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Setout Travel Backpack - 45L Maximum-Sized Carry On Travel Backpack

Product details, about this item.

• A FEATURE-RICH CARRY ON - The Setout 45 travel backpack is carry on sized so you never have to worry about checking your bag; With room for 7+ days worth of clothing, toiletries, and other travel essentials, you'll always have what you need, when you need it
• PACKS LIKE A SUITCASE - Opens flat like a suitcase for easy packing and organization; Never lose your stuff at the bottom of your bag; Accessory pockets keep all your belongings readily available
• CARRIES LIKE A BACKPACK - Injection-molded foam shoulder straps conform to your body for a custom fit; The padded, removable hip belt takes your bag's weight off of your shoulders and transfers it onto your hips for a lighter, more comfortable carry
• LAPTOP AND COMPUTER FRIENDLY - Laptop and tablet sleeves protect your electronics while on the road; The Setout 45 carryon travel backpack fits a 17" laptop, 9.7" tablet, and all your chargers
• BUILT TO LAST - Stowable, hideaway straps keep your bag protected when stashed away; Durable, weather-resistant materials ensure the Setout will be there with you for the long haul

Product Description

Looking for specific info?

• Is discontinued by manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 55.88 x 35.56 x 22.86 cm; 1.5 kg
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ Dec 26 2018
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B077S57CL5
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ SET1000G
• Department ‏ : ‎ unisex-adult
• #3,425 in Casual Daypacks
• #192,841 in Men's Fashion
• #362,472 in Women's Fashion

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First look: the next generation of the Tortuga Travel Backpack

The tortuga outbreaker gets a streamlined upgrade. is it worth an upgrade.

For several years now, the Tortuga Outbreaker has consistently ranked among the best travel backpacks on the market. In fact, the Manual declared it the best travel backpack for long-term travel last year . The next generation of the Outbreaker is dropping on January 17, and we were lucky enough to get an advanced look at it. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest travel pack from Tortuga.

New name, similar vibe

Slightly smaller, adjusted silhouette, upgraded suspension harness, recycled materials, simplified pocket structure, new tortuga travel backpack review.

First off, the company has decided to drop the “Outbreaker” name and simply go with the “ Tortuga Travel Backpack .” However, this name change doesn’t mean that it’s an entirely different bag. To the contrary, Tortuga has taken the key design aspects of the Outbreaker — the suitcase-style frontloading, the protective laptop panel on the back and easy-access pocket on the front, the thickly padded shoulder straps and tough, water-resistant sailcloth exterior — and made some adjustments and upgrades.

While the Outbreaker used to come in 45L and 35L size options, the next generation is slightly smaller — 40L and 30L — to adjust to increasingly restrictive international carry-on size limitations. Its design has also been simplified somewhat, cutting out redundant pockets and features to decrease the weight by 10%. The overall shape is better sculpted than previous, boxier editions, giving it a more eye-pleasing aesthetic.

One of the most popular aspects of the old Outbreaker was its highly comfortable shoulder straps and adjustable suspension harness. The new harness is still fully adjustable, but it’s adjusted in a slightly different manner that is easier and less material-intensive, which has the added bonus of decreasing the weight. This makes it the best travel backpack for men and women seeking the perfect fit.

Previous iterations of the Outbreaker featured recycled materials only for the liner, but the latest edition forgoes any virgin nylon at all to instead leverage recycled polyester that is lighter, more durable, and waterproof. The new material is 100% recycled and contains no fluorocarbons or volatile organic compounds.

Reducing the weight meant cutting out a few of the organizational features. This eliminates a handful of internal zippered pockets. A few pockets have also been adjusted, such as changing the two equal-sized exterior front-facing pockets into a wider, flat pocket along with a small top pouch perfect for your sunglasses, phone, and passport.

So what do I think of the new generation? Having traveled extensively with previous iterations, I can say that overall, the latest edition is an improvement. I like the lighter weight and easier harness adjustment. The upgraded exterior pocket arrangement is also a positive change. I do miss a few of the interior pockets that were eliminated, but cuts had to be made somewhere to reduce the weight. As the relative heaviness of the previous generation was the most common complaint, I’d say that the ends justify the means. On a less practical note, the slightly more curvaceous exterior looks better than the old design.

To conclude, I think it’s still the best travel backpack on the market, particularly for long-term travelers who want to avoid checking a bag.

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Home » Gear » HONEST Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L Review: (2024)

HONEST Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L Review: (2024)

How’s it going my fellow broke backpacker gear junkies? We’re back this week with a look at Tortuga’s 40L Travel Backpack.

Travelers come in many shapes and sizes, so it’s no surprise no two people are going to have the same preferences when it comes to finding the perfect travel backpack. Luckily, you have unsung heroes like me here to take the worry and stress out of selecting a bag online. Just kidding, but I do hope this can provide a little help when you’re picking your next pack.

When I travel, I typically bring the same few items every time. Aside from clothes, my laptop and journals will always find their way into one of my bags. I’ll level with you on this pack right away, Tortuga hit all my personal marks on this one.

With a tech compartment that houses everything that I need neatly in an organized fashion, while giving me the interior space to pack how I feel necessary on a trip-to-trip basis, this truly is a well thought out design for whatever kind of traveler you may be.

But I’ll let you decide if this is the pack for you or not, let’s take a look into what the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L is all about.

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Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L Review Quick Answers: Specs

• Price : $349.00
• Volume : 40 liters
• Weight :  4.5 lbs 
• Material : SHELL200D Recycled Polyester
• Laptop Compartment : Yes
• Carry-On Compliant : Yes

What I Liked About the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L

• Durable Material
• Padded Laptop and Tablet Compartment
• Adjustable Back Panel
• Cushioned Shoulder Straps and Hip Belt

What I Didn’t Like About the Tortuga Backpack 40L

• No Compression straps on the right inside of the main compartment
• Inside Zipper feels backward

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Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L Review: Key Features and Performance Breakdown

Interior Organization

The Tortuga Travel Backpack offers a ton of organizational features once you dive into the backpack, and I feel like one section summarizing all of it wouldn’t be fair to the work and thought I think Tortuga put into crafting this travel backpack . So, because I love you all, I broke this bad boy down into more depth below, so have a crack at it.

Laptop Compartment

Something I’ve noticed a lot of lately is companies finding new and creative ways to incorporate your potential tech needs into your carry-on luggage. In the past, I would typically carry a large carry-on duffel bag for clothes alongside my 20L Black Diamond Day Pack, housing all my electronics and journals. Needless to say, I was extremely unorganized and did not provide the love and protection for my laptop one may expect from a digital nomad. 

So all that to say, when there’s a dedicated laptop sleeve offering protection for my 16” laptop (a size not all bags could handle with such grace) it’s a big deal. This Tortuga backpack’s laptop compartment is also home to a dedicated tablet sleeve that can hold up to a 12.9” tablet, an internal zipper pocket to house charging cords, and even has enough space left over to throw in a keyboard if that’s your jam. 

This laptop/tech compartment is also the section closest to your back, so pickpocketers will have a hell of a time trying to reach over the rest of the pack to get to your goods. Not to mention the YKK Zippers are lockable, giving you an extra layer of protection if you deem is necessary.

The laptop compartment is also very well padded, so you can leave the laptop case at home and save on some pack weight.

The Main Compartment

The main compartment resembles that of your standard carry-on suitcase , in that it unzips entirely to expose two large, bucket style compartments. This is a design that may have been around for a while, but this was my first time using a backpack like this.

The right side is an open design, featuring no zippers or compression straps, just a good ole’ deep section to pack into. The left side is completely covered by a mesh panel, allowing you to secure your belongings down a little more. 

Let me breakdown some quick pros and cons, in my humble opinion, about this backpack.

Okay so starting out with pros, if you pack strategically, you should be able to get a week or longer out of this thing. The open design really gives you the ability to pack the way you like to, with options to fit their packing cubes for some extra organization, should you desire. 

Coincidently, I find the openness to be a bit of a con as well. The right side can really only be secured down, or rather organized, if you purchase the packing cubes. I think the inclusion of some sort of compression straps to give a little extra hold would’ve been really nice. Though keep in mind that this section is also the back of the backpack, so when you’re opening up this backpack you’ll more times than not have it lying flat on a bed or table. 

The other small issue I had with this main compartment was the left zippered side. The zipper feels like it’s the wrong way almost, making it difficult to access things on that side without completely opening the backpack. This isn’t the biggest deal, I would just recommend not packing anything on that side you think you may need quick access to while on the go. 

Overall I think the minimalist approach was a good choice, allowing you to pack the way you want with options to upgrade organizationally as you please.

Front Storage Compartment

The front storage compartment is the icing on the cake when it comes to all the internal storage options this pack brings to the table. 

Starting with the fleece-lined smart device sleeve, it’s the perfect size for you to throw your smartphone or kindle in when on the go. There are also dedicated spots for credit cards and pens, saving you the hassle of digging through what can sometimes feel like a bottomless pit of junk. There’s also a mesh pocket that perfectly fits a passport or wallet, as well as a zippered pocket to house any cords or headphones you may want to bring along.

Another feature I really enjoyed with this front storage compartment was the extra space below all the organizational pockets. I typically travel with a large journal and two smaller ones to jot down any notes or thoughts I have while on the go. While I did opt to keep the larger journal in the back with my laptop, the two smaller ones fit with ease in the front area.

Additionally on the front of the bag, attached to the front compartment, there’s another small stuff area with a side zipper access point. This portion does cut into the front storage space a little, but you should still be able to throw a journal or hat inside without too many repercussions. 

The Exterior

Tortuga has upgraded from their previous backpack model’s material, X-Pac VX21, to their new SHELL200D. This new material is comprised of three layers of laminated sailcloth (per their website): 

• Recycled polyester face fabric with C0 DWR treatment
• 45° recycled polyester cross-ply
• Recycled ripstop polyester backing fabric

This material was originally created for use as the sails of racing boats, but Tortuga deemed it worthfully of racing you through the airport and all your travels. The material is also 100% recycled, in case you needed another reason to love this pack.

I really like the look of this material as well, with their black logo hiding in the matte black material, it truly looks and feels great. 

The exterior also features two water bottle pockets, allowing you to stay hydrated on the go. They stretch to allow different sized bottles, though I wasn’t about to fit my 64oz Hydro Flask in there. But again, a 64oz metal bottle is rather large and I don’t ever travel with it, so take that with a grain of salt. 

Fit and Sizing

Starting out with fit, this backpack feels really good on your shoulders and back, as the thick mesh shoulder straps and hip belt make for a comfortable ride.  

Another really cool feature that I’ve never seen before was the adjustable back panel. With backpacks from brands such as Osprey and Gregory, you will typically get fitted for a pack that best suits your build, resulting in the same pack varying in back frame sizes of Small, Medium, Large, and so on. But Tortuga has found a way to more or less create a one-size-fits-all pack by incorporating an adjustable back panel with the ability to slide up and down, making sure it sits on your back perfectly.

Combining this feature with the hip belt, it was nice to really get the weight off my back and onto my hips, resulting in a rather pleasant backpack experience. 

Carry Options

While the obvious carry option is the shoulder straps attached to the pack, Tortuga also tossed in a couple of handles for those times you want to slip through the airplane walkway without smacking poor fellow travelers. 

The first is placed on the top of the bag between the tech compartment and main compartment zippers, giving a balanced feel in your hand. Most backpack top handles are stitched onto the back panel of the pack as though it was an afterthought, so I did like the forethought to allow this pack to be handled like your typical luggage. 

The second is on the side of the bag, allowing the bag to be held sideways like a traditional suitcase or duffel bag. 

Weight and Capacity

Quick answer:.

• Weight : 4.5 lbs
• Capacity : 40 liters

Long Answer:

Offering 40 liters of space and a ton of different packing options, I think 4.5 lbs is extremely reasonable. I also think if you’re traveling with this type of backpack, you’re more than likely not standing on a scale and watching every last pound going into your pack. 

Tortuga says this is perfect for trips a week or longer, and I would agree. Unless you like bringing your entire flat along with you, this bag offers more than enough space and packing options to comfortably hold your clothes and electronics.

I was even able to fit my AeroPress in alongside my belongings, so add coffee gear to the list of packing options I suppose. 

