100 l travel bag

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The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

By Kit Dillon

Kit Dillon is a writer focused on bags and travel gear. He has worked for Wirecutter for a decade and lost count of the number of bags he has tested.

When you open up your favorite carry-on travel backpack, it should feel like you’re opening the door to a well-organized closet or sitting down at a clean desk, with everything in the right place and easy to reach.

This is your moment to center yourself, no matter how chaotic the journey.

What we considered

A 45-liter bag maximizes overhead space but can get heavy when fully packed; 35-liter bags tend to be more manageable.

A bag with a clamshell design opens like a book and is the easiest to pack, but a bag that opens traditionally tends to have more structure.

Ideally, a travel backpack has handles on all sides—especially the bottom—so you can pull it out of overhead bins or from under seats.

Some internal pockets are useful, but major organizing is better managed with packing cubes.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L offer the best combination of features, quality, and durability. Both bags are exemplary carry-on travel backpacks that are designed for comfort, durability, and organization. Though these backpacks are great as companion bags for any trip, they’re designed to ultimately replace all of your other luggage and become your exclusive bag as you travel.

This style of packing is not for everyone, but once some people try it, they’re forever hooked. Finding the right bag is a personal choice, though, and no single bag will appeal to everyone. That’s why we also have picks that are great for people who travel for work , others that are designed to be carried over long distances , and a bag that’s basically luggage on your back .

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, best small carry-on bag for most situations: cotopaxi allpa 35l travel pack, best large bag for most situations: peak design travel backpack 45l, best mobile office: patagonia black hole mlc 45l, best bag for long journeys on foot: osprey farpoint 40 and fairview 40, best bag if you need a large suitcase on your back: tortuga travel backpack pro 40l, other good carry-on travel backpacks, how we picked and tested, the competition.

I’ve been covering aspects of luggage and travel bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade, and I have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. I personally try to do most of my travel with a single backpack, whenever possible. I spent nine months roaming around Hawaii with not much more than that, and I spent another six months nomadically couch-surfing in New York City.

I reached out to writers who specialize in traveling the world carrying everything they need in a single bag: Eytan Levy, the owner and operator of the Snarky Nomad travel website; James Feess, founder of The Savvy Backpacker ; and Sharon Gourlay, of the Where’s Sharon? travel website. I also spoke with moderators of Reddit’s r/onebag and r/heronebag forums, as well as with Chase Reeves, bag fanatic, reviewer, and owner of Matterful .

We researched and tested bags designed for those who want to travel light and stay flexible while flying, without the burden of checking luggage. For some people, the challenge of cutting down a packing list is intimidating. But if you can get past that initial hurdle, traveling with a single bag is a revelation. With fewer items, you have more time to concentrate on and appreciate the journey.

• When you’re not loaded down by heavy luggage, it’s easy to remain more mobile. And it’s easier to adjust your plans mid-trip. If you’re willing to do laundry on the road, then one bag is all you need to travel indefinitely. At its heart, one-bag travel allows you to discover more—not just about the places you’re going but also about yourself and what you really need day to day.
• Size and weight still matter. If you desire more creature comforts or more gear, or if you plan to be away for a long time across multiple climates, you’ll want a bigger travel backpack . These larger bags tend not to be carry-on-friendly, however, especially in Europe, so be prepared to check them.
• No single backpack is perfect for everyone. Before you make any purchase, consider some basic points. How much can you carry? And where do you usually visit: the city or outback? Travel gear should feel like a welcome companion—there to support you when you need it but unobtrusive when you don’t.

45-liter bag vs. 35-liter bag

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A versatile small pack for a week or a weekend.

This durable bag’s clamshell design makes it easy to organize your stuff. And due to its strap design, this bag can be worn on your back or carried in your hand while you’re on the move.

Buying Options

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is an easy-to-organize, comfortable-to-carry bag for getaways lasting just a few days or a whole week.

It’s one bag that can do it all. This is a great all-around bag for any traveler who’s dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. There are handles on all four sides of this bag, so it’s easy to grab no matter where you’ve stowed it. It’s also protected by a full lifetime warranty, and it has the build quality to back that up. After more than four years of testing, this single backpack (plus a personal item ) has replaced nearly every travel bag or piece of luggage I use.

It comes in various sizes, but we think the middle-of-the-road version is the best. Cotopaxi also makes the Allpa in 28-liter and 42-liter sizes. But for us, the 35-liter bag is the best option. At 42 liters, this bag becomes heavy for most people to carry when it is fully packed, and we’d prefer that it had a more-robust hip belt. At 28 liters, the bag becomes a touch small for most people, and its internal organization feels fussy for shorter trips, such as an overnight. Cotopaxi also makes a hip pack , which is designed to fit snugly into the Allpa bag’s front top compartment. It’s a neat little addition to the bag, and it is worth getting if you like wearing fanny packs while you travel.

It’s organized, easy to pack, and easy to carry. The Allpa bag has a clamshell design, so it opens like a hard-sided suitcase—a large YKK zipper runs around three sides of the bag, allowing it to fall open into two halves when unzipped. On the right side is a deep compartment, spacious enough for two large packing cubes or half a suitcase’s worth of clothing (which you access through a mesh zippered flap). On the left, there’s space for one more medium-size packing cube behind a zippered flap. Above that there are two smaller pockets with high-visibility backing—useful when you’re looking for hard-to-differentiate personal items.

It’s secure but still accessible. The Allpa pack has two side-access zippers—great for on-the-go access, especially when the bag is hanging from your shoulder. One of these reveals a flat computer pocket with a padded false bottom; so if you drop the bag, it won’t land on the corner of your computer. The other reveals a “secret” pocket with a hidden zipper and access to the main compartment. All of the main compartment zippers are protected by security loops, which you thread the zipper through at the end of its run. This prevents anyone from subtly or quickly grabbing a zipper and opening your bag when you aren’t paying attention.

It’s comfortable to carry. The Allpa bag’s hip belt—which can be removed while the bag is on your back—is substantial enough that it’s comfortable to wear when you need it. With or without the hip belt, the Allpa bag is comfortable to carry over long distances. However, folks who have longer torsos (over 19 inches) may find that the waist belt sits a little high off the hips, unless you fully extend the shoulder straps. Speaking of shoulder straps, unlike the ones on our other picks, the Allpa bag’s straps are contoured to fit people who have large or small chests. It’s not a specifically gendered design, but our female tester noticed the improvement right away.

The Allpa pack is made with 1680-denier ballistic nylon, similar to the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 . (Denier is a measure of a fabric’s fiber thickness.) It feels similar to a strong canvas, but it has a more prominent weave. This is the type of bag that’s as easy to toss into an overhead compartment as it is into the back of a rusty pickup truck. And it also includes a rainfly, which is unique in this category.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Though this pack is well organized for packing, it’s less ideal as a mobile office. The Allpa pack has a minimal amount of administrative organization—places to keep pens and papers, spaces to hold tickets, and so forth. This is where a good personal item comes in handy. However, if you want to travel with just this one bag, there are a few nooks you can hide things in. The front organizer is deep enough that you can also fit several small organizing pouches, if you want, or the aforementioned fanny pack.
• We prefer the model without the TPU front. Cotopaxi does enjoy playing around with fabrics and colors. Sometimes the company has released the Allpa pack without the TPU-lined front panel. The TPU panel improves water resistance, but after many years of traveling with our bag, we’ve found that the TPU layering can begin to flake in spots.

Capacity: 35 liters Weight: 3 pounds 5 ounces Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: adventurous Colors: assorted

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

An easily customizable large bag for long trips and expensive gear.

This bag was built with photographers in mind. Yet most travelers will appreciate its easy accessibility, clever tuck-away straps, and the elegant way the bag expands and contracts. The accessory cubes cost extra, though.

The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is a good choice for those carrying more expensive gear—especially camera gear. It’s also great for those who prefer a large, backpack-based packing system.

One bag provides many configurations. Some bags in this category are built to do one thing extremely well—be carried on your back. But the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is built to adapt. It’s the Swiss Army knife of backpacks: adjustable, customizable, and (if you spring for the extra cubes and organizers) an almost perfect system for a photographer or gearhead on the move. Most bags’ expanding mechanisms aren’t worth the extra zipper they’re built on, and they look about as attractive as a boiled ham splitting out of its plastic packaging. That’s not the case with the Peak Design: This bag looks just as good fully packed at 45 liters as it does compressed to a 30-liter daypack.

It’s expandable, with clever folds and zippers. You can access the bag through a back panel (which doubles as a computer and tablet pouch) as well as a front one (if you unzip the pass-through divider). You can also get into the main compartment via two wing-like trapezoidal flaps, which run along each side of the pack. In its natural shape, the Travel Backpack holds 35 liters, but an expansion zipper lets the bag swell to 45 liters. If you want to use the bag as a daypack, you fold in the top corners and snap them down, reducing the bag’s volume to a slim 30 liters. In this configuration, it will still feel larger than a normal daypack, but we think that’s a small compromise for being able to use one backpack as both your travel bag and your daily explorer. The bag itself consists of 400-denier nylon and polyester fabrics. It feels tough but not as tough as some other bags we’ve tested, such as the Cotopaxi Allpa.

It has fold-away straps, for easier storage. The Peak Design lets you tuck its shoulder and hip straps away when you’re not using them. But unlike any other bag we’ve ever tested, this pack has magnetic flaps on the back panel that open and close with an almost magical snap. Once you’ve played with them, you’ll wonder why every backpack doesn’t have something similar. A small, childish part of me still gets excited about tucking away the straps when I put the Peak Design into an overhead bin. Although the straps are thin, they’re still comfortable. The hip belt isn’t quite as plush as the one on the Tortuga pack; still, even when the Peak Design is fully loaded, the belt doesn’t pinch or dig into the body.

It’s great for carrying expensive gear. If you travel with a camera, you don’t have to use Peak Design’s camera cubes , but they do make carrying that gear a whole lot easier. The cubes come in five sizes. And if they’re situated properly in the bag with the provided clips, they line up with the Travel Backpack’s side-access flaps for quick access. Caleigh Waldman (a photographer for this piece and, full disclosure, my spouse) took this bag across the country for a wedding shoot. “I want this backpack,” she said after three weeks of travel. “I want to travel with it everywhere. With my cameras. Without my cameras. It doesn’t matter. I want to travel with it.”

• It’s expensive—especially if you commit to the entire system of packing and camera cubes.
• More complexity means more things that can break. The adjustable design and multiple zippers do add complexity, and complexity adds potential weaknesses. Peak Design covers all of its bags with a lifetime warranty , which should alleviate most people’s concerns. But if you’re particularly hard on your gear and still need to carry as much as possible, you might consider the Tortuga bag instead.

Capacity: 45 liters Weight: 4½ pounds Main compartment access: back-panel loader Style: minimalist and unobtrusive Color: black, sage

Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L

Combines more organization with a simple interior.

This bag’s split interior makes organizing easy. Those who travel for work will appreciate this bag’s dedicated panels for organizing tech, books, papers, and assorted miscellaneous items.

If you travel often for business and prefer a bag that’s much easier to work out of than most of our other picks, you may like the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L . This bag has a front panel and assorted pockets that make it feel like a small traveling office.

It’s built like luggage but organized like your office. Of all the bags we recommend, the MLC (short for Maximum Legal Carry) comes closest to being a suitcase on your back, due to its large size, simple interior, and minimal external features. The MLC is also one of the simplest bags we tested, divided into two leaves (imagine a book with only one page), with a main compartment for packing and a second compartment for document organization and tech storage. The MLC has a built-in laptop compartment that fits 17-inch laptops and is situated close to your back; this protects the computer and keeps its weight closer to your body.

