the right bag

with updates added in 2025

From a weekend away in Philadephia in 2021, when I packed in a 20-liter backpack that met all my needs.

Since I last wrote about taking the wrong bag on a trip and how things literally fell apart, let’s talk about the right bag. As a result of that experience in Portugal, I am now a wee bit obsessive about what I carry on a trip and ensuring my bag is well constructed.

Most often I carry small-to-medium backpacks. I acknowledge that not everyone is physically able to carry a loaded travel backpack, but I can and will do so for as long as I have the physical ability.

Why not wheelie bags?

While I have wheeled suitcases in various sizes, I don’t use them, as I prefer carrying a small load on my back, rather than dragging a load behind me. I move faster with them and don't get tripped up, nor do I have to worry about dealing with them on stairs or other inaccessible locations.

Also, the sound of wheeled suitcases being rolled on cobblestone streets and sidewalks is loud and annoying, especially when multiplied by all the tourists dragging their bags at any given time. Rolling suitcases also cause excessive wear on old streets. This is such a problem in Venice that in 2014 city officials proposed a ban on wheelie bags.

What about duffel bags?

Aside from rolling suitcases, we also have a couple of classic L.L Bean duffel bags, but they don't get a lot of use because they're black holes in terms of finding your stuff, even if you use packing cubes.

When we were in Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe in 2019, my husband and I each carried a duffel bag because we needed soft-sided bags, per our safari outfitter, and also had a required list of items to bring, so we needed a little more space than our usual backpacks offered. What ended up happening is that we both ended up fully unpacking our bags every night in order to find what we needed, then repacking everything in the morning. It was annoying.

So what do I like?

Soft-sided bags, usually backpacks. I’ll discuss two below. These are bags that I bought and paid for myself, so I was not asked to review them. These are the bags that are right for me because they fit my parameters and meet my needs. They might not work for you, but then again, maybe they will.

The Osprey Porter 30 carry-on.

• This is a compact backpack (30-liter capacity) that is small enough to carry on the plane and even tucked under the seat in front of you.

• Unlike traditional backpacks that have zippers at the top, the Porter features a U-zipper on one side, so you can lay the bag flat and pack it like a suitcase.

• The backpack has a couple of external pockets for ease of grabbing smaller essentials, with some decent organizing capabilities.

• The Porter does not have water bottle pockets. The lack of an easy way to carry water bottles is a minor annoyance, especially since I always walk onto an airplane with at least two full bottles, but it’s not a total dealbreaker

• The bag is made of a thick padded material that protects your stuff more than a regular nylon backpack would. It has cinch straps that help compress things a bit and make it a smidge smaller, but I will say that the fabric is less flexible than other backpacks.

• There are three easy ways to carry the bag: 1) like a traditional suitcase with a handle, 2) with a shoulder strap like a duffel bag, and 3) with backpack straps that can be stored away when not in use. The straps are padded, adjustable, and comfortable even when the backpack is fully loaded.

• This bag has held up well in the several years I've owned it. My husband has borrowed it on occasion and likes it too, and I expect that we'll use this bag for years.

eBags Mother Lode Jr.

• The Mother Lode is a popular backpack with travelers but I prefer the Junior, which has a 40-liter (approximately) capacity and still can be used as a carry-on bag.

• Like the Osprey Porter, this backpack functions like a suitcase, in that it unzips flat for easy packing and unpacking.

• The main packing area can be two different sizes, thanks to an exterior zipper that can be opened or closed to expand or contract the bag.

• In addition to the main packing area, there is a laptop section closest to the backpack straps, as well as other smaller zippered areas in the front.

• The MLJ also has a zippered compartment at the top that’s meant to offer convenient access to your liquids bag when going through security, but I find that if you’ve stuffed the main section pretty full, the smaller liquids compartment is pretty much unusable.

• The exterior construction feels solid and I really like the cinch straps.

• This is a newer bag that I’ve carried on only two trips but so far it’s working well for me.

UPDATES 2025:

• Samsonite bought eBags several years ago and, last year discontinued the Mother Lode bags. I am delighted to learn that those bags are available again.

• Speaking of Mother Lode bags: For a short time, it was possible to get the Mother Lode EVD, which is a daypack of approximately 20 liters and is the perfect size for everyday carry and short getaways.

• Finally, I stopped carrying the Osprey bag mentioned above. It’s a great backpack but for organizational purposes, I prefer the Mother Lode bags. Since no one in my house carries it, I have passed it on to someone else and they are happy with it.

So those are my thoughts about backpacks and what I like for travel. What kind of bag do you travel with?