A travel backpack has to do more than a daypack: it holds a trip's worth of clothes, opens so you can reach them, and carries comfortably through an airport. This page compares six travel backpacks on Amazon Australia, from a 20L underseat size to a large Osprey for longer trips. Every product fact below comes from the listing as we checked it, and every rating figure is the rating count shown on that listing.
Sizes vary a lot in this group, so read the size line of each pick before you read anything else. Airlines set their own carry on limits, and the listings here do not replace them.
Best travel backpack overall: Amazon Basics Travel Backpack
Best travel backpack overall: the Amazon Basics Travel Backpack, because it carries as a backpack or a shoulder bag, expands for extra packing room, and has far more ratings than any other pick here.
The listing describes a carry on backpack with expandable storage, made from durable polyester and called lightweight. Exterior handles and multiple carry options let you use it as a backpack or a shoulder bag. Inside, the main compartment has a zippered mesh space, an optional midway shelf and compression straps, and the front and front top pockets are described as quick access for travel essentials. The title says flight approved. It holds 4.5 stars from 9,298 ratings, the most of any pick here.
It suits anyone who wants one bag that works as a backpack on the walk to the gate and a shoulder bag when you would rather not wear it, and who expects to bring home more than they took. The honest catch: the listing gives no litre size in its title, so check the size on the listing page before you count on it fitting your trip, and the rating is shared across its colours.
Best premium travel backpack: Osprey Farpoint
Best premium travel backpack: the Osprey Farpoint, because it is a men's travel backpack from Osprey with an adjustable torso fit and 4.6 stars from 2,104 ratings, the second most of any pick here.
The listing describes an adjustable torso fit, external attachment loops, padded top and side handles, and a harness and waist belt that tucks away for storage. Its features list large capacity, a chest strap, a zipper closure, 4 pockets including a stash pocket, and 2 compartments, with water repellent resistance and a laptop size of up to about 40.6 cm. The recommended uses are school and travel. The listing page names it the Farpoint 55L and gives product dimensions of about 55.9 by 35.6 by 22.9 cm. The listing says hand wash only. It holds 4.6 stars from 2,104 ratings, shared across its sizes and colours.
It suits someone who wants a bigger pack with a fitted harness from a known pack brand for longer trips, and is happy to pay more for it. The honest catch: it is the most expensive pick here, at 55L it is bigger than the 40L packs, so check it against your airline's carry on limit, and it is a men's fit.
Best women's fit travel backpack: Osprey Fairview 40
Best women's fit travel backpack: the Osprey Fairview 40, because the listing files it under Womens, describes a direct access laptop sleeve, and holds 4.6 stars from 491 ratings.
The Fairview is the Osprey travel backpack for women on this page. The listing describes an adjustable AirScape backpanel, a stretch mesh hipbelt pocket, multiple organisation pockets, straightjacket compression and a direct access laptop sleeve. It gives the material as a 450D polyester twist dobby, with a padded harness strap, a laptop compartment and a laptop size of up to about 40.6 cm. The recommended use is travel, and the listing says hand wash only. It holds 4.6 stars from 491 ratings, shared across its sizes and colours.
It suits women who want a pack made for women rather than a unisex one, who carry a laptop, and who like the Osprey name. The honest catch: it is priced close to the Farpoint, it is a smaller 40L size than the Farpoint, and with only 491 ratings it has far fewer than our top pick.
Best value underseat travel backpack: ECOHUB Underseat Cabin Backpack
Best value underseat travel backpack: the ECOHUB Underseat Cabin Backpack, because it is the lowest priced pick here and still holds 4.6 stars from 1,452 ratings.
The listing title describes an underseat bag with 13 pockets, hand luggage size, waterproof and recycled. The listing gives 40 by 20 by 25 cm, a 20L capacity and a weight of 0.55 kg (about 550 g), and describes it as a maximum size personal item bag for several named airlines. The main compartment opens like a suitcase, with elastic straps, side compression straps, a side handle to carry it as a holdall and a luggage strap to slip over a suitcase handle. It lists a hidden back pocket, a quick access front zipper pocket for a toiletry bag, and a USB charging port. The listing says hand wash only. It holds 4.6 stars from 1,452 ratings, shared across its colours.