Despite its size, it’s comfortable enough to carry. Most carry-on backpacks of this size, without frames, become somewhat unwieldy when fully packed. Thankfully, the Black Hole MLC bag, like the Cotopaxi Allpa, is a welcome exception to this rule. The MLC has two shoulder straps, a hip belt, and an optional shoulder strap, for easy carrying. When they're not in use, or when you’re checking your bag, all of the straps can be stowed away easily. When fully loaded, the bag was pleasant to carry—not as comfortable as the Peak Design or the Osprey, but decent enough. I wouldn’t want to carry it all day across a city, but I wouldn’t mind carrying it through an airport to a car and to a hotel.

It’s built from high-quality materials, with durability in mind. This pack is made from recycled polyester, and the fabric is woven in a cross-weave that’s very similar to what Patagonia uses in its long-lasting Black Hole series of duffle bags . This is a material I’ve come across a bunch with Patagonia gear, and I’ve tested it thoroughly; it’s very tough. The front of the bag is coated in a weather-resistant TPU, for extra protection from the elements. The bag has large YKK zippers (the industry leader) and smaller YKK zippers throughout. Unlike the Cotopaxi Allpa pack, the Black Hole MLC bag has no security loops.

It comes with one of the best repair programs and a lifetime warranty. Similar to our other picks, the MLC is backed by an excellent lifetime warranty , and we’ve always found that Patagonia’s repair program goes above and beyond other comparable companies.

• We wish the Maximum Legal Carry (despite the name) came in a few more sizes. The 45-liter capacity may be intimidating for some people, and there is no alternative.

Capacity: 45 liters Weight: 3 pounds 10 ounces Main compartment access: clamshell Style: retro Colors: tan, black, olive, green

Osprey Farpoint 40

For long distances on foot.

A great starter option for one-bag travel, this bag is easy to pack, adaptable to most situations, and sturdy enough to take with you as you travel the world.

Osprey Fairview 40

For long distances and smaller torsos.

A scaled-down version of the Farpoint, this bag has shoulder straps that are slightly lower, to keep the bag’s bulk more aligned with smaller torsos.

Updated in 2023, the Osprey Farpoint 40 and Fairview 40 packs are both built around a hiking backpack frame that’s easy to carry over long distances.

It’s built for travel but designed for hiking. The Farpoint 40 bag is well made, easy to pack, and comfortable to carry over most mid-length distances—such as walking across a city for an afternoon. (For simplicity’s sake, everything we say here about the Farpoint bag also applies to the Fairview bag.) Osprey makes excellent backpacks for hauling around, and its lifetime warranty is renowned within the industry . The Farpoint pack also has an optional messenger bag–style strap, which offers some flexibility when you’re maneuvering tight spaces like subways or crowded city centers.

It’s simple to pack, but not as spacious as it seems. Opening the bag reveals a clamshell design; it’s deep enough to accommodate most large items, yet you won’t have to fumble awkwardly with zippers once it’s time to close up the bag. The feeling you get is not unlike when you’re packing a bit of sturdy luggage, and that’s something we love about bags like this one—especially when you use packing cubes . Osprey says this bag, when fully packed, can carry 40 liters. But after using the Farpoint bag for a few years, we’ve decided that its rounded shape seems to cut into that theoretical packable space more than other bags do. In practice, the Farpoint pack’s available space is closer to—but still less than—that of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

It’s the easiest bag to carry among our picks. Like all Osprey bags, the Farpoint 40 has very comfortable shoulder straps. The years of design and consideration Osprey has put into its hiking backpacks are quite evident in the Farpoint 40. After more than seven years of long-term testing this bag, we’re still surprised by how great it feels to wear when fully packed. Crucially, the straps of the Farpoint 40 stow away neatly behind a zippered panel. However, when you’re using the shoulder straps, the design forces you to also use the hip straps. Though this isn’t a huge issue, if you prefer a sleeker look or would rather have the option of using shoulder straps without hip straps, the Cotopaxi Allpa pack is more flexible, and it lets you hide the waist straps while the bag is on your back.

The Fairview 40 has the same features, in a scaled-down size. The Farpoint 40 and the Fairview 40 packs basically have the same design, but the Fairview pack is made for someone with a more-diminutive torso. It’s also slightly lighter. However, it has the features and durability of the Farpoint bag. It also has the same hip belt and adjustability. On both, the chest-strap clip is also equipped with a small security whistle that’s surprisingly loud. It’s a handy feature for anyone traveling in unfamiliar environments.

• For a smaller carry-on travel backpack, this one has little to not like. However, we do wish Osprey would trade some of the sleeker contours for a little more interior space.

Capacity: 35 liters Weight (Farpoint): 3 pounds 3 ounces Weight (Fairview): 3 pounds 2 ounces Main compartment access: front-panel loader Style: active Colors (Farpoint): green (Gopher), gray (Tunnel Vision), blue (Muted Space), black Colors (Fairview): blue (Winter Night), red (Zircon), blue (Night Jungle), black

Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L

A suitcase to carry on your back.

For dedicated single-bag travelers, this water-resistant, durable bag is easy to pack and to travel with. And it’s comfortable to wear over endless miles—as long as you don’t mind the heavier weight.

The Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L maximizes packing space in a bag that’s durable, water-resistant, and customizable to fit most torso lengths (there’s also a 30L version ), with plenty of organizational features to suit any digital nomad.

It’s like a suitcase, with backpack straps. The Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L is built to occupy the maximum carry-on space available. It’s a nearly perfect blend of backpack and luggage. On the outside, its tear-resistant sailcloth and sealed zippers provide ample protection from sharp objects and the elements. Opening the main clamshell zipper reveals a cavernous interior and a few organizational features that make the bag a cinch to pack. The front panel is a particular standout, great for keeping track of electronics and chargers. Of all the bags we tested, the Tortuga strikes the closest balance between the carrying comfort of a hiking backpack and the space and organization of a piece of luggage.

It’s as easy to pack as luggage. When it comes to packing, the Tortuga pack has a soothingly minimal interior, as any good suitcase should. In addition to the bag’s cavernous main pocket, its interior lid has a large vented panel. The panel is too narrow to hold additional packing cubes, but it’s great for holding light jackets or doubling as a dirty-laundry bag (if you’re really committed to one-bag travel). The Tortuga is available as a 40-liter pack (the maximum space for a carry-on bag), which we tested; there is also a 30-liter version, which is compliant with some intra-European flights. The more-diminutive version is a decent choice for weekend travel or for minimalist travelers—but for those uses, we prefer the space-saving profile and extra internal organization of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L bag.

It’s very customizable. The Tortuga pack is the most adjustable model we tested, thanks to its adjustable torso length, shoulder straps, and waist-belt system. The adjustable strap system lets you manipulate the location of the shoulder straps (video) to fit a wider variety of body sizes, in both the 30- and 40-liter versions. Of the packs we’ve tested, this one (with its included load-adjuster straps at the top, to prevent the bag’s weight from sagging toward your lumbar region) is the best at distributing its weight (4½ pounds when empty—roughly 1½ pounds more than most of our other picks, except the Peak Design ). The hip straps are removable if you need, but the shoulder straps are not stowable.

• Its straps don’t stow away. Some people, especially those who are hard on their gear, may consider not being able to remove or stow the shoulder straps (as they can with our other picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa ) a disqualifying factor. But after years of testing, traveling with, and occasionally checking our bag, we haven’t had an issue. However, if these mysteries beneath the airport also make you nervous, you might prefer our picks with easy-to-stow straps, such as the Peak Design.
• It's heavy. We’ve fielded complaints from some testers who said that older models of this bag were too heavy for them to carry, even with the padded hip belt and adjustable straps. The additional padding does add weight. At 4½ pounds, this latest Tortuga bag is more than half a pound lighter than it used to be (the difference is noticeable), and it weighs the same as the equally large Peak Design pack. We are currently testing a new, lighter, and less-expensive version of this pack—aptly named the Travel Backpack Lite 40L —and will report back soon.  In the meantime, if you think you would struggle carrying the Tortuga, we strenuously encourage you to consider one of our more-manageable picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L.

Capacity: 40 liters Weight: 4½ pounds Main compartment access: clamshell opening Style: minimal, with a rigid construction Color: black

If you want to travel like a backpacker but also fit in at a board meeting (and you have the budget for it): Consider the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 . This bag’s reputation for durability, adaptability, and a low-key aesthetic make it a favorite among many dedicated one-bag travelers. And after testing it, we think it’s a great bag too. That said, for the bag to really stand out against other backpacks—and to take full advantage of its carrying adaptability—you need to buy the internal frame , the hip belt , and (if you’re traveling with a suit or jacket) the shoulder strap . On a bag that already costs $330, all of this adds up. Everything about the Tom Bihn bag (the fabric, the zippers, the quality of construction) feels like an upgrade from other bags, but it’s simply too pricey, and its design is too rarified and specific for most people. The biggest flaw, from our perspective—apart from the price—is that the Tom Bihn bag lacks a dedicated laptop pocket. In its place, the company sells laptop sleeves (a fine version if you don’t have one) that clip into the bag’s central compartment. Not everyone needs a dedicated laptop pocket, but we prefer the more secure feeling of bags that do.

We’ve narrowed our specifications for a great bag to the following list of features, ordered from most relevant to least:

• Front- or back-panel loader or clamshell opening, for the main compartment: As with any good piece of luggage, with this type of bag, you should be able to open it and see everything you’ve packed. When you have a bag with a panel-loading or clamshell design—rather than a traditional, top-opening design—you can pack and unpack it just as you would a suitcase.

• Backpack strap comfort and design: You never know when you’ll be walking farther with your bag than you’d intended. The more comfortable and well designed the straps are, the easier traveling will be. “Ideally, you want a bag’s shoulder straps to adjust to the angle of your shoulders,” said Eytan Levy of Snarky Nomad. “Good shoulder straps are the difference between an easy trip and a hard trip.”
• Hip-belt comfort and design: A hip belt transfers heavy loads from your back and shoulders onto your hips, letting your legs—not your back—bear the brunt of the weight. Just having a waist belt is a plus, but having a padded and sculpted one—especially on bags with over 40 liters of volume—makes a world of difference.
• Material quality: Durability is critical for any type of luggage, but especially for a backpack that will be your only bag. Most bags worth considering are made of nylon, which resists abrasion more than polyester fabrics of similar density. Spending more, however, can get you exotic, light, and strong materials, such as Dyneema or sailcloth.
• Weight: Once the bags arrived, we weighed each one ourselves. Most of the bags weighed within a few pounds of one another. But unless you’re very strict with yourself, by the time you’re packed for a two-week journey, all bags are going to feel equally massive, even if one is just 2 pounds heavier than another when empty.
• Stowable straps: These are nice to have, but they aren’t absolutely necessary. “The more often you need to check a bag, the more often you need to hide away the straps,” Levy said. “But if the straps are tough enough, it doesn’t matter.”
• Accessory pocket layout and design: Some people will love an accessory pocket that has a specific space for everything; others may find that feature constricting and unadaptable. We prioritized bags with simple designs that guided our packing without constraining us.
• Style: This is purely subjective. We preferred bags that had a minimalist exterior style, but not all of our picks will please everyone. Most of the people we spoke with, however, preferred not to stick out like a tourist wearing a large, colorful backpack, if they could avoid it.

During testing, we flew across the country with these bags, took weekend trips to nearby cities, lived out of them on extended trips, and tried them locally in our daily routines. We also packed and unpacked each bag, using a standardized set of weeklong travel necessities and accessories, to see how well the internal organizational features (or lack thereof) aided or got in the way of efficient packing.

This is not a comprehensive list of all of the carry-on travel backpacks we have tested. We have removed any models that have been discontinued or that no longer meet our criteria.

The Away Outdoor Convertible Backpack 45L is a rare miss from the Away team. This bag is resoundingly average for the price. Although it’s made from excellent materials, the bag is let down by its overall design, which lacks any kind of structure or attention to comfort. There are better options.

The cheap, no-frills Cabin Max Metz bag is intriguing for the price. Any bag at this price should almost be considered disposable. That said, if you need a simple bag that costs less than a seat upgrade, this might be the way to go.

