I never thought I’d be someone who could backpack, let alone know the best backpacks to choose when travelling. If someone told me ‘Hey Em, you’ll be travelling the world solo, and all you’ll have is a backpack’ I would have laughed and been like ‘LOL the last time I travelled long term, I visited Ghana at 19 and I struggled to fit in 10 boxes of tampons into a borrowed backpack I barely knew how to put on’. Well, one spontaneous decision, and 18 months of backpacking around the world later, I can safely say, it’s possible, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done – and for any of you wondering about my tampons, I carried ONE box only. We move swiftly on. This post will showcase the very best BACKPACKING backpacks for first time buyers, first time travellers or for the more experienced backpacker, looking to plan for a trip in the future.

Why is backpacking the best?

Put simply – because it’s so SIMPLE. Backpacking forces you to focus on the essential items you need, and not materialistic ones that take up a lot of space. When you’re jumping on and off sleeping buses, hiking up steep roads to arrive at accommodation or just need to be quick in a short turnaround of time, you’ve got your hands free, you need only to worry about one item of baggage and it’s a LOT easier to walk on unstable terrains – think sandy beaches in Thailand or cobbled streets of Cusco, Peru – without having to lug something behind you. It’s on your back, safely out of the way, and means you can concentrate on more important things like finding your hostel! It might feel strange at first if you’re new to this, but backpacks give you so much flexibility – you’re ready to throw it on your shoulders and start your adventure!

Which are the best backpacks for a world trip?

This is a good question. With the surge in gap year trips and the popularity of travelling growing, now more than ever you have an infinite choice. There’s a huge variety of companies advertising backpacks that differ in size, style and litre – so how do you know which one to buy?

Well my friends, it’s dependent on you I’m afraid. It’s impossible to know which are the best backpacks because there is no right or wrong answer; every backpack suits different individuals. It’s hard to choose – but choose you must! Whether you’re planning for an upcoming adventure or simply want to know for interest, have a look below at some of my favourite backpacks, perfect for every type of travel trip possible! Please be aware all backpack prices are correct at time of publishing.

THE BEST BACKPACKS: SHORT TERM TRAVEL

The beauty of backpacks as you can see, is how easy travelling becomes with them. What’s great is that there are many backpacks that are made in a size that fits easily as carry-on luggage so you don’t need to wait around at baggage claim when you land – and the flight ticket is so much cheaper when it’s hand-luggage only! Perhaps you’re looking for the best backpack to travel Europe for 6 weeksor so? These backpacks would be perfect.

VENTURE 40L

Mountain Warehouse, £49.99 (on sale)

When I decided to backpack the USA, I chose Mountain Warehouse’s Venture 40L backpack – and it was a great choice! The price was reasonable, the backpack itself was extremely spacious for 40L and the compression straps reduced the bulk of the backpack considerably, making it easier to shove into the plane’s overhead compartment. The hip strap made the bag really comfortable on my back and I found it very easy to travel with. I had this red one, but I think the only options now are black which are a lot better looking in my humble opinion.

FAIRVIEW 40L

OSPREY, £170.00

Another firm favourite of mine is Osprey. The brand is renowned in the travel industry for good reason – their backpacks are honestly some of the best on the market. They’re slightly more expensive, but you’re paying for durability, comfort and maximum space, compressed into something that’s easy to put on your back. Osprey offers different backpacks for men and women, so while the Fairview 40L is targeted at a female audience due to body structure, a similar option for men would be the Osprey Farpoint 40L.

The Fairview offers supportive and adjustable straps for your shoulders that can be easily zipped up and hidden neatly if you’re taking it on a plane. It is worn like a backpack, but the main compartment is opened like a suitcase, and it also features a shoulder strap in case you want to give your back a breather. The other compartments are big enough to separate a laptop from your essential items and there is space at the top of the backpack to fit other items eg. your liquids or a medical kit. The compression straps on the outside of the backpack allow you to carry separate gear you can’t fit inside, and there’s mesh pouches to hold your water bottle securely too. One more thing – the zippers have attached locking sliders which you can attach a padlock to – something which has been key (mind the pun) to have on my backpacking adventures. My one was a lot darker and looked like the below, but I think they have a lighter green colour now.

