Women’s travel gear evolved to align with the grind of modern on-the-go living ages ago. Not even fast-paced transit centers can stop these women, not when their streamlined backpacks slip and slide through crowds with ease. These chic suitcase alternatives, tightly sealed to protect passports and boarding passes, get through bustling airports and packed public transit centers with minimal fuss.
Listening to one of our globetrotting staffers, stalled security lines and misplaced tickets are common enough. What’s uncommon is access to a stylish, gender-specific backpack for ladies that features a capacious build, one that’s wrapped with tough outerwear style. It’s often one or the other, style of practical roominess. In search of the best travel backpack for women, we won’t let our female reviewers down. If double-duty, dual-capable travel gear for the fairer sex is out there, we’re going to find it, review it, and gift it to our staffer, perhaps in return for some transferable frequent flyer miles she doesn’t want.
What to Look for in the Perfect Travel Backpack
Just as an honest opener, it’s not just about the color. Granted, women’s gear might come in pastels and have the odd flowery embellishment, but a practical build and plenty of storage space is more important than style. So, what should be prioritized? Stick with us as we break it down.
Space for that passport and all boarding passes, an itinerary or two, they’re all essential when going on a long trip—and that’s just getting through to the right terminal—but what about your toiletries and keys? What about a secure pocket for a business Mac and a little Velcro sealed compartment for a phone charger and cable. You know, the cable that always seems to go magically wandering? Women’s dresses may still lack pockets, and that’s changing, but their travel backpacks can’t be without plenty of zippered and snap-down storage.
Going beyond access to a convenient cosmetics pocket, the best travel backpacks for women blend style with space-maximized efficiency, plus a pinch of organizational wizardry. Trust us to conduct an unbiased review, and follow along as we put this collection of gender-tailored travel gear through their globetrotting paces.
Osprey Fairview 40 Women’s Travel Backpack
Available in four vibrant colors, the Osprey Fairview 40 won’t fade among other women’s travel backpacks if it’s put down for a moment while a passenger stops to check for airport announcements. Our female staffer chose the Night Jungle Blue variant and started packing for a make-believe getaway. Right from the start, the soft Airspace back panel contoured to her shoulders, with foam padding providing extra comfort.
Her ponytail did momentarily get caught while shrugging her way into the travel backpack, but at 3.4lbs, it was easy enough to adjust the 40 liter bag and get it into an upright position. Once there, she took it off again and began loading it up. The reinforced 450D polyester, twist woven for extra durability, felt like it could handle any sharp edge or rough handling in an overhead luggage compartment, so we really pushed those organizational compartments to the limit. They didn’t disappoint. Even if they bulged, compression straps were on hand to smooth away unsightly bumps in the material.
A woman’s perspective – The shoulder and sternum straps were adjustable and wide, working in tandem with the 4mm LightWire support frame to distribute weighty travel items. For express travel through security checkpoints, a front toiletry zippered pouch let our tester get quick access to TSA approved baggys of liquids and gels, speeding her passage to her gate. Even the torso section on the breathable back panel adjusted, ensuring a snug fit against petite shoulders.
Lockable sliders around compartment zippers, a spacious main compartment and separate easy-access 16” laptop pocket, the inner organizational specs of the Osprey Fairview 40 Women’s Travel Backpack were mighty impressive. Add to that net mesh pockets, padded straps and handles, and a hipbelt, then you have a travel companion that’s built to perform at its best when the going gets tough. For those overhead compartment confrontations, no worries, the harness and hipbelt can both be stowed away to create an extra-compact form factor.
REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 Women’s Travel Backpack
Rucksack, the word conjures up images of European travelers beating a path down a Paris backstreet. The REI Co-op Rucksack 40 does take its cue from Euro stylings, expressing a minimalist, no-fuss look that’s as practical as it is attractive. Compression straps did a fine job of streamlining its shape, keeping the rucksack tall and slender. As if that wasn’t enough, the lightweight 2lb 11oz travel bag featured several woman-specific aspects for comfy carrying.
