The Best Travel Backpacks for Men Interested in All Kinds of Adventures
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The best men’s travel backpacks of 2024 cover a diverse range of activities. From multi-day hikes and visits to the beach to even just getting to the office in style, these backpacks have got, well, your back.
When looking for a new backpack, no matter what its intended use, it’s good to keep a few things in mind: comfort, size, and style. For men’s backpacks that means finding one with adjustable shoulder straps so you can both customize the fit and have the right padding on your shoulders for all-day wear — bonus points for contoured back padding and padded waist straps. It’s also a good idea to look for a backpack with at least a water-resistant outer shell so you won’t worry during inclement weather. Additionally, keep an eye out for the quality of the zipper, external pockets, as well as ensuring your new backpack has the proper number of internal pockets to keep all your things easily organized. Plan to use your backpack while traveling? Look for anti-theft mechanisms and some high-tech add-ons like USB charging ports too.
If you’re not sure where to start, that’s OK. We do. Below, find the best backpacks for men for every kind of activity, from daily wear to international travel, hiking, biking, mountaineering, and more.
Best Overall Travel Backpack for Men: REI Co-op Trail 25 Pack, $80 
The REI Co-op Trail 25 Pack can handle just about everything, from backpacking trips to weekends away. The updated design is now made with recycled materials, and includes a raincover stowaway pocket so you can pull it out when needed, and safely store it within the pack on sunnier days. The pack also comes with those all-important padded and mesh-covered straps, which allow for longwear throughout the day. As for storage, the bag comes with two zipper sliders for fast access to internal side mesh pockets with elastic closures, and plenty of internal pockets to keep gear organized.
“I recently bought a Trail 25 as a medium-sized day pack. I have had a chance to load it out and take it for a short five-mile wander,” one reviewer wrote. “Overall I am happy with the pack. It had a straightforward, simple design. A wide opening main body that thankfully lacks the over abundance of pockets common in bags of its volume.”
Best Large Travel Backpack for Men: Shrradoo Extra Large Travel Laptop Backpack, $60 
For business or pleasure trips where you just need to bring every single thing along, look no further than the Shrradoo Extra Large Travel Laptop Backpack. Along with a water-resistant shell, the real star of the show with this backpack is the fact that it comes with 20 different pockets, including large padded storage pockets for laptops, smaller pockets to store charging cords, and main compartments so you can pack enough clothing for a weekend. The pack also opens to a 180-degree angle, so you can easily access all its contents. The backpack also boasts an external USB port and a headphone port, making it simple to plug and play music from the inside.
“This backpack is simply gorgeous,” one of the more than 33,000 reviewers wrote. “My main use for it is outdoors and/or travel work with my laptop. It has tons of space for everything with so many useful pockets and zippers. It is ideal as a carry-on bag for flights and it’s easy to pull your laptop and gear out for work during the flight. Weight distribution is great. The shoulder straps and pads are good and I carry it for hours without an issue.”
Best Backpack for the Office: Kroser Laptop Backpack, $40 
Sometimes all you need is something sleek and stylish for all your workday essentials. The Kroser Laptop Backpack is just that. The backpack is made with poly fabric, making it both water-repellent and durable. The backpack comes with several interior compartments, including separate spaces that can fit a tablet or computer, specific storage for a wallet, a change of clothes, and anything else you may need for a day at the office. The backpack also includes a USB port to charge your cellphone while commuting, and those all-important padded straps for those who have longer commutes.
“I’ve had this bag for several months now and have gotten lots of use out of it traveling for work. I absolutely love the look and feel of this bag, and have been very satisfied with my purchase,” a reviewer wrote on Amazon. “There is plenty of storage, and the material allows for a fair amount of stretch if you have to pack a lot in—despite the fact that it’s only intended to be for a laptop.”
Best Technical Hiking Backpack for Men: Teton Sports Scout 3400, $90 
As Teton itself explains, this is “not your basic backpack.” The backpack is constructed with 600-denier diamond ripstop material and weighs just 4.5 pounds, making the pack an excellent choice for those heading out on multi-day hikes. The backpack comes with multiple adjustment points, including on the straps and torso to create more personalized wear. It comes with plenty of compartmentalized storage space too, including a sleeping bag compartment and compression straps, along with a detachable rain cover and exterior pockets for all your grab-and-go needs.
