10 Best Wheeled Backpacks (For Easy Travel)

Osprey Sojourn

If you’re looking for a high-quality travel backpack, the Osprey Farpoint is the bag for you. Although I find it to be a pricey bag, it’s worth every single penny. This wheeled backpack is made from  210D recycled high tenacity nylon, that is coated with a DWR to make it highly water resistant. Great for travel, right>

I liked that the Farpoint has a spacious packing space, and inside there are several zippered pockets. The total capacity of the backpack is 65 liters, so I noticed I can stuff a lot of gear compared to when I travel with a smaller suitcase. But, unlike a suitcase, the Farpoint has multiple internal pockets, attachment points, and compression straps to pack more or keep things secure.

This pack also has top and side grab handles for effortless picking up. Which is great for when you need to check it in or load it on a train or bus!

The thing I love about the Farpoint is that both the back panel and the harness are padded and ventilated – using Osprey’s famous Airspeed suspension system. So, it feels comfortable even when you’re carrying the backpack on your shoulders. I appreciated having a padded hip belt and sternum strap to distribute the load on your hips instead of on your shoulders.

One thing I didn’t like about this rolling backpack is the lack of a dedicated laptop pocket. Sure, you can fit pretty much any device inside the actual bag, but it lacks the convenience of a TSA-friendly bag.

Overall, if you want a convertible wheeled travel back pack with an insane amount of space that is easy to move about, you can’t really go wrong.

Note: The Osprey Fairview is the women’s version of this rolling travel backpack.

Eagle Creek Gear Warrior Covertable Backpack

When it comes to world-class luggage, Eagle Creek’s name pops up almost every time. You might know them more for their packing cubes or other travel accessories, but this travel backpack with wheels is also top-notch!

This is actually a two-bag system, that is ideal for world travelers. You can pack your main bag, and detach the second one for your day out in town or hiking. I love the flexibility of such a system as that is how I always travel.

The large backpack/main bag is a huge packing space with a high-quality harness that I found made the bag a pleasure to walk around with. Just be careful not to overload the second backpack or else it pulls you backwards a bit. Put heavier things closer to your back.

It has a zip-away harness that you can hide if you have to check it in or carry it on a train or bus. And there is a great 42″ extendable handle with skate wheels so you can cruise around the airport or streets of Paris!

The material is high-grade recycled 600D Poly Neo Diamond combined with a rigid 210D Exo Skeleton. The base of both bags is well protected and there is even a stand for the backpack to take a load off. Both bags felt super durable to me, but either way, Eagle Creek backs it up with their “No Matter What” lifetime warranty.

The wheels are nice and burly for those annoying streets with rough ashfelt or even those European cobbles. But, you can always carry it whenever you want too. There are also corner protectors and recessed wheel housing to ensure those durable rollers keep rolling for years to come.

I like how the backpack zips off for the times when you just don’t need it on a trip. However, when you are using it, it has comfy padded shoulder straps to carry it.

Eagle Creek certainly has not forgotten security with lockable zippers tough pulls to open them. They are seriously on point for today’s anti-theft backpacks.

This is no cheap rolling backpack, but when you consider it is actually two-in-one and will take you all the way around the world and back, it’s quite a good deal.

Samsonite Tectonic Wheeled Backpack

Samsonite rarely disappoints with its luggage, so grab this pack if you’re looking for a safe choice. I was impressed by the durable 400D ripstop nylon, which offers great abrasion, tear, and water resistance.

The Tectonic wheeled backpack has two in-line skate wheels which I found rolled well. Its shoulder straps are contoured and with thick padding, and there is a cover that you can put over the wheels so they don’t touch your back directly.

The thing I really like about this roller backpack is that it can fit even 17” laptops in the internal padded compartment. I just found it is difficult to get a laptop in and out when it is full. However, there is definitely plenty of space for your gear in the internal and external compartments, including one with an organizer panel.

The one big downside I noticed on this rolling pack is that there’s not really enough space between the bottom of the bag and the ground. This could easily lead to rips and tears in the fabric. Even though nylon is a sturdy material, it’s not strong enough to endure being dragged on concrete.

But smooth floors of the airport, school and the office shouldn’t do any damage to the pack.  To make your backpack last as long as possible, be very careful how you roll it and try not to overfill it.

One thing to note is that not all of the colors are the exact same size. I listed the specs for the black Samsonite wheeled backpack; the purple and red packs are slightly smaller.

Ambor Rolling Backpack

The Ambor rolling backpack is one of the best affordable options. It’s a great EDC bag, with multiple compartments and pockets that allow you to organize all of your belongings. And it actually has a really spacious compartment that can fit enough clothes for shorter trips.