The features referred to are found on the hipbelt and front-facing harness straps. Using our petite tester shamelessly as our guinea pig, the hipbelt shaping is clearly designed to accommodate the female body. The same can be said for the sternum strap. Also, perhaps taking a lesson from their hiking backpacks, the shoulder straps and hipbelt both felt foam-padded and ready to hug the tired body of a female international traveler.
Laptops of up to 15” in screen size are welcome, which does leave owners of larger devices out of luck. Other than that, the 40L capacity was well organized; top, side and front interior pockets were available to store passports and tickets, although most in-the-know airport passengers now keep their tickets stored virtually, on their smartphones. Speaking of, there’s also a quick-access side pocket in this REI rucksack, with a concealed security pouch located deeper down, perfect for keeping itineraries and travel documents hidden.
A woman’s perspective – Of the only two colors on sale, we chose the raisin version. It’s a sort of pleasant russet colored design. The toughened nylon did encounter the occasional knock from bustling passengers, but it didn’t miss a beat, kept right on sitting on our reviewer’s back, comfortably. That was the result of the breathable air mesh back panel, ensuring comfort, no matter the lateness of the hour. And plenty an hour of lateness can be burned through when waiting for a terminal announcement, that’s for sure.
Anyway, travel delay frustrations aside, the REI Co-op Rucksack 40, steel-reinforced internal frame keeping loads safe, was a 2440 cubic inch high-performer when it came to packing versatility. The large zippered front access panel saved the day several times when smaller items seemed lost, and the side carrying handle allowed quick reorientation so that the bag could pass through a security screening machine, just like any other streamlined piece of carry-on luggage.
Ogio Pace Pro Max Women’s Travel Backpack
The Ogio Pace Pro Max Women’s Travel Backpack doesn’t use a hiker-like form factor. This means no hipbelt, no compartment for a hydration pack or any other trail convenience attributes, either. Instead, our reviewer felt like she was ready for some jet-setting travel, complete with 45L carrying capacity. That’s big, but we didn’t have any issue with overhead carry-on wrangling.
First to impress our faux traveling reviewer’s eager little hands, a wraparound zipper curves generously all the way around the front panel. Quick access issues were resolved here, with a phone-hosted digital boarding pass or once wandering backpack passport waiting behind that zipper. We also discovered that the straps stowed away tidily, turning the snag-prone bag into an easy-carry duffel.
A woman’s perspective – Due to that capacious 45L internal size, 21.5” high and armored in 1680D ballistic polyester, the Ogio Pace Pro can hold 17” laptops in its padded sleeve. That same size and capacity rating is also responsible for a multitude of fitted pockets. In all, we counted 10 exterior pouches and another 5 interior pockets. For those carrying lots of fiddly objects, toiletries and keys, the 45L Ogio Pace Pro absolutely crushes it as a multi-pocketed women’s backpack.
Approaching a TSA security point, intimidated by the speed of other passengers as they unloaded and loaded their various wearables, we were comforted by the security-approved locks; they’d easily engaged through the fitted zipper slider pulls. A bonus hidden pocket snugly accepted a passport, too, removing yet another common concern when navigating security checkpoints and terminal check-ins. Even the built-in shoe compartment felt like a thoughtful addition, accepting a pair of ballet flats after our seat numbers had been found.
Aer Travel Pack 3 Small Women’s Backpack
The 28L carrying capacity and structured pocket layout, behind a zipper that flips down the sides and top of the entire bag front panel, makes the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small a perfect companion piece for the busy professional woman on-the-go. It’s arguably a unisex product, but at 28L we pushed it into female usage territory. For men, there’s a 35L model that does away with the ‘Small’ label.
Returning to that front panel, there’s a pocket for every occasion. For a phone, its charging cable and charger, a magazine to read while waiting to board, plus smaller pockets to secure travel docs, nothing is missed. While other passengers are reaching into baggy pockets in front of impatient TSA agents, you’ll be flying through, safe in the knowledge that you know where every little item is stored. Personally, we believe the best travel backpack for women should spend as little time as possible being scrutinized; it should be on the move, like you.
A woman’s perspective – Zippers lock at the worst possible moment—another common headache for TSA agents—but the Aer Travel is fitted with durable, snag-free YKK zippers. In keeping with that design edge, the bag is made out of 1680D ballistic nylon, which means it won’t be punctured by a rogue uncapped pen or by someone’s overly enthusiastic attempt to squeeze the bag into a partially occupied overhead bin.