“The bag was a lot smaller than I thought it would be, but it fit so much,” one reviewer wrote. “I also used it as a carry-on bag without a problem. Was able to strap my tent on the bottom and everything worked out great. Definitely a great bag.”
Best Hydration Backpack for Men: Water Buffalo Hydration Backpack, $35 
Wanna bring just a day’s worth of water on a hike, bike, or just out for the day? Look no further than the Water Buffalo Hydration Backpack. The pack, available in four colors, comes with an insulated bladder that can hold up to two liters of water, and promises to maintain the temperature for up to five hours. The bag is super lightweight and comes with an adjustable chest strap and padded shoulder straps for all day comfort. Though, as the company notes, this pack isn’t just for hiking. It also makes a great “party pack,” because, as the company states, “When you stay hydrated with your rave hydration pack, you make the good times and vibes last even longer.”
“Been looking at something like this for a while and couldn’t be happier with this pack,” one of Amazon’s more than 12,000 reviewers wrote. “Not only was it a great deal but it’s better than I could imagine with plenty of room for keys, phones, etc.”
Best Cycling Backpack for Men: Locallion Cycling Backpack, From $25 
Heading out for a day of cycling requires a few things — water, sunscreen, sunglasses, a wallet, and maybe a few snacks. The Locallion Cycling Backpack is perfect for all those necessities. It includes attachment ports for a water bladder to keep you hydrated (note: the bladder is sold separately), while there’s an additional mesh side pocket large enough for a secondary water bottle. The backpack itself is made with tear-resistant nylon, and comes with a breathable mesh pad on the back to stay cool and allow for breathability on long rides. There’s an adjustable chest strap, adjustable waist strap, and adjustable shoulder straps to allow for ultra personalized sizing, which is ideal for wind resistance while riding. It also includes reflective stripes on the shoulder and front panel for safe biking in the early morning hours, evening, and night. Though the backpack is certainly ideal for cycling, it can be used for a variety of outdoor activities that require minimal packing.
“I bought this backpack a year ago for biking,” one reviewer wrote. “It is a light backpack for day trips and distributes the weight very comfortably. It is also very comfortable and appropriate for day hikes. There is some structure to it and the mesh on the back allows some airflow across your back. For about 30 bucks it is an unbelievably good buy!”
Best Gym Backpack: Lululemon’s Command the Day Backpack, $128 
Going from the gym to the office is a breeze with the Command the Day Backpack. This sleek bag by Lululemon is made with nearly 100% recycled materials, including a 100% recycled polyester mesh, 100% recycled polyester liner, and a 100% recycled polyester body. The bag comes with an exterior zippered pocket to easily store your things, along with side pockets large enough to fit a water bottle. The interior includes a padded pocket to fit up to a 16-inch laptop, as well as a secondary pocket to store sweaty post-gym clothes. The straps are both adjustable and “trolley-compatible,” making it a great carry-on travel backpack as well.
“Had everything I was looking for in a backpack: cushioned straps, water bottle holder, laptop pouch, luggage sleeve, and water-resistant,” one reviewer wrote. “This backpack is sturdy and my favorite thing about it is the way it fits over the handle on my suitcase,” another added.
Best Beach-Ready Backpack: Carhartt Cargo Series Large Backpack, From $100 
Sometimes you need to pack something extra special, and the Carhartt Cargo Series Large Backpack can help. The 30-liter backpack comes with a spacious main compartment large enough to store a few day’s worth of clothing, and comes with a padded pocket that can fit up to a 15-inch laptop. However, the winning element here is the attachable three-can insulated cooler made with ripstop material to keep three post-hike, beach, bike, whatever, beverages frosty for an entire day.
“Husband wanted this very much,” one reviewer wrote. “He loves it. And he abuses it regularly as a field biologist who stores his gear in it and it still holds up. He swears by this brand. He has lots of Carhartt items and I suspect that he will have this for a long time.”
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