A backpack for a long trip abroad has a harder job than a bag you take away for a weekend. You will wear it most days, often for hours at a time. You will pack it and unpack it in hostels, on trains, and on the floor of an airport. It has to survive all of that and still shut properly in week twelve.
This guide covers what to look for, what size to buy, and which travel backpack suits which kind of trip. Every pack named here is one we actually sell, so you can check the specs yourself.
World Tourism Day: why the trip is worth planning for
September 27 is World Tourism Day, the United Nations' yearly reminder of what international travel actually does: it funds local economies, it's often the single biggest line item in someone's yearly budget, and for a lot of people it's the trip they'll talk about for years after. None of that changes what you pack it in, but it's a fair prompt to make sure the bag isn't the thing that ruins it.
If you're planning a longer international trip around this time of year, everything below still applies: the sizing, the hip belt, the zips you can lock. Start here.
What changes when you are away for months
Three things matter more than they do at home.
First, it has to last. Cheap straps fray and cheap zips split, and both tend to go at the worst moment. The parts that fail first are the strap anchors, the zip sliders, and the base panel, so those are the parts worth checking before you buy.
Second, it has to hold its shape when you pack in a rush. You will not fold things neatly at 6am in a shared room. A bag with a wide opening and a few big compartments beats one with twenty small pockets.
Third, it has to sit on your hips, not hang off your shoulders. A full bag can weigh 18 to 22 kg. Your hips can carry that all day. Your shoulders cannot. A padded hip belt is the single biggest comfort upgrade you can get.
What size backpack do you need
Most people travelling abroad for more than a few weeks land between 35 and 50 litres.
35 to 45 litres works if you pack light, travel somewhere warm, or move often. It is easier to carry and it usually fits airline cabin rules, which saves you both money and waiting time.
45 to 55 litres gives you room for warm layers and a pair of shoes. Pick this if your trip crosses seasons or climates.
Bigger is not better. A 70 litre bag does not make you organised, it just gives you space to carry things you will never use. Pack the bag once at home before you fly. If the zip will not close, you are taking too much.
The five things that actually matter
A hip belt that works. It should sit on the top of your hip bones, not your waist. Done right, it moves most of the weight off your back.
A back panel that breathes. Foam channels let air move. Without them your shirt is soaked an hour into a hot day.
Water resistance you can trust. Coated fabric keeps out rain and spills. Very few bags are truly waterproof, so treat yours as water resistant and pack anything precious in a dry bag.
A laptop sleeve that floats. The base of the sleeve should sit above the base of the bag. That gap is what saves your screen when you drop the pack on a tiled floor.
Zips you can lock. Two sliders that meet let you thread a small padlock through them. This will not stop a determined thief, but it stops the quick grab, which is what actually happens to travellers.
Which BANGE pack suits which trip
If you want one bag for most trips, look at the BANGE Skyla 1909. It comes in 35L and 45L, and it opens flat like a suitcase instead of loading from the top, so you can see everything at once. From $92.99.
If you are away for months, the BANGE Belen 8079 holds 50 litres, takes a 17 inch laptop, and has a shoe pocket that keeps muddy boots away from clean shirts. $104.99.
If your bag needs to change size, the BANGE Coreva 1908 runs from 22L to 45L. Keep it slim for a day in a city, then unzip it for the flight home when you are carrying gifts. $72.99.
If weight is your main worry, the BANGE Aurex 7875 weighs 1.23 kg empty. Every kilo the bag saves is a kilo you can carry in it.
If you always pack heavy, the Mark Ryden 9299 uses a small air pump to squeeze the air out of the main section. Soft clothes drop to a fraction of their loose size. It is the same idea as a vacuum storage bag, built into a pack you carry.
Mistakes that cost people money
Buying on looks alone. A bag that photographs well can still hurt after two hours. Load it and wear it before you decide.
Paying for features you will never touch. Extra straps and clips add weight and clutter. Be honest about what you use.
Skipping the rain cover. Weather will find you. A cover costs little and saves a laptop.
Trusting one review. One person's experience tells you very little. Look for the same complaint appearing again and again, because that is the real fault.
How to test a pack before you commit
Put 10 kg in it. Books work. Wear it for twenty minutes around the house, including up and down stairs.
Check three things. Do the straps dig in at the top of your shoulders? Does the belt slide up off your hips as you walk? Can you reach your phone and passport without taking the bag off? If any answer is bad, that bag is wrong for you, whatever the price.
How to pack it so it stays comfortable
Where you put things changes how heavy the bag feels. Heavy items go against your back, level with your shoulder blades. Put them at the bottom and the bag drags you backwards.
Roll clothes rather than fold them. Rolling removes air, and air is what wastes space. Shoes go at the base, soles facing outward, stuffed with socks so nothing is empty.
Keep one small pocket for the things you reach for constantly. Passport, phone, charger, a pen for landing cards. If you have to open the main compartment to find your boarding pass, you have packed it wrong.
Leave about a tenth of the bag empty. You will buy something, and a bag packed to bursting on day one becomes a problem by week two.
Looking after it on the road
Wipe the outside with mild soap and cool water, then let it dry away from direct heat. Do not put it in a washing machine. The drum breaks down the water resistant coating and bends the panels out of shape.
If a zip starts to catch, clean the teeth with a dry brush before you reach for oil. Grit is almost always the cause, and oil just holds the grit in place.
Check the strap stitching every few weeks. Loose threads are easy to repair while they are small, and expensive to ignore. Any tailor can restitch a strap anchor in ten minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What size should I buy for a long trip? Most people do well between 35 and 50 litres. Go smaller if you move often, larger if you cross cold and warm climates in one trip.
Will a travel backpack fit as cabin baggage? Packs around 35 to 40 litres usually meet cabin limits, but airlines differ and the rules change. Check your airline's stated dimensions before you fly.
Are these backpacks waterproof? They are water resistant. The fabric sheds rain and spills. In heavy or long rain, use a cover and keep electronics in a dry bag.
Can I use a hiking backpack instead? You can, but hiking packs load from the top, which makes daily use awkward. A travel pack that opens flat is easier to live out of.
How do anti-theft features help? Hidden zips and lockable sliders slow down an opportunist. They are useful on crowded transport, and they are not a substitute for keeping your passport on you.
Is a heavier bag a stronger bag? No. Weight often comes from padding and trim, not strength. Look at the stitching at the strap anchors instead.
The short version
Buy for your hips, not your shoulders. Buy the size you will actually fill. Check the strap stitching, the zip sliders and the laptop sleeve, because those are the parts that fail. Then stop reading and go.
Browse the full range of travel backpacks, or narrow it down by anti-theft and waterproof features.
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