Travel Bags for Women — My Favorite Road-Tested Travel Bags
I can’t be the only person who feels they need a different bag for different days – or even different parts of the day – on a trip. Do I need a jacket, umbrella, my good camera? Then I want a bigger bag. Am I just running out for dinner? My small crossbody will do! I could easily carry four different bags on a trip, and I often do, even if I am traveling carry-on only.
I’ve been on enough trips now to have road-tested various travel bags. Every trip is a little different and often requires a slightly different setup. It took me a lot of trial and error to find the right combination of bags for each type of trip.
To save you both time and money, I have created a list of my favorite travel bags and broken down the uses for each travel bag so you can decide what will suit you best for your next trip.
Travel bags for my flight
I often fly COO (carry-on only), which is defined as one carry-on piece of luggage and a personal item. My COO setup is a 20” wheeled suitcase, my allotted carry-on luggage, and a 28L Backpack, my personal item. This means any purse, hip pack or cross-body I am traveling with has to go inside one of these two pieces. If you are wanting to try COO for your next trip I’d recommend reading my easy COO packing guide.
Cor Surf 28L Backpack
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I was a die-hard Northface Recon 28L backpack fan. They updated the design, and I ordered it and checked it out to see if I still wanted to recommend it to people. Sadly, I did not. Then I went on a six-month bag search for the perfect backpack. These were my requirements:
- Had to fit the under seat (personal item) requirements for most major airlines
- Protective laptop compartment – internal “shelf” to prevent it from hitting the ground if the bag is dropped
- Waterproof – this one 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 and comfortable straps
After ordering and returning several bags, I decided to give the Cor Surf a trial run on a seven-day trip to New York City and Atlantic City. This was the only bag I took for the entire seven days and it was fantastic. Let me tell you what I love about it.
For this particular trip, I had it stuffed to the gills as it was my primary piece of luggage. It held three pairs of shoes, seven days’ worth of clothes for the city, the beach, and a concert, and my straps were surprisingly comfortable. My bag weighed in at 19lbs, and I had no problems with this on my back as I navigated commuter trains, the subway, Amtrack, and four flights!
I currently have it packed as a companion to my 20″ suitcase for a trip to Spain and it easily holds my camera equipment, battery packs and other tech, liquids bag, cosmetics, scarf, water bottle,my small crossbody bag purse, and various small bags. It opens up in a clam-shell design making it easy to pack and organize. it also has a ventilated back and comfortable straps, and they don’t dig uncomfortably into my shoulders or breasts.
Using a backpack as a personal item combined with a rolling suitcase is to me, the very best carry-on only strategy for those who choose to avoid checked bags.
Key features: Clam-shell design for easy packing and unpacking, roomy and waterproof.
Level 8 Voyager 20”
I am currently using the Level 8 Voyager 20″ as my carry-on item and I LOVE it. The square corners give you just a little more interior room, and the flat top makes it easier to stack your bags. It rolls amazingly well on uneven terrain and carpet. I’ve had this suitcase since last year and have used it for multiple trips; the wheels are unbelievable. They also now carry a 20″ inch version called the Luminous Textured that comes in a gorgeous bright green! I love having a bright colored suitcase for the rare times that I check a bag!
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Level 8 Luminous Textured 24″
I have the Voyager 28″ pictured below, and for the right kind of trip, it would be great – like six months in Europe! However, for most of my trips, I find it to be too large. I have had a 24″ Samsonite that has been a great bag, but the handle finally started breaking down on me, so I’ll be ordering the Luminous Textured in Green before the spring of ’25 when I head to Greece, and I’ll road test it for you!
Key features: Amazing wheels roll over anything, easy to steer, wide & comfortable handle that I can strap my backpack to, and a flat top that allows my bag to stay in place.
