Whether you’re planning a long weekend away, a hiking trip in the hills, or just need a nifty bag to see you through your day-to-day, it can be tricky to decide which backpacks are really up to scratch. Instead of spending hours looking through comparison sites, we’ve made a comprehensive list of the best travel backpacks for men to make your life much easier!
You may be looking for a bag for a specific purpose, or perhaps you just need the best all-rounder. If you’re short on time, the best travel backpack for men that we’d recommend is the Osprey Porter 46 Travel Backpack. Its versatile design makes it durable, comfortable, and spacious. Perfect for any trip!
If you’re looking for a bag with an organized space structure or the best for keeping your laptop safe. Then we’ve got plenty of other top choices detailed below!
Best Men’s Backpack For Traveling
- Eagle Creek Gear Warrior International
- Osprey Farpoint 40
- Osprey Aether Plus 60 Men’s
- Matein Mlassaiac Travel Laptop Backpack
- Peak Design Travel Backpack
- Carry-On Travel Backpack Amazon Basics (Budget Buy)
- Alpha 3 Brief Pack TUMI (High End)
- Osprey Porter 46 Travel Backpack (Top Pick)
Compare Top Travel Backpack For Men
| Best Travel Backpack for Men | Overall Score | Bottom Line | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 Eagle Creek Gear | 78 | Best Rolling Bag | Check Out On Amazon |
 Osprey Farpoint 40 | 82 | Most Durable | Check Out On Amazon |
 Osprey Aether Plus | 86 | Best Travel/Hiking Hybrid | Check Out On Amazon |
 Matein Mlassic | 78 | Best for Laptops | Check Out On Amazon |
 Peak Design | 78 | Best for Long Stays | Check Out On Amazon |
 Amazon Basics | 76 |  Best Budget | Check Out On Amazon |
 Alpha 3 Brief | 78 |  Most Organized Backpack | Check Out On Amazon |
 Osprey Porter 46 | 90 |  Best Overall | Check Out On Amazon |
Detailed Analysis Of The Best Travel Backpack For Men
1. Eagle Creek Gear Warrior International
Overall Score: 78
Advantages
- Best rolling travel backpack
- Durable exoskeleton exterior
Disadvantages
- Can’t be used for hiking
- Expensive
Comfort
We now live in a day and age where backpacks don’t always need to be on our backs. The Eagle Creek bag is a great example of one of these traveling bags.
The comfort of traveling with a rolling bag is that you don’t need to worry about the bag’s weight on your back or the bag fitting your body.
Capacity
The Eagle Creek bag is 13.75″ x 21.75″ x 7.5″ inches, which means it’ll fit in most overhead compartments on international flights.
The Eagle Creek is not only handy for air travel, but its compact shape also makes it useful for train travel. It’s got a 39L capacity which can be expanded to 42L, so you’ve always got some extra room.
Durability
The Eagle Creek bag has a reinforced laminated exoskeleton made of recycled materials. This exterior will help strengthen the bag’s high-wear areas, increasing its longevity.
With this in mind, the bag will hold up well wherever you take it.
Key Features
This bag has treaded wheels, so it’s great for traveling over different terrain, whether flat airport floors or rocky gravel!
The Eagle Creek also has interior and exterior compression with an additional padded laptop sleeve to keep all your electronic valuables safe.
Price
The Eagle Creek is usually priced above $300, which is pretty expensive for a carry-on bag. However, if you’re looking for a robust bag that will last several years and save you any future back problems.
The Eagle Creek bag is sure to deliver.
2. Osprey Farpoint 40
Overall Score: 82
Advantages
- Seriously durable
- Comfortable harness
Disadvantages
- No internal organization
- Small water bottle pockets
Comfort
The Osprey Farpoint 40 is among the most popular men’s travel backpacks. It has an adjustable hip belt, shoulder straps, and sternum strap to make it as comfortable as possible when moving.
With a breathable back panel, this bag makes traveling easy.
Capacity
The Farpoint has a 40L capacity, which is roomy for a travel backpack. Its dimensions measure 24.17″ x 15.16″ x 4.92″, so it’ll easily meet most airline restrictions for carry-on.
Durability
Osprey’s bags are usually always made with high-quality nylon material, and the Farpoint is no different. This material is waterproof and hard-wearing, making this bag great for any adventure.
In addition, the Farpoint has strong YKK zippers that are lockable to keep your belongings even safer!
Key Features
The Farpoint has a padded laptop and tablet sleeve to protect your electronics. This is the extent of the organization in the main compartment.
This is annoying because, with no organizer, you’ll need packing cubes to keep all your gear organized. Another downside is that the side pockets on the bag’s front are too small to fit a water bottle into.
Price
The Osprey Farpoint is reasonably priced for the quality of the backpack you get. If you’re likely to use the bag for various activities (hiking, day trips, long weekends), this bag will do the trick.
If you don’t mind buying some packing cubes, then Osprey is worth investing in.