Toughness and Durability

The SHELL200D feels as tough and durable as the specs lead it on to be. With the addition of the YKK Zippers, Woojin Buckles, and the waterproof nature of the material, you don’t have to worry about your belongings getting damaged in a surprise storm. 

Another thing sometimes overlooked is how easily some packs can pick up dirt. I tossed this thing on the ground when packing it, as well is carried it around the desert while I was there, and a couple lights pats cleaned this thing right up. Maybe you like a dirty bag, but people sharing the overhead space on the plane will probably appreciate this thing not taking your last adventure home with you. 

Now odds are when you’re traveling, this pack will be close by your side or on your back the majority of the time. But for those time you want to leave this thing behind or add an extra layer of security, the YKK zippers include small holes for you to throw a lock on there. 

Also, I’m not sure if you would consider this security, but I do like that the tech compartment is located against your back, giving you one less this to worry about someone trying to access it without you feeling or knowing about it.  

Tortuga Travel Backpack Aesthetics

Tying back to my earlier comments about the matte black look, I personally think this bag looks great. I like to travel under the radar when possible, and this bag isn’t flashy or attention seeking. 

I also really enjoy the sailcloth material, as I don’t feel like I’m carrying a massive cube of a suitcase on my back. Where some companies have tried to accomplish similar goals yet produce massive turtle-shell-looking bags, this flexible material looks and feels more organic to travel around in.

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

Is The Tortuga Travel Backpack Worth The Price?

You will have noticed that this pack does not come cheap. In fact at $349 its decidedly bloody expensive so the question inevitably arises as to whether or not its worth it.

The answer is never quite so clear as a straightforward yes or no and the truth is more nuanced. In our view, good quality travel gear is worth investing in. We are the kind of travellers who use our gear a lot and spend large chunks of time living out of backpacks and cases so we well and truly value them. The Tortuga Travel Backpack has enough good features and is made from high quality materials to justify the price tag in our experience but we know that it is simply going to be over the budget of some potential buyers.

Just remember that if you do opt for a cheaper piece of gear then you will end up having to replace it within a few years whereas the Tortuaga Travel Backpack is built to last for life – in fact it comes with a pretty strong lifetime warranty…

The Tortuga Lifetime Warranty

Tortuga offers a Worldwide Warranty promising protection against defects in materials and craftsmanship for as long as you own the pack. If it fails on you due to a defect, they’ll repair it, replace it, or refund you. A little piece of mind when trekking around never hurt anyone, and with a company that stands behind its products, you can be that much more confident in your investment.

We feel that this alone says a hell of a lot about the sheer quality of this pack and we hope you keep this in mind when mulling over the price tag.

The Tortuga Travel Pack Vs The Rest

Not connivced yet? Want to know how the Tortuga Travel Pack compares against its rivals? Well let’s now take a moment to see how the Tortuga Travel Pack 40L compares to other, similar packs. 

Nomatic Travel Bag 40L

When I first saw the new Tortuga Travel pack 40l, my initial thought was that it was reminiscent of Nomatics 40l travel backpack.  Both travel packs are designed for carry on, utilize space in the same way, offer similar packing options and the laptop sleeves feel similar too. Further, both are  sleek and stylish, both fashioned from high quality materials and both at a similar price point.

In all honesty I struggle to choose between the two. Both are great. If you want to know more about the Nomatic then check out our detailed Nomatic Travel Bag review.

TropicFeel Shell Backpack

If you are after something a bit different, then check out the Shell Backpack by TropicFeel. It’s basically a highly innovative backpack that adapts from a 22l daypack into a 40l travel pack. The most novel feature is probably the “pull out wardrobe” which makes packing and staying organized seriously efficient. 

It also has an attachable toiletry bag, is carry on ready and uses excellent materials. Well worth the €200 price. Read our TropicFeel Shell review for more deets.

Psst! There’s a new bag on the market, the Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite , check it out.

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The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L: The Verdict

If you’re looking to get away from the roller suitcase, but keep the same packing capabilities and style, I think this pack will be your new best friend. 

This pack really allows you to ditch the traditional suitcase and throw everything you could need into one sleek bag. I’m a big fan of the Tech Compartment and suitcase/backpack hybrid design. I would definitely recommend this bag to anyone looking for a good on-the-go pack for week trips, businessmen and nomads alike.

Thanks for checking out my review of the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L, happy travels.

Aiden Freeborn

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Thanks for the review, Aiden. We hope you like the new bag.

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Tortuga backpack review: travel backpack 40l.

As a solo female backpacker, I have lugged around my fair share of baggage.  I am always on the lookout for reliable backpacks to try out and recommend, so when Tortuga sent me their 40l Travel Backpack to review I was thrilled to put it through its paces, both on a trip in the UK and abroad to Barcelona and Lisbon.  I’m excited to share my thoughts on this hand luggage backpack that not only serves as a trusty travel backpack for women and men, but is also an excellent ethical choice – read on to check out my full Tortuga backpack review!

This website contains sponsored and affiliate links. If you click through the links on this page and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. [Learn more]

I received a complimentary backpack in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own as always!

How to Choose the Best Carry-On Backpack for Travel

There are hundreds of different backpack brands and designs out there, and choosing the best travel backpack will ultimately depend on a few key factors that are most important for you. 

I’ve discussed more about what to look for in a travel backpack in this other article , and in this Tortuga backpack review, I’ll cover aspects including the size, weight and design of the backpack, the amount of storage and ease of use, as well as the cost and sustainability of the backpack.

Hopefully, after all that you’ll know if the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l really is the best carry-on backpack for you.  *SPOlLER ALERT* – I love it!

Tortuga Backpack Review At a Glance

CHECK PRICES on the Tortuga Website

About the Tortuga Travel Backpacks in Detail

Tortuga is a small, founder-led business based in the US.  After a backpacking trip to Europe when they both struggled with their luggage, two childhood friends Fred and Jeremy decided to make their own backpack which solved all of the issues they had to deal with in other backpacks.

The current Tortuga Travel Backpacks have replaced the Tortuga Setout and the Tortuga Outbreaker, previous models which have now been discontinued.  Tortuga took the best of these, put it into the new Travel Backpack design, and made it even better.

If you come across the Setout or Outbreaker second-hand, they are still great backpacks, but as this review is just about the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l , I will focus on this pack.

My Testing of the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l

In the past couple of months, I have certainly got plenty of use out of the backpack so I could fully try it out.

The first time I used it was for a 6-week trip to Leeds when I was travelling on the train in the UK.  I had a separate wheeled suitcase and packed the backpack lightly as a test run so I could get used to it.

Then I used the Tortuga 40l Travel Backpack as a hand luggage bag in addition to a larger check-in wheeled backpack when I flew to Barcelona for a 3-month stay. I still didn’t cram the bag full as I had my separate check-in bag, but it gave me a good idea of what this carry-on backpack was capable of.

From Barcelona, I went to Lisbon for 5 days, and used my Tortuga backpack as my main carry-on bag, with no checked luggage.  This was the real test, as I was travelling for a conference so needed a variety of clothes for meetings and exploring Lisbon, as well as my laptop and everything else I usually pack.

In all cases, the Tortuga backpack held up remarkably well and I think I have found my new favourite carry-on backpack!

Tortuga Travel Backpack Size

The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l has a very apt name, considering it is a travel backpack with a 40l capacity.  The boxy design uses up every available millilitre of capacity, without losing valuable packing space that is often taken up by wheels or curved edges in other carry-on luggage.

If you want something a bit smaller, the Tortuga Weekender Backpack 30l is basically the same design but in a slightly smaller size, which would be great for weekend trips.

The exact dimensions of the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l when empty is 21.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 inches or 55 x 35 x 20 cm for those working on the metric system.  The good news is that it is suitable for putting in the overhead compartments of US and international airlines.

It is too big to go under most seats though so wouldn’t be classed as a personal item – check out the Tortuga laptop backpack for that, although be careful with budget airlines who are very tight on the dimensions they will allow.

Either way, before you fly I’d still recommend double-checking the exact carry-on dimensions specified by your airline, and one thing you should be careful of is making sure the size and weight of the backpack still comes within airline restrictions once you have filled it up.

As it is a soft backpack and not a hard case carry-on suitcase, there can be some bulging if it is stuffed full.  And as it is so roomy, you might find it weighs more than the hand luggage limits when fully packed – so keep an eye on that, as some airlines have limits as low as 6 or 7 kgs!  

Appearance and Style

At first glance, the Tortuga backpacks seem a little austere – they are only available in black, and the only visible branding is a subtle turtle shell icon in the top centre of the back panel, which is also black, and small black turtle icons on the black buckles.

If it was a check-in bag I’d want some more distinguishing features or would add a colourful strap around it so I could easily spot it on the luggage carousel, but as this is a carry-on backpack it doesn’t need to stand out. 

In fact, as someone who prefers to blend in with the crowd and look as little like a tourist as possible, the Tortuga backpacks are perfect.  

The only contrasting colour is on the internal pockets which are light grey which is nice as you can easily distinguish the different pockets inside.  I suppose they might get dirty with frequent use, but as no one sees inside but you I don’t think it matters.

Durability and Material

This backpack is extremely sturdy.  I love how strong it is, and it is so well made it felt like I could throw it out of the plane and it would be fine (not that I would do that!).  As well as sturdy shoulder straps, there is a carry handle at the top and on the side of the backpack.

These are the technical details:

According to the Tortuga website , the body fabric is made from SHELL, a three-layer, laminated “sailcloth” material originally developed for the sails of racing boats.  It is durable, lightweight, and waterproof up to 200+ PSI / 13.8+ Bar.  

SHELL is 100% recycled and uses no harmful TPU, PVC, DWR, or other coatings.  The durable, water-repellent coating doesn’t contain fluorocarbons like PFAS/PFOA or any VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Tortuga uses water-resistant YKK zippers for durability and security, and there are lockable zippers on the three main backpack compartments.

Packing Compartments

I am used to having one large space with a couple of pockets, like the Osprey 40 l backpack.  However, the Tortuga Travel Backpack splits up the available packing space into smaller compartments. I found this a bit difficult to get used to at first but once I’d decided what should be packed in each place, it was much easier to find everything!

The main compartment has lockable zips and opens up like a clam shell so you can see everything inside without having to stick your arm in and feel around.  It is large enough for two standard size packing cubes, or one packing cube and whatever else you want to fit in the other side.

I am a recent convert to packing cubes and I love them as they keep my clothes neat and tidy.  You can buy Tortuga packing cubes which are a perfect fit, but mine were from Amazon and also fitted just fine.

The main compartment also has a mesh pocket which is handy for things like dirty clothes or sandals – when I went to Lisbon I rolled up some bulky clothes which wouldn’t fit in my packing cube and popped them in there which worked well.  The zips on the main compartment are lockable for extra security.

The front compartment opens halfway and has lots of handy pockets in the organizer panel, as well as a Kindle sleeve.  The zips are lockable here too so you could keep your passport, wallet or travel documents in here and know they are secure.

There is a separate laptop compartment which is a fleece-lined padded pocket, suitable for laptops up to 16 inches, and another compartment that fits a 12.9″ tablet.  There is also a smaller mesh pocket which fits my laptop charger and mouse perfectly.

The laptop compartment is closest to your back when wearing the backpack and I liked that it was close to me and protected from potential knocks coming from the outside.  The fleece felt lovely and soft too so I was confident my laptop was safe – and locked the zips on this compartment too for extra peace of mind!

The small top pocket has a key clip which is handy, although I was still nervous about putting keys in there in a pickpocket hotspot like Barcelona, so I preferred to keep those in the zippable compartment and put things like tissues and lip balm in the top.

On the front, there is also a flat pocket which comes in handy for paperwork or anything slim that wants shoving somewhere out of the way.

There are two external side pockets for water bottles and other things like umbrellas too. My Water-to-Go water bottle fits perfectly, but larger bottles might be too much of a squeeze as the pockets don’t have much stretch to them.  

Another nice little feature is the pockets on the hip belt.  They are too small for my travel wallet but useful for spare change, tissues and other bits and bobs.

Comfort and Fit

This Tortuga backpack is one of the most comfortable backpacks I’ve ever worn.  For reference, I’m around 5 ft 7 tall, or 1 metre 70 cm.

One of the best comfort features is the adjustable height, meaning you can move the height of the shoulder straps up and down to find the perfect position for you based on your height and distance from the base of your neck to the bottom of your back. 

