The 11 Best Packable Backpacks of 2024 (2024)

If we could only pick one packable backpack, we'd go with Bellroy's Lite Daypack. This supremely practical, endlessly functional bag folds or rolls up compactly, but when you open it up, it has a generous 20-liter capacity. It's big enough to fit a change of clothes, a rain jacket, a hat, a tablet, extra chargers, snacks, you name it.

Inside, you'll find various organizational features. We're talking a zippered pocket, a stretchy water bottle holder, a document sleeve, and a water-protected sunglasses pocket. What's more, there are multiple exterior loops for clipping extra gear, plus an "essentials pocket" with a key clip.

We also like that the ripstop fabric is sourced from recycled plastic bottles. But is this backpack comfortable? You bet! Thanks to the padded back panel, cushioned shoulder straps, and adjustable chest clip, the comfy design won't hold you back on your next adventure and makes a worthwhile addition to your Ireland pack list.

The Details: 19 x 10.5 x 7 inches (open) | 0.8 pounds | 20 liters | Ripstop fabric

This packable backpack is perfect for guided sightseeing tours or anytime you're exploring a new city by foot. In addition to offering plenty of space for picking up souvenirs while out and about, it has a side zipper pocket with key clips, a mesh water bottle pouch, and a security loop to help prevent pickpocketing.

We like that it's made of ultra-durable ripstop polyester and is treated with an antimicrobial agent to keep odor-causing bacteria at bay. Weighing less than half a pound, this is also one of the lightest options we found.

The Details: 18.5 x 10.5 x 5.5 inches (open) | 7.5 x 5 x 2.5 inches (packed) | 0.4 pounds | 20 liters | Recycled ripstop polyester

Traveling by plane? This packable backpack from Away has your name on it. With a 19-liter capacity, it can fit everything from a jacket and a laptop to snacks and a water bottle while still passing as a "personal item" that easily fits underneath the seat in front of you.

We love that it has a trolley sleeve on the back, allowing you to slide it over the handle of your suitcase. And when you don't need it, the backpack folds into a little zippered pouch for easy storage.

The Details: 18 x 11 x 6 inches (open) | 7 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches (packed) | 0.5 pounds | 19 liters | Recycled nylon

Looking for something for hiking or other outdoor excursions? L.L.Bean's Stowaway Pack might be your best bet. It has a surprisingly spacious 22-liter capacity and stuffs effortlessly into the included compact zipper pouch.

The adventure-ready design has lots of organizational pockets, two water bottle sleeves on the sides, and a binky loop for attaching a safety light. With a breathable mesh back panel, padded shoulder straps, an adjustable waist belt, and a chest strap, it's also incredibly comfortable and supportive. While it won't replace your main backpacking pack, it would make a practical (and easy) addition to your trip.

The Details: 19 x 10 x 7 inches open | 0.9 pounds | 22 liters | Recycled ripstop polyester

You'll be glad to have this packable backpack with you at the next music festival you attend. It folds up into an internal self-storage pocket for compact transport, then when you need it, it unfolds into a spacious 24.5-liter carrier.

The main compartment is big enough to hold a light jacket, a hat, a water bottle, a camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, a phone charger, band merchandise, and then some. We also like that it comes in a range of cool, whimsy prints, like floral, camo, marble, and dye wash.

The Details: 18 x 12.5 x 5 inches (open) | 0.4 pounds | 24.5 liters | Ripstop polyester

If you're heading to Disneyland, Universal Studios, or another amusem*nt park, we recommend bringing this bag along. Paravel's lightweight Fold-up Backpack can fit a surprising amount of stuff, including a change of clothes, a water bottle, a coat, a hat, a camera, and even a 15-inch laptop.

It folds up flat and zips into the included pouch that takes up almost no room in a suitcase or larger bag. You can also slide it over your suitcase handle with the trolley sleeve on the back. Another reason to love this backpack? It's made of durable, water-resistant nylon sourced from recycled plastic bottles.

The Details: 16 x 13 x 9 inches (open) | 6.5 x 6 x 2.5 inches (packed) | 0.6 pounds | Nylon

The drawstring bag is the original packable backpack, and we love Cotopaxi's slightly updated take on the classic, versatile design. The Tago Pack has traditional thin, corded straps, top carry handles, and pockets in the front and back for your phone and other small essentials you want accessible.

Made of recycled nylon, this simple yet functional bag rolls or folds almost entirely flat when you want to tuck it away. And the bright, multicolored design makes a striking statement while allowing you to easily locate it at all times.

The Details: 9 x 13 inches (open) | 0.4 pounds | Recycled nylon

At less than half a pound, the Osprey Ultralight Pack is one of the lightest-weight packable backpacks we found. The unfolded configuration boasts a 20-liter capacity, but when you want it out of the way, it stuffs into a super-compact, built-in storage pocket.

In addition to a sizable main compartment, there's an exterior zippered pocket for stashing smaller items. This outdoor-friendly backpack is made of waterproof ripstop nylon and has water-tight seams to prevent the contents from getting wet.

The Details: 18 x 10 x 8.5 inches (open) | 0.4 pounds | 20 liters | Ripstop nylon

Looking for a waterproof design? The On-grid Backpack is an excellent choice. It's made of Robic nylon — a rugged material with notably high tensile strength — and features a polyurethane (thermoplastic) coating that repels liquids and prevents water from getting inside. Not only that, but weather-protected zippers offer an extra layer of defense against moisture damage.

This bag has multiple organization pockets, two expandable water bottle pouches, and a small pocket where it stuffs into itself for travel. While the overall capacity is on the smaller side, it has a laptop sleeve that fits computers up to 16 inches.

The Details: 17.5 x 10.5 x 8.5 inches (open) | 6.5 x 6 x 2.5 inches (packed) | 0.5 pounds | 16 liters | Waterproof nylon

Packable bags often prioritize function over aesthetics, but with Tumi, you don't have to choose one or the other. The brand's best-selling Just In Case Backpack comes in several chic colors ranging from soft lilac to misty sage to classic black with gold zippers.

It has a spacious main compartment, a front zip pocket, an upper grab handle, and a trolley sleeve for sliding it over your suitcase handle. Not sure when you'll need it? This carrier folds entirely flat into its included zipper pouch for easy packing and transport.

The Details: 15.5 x 12.5 x 4.5 inches (open) | 0.6 pounds | 15 liters | Nylon

Need something more rugged for outdoor adventures? Check out Patagonia's Black Hole Tote. Made of recycled ripstop nylon with a thermoplastic coating, it's lightweight yet durable and water-resistant.

This conveniently packable bag has lots of organizational features, including multiple pockets and two stretchy water bottle pouches. You can carry it like a backpack or use it as a tote and tuck the mesh harness away when it's not in use. With a 27-liter capacity, this is also one of the largest packable backpacks on our list.

The Details: 15.5 x 10.5 x 8 inches (open) | 0.8 pounds | 27 liters | Recycled ripstop nylon

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes a packable backpack different from other backpacks?

  At the risk of stating the obvious, the main difference between packable backpacks and regular backpacks is that the former are designed to fold, roll, or stuff into a compact configuration. Like packable jackets, many come with little pouches you can stuff them into. This type of bag is also often slightly smaller than a standard backpack and may have fewer organizational features.

• Can my packable backpack be a carry-on or personal item?

  Absolutely! Like any backpack, the packable variety can be used as a carry-on bag for air travel as long as it fits into the overhead compartment, which won't be an issue in most cases. To qualify as a personal item, it just needs to fit under the seat in front of you on the plane.

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