Travel bags for sightseeing
Pincnel Black Mini Backpack
I have recommended this daypack to so many people! I use this bag on almost every trip. It has a nice, clean look, and I feel comfortable wearing it around as I explore cities. If I am heading out for a day of tours and exploring, I will pack this bag with everything I might need for the day. This can hold an umbrella, light jacket, water bottle, snacks, camera, lens, battery packs and more. I even put my small crossbody inside of it so I can take it out and carry it across my chest if I want to stash my phone somewhere quickly or have easy access to my wallet if I’m in a busy area or shopping. What makes this bag theft-proof is the main compartment design that keeps the zipper to your back while you are wearing it. There are also two zipped side compartments. I pack this bag in my carry-on suitcase when I am traveling COO, and if I check a bag, I use it as my personal item. I prefer the even weight distribution of a backpack to a large cross-body bag or satchel; it’s easier on my back and shoulders. This bag is also very durable. After every trip, I have washed it in the washing machine, and it has held up well!
This bag has some drawbacks, but the pros outweigh the cons. When it is packed full, it can be awkward to find items in it, and it could use a few more zipped compartments inside. In warm weather, if you are wearing a tank top, the nylon straps can cause a bit of chafing to your bare skin.
Key features: Theftproof, water resistant, machine washable, even weight distribution.
Eddie Bauer Stowaway 20L
If I am going on a trip that is going to include hiking, biking, kayaking or any other outdoorsy adventure, I am going to pack this daypack. Made of rip-stop nylon, this daypack not only holds a lot and is comfortable to wear but also folds into a 4” x 4” square I can easily pack in my suitcase. It’s not waterproof but water resistant and perfect for dragging around on an adventure. I pack a medium-lightweight dry bag inside if I am going on water adventures. These are almost always on sale! I have had mine for several years, and it’s been all over the world. It’s machine washable and has held up well!
Key features: Rip-stop nylon for rugged adventures, machine washable.
Crossbody/Hip Pack/Fanny Pack/Bum Bag/Belt Bag
Whatever your favorite term is, these are great travel bags when you don’t need to carry much.
Citrusy Boutique Belt Bag
I recently purchased this crossbody, and I am obsessed with it. I just used it for a weeklong trip to Budapest, and it was perfect. I love that it is sleek-looking and dressy enough to wear to dinner but also perfectly fine for sightseeing during the day. It’s not large, but it held my credit cards, ID, passport, lipgloss, hand sanitizer spray, iPhone 14 Pro, battery pack and cash. This was the perfect bag when I was stepping out for a short time, heading to dinner, or didn’t need to carry much. I have started using this at home as my go-to bag as well. I just ordered this in white and gold for next summer’s adventures!
Baboon to the Moon Fanny Pack 3L
I will opt for this bag if my trip is primarily an outdoor adventure. When my son and I took our road trip out west, I used this as my daily bag instead of a purse. It’s easy to sling on, holds plenty of necessities, and because I have a bright yellow version, it was always easy to keep track of when we had a full car of stuff! I would opt for a darker color if I were buying this again. The bright yellow picks up dirt pretty easily, but I have machine-washed this pack multiple times, and it is holding up really well.
Travel bags that did not work for me
Not every travel bag is the perfect fit, and I’ve spent a fair amount of money trying out different ones. I wanted to be someone who just traveled with a suitcase-style backpack. I have tried the Osprey Fairview, Tortuga Travel Backpack and the eBags Motherload. I tested them all on weeklong trips, and they were too heavy and bulky for me. I am 5’ 2″, and the packs overwhelm my frame and get too heavy too quickly. While I don’t love wheeling my suitcase over cobblestones, it’s much easier on my back! I can carry my wheeled suitcase up and down many stairs and then roll it when I’m on flat ground. It’s just easier for me. I know many people love the backpack-only lifestyle, but I would have to really cut back the amount of stuff I take to make it work and I’m just not ready to make that sacrifice. These are well-respected bags and brands; they just weren’t for me!
I hope this helps you a little bit in your search for the perfect travel bag. It takes some trial and error, but I may have saved you a little time and money steering you toward some of my favorites! Happy travels!
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