The GeniusPack Travel Backpack is the only model we came across that tried to fit a suit into a travel backpack. Though some people might need that, we think those who have to travel with a suit (or clothes that require pressing) would be better off with a piece of carry-on luggage . GeniusPack now offers a second version of this bag, but our conclusion hasn’t changed.

For certain people, the GoRuck GR3 is almost worth the cost. It’s strong and simple and covered by an iron-clad repair guarantee. The removable hip belt is comfortable to wear, and it’s good at displacing the weight of a 45-liter backpack. This is a decent bag. After testing it, however, we weren’t thrilled with the internal Velcro lining for compatible Velcro packing cubes. Velcro isn’t great: It wears out, it’s difficult to keep clean, and it clings to dirt. That might seem like a small thing, but for the price, this bag should feel perfect.

The Minaal Carry-On 2.0 was designed to be a backpack for business people. But if you’re carrying it for business, you’re probably wearing at least a blazer, so you wouldn’t use a backpack in any case. If you’re a business traveler who falls more on the casual end of the business-casual spectrum, and you’re not on a budget, this is a well-thought-out pack. But we think our picks are more versatile for world travel, and they come at a better price. Minaal has since introduced a 3.0 version of this bag ; our thoughts about it remain the same.

The Osprey Sojourn Porter 46L is a slightly larger sibling of the Farpoint pack. The Sojourn Porter bag is about 2 inches longer, and it pushes right up to most airline limits. If you don’t mind possibly having to check your bag at the last minute, this would be an excellent alternative to the Farpoint pack.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Chase Reeves, Matterful.co , phone interview , October 10, 2018

Addison Ryan, moderator, r/onebag , email interview , September 8, 2018

Lindsay Lorraine Calderón, moderator, r/heronebag , phone interview , September 28, 2018

Meet your guide

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

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Made for extended and gear-intensive travel, the Black Hole® Duffel 100L lives for rugged outings. It delivers the same legendary performance you expect from our Black Hole bags, but with a huge step toward impact reduction with 100% recycled body fabric, lining and webbing, and now a pioneering recycled TPU-film laminate with a sleek matte finish. Made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory.

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Specs & Features

Extremely durable, weather-resistant, 100% recycled fabric.

Made with weather- and abrasion-resistant 100% postconsumer recycled polyester ripstop with a matte, postindustrial recycled TPU-film laminate

Removable, Ergonomic Shoulder Straps

Padded, removable shoulder straps let you carry the Black Hole® Duffel like a backpack and can be detached when not in use; reinforced haul handles withstand overzealous baggage handlers

Accessible Internal Organization

A zippered side pocket can be reached from the outside or inside of the bag, and when empty, the duffel stuffs into the pocket for compact, self-contained storage; interior mesh lid pockets keep essentials organized and close at hand

Padded Base

Padded base protects the contents of the duffel from rough terrain and hard knocks

Burly Daisy Chains

Sturdy, reinforced exterior daisy chains provide myriad lashing options for extra gear

Pairs with Black Hole® Cubes

Snugly fits up to eight Black Hole® Cubes - 14L for seamless packing

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Made in Vietnam.

1,595 g (3 lbs 8 oz)

Last Season Color Offered at Full Price

14.1-oz 900-denier 100% postconsumer recycled polyester ripstop with a postindustrial recycled TPU-film laminate

3-oz 200-denier 100% recycled polyester with a PU coating

100% recycled nylon

Made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory

Care Instructions

Hand Wash, Do Not Bleach, Drip Dry, Do Not Iron

Gear Capacity: 100L (6,102 cu in) Dimensions: 29" x 15" x 13.3" Weight: 3 lbs 8.3 oz (1595 g)

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The 12 Best Travel Bags That Will Make Your Journey a Breeze | Tested & Reviewed

Guaranteed to make you enjoy packing.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks

Our Testing Process

What to keep in mind.

• Your Questions, Answered

Why Shop With Us

InStyle / Kristin Kempa

Allow me to start this article by saying I’m on a plane roughly eight to ten times a year. I absolutely adore travel, and even made it around the world backpacking by myself for a year. Needless to say, I know a thing or two about smart packing . When the world shut down and the option to travel was removed from our fingertips, it became all the more important to exercise our freedom to take a trip when it opened up again. Knowing this, more and more brands conveniently began crafting travel bags that accommodated the new wave of travelers — simplifying, organizing, and smoothing out suitcases and bags.

We tested said bags in our labs and in real life, doing so much as throwing suitcases onto the floor and seeing how they endured. As we boarded planes, we observed how quickly we could reach for our passports, and whether there was a safe space for our laptops to fit into. We took note of how smoothly wheels rolled over the French cobblestone streets or how heavy a duffel bag felt on our shoulders. Thus, we were able to compile this handy dandy list of 12 best travel bags and carry-on suitcases, based on our own personal experiences.

Best Overall

Dagne dover landon carryall bag.

• Capacity 5 /5
• Design 5 /5
• Portability 4 /5
• Value 3.5 /5
• Durability 3.8 /5

What We Love: It comes with ample amounts of sleeves, pockets, and even a shoe bag.

What We Don’t Love: Neoprene is prone to creasing.

We’re big fans of Dagne Dover’s neoprene collection, having tested their belt bags and backpacks already. We weren’t surprised, therefore, when this Carryall Bag impressed us just as much as their other products. With inside pockets (both slip and zip), we were able to place a laptop into the sleeve in addition to a water bottle and a passport into their dedicated slots. Still, there was plenty of room in the main compartment for all our clothes. Included in the bundle are two removable pouches — a shoe bag and a mesh zip pouch — as well.

Most notably, the top zip extends out an extra few inches, maximizing the space to stuff our cute weekend outfits. If we didn’t need the extra space, we could clip the sides down to keep everything looking compact. Dagne Dover also offers the bag in five sizes, ensuring there’s an option that’s just right for you. Lastly, there’s an outer slip intended to be used over a suitcase handle, so the bag could stay safe and flush against our carry-on. While neoprene is very soft and lightweight, it is prone to creasing, we noticed. Still, its durability makes up for it, and we know we’ll be using this year after year.

Dimensions: 20.5” L x 10” W x 10.5” H | Materials: Premium neoprene | Colors:  9

Best Budget

L.l. bean boat and tote, zip-top.

• Capacity 4 /5
• Portability 5 /5
• Ease of Use 3 /5

What We Love: You can add a personalized touch by getting it monogrammed.

What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t have any compartments for organization.

The L.L. Bean Boat and Tote bag is considered a staple beach bag for a reason. After owning this bag for just six months, InStyle ’s Associate Fashion Commerce Editor Hayley Prokos came to learn just how sturdy the canvas tote is. Not only that, but it’s become her go-to for basically all occasions, be it a personal item on a plane, a carryall for the beach, or an overnight tote to hold a change of clothes, shoes, and toiletry bag. (She uses the large size.) “Since the canvas maintains its shape when open, it’s extremely easy to pack. The only drawback is that it doesn't have any built-in compartments, but that hasn’t really bothered me, as I tend to keep small things in removable pouches that I can shuffle around in the bag,” she says. The large is fairly deep, so users can likely fit their things into it sans-problem. The fact that it’s monogrammable is just the icing on the cake. Choose between four different sizes and even two different top handle lengths — Prokos owns both the long and the short, swapping between them based on her needs.

Dimensions: 10.5” L x 5” W x 9.5” H  | Materials: Polyester | Colors: 13

Best Splurge

Coach gotham duffle.

• Ease of Use 4 /5

What We Love: The high-end leather and stitchings feel substantial, ensuring the bag will last a lifetime.

What We Don’t Love: There aren’t a lot of compartments.

We want the items that we splurge on to be items we keep forever, like this Gotham Duffle bag from Coach. While visiting the Coach store we had the pleasure of handling this deliciously smooth leather duffle and were impressed with how spacious it was. It’s likely that Mary Poppins bought her infinity bag from the same maker, considering how much we could fit in it. Although it’s not boasting a lot of compartments, it’s ideal for rolling up all of our clothes and shoes into the open space. The glove-tanned leather feels sturdy and substantial, making us feel confident it would endure a ton of tossing, shoving, and rough TSA handling. The minimalist and unisex aesthetic also ensures it won’t go out of style, so while the initial payment might seem like a lot, it’s really a steal if you divide it by the number of years for which you’re about to use it.

Dimensions: 19.75” L x  9” W x 11.5” H | Materials: Leather | Colors:  2

Best Leather

Madewell overnight bag in leather.

What We Love: The leather has only gotten better after four years of use.

What We Don’t Love: There is no laptop sleeve.

While many people are familiar with (and in love with) Madewell’s tote bag , we found all the similar great qualities in their overnight bag, plus Alpha. This option is a lot larger than their tote, but still small enough to fit under the seat in front of us. We’ve had this bag for over four years now, and the exterior leather has only gotten better in our opinion. It has endured all our not-so-gentle trips, protecting what’s inside even as we threw it into the trunk of a car.

Although there are two slip pockets in the interior where we typically keep our passport and phone, it doesn’t have a laptop sleeve, unfortunately. The bag gets rounded out as we stuff it with clothes, so it’s not the most laptop-friendly. Still, the combination of this weekender with a carry-on suitcase has saved us tons of money by not needing to check in a bag, while probably bringing the same amount of stuff as we would with a large suitcase.

Dimensions: 22.75” L x 13.37” W x 18” H | Materials: Leather | Colors:  2

Béis East To West Tote

• Ease of Use 5 /5

What We Love: There is a compartment for absolutely everything.

What We Don’t Love: The top zipper doesn’t close all the way.

Shay Mitchell’s company dedicated to all things travel didn’t miss a thing when it came to designing the perfect travel tote — it’s compartment-galore in and around this bag. We found pouches for our water bottles, a sleeve for our laptop, a zippered slit for our on-flight toiletries, two slots for our passport and phone, and even two pen hooks (key for someone who loves to journal on the plane).

Inside the exterior zipped pocket, there is a key leash, so that we may never have to rummage through our million things at the door. In the past year that we’ve owned this bag, it quickly became a life-saver of a tote, especially as people who are never on time and can’t be sorting through a black hole when we’re being pushed through a line. And yes, it comes with a slit for a suitcase handle as well, so even though we could carry it by the top handle or the shoulder strap, we don’t have to. The only con is that the top doesn’t zip all the way, which means extra attention needs to be paid in high-theft areas.

Dimensions: 9.06” L x 7.13” W x 14.17” H | Materials: Recycled polyester | Colors:  2

Best Compartmentalized

Lipault lost in berlin 24h bag.

What We Love: The cushiony exterior keeps everything safe on the inside.

What We Don’t Love: It’s not big enough to carry a range of shoe options.

We’ve been using this bag not just on our travels, but to the gym as well, giving it a bigger bang for its buck. It’s got two generously sized and zipped pockets on the exterior, making items like passports, phones, and chapsticks easy to grab and safe from theft. Thanks to the cushiony and soft exterior, our valuables on the inside always remain safe. There are even more compartments on the inside that are either zipped or meshed. And of course, a laptop sleeve can be found for anyone looking to use it on a business trip. As a little extra bonus, we love how the bag folds flat when not in use — it’s easy to store it away without taking up too much closet space. Overall, it’s not as big as some of the other bags we tested. At most, we’d feel comfortable packing one extra pair of shoes, but not a whole lot more.

Dimensions: 17.3” L x 9.8” W x 11.4” H | Materials: Polyester | Colors:  6

Best Convertible

Caraa studio tote.

What We Love: You can convert the tote into a backpack.

What We Don’t Love: The shoe compartment can only fit smaller or flat shoes.

At first glance, this black leather tote looks like any standard bag. But upon further inspection, we fell deeper and deeper in love with all the smart benefits it offers. There are removable straps that turn the tote into a backpack, so we could move around with our hands free. Because they are removable, they don’t dangle around and get in the way when we simply want to use it as a tote either.