I watched the video on the Tortuga website which shows you how to adjust your backpack and had some help measuring my back from my mum.  The velcro securing the straps is very strong so it takes a bit of effort to separate and move the straps, but once they are in the right place they will stay there!

When I first tried on the backpack, the hip belt was around my waist so it didn’t take any of the weight, but once I moved it to rest on my hips it was much better – it can take 80% of the weight off of your shoulders which makes a huge difference to comfort, both at the time and then later on once you’ve taken it off!

The shoulder straps are lovely and thick, with foam padding on the straps and back pads to cushion the weight with a breathable area around the spine.  It was also more comfortable with the sternum strap fastened to add extra support.

Added Extras

Aside from the backpack itself, there are several things that elevate Tortuga above most other travel backpack brands.

Firstly, the fact that Tortuga’s travel backpacks are made with recycled material is a big plus. Another big bonus is their home try-on program.  This means you can try out a Tortuga backpack at home to see if it’s right for you. Practice packing it to see what will fit in and adjust it to make sure it fits you properly.

If it’s not what you were expecting, as long as you send it back within 30 days of purchase they’ll pay for the return shipping and give you a full refund.  Many backpacks you buy via Amazon would probably be covered in a similar way too, but for buying directly from manufacturers it is more unusual.

Once you’ve decided to keep the backpack, Tortuga also offers a worldwide warranty that guarantees against defects in materials and craftsmanship for as long as you own your bag.  According to their website, if your backpack fails due to a defect, Tortuga will repair it, replace it, or refund your money (at their discretion), depending on product availability. 

I haven’t had any issues with my backpack, so haven’t needed to test that offer but it’s reassuring to know it’s there if I do need it.

One other thing I only noticed after digging around the Tortuga website is that Tortuga offers two yearly study abroad scholarships of $1000 and a free travel backpack to American students who want to study abroad.  The money can be used for tuition, room and board, books, or travel.  I’m all about encouraging people to travel and thought this is a really cool way of helping young people to travel more. 

Affordability

The Tortuga Travel Backpacks do come in at the higher end of the budget scale, with prices currently listed on their website as $350 USD for the 40l pack and $325 for the 30l backpack.   

However, if you are travelling for a long time or heading to a remote location, having a comfortable and sturdy backpack that will keep all your belongings safe is worth spending a bit more money on.

When considering cost, you should also take into account the worldwide warranty and all the extras I mentioned above, so you know you will be covered should something go wrong with the backpack, and feel good for choosing a backpack made from recycled materials.   

User Experience

As I said earlier, I used my backpack for several different trips and it worked really well for all of them.  They were city trips, but I wouldn’t hesitate to take the Tortuga travel backpack further afield.

Although it isn’t designed as a hiking backpack, you could probably take this on hikes too, as it is so comfortable.  I only used it walking around cities, but don’t see why it wouldn’t be suitable for a day hike at least, and maybe more.

It was super comfy, and surprisingly roomy, as well as well made and fitting into the carry-on compartment on my flights.  It’s a shame they only have US shipping at the moment, but hopefully, it will become available in other countries soon.

Anything I Didn’t Like?

The only thing that irritated me a bit was the hip belt.  Because the Velcro strap is quite narrow, it flapped around when not fastened, and when I took off the backpack it got caught in my phone strap (that I wear like a little cross-body bag). 

The straps could get caught or tripped over if you carry it by the top or side handle or if it is sitting on the ground.  The hip belt is removable via a Velcro strap, but if you do remove it there is nowhere specific to store it when the bag is stuffed full, although it would probably fit in the front flat pocket if the pack isn’t too full.  Somewhere to stash or secure the straps would be great to keep these out of the way when I’m not using them.

However, I didn’t knock any star ratings off for this as I am very happy there is a hip belt – I’ve used a 40l backpack without one and hated it, so I will still take this over no hip belt at all!

Now I’m nit-picking, but while the zips can be locked with a padlock it would be nice if the zips locked themselves or if a couple of padlocks were included in the price of the backpack.  I usually carry my own padlocks with me anyway for hostel lockers but there are 3 compartments which could be locked, so I don’t want to bring several padlocks with me on every trip.

I also forgot to unlock the padlocks when I got to the airport security line so everyone behind me had to wait while I faffed around to unfasten them – not my finest hour! 

That said, these are minor gripes and I really did love this backpack – just a couple of things I’d love to see in a future design.

Final Thoughts on My Tortuga Backpack Review

I love the Tortuga Travel Backpack – I was actually surprised at how much I loved it!  These days I often travel with a wheeled case, or a wheeled backpack, as carrying heavy weight on my back is not ideal now I’m over 40 (eek!!!).  However, I could manage this backpack quite nicely, and it didn’t feel too heavy thanks to the adjustable padded straps and hip belt which took a lot of the strain. 

It’s a subtle design, with lots of handy features – and a huge plus is the recycled materials, worldwide warranty and the scholarship program.

Overall I have no hesitations in recommending the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l to other travellers, digital nomads and backpackers looking for an understated and comfortable carry-on backpack for travel.  I hope you’ve found this Tortuga backpack review useful – please let me know in the comments below if you’ve used this carry-on backpack and what you thought of it!

You might also like:

The Best Carry On Backpacks

Travel Backpack Essentials

What to Pack in a Carry On

How to Fly Alone for the First Time

Hi! I'm Claire Sturzaker, a 30-something foodie traveller who loves to enjoy the best of a destination without breaking the bank. I'm here to help you and all women backpackers to plan their best budget travel adventure. I am an avid supporter of female solo travel, and took my first solo trip 20 years ago! I love to write about travel, hostels, backpacking and van life.

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The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

By Kit Dillon

Kit Dillon is a writer focused on bags and travel gear. He has worked for Wirecutter for a decade and lost count of the number of bags he has tested.

When you open up your favorite carry-on travel backpack, it should feel like you’re opening the door to a well-organized closet or sitting down at a clean desk, with everything in the right place and easy to reach.

This is your moment to center yourself, no matter how chaotic the journey.

What we considered

A 45-liter bag maximizes overhead space but can get heavy when fully packed; 35-liter bags tend to be more manageable.

A bag with a clamshell design opens like a book and is the easiest to pack, but a bag that opens traditionally tends to have more structure.

Ideally, a travel backpack has handles on all sides—especially the bottom—so you can pull it out of overhead bins or from under seats.

Some internal pockets are useful, but major organizing is better managed with packing cubes.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L offer the best combination of features, quality, and durability. Both bags are exemplary carry-on travel backpacks that are designed for comfort, durability, and organization. Though these backpacks are great as companion bags for any trip, they’re designed to ultimately replace all of your other luggage and become your exclusive bag as you travel.

This style of packing is not for everyone, but once some people try it, they’re forever hooked. Finding the right bag is a personal choice, though, and no single bag will appeal to everyone. That’s why we also have picks that are great for people who travel for work , others that are designed to be carried over long distances , and a bag that’s basically luggage on your back .

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, best small carry-on bag for most situations: cotopaxi allpa 35l travel pack, best large bag for most situations: peak design travel backpack 45l, best mobile office: patagonia black hole mlc 45l, best bag for long journeys on foot: osprey farpoint 40 and fairview 40, best bag if you need a large suitcase on your back: tortuga travel backpack pro 40l, other good carry-on travel backpacks, how we picked and tested, the competition.

I’ve been covering aspects of luggage and travel bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade, and I have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. I personally try to do most of my travel with a single backpack, whenever possible. I spent nine months roaming around Hawaii with not much more than that, and I spent another six months nomadically couch-surfing in New York City.

I reached out to writers who specialize in traveling the world carrying everything they need in a single bag: Eytan Levy, the owner and operator of the Snarky Nomad travel website; James Feess, founder of The Savvy Backpacker ; and Sharon Gourlay, of the Where’s Sharon? travel website. I also spoke with moderators of Reddit’s r/onebag and r/heronebag forums, as well as with Chase Reeves, bag fanatic, reviewer, and owner of Matterful .

We researched and tested bags designed for those who want to travel light and stay flexible while flying, without the burden of checking luggage. For some people, the challenge of cutting down a packing list is intimidating. But if you can get past that initial hurdle, traveling with a single bag is a revelation. With fewer items, you have more time to concentrate on and appreciate the journey.

• When you’re not loaded down by heavy luggage, it’s easy to remain more mobile. And it’s easier to adjust your plans mid-trip. If you’re willing to do laundry on the road, then one bag is all you need to travel indefinitely. At its heart, one-bag travel allows you to discover more—not just about the places you’re going but also about yourself and what you really need day to day.
• Size and weight still matter. If you desire more creature comforts or more gear, or if you plan to be away for a long time across multiple climates, you’ll want a bigger travel backpack . These larger bags tend not to be carry-on-friendly, however, especially in Europe, so be prepared to check them.
• No single backpack is perfect for everyone. Before you make any purchase, consider some basic points. How much can you carry? And where do you usually visit: the city or outback? Travel gear should feel like a welcome companion—there to support you when you need it but unobtrusive when you don’t.

45-liter bag vs. 35-liter bag

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A versatile small pack for a week or a weekend.

This durable bag’s clamshell design makes it easy to organize your stuff. And due to its strap design, this bag can be worn on your back or carried in your hand while you’re on the move.

Buying Options

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is an easy-to-organize, comfortable-to-carry bag for getaways lasting just a few days or a whole week.

It’s one bag that can do it all. This is a great all-around bag for any traveler who’s dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. There are handles on all four sides of this bag, so it’s easy to grab no matter where you’ve stowed it. It’s also protected by a full lifetime warranty, and it has the build quality to back that up. After more than four years of testing, this single backpack (plus a personal item ) has replaced nearly every travel bag or piece of luggage I use.

It comes in various sizes, but we think the middle-of-the-road version is the best. Cotopaxi also makes the Allpa in 28-liter and 42-liter sizes. But for us, the 35-liter bag is the best option. At 42 liters, this bag becomes heavy for most people to carry when it is fully packed, and we’d prefer that it had a more-robust hip belt. At 28 liters, the bag becomes a touch small for most people, and its internal organization feels fussy for shorter trips, such as an overnight. Cotopaxi also makes a hip pack , which is designed to fit snugly into the Allpa bag’s front top compartment. It’s a neat little addition to the bag, and it is worth getting if you like wearing fanny packs while you travel.

It’s organized, easy to pack, and easy to carry. The Allpa bag has a clamshell design, so it opens like a hard-sided suitcase—a large YKK zipper runs around three sides of the bag, allowing it to fall open into two halves when unzipped. On the right side is a deep compartment, spacious enough for two large packing cubes or half a suitcase’s worth of clothing (which you access through a mesh zippered flap). On the left, there’s space for one more medium-size packing cube behind a zippered flap. Above that there are two smaller pockets with high-visibility backing—useful when you’re looking for hard-to-differentiate personal items.

It’s secure but still accessible. The Allpa pack has two side-access zippers—great for on-the-go access, especially when the bag is hanging from your shoulder. One of these reveals a flat computer pocket with a padded false bottom; so if you drop the bag, it won’t land on the corner of your computer. The other reveals a “secret” pocket with a hidden zipper and access to the main compartment. All of the main compartment zippers are protected by security loops, which you thread the zipper through at the end of its run. This prevents anyone from subtly or quickly grabbing a zipper and opening your bag when you aren’t paying attention.

It’s comfortable to carry. The Allpa bag’s hip belt—which can be removed while the bag is on your back—is substantial enough that it’s comfortable to wear when you need it. With or without the hip belt, the Allpa bag is comfortable to carry over long distances. However, folks who have longer torsos (over 19 inches) may find that the waist belt sits a little high off the hips, unless you fully extend the shoulder straps. Speaking of shoulder straps, unlike the ones on our other picks, the Allpa bag’s straps are contoured to fit people who have large or small chests. It’s not a specifically gendered design, but our female tester noticed the improvement right away.

