Best Travel Backpack For Women (From Small to Carry-on)

Carry on size: 30-40 Litre Packs

In this section, I will only show you the best small travel backpacks for ladies. Ones that have up to 40 liters of capacity. All of them are carry-on sized and should be allowed on any airplane.

Hynes Eagle Carry On Backpack

If you don’t feel like spending hundreds of dollars on a backpack, then this is one of your best options. The Hynes Eagle Carry-On is a unisex backpack, with a price tag of around $50. The exact price depends on the color that you want to pick up.

It’s very affordable, and you will get amazing value for money. The backpack is made from polyester and features a padded and ventilated backpanel. The shoulder straps are also covered with breathable mesh, and they are stowable.

The durability of this backpack is not really premium – you will notice some wear and tear sooner than you would on an Osprey backpack. However, that’s to be expected of a backpack that’s this affordable.

You have to compromise on something; with Amsterdam, you are getting a carry-on with a large capacity, lots of pockets for organization, and multiple compartments. But you’re compromising on durability.

The pack features a laptop sleeve that will easily fit 15.6” laptops, and can even fit some slimmer 17” laptops. It opens up suitcase-style, which allows for easy packing. And the internal straps will hold all your clothes in place. There are also external compression straps, which allow you to reduce the size of the pack when it is not at full capacity.

Another thing worth noting is that this pack features an organizational panel in the front compartment. It has a large sleeve that can easily fit your tablet and several smaller slip and zip pockets for all your other necessities.

Monos Metro Backpack

Monos is known for creating high-quality modern luggage and their Metro backpack is no exception. If you want a sleek and stylish bag for travel, this is one of the top options. It’s even a great choice for travel in Europe, because the backpack is small enough to fit under the seat with most carriers.

The Monos Metro bag is made from nylon or vegan leather, for a sleek but luxurious look and feel. It’s got a 15” laptop compartment, multiple internal and external pockets, and even a luggage strap in the back so you can mount it on top of your suitcase.

The front of the backpack has an attachment point for the Metro Folio kit. This is a small organizer that you attach to the front of the backpack and that looks just like a regular backpack front pocket. It’s a good item to have if you need an organizer, but it’s worth noting that it’s quite expensive for what it is.

The same could be said about the Metro backpack alone – it’s a more expensive option but if you want a premium bag and you don’t mind paying for quality, Monos Metro might just be the bag you’re looking for.

The North Face Router

The TNF Router is an amazing travel backpack. It’s remarkably versatile – with multiple compartments, loads of pockets, and a few attachment points, this is a backpack you will feel comfortable with both in the air and on the trail.

It is a unisex laptop backpack though, so there are no women’s specific features on it. However, it is a super popular all-rounder daypack that is great for city trips or even a day out hiking

This backpack features a TSA-friendly 17″ laptop compartment in the back, with thick padding for great shock absorption.

The main compartment is very spacious and has an internal zippered pocket. It’s large enough to fit clothes for a weekend trip, and you can fit everything else in the front compartment and the five external pockets. That front compartment features an organizer panel with a tablet sleeve, smartphone pocket, and a bunch of other smaller slip and zippered pockets.

The Router is equipped with the FlexVent suspension system, for excellent carrying comfort. Both the back panel and harness are very breathable, and the ventilation of this backpack is really great. It is even endorsed by the ACA (American Chiropractic Association), so there’s no doubt that it will feel really comfortable on your back.

The only downside of this travel backpack is the hip belt – it’s rather thin, so it might cut into your waist a little bit if you carry it for too long.

SWISSGEAR 1900 Scansmart TSA Laptop Backpack

If you’re primarily looking for a functional carry-on, then this SwissGear backpack is a good option. It has some features that will make your life easier, especially if you tend to travel with lots of electronics. Even when compared to its close relative, the 1923.

The backpack features a dedicated TSA-friendly compartment for those electronics. The laptop sleeve is padded and has a zipper closure. It can fit most 17” laptops, which is pretty great. There’s also a floating tablet sleeve in this compartment.

The ergonomic shoulder straps are adjustable, and padded, and feature a loop attachment point for your sunglasses. There is also padding in the Airflow back panel, which promises great carrying comfort.

The travel backpack has awesome organizational features. The main packing compartment is very spacious and has a media pocket with a headphone port. In addition to that, there is also a large zippered pocket in this compartment, as well as a smaller slip pocket – perfect for organizing all your chargers and cables.

The laptop backpack also features four additional zippered pockets, one of which has an organizer panel for all your smaller items. There are also two water bottle pockets that are just the right size to hold water bottles.

40-50 liters (Medium)

In this section, I will show you some of the best backpacks for women that have a capacity between 40 and 50 liters. A couple of them are small enough that they will be accepted as carry ons, despite their large capacity.