It was the little touches that made the biggest difference to our travel-happy reviewer. She appreciated the soft woven inner lining, a feature that ensured no scratches to her iPad or brand new 16” MacBook. The compression straps were also very welcome, their magnetic fasteners securing with the minimum of effort. And, as always, we looked for the various exterior pockets and pouches a premium travel backpack should have. From side fitted to top, there were pockets aplenty. Incidentally, this product features a smart tracker compartment. Use it if you fear your new Aer travel backpack might be stolen.
Deuter Voyager 60+10 SL Women’s Travel Backpack
Itch still in her traveling feet, our reviewer grabbed a Deuter Voyager Women’s Travel Backpack out of our carefully lined up collection. She picked the black version. There was also a ‘raisin’ variant on display, but the darker hues blended in better with her luggage set. Right away, we detected a change in her attitude. Less chic and stylish, more functional and travel-rugged, the Deuter backpack returned our review to a trail-toughened aesthetic.
Bending her knees to lift, the contact system back panel, adjustable to ensure a contour fit against a woman’s shorter torso, gently hugged the curves of her back, making back strain problems a non-issue. Just as well, with close to 32” of back-of-the-skull knocking height, the Deuter Voyager and its big 60+10L inner shell is built big. It weighs 6lbs, a little heavier than the other backpacks in this review, so be prepared for that added heft.
A woman’s perspective – The flexible steel spring frame built in to the Deuter Voyager 60+10 SL did a fine job of distributing variously sized and weighted items—including toiletries and cosmetics—as they were packed. Layered pockets in front granted zippered access to the spacious main compartment, with a second zipper taking on the role of front stash pouch. It was easy to confuse the two at first, opening the main compartment when we were trying to open the front pouch. Even better, the hip fins didn’t pinch or prod, they just tightened, snug and easily cinched.
Our roving tester soon adjusted to the sheer number of zips built into the backpack. For those tired after a long journey, however, a moment of confusion could be forgiven. What she did find a joy to use was the included daypack—which explains the +10 part of the title—putting it to good use as a chest attached satchel. Thus equipped, the Bluesign-certified 600D polyester outer shell and its 420D polyamide soft lining deflected every single abrasive scrape we could send its way
With enlarged side pockets, a height adjustable top, and enough hip, shoulder and sternum harness strapping to secure the backpack—even a cartwheel probably couldn’t shake it loose— the Deuter backpack is designed for travelers who intend to leave their commuter vehicles in search of a rugged trail. The only real drawback we could find was the laptop compartment, a feature that’s designed for smaller 13” notebooks.
Tumi Voyageur Celina Women’s Travel Backpack
The Tumi Voyageur Celina travel backpack might look like a sudden and dramatic change of pace has occurred, but hear us out before skipping this item. This backpack isn’t big and unwieldy like some of the models covered in this lineup, but it’s every bit as much a travel-capable backpack as any of the others. For one thing, it’s made of a lightweight nylon fabric, so it weighs in at a featherweight 1.8lbs. Sure, it’s not cheap, but that’s a compromise you have to be willing to make when shopping for the best travel backpack for women.
Feeling playful, our travel gadget guru opted for the indigo shell. There was also a black bag, accented in gold trimming. Both colors showcased a sophisticated aesthetic, promoting a style over function design. Not fooled by its good looks, we push down deeper, looking for the backpack’s bump and scrape-proof capabilities. In the end, we decided that it was a soft shell fabric, but it performed well when scraping against carry-on bags in overhead bins.
A woman’s perspective – Media space rated highly in this section of the review. The sales blurb advertised a secure fit when sliding 15” laptops in, but they also say a 16” MacBook fits, too. Other than that, there’s a lot of richly finished pockets. A side pocket, a waterproof water bottle holder, double-zipped main compartment access and U-zippered front pocket, this backpack’s premium looks are likely to leave a lasting impression with TSA agents.