The Allpa pack is made with 1680-denier ballistic nylon, similar to the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 . (Denier is a measure of a fabric’s fiber thickness.) It feels similar to a strong canvas, but it has a more prominent weave. This is the type of bag that’s as easy to toss into an overhead compartment as it is into the back of a rusty pickup truck. And it also includes a rainfly, which is unique in this category.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Though this pack is well organized for packing, it’s less ideal as a mobile office. The Allpa pack has a minimal amount of administrative organization—places to keep pens and papers, spaces to hold tickets, and so forth. This is where a good personal item comes in handy. However, if you want to travel with just this one bag, there are a few nooks you can hide things in. The front organizer is deep enough that you can also fit several small organizing pouches, if you want, or the aforementioned fanny pack.
• We prefer the model without the TPU front. Cotopaxi does enjoy playing around with fabrics and colors. Sometimes the company has released the Allpa pack without the TPU-lined front panel. The TPU panel improves water resistance, but after many years of traveling with our bag, we’ve found that the TPU layering can begin to flake in spots.

Capacity: 35 liters Weight: 3 pounds 5 ounces Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: adventurous Colors: assorted

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

An easily customizable large bag for long trips and expensive gear.

This bag was built with photographers in mind. Yet most travelers will appreciate its easy accessibility, clever tuck-away straps, and the elegant way the bag expands and contracts. The accessory cubes cost extra, though.

The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is a good choice for those carrying more expensive gear—especially camera gear. It’s also great for those who prefer a large, backpack-based packing system.

One bag provides many configurations. Some bags in this category are built to do one thing extremely well—be carried on your back. But the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is built to adapt. It’s the Swiss Army knife of backpacks: adjustable, customizable, and (if you spring for the extra cubes and organizers) an almost perfect system for a photographer or gearhead on the move. Most bags’ expanding mechanisms aren’t worth the extra zipper they’re built on, and they look about as attractive as a boiled ham splitting out of its plastic packaging. That’s not the case with the Peak Design: This bag looks just as good fully packed at 45 liters as it does compressed to a 30-liter daypack.

It’s expandable, with clever folds and zippers. You can access the bag through a back panel (which doubles as a computer and tablet pouch) as well as a front one (if you unzip the pass-through divider). You can also get into the main compartment via two wing-like trapezoidal flaps, which run along each side of the pack. In its natural shape, the Travel Backpack holds 35 liters, but an expansion zipper lets the bag swell to 45 liters. If you want to use the bag as a daypack, you fold in the top corners and snap them down, reducing the bag’s volume to a slim 30 liters. In this configuration, it will still feel larger than a normal daypack, but we think that’s a small compromise for being able to use one backpack as both your travel bag and your daily explorer. The bag itself consists of 400-denier nylon and polyester fabrics. It feels tough but not as tough as some other bags we’ve tested, such as the Cotopaxi Allpa.

It has fold-away straps, for easier storage. The Peak Design lets you tuck its shoulder and hip straps away when you’re not using them. But unlike any other bag we’ve ever tested, this pack has magnetic flaps on the back panel that open and close with an almost magical snap. Once you’ve played with them, you’ll wonder why every backpack doesn’t have something similar. A small, childish part of me still gets excited about tucking away the straps when I put the Peak Design into an overhead bin. Although the straps are thin, they’re still comfortable. The hip belt isn’t quite as plush as the one on the Tortuga pack; still, even when the Peak Design is fully loaded, the belt doesn’t pinch or dig into the body.

It’s great for carrying expensive gear. If you travel with a camera, you don’t have to use Peak Design’s camera cubes , but they do make carrying that gear a whole lot easier. The cubes come in five sizes. And if they’re situated properly in the bag with the provided clips, they line up with the Travel Backpack’s side-access flaps for quick access. Caleigh Waldman (a photographer for this piece and, full disclosure, my spouse) took this bag across the country for a wedding shoot. “I want this backpack,” she said after three weeks of travel. “I want to travel with it everywhere. With my cameras. Without my cameras. It doesn’t matter. I want to travel with it.”

• It’s expensive—especially if you commit to the entire system of packing and camera cubes.
• More complexity means more things that can break. The adjustable design and multiple zippers do add complexity, and complexity adds potential weaknesses. Peak Design covers all of its bags with a lifetime warranty , which should alleviate most people’s concerns. But if you’re particularly hard on your gear and still need to carry as much as possible, you might consider the Tortuga bag instead.

Capacity: 45 liters Weight: 4½ pounds Main compartment access: back-panel loader Style: minimalist and unobtrusive Color: black, sage

Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L

Combines more organization with a simple interior.

This bag’s split interior makes organizing easy. Those who travel for work will appreciate this bag’s dedicated panels for organizing tech, books, papers, and assorted miscellaneous items.

If you travel often for business and prefer a bag that’s much easier to work out of than most of our other picks, you may like the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L . This bag has a front panel and assorted pockets that make it feel like a small traveling office.

It’s built like luggage but organized like your office. Of all the bags we recommend, the MLC (short for Maximum Legal Carry) comes closest to being a suitcase on your back, due to its large size, simple interior, and minimal external features. The MLC is also one of the simplest bags we tested, divided into two leaves (imagine a book with only one page), with a main compartment for packing and a second compartment for document organization and tech storage. The MLC has a built-in laptop compartment that fits 17-inch laptops and is situated close to your back; this protects the computer and keeps its weight closer to your body.

Despite its size, it’s comfortable enough to carry. Most carry-on backpacks of this size, without frames, become somewhat unwieldy when fully packed. Thankfully, the Black Hole MLC bag, like the Cotopaxi Allpa, is a welcome exception to this rule. The MLC has two shoulder straps, a hip belt, and an optional shoulder strap, for easy carrying. When they're not in use, or when you’re checking your bag, all of the straps can be stowed away easily. When fully loaded, the bag was pleasant to carry—not as comfortable as the Peak Design or the Osprey, but decent enough. I wouldn’t want to carry it all day across a city, but I wouldn’t mind carrying it through an airport to a car and to a hotel.

It’s built from high-quality materials, with durability in mind. This pack is made from recycled polyester, and the fabric is woven in a cross-weave that’s very similar to what Patagonia uses in its long-lasting Black Hole series of duffle bags . This is a material I’ve come across a bunch with Patagonia gear, and I’ve tested it thoroughly; it’s very tough. The front of the bag is coated in a weather-resistant TPU, for extra protection from the elements. The bag has large YKK zippers (the industry leader) and smaller YKK zippers throughout. Unlike the Cotopaxi Allpa pack, the Black Hole MLC bag has no security loops.

It comes with one of the best repair programs and a lifetime warranty. Similar to our other picks, the MLC is backed by an excellent lifetime warranty , and we’ve always found that Patagonia’s repair program goes above and beyond other comparable companies.

• We wish the Maximum Legal Carry (despite the name) came in a few more sizes. The 45-liter capacity may be intimidating for some people, and there is no alternative.

Capacity: 45 liters Weight: 3 pounds 10 ounces Main compartment access: clamshell Style: retro Colors: tan, black, olive, green

Osprey Farpoint 40

For long distances on foot.

A great starter option for one-bag travel, this bag is easy to pack, adaptable to most situations, and sturdy enough to take with you as you travel the world.

Osprey Fairview 40

For long distances and smaller torsos.

A scaled-down version of the Farpoint, this bag has shoulder straps that are slightly lower, to keep the bag’s bulk more aligned with smaller torsos.

Updated in 2023, the Osprey Farpoint 40 and Fairview 40 packs are both built around a hiking backpack frame that’s easy to carry over long distances.

It’s built for travel but designed for hiking. The Farpoint 40 bag is well made, easy to pack, and comfortable to carry over most mid-length distances—such as walking across a city for an afternoon. (For simplicity’s sake, everything we say here about the Farpoint bag also applies to the Fairview bag.) Osprey makes excellent backpacks for hauling around, and its lifetime warranty is renowned within the industry . The Farpoint pack also has an optional messenger bag–style strap, which offers some flexibility when you’re maneuvering tight spaces like subways or crowded city centers.

It’s simple to pack, but not as spacious as it seems. Opening the bag reveals a clamshell design; it’s deep enough to accommodate most large items, yet you won’t have to fumble awkwardly with zippers once it’s time to close up the bag. The feeling you get is not unlike when you’re packing a bit of sturdy luggage, and that’s something we love about bags like this one—especially when you use packing cubes . Osprey says this bag, when fully packed, can carry 40 liters. But after using the Farpoint bag for a few years, we’ve decided that its rounded shape seems to cut into that theoretical packable space more than other bags do. In practice, the Farpoint pack’s available space is closer to—but still less than—that of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

It’s the easiest bag to carry among our picks. Like all Osprey bags, the Farpoint 40 has very comfortable shoulder straps. The years of design and consideration Osprey has put into its hiking backpacks are quite evident in the Farpoint 40. After more than seven years of long-term testing this bag, we’re still surprised by how great it feels to wear when fully packed. Crucially, the straps of the Farpoint 40 stow away neatly behind a zippered panel. However, when you’re using the shoulder straps, the design forces you to also use the hip straps. Though this isn’t a huge issue, if you prefer a sleeker look or would rather have the option of using shoulder straps without hip straps, the Cotopaxi Allpa pack is more flexible, and it lets you hide the waist straps while the bag is on your back.

The Fairview 40 has the same features, in a scaled-down size. The Farpoint 40 and the Fairview 40 packs basically have the same design, but the Fairview pack is made for someone with a more-diminutive torso. It’s also slightly lighter. However, it has the features and durability of the Farpoint bag. It also has the same hip belt and adjustability. On both, the chest-strap clip is also equipped with a small security whistle that’s surprisingly loud. It’s a handy feature for anyone traveling in unfamiliar environments.

• For a smaller carry-on travel backpack, this one has little to not like. However, we do wish Osprey would trade some of the sleeker contours for a little more interior space.

Capacity: 35 liters Weight (Farpoint): 3 pounds 3 ounces Weight (Fairview): 3 pounds 2 ounces Main compartment access: front-panel loader Style: active Colors (Farpoint): green (Gopher), gray (Tunnel Vision), blue (Muted Space), black Colors (Fairview): blue (Winter Night), red (Zircon), blue (Night Jungle), black

Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L

A suitcase to carry on your back.

For dedicated single-bag travelers, this water-resistant, durable bag is easy to pack and to travel with. And it’s comfortable to wear over endless miles—as long as you don’t mind the heavier weight.

The Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L maximizes packing space in a bag that’s durable, water-resistant, and customizable to fit most torso lengths (there’s also a 30L version ), with plenty of organizational features to suit any digital nomad.

It’s like a suitcase, with backpack straps. The Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L is built to occupy the maximum carry-on space available. It’s a nearly perfect blend of backpack and luggage. On the outside, its tear-resistant sailcloth and sealed zippers provide ample protection from sharp objects and the elements. Opening the main clamshell zipper reveals a cavernous interior and a few organizational features that make the bag a cinch to pack. The front panel is a particular standout, great for keeping track of electronics and chargers. Of all the bags we tested, the Tortuga strikes the closest balance between the carrying comfort of a hiking backpack and the space and organization of a piece of luggage.

It’s as easy to pack as luggage. When it comes to packing, the Tortuga pack has a soothingly minimal interior, as any good suitcase should. In addition to the bag’s cavernous main pocket, its interior lid has a large vented panel. The panel is too narrow to hold additional packing cubes, but it’s great for holding light jackets or doubling as a dirty-laundry bag (if you’re really committed to one-bag travel). The Tortuga is available as a 40-liter pack (the maximum space for a carry-on bag), which we tested; there is also a 30-liter version, which is compliant with some intra-European flights. The more-diminutive version is a decent choice for weekend travel or for minimalist travelers—but for those uses, we prefer the space-saving profile and extra internal organization of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L bag.

It’s very customizable. The Tortuga pack is the most adjustable model we tested, thanks to its adjustable torso length, shoulder straps, and waist-belt system. The adjustable strap system lets you manipulate the location of the shoulder straps (video) to fit a wider variety of body sizes, in both the 30- and 40-liter versions. Of the packs we’ve tested, this one (with its included load-adjuster straps at the top, to prevent the bag’s weight from sagging toward your lumbar region) is the best at distributing its weight (4½ pounds when empty—roughly 1½ pounds more than most of our other picks, except the Peak Design ). The hip straps are removable if you need, but the shoulder straps are not stowable.