Fjallraven Travel Pack

Fjallraven is known for the very simple and stylish Kanken, but this stylish backpack is packed full of travel features – The Fjallraven Travel backpack. It is made from recycled polyester and organic cotton, and it is coated for excellent water resistance. This backpack is very durable, and you will be able to use it for a really long time.

The Travel Pack features a padded laptop compartment (fits 15” laptops) with additional pockets for your tablet, documents, etc. That compartment is all the way in the pack, and it can be fully opened. This allows you to get through TSA checkpoints very quickly.

The main compartment of the pack opens up clamshell-style, and it is divided into several packing compartments. The bottom side features a large packing compartment with a zippered divider, and the top side of the pack is divided into two smaller compartments.

All of this allows for easy organization, which is pretty important for travel. You also get two external pockets on the front panel that you can use for any items you would want to have handy at all times.

This Fjallraven backpack is a women’s specific design. It’s a bit smaller than the men’s version, and the shoulder straps are slightly shorter. The harness is covered with breathable mesh, for great ventilation. Additionally, the shoulder straps are stowable, and the back looks rather sleek when you put them away.

Unfortunately, you won’t have a great back panel on this backpack, which is one downside.

Being a Fjallraven, also means it is a more fashionable travel backpack that is more suited to ladies. On top of that, its small size means it is perhaps the best travel backpack for petite females.

Kroser Laptop Backpack

The Kroser laptop backpack is excellent if you want something fashionable and stylish but affordable. It’s one of the cheapest backpacks featured in this review, but by no means is that a bad thing.

This backpack is suitable for women who need a smaller bag to carry all the items they want to have easily accessible during travel. It’s got a 15.6” laptop sleeve, a smaller tablet sleeve, and a bunch of open pockets, in addition to the roomy main compartment.

The backpack also has a USB port so that you can charge your phone on the go, as well as quite a wide opening, so that all your items are easily accessible at first glance. You could pack for a shorter trip in this backpack – it’s small enough to pass as an underseat bag on most airlines, with budget carriers excluded.

The Kroser backpack is made from quality leather for a sleek and modern look. It’s got padded shoulder straps, but it’s necessary to point out that the carrying comfort you experience with this pack is not the best. You are sacrificing comfort and durability for affordability, so keep that in mind.

40-50 liters (Medium)

In this section we have some great women’s backpacks for women with a capacity between 40 – 50 liters. A few might bit tiny enough for carry-on, but most will struggle to fit in the tester!

Osprey Fairview 40

The Osprey Fairview backpack is a specifically designed travel backpack for women. It has ergonomically shaped backpack straps and a torso that’s shorter than the one on the men’s version (Osprey Farpoint).

Not only that, but it is available in three different sizes, and only the smallest backpack can be used as a carry-on.

This is a front-loading backpack, with laptop and tablet sleeves inside the main packing area. It is similar to many other travel backpacks like the Tortuga Setout but obviously women-specific.

It is lightweight and built from really sturdy materials; the exterior of the backpack is made from 210D Nylon which is water-resistant even without any additional coating.

The harness of this backpack is fully adjustable and stowable. This means you can put everything away if you have to check it in, which is a big plus.

The back panel and the harness are both padded and covered with breathable mesh for excellent ventilation. The LightWire Frame Suspension includes a strong peripheral frame that ensures your backpack never loses its shape, and that helps transfer the load of the pack away from your shoulders and onto your hips.

Of course, you will need to use the hip belt in order for that to be effective. But that shouldn’t be a problem, since the hip belt is padded, ventilated, adjustable, and just really comfortable to wear. It ticks all the boxes!

The Fairview features multiple external mesh pockets and scratch-free pockets for sunglasses/smartphones. That’s in addition to several internal pockets, all of which allow for easy organization.

See our full Fairview 40 review

Cotopaxi Travel Backpack

The Cotopaxi Travel Backpack is a colorful backpack/travel bag hybrid. It’s made from very sturdy materials – water-resistant 600-denier repurposed nylon.

It is designed from the ground up to be a travel backpack with a clamshell opening like a suitcase. Not only that but there are three easy-to-open zippered compartments for simple packing. And, you can access the main compartment through a handy side pocket which we loved!

The backpack has padded and ventilated back panel and shoulder straps with load bearing to make it extra comfy to carry. The hip belt is also quite low slung making it easy to load on the hips instead of your back. However, there is no sternum strap included, which is a shame for such a potentially heavy pack.

Another handy travel feature is that you can tuck away the shoulder straps and turn this into a duffel/carry-on bag. They hide away behind the back panel making carrying with the shoulder strap easy peasy.

Another cool feature is the 15-inch laptop sleeve in the back panel, along with a place for your tablet and accessories. We found it a shame that is the largest laptop it can fit given its size.

