Best Women’s Backpack for Travel -The Perfect Personal Item – UPDATED
Name a bag, and I’ve bought it. Ebags. Osprey. Patagonia. Cotopaxi. Baboon. I go for function over fashion. While it’s fun to find the cutest bag to throw over your arm – after running from terminal to terminal on a short connection, having a backpack as your personal item instead of a large, albeit cute, bag makes my life so much easier. I have a lot of favorite bags, but for my personal item, this is my baby.
On most trips, I am team carry-on only; on some trips, I’m taking my 24″ wheeled suitcase. Once or twice, I’ve tried the Osprey backpack as my main luggage—that’s a hard pass from me. Most of the time, I will travel with a wheeled suitcase and a backpack. Regardless of your set-up, hear me out—this is the best women’s backpack for travel and personal use.
You might be asking yourself: Can I even take a backpack as a personal item? On most larger airlines, yes. I’ll get into that more below. Hang with me.
First, let’s talk about luggage definitions.
There are three main types of luggage. The way these are defined and the sizes allowed vary airline by airline, especially if you are traveling outside of the United States. So be sure to read the requirements for paying for bags, bag dimensions, and bag max weight for every airline you will travel with.
Checked luggage is luggage that you pay to check in, and that travels under the plane. You check it with your airline before you go through security, and you will see it again at your final destination—unless it gets lost, but that’s another topic.
Carry-on luggage (or hand luggage) is typically a smaller rolling suitcase, duffel bag, or large backpack that typically doesn’t exceed 21 – 22″ tall (again, check the dimensions for each airline). This goes in the overhead bin when you are on the plane.
Your personal item is the item you can keep with you at your seat, that must fit under the seat in front of you. Typically this will be a purse, small rolling bag, tote bag, computer bag or backpack. Any of these items must meet the dimension requirements.
You can not take two personal items. If you travel with a smaller item, it will have to fit inside your larger item, at least until you are on the plane.
Has it been a while since you’ve flown? Check out Must Know Tips for Flying.
Now, back to the best women’s backpack for travel. The Cor Surf 28L Island Hopper Backpack
Up until early 2024 I would have named the Northface Recon as my favorite bag. I’ve been obsessed and happy with it for yeaers. Unfortunately, they updated the design and changed the straps. It no longer fits my requirements for the perfect bag, but luckily for you, I spent six months ordering and trying out different bags, and *drumroll please* I am thrilled to introduce you to the Cor Surf 28L Island Hopper Backpack.
What I love about this backpack.
I had a list of minimum requirements for a new backpack. It had to hold a lot; I wanted a water-proof bag; it needed to be comfortable, and the straps couldn’t dig into my shoulders or breasts. I wanted the laptop compartment padded on the back, and it needed to have drop protection. Sounds easy right? I ordered a total of 6 bags before I found Cor Surf, and let me tell you, even after one trip, I am thrilled with it. It’s packed and ready for a trip to Spain so I’ll update this again after it’s hauled overseas. Here are some details:
- Fits under the seat in front of you for when you are using it as your personal item
- Protective laptop compartment – internal “shelf” to prevent it from hitting the ground if the bag is dropped
- Waterproof – it even has waterproof zippers
- Top pocket for easy access to items when stowed under the seat in front of me
- Roomy without too many pockets – I didn’t want a lot of wasted space that you see on commuter bags; this is a travel bag
- Padded back and comfortable straps
- Secret hidden compartments on the back! This was a total surprise but super handy for stashing extra credit cars, cash and important documents as it’s impossible to access when you are wearing it and hard to notice when you are not.
- It’s cute. I mean, it’s a black water proof backpack but it has a lime green interior and that’s cute!
- The bundle comes with the best packing cubes I’ve ever used and a toiletry bag – that hangs!
I’ve used this backpack on one trip so far, a seven day trip to New York and New Jersey and it was my only bag, it worked great! I’ll be taking it to Spain as my personal item along with my Level 8 suitcase in October and will update after the trip. I don’t have any discounts for the Cor Surf bag but we do have 10% off all Level 8 suitcases if you use code Journeyhere10!
Why use a travel backpack as a personal item?
The top two reasons – It’s practical and it’s comfortable.
Comfort: I carry 15-20 pounds of gear in my backpack. Since I travel carry-on only most of the time, half of what I bring on a trip is in my personal item. Having a backpack evenly distributes the weight across my back and shoulders. With the addition of the chest strap and hip strap, even when I am carrying a heavy pack long distances I can manage the weight much easier than with a duffel or tote bag. Ever run from one side of O’Hare to the other? – Do that with a cute tote bag.