• Its straps don’t stow away. Some people, especially those who are hard on their gear, may consider not being able to remove or stow the shoulder straps (as they can with our other picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa ) a disqualifying factor. But after years of testing, traveling with, and occasionally checking our bag, we haven’t had an issue. However, if these mysteries beneath the airport also make you nervous, you might prefer our picks with easy-to-stow straps, such as the Peak Design.
• It's heavy. We’ve fielded complaints from some testers who said that older models of this bag were too heavy for them to carry, even with the padded hip belt and adjustable straps. The additional padding does add weight. At 4½ pounds, this latest Tortuga bag is more than half a pound lighter than it used to be (the difference is noticeable), and it weighs the same as the equally large Peak Design pack. We are currently testing a new, lighter, and less-expensive version of this pack—aptly named the Travel Backpack Lite 40L —and will report back soon.  In the meantime, if you think you would struggle carrying the Tortuga, we strenuously encourage you to consider one of our more-manageable picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L.

Capacity: 40 liters Weight: 4½ pounds Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: minimal, with a rigid construction Color: black

If you want to travel like a backpacker but also fit in at a board meeting (and you have the budget for it): Consider the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 . This bag’s reputation for durability, adaptability, and a low-key aesthetic make it a favorite among many dedicated one-bag travelers. And after testing it, we think it’s a great bag too. That said, for the bag to really stand out against other backpacks—and to take full advantage of its carrying adaptability—you need to buy the internal frame , the hip belt , and (if you’re traveling with a suit or jacket) the shoulder strap . On a bag that already costs $330, all of this adds up. Everything about the Tom Bihn bag (the fabric, the zippers, the quality of construction) feels like an upgrade from other bags, but it’s simply too pricey, and its design is too rarified and specific for most people. The biggest flaw, from our perspective—apart from the price—is that the Tom Bihn bag lacks a dedicated laptop pocket. In its place, the company sells laptop sleeves (a fine version if you don’t have one) that clip into the bag’s central compartment. Not everyone needs a dedicated laptop pocket, but we prefer the more secure feeling of bags that do.

If you want a budget pick (but only when it’s on sale): The eBags Mother Lode Travel Backpack (our former budget pick) is still your best budget option, if you can catch it on sale for at least half off the list price. It’s not comfortable enough for trekking long distances on foot, but there are plenty of external pockets for organization, a laptop sleeve (which holds the weight of your computer high up on your shoulders), and an easy-to-access main compartment. This pack also has the largest capacity of any bags we tested, expanding to 65 liters—well beyond any airline’s regulated 45-liter limit. However, the bag’s casual-to-basic looks might not be to everyone’s taste. In 2024, eBags raised the price of the Mother Lode to $200. We have seen it on sale for $100, and in our opinion it’s worth getting only at the sale price.

We’ve narrowed our specifications for a great bag to the following list of features, ordered from most relevant to least:

• Front- or back-panel loader or clamshell opening, for the main compartment: As with any good piece of luggage, with this type of bag, you should be able to open it and see everything you’ve packed. When you have a bag with a panel-loading or clamshell design—rather than a traditional, top-opening design—you can pack and unpack it just as you would a suitcase.

• Backpack strap comfort and design: You never know when you’ll be walking farther with your bag than you’d intended. The more comfortable and well designed the straps are, the easier traveling will be. “Ideally, you want a bag’s shoulder straps to adjust to the angle of your shoulders,” said Eytan Levy of Snarky Nomad. “Good shoulder straps are the difference between an easy trip and a hard trip.”
• Hip-belt comfort and design: A hip belt transfers heavy loads from your back and shoulders onto your hips, letting your legs—not your back—bear the brunt of the weight. Just having a waist belt is a plus, but having a padded and sculpted one—especially on bags with over 40 liters of volume—makes a world of difference.
• Material quality: Durability is critical for any type of luggage, but especially for a backpack that will be your only bag. Most bags worth considering are made of nylon, which resists abrasion more than polyester fabrics of similar density. Spending more, however, can get you exotic, light, and strong materials, such as Dyneema or sailcloth.
• Weight: Once the bags arrived, we weighed each one ourselves. Most of the bags weighed within a few pounds of one another. But unless you’re very strict with yourself, by the time you’re packed for a two-week journey, all bags are going to feel equally massive, even if one is just 2 pounds heavier than another when empty.
• Stowable straps: These are nice to have, but they aren’t absolutely necessary. “The more often you need to check a bag, the more often you need to hide away the straps,” Levy said. “But if the straps are tough enough, it doesn’t matter.”
• Accessory pocket layout and design: Some people will love an accessory pocket that has a specific space for everything; others may find that feature constricting and unadaptable. We prioritized bags with simple designs that guided our packing without constraining us.
• Style: This is purely subjective. We preferred bags that had a minimalist exterior style, but not all of our picks will please everyone. Most of the people we spoke with, however, preferred not to stick out like a tourist wearing a large, colorful backpack, if they could avoid it.

During testing, we flew across the country with these bags, took weekend trips to nearby cities, lived out of them on extended trips, and tried them locally in our daily routines. We also packed and unpacked each bag, using a standardized set of weeklong travel necessities and accessories, to see how well the internal organizational features (or lack thereof) aided or got in the way of efficient packing.

This is not a comprehensive list of all of the carry-on travel backpacks we have tested. We have removed any models that have been discontinued or that no longer meet our criteria.

The Away Outdoor Convertible Backpack 45L is a rare miss from the Away team. This bag is resoundingly average for the price. Although it’s made from excellent materials, the bag is let down by its overall design, which lacks any kind of structure or attention to comfort. There are better options.

The cheap, no-frills Cabin Max Metz bag is intriguing for the price. Any bag at this price should almost be considered disposable. That said, if you need a simple bag that costs less than a seat upgrade, this might be the way to go—unless you can pick up the eBags Motherlode bag for under $100, which we think is a better deal at that price.

The GeniusPack Travel Backpack is the only model we came across that tried to fit a suit into a travel backpack. Though some people might need that, we think those who have to travel with a suit (or clothes that require pressing) would be better off with a piece of carry-on luggage . GeniusPack now offers a second version of this bag, but our conclusion hasn’t changed.

For certain people, the GoRuck GR3 is almost worth the cost. It’s strong and simple and covered by an iron-clad repair guarantee. The removable hip belt is comfortable to wear, and it’s good at displacing the weight of a 45-liter backpack. This is a decent bag. After testing it, however, we weren’t thrilled with the internal Velcro lining for compatible Velcro packing cubes. Velcro isn’t great: It wears out, it’s difficult to keep clean, and it clings to dirt. That might seem like a small thing, but for the price, this bag should feel perfect.

The Minaal Carry-On 2.0 was designed to be a backpack for business people. But if you’re carrying it for business, you’re probably wearing at least a blazer, so you wouldn’t use a backpack in any case. If you’re a business traveler who falls more on the casual end of the business-casual spectrum, and you’re not on a budget, this is a well-thought-out pack. But we think our picks are more versatile for world travel, and they come at a better price. Minaal has since introduced a 3.0 version of this bag ; our thoughts about it remain the same.

The Osprey Sojourn Porter 46L is a slightly larger sibling of the Farpoint pack. The Sojourn Porter bag is about 2 inches longer, and it pushes right up to most airline limits. If you don’t mind possibly having to check your bag at the last minute, this would be an excellent alternative to the Farpoint pack.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Chase Reeves, Matterful.co , phone interview , October 10, 2018

Addison Ryan, moderator, r/onebag , email interview , September 8, 2018

Lindsay Lorraine Calderón, moderator, r/heronebag , phone interview , September 28, 2018

Meet your guide

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

Further reading

The Best Travel Backpack

by Geoffrey Morrison

For trips ranging from a week to multiple months, the Osprey Farpoint 55 and Fairview 55 carried everything we needed comfortably.

Wirecutter’s Favorite Bags, Totes, Backpacks and Carryalls

by Truth Headlam

Whether you’re going to school, work, the gym, the store, or on vacay, you need a bag. Here’s the Wirecutter-recommended carrying gear we love most.

The Best Buy It for Life Backpack (Please Don’t Call It Tactical)

by Kit Dillon

A buy-it-for-a-lifetime backpack should last you for years of heavy use. But as with all investments, you need to decide if it makes sense for you.

The Best Laptop Backpacks

by Zoe Vanderweide

A great laptop backpack protects your tech, is comfortable to carry, and looks good, too. These five bags are our favorites for wrangling your workday gear.

What are you looking for?

Tortuga travel backpack 40l [unbiased 2024 review].

The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L is a great carry-on travel backpack with a large capacity and plenty of organization.

It’s perfect for getaways and trips of up to one week.

If you’re looking for your next travel bag, this review might help you decide if Tortuga is right for you.

Rating: 8/10

Travellerspoint

Who exactly is Tortuga?

Tortuga’s story began with two friends.

Fred and Jeremy struggled to find the perfect travel backpack when they decided just to make it.

As a company, their mission is to make travel easier by allowing people to pack light and easily.

Personally, what I admire most about them is their product-first approach , which means they take their quality seriously.

From using SHELL fabric to YKK zippers, Tortuga is known for using only the highest quality materials and hardware .

Where can you buy the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L?

I’d recommend getting your Tortuga backpack straight from their website.

There are lots of discount codes available to students, active military and veterans, nurses, and more!

In terms of shipping, you can get free ground shipping for orders of $49 or more in the US.

While they don’t offer overseas shipping yet, you can use a freight forwarding service, which is a popular way of purchasing products internationally.

Tortuga’s World Warranty might also come in handy.

It guarantees against material and production defects, which does show how confident they are in the bag’s quality.

Get Your Tortuga Travel Backpack Here

Tortuga Travel Backpack Technical Specifications

• Price: $349
• Weight: 4.5 lb (2.0 kg)
• Dimensions: 21.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 in ​ (55 x 35 x 20 cm)
• Material: SHELL200
• Warranty: Tortuga Worldwide Warranty
• Capacity: 40 L

Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L review

To be completely honest, when I first received this bag, I was not impressed. BUT over the last couple of months during the testing period, I’ve found it more beneficial than not. 

Overall, I probably would have preferred the 30L just because I feel like the 40L overtakes my body. I believe this backpack is the updated version of the Outbreaker . 

While the bag itself is a carry-on size for flights, this definitely won’t count as a personal item so keep that in mind.

Now, let’s get into more details…

How well-made is the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L?

The main body of the bag is made up of SHELL200, which is a three-layer laminated sailcloth that’s super durable, lightweight, and waterproof.

It’s also fully recycled and contains no harmful TPU, PVC, DWR, or other coatings.

The face fabric 200D is recycled polyester, while the zippers are all Japanese YKK zippers .

At the front, you've got this small pocket that has more room in length than it does in height. It’s kind of hidden with easy access as there are no double zippers on this.

But if you tuck in the zip tag, then it makes it much harder for other people to unzip! Just a little added security…

Then on top of the bag, you have another pocket plus a key holder. 

Then there’s your organiser, which is not overwhelming and enough for travel docs and accessories. It’s pretty great for valuables because you have the double zip where you can put on a lock. 

I love the fleece material here! It’s a great spot for your phone and sunglasses.

The materials inside the backpack itself are soft, protective, ripstop nylon. It feels very durable and sturdy.

How comfortable is the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L?

The first thing I noticed about this bag, in comparison to other products, is how heavy it feels at 4.5lb or 2kg. But then I compared it to WAYKS Travel Backpack which is 2.4kg, so in hindsight, it’s not that bad.

I was very surprised at how comfortable this was because it’s so rugged and tough. 

I thought maybe the comfort of the bag might be compromised but I was pleasantly surprised at how proportioned everything was.

The hip straps and sternum strap also helps distribute that weight when the bag is fully packed. Another point for comfort! 

The overall structure and materials are what make it long-lasting. It’s built to last, and the strength and weight only add to the overall quality of the bag.

I also found it so useful to have the straps at the top of the bag. You can pull in on that for added support, which is great as you can adapt it to your build and height too.

What makes the 40L Tortuga bag a great travel backpack?

1. Compartments, clips, and more!

The organization of this Tortuga backpack is pretty great.

Straightforward and useful.

The two main compartments inside include one mesh opening. There are no unnecessary pockets so that you can pack what you want, how you want .

Some other fun features include a key clip on the top pocket and organizer pockets in the front compartment.

There is good suction on the water bottle compartment straps, so you can still use them easily even when fully packed.

2.  Clam opening

Simple yet effective. That’s what I always say about clamshell opening designs.

You’re free to adapt this bag to your needs and it also makes packing so much easier!

Especially if you’re packing for a week and have tons of stuff inside.

Though I would’ve loved a strap on the non-mesh side to help your clothing stay put, as sometimes things fall out when I “open the clam”.

