
Best Backpacks for Women 2018 – Travel Buying Guide and Reviews
So you have chosen to backpack the world?
Picking your perfect backpack can be one of the hardest decisions you make while planning your trip. Women have different body types and as a result have different requirements to ensure the backpack is comfortable for long trips. Because of this the luggage companies are now specifically creating Travel Backpacks for Women.
When making your selection you to need to consider the size (capacity) of the backpack, what type of straps it has as well as the weight and number of compartments.
Capacity
The Capacity of the backpack you choose can vary depending on your requirements and length of the trip. The capacity indicates how much storage space is available in the backpack and is extremely important decision to make. Too heavy usually means you have too much stuff and it will be harder to carry around, remember you need to do a lot of walking. You also have to move between planes, trains and buses. Your own frame size and strength is also important to consider when choosing the capacity of your Backpack, don’t try and carry too much or you will end up with a sore back.
- Up to 29L -Ideal for day trips or overnight trips although you are limited in what you can pack.
- 30L to 60L – Perfect for trips of any length. Great storage capacity, you should be able to fit in all the essential items. Can usually be taken on the plane as hand luggage avoiding airline baggage fees.
- Over 60L – Too Big? – Any backpack over 60L in my opinion is probably too big and should be avoided. They can be difficult to carry and if you cant pack any lighter than this then you should probably be taking a suitcase.
Straps
The straps are the main differences between Women’s and Men’s Backpacks and I recommend you dont try and borrow your brothers or boyfriends pack. The idea of the backpack is that the weight is evenly spread over your body, hips and shoulders share the load. To make them more comfortable the Travel Backpacks for Women usually have shorter torso length, narrower shoulders and wider hips.
When choosing your Backpack look for padded hips straps, these straps are essential as they take a large portion of the weight off your shoulders and back and shift the center of gravity. Your bag needs to be comfortable as you will be carrying it for longs periods of time.
Compartments
The Backpack compartments help you to organize your gear when your are on the road. Some backpacks have one large compartment which helps to maximize the storage capacity, while also making it harder to find different items. I personally like my backpack to have a mixture of internal and external compartments as well as a few pockets. These compartments help you store your iPad or other tech gear, travel documents like passports or tickets for easy access. Its also great to have a water bottle holder or even water bladder (for shorter trips).
Best Womens Travel Backpacks in 2017
Using the criteria above we have reviewed and tested a large number of Travel Backpacks for Women to help you make a decision on the best one to buy. We have chosen a mixture of bag capacities and also some of the biggest travel brands.