Best Travel Backpacks for 2026: 4 Picks for Every Kind of Trip

Looking for the best travel backpack for 2026? The right one depends on how you travel. A weekend in a city, two weeks with only a carry-on, or a work trip with a laptop each call for something different. Below are four travel backpacks from our range, each for a different kind of trip, followed by what to look for when you choose.

What makes a great travel backpack

• A size that fits the cabin: check your airline's carry-on dimensions before you buy, and do not count on an overstuffed bag passing.
• A padded laptop compartment that matches your laptop size.
• Smart organization: separate places for clothes, shoes, tech and the small things you need on the plane.
• Water-repellent fabric for rain between the train and the hotel.
• Comfort: padded shoulder straps and a breathable back, because you will carry it more than you expect.
• A strap that slides over a suitcase handle, if you also travel with a suitcase.

Our travel backpack picks for 2026

1. Electron 45L Vacuum Compression Travel Backpack: for packing more into less

The Electron has a built-in vacuum compression compartment: pack your clothes, draw out the air and they take up a fraction of the space. The bag holds 36 L and expands to 45 L.

• 52 × 34 × 17 cm, 1.4 kg
• Thickly padded compartment for laptops up to 17 inches
• Strap that slides over a suitcase handle
• Water-repellent fabric
• Air pump not included

Best for: travelers who want to fit a week's clothes into one bag.

2. The Trevik 34L Wheeled Backpack: for airports and cobblestones

The Trevik is a cabin trolley and a backpack in one. Roll it through the terminal on its telescopic handle, then put it on your back for stairs and old-town streets. The shoulder straps tuck away behind a flap when you do not need them.

• 48 × 33 × 22 cm, 34 L, 2.5 kg
• Room for three to four days of clothes, shoes, toiletries and a laptop
• Padded compartment for laptops up to 16 inches
• Built-in 3-digit combination lock on the main zippers
• Separate compartment for shoes or wet items

Best for: people who do not want to carry the weight on their shoulders all day.

3. Rylos Prime 35L Laptop Backpack with 4 Packing Cubes: for organized packers

The Rylos Prime comes with four storage cubes, so your clothes are sorted from the moment you pack.

• 35 L capacity with 4 packing cubes included
• Fits laptops up to 17 inches
• Durable, water-resistant Oxford fabric
• USB port for charging from your own power bank (not included)
• Ergonomic padded shoulder straps

Best for: business trips and short vacations where you live out of your bag.

4. Berger Professional Laptop Backpack: for city breaks and everyday use

The Berger is a light, water-resistant backpack for every day, for study and for travel, in two sizes.

• Small: about 14 L, for laptops up to 14 inches
• Large: about 19 L, for laptops up to 16 inches
• About 580 g

Best for: a personal item on the plane and a day bag at your destination.

Which travel backpack is right for you?

Travel backpack or suitcase?

More travelers now take only a backpack, and it is easy to see why: your hands stay free, it fits in tight spaces on buses and trains, and it handles stairs and uneven streets better than wheels. Traveling with cabin baggage only can also save you checked-bag fees, as long as your bag meets your airline's limits. For longer trips, formal clothes or souvenirs on the way home, a suitcase is still the more comfortable choice. See our luggage and our wheeled backpacks if you want something in between.

Before you fly, read our tips on how to avoid extra baggage fees and our backpack size guide. Or browse all travel backpacks.