It suits short trips, a second bag for the flight, or anyone who wants the cheapest way into a travel backpack. The honest catch: it is a 20L underseat size, so it fits much less than the 40L packs, and the listing title calls it a cabin bag rather than a full travel backpack.
Best 40L travel backpack for work trips: tomtoc Travel Backpack
Best 40L travel backpack for work trips: the tomtoc Travel Backpack, because the listing words it as TSA friendly and flight approved with a tech compartment for a laptop of about 40.6 cm, and it has the highest rating here at 4.8 stars.
The listing describes a 40L capacity of 52 by 34 by 23 cm and 1070 g that compresses when not fully packed. The laptop compartment opens 90 to 180 degrees for security checks, and the listing says it meets IATA's maximum carry on size. The clamshell style main compartment sits with a tech compartment that fits a laptop of about 40.6 cm and an iPad of about 33 cm, plus a front pocket, a top pocket for sunglasses and side pockets for bottles. It is made from polyester with YKK zippers, a 3D padded back panel, an adjustable chest buckle and a rear luggage strap. The title also says PFAS free, and the listing says hand wash only. It holds 4.8 stars from 296 ratings, shared across its sizes and colours.
It suits people who travel for work and want one pack for a laptop and a few days away. The honest catch: it has only 296 ratings so far, and because the title shows both a 28L and 40L choice, check which size you have selected before you buy.
Best convertible carry on pack: MATEIN 40L Travel Backpack
Best convertible carry on pack: the MATEIN 40L Travel Backpack, because the listing describes hideaway padded shoulder straps and a luggage strap on the back designed to fit on a suitcase.
The listing gives dimensions of about 48.3 by 33 by 20.3 cm, and a weight of 1 kg. The padded shoulder straps store away in a zippered back panel, which the listing says turns the pack from a carry on duffle to a briefcase style bag. It describes a front compartment for a phone and earphones, a large inside pocket with internal compression elastic straps, a sternum strap, 4 external compression straps, an air mesh ventilated back panel, 2 padded grab handles and lockable zipper heads on water resistant polyester. Unzipping gives 45L of storage, and the listing says it fits the overhead bin at standard carry on size. It holds 4.5 stars from 354 ratings.
It suits travellers who want a pack that can sit on a suitcase handle and still be worn. The honest catch: it has far fewer ratings than our top pick, and the listing gives its size in inches only, so the centimetre figures here are converted and worth checking against your airline's limit.
How to choose a travel backpack
Work out the size you need
Capacity is measured in litres, and bigger is not always better: a larger pack gets heavier and is harder to fit in a locker or under a seat. The picks here run from the ECOHUB, a 20L bag at 40 by 20 by 25 cm, up to the Osprey Farpoint, which the listing page names the Farpoint 55L. The tomtoc listing gives 40L at 52 by 34 by 23 cm, and the MATEIN gives 40L, expanding to 45L. Pick a size for the longest trip you take regularly, not the one trip a year.
Carry on or underseat
Airlines set their own size and weight limits for carry on bags and underseat bags, and they differ between airlines and fare types. A listing that says flight approved, TSA friendly or meets airline requirements is the seller's wording, not a guarantee for your flight. Measure the pack and check your airline's current rules before you rely on it. Our carry on luggage guide covers wheeled cases if a suitcase suits you better.
How it carries
Look at the straps. The Amazon Basics pack carries as a backpack or a shoulder bag. The MATEIN listing describes hideaway padded straps, a sternum strap and an air mesh back panel, and the tomtoc listing describes a 3D padded back panel and an adjustable chest buckle. The Farpoint listing describes an adjustable torso fit and the Fairview an adjustable AirScape backpanel. The ECOHUB, tomtoc and MATEIN listings all describe a luggage strap that slides over a suitcase handle.
Organisation inside
A pack that opens and sorts well saves time at security and in hotels. The Amazon Basics listing describes a zippered mesh space and an optional midway shelf, the tomtoc listing a clamshell style main compartment, and the ECOHUB one that opens like a suitcase with 13 pockets in its title. Packing cubes make any of these easier to live with, and our packing cubes guide shows what to look for.
