How to Choose the Best Travel Backpack for Women
Carry-on travel backpacks are one of the most versatile bags for women. They’re the perfect replacement for a clunky suitcase. Simply sling one over your shoulders for easy mobility, comfort, and hands-free exploration - whether you’re flying, hiking, or going on a road trip!
The best travel backpack for women will be thoughtfully designed with features that make it easy to carry and organize, as well as stylish. Here are the top reasons to choose a women’s backpack for travel, key features to look for, and how to find the most versatile women’s travel backpack for all of your adventures.
Why Choose a Women’s Travel Backpack?
Wondering why you should consider a women’s travel backpack over a rolling suitcase? The benefits can be summed up in one word - practicality! Allow us to explain.
Travel backpacks are designed with multiple compartments and pockets that conveniently hold everything from your laptop to your passport, ensuring that all of your essentials are within easy reach even when you’re on the go.
Beyond that, backpacks are much easier to maneuver in a crowd, small spaces, or on uneven terrain. A women’s travel backpack can easily be tucked into the overhead compartment on a plane, train, or bus, making it the perfect choice for nearly any journey.
Travel backpacks for women are often cleverly designed with safety features like hidden anti-theft pockets and a water-resistant outer shell. They often include padded laptop sleeves to keep your sensitive electronics safe, too.
And finally, a good travel backpack will be designed with an adjustable harness that evenly distributes the load on your hips, shoulders, and back. This allows you to carry your backpack comfortably from destination to destination, leaving your hands free to do other things.
How to Choose a Travel Backpack for Women
Here are some key features to look for when selecting a travel backpack:
Backpack Size and Capacity
Travel bags for women come in all shapes and sizes, from carry-on duffel bags to high-capacity duffel/backpack hybrids that can be carried on or checked as luggage. The most versatile option is a travel backpack that’s carry-on sized. It falls somewhere in the middle and offers a number of advantages you may not have considered.
Traveling with just a carry-on isn’t just about saving money on baggage fees, although that is a major benefit! It’s also about minimalist packing and traveling light. Choosing a travel backpack that’s carry-on size encourages you to pack less, meaning you’ll be carrying less weight.
Traveling with a bag or suitcase that weighs a ton not only puts a strain on your back, it also makes the process of traveling from one destination to another a lot less fun. No matter how you’re traveling, carrying a bulky, heavy bag is inconvenient.
A longer trip doesn’t necessarily mean you need a bigger bag. A carry-on travel backpack can accommodate your needs for a weekend getaway or a months-long adventure across Europe. When you pack strategically, you can make a carry-on-sized backpack work for any trip.
Safety and Security Features
Choosing a backpack that’s made from water-resistant materials is key for keeping your belongings dry in a sudden downpour. Trying to dry all of your wet clothes and shoes when you’re on a trip is no fun - not to mention the risk of ruining your sensitive electronics and other valuables..
The majority of thefts are crimes of convenience, so look for a backpack with lockable zippers. Hidden internal security pockets are also essential for warding off wandering hands. While these features won’t stop someone from stealing your entire bag, they can slow down or deter a potential thief who’s looking for an easy target.
Panel Access
Top loading and side panel travel backpacks aren’t your only options. A travel backpack with a clamshell opening can offer the best of both worlds. You can open it all the way to pack it like a suitcase, but still access your gear quickly via the top zippers when you’re on the go.
Comfort and Adjustability
Sure, traveling takes you out of your comfort zone, but that doesn’t mean your backpack doesn’t need to be comfortable. Keep in mind that you’re likely to be standing or walking with your backpack on for long periods, so fit and weight distribution are key.
Whether you’re petite or tall, look for a backpack that has an adjustable harness to provide a custom fit. After all, every woman’s body type and load will be different. Wearing the bag and making adjustments as needed is the best way to get the best fit for you.
A comfortable hip belt is also key because the hips should bear most of your backpack’s weight, not your shoulders or back. Choose a pack that has a removable hip belt for even more versatility. Bonus points if the hip belt works as a stand-alone bag when you’re on the go.
Padded shoulder straps are also a must for comfort. They should be made of breathable fabric and removable or stowable for easier storage.
Style and Functionality
When it comes to functionality, look for a travel backpack with multiple compartments and pockets. This will allow you to organize your belongings so that you can access important items quickly.
For many, style is just as important as function! No one wants to stand out as a tourist when traveling. A sturdy, well-designed backpack that has a streamlined, minimalist aesthetic will fit in anywhere. You’ll never feel out of place, whether you’re ducking into a coffee shop or hiking in the backcountry.
Extra Features That Indicate a Stand-Out Travel Backpack
- Padded Laptop Compartment: Getting off the beaten path is amazing, but you may still need access to the things that generate your bread and butter. If you travel with a laptop out of necessity, your bag should have some sort of laptop sleeve to protect it from dust, debris, and rough handling.
- Water Bottle Pocket: Buying bottled water can get expensive, not to mention the havoc single-use plastic is wreaking on the environment. Look for a backpack with an easily accessible water bottle pocket so you can carry your own reusable bottle or flask.
- Carry Handles: Carry handles come in handy because they allow you to carry your backpack like a traditional suitcase. That way, you don’t always have to wear your backpack on your back. Handles are also super helpful for putting your pack in the overhead bins on a plane, train, or bus.
So, What’s the Best Travel Backpack for Women?
Of course, we’re a little biased, but in our opinion, the Pakt Travel Backpack is the best women’s travel backpack out there. It’s the perfect carry-on size and includes padded, adjustable straps so you can get the perfect fit.
The Pakt Travel Backpack comes with an adjustable sternum strap and load lifters so you can carry your pack comfortably for hours. The shoulder straps hide away for checked luggage, or when you want to use the handles to carry your bag suitcase style. The stowable hip belt is also completely removable and functions as a stand-alone day pack or hip pack at your destination.
The Pakt Travel Backpack is also full of features to make life easier on the go, such as lots of pockets (including specialized pockets like a TSA pocket, water bottle pocket, and waterproof pocket for toiletries). The large main compartment is divided into two for organized packing.
The lockable, wrap-around zippers allow you to pack this travel backpack like a suitcase, while the top zippers provide quick access to your belongings. We’ve also included a secret security pocket for stashing valuables, personal items, and important documents.
With eight lashing points on the sides of the bag, there are plenty of places to secure a jacket, yoga matt, or tripod. The bag also comes with a luggage pass-through, padded laptop sleeve, a mesh divider, and convenient pockets for all your travel accessories.
The Pakt Travel Backpack is made from durable, water resistant materials to keep your valuables dry when you’re on the go. And finally, all of our travel bags come with a lifetime warranty, they’re made with earth-friendly materials, and shipped in plastic-free packaging.