3. Osprey Aether Plus 60 Men’s
Overall Score: 86
Advantages
- Great for hiking
- Easily adjustable frame
Disadvantages
- Not airline friendly
- Expensive
Comfort
Another popular Osprey bag, the Aether Plus, is a great traveling bag for any guy that likes to hike. The light external frame helps to distribute the bag’s weight to make it easier to carry.
The bag is adjustable to any torso length, and the hip belt and shoulder straps are custom Fit-On-The-Fly, so you can alter the bag when needed.
Capacity
The Aether Plus has a capacity of 58L and dimensions of 30.71 L x 14.57 W x 12.99 H, so it’s not airline carry-on friendly.
It’s more of a hiking travel bag than a day-to-day travel backpack. We’d recommend this bag for long trips away or camping breaks when you’ll need to pack more gear.
Durability
The Aether Plus is made from bluesign®-approved 210D high-tenacity nylon, which provides the bag with a tough exterior.
The material is also PFC-free DWR. PFC-free means the fabric is free from man-made chemicals, and DWR certifies that the material is water-repellent. Perfect for withstanding all weather.
Key Features
One of the best features of the Aether Plus is the removable top lid that converts into a daypack. This gives you the flexibility to choose what bag you need and when depending on your travel needs.
The bag has a hip belt, side mesh pockets, a hydration sleeve, and a rain cover. Perfect for any hiker!
Price
The Aether Plus is usually between $300-400, which is pretty expensive for a travel backpack. With more space and hiking features guaranteed to simplify your travels, it’s hard to turn it down!
4. Matein Mlassic Travel Laptop Backpack
Overall Score: 78
Advantages
- Laptop sleeve
- Anti-theft back pocket
Disadvantages
- Limited space for clothes
- Not ideal for long trips
Comfort
The Matein Mlassic has adjustable shoulder straps and a ventilated back panel to make for a softer comfortable backpack design.
Both features are also padded to make the bag as easy as possible. With no hip belt or sternum strap, the Matein Mlassic is not recommended for hikes or trips where you’re likely to carry the bag all day.
Capacity
The Matein Mlassic measures 18″ x 12″ x 7.8″ and comes with three compartments: a laptop compartment, the main compartment, and a front organizer compartment.
Each compartment has a variety of pockets and sleeves to make organizing your belongings easy. The only downside to more pockets and sleeves is limited space for traveling items such as clothes.
The backpack is better suited to daily travel or overnight stays.
Durability
Made from waterproof polyester fabric, the Matein Mlassic will keep your belongings safe and dry. The polyester material itself is durable and long-wearing.
The zippers are made from metal, so their durability is questionable. Although it may struggle to last in harder terrain, it will live longer as an office or light travel backpack.
Key Features
The Matein Mlassic comes with 3 key features; a luggage strap, an anti-theft back pocket, and an external USB charging port.
These features make the backpack great for someone that is always on the go or a digital nomad that works while traveling.
Price
Usually priced below $50, the Matein Mlassic is super affordable. It’s the perfect travel backpack for someone who needs to access their electronic devices quickly or charge a mobile phone.
We think it’s a real bargain!
5. Peak Design Travel Backpack
Overall Score: 78
Advantages
- Big capacity
- Super durable
Disadvantages
- Small hip belt and shoulder straps
- Heavy
Comfort
The Peak Design has a hip belt and adjustable shoulder and sternum straps. Unfortunately, for the size of the bag, the hip belt and shoulder straps are fairly small.
If you’re likely to fill this bag or carry heavy loads, you’ll feel it straining on your shoulders quickly.
Capacity
The Peak Design is the best men’s traveling backpack for longer trips, with a 35L capacity to be expanded to 45L with dual expansion zippers.
The expanded bag dimensions are 11″ x 13″ x 22″, with room for a laptop of 16″. Finding a travel backpack that’ll fit larger laptops can be difficult, but with the Peak Design, you won’t have this problem.
Durability
The Peak Design backpack is made from recycled materials. This is a waterproof backpack and hard-wearing, with a 400D nylon-canvas outer shell and a 900D bottom.
The trade-off for a thick exterior is added weight to the backpack. Unfortunately, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. To have a more durable bag, it’ll likely always be heavier.
Key Features
The Peak Design has a handy zippered dividing panel, which helps you to organize your belongings. This backpack is big enough to fit different-sized packing cubes, adding to the bag’s versatility.
You could easily use this backpack for camera gear or longer trips away. It will fit it all in!
Price
The Peak Design appears to be a good value for money for the size and organized space. However, we think that support for the weight you may be carrying is not sufficient.
You’ll be fine if you’re likely to pack lightweight gear. Otherwise, this bag is pretty pricey for poor back support.
6. Carry-On Travel Backpack Amazon Basics
Overall Score: 76
Advantages
- Best on a budget
- Well organized capacity
Disadvantages
- Lack of support
- Questionable durability
Comfort
The Amazon Basics is a comfortable bag with adjustable shoulder straps and padded foam support. The back panel also has some padding.
