Something for the trip | Shopping for backpacks

March 16, 2025

This is a list of backpacks I found recently at online retailers that might be good for a walking trip.

I started by considering capacity and weight, and then narrowed down the list by considering features that make a backpack more comfortable and useful, and which backpacks I think look good. I’m just shopping, so these are only my impressions rather than an actual review.

What makes a backpack good for walking?

It can’t be too heavy, since I need to wear it for many hours at a time. It should have enough space to hold what I want to carry, but it shouldn’t be too big, so that it’s easy to handle.

It should keep my belongings secure until I reach my destination, but allow me to easily access a few things I need along the way.

It should be comfortable to wear, especially the shoulder straps.

It should suggest the romantic aspect of the walking trip I have in mind. It should also be a bit serious, to help give me the determination to finish the walk.

The materials should be durable, and assembled well, but it should not be overbuilt. Maybe it could be a bit cheap or humble.

Probably this does not exist as an actual product. But hopefully I can find something that comes close.

Capacity

I’ve included backpacks with a capacity of around 15–25 liters.

Capacity is a little unintuitive, because it seems to be the approximate maximum volume a backpack can hold, rather than the amount you’d usually want to carry. It makes sense, because how can anyone agree on the usual contents of a backpack? Also, it means that the capacity can be advertised as a larger number.

The best way to find out if a backpack fits is to put your stuff in it. But I can’t buy every backpack and try it. The best I can do is to try to estimate the volume of what I want to pack, and maybe try one or two backpacks indoors, assuming it’s allowed by the return policy.

I estimated the volume of the stuff I want to pack as about 10 L by measuring it in a mop bucket. Two-thirds full seems about right, so I chose a minimum of 15 L. And since I have a 25 L backpack which is a bit too large bit still usable, that will be the maximum.

Capacity is also related to the size of the backpack. It would be ideal if a backpack could be considered a “personal item” on airplanes and fit under the seat in front of me. I think most 25 liter backpacks would be fine for this, depending on the airline and the exact dimensions of the bag.

Weight

I’m interested in carrying as little weight as is practical, and my luggage is otherwise fairly light, so I’ve included backpacks weighing around 500 g (about 1 pound) or less.

However, backpacks that are lighter than 200 g or so tend to lack features like padded shoulder straps.

Features

The shoulder straps should probably be padded to make them more comfortable. A padded back panel would be helpful for stabilizing the backpack, but it’s not essential.

I think it’s a good idea for the shoulder straps and back panel to be covered with mesh material to make them more breathable.

I prefer to have exterior side pockets for carrying water and an umbrella, and a front pocket for carrying rainwear, my first-aid kit, and so on.

It’s helpful to have an interior pocket with a zipper to keep things I don’t plan to use during the trip, like my house key, separate from my other stuff.

A chest strap helps distribute the weight of the backpack across my chest. I don’t usually use a waist strap, so I’d prefer it be removable or not included.

I don’t expect a backpack to be completely waterproof in heavy rain. I keep my clothing in a plastic liner bag, so I’m more concerned about a design that won’t absorb water and will dry quickly.

Price

I didn’t ignore any backpack based on price, so I found a fairly wide range, from about $40 to $250 US dollars.

Backpack types

Most of the backpacks I found that meet my criteria are “daypacks,” of which there are various types:

Some are meant for commuting or school. These usually have padded shoulder straps and a padded back panel, and often have a laptop sleeve. They seem to be made with heavier fabrics to emphasize durability.

“Packable” daypacks can be folded into one of their own pockets and placed in your suitcase or something. These backpacks generally don’t have padding on their straps or back panel, but are usually very light.

Hiking daypacks, which look more “technical,” and often have a lot of straps, cords, and places to attach things.

There are also backpacks meant for running which have a “vest” harness instead of shoulder straps. I didn’t include these because I prefer basic shoulder straps.

About some of the backpacks

mont-bell “Pocketable Light Pack 15” (15 L, 187 g, $61)

A packable daypack that wouldn’t look out of place as a school bag, and one of the lightest I found. The shoulder straps look a bit thin, but they do have mesh fabric.

I think a less technical-looking backpack would be nice for walking, because it fits better with my idea of it being a very casual and natural way to travel. Unfortunately, this bag is not quite technical enough to have a chest strap.

Exped “Typhoon 15” (15 L, 380 g, $90)

One of the few bags I found that is specifically advertised as being waterproof, since it has a roll top and taped seams.

It has all the features I would like, except for a front pocket. I suppose it’s modeled after a “dry bag”, and those don’t usually have exterior pockets.

Trail Bum “Big Turtle” (13–19 L, 250 g, $86)

This backpack has a very simple design: it’s pretty much just two pieces of fabric sewn together with shoulder straps.

The top is closed with a cord, and then can be rolled and secured with a strap, which also helps keep the contents stable. It has a single front pocket made of mesh, so you can store something like wet rainwear and it will dry quickly. The back panel and shoulder straps are padded, but the padding is fairly thin.

The simplicity of this bag is very appealing to me, but it seems difficult to arrange things in the large mesh pocket. It’s probably better to have smaller mesh pockets on the sides of the bag.

Ridge Mountain Gear “One Mile MP” (16 L, 478 g, $208)

This looks like a classic hiking daypack, and I think it would work well for a walking trip. I don’t need to carry an ice axe, though.

The zipper closure seems convenient, and the shoulder straps look comfortable. The interior pocket with a key clip is precisely a feature I want.

Ridge Mountain Gear “Sash Pack” (8 L, 283 g, $174)

This bag isn’t actually in my list because the capacity is lower than the range I was looking for.

It’s a sling bag, but the design of the strap is a little bit different from other sling bags I’ve seen. It looks a little like the “One Mile” cut in half.

As someone who would always carry a backpack with one strap at school and muses about carrying less and less, it’s interesting to consider if it would really work for me.

Gossamer Gear “Minimalist 19 Daypack” (19 L, 329 g, $69)

This looks like a very functional daypack that would probably work well for walking.

I would prefer the top could be rolled up and secured with a strap like the “Big Turtle”. Otherwise, because of the cord closure, the top of the bag is always open a little bit.

MUJI “Less Tiring Water Repellent Backpack” (20 L, 460 g, $40)

A very smart-looking backpack meant for commuting or school. “Less Tiring” refers to the design of the shoulder straps, which have varying thickness of padding for a better fit.

This is one of the least expensive backpacks I found.