An attractive appearance can only take someone so far, though. We’ve lost count of the number of classy backpacks we’ve seen torn up by hungry luggage handling machines. A good organizational feature and a tough-as-nails shell indicates a more practical set of features underlying the looks. A leather handle is going to carry the Tumi Voyageur Celina past all sorts of commute threats, then the Tumi Tracer program is on hand should you suffer a lose or theft of this expensive investment, and your belongings.
Includes a 5-year warranty, long-haul stain and water resistant fabric, a monogram service, exterior front and side zippered pockets, and inbuilt compatibility with Tumi accessories, such as carabiners and detachable modular pouches.
Baggallini Tribeca Expandable Women’s Travel Backpack
Do you spend all your time walking between terminals? Maybe you’re smart, propped up on the travelator while you people watch. Or do you thrive on taking cross-country trips on old locomotives? The Baggallini Tribeca Expandable is your perfect match, a 1.8lb piggy backed belongings shell that’ll get you where you need to be when you’re navigating busy flight hubs and railway stations.
The advertising literature states TSA approval, so stop to pull a water bottle out of the stretch side pocket while security goes to town on your neatly stowed tech and clothing. The U-zip front pocket, located up top for inspection convenience, folds down easily to give professional carry-on screeners fast access to a 16” inch laptop in its padded sleeve. Actually, the backpack had a sort of Chinese puzzle feel to it. For packing larger items, it laid down flat, the front pocket opening for loading. Finished there, it would flip back upright, and a rear zipper would open to load a few more items.
A woman’s perspective – The rear zipper silently unsealed, opening from top to bottom. It was used to store our staffer’s precious new MacBook. A smaller pocket, positioned just below this Velcro-sealed opening, accepted an older iPad. An iPad Mini may have slid around, but we were using a regular tablet size, so this wasn’t an issue. Moreover, for pulling out a pen or keychain, the lay-flat design was welcome. She pushed the Baggallini Tribeca on its rear panel, unzipped the front, and a pen was pulled from a fitted and elasticized loop. A few crosswords later, the gate announcement was called.
Carrying the travel backpack on tired shoulders, the padded straps adjusted to contour against petite shoulders. Our reviewer was a 5’2” tall businesswoman, so she knew just which strap to adjust to get the snuggest fit. She was ready to board, her passport in the included RFID passport pocket, and a final check was used at this opportunity to check zips and pockets.
Earning its name, the main compartment expanded to accommodate a couple of issues of just purchased Cosmopolitan magazines. Overall, she’d rarely ever had such a pleasant experience, pulling a phone or pen, slipping out her tablet. And, if her roller carry-on ever competed for attention, the Baggallini handle sleeve easily slipped over the telescoping handle, becoming part of an easy-steer rolling luggage whole.
Reviewing The Top Picks for Best Travel Backpack
As long-time rail station and airport travelers, we’ve got a few stories to tell. They’re filled with frustrating moments, times when luggage went astray. At best, we’ve boarded in the last group and dodged flying elbows as carry-on items were tossed in bins. At worst, the carry-on luggage seemed to take on a life of its own, attempting to wheel itself away from the not so tender fingers of security checkpoints.
Sidestepping these headache-inducing travel woes, women who’ve shared our experiences buy travel backpacks. More than that, they buy the best travel backpacks for women, shoulder carrying bags that leave their hands free to deal with all of the amazing events that can, and often do, occur in these vast transportation hubs. A Tumi Voyageur Celina women’s travel backpack is a compelling choice when going on a trip, but it’s expensive and built only for travel.
For something that’ll easily handle airport movements, and it’s sized to fit overhead bins or under a seat, an Ogio Pace Pro Max women’s travel backpack is a better option. Not only is it covered in zippers and pockets and a large enough padded laptop pocket to stow away a 17” screen, it also uses special concealable straps. If you’re worried about a strap catching under a seat or knotting itself against someone’s carry-on luggage, making those straps disappear is a very desirable feature indeed.
In the end, whether you’re going long-haul or on a weekend trip, comfort is paramount. Opt for wide straps and padding, plus enough capacity to carry every item, even those that are fragile. A steel spring frame is good here, distributing weight, avoiding back strain. Is there anything else? Ah, yes, have fun and be safe on your journeys, wherever they may take you and your new women’s travel backpack.