We found a side zip that we used as a shoe compartment, although it only fits flat sandals or smaller shoes (i.e. no high heels). The interior is extremely spacious, too, which allowed us to roll multiple shirts and sweaters in. And so nothing goes missing, there is a laptop sleeve, a water bottle cinched pocket, and two larger slip pockets for passports, wallets, and phones. All in all, we could organize, bring a ton of items, and still look chic — a true win-win situation.

Dimensions: 10” L x 18” H | Materials: Leather | Colors:  1

InStyle / Joy Kim

Best Carry-on

Muji adjustable handle hard shell suitcase.

What We Love: The wheels run very smoothly and can be locked into place when not in use.

What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t come with any additional pouches or perks.

We didn’t know how smooth wheels could roll until pushing this carry-on suitcase through rough pebbled European streets. No matter how heavy the case was packed, it would still roll as though it only carried a feather. Muji has an extensive travel collection which we all adore, but this simple yet elegant suitcase has to take the cake. We could easily fit enough items for a week-long getaway. The two interior compartments are divided by a zippered mesh flap, where we keep miscellaneous items like notebooks. When the suitcase is closed, we could clip the zipper handles into its designated clasp on the side and lock it with a key, giving it an extra layer of anti-theft protection. And the best part? We could lock the wheels from rolling, allowing us to leave it standing on a moving train without it skedaddling down the aisle. While many modern suitcases come with additional pouches or even charging pods, this suitcase does not.

Dimensions: 14.6” L x 9.4” W x 21.3” H | Materials: Recycled polycarbonate, recycled polyester, polyester | Colors:  5

Best for Organizing

Paravel aviator carry-on.

What We Love: It comes with a compression board that helps to save space.

What We Don’t Love: It’s slightly heavier than your average carry-on suitcase.

Anyone looking to book a luxurious trip should have an equally luxurious suitcase to match. Owning the Paravel Aviator Carry-On felt like a beautiful travel experience in itself. Dare we say we actually enjoyed packing for once? That’s because it comes with multiple interior pockets, a separate laundry bag, and an interior compression board, which helps to press down clothing and allow for more space. And packing cubes made separating shoes from clothes a breeze. All of the details are beautifully designed, with vegan leather finishes and buttery smooth zippers — which by the way, could be locked and sealed for anti-theft. Much like the Muji option, the wheels on this suitcase glided so smoothly it was as though it were floating.

Yes, it’s a little pricier than other options, but it does come with a 10-year warranty that allows you to get manufacturing defects fixed, free of cost. We did notice that at 8.2 pounds the suitcase is a little heavier than some of the others we tested. Considering it’s a carry-on, it plays less of a role at TSA. But if you’re trying to slim down your luggage weight as much as possible perhaps this is not the one for you.

Dimensions: 13.7” L x 9” W x 21.7” H | Materials: Recycled polycarbonate, recycled aluminum handles, recycled zippers, vegan leather | Colors:  5

Best Weekender

Calpak hue laptop duffel.

• Capacity 4.5 /5
• Durability 5 /5

What We Love: A padded laptop sleeve saves us from needing to bring an extra bag for our laptop.

What We Don’t Love: We wish there were a few more color options.

Duffel bags are a favorite go-to for little weekend getaways, and this option from Calpak offered far more than just a big empty space for clothes. If you're looking for something that also functions as a laptop bag , this option has a padded laptop sleeve that protected our laptop during transportation. A discreet phone slit made answering phone calls easy, and various pockets in and around the bag offered more ways to organize our valuables. A little slot fit for suitcase handles allowed us to keep everything together and our hands free. When we’re not traveling, the bag doubles as a great gym bag, giving us more chances to use it in everyday life. We would have loved a few more color options, like navy and white, but the four currently available will suit most tastes.

Dimensions: 18” L x 9.5” W x 10” H | Materials: Polyester, polyurethane | Colors:  4

Best for Business

Away the everywhere bag.

• Organization 5 /5
• Portability 3.5 /5

What We Love: Its sleek appeal makes it easy to go straight from the airport to a meeting.

What We Don’t Love: We wish it were a tiny bit bigger to fit an extra outfit.

Going somewhere for business? This bag from Away looks like a large briefcase and functions partly as one, too. With a separate compartment for laptops, pouches for notebooks and pens, a zippered section for wallets and passports, and a mesh pocket for a water bottle, the Everywhere bag has been a sleek way to organize all our business essentials. The center compartment is large enough to pack enough clothes for a two-day trip, we found, but not more. With how sleek and minimalist the bag looks, we could easily carry it from the plane to the meeting without stopping by a hotel. After accidentally spilling some water onto the bag while being served by a flight attendant, we were happy to find the exterior was completely water-resistant.

Dimensions: 16.3” L x 7.3” W x 10.2” H | Materials: Nylon, leather | Colors:  5

Best Duffel

L.l. bean adventure rolling duffle.

• Design 3.5 /5
• Portability 3 /5
• Durability 4 /5

What We Love: You could roll the bag like a standard suitcase.

What We Don’t Love: The zip doesn’t open up very wide.

L.L. Bean has been a trusted destination for all things adventure. Although this rolling duffle bag didn't open as wide as we had hoped, the interior is deceptively large. It felt as though we could keep placing items in it and it would magically expand internally. On top of being able to hold it using the top handles, it could also be rolled like a regular suitcase. It surely made whizzing from point A to B much lighter. Thankfully, the wheels were incredibly smooth. And because the material is water-resistant, we didn’t break a sweat when rolling over any surprise puddles.

Dimensions: 12” L x 9” W x 23” H | Materials: Nylon, polyurethane | Colors:  7

First, we tapped into our rich pool of editors, writers, and travelers to see which travel bags were being bought and used organically. We rounded up our personal favorites and dropped a few of those selections here. Next, we called in multiple suitcases and bags into our testing lab and put them through a series of tests, including stuffing them to the brim to see how much they hold and weigh, checking how easy it is to utilize the compartments, observing how smoothly everything zipped, and feeling how well they rolled on the floor. We even threw the suitcases on the floor to see if anything would break, snap, or scratch. Those who passed all of our tests were then recommended in this article.

Did you know there isn’t one universal carry-on size requirement that all airlines adhere to? It’s actually up to individual airlines to determine carry-on and checked luggage size requirements, as opposed to TSA. This means that different restrictions may apply from flight to flight (though a commonly accepted maximum carry-on size is 22 x 14 x 9 inches). If you don’t mind checking a bag, then no need to worry, but if you, like us, dread the baggage claim carousel, be mindful of dimensions when selecting your next bag (the Paravel Aviator Carry-On should do just the trick, no matter your travel plans). For shoulder bags like the Madewell The Essential Overnight Bag in Leather , they should be compact enough to fit under the seat in front of you.

Travel bags come equipped with many features, like dirty laundry dividers, specific pockets for tech devices, weight indicators, and more. “I do believe that form follows function,” says Nteta. “When it comes to functionality, I always look for my carry-on to be expandable and have organizational features so that I can separate things out properly and easily access must-haves like my laptop and wallet.” Options like the Paravel Aviator Carry-On features a compression board and a laundry pouch, while the Dagne Dover Landon Neoprene Carryall Bag comes with two additional pouches for delicates. The L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Ziptop may not come with any compartments, but it does give you various size options to choose from including different handle lengths. Add on the fact that you can add a monogram, its personalization capabilities make it stand out from the rest.

When shopping for luggage, really try to imagine yourself carrying this bag throughout various lifestyle scenarios. Can you schlepp the thing through an airport, onto a train, then onto a subway, and then up the four flights of stairs to your Airbnb? If it’s lightweight like the Muji Adjustable Handle Hard Shell Suitcase , you should be just fine! Meanwhile, a non-wheeled duffel like the Calpak Hue Laptop Duffel might be better suited for car travel like road trips or packing for that pet-sitting gig you have several towns over.

Your Questions, Answered 

What type of bag is good for international travel .

If you’re making the trek outside of the country, you’re likely staying for more than a weekend, requiring a larger checked bag. For international travel, we recommend looking for a suitcase with TSA-approved locking capabilities (such as the Muji Adjustable Handle Hard Shell Suitcase and the Paravel Aviator Carry-On ), weight indicators (weight restrictions for checked luggage can vary from airline to airline — research ahead of time), and smooth 360 wheels (international airports require a lot of walking). A bag that expands isn’t a bad idea either, just in case you come home with souvenirs. We’ve seen plenty of options where the tote or duffel bag actually attaches itself onto a suitcase, like the Beis The East to West Tote or the Away the Everywhere Bag . The feature makes them especially great for when you're rushing between connections and need to move quickly.

How do you pack a carry-on-sized bag for a multi-night trip?

Most carry-on-sized bags can accommodate three to four days' worth of clothes… if you know how to stretch your base layers, shoes, and accessories. “I do my best to keep to one suitcase by packing versatile clothing pieces that I can pair and style differently,” explains Nteta. Though she notes it does take a bit of planning, it creates a more stress-free travel experience overall. “For example, I select a pair of trousers and work out all the different tops and looks I can create with that one pair of trousers,” she says. “The key is to consider how you can layer foundational items and then elevate with accessories.”

How do you safely transport makeup and other liquid toiletries?

“When I travel, I don't compromise on my skincare routine, so I need a lot of pockets to organize things like cotton pads, Q-Tips, tweezers, and more,” says world-traveling content creator Kristina Rodulfo. (We’ve tested a bunch of toiletry bags and found the seven best (and safest) options here .) “When you have liquid makeup like foundation, you want to ensure none of your clothes or other valuables get messy.” As an additional suggestion, she recommends the Ries Essential Travel Bottles for their airless pump and ability to securely stash 3.4 ounces of all your favorite products. “I have my Ries bottles filled and always ready to go for my next trip,” she says.

Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer with three years of experience covering fashion and beauty. She’s an avid traveler and has explored the world solo for a year. Linne Halpern is a freelance fashion, beauty, and lifestyle writer. For this story, she interviewed travel expert and influencer Thithi Nteta and world-traveling beauty expert-turned-content creator Kristina Rodulfo . Their invaluable insights (plus, some personal travel experience and tons of research) inform our favorite picks.

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Roamlite Extra Large Size 2-X-L Duffel Bag - Very Big Holdall, Cargo Travel Luggage - 100 Litre 30 Inch, L76 cm xW34cm xH37cm - Plain Black RL30K

Purchase options and add-ons

• HOLDALL HAS ONE MASSIVE POCKET - A HUGE rectangular zipped space and a front zipped pocket for your phone, travel documents, wallet or purse. These duffle bags are 30 inches long 76cm and are ideal as flight hold baggage or as a sports equipment kit-bag
• ROAMLITE BRAND MEANS SPACE WITHOUT WEIGHT - These super lightweight duffles are ideal for a week or twos holiday or as a biggest weekend or overnight travel bag for your skiing trip away, weighing only 910 grams 0.9kg
• ROOMY 100 LITRE CAPACITY - NO WASTED WEIGHT - Unisex for men and women for carrying or storing the largest amount of clothing. Ideal to put winter clothes into storage in the loft or to use as second fold-away or pack-away bag for extra holiday shopping. It folds flat and in half for easy storing.
• PRACTICAL AND COMFORTABLE TO CARRY - Long adjustable removable seatbelt strength shoulder strap, 2 Vel cro together top carry handles. MEASUREMENTS - 76cm 30 inch X 34cm 13.5 inch X 37cm 14.5 inch, 0.9kg, 100 Litres
• DOUBLE ZIPS AND WIDE OPENING - NO MORE STRUGGLING TO GET STUFF IN - Open the bag a full 270 degrees around using the lockable double zippers. PUT YOUR PASSPORT AND WALLET IN THE FRONT - Don't fumble around at check-in, have your essential documents ready and organised in the small front pocket

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Roamlite XL Duffle 26 inch Bag

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Roamlite Flight Personal Item

How did we get our start.

From selling baggage on London's famous "Camden Market" for 20 years, in 2007 we took our valuable product experience and knowledge, and connections to the worlds biggest and best A+ suppliers and factories and developed "Roamlite".

What makes our products unique?

