Large Travel Backpacks vs. Suitcases

For week long stays or month long treks, a large backpack is an excellent way to manage gear in one place. Because of its size, you may have to check it with your airline before heading through security and on to your flight. That shouldn’t be a deal breaker as long as you’ve got a carry on for personal and tech items, right? A large backpack with extra room is one you’ll be able to use for many years and can always be used instead of a suitcase.

Organizing Your Backpack for Travel

If you’re planning a long trip, a big backpack can improve your experience. Days filled with backpacking adventures, treks into the wild, or casual lake excursions beg for a bit of travel bag organization. Whether it’s two weeks, a month, or longer, you’ll want a bag that’s roomy and has enough pockets and pouches. Bags that have lots of places to stash clothes, shoes, and all-weather gear are travel confidence builders. Knowing how to pack your gear into your bag also takes some special skill. Be sure to roll up all your clothes neatly in order to maximize the space in your large backpack.

Backpack Travel Guide for Long Vacations

That discount offer on a dream expedition is something you can’t pass up. You’ll never hear us saying don’t go. In fact, we’re so happy for you, we created this travel backpack guide to specifically highlight backpacks ideal for long vacations. Most of the items in this guide are backpacks for men. However, they’ll work just as well for family travel and extended stays for women, too.

Top-Rated Large Backpack for Weeks of Adventure Traveling

A backpack may seem like the wrong piece of luggage for weeks of traveling, but we say, not so. Adventure travel requires you to be light on your feet and able to grab your stuff and move quickly. A pack is an easy, reliable way to zip it all up and take off on a moments notice.

Mystery Ranch Scree 32

Mystery Ranch Scree 32

Mystery Ranch builds the Scree 32 large travel backpack with quality materials and construction. It’s designed to meet outdoor pursuits in wet weather. The water resistant nylon exterior, sturdy zippers, and 32-liter capacity will put a smile on your face. Its interior compartment is big enough to stash a tightly rolled sleeping bag and essential gear. The webbing chain on the outside of the bag gives you a way to attach utensils and tools as needed.

The padded straps, molded frame sheet, and adjustable hip belt allow you to create a personalized fit. The double layered bottom holds up to extended use and long treks. Multiple compression straps keep everything from shifting around over the course of a day. Y-zip entry into the pack gives you access to items placed anywhere in the bag.

EXPLORE NOW

TSA Complaint Large Travel Backpack

Don’t like hauling stuff around when you travel? Then you’ll want to look for a carry on security friendly backpack for long travel trips. It will make airport hopping an easy endeavor, and it’s unlikely you’ll ever have to check your bag. We think that sounds like a win-win situation.

Dakine Split Adventure 38L Backpack

Get ready for a level of organization some folks dream about, and Dakine has perfected. The Split Adventure 38L travel backpack is made for anyone who wants an all-in-one carry on for long vacations. The perfect blend of suitcase and backpack, it features a TSA complaint padded 15-inch laptop sleeve for easy security scanning. A breathable back panel makes carrying this pack a comfortable experience. The main compartment has a mesh pocket for shoes, room for clothes, and cross straps to keep everything in place.

There’s also a dedicated tablet pocket and pouches for tech accessories. A fleece-lined zip pocket at the top of the bag is an easy storing spot for sunglasses, snacks, and cell phones. This is a clever travel bag for extended stays and lengthy travel plans.

EXPLORE NOW
Dakine Split Adventure 38-Liter Backpack

Rugged Travel Backpack for a Vacation Getaway

Heading out for a long vacation may mean it’s time for a larger backpack. A smaller pack may not accommodate the new gear you’re taking with you. And besides, wouldn’t it be nice to travel with a bag that you can take anywhere? We say dump the gym bag, and get with the program!

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack Backpack

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack Backpack

This travel pack is great for beach trips, mountain hiking, and train travel. It’s a great one for moving through European destinations because it can be carried like luggage or on your back. The exterior is a soft yet rugged nylon, and there’s a rain cover included for surprise downpours. Theft-proof zippers protect separate laptop and tablet sleeves. Both the top and main compartments are organized, so you can keep your belongings in order over extended travel periods. This bag zips opens like a suitcase and provides room for shoes, laundry, and several days worth of clothing.

When zipped closed, the front of the bag retains that suitcase appeal, but there’s a surprise inside. It actually has pockets and sleeves for documents, laptop chargers, fold-up keyboards, or gadgets. Versatile and roomy, you’ll enjoy carrying this bag on weekend trips and long-stay adventures.

EXPLORE NOW

Best Backpack for Repeated Airport Travel

Having a travel backpack that can take the constant handling and dropping is essential. You want to make sure that when you check a bag, it’s going to hold up to gorilla-style handling. A good quality backpack should last for a decade or more.

The North Face Base Camp Medium Duffel Bag

The North Face Base Camp Duffel may look like a gym bag, but rest assured, it’s not. Double-stitched, water-resistant materials were used to build this big bag. Top handles, side handles, and shoulder straps give you carrying options. You can separate dirty clothes, hiking boots, and extra equipment by using the zippered end cap compartments. Compression straps on the outside and a weather-resistant flap over the zipper add even more advantages to carrying this bag.

Mesh pockets inside the main compartment and the end flaps add further organization. This bag has multiple pattern choices, including three very different camo designs. Looking for a long distance companion you can lean on, sleep on, or rest your head against? Look no further than the Base Camp bag.

EXPLORE NOW
The North Face Base Camp Medium Duffel Bag

DROP IN AT BACKPACKS.COM

Share your adventures with us! Find great backpacks from Backpacks.com. Visit us on Facebook and Instagram and share the locale and some of the memories you captured and you could be featured in one of our upcoming blogs!