Best Travel Backpack for Women in 2024

Ever found yourself at the airport, wrestling with a suitcase that weighs more than your ambitions to travel light? Let’s talk about finding the best travel backpack for women; I promise it will be your new travel BFF. 

Imagine walking down cobblestone streets, everything you need snugly on your back, hands-free to capture memories or hold a gelato (priorities, right?). 

By the end of this read, not only will you be convinced that you absolutely need one, but you’ll also know exactly which backpack to choose. Say goodbye to the tug-of-war with your luggage and hello to hassle-free adventures!

What Are the Best Travel Backpacks for Women?

The best travel backpack will be large enough to carry all your necessary items, but not so large that you can’t carry it comfortably on your back, durable enough to handle everything travel can throw at it, and stylish enough that you feel confident in your choice. We want to look good while we are searching for our next coffee after all.

I have selected three backpacks that meet these criteria. Additionally, these backpacks are ideal for business commutes, offering features like laptop compartments and suitcase handle sleeves, catering to the professional needs of business travelers.

TL, DR Just the Deets

Aer Travel Pack 3 

If you need organization, security features, space for a laptop, and don’t want to break the bank. This is my overall choice.

Evergoods Civic Half Zip 22L 

If you are the type of person who just wants one giant pocket in your travel bag and are slightly budget-conscious.

SYNIK 22 by Tom Bihn 

If you are the type of person who likes fabric choices, color options, external pockets, and organization and doesn’t mind spending a bit more to get there.

Aer Travel Pack 3 Small

The Aer Travel Pack 3 Small is well-designed and is the perfect size to use as a personal item on the majority of flights (at least within the US), a variety of organization features make this bag an excellent choice for any woman.

Features

• Padded, suspended laptop pocket with soft lining (fits up to 16” laptop), making it an ideal laptop backpack for securely carrying laptops during travel.
• Lay-flat main compartment for spacious storage and easy packing
• Compression straps with magnetic fasteners for stability and security
• Quick-access top and side pockets for small valuables
• Load lifters for support and comfort
• Handles on all sides for versatile carrying
• Expandable water bottle pocket
• Hidden smart tracker pocket
• Internal frame sheet provides structure and support
• Attachment points for a removable hip belt (sold separately)
• Luggage handle pass-through
• Lockable zippers for additional security
• Water-resistant material
• 22L Carrying capacity
• Dimensions 19 x 13 x 7.5 in (48 x 33 x 19 cm)

Its multifunctional organization options help you stay organized, whether you’re traveling, working remotely, or heading to the gym, ensuring everything has its place.

Pricing

At the time of writing the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small is priced at $229.00 (USD), and has Shop Pay, PayPal, GPay, and credit cards for payment options. 

Pros and Cons

My Take:

This bag offers just the right blend of price features and style. It looks great, has a dedicated spot for my laptop, can be locked, and won’t break the bank.

Pros:

• Variety of security features including lockable zippers and a hidden pocket for an AirTag (or other tracker)
• Available in 4 colors, better than just black, but might not be enough for some people’s tastes
• Layflat main compartment for easier packing
• Lifetime warranty
• Several organizational features and pockets
• Handles on all sides in case carrying this backpack on your back is not an option

Cons:

• This bag is a little on the heavy side at 3.79 lbs, while this isn’t a problem most of the time, if you are flying a budget airline and they weigh everything, that extra weight adds up
• The material is fairly stiff (this could be a pro or con, depending on your packing needs) so if you need to compress it down, that might be difficult
• The laptop compartment takes up quite a bit of space in the bag
• The water resistance of the zippers can be difficult if the bag is over-stuffed

SYNIK 22 by Tom Bihn

The SYNIK 22 by Tom Bihn is designed both for travel and everyday use featuring five external pockets and, like the Travel Pack 3, can be used as a personal item on the majority of flights

Features

• 5 exterior front pockets with independent volume
• Interior, banded open-top pocket
• Comfortable, durable, edgeless shoulder straps
• Removable sternum strap and waist strap
• Webbing loop on the exterior bottom of the bag to hook items on the outside
• Meets the personal item size requirement on most airlines
• Generally fits folks between 5′ and 5’10” comfortably
• Main compartment with full clamshell zipper opening and removable tie-down straps
• Two-point access suspended laptop compartment fits up to 13″ Macbook Pro
• Fully integrated, yet removable, internal frame
• Rolling luggage handle pass-through pocket
• Padded grab handle and bottom
• 22L Carrying capacity
• 11.4 x 16.0 x 7.1 to 9.4 in (29 x 41 x 18 to 24 cm)

Pricing

At the time of writing the SYNIK 22 is $320.00 (USD), and offers Shop Pay, PayPal, GPay, MetaPay, and credit cards as well as having the option for After Pay, so you can divide the price into 4 interest-free payments.

Pros and Cons

My Take:

This backpack is best for someone who loves color and fabric options, wants organization features, lots of exterior pockets, and isn’t afraid to pay a little extra to get it.

While I do appreciate the attention to organization and the color options, I was disappointed in the tiny laptop compartment, lack of a pocket for a water bottle (a must for me when traveling), and the price, $320 is a little steep for my backpack budget.

