LL BEAN ROLLING ADVENTURE DUFFEL MED UPGRADE
LL BEAN ROLLING ADVENTURE DUFFEL MED FULL

The more comfortable and well designed the straps, the easier traveling will be.

Backpack strap comfort and design: You never know when you’ll be walking farther with your bag than you’d intended.

Not everyone needs a dedicated laptop pocket, but we prefer the more secure feeling of bags that do. In its place, the company sells laptop sleeves (a fine version if you don’t have one) that clip into the bag’s central compartment.

The biggest flaw, from our perspective-apart from the price-is that the Tom Bihn lacks a dedicated laptop pocket.

LL BEAN ROLLING ADVENTURE DUFFEL MED UPGRADE

Even though everything about the Tom Bihn (the fabric, the zippers, the quality of construction) feels like an upgrade from other bags, it’s simply too pricey, and its design is too rarified and specific for most people.

This all adds up on a bag that already costs $330.

LL BEAN ROLLING ADVENTURE DUFFEL MED FULL

That said, for the bag to really stand out against other backpacks, and to take full advantage of its carrying adaptability, you need to buy the $33 internal frame, the $33 hip belt, and (if you’re traveling with a suit or jacket) the $33 shoulder strap (all prices at the time of writing). If you feel like you would struggle carrying a full-size travel backpack like this model, we strenuously encourage you to consider one of our more-manageable picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L.Ĭonsider the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45-its reputation for durability, adaptability, and a low-key aesthetic make it a favorite among many dedicated one-bag travelers, and after testing it, we think it’s a great bag too. At 5.1 pounds, the Outbreaker is 2 pounds heavier than most of its closest competitors. The additional padding does add a lot of weight. We’ve also fielded complaints from some testers that this bag was too heavy for them to carry, even with the padded hip belt and adjustable straps. However, if these mysteries beneath the airport also make you nervous, you might prefer one of our picks with easy-to-stow straps, like the Peak Design Travel Backpack. But the Tortuga appears to shrug it all off with ease. Personally, it still makes me nervous to see the Tortuga traveling on the luggage belt toward mysterious machines and conveyors beneath the airport-all of which, in my imagination, are waiting to tear the hip belt from the bag or slice open the sailcloth exterior. But after years of testing, traveling with, and occasionally checking our bag, we haven’t had an issue. Some people, especially those who are hard on their gear, may consider not being able to remove or stow the Tortuga’s straps (as they can with our other picks, like the Cotopaxi) a disqualifying factor. Across moderate distances, these straps do help with the bag’s overall weight. This design (with its included load-adjuster straps at the top, to prevent the bag’s weight from sagging toward your lumbar region) is the best of those we’ve tested at distributing the weight of an otherwise fairly heavy bag. Both sizes of the Outbreaker are adjustable for torso length, which means you can manipulate the location of the shoulder straps (video) to fit a wider variety of body sizes. The more-diminutive version is a decent choice for weekend travel or for minimalist travelers-but for this size, we prefer the space-saving profile of the Allpa. The Outbreaker is available as a 45-liter bag (the max space for a carry-on bag), which we tested, along with the 35-liter version, which is compliant with some intra-European flights. And that’s despite the bag’s hefty (just over 5 pounds) weight when empty-it’s roughly 2 pounds more than most of our other picks, except the Peak Design Travel Backpack. Just as important, thanks to the adjustable torso length, shoulder straps, and waist-belt system (borrowed from hiking backpacks), the Outbreaker is the most adjustable bag we’ve tested three years in a row. That’s why we have picks that are great for people traveling for work, others designed to be carried over long distances, and budget options for travelers who want to give the one-bag strategy a try. However, finding the right bag is a personal choice, and no single bag will appeal to everyone. This is not a style of packing that’s for everyone, but once some people try it, they’re forever hooked. Though these backpacks are great as companion bags for any trip, they’re designed to ultimately replace all of your other luggage and become your exclusive bag as you travel. Both bags are exemplary carry-on travel backpacks that are designed for comfort, durability, and organization. In the end, we chose two as our top picks: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (for most trips) and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L. We spent six months testing 22 bags and flying across the country with all of our picks.

Some internal pockets are useful, but major organizing is better managed on your own with packing cubes.

Ll bean rolling adventure duffel med