has held up very well. This is a practical option for the utilitarian traveler.
How does the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on fit?
As a backpack, the Convertible Carry-on is good enough. The backpack harness is simple without any bells or whistles. The thin backpack straps feature airmesh and standard adjustment buckles, but you will not find a sternum strap here. The straps feature a thin strip of foam, but padding is kept to a minimum. After years of being overpacked, the strap fabric has begun visibility stretching and is not very comfortable with a heavy load.
The back of the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on features a lightly padded panel of airmesh. A thin foam pad runs down the majority of this back panel. This bag has very little structural support; you can feel what you have packed, so make sure not to pack any hard or sharp objects along the back of this backpack.
Chronic overpackers will be relieved to see that padded hip straps come standard. They are wider (but not thicker) than the backpack straps, and the simple plastic buckle secures the straps to add extra support for larger loads. These hip straps are not removable, but they can be neatly tucked away into hidden pockets along the back of the bag. They do help, but they won’t make heavy loads disappear.
As a handheld suitcase, the padded top handle & side handle suffice. They are nothing more than a padded fabric wrapped around a strap, but they are wide and easy to grab. Sometimes, simple is best.
Features of the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on
Clamshell Opening
When it comes to travel backpacks, clamshell systems are one of the most popular options. Clamshell backpacks can be fully opened when laid flat to give you easy access to the entire main compartment.
The inside of the main compartment is lined with a finer fabric than the exterior, and includes an elastic pouch along with internal compression straps to secure your clothes.
Expandable Capacity
If you need extra capacity, Rick Steves’ Convertible Carry-on bag features a wrap-around zipper that expands to add an extra 500 cubic inches of volume. Be warned: this bag expands roughly 2 inches in depth. Overpacking this bag while expanded could push you over the carry-on dimension restrictions of your airline.
IF you do end up exceeding the carry-on requirements, the good news is that we never had a problem checking this bag through to a destination. The outer fabric has survived countless trips in the belly of our aircraft.
Large Outer Pockets
While many other travel backpacks feature aesthetically pleasing pockets with small capacities, Rick Steves opted to include massive outer pockets.
There are two large zippered flap pockets on the front panel that feature no internal organization to get in your way. This is great if you are someone who uses pouches & packing cubes, but these huge pockets can easily become an unorganized mess if stuffed with a lot of small items.
There is a smaller third pocket that can fit passports & wallets, but we use this for external batteries & cables because it is one of the most exposed pockets.
There is a 4th hidden zippered compartment that runs down the side of the bag. This shallow pocket stretches 14”x20” and can hold a jacket or separate change of clothes.
Mesh Water Bottle Pocket
We are huge fans of external water bottle pockets, so we were happy to see this Rick Steves bag come with a drawstring mesh side pocket. Nalgene users will be disappointed to find that it does not stretch to the diameter of their widemouth bottles, but this deep pocket securely handles virtually every other type of popular bottle.
I really like that they opted for a mesh pocket. It is light and stays out of the way when empty, but it is effective when necessary. Other convertible bags we have tested struggled to include a useful water bottle pocket, and this is easily the most usable design.
Verdict
The OneBag community loves to fawn over the specs of every travel bag. The Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on doesn’t feature fancy fabric or impressive hardware, but that’s not what this bag was made for. Instead of boasting cutting-edge designs & new-age materials, the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on is marketed as an affordable bag for travelers who would rather get on their way instead of obsessing over new gear. Nobody is going to be blown away by this bag’s spec sheet, but it does everything most travelers need it to do in a relatively affordable package.
Recommended For: Budget-conscious travelers who want a convertible carry-on bag that can fit at least a week’s worth of clothes with room to spare.
I have had the older version for 24 years. At times I have lived out of it for 5-7 days a week on the road. I have never had any failure with it. I thought t the time it was pretty expensive, but now I think it may be the best value ever in the luggage world. There are times I wished it had a spine and wheels, but overall, it has been a great suitcase, which can be made into a backpack. Often I will just hook up one stop and sling it over one shoulder. I have used it traveling over half the world. I’ve never found a shortage of places to segregate types of stuff. I still keep it partially ready to go every day. If I am home, all the clothes come out, but everything else stays in, ready to go. I just put in some clothes, zip it up and I’m off. Thanks Rick Steves for a great convertible suitcase.
I’ve had the older version for 35 years. This bag has been with me on several trips around the world and I lived out of it for 2 months backpacking in Austria. I use it any time I am traveling be it a short or long trip. While it isn’t fancy I have never ever had a malfunction with it. The zippers still work like new and the fabric has held up well. I can’t believe this bag has basically lasted for my lifetime so far. (My parents bought it for me when I was 10).