How do I find the best backpack for long-term travel?

When I traveled around the world, I hurt my back. Badly. Likely, really, really badly. It was sprained for months, and it was all because I picked the wrong backpack. So, when I say picking the right backpack for your trip is one of your most important decisions, know that I really mean it.

Hurting my back so badly meant Nick had to carry everything for months!

When you start looking for a travel backpack, keep an eye out for these critical features, which will help you ensure the weight sits in the right place, that you don’t get pick-pocketed, and that it’s easy to pack and unpack.

Here are the most critical features I look for in a backpack:

1. Strap around the waist – Above all else, you need to find a bag that has a great strap you can buckle and cinch tightly around your waist. This will allow you to make sure the bag’s weight can sit nicely on your hips instead of pulling on your shoulders.
   

2. Shoulder straps – Similar to #1 (though not as critical), adjustable straps that sit on the shoulder straps of the backpack allow you to modify exactly where the weight of you bag falls.
   

3. Structured back panel – In order for the waist and shoulder straps to do their jobs, your backpack is going to need some structure. If you buy a backpack that is super squishy (e.g., you can roll it up easily), it won’t matter that you have a waist strap or shoulder straps. You need a hard, structured back panel (picture a metal plate in between all the padding) to make sure the weight falls in the right place. Try to squish the backpack you’re interested in and make sure the back panel is nice and stiff before you buy it.

4. Opens like a suitcase – You can buy a backpack that functions like a stuff-sack, but if you do, then every time you need something from the bottom of the bag, you’ll have to unpack the entire bag. This will get old quickly. (Trust me, I’ve had bags like this.) Instead, get a bag that allows you to zip open the entire backpack as if it were a suitcase so you can load it up and unload it easily. 
   

5. Anti-theft features – Candidly, pick-pockets are pretty talented. If they really want to steal something from your bag, there’s probably nothing you can do. Anyone armed with a small knife will probably just cut open your bag and take what they want. Your best defense is to not bring expensive things with you, and your second-best defense is to avoid taking/wearing anything someone might be interested in stealing out in public. All that being said, some backpacks offer some anti-theft tricks that probably help dissuade anyone who might otherwise try to take advantage. Some zippers, for example, have small loops along the zipper that require the user to delicately feed the zipper through the loop in order to open the bag. Anyone can do it, but it takes an extra few seconds. Similarly, the Osprey Farpoint bag hides where the main zippers are. (Actually they are so well hidden that sometimes it takes me a minute to find them, and I’ve been traveling with this bag for a long time.)

6. Fully padded laptop pocket – Some bags have laptop sleeves that are padded on both sides but not on the bottom. What happens, in these cases, is that anytime you slam your bag down on the ground, your laptop will slam down on the ground too – with no padding to protect it. This is probably going to be the most expensive thing you’re traveling with, so make sure your laptop sleeve passes muster.

7. 35L to 60L – I highly recommend traveling with a 35L or 40L bag and not bothering with anything larger, but if you truly can’t whittle down your belongings for your travels that far, then opt for a larger bag. Anything over 60 liters is asking for trouble though!

If I can leave you with one last tip, it would be to try on the bag before you buy it. Stores like REI and Decathlon should allow you to test out a bunch of bags before you pick one out. This way, you can see how the bag falls on your waist.

Similarly, don’t use the bag for the first time on your travel sabbatical. Try it on another trip first to make sure you know what you like and don’t like about the bag. Worst case, you can get a different version if you learn that the bag you’ve purchased doesn’t function the way you need once you’ve seen it in action. (You might even be able to return it!)

Are you a fan of any specific backpack? I know I am. Let me know what your favorite is in the comments below!