On embarking on the digital nomad life, you want your backpack to be a restless companion desperate to join you on walks, not something that’s going to hold you back. Your bag is going on every step of this adventure with you and needs to be your friend. This guide highlights some of the things to consider when buying a new travel backpack. Enjoy this post on best travel backpacks for women!
Things to Consider for Travel Backpacks for Women
New or pre-loved?
I personally go for pre-loved backpacks as I try to avoid buying new items. So many people have backpacks they’ve barely used sitting in their homes just waiting for an adventure, and so if you’re like me and try to minimize your carbon footprint, reusing existing items is a great way to start your trip. It’s also conveniently much cheaper.
If you go down the same route, I’d recommend using online marketplaces which connect you to local sellers where you can meet the seller in person and try on the bag, rather than having it posted. This way you haven’t committed until you’re comfortable with the feel of it on your body. Meeting face to face can also let you ask the seller honestly why they’re selling it and maybe learn more about whether the bag is for you or not.
Women’s bodies are wonderfully diverse and as much as we’re sold things “for women”, that doesn’t mean it’s for your body. Try it on. Jump up and down. Does it fit your body happily?
The same applies if you’re buying new. There’s only so much you can tell from scrolling online stores, you need to try the bags on and see how you feel.
One bag or two?
Do you want a larger bag accompanied by smaller day pack? Or just one? Some backpacks come with smaller day packs which can be attached to the larger bag. Mine has this feature but I personally rarely use it as it can be a struggle to zip them together if both bags are are fully packed. Instead, I normally carry the smaller day bag on my front. This may or may not be comfortable for you and your bag so I would recommend carrying both bags together to see how they feel before purchasing.
Size is important
I wouldn’t recommend going much bigger than 50 liters for a typical light packer in a moderate to warm climate, or 60 liters if you need lots of warm layers. Additional smaller day packs of 10 to 15 liters should do you well. If you’re a very light packer and just going for one bag, then 30 to 40 liters may be a good place to start. Larger bags will only tempt you to pack more than you need. However if you have a lot of specialist equipment or camping gear you may need to upsize.
Pack lighter than light
You’ve heard this before, but whatever you think you need, discard half of it, and then repeat. You won’t need it. You won’t miss it. Getting into the mindset of a nomad can be almost impossible if you’re absorbed in a consumerist way of living, but after a couple of days on the road you may start to really question the necessity of some of your heavier items.
On my current trip, after one week of traveling I laid out everything in my backpack and donated everything I hadn’t used in the week. My bag immediately felt like much more of an energetic puppy bounding along with me, and releasing physical possessions always has a liberating effect on the mind.
Make-up, cosmetics and jewelry are some of the things us ladies are told by society are essential. While in the full swing of city life I packed all these things, only to fall into the nomad version of myself where they feel like very foreign objects. If in doubt, leave them at home.
If you’re concerned about packing light and have flexibility with your itinerary, I’d recommend trying to plan your travels to fall in similar climates. Most of my current trip is taking place in warm climates so I’ve only got summer clothes with me. The moment I arrive in winter, I can pick things up there, and maybe donate my summer clothes. Going to clothes swap events or thrift shops is a great way to share resources with others. You might even meet people in hostels who are in need of the opposite wardrobe to you.
Make it Yours
Personalizing your bag makes it easier to identify at baggage claim or in hostel storage rooms and also lets you express yourself and your trip. You can add patches and badges and sew on things you find along your trip. There are lots of light pastel colored bags out there, especially those aimed at women, but these can so easily look dirty. I’d recommend a darker one which you can brighten up yourself.
Test Drive Your Bag
If you’ve got time, going on a trial trip with your backpack is a great way to prepare for a longer trip. I thought I knew my bag until the first day I really packed it and left the city. If you’re lucky, all you’ll learn is that you need to pack lighter, but you might also learn that your bag is not for you. Better learn that now than when you’re in a Vietnamese rainforest.
Access
I’d recommend bags with easy access to all parts of the interior, such as U-shaped access. These let you open your bag like a suitcase and means you might actually find your phone charger that’s right at the bottom of your bag before you reach 0%. Some backpacks have separated compartments, but whether they do or not, I’d recommend packing all items into smaller bags to help keep your life organized. You’ll be in and out of this bag multiple times a day and organized sections will save you a surprising amount of time.
Concealable Straps
Straps that tuck into the bag and can be zipped away are great especially when checking your bag into a flight. Baggage claim is stressful enough without an awkward strap-stuck-in-conveyer-belt situation.