Yes, there are also a few other pockets like the side water bottle pockets, a well-sized top organizer pocket. And there are four handles to carry it when it’s all set for travel-mode.

All in all, a unique travel pack that ticks all the boxes for the ladies, including style!

Timbuk2 claims that this backpack is carry-on sized. However, with a height of 22.8”, not all airplanes will allow you to bring this inside the cabin. So, it’s going to depend on the carry-on size restrictions that individual airlines have. And a little bit on your luck.

There is no dedicated TSA-friendly laptop sleeve on this travel bag, and that’s one downside.

But, you can easily fit a 15” laptop inside the Wander – as long as you have your own laptop sleeve, it should be pretty safe. The main packing area of the bag is very spacious, and it opens up just like a duffel bag. It features a large zippered pocket and internal straps that will keep all your clothes in place.

The travel bag has several pockets, for easy organization. That includes a dedicated shoe compartment that doubles as a wet pocket. And there’s also a small compartment with an organizer panel, on the top of the backpack.

The Wander is equipped with external compression straps that help cinch in the backpack when it’s not at full capacity. And which can also help you reduce its size so that it’s more likely to be accepted as a carry-on.

50+ liters (Large)

In this section, I will show you backpacks that have a capacity of a minimum of 50 liters. All of the backpacks you see here can fit enough clothes for at least a week of traveling, and some of them are a great option for backpacking.

Of course, if you are not a fan of carrying your large backpack around you might want to consider a wheeled backpack instead!

Osprey Porter 46

The Porter 46 is a good choice if you want a medium-sized travel backpack. The 46-liter version is too big to be a carry-on with most airlines, but some will actually accept it inside the cabin. Be sure to check their requirements for in-cabin luggage, to avoid any surprises.

The backpack features HDPE Framesheet suspension, with thick padding on both the backpanel and the harness. However, there’s no ventilation on the backpack – the harness is stowable and the back is completely smooth, similar to the Fjallraven’s Travel Pack. The hip belt is padded though, and it is pretty comfortable to wear.

This is a front-loading backpack – the cover of the main compartment unzips nearly all the way so that the entire packing area is exposed when you open up the backpack. This allows you to easily pack your backpack just like you would a single-compartment suitcase.

The Porter is also equipped with a front compartment with an organizer panel, for all the items you would like to have easily accessible. And it features a couple of external pockets, for everything you don’t want to put in the main packing area.

The Straightjacket compression allows you to tighten up the backpack when it’s not filled to capacity. And when you want to put it away, this really reduces the size of the backpack and the space it takes up.

The Porter pack also features a padded laptop sleeve all the way in the back, which will keep all your electronics safe. This pack is often compared to the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview (mentioned above) and for good reason. They are similar and worthy travel companions. If you like Osprey, they are both a great buy.

See our full Osprey Porter review

Gregory Mountain Products Tribute 40

The Tribute 40 is a women’s backpack by Gregory Mountain Products – a high-end brand that makes travel and outdoor gear. They are known for making travel gear that is high quality, durable, and very well built.

This backpack is no exception; it is made from 100% water-resistant Nylon. The pack features a women’s specific air mesh harness with a sternum strap, which stows into its own compartment for air travel. The entire harness is easily adjustable, so you should be able to make this backpack fit your body perfectly.

The dimensions listed below are the dimensions of the backpack at full capacity. If you don’t fill it to the brim, you could reduce its size with the straps, and then you might even be allowed to bring it inside the cabin. There is also a Tribute 50L, and a Tribute 70 with daypack if you want it for check-in luggage.

The main compartment of this pack opens up like a suitcase, for easy packing. It is very spacious and you can easily fit clothes for a week of travel inside it. It has not only space, but also a specific pocket for dirty clothes, and a zippered mesh panel for other stuff.

In addition to that, there is also a front compartment, which features an organizer panel (great for travel accessories and a tablet) and a padded laptop sleeve.

The sleeve can fit most 15.6” laptops, and the panel below it features pockets for both your tablet and smartphone.

The Proxy also features a zippered top pocket, for all items you would like to have easily accessible. And with the lockable zippers, you don’t have to worry about the safety of your belongings.

50+ liters (Large)

In this section, I will show you backpacks that have a capacity of a minimum of 50 liters. All of the backpacks you see here can fit enough clothes for at least a week of traveling, and some of them are a great option for backpacking.

Of course, if you are not a fan of carrying your large backpack around you might want to consider a wheeled backpack instead!

AmazonBasics Carry-On Travel Backpack

The AmazonBasics backpack is a really great affordable option. If you’re looking for a backpack with a large capacity but can’t afford to spend a lot of money, this is probably one of the best packs you could buy.

