There’s no bad time to travel, in my opinion. But summer is prime season to pack your bags and hit the road, sky or sea. Better yet, pack your bag, singular. I like to travel light — the less you carry, the less you have to lug around and keep up with, letting you focus on the journey without being weighed down, literally, by more than you need. The trick is having the right bag to stay organized and stash the outfits and items you need.
Here are a few carry-on bags and some travel gear that I’ve tested and love, whether I’m boarding a flight or embarking on a weekend road trip. Bon voyage!
Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack
I like to travel with a backpack. You can wear it on your back, keep your hands free and navigate any sort of terrain — water, sand, cobblestone — without wrestling rollers that get stuck. Cotopaxi’s Allpa Travel Pack is the ultimate for versatility, and its details are impeccable if you like to stay organized. The Allpa’s clam-shell design is full zip, letting you open it like a suitcase and easily access everything on both zippered, mesh-enclosed sides. (Pro organization tip: The Cotopaxi Cubo packing cubes fit perfectly.) Two external pockets are great for toiletries, phones or accessories like sunglasses and earbuds. And the side-zip, padded laptop sleeve easily fits a 15-inch device (with a lockable zipper).
On the outside, the mesh shoulder straps are cushy-comfortable. Three sides feature handles, and the back has a strap that slides over a roller bag handle — so you can easily grab it from any overhead bin, car trunk or luggage compartment and carry it at any orientation. The front is also extra durable and waterproof thanks to a TPU coating, giving the Allpa some rugged functionality to blend with its cheerful, fresh style. Bonus: It’s made from 100% recycled fabrics.
The Allpa Travel Pack comes in five sizes, so know your packing style. I’m partial to the 28-liter, which passes as an airline personal item; it’s great for a weekend getaway or longer with some laundry access. The 35-liter is carry-on compatible and designed for a weeklong trip.
Find it at cotopaxi.com or locally at Mountain Chalet, REI or Scheels.
Osprey Farpoint Fairview Carry-On Wheeled Travel Pack
I’ve been a long-time fan of Osprey backpacks and hydration packs. The Cortez, Colorado-based company knows functionality and durability. So when I saw they had made a wheeled version of their popular Farpoint and Fairview Travel Packs, I had to try it.
The PFAS-free Farpoint Fairview Wheeled has a straightforward design that keeps things simple. A full-zip front panel makes it easy to access everything in the main compartment. An interior mesh pocket is great for separating a few items; I like it for a pair of flip-flops or sandals. On the outside there’s a zippered top pocket that’s great for small toiletries or easy-to-reach essentials. And a pair of stretchy front stash pockets are deep enough for a tall water bottle or quick-access items like sunglasses or ear buds.
The versatility of the Farpoint Fairview makes it the best of both worlds. The aluminum chassis is lightweight. The oversized wheels smoothly handle some tough terrain, but when you want to go carry mode, just pull out the stowable shoulder harness and hipbelt. Shoutout for the padded mesh back panel that keeps things cool. It also has multiple handles — the ergonomic telescoping grip and padded straps on the top and side — that make it easy to grab, stash, carry and pull.
I like the carry-on 21.5-inch, 36-liter size of this wheeled pack, but there is a larger 27.5-inch, 65-liter version if you want more room. It is worth noting too that unlike other gender-specific packs in the Farpoint Fairview line, this one is a unisex fit.
Find it at osprey.com or locally at REI.
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel
This is a perfectly named bag; it sucks everything in. Jim Smith, the owner of Mountain Chalet, first turned me on to Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel. “That’s my personal travel bag,” he said — the 40-liter wheeled version, for the record. “It’s just a big, giant rucksack. There is nothing inside it. You can just dump a ton in, and it takes it all, which is awesome.”
He’s right — except there is one side pocket for smaller items that you can access from both the outside and the inside. Smith likes it for his climbing-centered travels, and the external daisy chains are perfect for clipping things on. For me, it’s become a go-to for road trips and car camping weekends. To optimize organization, you can use packing cubes. Otherwise, you can stash clothes, gear, boots, helmets, cook sets, you name it.
The Black Hole Duffel is made of 100% recycled materials. The weather- and abrasion-resistant TPU-laminated surface is perfect for adventurous outings. And I love the versatility of carrying it with hand straps, over the shoulder or with the attachable backpack straps.
There’s a full range of Black Hole sizes: 40 liter to 100 liter. The 55-liter is the sweet spot for me, big enough to carry a miscellaneous load without getting too heavy — and also carry-on compatible to take on a flight.
Find it at patagonia.com or locally at Mountain Chalet and REI.
Cotopaxi Cubo Expandable Packing Cube Set
The more I use packing cubes, the more I can’t do without them. I first wrote about them for our holiday gift guide, and they have changed the way I pack. The organization and accessibility are unparalleled. Cotopaxi’s Cubo Expandable Set is my go-to. Their second zipper allows you to compress clothing and maximize space. And they’re a perfect fit inside the Cotopaxi Allpa pack — almost like they planned it that way, no?
Find it at cotopaxi.com or locally at Mountain Chalet.
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow
When it comes to a travel pillow for a long flight, I want something inflatable that minimizes weight and maximizes space. Sea to Summit’s Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow perfectly checks those boxes at 3.3 ounces and a packed size of 4 x 3 x 2 inches. I broke in the Aeros on a 13-hour flight to Asia and loved it. The multifunction valve makes it easy to inflate and adjust to the right comfort level. It’s thinner in the back, making it fit well against a seat-back. The fleece-like lining is soft and comfortable against the skin. The adjustable neck strap holds the Aeros Premium Traveller in place while you dream. And that tiny size is just right for slipping into an external pack pocket. I’d endure another full-day flight anytime with my Aeros.
Find it at seatosummit.com.