Roamlite is quality and value, no middle men, no fancy advertising, products which are lightweight, practical, stylish and superb value.

Why do we love what we do?

We love to manufacture products which are the best in their category!

Roamlite Men's Women's Gym Bag

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——— TRUSTED BRAND ———

ROAMLITE is a UK brand established in 2011 in London, UK. We are registered for VAT in 7 EU countries, and have registration with the UK Government as a "Great British mark". All items purchased purchased have the protection of the advertised customer care policies through their A-Z program.

RL30K TRAVEL HOLDALL

—————————————————.

LIGHT AND STURDY - This XXL holdall weighs 750 grams (1.65lbs) and is made from 600D reinforced polyester, making this the perfect bag for long and short haul flights.

PACK WITH EASE - These bags have a wide 270 degree, end to end opening, with double zips, making packing and unpacking this huge travel bag, easy and convenient.

100 LITRES CAPACITY - The holdall has the max capacity of 100L, meaning you won't need to worry about running out of space while packing for holiday.

PERFECT FOR

• Storing out of season clothing such as winter clothes
• 1-2 week vacation
• Long weekend away or short city trips
• Sports training kit or equipment

XL Large Extra Very Big Holdalls - Luggage Size Travel Holdall - 100 Litre Black Luggage Duffle Bag

These holiday size bags have 1 huge space, with a small pocket on the front, they fold flat with a semi soft base for storage, great for travel or laundry.

VERY Large 76cm 30 inch travel holdall, luggage size bag.

This extra large cargo holdall is SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT, weighing only 0.75kg 1.65lbs. These holdalls are the same size as a suitcase, approximately 100 Litres. These holdalls have only 1 large compartment, with a full zip around opening (end to end zip covering 270 degrees), this leaves no space wasted. There is a long adjustable "seatbelt strength" strap from one end of the bag to the other which is un-clippable.

On top of the holdall there are 2 hand carry straps which Vel cro together. There is a thin 10 inch by 12 inch zipped pocket on the front (25cm x 30cm), this is suitable for maps, phone, travel documents or a wallet or purse etc. A fantastic alternative to a suitcase for your trip, overnight stay or weekend away. There is no weight or space wasted with the Roamlite RL30 extra large duffle holdall. The travel bag folds completely flat for easy storage.

• IDEAL HOLIDAY TRAVEL BAGGAGE SIZE - 76cm 30 inch X 34cm 13.5 inch X 37cm 14.5 inch Approximately 100 Litres
• ESSENTIAL FEATURES - Very large extra large travel holdall with 1 large rectangular space and a front zipped pocket for your phone, travel documents, wallet or purse. Long adjustable removable shoulder strap, 2 Vel cro together top carry handles
• STRONG BUT LIGHT - 600 denier woven polyester/nylon, semi soft base for structure but to easy fold away and store, excellent for storage of clothes, carrying laundry etc

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Roamlite Extra Large Size XL Holdall Duffle Bag 30 inch RL30

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The 13 Best Travel Backpacks for Day Trips, Weeks-Long Adventures, and Everything in Between

Including Calpak, Patagonia, and Dagne Dover

Why Trust PEOPLE?

People / Brian Kopinski

As a frequent traveler, I used to opt for suitcase luggage until I found the right travel backpack.

It's one that actually maximizes storage while minimizing friction. It keeps heavy jackets , shoes, and accessories from causing shoulder and back pain, and allows room for more travel clothes . It's weatherproof or water-resistant for getting caught in the rain, and it’s definitely easier to manage while traversing cobblestones, trains, and other areas where a roller suitcase just doesn’t cut it. That's the gold standard for travel backpacks — and we found 13 that fit the job.

Whether you prefer a tried-and-true laptop backpack for a work-from-vacation weekend or a standard bag for longer trips, read on for the best travel backpacks as determined by editors, travelers, and shoppers alike.

Best Travel Backpacks Under $75

Matein travel backpack.

With 80,000+ five-star ratings, this backpack is praised for its storage and organization, including a laptop pocket, front pocket, hidden anti-theft pocket for passports and other essentials, and a roomy interior. Its memory foam padding provides comfort across the straps, top handle, and back panel. Plus, it has a built-in USB charger and cable for easy access to your technology.

“I traveled with it for a weekend trip and didn’t need to pack any other bags because all my clothes, toiletries, tablet, and everything else fit in it,” one shopper wrote . “It’s durable and the straps are thick …so it’s really comfortable to wear.” 

Materials: Polyester, metal | Dimensions: 12 x 18 x 7.8 inches | Colors: 23

Calpak Kaya Mini Backpack

In lieu of a traditional travel purse , consider this stylish mini Calpak backpack for day trips and excursions. Its faux leather exterior, outlined stitching detail, and attractive hardware look sleek, and it has plenty of space for belongings on a day away from your luggage. It also has adjustable straps and a trolley sleeve for airport or train days. Some shoppers compliment its functionality for daily use, too, such as commuting to a coffee shop or office without having to lug a big laptop bag.

Materials: Faux leather | Dimensions: 10.65 x 8.5 x 4.25 inches | Colors: 6

Aloha Keep It Light Hana Hou Backpack

PEOPLE associate shopping director Erin Johnson lives in Hawai’i, so she relies on a water-resistant bag capable of handling a variety of day trips. “The Aloha Keep It Light Hana Hou Backpack is great for traveling because it has a laptop sleeve for those who can't live without their computer, and its water-resistant fabric means it can double as a beach or pool bag,” Johnson says.

Available in three whimsical prints and a basic black, the lightweight ripstop backpack fits everything without feeling overwhelming. It has side pockets for a water bottle, a front storage zipper pocket, and a trolley sleeve for convenience.

Editors Say

“This recently-released water-resistant nylon backpack has become my new go-to. (Seriously, I've worn it almost every day since the moment it arrived.)” — Erin Johnson , associate shopping director

Materials: Ripstop nylon | Dimensions: 12 x 5.5 x 16.5 inches | Colors: 4

Bagsmart Quick Access Carry On

For those packing largely within one backpack, this machine-washable pick will satisfy most of your needs for under $100. The 180-degree flat computer compartment has multiple organizers for tech chords and the like, with several straps and six external pockets. Inner and outer compression straps allow you to stuff the bag full while meeting most airlines’ personal item requirements. Its compartments also keep shoes, laundry, and more separated — ideal for a longer trip.

Materials: Nylon | Dimensions: 12.2 x 16.5 x 10.2 inches | Colors: 3

Best Travel Backpacks Under $150

Beis the backpack.

“Shay Mitchell really thought of everything when she was designing this bag ,” says PEOPLE shopping writer Alyssa Brascia . It’s clear the new travel show host has a serious interest in making luggage look good. Brascia used this backpack for three years before a zipper malfunction caused its early retirement. 

That said, she plans to buy another one and specifically recommends it for overpackers. Its full-zip feature grants you complete views and access rather than having to rummage from just a top opening. And yes, there is a trolley sleeve — and even a key leash in the front pocket.

“This bag is so unassumingly spacious. I could pack for an entire week-long beach trip in just this one bag: shoes, makeup, hair tools, and everything. (An incredible feat for an overpacker like myself!)” — Alyssia Brascia , shopping writer

Materials: Cotton body, PVC trim, polyester lining | Dimensions: 13 x 19 x 5.5 inches | Colors: 8

Patagonia 26L Refugio Daypack

Backcountry

Entertainment shopping director Laura Gurfein swears by the Patagonia brand, and the handy features of this Refugio daypack speak to why. It has a hydration hanger, pass-through access, breathable back panel, and bike-light clipping point, too.

Made of 100-percent recycled polyester, this durable backpack has a removable padded laptop sleeve, ideal for hitting the trails or commuting to the office. One shopper praised this versatility: “I use this all week for work, and switch it out as my day/diaper/hike bag on the weekends.” 

Materials: Recycled polyester | Dimensions: (26L) 18 x 12 x 6.5 inches, (30L) 19 x 12 x 6.5 inches | Colors: 6

Calpak Luka 15-Inch Laptop Backpack

For remote workers and digital nomads, a dedicated laptop-friendly backpack is a must for protecting your tech and peace of mind when on vacation or traveling through another city. The Calpak Luka collection gives you security and a little dash of panache. The backpack’s trendy, puffy exterior is both lightweight and scratch-resistant, and it has a padded laptop pocket, a water bottle pocket, and a shoe compartment for commutes or weekend trips.

“Despite the plush appearance, the material is incredibly durable. These bags have so many compartments for storage and are fairly lightweight. I’m a huge fan of anything in the Calpak Luka collection and this bag is no exception!” — Madison Yauger , shopping editor

Materials: Polyester | Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 7 inches | Colors: 23

People / Jhett Thompson

Best Travel Backpacks Under $200

Lululemon wunderlust backpack.

PEOPLE senior shopping editor Erika Reals flagged this Lululemon find for its aesthetic and functional features. As she frequently travels, details like its water-repellent fabric, zippered pockets, and adjustable exterior straps (for yoga mats, jackets, and the like) caught her interest immediately.

Buckled closures keep items locked in tight while a drawstring top allows for quick access when needed. The backpack has a bulky, utilitarian feel that traditional backpacking brands embody — in a smaller size — yet is polished with that Lululemon touch.

Materials: Polyester, nylon | Dimensions: 14.2 x 6.1 x 20.1 inches | Colors: 2

Dagne Dover The Dakota Backpack

Dagne Dover

Dagne Dover is known for its unique neoprene material, bold colors, and reliable durability, so it’s not a shocker that its backpack is a favorite, too. Details like a key leash and air mesh tablet sleeve offer basic organization, but this backpack is best for those wanting simplicity and a striking design. It’s available in three sizes, to store the bare-bones essentials up to a day’s worth of gear.

“I’ve had this backpack for two years and the neoprene material is such a game changer: It’s water-resistant, cushioned, and sturdy for holding heavy items such as laptops and insulated water bottles . It doesn’t have a ton of compartments, but it’s built to last.”— Madison Yauger

Materials: Neoprene | Dimensions: (S) 9.5 x 5 x 13 inches, (M) 11.5 x 5 x 17 inches, (L) 13.25 x 5.25 x 17.5 inches | Colors: 13

Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack

I’ve tested dozens of bags, but the Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack has stolen my heart. Its clamshell opening makes it easy to pack for week-long trips or a quick day away, and its many pockets allow me to stow dozens of gadgets and gizmos the way I prefer: separately. 

Its padded straps prevent aches while I’m standing for hours in a Border Customs line, and I appreciate that it minimizes the physical impact of my overpacking. A compression sleeve helps with underseat storage, even when I think I can’t possibly fit it under the airline seat in front of me. It’s now my go-to personal item, and I always get complimented on the stunning icy blue color. And did I mention it’s water resistant? It’s been soaked in the rain and still protected my books, sketchbooks, and other precious, fragile items.

Materials: Ripstop polyester, TPU laminate | Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 7.5 inches | Colors: 10

Away Outdoor 25L Convertible Backpack

Similarly, I’ve often opted for this convertible backpack for big trips, as it functions as a backpack or a duffel. Years in, I still reach for my Away Carry-On for most trips, and this backpack from the brand’s outdoor line embodies its same resilience and style. The water- and abrasion-resistant fabric is lightweight and has a sheen that’s oddly beautiful.

Although the design is meant to be protective, there isn’t as much structure in this backpack as in others. Despite its many pockets, organizers, and included compression straps, the 25-liter bag feels more flexible, which will appeal to shoppers seeking a lightweight and unobtrusive backpack. It packs flat, and it’s the most comfortable one I’ve tried.

Materials: 100% polyester | Dimensions: 13 x 17 x 7.6 inches | Colors: 2

Best Travel Backpacks to Splurge on

Yeti crossroads 27l backpack.

Yeti is not just for coolers and water bottles. Like the rest of the brand’s offerings , this everyday backpack is simple yet solid. It’s inspired by motorcycle gear, so it’s meant for rough-and-tumble use — and yes, it fits your tumblers, too. Multiple access points make it easy to get to any supplies right away, with a full-zip ability that lets the bag go wide.

