If there is some adventurous travel in your future, you may want to consider investing in a great travel backpack because sometimes rolling luggage just doesn’t cut it. I say invest because a good travel backpack will likely run you between $180 and $330 but as long as you do your research, it will be well worth it. I bought my pack 7 years ago and don’t expect to retire it anytime soon. Below I walk through the key factors to consider when purchasing a travel backpack.

Does the brand have a lifetime warranty?

The travel gear market is massive and can be overwhelming. This is luggage you’re hoping to take all over the world so I recommend buying from a high-quality brand that backs up their claims with a lifetime warranty. The two brands known for the best warranties are Eagle Creek and Osprey. For Eagle Creek luggage, you can return your bag for repair or replacement “No Matter What”, whether for damage, defect, or preference. Osprey offers the “All Mighty Guarantee” and will repair any damage or defect for free, and if they can’t they’ll replace it for free.

Additionally, gear purchased from REI can be returned for replacement or refund in the first year, with some limitations. Gregory packs, another popular brand, will repair any defects and some damage for free but doesn’t cover normal wear and tear or “unreasonable and abusive use”.

What size do you want?

Travel pack capacity is measured in liters, so a 45L pack has internal space equivalent to 45 liters of volume. If a pack is shown online by itself (not on a person), it can be tricky to judge how large it is. Here is a rough guide:

• 25-45 L are generally carry-on size and will often be listed as day packs
• 55-75 L are going to be the larger checked bag size for longer trips

For reference, my travel pack is 65L (I’m 5’4″, 115 lbs.), my husband’s is 70L (he’s 5’9″, 170 lbs.) and we’ve used these for 1-3 week trips. I originally bought my pack for a 7-week trip to India, and it worked great for that as well. Keep in mind, the larger the bag the heavier it will be when packed.

Fit is everything

I have to confess, lifting my 50 lb. rolling luggage even the half a foot onto the airline scale is not easy. Luckily, travel packs are designed to make it much easier to carry the same amount of weight over distance. To optimize your body’s ability to carry weight, you need a backpack that fits you, your shoulders, hips, and torso. Most packs will be sold in multiple sizes – XS, S, M. The smaller sizes may have slightly less volume but if you have a petite frame the better fit will be worth it.

Usually dividing things up by gender is lame but in the case of backpacks, there is an important reason brands have men’s and women’s packs. Women tend to have shorter torsos, narrower shoulders, and wider hips relative to our body size than men. The hip belts on travel packs are especially important because they take weight off the shoulders and back. You will notice a big difference in how the pack feels after buckling the hip strap.

That’s not to say a men’s pack can’t work for a woman. Nor will every women’s pack work for every woman. The best recommendation I can make is go to a gear store and try several on. Most packs are riddled with adjustable straps to ensure the best possible fit. Look for packs with adjustable hip belts and adjustable torso length at a minimum. Working with a sales associate who is familiar with the products can be a big help when making adjustments. Take note of the measurements so you can do more research at home.

Features to Look For

Again, I would prioritize a good fit for the size you want over everything else. But all things being equal, there are some handy features you may want to look for.

• Detachable daypack – think of this as a two-in-one, you can leave the big pack where you’re staying and carry the essentials in a smaller daypack that can be re-attached when you’re on the move.
• Raincover – great for overnight hiking or a rainy location, this is essentially a plastic bag you can pull out and cinch around your pack to keep it dry. Depending on how thick the fabric is, this can also be good protection for when you check your bag with an airline, to prevent anything from getting caught or ripped.
• Suspended mesh backpanel – this creates breathable space between you and the pack so sweat can evaporate and it feels like you are carrying less weight.
• Hydration reservoir sleeve – think Camelback. Usually you’ll have to buy the actual reservoir and hose/mouthpiece separately, but this feature indicates that the pack has a space for this add-on.

Do you have a pack you like? I would love to hear about how you like it and where you’ve taken it in the comments!