THE BEST BACKPACKS: MEDIUM TERM TRAVEL

I find the perfect size for a backpack, if you’re travelling between 3-6 months is between 60L and 70L. Perhaps you’re looking for the best backpack to travel Asia or Australia? I think the bewlow backpacks are a great choice. Don’t forget, you’ll need space for gifts too!

HYBRID TROLLEY 70L

KATHMANDU, £200.00

As great as it is carrying all your luggage on you, sometimes it can be frustrating and tiring. If you’re on good terrain, you might want to give your body a break and pull your baggage along behind you – because in case you didn’t know, backpacking can get REALLY tiring.  Maybe you’ve become fed up of carrying everything on your back OR perhaps you want to check into a nice hotel and you don’t want to look like you’ve just been trekking in the highlands, with a dirty backpack on you. Either way, Kathmandu’s Hybrid 70L gives you the best of both worlds – a classic backpack with versatile straps and a comfortable hip belt which can be swapped and tucked away for wheels and an extendable handle. This combined with the many compartments make this a fabulous choice for your trip. The only fault I can find is that unfortunately there is no chest strap which is vital if you’re travelling for a very long time. Therefore, I feel this is a great backpack for a month’s trip, but not one you should choose for a year of travel if you’re planning on carrying a lot of items.

PARAGON 60L

GREGORY, £80.50

The Gregory Paragon 60 is a lightweight, well-designed backpack built for long-distance trekking, offering excellent comfort, breathability, and practical organisation. Features like the flexible hip belt, ventilated back panel, and easy-access compartments make carrying heavier loads feel more manageable during long days on the trail. The only downside for me as a female backpacker is that the Paragon is designed with a male fit in mind – however, Gregory also makes a women-specific version called the Kalmia at £290, which offers many of the same impressive features but with a shape and suspension system tailored to the female body. It’s great to know there’s a version that delivers the same performance while providing a more comfortable fit for women.

THE BEST BACKPACKS: LONG TERM TRAVEL

As someone who’s been backpacking for an 18-month stint and then another three months this year, I believe the below backpacks are the BEST backpacks for long term travel around the world. Whether you’re looking for a sturdy backpack for 6 months travelling, or you’re planning a year or more on the road, these are perfect choices. Don’t forget to buy packing cubes to create more space! Check out my TOP backpacking travel essentials packing list here.

FAIRVIEW 70L

OSPREY, £235.00

I couldn’t write this article without including the very backpack that took me to South America, India, South East Asia, Indonesia and Australia – and yes, it still functions excellently would you believe! It’s (clearly) extremely durable, insanely comfortable and I used the straps on the front to hold items like flip flops when I needed to change quickly out of my hiking boots. It also comes with a handy detachable day bag so you can clip it onto the backpack without needing to hold another day pack in front of you like a turtle! 70L was enough space for me to travel comfortably (including packing souvenirs) but Osprey also provides backpacks for those that require more space including 80L ones that may be more suitable, depending on your needs and the type of traveller you are! Check Amazon to see if they have the green version available.

AIRCONTACT PRO 75L + 10L

DEUTER, £330.00

I’ve always said it’s worth spending extra on a backpack that is going to see you through to the end of your trip and beyond – there is nothing worse than spending less on a backpack where you end up injured OR it breaks in the middle of a country where you can’t get it fixed – or even find one to replace it! Deuter’s Aircontact Pro backpack is perfect for trekking, extended backpacking and hardcore adventuring.

The Deuter Aircontact Pro is a durable and highly organised backpack designed for longer adventures, with plenty of compartments and pockets to keep gear neatly stored and easy to access. I love the versatility of the detachable lid, which transforms into a handy day pack — perfect for exploring without carrying your full backpack. The adjustable back system, supportive hip fins, and ergonomic shoulder straps provide a customised and comfortable fit, while the lightweight frame and breathable mesh panels help distribute weight effectively and improve airflow. Thoughtful details like spacious hip pockets, easy front and bottom access, and clever storage options make it a practical and reliable choice for long-term backpacking and trekking. It also has an SL version, better suited to the female anatomy.

Which backpacks do you recommend to travel the world with? Don’t forget to check out my TOP travel essentials packing list here!

Happy adventuring!