PEOPLE shopping editor Kayla Kitts has brought this Yeti backpack on many adventures “from local festivals and park days to weekend trips and air travel." She loves that the exterior is incredibly durable and easy to wipe down, and the interior is packed with a slew of organizational features and compartments.

“Most recently, I took this bag to a music festival and filled it with a 10- x 9-foot outdoor blanket , two water bottles, various toys and books, and the Yeti Daytrip Lunch Box filled with snacks. It even toted a soccer ball to the park!” — Kayla Kitts , shopping editor

Materials: Tuffskin nylon exterior, PU-coated base | Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.4 x 20.3 inches | Colors: 4

Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Pack

For longer trips stretching into weeks rather than days, adventure travelers rave about Cotopaxi’s sustainable — made from leftover fabric — and durable backpacks. The brand’s funky mix of unique fabrics are distinctive and made for any adventure. The bag’s clamshell opening is ideal for suitcase-like packing, while divided interior pockets and anti-theft zippers keep everything in place when you’re hailing buses, planes, and changing your itinerary on a dime. 

Most importantly, this backpack is built to withstand the elements and inclement weather, including an additional rain cover for protection, so you’re not worried about sacrificing your belongings. Load-lifter straps and a mesh suspension system keep this bag comfortable when your travel circumstances are anything but.

Materials: TPU-coated polyester, ballistic nylon paneling | Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 11 inches | Colors: 5

Grace Smith is a contributing travel and shopping writer who, as a frequent hotel reviewer, spends as much time as possible wandering through various destinations. She’s used to living out of a suitcase or backpack, having moved every few months for several years. And yes, she is an overpacker, so finding the right bag for quick trips, endless flights, and long stints away has been a crucial mission. With PEOPLE editor selections, shopping insights, and her own globe-trotting experience in mind, Grace curated this list of the best travel backpacks for all of your 2024 destinations.

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The best lightweight luggage, according to experts

If you’ve been lugging an old, bulky suitcase for years and the wear and tear is starting to show, it might be time for an upgrade. Your new luggage should have TSA-approved locks, zippered storage compartments, and extra pockets for your travel documents. Above all, experts I spoke to said to prioritize lightweight options that can help you scoot through airports and bus stations with ease. 

I spoke with travel bloggers and experts to find the best lightweight luggage and asked NBC Select staffers for their favorite options.

SKIP AHEAD The best lightweight luggage of 2024 | How to shop the best lightweight luggage

Selected. Our top picks

select Make your summer travel easier with the best hardside and softside carry-on luggage

How i picked the best lightweight luggage.

Every option we recommend below, whether a carry-on, checked bag or weekender comes recommended by our experts or is a Select staff favorite. Here’s what experts suggest keeping in mind while shopping for a quality option:

• Weight: Every piece of expert-recommended luggage on our list weighs less than 11 pounds, which travel bloggers and journalists consider ‘lightweight.’
• TSA requirements: Every carry-on bag we recommend fits most domestic airlines’ overhead compartment requirements (​​22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches).
• Locks : Every checked bag we recommend has a TSA-approved lock for safety.

The best lightweight luggage in 2024

To help you find the best lightweight suitcase options for your next trip, we took into consideration expert recommendations, staff picks and highly rated options.

The Everywhere Bag

A quality weekender bag, the Everywhere Bag can store your 15-inch laptop, a weekend’s worth of garments and travel snacks. It’s a favorite of Sally Nguyen , a travel content creator and blogger who loves the bag’s multiple interior pockets, where she can store her electronics and travel documents separately. The water-resistant bag “also has a trolley sleeve which makes it easy to put it over your carry-on suitcase to wheel around,” says Nguyen. The zippers are lockable too, and the bag is customizable with your initials for an additional $35 fee. If you’re looking for more storage, pick the medium or large Everywhere Bag .

Material : Nylon, leather | Weight : 2.75 pounds with shoulder strap (2.25 without)

Rimowa Essential Check-In L

This large, checked luggage option has a hard shell polycarbonate exterior, an adjustable handle and an interior flex-divider, which the brand says can hold your belongings in place while you travel. It’s a favorite of travel journalist and writer Rana Good, who loves its hard shell build. It’s not entirely scratch-resistant, but any bumps and bruises don’t affect the stability or durability of the bag, according to Good. The bag has TSA-approved locks, spinner wheels for steering and zippered compartments for organization. And while this is the largest option on our list, it still weighs only 10.6 pounds.

Material : Polycarbonate | Weight : 10.6 pounds |

The Carry-On Flex

Away also makes Nguyen’s favorite carry-on suitcase option, which she says can easily hold all her garments on long-haul trips and comes with a 100-day return policy. “I can fit two weeks’ worth of clothes in it and still have extra room to bring extra souvenirs home from my trips,” she says. It has a TSA combination lock, 360-degree spinner wheels and interior compression belts to hold your clothes in place. This luggage even has a hidden handle by its wheels to make it easier to lift it off baggage belts, according to the brand. The zipper expansion also adds 2.25 inches of packing space, according to the brand, and the bag weighs nine pounds when empty, according to the brand.

Material: Polycarbonate| Weight : 8.15 pounds |

Freeform Medium Spinner

Hardshell Samsonite spinner is a favorite of Select managing editor Leah Ginsberg who calls it “indestructible yet so lightweight.” It has a TSA combination lock, is expandable by 1.5 inches through the additional zipper and has a built-in ID tag to make it identifiable on baggage belts. There are double wheels for maneuvering and a divider on the interior to store your items separately. There is a retractable handle, which you can adjust to height. 

Material: Polycarbonate | Weight: 8.48 pounds 

Delsey Chatelet Air Checked Luggage

I own this checked bag and love its zippers, as they’re extremely durable: even after years of overpacking my bag on trips to India, they haven’t frayed or broken off. I also appreciate that both the interior compartments have compression straps — my clothes and makeup remain unscathed even after long-haul flights. The bag has a removable hanger, laundry bag and shoe bag to keep things organized. Its TSA-approved combination lock ensures your goods remain safe, and the spinner wheels and retractable handle make it a breeze to drag it through the airport. Each Delsey bag also comes with a unique tracking plate and code, which helps the brand track your bag if it gets lost during travel.

Material: Polycarbonate | Weight: 9.30 pounds

Briggs & Riley Carry-On Expandable Spinner

Briggs & Riley Carry-On Expandable Spinner

Briggs & Riley is another favorite brand of Select managing editor Leah Ginsberg, who loves it for its durable, long-lasting products. Ginsberg has been using her carry-on bag for over eight years and claims it’s still in “pristine condition.” This carry-on suitcase can be expanded by simply pressing a button and pulling the sides up, according to the brand. It also has a built-in garment folder, allowing you to store a suit or two to prevent wrinkles on long journeys. There are two mesh lid pockets, so you can store any last-minute snacks, documents or devices. If you want to personalize this suitcase, you can add your initials at no extra cost. 

Material: Nylon | Weight: 10 pounds 

Baboon To The Moon Go Bag

Baboon To The Moon makes bright-colored bags with whimsical prints and patterns and is a favorite brand of both editorial director Lauren Swanson and Select page Mikhaila Archer. We recommend the small Go Bag, which can hold enough for three to five days. Each bag is waterproof, lockable and has multiple external pockets for storage. The straps are adjustable too and there are handles as well if you don’t feel like slinging this duffel across your shoulder.  

Material: Polyester, jacquard | Weight: 3.5 pounds 

Calpak Hue Carry-On Luggage

Calpak makes a variety of lightweight luggage, including this carry-on spinner bag. “This bag has been on several international trips with me and it still looks brand new,” says NBC Select contributor Bethany Heitman. “It’s lightweight, fits enough for a week away and I love that it comes in various fun colors.” The bag has a TSA-approved lock and is expandable to give you two extra inches. One the inside, one side has straps to keep your things in place and the other has a zippered closure. The telescope handle can also be set at different heights to make it comfortable for people of varying statures.

Material: Polycarbonate | Weight: 7.5 pounds

Beis Weekender

Beis Weekender Bag

This weekender bag from Beis is a popular pick with our staffers. “It changed my life — it’s the only weekender I can truly rely on for trips, and it sparks joy when I use it,” says NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin , who likes that it has a bottom compartment to keep shoes separate: “I always travel with my running sneakers, and having that dedicated compartment for them keeps their dirty soles away from my clean clothes.” This compartment is also removable, so you can convert it to a minimalist tote. The bag has multiple interior pockets and a removable padded laptop sleeve. In addition to black, other available colors include beige , grey and atlas pink . The brand also offers a mini version .

How to shop for the best lightweight luggage

We consulted experts about what features to consider when shopping. They recommend keeping the following in mind:

• 360-degree spinner wheels: According to Nguyen, luggage with wheels that can move in any direction is easier to maneuver. This is especially important when you’re rushing at the airport and need your carry-on to keep up with you.
• Material: Both Good and Nguyen prefer hard shell luggage, which is more scratch-resistant and durable. “Having a hard shell [suitcase] makes it easier to clean and less likely to break when the airlines decide to throw your bags around,” says Nguyen. 
• Handles: Retractable handles that glide smoothly when adjusted are a must for any luggage. A wide or grippy handle also makes it easier to drag your suitcase around. 
• TSA-approved Locks: According to experts, this is especially important for checked-in luggage. It keeps your belongings safe and saves you the trouble of buying an additional lock for your suitcase.

select Want to travel smarter? Try one of these luggage sets.

Meet our experts.

At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Rana Good is a travel writer and founder of Naïra , a digital magazine for women of color.
• Sally Isabella Nguyen is an influencer and luxury travel advisor who has traveled to over 37 countries.

Why trust NBC Select?

I'm a former associate commerce editor at NBC Select who’s written about the best travel backpacks and the best luggage sets . For this article, I interviewed travel bloggers and journalists about their favorite travel steamers and considered staff favorites as well.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of  personal finance ,  tech and tools ,  wellness  and more, and follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  Twitter  and  TikTok  to stay up to date. 

Nishka Dhawan is a former associate commerce editor at NBC Select.

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Nizhny Novgorod city, Russia

The capital city of Nizhegorodskaya oblast .

Nizhny Novgorod - Overview

Nizhny Novgorod (colloquially often just “Nizhny”; from 1932 to 1990 - Gorky) is a large city located in the center of European Russia, the administrative center of the Volga Federal District and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

It is an important economic, industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center of Russia, the largest transport hub of the Volga Federal District. Nizhny Novgorod is one of the main centers of river tourism in Russia. The historic part of the city is rich in sights and is a popular tourist destination.

The population of Nizhny Novgorod is about 1,234,000 (2022), the area - 411 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 831, the postal codes - 603000-603257.

Nizhny Novgorod city flag

Nizhny novgorod city coat of arms.

Nizhny Novgorod city map, Russia

Nizhny novgorod city latest news and posts from our blog:.

7 January, 2022 / Nikolai Bugrov's Summer Dacha in Volodarsk .

4 December, 2017 / Stadiums and Matches of the World Cup 2018 in Russia .

2 June, 2017 / The Most Beautiful House in Nizhny Novgorod .

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29 September, 2015 / Nizhny Novgorod - the view from above .

More posts..

History of Nizhny Novgorod

Foundation of nizhny novgorod.

During the military campaigns of the Russian princes against the Volga Bulgaria, the place where the Oka River flows into the Volga was used as a gathering point for the Murom and Suzdal troops. In 1220, Grand Duke Yuri Vsevolodovich (the grandson of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, the founder of Moscow) conducted a successful campaign against the Bulgars. After it, he “decided to strengthen this important place for Rus” and founded a town at the mouth of the Oka.

It was named Novgorod, which literally means “new town”. Later, the adjective “nizhny” (“lower”) was added to the name of the town in the Russian annals. This was probably done in order to distinguish it from the town of Novgorod (present Veliky Novgorod) and other Novgorods that existed at that time.