The bag features a padded laptop sleeve, which can fit most 15” laptops. And there’s also a tablet sleeve attached to the laptop pocket, so all your tech can be safely tucked away in the same place. On top of that, the Ambor wheeled backpack also features two additional external compartments that are great for any of your travel gear you want to have more easily accessible.

There’s an extra tablet sleeve in the frontmost compartment, as well as an entire organizer panel for all your smaller necessities. The other external compartment does not have any extra pockets inside, and it’s large enough to fit notebooks, magazines, and files.

The pack is equipped with rubber in-line skate wheels that roll quite smoothly. The wheel handle is made from aluminum, so it’s very sturdy and lightweight. It’s a single barrel handle, so it really doesn’t protrude inside the actual backpack compartment that much.

You can easily switch this from a wheeled backpack to a normal backpack. The shoulder straps are stowable, and there is a padded cover that goes over the wheels.

However, the straps themselves are quite thin, and there’s no ventilation on the harness or the backpanel, so it’s not going to be the most comfortable to carry on your back.

High Sierra XBT Laptop Rolling Backpack

High Sierra is known for making high-quality outdoor gear, and this backpack is no exception. It is made from ripstop and tech-weave Duralite fabric, with an additional water-resistant coating that will protect your tech in rainy weather. But, the zippers aren’t exactly water-resistant and water can leak through them – keep that in mind if you get caught in a heavy downpour.

The XBT travel bag features corner-mounted wheels and a double-barrel telescoping handle. Frankly, I’m not a huge fan of the double-barrel handle, as I found it takes up more space within the actual bag.

The thing I love about this pack is that it has several compartments that allow for easy organization. There’s a dedicated laptop sleeve that can easily fit 17” devices, as well as a smaller tablet sleeve.

And that’s on top of the spacious packing space and multiple external pockets, one of which has an organizer panel. Additionally, one of the pockets is lined with micro-fleece to protect your phone or sunglasses from scratches.

This laptop backpack has external compression straps, which will come in handy when it’s not entirely full. They allow you to cinch in the bag and make it more compact, in order to prevent its contents from shifting around.

Last but not least, there are the two padded shoulder straps. I liked that they are quite comfortable. However, the lack of a hip belt, sternum strap, and breathable mesh on the back panel means it is not ideal. I would not necessarily recommend this wheeled pack if you’re more interested in carrying it on your shoulders than rolling it around.

Wenger Luggage Synergy Wheeled 16" Laptop Backpack

The Wenger wheeled backpack is one of the most versatile options out there. It works great as both an EDC backpack and a travel backpack, which is why it’s one of our favorites. The spacious main compartment can fit quite a lot of items, whether you’re looking to fill it with books or clothes.

And one of the reasons why we love it so much is the back panel. There’s no messing around with the Synergy pack – with thick padding and high-quality breathable mesh all over the back panel and harness, this will be as comfortable as any regular backpack.

It is also going to be easy to roll this small backpack, due to the high quality, smooth wheels and the retractable wheel handle.

When you look at the interior of the pack, it only gets better. It has a triple padded 16” laptop sleeve, as well as a 13” tablet sleeve. This means that you could technically fit a bigger and a smaller laptop inside the bag.

And that is just one compartment. The Synergy rolling backpack has multiple other zippered compartments and pockets – I counted at least seven external ones. Plus, there are stretch side pockets that can fit smaller items, including a standard water bottle.

The Wenger backpack kind of seems too good to be true – I bet you’re wondering what’s the catch. And there really isn’t one, other than the high price point that might be off-putting for some people. But it’s nowhere near as expensive as the Osprey or Tumi packs, and I honestly think the price is fair, considering everything you’re getting for your money.

All in all, a worthy selection from a great range of travel backpacks.

Aoking Wheeled Travel Backpack

The Aoking backpack is definitely one of my favorites, due to the really large wheels. Their size lets you casually roll them up and down the stairs, without worrying that you’ll rip one of the wheels off or damage your backpack. And that’s perfect for us lazy folks, that sometimes just can’t be bothered to pick up our luggage.

This travel bag is available in two sizes, an 18” version and a 20” one. I will list the specs of both sizes below, so you know exactly what to expect.

Another thing I really liked about it is that it comes with a detachable cover for the wheels. It will protect you from getting first or water on your clothes, and since it is detachable, it’s super easy to wash it after use.

And there’s more. With thick padding and ventilation on both the back panel and harness, I found I could carry this pack comfortably on my back. When you’re just rolling it, you can tuck away the shoulder straps so they don’t get caught on the huge wheels.

This pack has a spacious packing space with a laptop pocket (fits 17” devices), a smaller front compartment with an organizer panel, and one zippered external pocket. Because the wheels of the bag are so big, there really isn’t space for side water bottle pockets.

If you’re looking for a really spacious bag for travel, this isn’t the wheeled backpack for you. But if you just want a premium bag for everyday activities, then this is right up your alley.