3. Comfortable and breathable

Again, I was surprised by how comfortable the bag is!

The padded hip strap has proven very handy in terms of supporting the weight, but some people may feel that it doesn’t look the most flattering.

It’s removable so you can always store it inside the front hidden pocket, which is great.

The sternum strap is comfortable, though it’s not detachable. BUT you can move it up and down to fit where you need it.

Finally, the back side (arguably the most important) is all made of mesh and foam.

There’s an air channel down the middle which helps with airflow and breathability. So, this isn’t the kind of bag that soaks up sweat and sticks to your back.

4. Padded laptop and tablet sleeves

This backpack comes with not only padded, fleece-lined sleeves for your laptop, but also your tablet.

The laptop compartment goes down to about a quarter of the way, making it easy access to pull out without having your other things fly everywhere.

For me, the velcro of the laptop compartment could be stronger for added security, though I haven’t had any issue whatsoever with it.

I can also say that the padding is so strong that you can barely feel the laptop on your back when you have the backpack on!

This Tortuga backpack is incredibly durable, which is a must for travel bags.

The durable, waterproof fabric doesn’t rip or tear easily (if, at all) and you can tell just how tough it is by feeling the material.

The zippers are lockable and water-resistant, so your belongings will be kept safe, while the other hardware and buckles are best-in-class.

In addition to all that, Tortuga backpacks come with Worldwide Warranty.

6. Very spacious

Inside, there are three main compartments plus two additional compartments

The 40L capacity can fit up to around a week's worth of clothing .

If you pack smart and use packing cubes, you could probably squeeze a little more in there. 

This bag doesn’t have an extension, but I don’t feel like it needs it. There’s enough depth and room for travel, equipment, and more.

A brief thought on the overall design and aesthetics of the bag, I think it’s actually fantastic for travel because it’s not too flashy.

Cons of the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L

The style is what kind of made me turn my nose a little when I got this bag. 

But, the longer I used it, the more I grew to love it!

It’s minimalist and clean, non-flashy, and prioritizes durability over aesthetics. In the long run, this is actually better.

While the laptop padding is thick, this makes it harder to get the laptop in when fully packed.

My advice would be, if you’re packing this backpack to full, to place your electronics first in the back. Then you also have to think about getting it out at the airport and having to repack.

On a similar note, trying to get something specific when the bag is full might be a hassle. So, anything you do need quick access to you can place in your hip strap pockets.

Finally, the harness system is adaptable via velcro, but it’s loud and a bit of an effort to adjust. Yes, it’s there to adjust to your preference, but I honestly feel that the effort outweighs the use in this aspect.

I also would love to see this bag in different colours just so we can have more options!

Who should get the Travel Backpack 40L?

With all that said, I do think that the Tortuga Travel Backpack may be the perfect choice for some people.

It’s perfect for digital nomads, as you have enough room for equipment and accessories in addition to clothes.

I’d also recommend this backpack if you’re planning for a getaway.

It’s even great for hiking, especially considering the support and comfort of the straps.

It really is a bag you can adapt for your adventures!

If you’re looking for this bag but want it to be more compact, then check out the 30L version .

Tortuga Travel Backpack, 30L VS 40L

Should you get the 30L or 40L version?

Here’s how the 30L backpack compares to its larger counterpart:

Tortuga 40L Travel Backpack: Performance Over Time

These are my thoughts after using it for the first time vs two weeks.

• Instant thought was how great it would make for a backpacking bag
• Heavy even before being fully packed
• Water-resistant material is noticeable, which makes it perfect for traveling 
• Hip belt pockets are quite unique 
• Sleek and clean look

After 2 weeks:

• Still heavy, although I feel more secure in knowing my belongings are protected 
• No real expansion. For brief travels this is great, but not as a main bag for a long period of time. A week to 10 days max in terms of clothing
• Highly comfortable. Everything supports and adjusts well, from the sternum strap to the added hip belt
• Mesh compartment in the ‘packing’ area of the bag which allows for separation 

Overall verdict: Are tortuga bags worth buying?

You might be wondering…

Should you buy the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L?

My answer is yes!

It’s truly a brilliant travel backpack and it does everything it needs for that.

The materials are excellent and everything was well-made, and its comfort level is amazing.

What else does Tortuga sell?

Packing cubes.

Tortuga sells packing cubes in sets of 3, which is great if you like matching up your organizing system with the bag itself. They feature see-through mesh tops, sturdy fabric, and durable YKK zippers.

Laptop Backpack (coming soon)

If you prefer a personal item backpack instead of this 40L one, Tortuga is working on a more compact Laptop Backpack.

Tech Pouch (coming soon)

Another product that’s in the making is this Tech Pouch, which is a great organizer for cables, chargers, and other small tech accessories.

That’s it for my review of the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L.

Hopefully, you’ll have a clearer picture of how this bag fares for travel.

Have you ever used this bag?

Comment and let me know below!

Check out some of these other reviews:

• Knack Bags Expandable Backpack Review
• Pacsafe Citysafe CX Anti-Theft Backpack Review
• Peak Design Travel Backpack

Leave a comment

Let us know what you think.

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Tortuga Setout Backpack 45L Review

The Tortuga Setout is a carry-on bag that’s “just right” for the average traveler. In our Tortuga review, we discovered a few nitpicks with the backpack design.

Video Review

Our verdict.

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• Smart thinking in the design. Excellent, focused features for organized travel.
• The heathered polyester has a great aesthetic, even when dirty.
• The suitcase-like interior will have roller-luggage travelers feeling at home, while giving the freedom of a backpack.
• The hip belt is not adjustable and may not fit all people.
• There is some “sag” off your back when the pack is fully loaded.
• Somewhat flimsy framesheet, we’d prefer it to be a bit thicker.

Technical Details

Carry-on compliance.

View 54/145 Airlines

Disclaimer: We take the measurements of the bag provided by the manufacturer and compare them to the allowance listed on airline websites. This should be used as a guideline rather than a rule. Bags can change size as you pack them out, and every airline's interpretation of compliance is different. Just because a bag is listed as carry-on compliant here doesn't mean that the airline will interpret it that way.

Weight (lb)

3.3 lb (1.5 kg)

22 in x 14 in x 9 in (55.9 x 35.6 x 22.9 cm)

Notable Materials

YKK Zippers, Duraflex Hardware, Polyester

Manufacturing Country

Laptop Compartment Size

Warranty Information

Tortuga Common Decency Guarantee

Buying Options

Pros get up to 10% off

Full Review

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Alright, the time has finally come. We’ve received a lot of requests to review the Tortuga Setout, and we’re just now ready to reveal our thoughts and experiences after testing this bag for three months.

Tortuga promotes this bag as being ‘just right’ for travelers. In their own words, it “packs like a suitcase and carries like a backpack.” It’s designed to give you the capacity to carry more on your travels, while still fitting within carry on limits for most airlines.

Over the past three months, we’ve taken it to Detroit, California, and New York to put it through its paces. So, does it live up to the hype? Read on to find out.

Tortuga Review: Materials & Aesthetic

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the Tortuga Setout is similar in size to Tortuga’s other popular backpack, the Outbreaker , which offers more features but comes at a higher price tag. It is also larger and bulkier than the smaller Homebase, but that’s the intention.

Weighing in at 3.3lbs with the attached hip belt, the Setout has a roomy capacity of 45 liters and opens up like a suitcase, making it really easy to organize your things, and grab what you need as soon as you get to your hotel.

The first thing we noticed about The Setout is that it’s made with 900D Polyester . This makes it cheaper than Tortuga’s other two bags—the Homebase and Outbreaker—which are both made with sailcloth.

Note: For more info on sailcloth or other materials, check out our backpack guide where we cover any and all fabrics you might encounter in the world of backpacks.

One benefit of the polyester is that it’s heathered appearance helps to hide scratch marks and scuffing, ensuring the bag looks good for longer. Scuffing was an issue we found with the Homebase, so the switch to polyester seems to be a good move for the Setout.

So what else can we say about the materials of this thing? Here are the essential details:

• The polyester doesn’t look shiny like the Outbreaker and the Homebase, which we really like. It also doesn’t have that crinkly sound and texture, and generally feels more comfortable to touch . No one wants to be the loud crinkler in a crowded hostel!
• The pack itself is bulky, but despite the size, it still blends in well in an urban setting. The design is minimal , so it doesn’t give off a ‘backpacker vibe’ that many other large packs do.
• The inside is lined with ripstop nylon , for additional weather resistance, tear resistance, and strength.

• It’s Maximum Legal Carry-on sized . At Pack Hacker we are all about one-bag travel, so we absolutely love this. Note: Not all airline baggage restrictions are the same, so check with your airline before you travel!
• If you don’t pack too much, you’ll be able to stuff this bag below the seat on some flights, but we found it most appropriate to stow in the overhead bin (since we’re making use of the awesome capacity of this bag).

• The Tortuga branding is minimal . You’ll find some subtle shell designs on the strap, a small Tortuga Tortoise Shell logo in the center of the pack, and a stitched logo on the back, between the straps. This gives the pack a subtle but stylish aesthetic.
• To round it off, the pack has durable YKK Zippers and Duraflex plastic buckles which are sturdy and reliable. There’s also injection molded foam , which we’ll be going into more detail on shortly.

External Components

Now that we’ve got the materials covered, let’s dive into the features.

First up are the compression straps. Strap design can be a tricky area for backpack designers—as we’ve discussed in many of our other backpack reviews—but the Setout gets it just right. We were pleasantly surprised to see that these compression straps are expertly placed. They don’t get in the way of the zips at all, and you can fully open the pack without ever needing to adjust the compression straps. This makes it super easy to unzip quickly and smoothly, which we love.

Tortuga Setout Stress Points on Zipper

Having said that, we did notice a stress point on the zipper when the bag is fully loaded. When we stuffed the bag full, we found points about 1/3 of the way down on either side where the zipper is under particularly high tension.

We didn’t actually experience problems with the zipper during our time testing the bag—it held up perfectly—but it’s possible these stress points may become an issue months or years down the line.

Of course, zippers are always a weakness on backpacks. These are high-quality YKK #8 zippers, so we can’t imagine them breaking any time soon—but still, something to look out for.

Tortuga Setout Quick Grab Handles

We were happy to see quick grab handles on both the top and side. They’re perfect for pulling your bag out of an overhead bin and getting it around public transport, or any time you just need to grab your bag and go in a hurry—like when your bag is halfway out of the metal detector and they’re about to close the gate for your flight.

The handles themselves are padded with a thick foam that makes for a comfortable grab. That being said, we don’t recommend using the handles for carrying the bag long distances, as they aren’t really designed for that. There’s not much structure to them—the bag will collapse a little when you use these handles—but they are reinforced and durable enough for your quick carries.

One thing Tortuga has done well with this bag is that they’ve provided a separate, non-padded top handle to hang it up. We really liked this because the positioning of the handle allows the pack to be flush with the wall, which is great for avoiding those grimy airport bathroom floors or conserving space in a crowded closet.

We noticed that there are two clips on the outside of the pack for a messenger strap. To be honest, we’re not exactly sure why they’re there. Seems like a bit of an odd move to include clips with no apparent purpose, but they could come in handy to attach items to the outside of your bag.

We don’t think wearing the bag messenger style would be particularly comfortable or functional, but hey, we’re not here to tell you how to wear your bag—wear it any way you like!

Tortuga Setout Water Bottle Pocket

One feature we really love is the lay-flat water bottle pocket. It’s on the opposite side from the quick grab handle, made with a mesh-like material, and the top is elasticated to grip your water bottle or whatever else you might stow in there.

The size is good—it can comfortably fit a large S’well bottle, for example—and the sturdy elastic will hold it in place. The minimalist design means this pocket still looks slick when not in use, which is a great touch. Nobody wants a baggy side pocket—you’re just asking to catch that on something and get a nice rip in it.

Harness System

One thing we appreciate about the folks at Tortuga is that they are always listening to the one-bag travel community and trying to improve their designs.

Because of that, they’ve created a women’s version of the Setout Backpack 45L. And it features a harness system that’s specifically designed to fit women’s bodies. The rest of the bag is exactly the same.