Men's, women's or unisex
The Osprey Farpoint is listed as a men's travel backpack and the Osprey Fairview 40 as a women's one. The MATEIN and ECOHUB titles name men and women, and the Amazon Basics and tomtoc titles name neither. If you are choosing between a men's and women's pack from the same brand, try the straps on before you commit where you can.
Laptop and work trips
Three listings give a laptop size. The tomtoc listing gives two limits: its tech compartment fits a laptop of about 40.6 cm, while its title and specifications say up to about 43.9 cm. The Farpoint and Fairview listings both say up to about 40.6 cm, and the Fairview describes a direct access laptop sleeve. Check your own device against the listing, and remember that a work pack and a leisure pack can be the same bag if the organisation suits both.
Travel pack or hiking pack
A travel backpack is built for airports, hotels and short walks. If you are heading onto trails with a heavy load, a pack made for that is a different purchase, and our hiking backpack guide covers it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best travel backpack in Australia?
The Amazon Basics Travel Backpack is our pick for most people. It carries as a backpack or a shoulder bag, expands for extra packing room and has far more ratings than any other pick here: 9,298 at 4.5 stars. The Osprey Farpoint is the premium choice and the ECOHUB the lower priced underseat choice.
What is the best travel backpack for women in Australia?
The Osprey Fairview 40 is the pick filed under Womens, and it holds 4.6 stars from 491 ratings. Its listing describes an adjustable AirScape backpanel, multiple organisation pockets and a direct access laptop sleeve. The MATEIN 40L and ECOHUB listings are titled for men and women, so a women's fit pack is a choice rather than a requirement.
What is the best travel backpack for men?
The Osprey Farpoint is the pick titled as a men's travel backpack. It holds 4.6 stars from 2,104 ratings, and its listing describes an adjustable torso fit, a chest strap, 4 pockets and 2 compartments. It costs the most here. For less, the MATEIN 40L is titled for men and women and expands to 45L, per its listing.
What is the best carry on backpack for international travel?
The tomtoc, MATEIN and ECOHUB listings are the most carry on focused here. The tomtoc listing says it meets IATA's maximum carry on size, MATEIN says it meets airline carry on requirements, and ECOHUB gives 40 by 20 by 25 cm for underseat use. None replaces your own airline's size and weight rules, so check them before you pack.
What is the best lightweight backpack for travel?
The ECOHUB listing gives the lowest weight here, 0.55 kg (about 550 g), but it is a 20L underseat pack. The MATEIN 40L lists about 1 kg and the tomtoc 40L lists 1070 g, and both listings call themselves lightweight. Amazon Basics uses the word too but gives no weight. Check your airline's limits against your own packed weight.
What size travel backpack do I need?
It depends on trip length and whether you carry on. The ECOHUB is a 20L underseat bag for short trips. The tomtoc and MATEIN listings give 40L, the MATEIN expands to 45L, and the tomtoc listing says it compresses when not fully packed. The Osprey Farpoint is the 55L pack. Check any of them against airline limits.
Is there an anti theft travel backpack here?
None of the six listings uses the words anti theft. The MATEIN 40L listing describes lockable zipper heads on water resistant polyester, so it is the one to look at first if that matters to you. The ECOHUB listing describes a hidden back pocket for a phone or wallet, and the tomtoc listing describes YKK zippers.
What is the best small backpack for travel?
The ECOHUB Underseat Cabin Backpack is the smallest here, at 40 by 20 by 25 cm and 20L, and it holds 4.6 stars from 1,452 ratings. Its listing describes 13 pockets, side compression straps and a luggage strap for a suitcase handle. It fits less than the 40L packs, so it suits short trips or a second bag.
Is a travel backpack the same as a hiking backpack?
No. A travel backpack is built for airports and hotels: the Amazon Basics pack carries as a backpack or a shoulder bag and has a main compartment with zippered mesh space and compression straps. A hiking backpack is built for walking trails with a load. Our hiking backpack guide covers that.