However, it’s not thick enough to stop bulky, heavy items poking through. So make sure you pack out the bag to distribute the weight evenly for maximum comfort.
The bag has a hip belt, but it’s just a strap, so don’t expect too much support.
Capacity
The Amazon Basics packs a whopping 40L, with the main compartment opening like a suitcase. Making it ideal for packing clothes.
As well as this compartment, the bag also has a large laptop compartment at the back which can fit a laptop of up to 17″, and a front compartment perfect for small items or notepads.
This bag is far from basic, giving you adequate space to pack items into each compartment.
Durability
The backpack is made from polyester and polyethylene, which is fairly durable. However, for a budget backpack, you will compromise on durability for cheap quality and workmanship.
This is proved by the SBS Zippers, which are flimsy and may not last long if you continuously pack the bag out.
Key Features
One of the best features of this bag is the multiple carry options. The Amazon Basic comes with a strap, so the bag can be worn in messenger style instead.
This is great for lightweight travel but may not be as helpful on longer trips. The bag also comes with compression straps, so you can compact the size if you’re likely to be flying.
Price
Usually priced around the $50 mark, you get exactly what you pay for with Amazon’s Basics backpack. It’s great for anyone on a budget but beware that you sacrifice durability and comfort for a cheaper price tag.
7. Alpha 3 Brief Pack TUMI
Overall Score: 78
Advantages
- Best organized backpack
- Professional design
Disadvantages
- Super expensive
Comfort
The Alpha 3 is a sleek, professional-looking backpack with thick, padded adjustable shoulder straps for easy carrying and comfort.
Unfortunately, the depth-to-height ratio of the bag makes the structure of the bag difficult to carry.
In other words, a full Alpha 3 bag will have you leaning forward to compensate for the weight in the bag’s depth pulling you back.
Capacity
The Alpha 3 has approximately a 61L capacity, and the bag’s dimensions measure 17″ x 12″ x 8″. Because of the multiple compartments and pockets, the bag’s volume is hard to calculate.
Either way, we can tell you you’ve got plenty of space!
Durability
Made from FXT ballistic nylon, the Alpha 3 is ultra-durable. With hard-wearing seams and zippers, this bag could be passed on to generations after you.
That’s how durable it is! The sturdy structure and design of the bag also mean it won’t lose its shape.
Key Features
Inside the Alpha 3 are every digital backpacker’s dream, with a padded laptop compartment, extra tablet sleeve, and multiple exterior and interior pockets.
The exterior side pockets are waterproof, perfect for a water bottle or umbrella. The Alpha 3 also has an Add-A-Bag hook to make it easier to slip on the top of a suitcase and travel easily.
Price
This bag is usually purchased for over $500. This is extremely expensive. However, investing makes a lot of sense when you’re paying for a bag that will last you decades.
If you’re not so fussed about organized space in your bag, you can easily find a bag with the same capacity for half the price.
8. Osprey Porter 46 Travel Backpack
Overall Score: 90
Advantages
- Extremely comfortable
- Durable
Disadvantages
- May not pass as carry-on on all airlines
Comfort
With a padded hip belt, supportive shoulder straps, and robust sternum strap, you will surely be supported by whatever you plan to pack in the Porter 46.
The structure of the Porter 46 is rather boxy, but this doesn’t impact how it feels to carry. The bag is one of the most comfortable travel backpacks for men currently on the market.
Capacity
The Porter 46 has a 46L capacity, with plenty of room for long or short trips.
The capacity is broken down into a separate laptop compartment at the back of the bag, a front compartment, and the main compartment.
The only downside to the capacity of this bag is that it may not be suitable as a carry-on for all airlines.
Durability
Like all Osprey bags, the Porter 46 is made with high-quality, incredibly durable material.
The main bag is made from 420D nylon pack cloth and 420D nylon wave ripstop on the sides, which will hold up well in all terrains and last several years.
While the pack may handle a light shower, we’d recommend covering it in heavy rain.
Key Features
The Porter 46 has a deluxe duffel carrying feature, so you can pack away the straps and belt and carry this bag by the handle. Great when you’re on a plane.
In addition, a protected toiletry pocket at the top of the bag ensures none of your liquids will leak through to your clothes. It also has hand U zips to make the main compartment easy to pack.
Price
Usually priced between $100-200, the Osprey Porter 46 is an absolute steal. Its durability, comfort, and capacity make it the most versatile travel backpack for men.
You could easily use this bag to carry your photography equipment, as a carry-on at the airport, or even for a week-long trip away.
Final Thoughts
We hope this detailed review guide has given you all the information you need to pick the best traveling backpack for you, whether you need a bag with more space or a bag that’s great for hiking.
Whatever you’re traveling needs, we’ve always got your back. Just remember, if in doubt, consider buying an Osprey. They are a truly reliable brand that won’t let you down.