Here are the key differences between the men’s and women’s version of the Tortuga Setout Backpack 45L:

Women’s Focused Fit

• The harness system is designed to fit 15.5-18″ torsos
• The shoulder straps are padded with a softer, cushy, open-cell foam that should keep that massive 45L load comfortable—plus, they’re closer together for narrower shoulders
• The adjustable sternum strap sits higher, just below the collarbone, instead of across the nipple line
• The padded sections of the hip belt are smaller and it adjusts to a tighter circumference

This women-specific harness system is the same harness Tortuga includes on the Setout Backpack 35L —which we covered in detail in our full review of that bag . So if you want to get nitty-gritty, make sure to check that out.

Men’s Focused Fit

• The harness system is designed to fit 17-19″ torsos
• The shoulder straps are padded with sturdy, injection-molded, closed-cell foam that keeps its structure
• The hip belt is big, beefy, and plenty long to fit larger torsos

We’re going to cover all the details of the men’s harness system in this review—starting with the fancy injection-molded straps, which we briefly mentioned earlier.

The curved straps contour well to your body, which we always like to see. There’s kind of a “gradient” going on in the thickness of the foam—it’s thicker at the top of the bag and thinner at the bottom. This strikes us as quite a smart innovation that we haven’t seen on many other packs. Since your body won’t be in contact with the bottom of the straps anyway, it makes sense to taper them out at the bottom. Seems like a no brainer!

The “injection molded” shoulder straps have holes that look almost like honeycomb and kind of reminded us of Nike Air Technology. They look ‘high tech’, but at the end of the day, they’re just well-padded foam straps that make the bag comfortable to wear. The straps are also covered in mesh for better ventilation.

Is this injection-molded shoulder strap tech going to revolutionize the backpacking industry? No. But it is comfy.

Tortuga Setout Stowing Shoulder Straps

Another nice touch is that the straps unclip and stow nicely into the velcro area on the back of the pack if you want to keep them out of the way.

Tortuga Setout Shoulder Straps Facing Inwards

One issue we did have with the shoulder straps is that on two occasions we had a strap unclip unexpectedly when picking the pack up. While this did seem concerning at first, we quickly figured out that you can prevent this by making sure the carabiner clip is facing outwards on the pack. The carabiner clip naturally pulls towards the inside of the pack when in use—so if the clip faces inwards, the strap can wiggle it’s way out of the clip and cause it to come unattached.

Tortuga Setout Shoulder Straps Facing Outwards

All you have to do is make sure the carabiner faces outwards, and it won’t be possible for it to come undone. If you lay the strap flat, the carabiner faces outwards naturally, so just don’t twist the straps and you’ll be fine.

There’s also an adjustable sternum strap that has a piece of elastic to keep any excess strap in place, meaning you won’t have any straps flapping around in the breeze. We thought this was a nice touch, as we dislike having excess straps dangling.

Moving on, it’s time to discuss the hip belt!

This thing is beefy, comfortable, detachable, and comes with pockets that are good for quick grabs when you’re trekking around. Snacks, a phone or your passport will fit perfectly in there and it’s really convenient to be able to reach for them without taking off your bag. These small pockets can be hit or miss sometimes, but we think Tortuga did a nice job in this particular case.

We like that Tortuga is very clear about what size torsos their packs fit, as this can often be confusing when you’re buying a pack online. The Setout is intended to fit 17-19″ torsos. One thing to keep in mind is that if you’re a bit taller you may find the hip belt is more like a belly-belt, which is less than ideal.

That being said, it is optional—it’s detachable via velcro—and the pack is still totally usable without it. If you start to really cram this thing full of heavy gear though, you’ll probably want to throw the hip belt on.

Tortuga Setout Attaching The Harness

While we like the overall harness system, we do have one nitpicky item. It wouldn’t be a Pack Hacker review without some nitpicking, right? Our problem was with the velcro—this seemed like an odd choice to us. We would have liked to see a longer-lasting metal clip (like they used on the straps) in this area. We’re just not overly confident that the velcro will hold up, whereas metal clips are more or less indestructible.

Perhaps there is some reason they went for velcro. If anyone from Tortuga is reading this, we’d love to know what the thought process was here, so feel free to drop us a line!

Finally, on the back panel there’s some nice foam padding to help with airflow. This provides some breathability and helps reduce the dreaded back sweats while trekking around. Are you going to be completely sweat-free after a long day of wearing this thing? Well, no. It’s not a miracle backpack.

Overall, the pack is a pretty comfortable carry—it comes up far on the back, which helps distribute the weight and keeps the pack closer to your back.

One point to mention here is that the pack tends to sag down on your back when it’s heavily loaded. There is additional space on the top of the pack, which we like because it keeps more of the weight further up on your back. However, we think it could probably benefit from some type of load lifter straps to pull that weight closer onto your back or perhaps a stiffer frame sheet to give it more structure.

Whew! That was quite a list. Besides some nitpicks about the straps unclipping and a slight sagging when hauling heavy loads—the overall carry, harness system and external features are durable and well-thought-out. Whether you’re diving in and out of taxis around bustling Asian cities or trekking alone in the mountains, you’ll find plenty of options for comfortably carrying your pack and keeping your gear secure.

Inside the Pack

Alright, now let’s take a look inside the pack and see what kind of storage we have.

First, we’ll look at the small pocket on the front of the pack. This YKK #5 zippered pocket is good for any type of quick grabs and goes about 7.5 inches deep. It’s quite flat and useful when going through customs to keep you moving quickly.

On the back of the bag, there’s a zippered compartment with a pocket for a 15” laptop and a small pouch for a tablet. This compartment is really for flat items, so if you have a large notebook or A4-sized documents, they will fit well here and stay relatively flat and crease-free.

There’s a velcro strap on the laptop pocket to stop the laptop sliding out, which is a nice touch.

As mentioned earlier, we wish the framesheet was a little more sturdy to give this pocket additional protection against bending. There is some padding on the laptop pocket, but a stiffer framesheet would give some added peace of mind, especially when this thing is filled to the brim with travel gear. That being said, we would still recommend using a padded laptop sleeve for an extra layer of protection. When it comes to keeping laptops—and by extension, our livelihoods—safe, we don’t mess around.

Moving round to the front of the pack, there is a large pocket with another sturdy YKK zipper. When unzipped, the flap folds open revealing one of our favorite parts of this backpack—the internal storage system.

We know the Tortuga team is full of experienced travelers and they have clearly given a lot of thought to the organization on this bag. It definitely shows here—kudos to everyone over at Tortuga.

The storage system includes three pen slots, a larger side slot, pockets for cards, plus another pocket made out of the same mesh-like material as the water bottle pocket.

You’ll also see a small metal carabiner that’s good for keys or anything that you want to clip there for added security.

There’s a small, zippered pocket in here too, roughly the same depth as the pocket on the front of the pack—about 7.5 inches—but not as wide. This little pocket is ideal for storing valuables and smaller items that don’t need to be accessed quickly.

Just in front of that small pocket, in the back of the storage system, you get a flap for a notebook or other flat items, which is great for those of you who love to take a good book on the road!

In the bottom of this main front pocket, there is room to fit additional free-floating items, but we’d recommend using some slim packing cubes to keep everything organized. You don’t want a ton of loose items disrupting the order you’ve just created!

Moving on to the main compartment, we have some strong YKK #8 Zippers, which are lockable and easily distinguishable from the front pocket zippers—meaning you won’t get confused about which zipper opens which compartment. This is one of those subtle quality of life improvements we love to see on bags. Clearly the folks at Tortuga have been there, done that, and have grabbed wrong zipper pulls enough times to do something about it!

Tortuga Setout Main Compartment

This area opens up just like a suitcase, and the space inside is huge. If you’re used to packing suitcases then you will be right at home with this.

This space is perfect for packing cubes , which we highly recommend using as they will keep your things organized and help keep the shape of the pack.

Note: Tortuga sells a separate day pack for the Setout. It’s not only super lightweight and ideal for day trips, but also fits perfectly inside the main compartment. The day pack has a similar aesthetic to the main backpack, but is made with different materials and is much smaller/lighter.

It is possible to use the day pack as an internal organizer or packing cube, although we never felt the need to do this. But if you’re looking for some more organization or you’re short on packing cubes, this could be a good option.

Finally, on the underside of the ‘lid’ are two additional mesh pockets for some added organization. These are flat but can hold some small items such as clothing, notepads or other flat items.

Overall, the inside of this pack offers a good bit of organization—but not too much. Sometimes when a bag is covered with pockets and various features it can take away from the amount of sheer space available, but we think Tortuga has done a nice job here by not going overboard with internal organization. As we said before, they’ve clearly put a lot of thought into the layout of this bag, and it shows.

Durability & Testing

Here at Pack Hacker, we always give our gear a thorough ‘real world’ test before writing a review. At the time of this Tortuga review, we’ve been testing the Tortuga Setout for about three months, and it has traveled from Detroit, to California, to New York.

Overall, the pack has held up well and is a great travel companion.

We previously ran into some aesthetic issues with Tortuga’s other pack, the Homebase. Our main grievance was the sailcloth, which quickly shows scuffing and scratches. But we’re happy to report that the Setout has fixed that issue by using a heathered polyester.

We love how it resists scratches and scuffing—besides some normal wear & tear, and a smudge mark or two, it still looks new after many miles on the road.

Although polyester is by definition a weaker material than other ballistic or ripstop nylon packs we’ve reviewed, this pack feels really durable, uses some high-quality zippers & buckles, and we’re optimistic this thing will hold up for many trips to come.

Usage Timeline

Condition: Excellent

Comfortable to carry, sturdy and plenty of room in the pack.

Some small aesthetic blemishes after 6 plane rides & weeks of travel with the pack.

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Tortuga Laptop Backpack Review: An Essential Personal Item for Travel?

Written by Becca

Updated on May 1st, 2024

In this review, I check out the Tortuga Laptop Backpack as a travel bag for working remotely and traveling. Is this travel bag worth it as a personal item or day pack?

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Table of contents

• Intro to the Tortuga Laptop Backpack
• Main features of the Tortuga Laptop Backpack
• What I didn’t like about the Tortuga Laptop Backpack
• The materials and specs
• Where to buy the Tortuga Laptop Backpack
• A bit about Tortuga Backpacks
• Why trust me for backpack reviews?

Is there a perfect personal item for a flight that doubles as a laptop backpack?

I got the Tortuga Laptop Backpack, and right away, I sensed that in its features, I was looking at one of the best laptop bags for travel to date. After taking it on my trip to Halifax, Canada, as well as on some day trips closer to home, I have some thoughts that I’ll share with you in this review.

You can decide if the price tag on this thought-out and durable laptop backpack (and airplane “personal item”) is worth the investment. Be sure to check out my photos of how it looks, too.

Intro to the Tortuga Laptop Backpack

The Tortuga Laptop Backpack is an addition to the already-existing carry-on sized 30L and 40L Travel Backpacks . It is a totally unisex bag geared toward travelers of all ages who appreciate quality builds and comfort.

The Laptop Backpack is meant to be a “personal item” on a flight. As you’ll see in my experience traveling with it, below, it is a pretty roomy and forgiving backpack to take as your under-the-seat item on a plane. It fits perfectly below the seat in front of you.

The Laptop Backpack is probably meant for the traveler who wants to travel and work remotely , as I often do. If you know me or Dan, you can sense that we are always working on this website and all our gear reviews !

In addition to focusing on safe laptop stowing and handy pockets, the Laptop Backpack from Tortuga organizes my in-flight essentials (everything from a spare toothbrush to an extra shirt). It’s also a day bag or daypack, that can take you to a coworking space or maybe just around a new city, when you need a backpack that’ll fit a windbreaker, a water bottle, a guidebook or snacks.

The more I’ve used this bag, the more I can also see it working as a daypack shared between two people, because it could probably fit two peoples’ sweaters, travel-sized umbrellas, a travel camera or other things. Two people could take turns wearing this backpack around a city so that one of them can take a break from wearing a backpack. I think I’ll suggest this idea to Dan.

Main features of the Tortuga Laptop Backpack

Here are the main features of Tortuga’s Laptop Backpack , as well as my thoughts on them and how they worked out for me during my trial run with the bag.

I went to Halifax, Nova Scotia and used the Tortuga Laptop Backpack as my personal item on the flight, while checking my Quince suitcase that had my, Dan’s and our baby’s stuff.