Pros:

• Available in several color and material combinations depending on your style and use
• Lifetime warranty
• Layflat main compartment
• Aquaguard zipper- water repellent and won’t keep opening on its own
• Removable Internal frame 
• Suspended laptop compartment
• Variety of o-rings for connecting anything you can think of… or like your keys
• Comes with a waist strap and a sternum strap, both are removable
• Comes with plastic zipper pulls to extend or replace the pulls on the bag
• The website is full of more information than most people probably need, but makes researching products very easy, and it’s pretty funny in places, so bonus

Cons:

• The laptop compartment can only hold a 13” laptop
• No external water bottle compartment
• Zippers are not lockable/ very few security features
• Luggage pass-through is the entire back of the bag- not sure if this is good or bad
• The price, $320 is on the high side for a backpack, in my opinion, the reviewers all think it’s worth the price, so it’s ultimately what you want to spend

 Evergoods Civic Half Zip 22L

The Evergoods Civic Half Zip 22L is great for travel or everyday use. It’s made of durable weather-resistant material that is abrasion-resistant and easy to clean. The Civic Half Zip 22L can be used as a personal item on the majority of flights.

Features

• Sloping main cavity zipper opening allows for easy packing + access to contents
• Top external 3D pocket with key leash
• Internal 3D security pocket
• Dual-side utility stretch pockets with cutouts for debris exit
• Low profile right and left bladder ports
• The padded and suspended stretch laptop compartment fits most 15″ devices and smaller 17″ devices
• Built-in attachments and sleeves for a hydration bladder
• Bias-cut panels for improved abrasion resistance or stretch
• Differentially cut shoulder straps for a natural curve
• Light gray nylon lining for durability and visibility
• 18 x 8 x 11in (46x20x28cm)

Pricing

At the time of writing the Evergoods Civic Half Zip 22L is priced at $199.00 (USD) and offers ShopPay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, GPay, MetaPay, and credit cards. There is also a 4-interest-free payment option.

Pros and Cons

My Take:

This bag is best for someone who wants a lightweight backpack and doesn’t mind, or only wants, one compartment for everything.  It’s a great option for people who go trail running and want a weather resistant bag that has compatibility with a water bladder. For me it lacks the organization features I need.

Pros:

• Weather resistant
• Luggage grade zippers
• Lifetime warranty
• Simple design
• Light-colored internal material for greater visibility
• Super easy to clean/ dirt and dust resistant (though there was mention of the bag attracting pet hair. Those reviews were from the first pre-order, more recent reviews don’t mention this)
• Least expensive/ best value backpack on my list
• Lightest backpack on my list

Cons:

• Not much organization
• Zippers are not made for luggage locks, can be locked, but not made for it
• A drain hole in the side pockets might be handy, but if you forget it’s there it can lead to lost items
• No built-in security features
• Only available in black, with no other color options

What Is the Best Travel Backpack for Women

All of the backpacks we have discussed here are great choices, it’s going to be a matter of what you want to spend, and what you are going to use the bag for, all of the bags I mentioned can be used as a carry-on item or a personal item on most flights.

My overall pick is the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small, for me, it’s the right combination of price, features, and style. Aer offers the same warranty as the other companies, the price was in the middle, but nearly $100 less expensive than the highest price point I reviewed.

Aer’s backpack has enough organization features so I can keep needed items in convenient spots, and a large enough laptop compartment to fit my laptop.

How Can A Travel Backpack for Women Benefit You

A backpack is a great item to have on a trip, especially a solo trip. Using a backpack can free up your hands, which is really useful if you are sightseeing and trying to take photos, or look for directions.  

I personally loved having a backpack with me on my last trip. I went to the beach and I was able to use the backpack to carry all my essential items, plus I was able to put the souvenirs I purchased in the backpack for my trip back to my hotel.

Buyers Guide: How We Conducted Our Research 

When doing our research to find the best product, we determined using these factors:

• Pricing: How much did each product cost
• Features: What were the best features of each product?
• Negatives: What was missing from each product
• Product Reviews: We wanted to know what owners said about the backpacks after use
• Support or refund: Do they offer a community, support, or refund policy
• How to purchase: It’s a small thing, but having a decent website that makes the purchase process easy is not something to be overlooked

Wrapping Up

Each backpack I reviewed— the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small, SYNIK 22 by Tom Bihn, or the Evergoods Civic Half Zip 22L—brings something unique to the table. The choice ultimately depends on your personal needs. 

Why should you consider my advice? I’m an avid traveler who has personally tested several travel backpacks and scoured numerous reviews. My opinions and recommendations are based on extensive research and real-world travel experience. I understand what makes a travel backpack great and what makes a travel backpack a headache.

Additionally, my opinions and assessments are backed by direct feedback from users in the travel community, product reviews, and a thorough analysis of each product’s design and functionality. 

Remember, a great travel backpack acts as more than just storage for your belongings—it creates a more streamlined and enjoyable travel experience. Why not enjoy that experience with one of these top-notch backpacks? Safe travels and light packing!

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