3 Best Travel Backpacks Under 100 dollars
Here are our choice for the best travel backpacks under 100 dollars, including the best travel backpack under 50 dollars, the best backpack for petite woman and the best overall travel backpack.
Decisions, decisions.. if you are a bit like me, you struggle deciding what to buy when there are a million products with similar price and characteristics. We have been traveling all over the world for the last few years, and almost always we do it carrying only a backpack. We have tried different backpacks over the years and these are our top 3 backpacks.
Of course it depends on your budget but really with less than 100 euros or dollars you can buy a fantastic backpack, in my opinion there is no need to overspend for a fancy brand or over the top characteristics. Being realistic when looking for a backpack you want a Toyota and not a McLaren, you want resiliency, practicality and decent aesthetics, so that you don’t look apart in a crowd. So I compiled the best 3 backpacks we have tried, so you don’t have to spend a hundred hours looking for the perfect backpack.
Table of Content
3 Best Travel Backpacks Under 100 dollars
Looking for a spacious and durable travel backpack? The Tomtoc 40L backpack may be the perfect fit! I’ve been using the Tomtoc 40 L for two years now. In the backpack I have traveled to Ukraine, New York, Netherlands, and many other countries. To this day it looks as new. This definitively the best travel backpack under 100 dollars
I also use it to go to the office some times as it carries my laptop and cables perfectly in order. With padded straps and multiple compartments, it’s comfortable and easy to organize your belongings. However, it’s relatively heavy and lacks a waterproof cover. It is a bit over the standard Ryanair measures but because it is flexible, it has always fit in the box when the hostess has told me to. Check out our pros and cons before making a decision.
Photo of me wearing the backpack in the trip to Poland.
Pros:
- Practicality: I have used this backpack almost everyday for a couple of years now, it fits every occasion, going to the office, carrying groceries occasionally when I forget to bring a bag, and of course traveling.
- Spacious: With a 40-liter capacity, the Tomtoc backpack can hold plenty of clothes, gadgets, and other travel essentials.
- Durable: The backpack is made of high-quality materials that make it rugged and durable, making it suitable for rough outdoor activities.
- Comfortable: The backpack is designed with padded straps and a breathable back panel that distributes weight evenly, making it comfortable to wear for long periods.
- Multiple compartments: The backpack has several compartments and pockets, making it easy to organize and access your belongings.
- Versatile: The backpack can be used for various activities, including travel, hiking, and camping.
Cons:
- Top pocket: The only inconvenience that I have found is that the top pocket if left open does not hold the items I leave there, usually my keys, when I put it on its back to open the main front pocket to put in clothes. It seems like a nuisance but it happens from time to time and its annoying.
- Heavy: The backpack is relatively heavy, even when empty, which can be inconvenient if you’re trying to pack light. It might be heavier than other similar backpacks but in my experience it is worth it given how robust it is.
- Price: The Tomtoc backpack is relatively expensive compared to other backpacks of similar size and features.
- Lack of water-resistant cover: The backpack doesn’t come with a waterproof cover, which can be an issue if you’re traveling in rainy weather. Although I have to say that I have wet it in many rainy days with my laptop inside and it did not get wet at all.
- Limited color options: The backpack is only available in a limited range of colors, which may not suit everyone’s preferences. It does fit mine, black is good color for a backpack in my opinion as is discrete and helps in appearing smaller than it is, so the hostess does not check its measures.
Conclusion
I recommend the Tomtoc 40 L above all others. This backpack has served me well over the years, and still looks brand new. It is optimal to travel light, carrying all the clothes you might need for a week or more plus you can carry your laptop, charger and mouse in the back compartment. I bought it because of the looks and keep on using it because of the practicality. Definitely the best travel backpack under 100 dollars that I have ever tested.
The backpack bidmamba is great for trips of up to a week and daily carry. I chose the model with the tsa lock as sometimes I feel more secure leaving the backpack in a hostel if I know it is locked. I have been using the Bidmamba for almost one year now, and it has served me extremly well. All the zips still work perfectly and there is no signs of wear and tear.
This backpack is light, and fits on the travel airlines standard measures. I love the way it is distributed as I can put my work stuff in one compartment and the clothes in another. I have traveled to Ukrain, Poland, and Venice with this backpack. In my experience it is ideal for trips up to a week, as even tough it is not the biggest backpack the space is very well optimized. I recommend this backpack for girls of smaller stature as myself, as is does not feel to big, and I don’t feel like a tortoise wearing it.
In the past one of the first backpacks I bought was the ProCase 40 L Tactic, it is a great backpack, I would say is a backpack more suited for field trips, camping trips, over all for outdoor activities. But due to its 40 L capacity is big enough to carry the amenities for a trip of at least 4 days.
What I loved about this backpack is the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system on the front of it where you can decorate with the flags of the countries you visit or however you want. In theory it is called PALS and not MOLLE and it is used to attach accessories to be able to carry more equipment but the majority of people use it just for decoration purposes.
The cons that I have experienced, are mainly the ventilation problems, meaning it sweats a bit the part where is in constant contact with your back, also over time if not careful having so many zippers is a source of problems and some may need reparation down the line which is not expensive but annoying.
In conclusion this backpack is made to be durable, it is also water resistant and it felt very comfortable. I would recommend the ProCase 40 L for young people, specially men, given that is a bit heavy and has a military aesthetic. Also the price, being such a good backpack for less than $50 is a great deal.
Check out other traveling posts:
Maafushi: Best of Maldives
Maafushi: Best of Maldives Maafushi is in our opinion if not the best one of the best islands to stay in your vacations to Maldives.…
When is the best time to travel to the Maldives?
When is the best time to travel to the Maldives? The best time to travel to the Maldives is during its dry season from December…
Is it worth visiting Brașov? Best of Romania
Is it worth visiting Brașov? Best of Romania On our journey from Bucharest to Transylvania, we found a hidden jewel nestled in the Carpathians: Brașov.…