Practicality: Backpacks are set up to organize your items by their very design. Everything has its place, and it’s easy to stay organized when everything simply goes back in its designated spot. Easier said than done, but the more I travel, the more organized I get. If you create a system that works and replicates it every trip, things go much smoother. My backpack set up has changed with this new backpack since it is a clamshell design and not a top stuff like my old one and it’s actually so much easier to pack. I don’t know why I resisted this design for so long!
How to pick the right backpack as a personal item:
Comfort is key! Here is what I look for in a backpack.
Straps: Straps should have good padding but not too stiff. I did like the original Recon because the straps were curved to accomcate a womans body. The Cor Surf is comfortable but I do wish they made a version just for womens bodies.
Padded back and venting: My pack is heavy! A nicely padded back keeps my equipment, such as my laptops, cords and camera gear, from digging into my back. The venting keeps me from completely overheating when moving around a warmer climate.
Laptop protection: I always have at least one laptop, sometimes two! I have a work-issued laptop that I carry when I am traveling and working. I also have my personal Macbook for my Journey Here work. Having a bag that is specifically designed with a laptop sleeve that doesn’t allow the laptop to hit the ground is key. I have accidentally dropped my bag so many times with my laptop in it and, thankfully, never damaged it! The Cor Surf bag also stands up on it’s own when on the ground which is something the Recon did not do.
Organization: I thought I needed more compartments, but turns out, having the one pocket on the front is enough for my easy to access items. Having the clam shell design allows me to pack well, and easily access items when it’s opened. The laptop compartment is seperate so I can easily access my laptop even when the bag is packed full.
I put my purse or small crossbody in the front compartment when I am using this bag as a personal item.
But won’t I look like a tourist using a backpack as a personal item?
First, you probably already do. Secondly, backpacks might be quite common depending on where you are traveling. I have never felt out of place with my backpack on my back. What’s more important is maintaining good backpack etiquette.
What is backpack etiquette?
This is your list of do’s and don’ts!
Do: Wear it on your front in crowded spaces like subways or trains. This keeps you from accidentally bumping other passengers and also allows you to keep a close eye on your pockets.
Keep your pockets zipped and use a lock if you are going to be in an area at risk for pickpockets. I can not tell you how many people I see walking around airports with their bags unzipped.
Don’t: Your backpack does not get a seat. It is not a person. On subways, trains, in restaurants, on benches and seats, it stays on your lap, on your body, or on the floor. The end.
How I use my backpack as a personal item:
My backpack gets my items from one place to another. I do not use it when I am out exploring. I carry a smaller, lighter backpack when I am out exploring and taking photos. I have used this one for several years, and it holds an astronomical amount of items and is pick-pocket proof.
If I am biking or hiking, I use my Eddie Bauer Stowaway backpack. It’s super packable and lightweight.
I carry this small cross-body bag if I am going to dinner or not using my good camera.
For me, using a backpack as my personal item makes sense from a comfort and practical standpoint!
If you decide to start using a backpack as a personal item, do your research and try several styles and types. Pack them to the max and wear them around your home to get an idea of what it feels like, and continue to search until you find the perfect bag. For me, it’s now the Cor Surf Island Hopper 28L
Nitty gritty details
For reference, I am 5’2” and the backpack is 19″ X 11.5″ X 9″ – yes it will fit under the seat in front of you as your personal item
Need help knowing where to pack all of your things? I have a handy packing list.
If you have questions shoot me an email, I am always happy to chat!
Ready to book your trip?
Book your accommodations
We like booking.com for accommodations. They offer a range of hotels, resorts, apartments, guesthouses and even hostels. The platform also has a loyalty program that allows members to save even more.
Book your tours
We love booking tours through a single provider and keeping our mobile tickets in one spot. We use GetYourGuide. We appreciate that they work with local companies and provide a wide variety of tours!
Stay connected
When using an eSIM, we like Airalo. An eSIM is the easiest way to obtain cell service outside your network. We have used their eSIM cards in Budapest, Canada and Ecuador, and so far, so good! Simply download the Airalo app, select the country you’re traveling to, and choose the amount of data you want. Follow the installation instructions and turn it on when you arrive!
Shopping for your trip?
We make a small commission when you use our Amazon Affiliate link. It helps offset the expense of maintaining our website and costs you nothing extra.
This post likely contains affiliate links. If you shop or make a reservation through these links, we may make a small commission (for which we are very grateful!) at no extra cost to you. Not all links are affiliates, and we only suggest products and places that we have experienced and love.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.
The views expressed on this website represent the opinions of the authors; we encourage you to form your own opinions and confirm any facts.