(Here’s a photo of me with the Tortuga Laptop Backpack)

Sized to be a personal item

I found that the Laptop Backpack is a perfect bag to go under the seat on an airplane. And speaking of going to the airport, it’s easy to take out my laptop from the laptop compartment during airport security.

The size of the backpack worked out well for me. I was able to fit a sweatshirt (I fly with the Aviator hoodie ), my MacBook Air and a backup change of clothes (in case my checked luggage got lost — a real fear of mine because I am a carry-on type of person). I also fit in a heap of veggie travel snacks and travel day essentials, like some travel-sized toiletries and passports for me, Dan and our daughter.

Laptop compartment

I like that I can access my laptop in this backpack from the sides or the front. Specifically when I’m going to be flying, it is important to me to have a backpack that has a dedicated laptop compartment with its own zipper.

Gone are the days when I’m going to fly with a personal item that has to go through security, and my laptop is in a sleeve with stuff like a jacket and my snacks (see a theme here?) layered on top of it. This gets messy.

The Tortuga Laptop Backpack has a padded laptop sleeve (it’ll fit up to a 16” laptop), lined with handy pockets. It has a Velcro flap that keeps the laptop secure and avoids sliding.

The pockets on the laptop sleeve have spaces for things like an Apple Pencil , a pen, card pockets (if you don’t use a wallet, or have extra things like hotel keys and metro passes) and that tablet sleeve in addition to a smaller e-reader pocket. You could also fit a notebook in any of those flat larger mesh pockets.

Laptop storage

Here’s a tip: you can even fit two laptops and a small tablet (like an iPad ) or Kindle inside. Dan and I sometimes share a bag when we go to a coworking space or cafe to get some work done. If we’re not going far, we sometimes use one bag. This backpack works for us with his MacBook Pro and my MacBook Air . We’ve brought along an iPad, and it also fits without any issues.

The laptop storage is what spurred me to include the Tortuga Laptop Backpack in my default packing list for working remotely during travel .

Two water bottle pockets

Yes, this backpack has two water bottle pockets (!!). This is great if you’re a righty, or a lefty, or if you just can’t decide which side to keep your water bottle on.

Or, maybe you walk around a new city with both a water bottle and a coffee thermos . Either way, I enjoyed that this backpack had two spots for drink bottles, because Dan and I used both of them during our trip.

Front pocket

This pocket is best for storing flat items or smaller loose items, like all my granola bars (yes, I travel with quite a few, just in case I’m not near food and I get hungry).

You could fit a small Kindle in there, or a notebook for your travel journal needs.

Sternum strap

I’m a fan of sternum straps, because, as someone on the short and small size of average American adults, I like something that can help take weight from my shoulders and put it elsewhere.

I often wind up using sternum straps on backpacks and the Tortuga Laptop Backpack has one that adjusts and slides.

Luggage pass-through

I definitely used the luggage pass-through strap to secure the Laptop Backpack onto my suitcase. It was functional. You’ll see below in my criticisms what I thought could improve about it.

It looks like Tortuga recommends also using the sternum strap as an additional way to secure the Laptop Backpack to any suitcase when you’re walking through the airport. Unfortunately, I didn’t try this.

Above, you’ll see a photo of how the backpack looks, stacked on my rollaboard suitcase.

Grab handle

A grab handle is important to me, both for pulling a bag out of a car or an overhead bin, as well as hanging it from a hook in a restroom. The strap on this backpack is sturdy and strong.

Top exterior pocket

I used this pocket quite a lot, actually. Typically, I take trips with a travel fanny pack , but this time, we flew with our baby, and I used my Kibou , which didn’t have room for our passports.

We kept all three of our passports in the top pocket of the Tortuga Laptop Backpack , so I was thankful for that pocket. It was just the right size, and very secure.

I also used the key holder to attach my keys, which I knew I wouldn’t need during a trip to Canada! I wanted to make sure they were secure and in a specific place for when we got home.

Also, for added convenience, the top pocket is also accessible right into the main cavity via a zipper. Surprise!

Lockable zippers

If you need to lock up your bag with valuables inside, or if you’re checking out of your accommodation and leaving the bag in storage for the day, you can lock these zippers with a travel lock .

There’s a small circular hole in the exterior zippers that can help protect against theft in these situations if you put a lock there.

What I didn’t like about the Tortuga Laptop Backpack

In this section, I’ll walk through some of the things that I didn’t totally like about using the Tortuga Laptop Backpack.

I found the luggage pass-through to be a bit thin and flimsy, which surprised me.

It worked when I needed to attach the back to my Quince rolling suitcase , but it was absolutely not as secure as some other bags that we’ve used, like the Trouabdour Ki Backpack or the Away Daypack .

It was the most surprising aspect, for me, and it seemed like an afterthought for a very well-thought-out and useful backpack. I think it could have been crafted in a different way and with thicker elastic.

Laptop securing flap

The Velcro laptop securing flap on the padded laptop sleeve sometimes got in the way, and I wish it was removable. I didn’t feel like I needed it during the times when I’ve traveled with my laptop inside. The friction from my laptop seemed to be enough to keep it in place.

There’s nothing wrong with having extra protection. Some users of this backpack might feel like this gets in the way when wanting to take your laptop out of the bag in a quick setting, like at airport security.

I can see how it is useful for a MacBook Air, though, because a lighter laptop like mine can slide around more easily than a heavier and larger one. We tested the backpack both with my MacBook Air as well as Dan’s MacBook Pro .

The top pocket, which can hold a considerable amount of stuff, felt top-heavy when I put a lot up there, like dense snacks. If you have a heavy tech pouch or maybe an empty water bottle, the top pockets tends to be a little floppy.

For this reason, consider that more lightweight items should go in the top exterior pocket to avoid the entire backpack being top-heavy (as I did experience this).

Not great for petite women

I’m short, at 5’2”. In all honesty, I don’t think this backpack looks too fantastic on me because I look best in smaller feminine backpacks, like my Troubadour Momentum backpack . I also have a small frame, and I wear petite clothes. It could just be that I’m not meant to wear a 24L backpack as a daypack. In fact, I do prefer smaller daypacks.

This bag looks great on Dan, though, and would likely look great on most men. If you’re a woman taller than I am, or with any build bigger than mine, you should do just fine in how this bag not only looks, but feels, on your body.

The materials and specs

When Dan and I test bags and travel apparel , we have a good sense if the product is high in quality by the feel. I’m sure you’ve felt the same thing when rummaging through stores where you normally shop.

Material feels cheap when it’s thin, feels a little too lightweight, has flimsy and plastic zippers and low-quality hardware. In the past, I was using a backpack that had zippers that broke in just a year and a half of use. That was incredibly disappointing, because it put the bag basically out of commission for me.

When I first got the Tortuga Laptop Backpack , the material makeup immediately gave me a sense of, “Ah, this bag is built with a lot of intention in the materials and the design.” Tortuga has a page dedicated to the material of their products, so you can learn more.

Here’s a summary from that page:

• The Tortuga Laptop Bag is made from 200D recycled polyester with a 200 gsm weight.
• The material, SHELL200, is a three-layer laminated sailcloth, which is known for its durability, lightweight footprint and waterproofness.
• It’s fairly abrasion-resistant, and has a high threshold for tear strength.
• The zippers are YKK, which are the industry standard of high-quality zippers. They better last for years!

The volume of the bag is rated at 24L, and I feel like I can utilize that space fairly well. I categorized this bag as a smaller-size backpack in my list of the best women’s travel backpacks , because it’s not quite 30L, and it works as a larger-end daypack.

The top pocket has a good amount of space, and helps add to the back without feeling like I need to overstuff the capacity.

The main cavity actually felt like it was going to keep giving me more space. When I flew to Nova Scotia from NYC , it was one of the first times I left for a trip and my personal item was NOT bursting with stuff. I was kind of thinking like, how am I going to fill this up, and do I need to? Maybe I just pack more efficiently, nowadays!

With nothing packed, the bag weighs 2.1 pounds. It’s not too heavy, like some canvas or nylon bags, and it doesn’t feel too light, as if all of your stuff is going to break the bag.

Even when full, the weight is supported through the cushioned shoulder straps and the molded back panel. I thought it felt pretty good on my back.

Where to buy the Tortuga Laptop Backpack

You can buy the Tortuga Laptop Backpack at the Tortuga website . I don’t recommend buying it anywhere else, because if you buy any Tortuga product from Tortugabackpacks.com , you’ll get the beneficial package of free shipping, hassle-free returns and the company’s Worldwide Warranty.

Plus, if you’re interested in the Tortuga tech organizer or a Tortuga water bottle for travel, you can bundle and save when you buy a Tortuga backpack. Just scroll down a bit until you see the opportunity to “Bundle and Save.”

A bit about Tortuga Backpacks

Dan first told me about Tortuga when he was on Remote Year . When looking for bags, he found the brand as one of the more solid high-quality travel bag companies out there.

These days, the brand is still alive and well, and Tortuga is even releasing some new products optimized for travelers .

The Tortuga product offering is rather simple now. You can shop for travel backpacks , the Laptop Backpack (this review!) or accessories . If you want to keep all your travel gear matching, you can go with all Tortuga gear, because it all comes (only) in black. Honestly, I like black a lot: it shows less dirt, fewer scuffs, and looks minimalist in my travel photos.

Tortuga started with two friends who agreed that suitcases didn’t let you travel hands-free, and that the type of luggage you have can really make or break your trip.

Tortuga products prioritize a few very meaningful travel qualities: durability, comfort, organization and size. They emphasize the importance of the airline traveler who will be seeking for easy-to-understand yes-no answers on questions like, “Is this bag the correct size to be a carry-on?” or “Can this bag fit under an airplane seat?”

Recently, Tortuga has started grouping the Tortuga products by function or purpose , which is a nice thing to explore on the website . You can search by under-seat luggage, carry-on luggage and commuter backpacks. The website also calls out features like bags that protect against theft and pickpockets .

We’ve listed Tortuga products in some of our travel product roundups like the best packing cubes for travel and the best travel backpacks for women (most of which are unisex styles).

Why trust me for backpack reviews?

I’ve reviewed a lot of backpacks and I’ve had even more through the years that I’ve tried, tested and passed on, to make room for new ones! I think Dan and I have about 20 backpacks (don’t tell anyone that, as it makes me feel kind of crazy).

I value things like how a backpack feels on my back, how it supports weight and how it’s designed in terms of functionality and organization. I also take the price-for-quality into account, as well as how a travel bag looks and if it’s timeless.

I tested a majority of the backpacks you see in the best travel backpacks for women and if you would like to see all my reviews of traveler gear as well as women-specific apparel, check out Becca’s reviews within our site.

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Bonjour ! We’re Becca & Dan.

We created this blog to share some of the knowledge and experience that we have around travel , remote work , photography and beyond!

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Packable Backpack

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Personal-Item-Sized

The packable backpack for a day of sightseeing.

The Packable Backpack is a lightweight daypack that carries everything you need for the day like a jacket, snacks, and water bottle. When you’re in transit, pack the bag into its pouch and stow it in your luggage for one bag travel.

Save $20 when you purchase with another backpack or accessory.

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• Free Shipping
• Helpful Support
• Worldwide Warranty

• Packs into itself
• Mesh shoulder straps and back panel for comfort
• Extreema®-reinforced, tear-resistant bottom panel
• Zippered top pocket
• Two external water bottle pockets
• Removable sternum strap
• Fits under the seat in front of you

Personal item (Fits under the seat)

18.1 x 10.2 x 6.3 in 46 x 26 x 16 cm

7.9 x 5.9 x 3.5 in 20 x 15 x 9 cm

11 oz 308 g

70D ripstop nylon + Extreema®

YKK zippers, Woojin buckles

When you're traveling, having a daypack is really important. This packable daypack is a great pick because it folds up into itself, and has lots of space, which is super useful! Plus, the ripstop nylon material means it's really hard to tear, so you can feel confident using it. It also includes two outside pockets for water bottles, along with an outside top pocket which doubles as its pouch. I just pack it in itself and throw this in my backpack and I don't even notice the weight difference because it is only a little over 300 grams!

This bag is perfect for my city tours. I always need a compact travel bag, especially for longer trips. It's excellent for shopping during extended stays. While it offers good padding as a packable backpack, it's important to pack it thoughtfully since it conforms to the contents. It's incredibly convenient for travel, and I appreciate its ability to pack into itself.

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