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When traveling full-time, what you need out of your luggage comes down to two main things: it needs to hold everything on your packing list and be easy to lug around. Simple as it sounds, you won’t find those two things in just any bag.
When I was preparing for my two-year travel journey, I knew I didn’t want a rolling suitcase, even if it was carry-on-sized (I had already learned the hard way that wheels prove to be extremely inconvenient in countries with unpaved roads). And heavy duffel bags are uncomfortable to carry around, too—my shoulder(s) could tell you that. But I also knew that backpacks were unideal because of their singular top zipper, meaning you have to take everything out just to find a pair of socks. That was until I found a backpack that combined the good parts of each of those three bag types into one: the CALPAK Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack.
With 1,300 5-star reviews, I had high hopes when I purchased the backpack, and I can tell you that it exceeded them right from the start. Throughout multiple continents and years of travel, my CALPAK held up perfectly, whether as a checked bag, carry-on or personal item, on a plane, train, or bus, and no matter how much stuff I crammed in it. It’s worth every penny of its $175 price tag. Plus, it complements any travel outfit.
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Why You Should Trust Us
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As someone who lugged my belongings around the globe for two years of solo travel, I know what makes a good travel backpack—or any bag, for that matter. Prior to taking off on my full-time adventure, too, I was already pretty versed in international and nationwide travel and had gone through many bags and backpacks on different trips. I have tried plenty of brands, from the Amazon Basics luggage collection and the classic Samsonite suitcases to Northface and Osprey travel backpacks, and I can say hands-down that none rivaled the CALPAK.
Key Features of the CALPAK Terra 26L Duffel Backpack
As the name suggests, this bag combines a duffel bag with a backpack, and I would say with a carry-on suitcase, as well—but that would make the product name quite a mouthful.
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The Straps
The backpack straps tuck into a (very padded and comfortable) pouch on the backside, so you can attach the duffel bag strap if you ever find yourself wanting to carry the bag over the shoulder rather than on your back. The padding on the back and the straps provide maximum comfort no matter how you choose to carry the bag.
The Zippers
It’s carried like a backpack, and it looks like a backpack, but it opens like a suitcase. A zipper runs along the perimeter of the suitcase, allowing the whole top of the bag to flap open when it’s laid on its back, providing easy access to all the bag’s contents. But that’s not all! It also has a zipper at the top that runs down the midline of one side, creating an opening similar to both that of a backpack and a duffel bag. This makes it easy to reach in a grab something without having to put the bag down flat. If you’re a frequent traveler, you’ve likely got the take-one-strap-off-and-fling-your-backpack-to-your-front move nailed down to reach in the top and grab your wallet without having to take the backpack off; this bag will not interfere with that choreography.
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The Pouches and Pockets
And the pockets. The pockets! I can almost guarantee you’ve never seen a bag with more pockets; I feel like I still discover new ones inside the bag after having it for years. The big zipper pockets on the front of the bag open to reveal netted, zipper, and pen pockets of all types and sizes. There’s even a clip for keys (or something!) in one of them. There’s a very large pocket on the side of the bag, too. And on the inside of the bag, the top flap has a large mesh zipper pocket and two pouch pockets, and the bottom has two zipper pockets; one mesh and one covered.
The Size
Just how big is 26L, anyway? The laptop pocket is big enough to comfortably fit a 17-inch laptop, for starters. This backpack is big; it can hold a surprising amount of stuff inside, especially if you have your packing techniques perfected (roll, don’t fold!). I’ve brought this as my only bag on multi-month trips and have been able to fit plenty of clothes, both in hot and cold weather. My favorite part is that this backpack looks smaller than it is. Some packs have you stuffing things on top of each other until the bag expands into a misshapen lump that’s bigger than you; it’s just not comfortable to carry around, and it doesn’t look great. This one contains everything in a little rectangle; it stays looking like a backpack.
The Waterproof Exterior
The entire exterior of the bag is waterproof, and I’ve never had an issue with anything in the bag getting wet—even in both India and Costa Rica rain. Water rolls right off the glossy material.
A Bag Made To Last
Everyone knows the struggle of trying to cram all your necessities into a small carry-on bag. It seems that no matter how much you intend to be organized and pack light, your stuff ends up in a jumbled mess that’s hard to sort through on vacation and even worse to pack back up before you go home. The CALPAK Duffel Backpack solves this problem and others that you didn’t even realize existed in travel bags. Take it from me, I’ve been using mine for years, and it’s still in perfect condition.
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