Few items are as precious to a traveler as the bag they choose to travel with. What other possession best captures the essence of travel & wanderlust than the bag that accompanies you around the globe?
We are fierce advocates of avoiding checked luggage whenever possible. Traveling with only a carry-on bag requires some strategic packing, but it is very easy to accomplish with a little foresight.
When it comes to selecting the right carry-on bag, a high-quality travel backpack is almost always the best choice.
Why should you travel with a backpack in the first place?
Have you ever had to drag wheeled luggage over cobblestone roads in Europe? Ever find yourself wishing you had an extra hand while juggling a coffee & a duffel bag? Those bags do serve a purpose on some trips, but there is nothing as convenient as a good travel backpack.
Not all backpacks are created equal. The travel backpack industry has exploded to offer adventurers bags of different sizes, materials, and styles.
First and foremost, let’s talk about picking the right size backpack for your travel style.
What size backpack do we travel with?
Backpacks are measured by their internal capacity which is expressed in cubic liters (L). Our team has found that the sweet spot for travel backpacks is the 25L to 35L capacity range. This range represents the most popular size of travel bags: they are small enough to satisfy airline carry-on size limits while still being large enough to carry enough belongings for a multi-day trip.
Everyone has their own unique travel style and preferred trip length, so it is important to find a travel backpack that satisfies your needs. Those who only take short weekend trips may find that a 35L backpack is too big for their packing list, and there will be others who fall on the opposite side of the spectrum.
To help provide more context, we have laid out guidelines based on our hundreds of flights’ worth of experience to help you figure out what size backpack best fits your own travel needs.
What size backpack is best for day trips?
Leave the bulky backpacks at home when you embark on a day trip. Consider what items you actually need for a successful trip. If you are simply flying in & out of a city without staying overnight, do you even need a backpack?
When I take a quick non-rev day trip to visit friends in another city, I try to bring as little as possible. This is especially important if you will have nowhere to stash your gear: when I visited Minneapolis to grab drinks with friends, I knew I would look out-of-place if I was lugging a travel backpack around to the bars & restaurants we visited. I showed up to the airport with nothing more than my wallet, my cell phone, and an external battery pack to charge my phone.
If you choose to pack a backpack for day trips and adventures around town, any bag in the 10L to 25L range will be a fine everyday carry (EDC) backpack option. Bags of this capacity are similar to what you probably carried around school and should blend in equally well at the office or the coffee shop.
There is no need to buy a high-tech hiking backpack just to carry your tablet or laptop around with you when you travel.
What size backpack is best for weekend trips?
The vast majority of our non-rev trips are 24-48 hour trips, so weekend trips are our bread & butter. We work normal 9-to-5 jobs, so we try to leave on Friday afternoon or Saturday mornings and get back in time for dinner on Sunday.
Bags in the 20L to 30L range are perfect for one-night or two-night trips. Our 25L backpacks get the most use when we travel because they just seem to be the perfect size for 90% of our trips, but you can adjust the size of your pack accordingly.
Travelers who find themselves needing to pack two changes of bulky winter clothing may have a hard time fitting it all in a 20L backpack. Conversely, a 30L backpack that just has a couple bathing suits & tank tops will definitely be overkill.
The purpose of a weekender bag is to carry a change or two of clothes along with all of the travel essentials that you need for an overnight trip. This will be the first bag you reach for on business trips, so make sure you can comfortably stash your laptop and/or work gear in addition to your clothes.
What size backpack is best for trips that are a week or longer?
For longer trips, look at backpacks in the 25L to 45L size range. The standard carry-on dimension limits for most U.S. airlines are 22” x 14” x 9”. These external dimensions are equal to 2,772 cubic inches (which translates to 45.4 cubic liters).
In our experience, airline gate agents are much less inclined to measure backpacks than rolling carry-on luggage in the dreaded baggage sizers. We have definitely seen people get away with carrying on larger 55L+ bags, but don’t count on always being so lucky.
Experienced travelers understand what is required & what they can forego while packing. The minimalist travel community is very vocal in their support of 25L-35L backpacks being the perfect size. We have seen multiple reports of month-long trips through Europe accomplished with backpacks no larger than 40L.
However, novice travelers often find themselves overpacking. This is especially true on longer trips. Having a little extra wiggle room with a larger bag is much easier to manage than trying to fit too much stuff into a smaller backpack.
Pro tip for my fellow short travelers: pay attention to the dimensions of the larger travel backpacks. Bags in the 30L+ range will be larger than the average backpack & packed heavier than one as well, so finding a bag that fits your body type is important.
Final Thoughts
We hope this quick guide to finding the right size backpack helps you choose the right gear before your next flight.
Finding the perfect travel backpack takes time. Whenever possible, we recommend trying on any backpacks that you are considering to make sure they fit your body well. The capacity sizing only tells you the internal capacity; the external dimensions are just as important to look at when searching for your next bag.
If you have ever wandered over to our Gear Reviews section, you have no doubt seen our wide collection of travel backpacks that we have taken along with us on our travels. Everyone deserves to find the perfect backpack. A high-quality backpack will last years as your trusty travel companion.
What is your preferred backpack size or favorite travel backpack? Start a conversation in the comments below!