The founding of Nizhny Novgorod was the beginning of an active expansion of Russian influence in the Mordovian lands. Two white-stone churches were built in the fortress, including the Cathedral of the Archangel (1227) - evidence of the special role that the town had in the system of lands of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus. However, the Mongol invasion stopped further development.

Information about Nizhny Novgorod of the 13th century is extremely scarce. But it is known that after the invasion it revived relatively quickly. Nizhny Novgorod is constantly mentioned in Russian chronicles as a major political and economic center of North-Eastern Rus and a spiritual center of Orthodoxy in the Volga region. The town was often the object of conflicts between Moscow and Tver.

In 1392, the Moscow prince Vasily I received a jarlig for the Nizhny Novgorod Principality and captured Nizhny Novgorod. The final annexation of Nizhny Novgorod to the possessions of Moscow took place in the late 1440s.

More Historical Facts…

Nizhny Novgorod in the 16th-18th centuries

Under Ivan III and Vasily III, the town played the role of a border post and was a gathering place for military campaigns against the Kazan Khanate. In 1508-1515, the stone kremlin was built. After the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, the border role of Nizhny Novgorod became insignificant. At the same time, Nizhny Novgorod became the center of trade between Russia and the East and a large shipbuilding center.

In September 1611, during the Time of Troubles, the Second People’s Militia was organized in Nizhny Novgorod to fight the Poles who were able to establish control over Moscow. The militia consisted of detachments of townspeople, peasants of the central and northern regions of the Tsardom of Russia. The leaders were the Nizhny Novgorod merchant Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky (the monument to them is installed on Red Square in Moscow). In October 1612, the militia was able to completely liberate Moscow.

In the 17th century, a schism occurred in the Orthodox Church under Patriarch Nikon. It led to the formation of numerous settlements of Old Believers in the vicinity of Nizhny Novgorod. In 1695, during his Azov campaign, Peter I arrived in Nizhny Novgorod. In 1719, as a result of his administrative-territorial reforms, the town became the center of a separate Nizhny Novgorod Governorate. In 1722, setting off on the Persian campaign, Nizhny Novgorod was again visited by Peter I. Here he celebrated his 50th birthday.

In 1767, Nizhny Novgorod was visited by Empress Catherine II. During her stay in the town, she met the famous local mechanic and inventor Ivan Kulibin. After her visit, a new regular town plan was approved. The first town theater was built in 1798. Later, it became known as Nikolaevsky, in honor of Emperor Nicholas I.

Nizhny Novgorod in the 19th century

At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Nizhny Novgorod became a major scientific and cultural center of the Russian Empire. In 1811, the population of Nizhny Novgorod was about 14,400 people. In 1817, the Makaryev Fair, the largest fair of the Russian Empire, was moved to the village of Kunavino (one of the districts of today’s Nizhny Novgorod). Before that, it was organized every year near the Makaryevsky Monastery, which burned down a year earlier. From that time on, it began to be called the Nizhny Novgorod Fair. Thanks to it, the rapid economic development of the town and adjacent villages began.

After Emperor Nicholas I visited the town in 1834, the large-scale reconstruction of Nizhny Novgorod began. In 1847, a water supply system appeared in the town and the first fountain was built. Private buildings in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin were demolished and new administrative buildings appeared in their place. A lot of new buildings, streets, boulevards, and gardens were built.

In 1849, a large industrial enterprise was founded in the village of Sormovo (another district of today’s Nizhny Novgorod). Later, it became known as the Sormovo plant. It was producing river steamers, various railway cars, steam locomotives, and trams. Thanks to the plant, Sormovo soon turned into a large village of workers. In 1862, the construction of the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod railway was completed. In 1863, the population of the city was 41,500 people.

In 1896, the city hosted the All-Russian Trade and Industrial Exhibition. The radio receiver of the engineer A.S. Popov, the hyperboloid tower of the engineer V.G. Shukhov were demonstrated at the exhibition, as well as the first Russian car of the Frese and Yakovlev factories.

Nizhny Novgorod in the first half of the 20th century

In 1914, about 111,000 people lived in Nizhny Novgorod. In 1917, during the First World War, the Warsaw Polytechnic Institute was evacuated to this city, on the basis of which the Nizhny Novgorod Polytechnic Institute was created.

On October 7, 1932, Nizhny Novgorod was renamed Gorky due to the 40th anniversary of the literary and social activities of the writer Maxim Gorky. In 1933, the first permanent bridge across the Oka River was built. The railway bridge across the Volga was constructed too. Thanks to this, it became possible to go by rail through Gorky to the Urals and Siberia.

The 1930s were a period of rapid industrialization. In 1932, the largest industrial enterprise in the city was opened - the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ), an important object of the Soviet defense industry. In the 1930s-1940s, the city was even referred to as “Russian Detroit”. By 1939, the population of Nizhny Novgorod increased to about 644,000 people.

Every fourth resident of the Gorky region (about 822 thousand people) fought on the fronts of the Second World War. Of these, more than 350 thousand people did not return from the battlefields - they were killed, went missing or died from wounds in hospitals.

In June 1943, three large raids of German bombers were carried out on Gorky. The main target of air strikes was the Gorky Automobile Plant, which as a result was almost completely destroyed. It was rebuilt only in the middle of 1944. Over 500,000 wounded were treated in dozens of hospitals during the war years.

The city was an important center for the production of weapons. During the Second World War, every second Soviet car, every third tank and every fourth artillery piece were produced at Gorky’s plants. In total, about 38 thousand tanks, self-propelled guns, armored vehicles, 43 thousand mortars, 16 thousand aircraft, 22 submarines, 109 thousand cars, more than 85 thousand radio stations, as well as 101 thousand artillery pieces and 1,165 Katyusha multiple rocket launchers were produced in Gorky.

Nizhny Novgorod after the Second World War

In 1946, the first GAZ-M-20 “Pobeda” passenger car and the GAZ-51 truck left the assembly line of the Gorky Automobile Plant. In 1949, the construction of the monumental Chkalov Stairs connecting the Upper Volga and Lower Volga embankments was completed in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod. On August 4, 1959, the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR “On the closure of the city of Gorky for visiting by foreigners” was issued. In 1962, the population of Gorky exceeded 1 million people.

On January 18, 1970, a radiation accident occurred at the Krasnoe Sormovo plant. During the construction of a nuclear submarine, an unauthorized launch of the reactor took place. After working at prohibitive power for about 10-15 seconds, it partially collapsed. Hundreds of workers were exposed to the radioactive release. In total, over one thousand people took part in the liquidation of the consequences of the accident and were exposed to radiation.

In 1985, a subway was opened in Gorky. In 1980-1986, Andrei Sakharov, a world famous nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate, and activist, was in exile in Gorky to prevent his contacts with foreigners. In the early 1990s, the “closed city” status was lifted and the city became accessible to foreigners. On October 22, 1990, Gorky was renamed back to Nizhny Novgorod. In 1991, the population of the city reached its maximum - 1,445,000 people.

At the end of the 20th century, the information technology sphere began to actively develop in the city. In the 2000s, a transport problem arose because of the insufficient carrying capacity of the Nizhny Novgorod bridges connecting the lower part of the city and the upper one.

In February 2012, the Nizhny Novgorod Volga Aerial Tramway was opened. This 3661-meter-long gondola lift cable car connected Nizhny Novgorod with the town of Bor. Its daily passenger traffic is about 5,000 people. In 2013, the city electric train was launched - an alternative to the subway line from Sormovo to Moskovsky railway station.

Nizhny Novgorod hosted 6 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2018 . A new stadium was built, the old river port was demolished, a new park and embankments were created. Large-scale restoration of old streets and buildings took place, new museums were opened, hotels were built, and parks were reconstructed.

Streets of Nizhny Novgorod

One sunny summer day in Nizhniy Novgorod

Author: Denis Plekhanov

Apartment buildings in Nizhny Novgorod

Author: Eugene Ivanov

On the street in Nizhny Novgorod

Author: Sergey S. Kazenyuk

Nizhny Novgorod - Features

Nizhny Novgorod is located about 425 km east of Moscow, at the confluence of the two largest waterways of the European part of Russia - the Volga and Oka rivers. The city is divided by the Oka into two parts. The length of Nizhny Novgorod along the Oka is 20 km, along the Volga - about 30 km.

The climate in Nizhny Novgorod is moderately continental, with cold, long winters and warm, relatively short summers. The average temperature in January is minus 8.9 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19.4 degrees Celsius.

A red deer is depicted on the coat of arms and flag of Nizhny Novgorod, which is a symbol of nobility, purity, life, wisdom, and justice. The City Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in August.

In January 2019, Nizhny Novgorod was recognized as the best city in Russia in terms of quality of life. It took first place among Russian cities and 109th in the world in terms of quality of life. The rating was compiled by the site numbeo.com, which specializes in statistics on the cost of living and consumer prices in different countries of the world.

When compiling the rating, the purchasing power of the population, safety, health care, the cost of living, the ratio of real estate prices to the population’s income, traffic congestion, the level of environmental pollution, and climate were taken into account.

The main branches of the local industry are the production of cars and weapons, shipbuilding. Nizhny Novgorod is also one of the IT centers of Russia.

Nizhny Novgorod is a major transport hub. The city has a railway station, a river station, a cargo port, several berths for transshipment of goods. Strigino International Airport named after V.P. Chkalov offers regular flights to such cities as Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Samara, St. Petersburg, Sochi, and a number of others.

Public transport in Nizhny Novgorod plays a very important role in ensuring the life of the city. At the same time, its work is hampered by the distribution of its population on the city’s territory, large daily migrations, a very high concentration of passenger traffic on the bridges across the Oka River, and the lack of an all-encompassing system of high-speed transport. There are municipal buses, fixed-route minibuses, trams, trolleybuses, the city train, and subway.

The tourist potential of Nizhny Novgorod is quite high. According to UNESCO, it is one of the most valuable historical cities in the world. In total, there are more than 600 unique historical, architectural and cultural monuments in Nizhny Novgorod, a variety of museums. The best time to visit Nizhny Novgorod is summer.

One of the alternative ways to visit Nizhny Novgorod is to take a river cruise along the Volga River. Travelers will find exciting excursions and meals in traditional Russian taverns. It will also be interesting to come during one of the many fairs or ethnographic festivals that are held in the city.

Main Attractions of Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin (1508-1515) - a fortress in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod and its oldest part, the main architectural complex of the city located on the right high bank, at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. To date, all 13 towers of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin have been preserved or have been restored. The thickness of the wall at the base reaches 5 meters. There are exhibitions in the towers of the fortress; a section of the wall is open for tourists to visit.

In the past, there were several churches on the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Today, only the Archangel Michael Cathedral has survived, built no later than the middle of the 16th century and rebuilt in 1628-1631 - the oldest surviving building in the kremlin. There is the grave of Kuzma Minin inside it.

An excellent view of the Volga River and Strelka (the confluence of the Oka and Volga) opens from the walls of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Here you can also see a collection of military equipment from the Second World War.

Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum - one of the oldest museums in Russia, the largest museum of fine arts in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The Governor’s Palace on the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin houses a permanent exhibition of Russian art and a collection of artistic silver.

In the House of the Merchant and Benefactor D.V. Sirotkin (Verkhnevolzhskaya Embankment, 3), an exposition of Western European art is presented and, separately, the painting by K.E. Makovsky “The appeal of Kuzma Minin to the citizens of Nizhny Novgorod” - one of the largest paintings on a historical theme in Russia (698x594 cm).

Chkalov Stairs (1943-1949) - a monumental staircase in the form of a figure eight in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod. Connecting the Upper Volga (Verkhnevolzhskaya) and Lower Volga (Nizhnevolzhskaya) embankments, it is one of the longest stairs in Russia. It starts from the observation deck at the monument to Valery Chkalov (the famous Soviet pilot who made the first non-stop flight from the USSR to the USA via the North Pole), next to the St. George Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin.

Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street - the main street of Nizhny Novgorod built up with noble mansions of the past centuries. A large part of Bolshaya Pokrovskaya is reserved for the pedestrian zone and is analogous to the pedestrian Arbat Street in Moscow. There are a lot of historic houses, cafes, souvenir shops, boutiques, monuments, and sculptures here. The length of the street is over 2 km.

The building of the State Bank (Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, 26), resembling a medieval palace, is an outstanding architectural monument built in the Russian Revival style in 1911-1913. In the Museum of Old Equipment and Tools (Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, 43), you can see unique exhibits, hear their history, and even touch them.

Fedorovsky Embankment - one of the most beautiful embankments in Nizhny Novgorod and the best observation deck in the city. Everything is perfectly visible from this embankment: the old part of the city, the river station with a park, the Kanavinsky bridge - one of the oldest in the city, and, of course, the opposite bank of the Oka River with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the confluence of the Oka and Volga. People also come here to watch the sunset.

Nizhny Novgorod Volga Aerial Tramway . This cable car, 3661 meters long, connects the high right bank of the Volga River, where the historic part of Nizhny Novgorod is located, with the town of Bor. It has the largest unsupported span over the water surface in Europe - 861 meters.

A one way trip during which you can admire the picturesque views of Nizhny Novgorod and the Volga River takes 15 minutes. It is better to use it in good sunny weather, because in windy weather, the movement of the cabins can be stopped. Sennaya Square on Kazanskaya Embankment.

Nizhny Novgorod State Museum of History and Architecture (1875-1877). Also known as the Mansion of S.M. Rukavishnikov, it is an architectural ensemble built in the eclectic style in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod, one of the most important and famous architectural monuments of this city. Guided tours are held in the premises, allowing you to learn about the life of the former owners of the mansion, as well as look at the historical expositions of different years. Verkhnevolzhskaya Embankment, 7.

Main Palace of Nizhny Novgorod Fair - a luxurious building constructed in the forms of Old Russian architecture of the 17th century. Today, exhibitions of various formats are held here, as well as the multimedia exposition “Russia - my history” dedicated mainly to the history of Nizhny Novgorod starting from the Finno-Ugric peoples. Sovnarkomovskaya Street, 13.

Museum of the History of the Gorky Automobile Plant . The museum houses expositions telling about the history and development of the Gorky Automobile Plant. In total, there are over 40,000 exhibits. Here you can see a collection of Soviet vintage cars, which includes “Chaika”, “Volga”, the truck “GAZ-51”, and a lot of others. Lenina Avenue, 95.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (1868-1881) - the most noticeable sight of the lower part of Nizhny Novgorod, which can be seen from all observation decks of the upper city. The church, 87 meters high, was built on the site of the Nizhny Novgorod Fair at the expense of merchants, who wanted to perpetuate the visit of Emperor Alexander II. Strelka Street, 3a.

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1696-1719) - one of the best examples of the Stroganov Baroque, an architectural monument of federal significance. From a distance, this colorful building looks like a sugar gingerbread with “candy” domes and decorated with stone flowers, pears and apples. Rozhdestvenskaya Street, 34.

Pechersky Ascension Monastery - one of the most interesting places in Nizhny Novgorod, where you can feel the spirit of the city. Most of the monastery buildings date back to the first half of the 17th century. A lot of beautiful photographs can be taken here. Privolzhskaya Sloboda Street, 108.

Limpopo Zoo - the first private zoo in Russia. More than 270 species of animals live here, 25 of which are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. It is located on the territory of the Sormovsky Park on an area of 7.1 hectares. Yaroshenko Street, 7b.

Architectural and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve “Shcholokovskiy Khutor” . The exposition of this museum is represented by 16 objects of rural architecture: residential houses, barns, mills and churches of the 17th-19th centuries brought from the northern districts of the Nizhny Novgorod region. The facades of the houses are decorated with traditional relief carvings. In the premises of the houses, interiors with authentic items of peasant life have been restored. Gorbatovskaya Street, 41.

Nizhny Novgorod city of Russia photos

Pictures of nizhny novgorod.

Chkalov Stairs and the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

Author: Sergey Bulanov

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Nizhny Novgorod

Author: Evgeniy Balashov

Shopping and office center Smart in Nizhny Novgorod

Author: Diman Lazarev

Sights of Nizhny Novgorod

Annunciation Monastery - the oldest monastery in Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod Cathedral Mosque

Church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow in Nizhny Novgorod

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The Top 12 Things to Do in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Take a first-rate trip to Russia's fifth city

Ershov_Maks/Getty Images

Although it's Russia's fifth-largest city, you could be forgiven for never having heard of Nizhny Novgorod. Notwithstanding that another Russian city is simply called " Novgorod ," the current name of the city just doesn't have a memorable ring to it. (By contrast, its name during the Soviet years — Gorky, like the famous author — was much more iconic.) At any rate, this city of just over a million around six hours east of Moscow is more than worth a visit. These are just 12 reasons why!

Tour the Kremlin's 13 Towers

Like most every other city in Russia, Nizhny Novgorod is home to a Kremlin. (The word "kremlin" means "citadel" in Russian, and has nothing to do with the modern Russian government) One thing that elevated the Kremlin of Nizhny Novgorod above others in Russia (with the possible exception of the Moscow Kremlin and one or two others), however, is the fact that its wall has 13 towers. During the summer months, at least one free walking tour per day operates from the main entrance of Nizhny Novgorod's Kremlin.

Climb Russia's Longest Staircase

Named for one of the most famous Russian pilots of the early aviation age (Valery Chkalov), the Chkalov Stairs connect two of Nizhny Novgorod's public squares, which sit on the upper and lower embankments of the Volga River, respectively. Built in 1943 (during the period when Nizhny Novgorod was known as Gorky), the Chkalov Stairs currently have the distinction of being the longest staircase in Russia.

Go Wild at Limpopo Zoo

One thing that surprises many travelers to Nizhny Novgorod is how amazing its zoo, colloquially known as Limpopo is. In addition to being home to a tropical botanical garden (which, not surprisingly, is indoors), the zoo hosts a variety of reptiles, mammals and birds. There's also a small sculpture park on the grounds of Nizhny Novgorod's zoo, including both original and replica pieces.

Shop (or Just Stroll) Along a Storied High Street

Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street has been the de-facto "Main Street" of Nizhny Novgorod for more than 200 years. Well, minus the Soviet Union period, during which the cafes that once (and now) lined it became somewhat worthless, since intellectual conversations were basically forbidden. These days, you can come here for a cup of Russian tea then shop at the dozens of boutiques you'll find on either side of the street.

Sun Yourself at the Spit

Nizhny Novgorod sits at the confluence of the Oka and Volga Rivers, with the triangle of land at the point they meet being known as the Nizhny Novgorod Spit. Ignoring the unfortunate double-meaning of its name for a moment, this is actually a wonderful place to get a tan, if it's summer in the city and the sun happens to be shining. Even if not, photographers will enjoy a trip here for a view of the Kremlin and city center across the Volga.

Marvel at the Open-Air Museum of Rozhdestvenskaya Street

Like Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, Rozhdestvenskaya Street has long been one of the most important streets in Nizhny Novgorod. However, while the former has become a primarily commercial artery in recent decades, the charm of the latter is in its well-maintained buildings, which hearken back to the mid-18th century. In fact, some locals go so far as to consider Rozhdestvenskaya Street an "open-air museum."

Ride Russia's Newest Cable Car

Russian investment in infrastructure isn't quite as dramatic as that of, say, China, but the Federation has nonetheless built a selection of interesting and modern transportation systems since the fall of the USSR. Among them is the just-opened cable car, which travels from the center of Nizhny Novgorod over the Volga River to suburban Bor. At any rate, a ride over the river and back is definitely worth inclusion on your list of things to do in Nizhny Novgorod.

Taste Traditional Shchi Soup

Shchi is one of Nizhy Novgorod's most delicious local specialties, available in most every local restaurant that serves Russian food. From above, a bowl of shchi seems incredibly complicated, with a colorful palette that suggests the inclusion of dozens of diverse ingredients. In fact, the magic of shchi is in its simplicity. Building on the traditional pan-Russian recipe of cabbage, pork fat and salt (yes, just three ingredients), locals in Nizhny Novgorod sometimes add minced meat or egg whites as bonus items, then top the tangy soup with a dollop of sour cream.

Survey Amazing Russian Orthodox Architecture

Think the only amazing Russian Orthodox churches are in Moscow and St. Petersburg? Think again. Nizhny Novgorod boasts several amazing examples of Russian Orthodox architecture. From the brilliant golde domes John the Baptist Cathedral near the Volga River, to the expansive grounds of 14th-century Pechersky Ascension Monastery, Nizhny Novgorod is an architecture buff's dream!

Take a Look Back in Time

Nizhny Novgorod's historical center is relatively large and well-preserved, but a stroll (or 10) through it isn't the only way to get a feel for the city's centuries-long past. Head to the Russian Museum of Photography, which not only showcases a variety of images of Nizhny Novgorod that date back a century or even longer, but also spotlights the equipment Russian photographers have used throughout the years, and notable figures in Russia's photography history as well.

Visit the Convent from the Movie "Salt"

You'd be forgiven if you've entirely forgotten the 2010 film "Salt." However, if you remember any destination from this spy thriller, it's likely the facade of Makaryev Convent, which is located within day-trip distance of Nizhny Novgorod. Having served as a monastery from its consecration in the early 15th century up until the beginning of the Russian Revolution, Makaryev became a convent after the fall of the Soviet Union , and is now home to 22 nuns.

Take an Excursion to a 12th-Century Tea Town

Another worthwhile day trip from Nizhny Novgorod is to the town of Gorodets, which sits about an hour to its northwest. With a history dating back to the 12th century, Gorodets boasts an interesting array of architecture and museums, including one dedicated to samovars. 

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12 Under-$100 Carry-ons, Backpacks, and Duffels at Walmart’s Biggest Sale to Date — Up to 76% Off

Save on brands like Travelhouse, Costway, and Swiss Tech.

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Carry-ons and backpacks and duffels , oh my! The Fourth of July might be over, but the savings didn’t end with the holiday. Walmart Deals , the retailer’s huge summer sale, runs through July 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and there are a plethora of markdowns worth perusing, especially on luggage.  

We sorted through thousands of deals to find 12 spacious travel bag styles starting at $12. Shop the best carry-ons, backpacks, and duffel bags at up to 76 percent off from brands like Travelhouse , Costway , and Swiss Tech . 

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Travelhouse Hardshell Carry-On Luggage

Grab a new hardshell carry-on for 67 percent off, like this Travelhouse lightweight suitcase . It features 360-degree double-spinner wheels for easy gliding, an impact-resistant exterior, and multiple packing compartments for organizing. One traveler said it was lightweight and easy to place in the overhead compartment on the plane and could accommodate all of their clothes for a six-day trip. 

Lovevook Expandable Carry-On Backpack

Pack smarter, not harder, with an expandable carry-on backpack as your in-flight personal item. This waterproof option has wet and dry compartments for clothes, a 17-inch laptop pocket, three packing cubes, and a shoe bag. The bag is extra sturdy thanks to its water-resistant, tear-proof canvas and breathable padded straps. 

Dakimoe Travel Duffel with USB Charging Port

If you tend to overpack, a weekender duffel is the perfect companion alongside a checked bag, so you’ll have ample space for all your necessities. This spacious style has a roomy interior with loads of pockets, a ventilated shoe compartment, and a zippered waterproof PVC-lined pocket for damp bathing suits and clothing. It also features a handy USB charging port to refuel your tech devices without opening the bag. 

Bagsmart Weekender Overnight Bag

For shorter trips, choose an overnight bag like this Bagsmart Weekender that’s simple and roomy, per one shopper who praised its practical zippered bottom pocket design. The tote-style bag is lightweight and functional and features double shoulder straps and a detachable crossbody strap to carry it comfortably in two different ways. If it gets dirty, just pop it in the washing machine for a refresh. 

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