TUMI - Merge Wheeled Backpack

Tumi Merge is the rolling backpack we recommend for those of you that looking for a luxury option.

Even though I don’t necessarily agree with the sky-high price tag, I can’t deny that this is a premium bag, perfect for those that frequently travel for business. It’s made from tough ballistic nylon, with an aircraft-grade aluminum wheel handle.

The great thing about this wheeled backpack is that it is small enough to fit under the seat even on smaller jets. This pretty much guarantees you will always be able to carry it on an airplane and avoid checked baggage fees.

The bag opens up like a suitcase, to reveal a very spacious packing space with one zippered pocket and two slip pockets. There are internal compression straps to keep all your clothes in place, but no external straps to cinch the pack when it’s not full.

The shoulder straps are detachable and can be tucked away when you’re rolling the bag. And when you’re carrying it, you can use the cover to protect your clothes from the dirty in-line skate wheels.

In addition to that spacious packing space, the Tumi Merge wheeled backpack also features a 15” laptop pocket, a dedicated iPad sleeve, and four a total of four external pockets for any smaller items you would like to have handy while traveling.

On top of that, this bag is part of the Tumi Tracer program. That means that it has a unique barcode, which can help you track down the bag in case it ever gets lost. Very useful, especially considering the high price point.

Targus Compact Rolling Backpack

The Targus backpack is a great option for those of you that are looking for an affordable bag. There are two versions of the bag, and keep in mind that everything I tell you here only applies to the 16” laptop backpack.

This rolling backpack is made from durable polyester, with a neoprene grab handle. Polyester is a good material for luggage, but it’s not quite as durable or water-resistant as nylon. So, the lower price point actually makes perfect sense.

This bag features thick padding in the back panel and breathable mesh on the inside of the shoulder straps. Unfortunately, there’s no ventilation on the back panel, so it’s not going to be the most comfortable backpack to carry on your shoulders during hot summer days. But it has wheels and a wheel handle, so you can always just roll it around everywhere.

And when you want to make use of the in-line skate wheels and the retractable wheel handle, you should tuck away the shoulder straps so they don’t get in the way. You should also make sure to put the cover over the wheels so that they don’t get in direct contact with your clothes.

There’s a dedicated laptop compartment that fits 16” devices, as well as a smaller tablet sleeve. In fact, the laptop compartment can even fit 17” MacBooks, but not other computer brands.

In addition to the spacious main compartment, the Targus backpack also has a small scratch-free zippered pocket, a front compartment with an organizer panel, a zippered side pocket, and a stretch water bottle pocket.

The only downside of the pack is that it’s pretty small. With a capacity of only 29 liters it’s not the best choice if you’re looking to replace a carry-on suitcase.

Olympia Cascade Wheeled Backpack

Olympia makes some decent affordable luggage, and their Cascade backpack is a good choice if you’re on a budget. It is made from jacquard polyester, sturdy material with good tear resistance.

It opens up like a suitcase, which allows for easy packing. The main compartment of the pack is very spacious, with tie-down straps that will keep all your clothes in place. And the large mesh pocket inside this compartment is great for any smaller items you want to keep separate.

The thing that is great about this backpack is that it has expandable capacity. This is actually the only pack in this review that has this feature – if that’s something you were hoping to have, then you shouldn’t look further than the Cascade.

This backpack is also equipped with several external compartments, zippered pockets, compression straps, and grab handles. One of the grab handles actually doubles as a daisy chain attachment point, allowing you to attach anything you want to it with a carabiner.

The Cascade is overall a pretty good bag, but it has some serious downsides. For one, it’s lacking a dedicated laptop compartment. Sure, you can fit a laptop inside the bag, but you’ll have to put it in your own sleeve if you want to keep it protected.

The lack of padding is also evident in the shoulder straps, so it’s not going to be the most comfortable pack to wear.

The wheel handle of this Olympia backpack is not the sturdiest. It’s kind of flimsy, especially when fully extended. If you don’t take proper care of it, there’s a really good chance it will break off.

SKYMOVE Wheeled Rolling Backpack

The Skymove rolling backpack is another great affordable option. It is made from 1200D oxford fabric, with a multi-stage aluminum alloy wheel handle. Unlike most other roller backpacks you’ve seen here so far, the handle of this backpack can’t be completely hidden. Instead, it’s more similar to a suitcase handle.

I really like that the manufacturer openly stated that this pack is not suitable for people who are taller than six feet because the handle can’t extend enough. It’s much better to know these things in advance, so you avoid buying a wheeled backpack that you can’t actually wheel around.

The main compartment of this pack opens up just like it would on a regular backpack, and it is really spacious. It has a laptop compartment inside, which can fit devices up to 14”.

There’s also an external front compartment with a couple of pockets inside, but unfortunately, there’s not a proper organizer panel.