The best thing about it is that it is carry-on sized, even with a capacity of 50 liters. And it is surprisingly well built, considering its price point. The backpanel and the shoulder straps feature thick padding and breathable mesh, for great carrying comfort.

The pack also has a sternum strap and a hipbelt, which help transfer its weight away from your shoulders and onto your hips.

The main compartment of this travel bag is very spacious, and it features two compression straps that will hold your stuff in place. There is also a large zippered pocket on the top cover of it that allows for some decent organization. Additionally, the capacity of the bag is expandable, which allows you to pack pretty much all you can carry.

When the AmazonBasics travel backpack is not at full capacity, you can always use the external compression straps to reduce its size and tighten it a bit.

And there is even an organizer panel in the front compartment. It features several slip pockets, including a couple of pen holders. That is in addition to the external zippered pocket, and the dedicated laptop sleeve.

The laptop compartment is unfortunately not TSA friendly, but it is all the way in the back. So, it will be pretty easy to take out your laptop – easier than packing it in the main compartment anyway.

Kelty Redwing 50

The Kelty Redwing is a unisex hiking backpack, and it’s one of the best affordable options out there. The backpack is available in two sizes – the 50 liters version that I will be talking about here, and a smaller 44-liter version. Neither of them is small enough to be expected as a carry-on travel backpack.

This is an amazing backpack because it is very versatile. Even though it’s supposed to be a hiking backpack, its size and capacity actually make it an excellent travel companion. The top-loading main packing area is very spacious and can fit enough gear for a week or two of traveling (including all those travel accessories).

The Redwing features a Dynamic AirFlow back panel, with spaced-out foam ridges covered in breathable mesh. Because of that, both the comfort and ventilation you get out of this backpack will feel premium.

In addition to the spacious main compartment, this backpack also features a front compartment with an organizer panel. It’s great for all items you would like to have handy while you’re traveling, and there’s even space inside the compartment for your tablet.

The main packing area has a dual-use sleeve – it is designed for either a laptop or a hydration bladder. And there are lots of other pockets on this backpack – a quick stash pocket on the top of the pack, stretch side pockets, zippered side pockets, and a front stretch pocket. Additionally, there are several attachment points for any bulkier gear on the exterior of the backpack.

See our full Kelty Redwing 50 review.

Osprey Aura AG 65+

If you want a really big pack for backpacking, the Aura AG is one of the best women’s specific hiking backpacks around. The AG in the name stands for anti Gravity – the technology of the harness and back panel. They are both covered with suspended air mesh, which makes the backpack remarkably breathable and very comfortable to wear.

The entire harness is adjustable, so it should be rather easy to make this huge backpack fit you well. And considering how big it is, it’s actually pretty lightweight at only 4.26 lbs. Even the hip belt padding is adjustable on the Aura 65, and it can extend up to 6” for the best fit.

This is a top-loading hiking backpack, with a rather huge main compartment, and can easily fit enough clothes for a couple of weeks inside this beast. The backpack features a floating pocket – the top lid can be removed and used as a daypack. There’s an integrated FlapJacket cover, for lidless use of the pack.

This pack is designed for backpacking, so get features like a hydration sleeve, ice axe loops, and trekking pole attachment points. However, those are very versatile and you can use them however you like – the hydration sleeve can always double as a laptop sleeve.

The Aura AG features dual hip belt pockets, stretch side pockets, a stretch mesh pocket on the front, and dual zippered top lid pockets. All of this allows for easy organization, which is very important with backpacks that are this big.

Thule Landmark Travel Pack

In case you’re looking for a really large backpack, the Thule Landmark is a good option. It is a women’s specific backpack with an overall capacity of 70 liters. The Landmark actually consists of two backpacks – the main backpack with 50 liters and the detachable day pack with a capacity of 20 liters.

The daypack will really come in handy if you’re going backpacking – it allows you to leave most of your luggage in the hotel room, and go exploring only with a small basic daypack on your shoulders.

The Landmark has a comfortable and ventilated back panel and harness. It features a sternum strap and a hip belt, for your carrying comfort. And the shoulder harness is easily adjustable – pretty important for a backpack this size.

Even though it’s pretty huge, it won’t be difficult to organize your belongings in it. For one thing, you have two main compartments to pack in. And then you also have a ton of smaller pockets and other compartments. There’s the dedicated laptop sleeve, multiple internal pockets, a zippered side pocket, and a top pocket with an organizer panel and a key clip.

Another great feature of this backpack is that you can attach the daypack to the shoulder straps of the main pack, kangaroo-style. This makes takes some load off your back and is a little more secure when you’re walking through unknown cities.

Overall, if you’re in need of a really big pack for backpacking, the Landmark is without a doubt one of your best options.