Padded Hip Belts are Important
You’ve got hips, use them. Let them take the weight and give your shoulders a break. When I’ve packed very light I feel like my shoulders are completely free and my hip belt is doing all the work. This places the weight closer to your centre of gravity and helps with your posture.
Combination Padlocks are your Friend
Keys get lost but hopefully codes don’t. And if they do, you’ve got a fun task ahead of you rotating numbers that can entertain you on your twelve hour coach ride. Some backpacks have combination locks built into the zips but otherwise I’d recommend getting a few small padlocks.
Other Things to Consider
Is a laptop compartment important to you? Many backpacks have sections for laptops or tablets, but otherwise just storing your laptop in a sleeve amongst your clothes should work.
Are you traveling somewhere known for its pickpockets? Maybe a bag with strong safety features is for you.
If you’re buying new, was your bag made sustainably? Some are made from recycled materials, and in the list below I haven’t recommended any backpacks which contain animal textiles.
Best Travel Backpacks for Women
Here are some backpacks to consider to give you a taste, but there are many more out there to explore.
Osprey Fairview 55 (S/M)
- 55L
- 1.72kg
This bag is a classic. It’s lightweight, designed for women and comes with a removable daypack which can be attached to the main bag’s harness so it’s easy to carry both together. There’s a handy padded lockable laptop compartment and a scratch-free pocket which is good to keep small items safe such as glasses. At 55 liters, this bag is quite spacious so unless you have a lot of specialist equipment or warm layers, this should work for most travelers.
You can get the Osprey Fairview 55 (S/M) here.
Osprey Aura AG 50 (S)
- 47L
- 1.86kg
This is another bag designed for women which contours the body well. Its back panel is built for comfort and ventilation and the suspension makes the bag feel even lighter than it is. If you’ve got a bit more to spend and want all the features, this bag may be for you. It has adjustable front panel pockets for external storage, a hydration reservoir sleeve which can hold up to 3 liters, zips in the hip belt which are really useful for your phone (or snacks), a lower sleeping bag compartment, and a sternum strap with a safety whistle. One of the most useful features is the removable top lid which can be separated into a day bag.
You can get the Osprey Aura AG 50 (S) here.
Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP45
- 45L
- 1.8kg
This bag is built with security in mind and has strong anti-theft features so is worth considering if you’re traveling somewhere that’s more prone to theft. The strong zips are puncture resistant and the fabric itself is designed to be strong enough to prevent anyone cutting through it. Additionally, the bag comes with a steel cable so you can lock your bag to other things. The backpack can be carried on board with most airlines and has lots of separate compartments including a laptop sleeve.
You can get the Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP45 here.
Mountainsmith Apex 60
- 60 L
- 2kg
This is a larger backpack with a strong hip belt to help you carry the load. It’s designed to cup your hip bone and provide extra padded lumbar support. The shoulder straps can be adjusted for individual torso sizes which are definitely worth playing around with until it feels right. This bag is also great for keeping things organized as it’s nice and accessible with lots of pockets including one for documents and hip belt pockets.
You can get the Mountainsmith Apex 60 here.
Eagle Creek Women’s Global Companion 40L Women’s
- 40 L
- 1.59 kg
This backpack is designed for female bodies and one of the best features is the ventilation that keeps your back cool and dry on long sweaty walks due to the moisture-wicking padding. It’s also a good choice if you’re going to be in heavy winds or rain as it is a strong bag with a weather resistant bottom fabric and a tuck-away rain cover. The padded laptop sleeve is quite large and can fit a 17” device.
You can get the Eagle Creek Women’s Global Companion 40L Women’s here.
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
- 45 L
- 2.05 kg
This backpack has the great feature that it can either expand to 45 liters, collapse to 35 liters to meet airline carry-on requirements, or be compressed even further to a 30 liter day bag. It’s great for the organized among you as there are lots of zips, pockets and ways to access your items, both internal and external, including an 11’’ laptop sleeve, and the main compartment can be split into two smaller compartments.
My favorite thing about this bag is that the nylon canvas is 100% recycled so although it’s a bit more expensive, it’s been made in a more sustainable way. It’s a good sturdy bag which sits upright and it has a magnetic feature on the hip belt which keeps it in place.
You can get the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L here.
Conclusion
An ideal backpack is one you never need to think about and almost travels with you invisibly, giving you the freedom to focus on the reasons you’ve decided to take on this way of life. I hope you enjoyed this guide on the best travel backpacks for women! We also hope this guide gets you thinking about some of the things to consider when searching for a travel backpack and can help you find the bag that’s going to be the best travel companion for you. Let us know if you have any suggestions in the comments below as well.
