Finding the Best Travel Backpack

If you’re searching for the perfect travel backpack for men, you have a lot of choices to consider. The right kind of backpack will depend on your personal style and your choice of vacations. After all, the best hiking backpack for an outdoor weekend may not be right for a business trip overseas. These 10 tips can guide your choice and ensure that you end up with the best travel backpack possible.

  1.  Get a Bag for All Weather Conditions
  2. Don’t Settle for a Backpack Style You Don’t Love
  3. Look for Versatility
  4. Seek Out Organizational Compartment Features
  5. Pay Attention to Bag Volume
  6. Stay Hydrated with Water Bottle Pockets
  7. Find a Sophisticated Bag Design
  8. Look for Padded Shoulder Straps
  9. Care for & Secure Your Laptop
  10. Pack More with Compression Straps
Arcteryx Carrier 40 Duffel Bag - Black

1. Get a Bag for All Weather Conditions

The best travel backpack for men will almost certainly be one that can withstand all types of weather. In particular, look for a backpack that is waterproof. The Arcteryx Carrier 40 Duffel Bag is a prime example of a bag designed for the great outdoors. It offers advanced weather protection thanks to taped seams and a storm flap, and it is even crafted from a material known as Advanced Composite Construction. This is the ultimate bag for trips where you’ll be spending a lot of time outside, and it still offers features like padded shoulder straps and multiple grab handles for maximum portability.

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2. Don’t Settle For a Style You Don’t Love

A rucksack should definitely be practical, but that does not mean you have to sacrifice style for a functional design. There are so many choices out there that men never have to settle for a bag they don’t love. Whether you’re gearing up for a business trip and you want to look professional or you have a creative side you want to showcase, a backpack really can do it all.

3. Look For Versatility

If you think of a backpack as a standard design with two shoulder straps, think again. Sure, most backpacks look like that, but new designs are more versatile than ever. Take The North Face Base Camp Medium Duffel Bag, for example. This bag does double duty as a duffel and as a backpack. Whether you are grabbing it out of the car in a hurry or loading it up for a camping excursion, it adjusts to fit your needs. Plus, this durable backpack offers features like a large main mesh pocket and separate end-cap zippered compartments to hold everything you need.

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The North Face Base Camp Medium Duffel Bag - Pink Salt Workbook Print/Weathered

4. Seek Out Organizational Compartment Features

Look up any list of travel tips, and it will probably give you some advice about packing. If you’re trying to travel light with just a backpack, it is important to have a bag with plenty of organizational features. That means a durable backpack with more than just one main interior compartment. Look for zippered pockets, in particular, to protect and secure smaller items like money or keys.

Matador Transit 30 2.0 Duffel Bag

5. Pay Attention to Bag Volume

The best backpack for travel will need to be the right size for men. When considering how big of a backpack to purchase, look at internal volume. Typically, this is measured in liters. The Matador Transit 30 2.0 Duffel Bag, for instance, has an internal volume of 30 liters. That is just about the perfect size for an overnight bag or a lightweight weekend bag. The capacity is ideal, and it also boasts a waterproof coating, sealed seams and multiple organizational pockets. Best of all, the entire bag folds up into itself for an adventure backpack that takes up virtually no room at all until you need it most.

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6. Stay Hydrated With Water Bottle Pockets

Staying hydrated is always important when you travel, but it can be easier said than done. To encourage hydration, opt for a travel backpack that offers pockets for water bottles. This puts water within reach, and it can be especially helpful when hiking or during the warmer months when sightseeing in new destinations.

7. Find a Sophisticated Backpack Design

There is a myth that every travel backpack for men is rugged and suited for outdoor getaways. In reality, there are plenty of sophisticated business backpack options to choose from that can be used as a carry on travel backpack. The Frye Logan Backpack, for example, is a leather backpack that oozes luxury. Crafted from antique pull-up leather, this backpack truly does stand out from the crowd. Although it boasts a timeless design, it also has all the modern features you might want from a travel backpack such as dual side pockets, zippered accessory pockets and ergonomic, padded shoulder straps.

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Frye Logan Backpack - Cognac

8. Look For Padded Shoulder Straps

On your travels, you might spend long days carrying around a lot of stuff in your backpack. If you opt for a poorly-designed backpack, that could mean shoulder, neck and back pain as a result. To avoid any discomfort while you are on vacation, invest in a backpack with padded shoulder straps. The best straps will spread out the weight and prevent any hotspots from appearing. You can even upgrade further by choosing a backpack with additional waist or sternum straps to keep weight evenly distributed.

Timbuk2 Blitz Pack Backpack - Surplus

9. Care For Your Laptop

Unless you’re going totally tech-free on your next getaway, you’ll probably need to bring along some electronic devices. Whether you’re traveling with your laptop or your tablet, opt for a bag that offers plenty of protection. The Timbuk2 Blitz Pack Backpack is a black travel backpack perfectly suited for a weekend adventure. Travelers will appreciate the padded laptop compartment that keeps your computer secure as well as the dual side-stretch pockets, the reflective hits, the internal organizers and the special fleece-lined compartment designed just for sunglasses.

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10. Pack More With Compression Straps

If you are still searching for tips that help you find the perfect backpack, don’t forget about compression straps. Compression straps can be found inside your backpack to minimize the size of items like clothes, and they can also separate and organize your belongings. Many durable and outdoor backpacks also offer external compression straps that keep your backpack’s content still even when you’re moving a lot.

Each of these tips can help you find the ideal travel backpack for your next business conference, camping adventure or city vacation.

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