Discover Your Perfect Travel Sidekick: Our Epic Journey Testing the 5 Best Backpacking Backpacks for Traveling Vibrant India 2024!

We have tested 5 best backpacking backpacks for traveling in India from popular brands like Skybags, Trawoc, Wildcraft, NEVO RHINO, and more.

Numerous backpacks are available in the market, so it takes work to figure out which suits you best. Generally, most people opt for backpacks without particular knowledge and they use them for a variety of purposes but that’s not the right way to do it. You should have minimum knowledge at least. 

Over the past 2 years, we have tested nearly 23 backpacks from excellent ultralight trekking backpacks to the best affordable backpacking backpacks and also hiking backpacks with laptop sleeves.

Whereas, there are more reviews listed in the best backpacking backpacks for traveling which you might be interested to take a look at.

The Best Backpacking Backpacks For Traveling in India

• Overall Best Backpacking Backpacks For Traveling: Wildcraft Trailblazer Plus 50
• Runner up: Trawoc SHK 50
• Best Premium Backpack: NEVO RHINO
• Best Bang For Buck: Skybags Sonic 45
• Best Lightweight Backpack: Trunkit Adventure Series 55

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Overall Best Backpacking Backpacks For Traveling
Wildcraft Trailblazer Plus 50

Wildcraft Trailblazer Plus 50 is our first choice for the best backpacking backpack for traveling. It is not that Wildcraft is the best travel rucksack but it is a well all-round performer more than that it is affordable. 

If you are capable of keeping the affordability factor aside then NEVO RHINO will always be our top choice for the best backpacking backpack for traveling. 

The Wildcraft Trailblazer Plus 50 emerges as a standout in the realm of hiking backpacks, delivering exceptional value. 

With a myriad of remarkable features, it excels in both functionality and comfort, securing its place among the top contenders in our rigorous testing.

Even when you don’t have much stuff in it, the Gorilla feature of this backpack can be tightened well, making it easy to carry. It’s also really handy, with big pockets on the outside and a roomy lid where you can keep smaller things.

Check our full review of the Wildcraft 50.

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Runner up
Trawoc SHK 50

The Trawoc SHK 50 is an excellent backpack that matches to Wildcraft Trailblazer pack. It defeats Wildcraft in price and pockets but we cannot put it in number one as it is not as durable as Wildcraft and also Wildcraft is more ergonomic in design.  

But that does not make Trawoc SHK 50 a loser, it has defeated many contenders in his category. The Trawoc SHK 50 backpack distinguishes itself as a superb option.

Esteemed over time, its clever engineering seamlessly combines a lightweight build with the capacity to comfortably bear heavy loads.

Ideal for both brief overnight stays and extensive thru-hikes, the Trawoc SHK proves itself as a steadfast wilderness ally. 

As we embarked on the demanding Escalante Route of the Tirthan River Valley and Serolsar Lake Trek, we entrusted the Trawoc SHK 50 backpack to accompany us, and its performance left a lasting impression of excellence.

Check our full review of the Trawoc SHK 50.

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Best Premium Backpack
NEVO RHINO

The NEVO RHINO is the best backpacking backpack for traveling. Not only that it defeats nearly every contender in the category of backpacking and hiking or trekking backpacks. 

The NEVO RHINO backpack isn’t just good for one thing—it’s got a lot of great features. The pockets are designed smartly with lots of choices for organizing your stuff. The harness and hipbelt can be adjusted easily to fit you just right. 

Plus, the materials it’s made of are really tough, so it can handle rough treatment. Overall, the NEVO RHINO is a fantastic backpack that’s perfect for short trips or longer adventures in the wilderness.

I suggest going for the 40L or 50L sizes for most travelers because they’re close to carry-on size limits, which is convenient. In my view, the 60L to 80L sizes might be too big for most folks, unless you have a lot of things you absolutely need to bring along.

Check our full review: We have already tested the product review article that has been scheduled. So, you have to wait for a few days.

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Best Bang For Buck
Skybags Sonic 45

The Skybags Sonic 45-liter travel backpacking backpack is not the best but it is a decent one which perfect for traveling purposes. The Sonic 45 backpack doesn’t provide much customization and extended features but is capable of holding all necessary travel gear that you will require for a 1-week trip. 

Think of it like a mix of a hiking and travel backpack. It’s super comfy and simple to pack. What makes the Sonic 45 stand out is its tough yet lightweight nylon build. It’s super strong and water-resistant but won’t weigh you down.

The drawback with this backpack which we have noticed is that it doesn’t provide hip belts (though we didn’t notice any difference when we tested it with full load butt still hip belts are common in every backpacking backpack). 

Second, it has less number of pockets compared to others. And third, it is relatively costly as per its capacity and quality. 

Check our full review: We have already tested the product review article, and it has been scheduled. So, you have to wait for a few days.

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Best Lightweight Backpack
Trunkit Adventure Series 55

The Trunkit Adventure Series 55 is mentioned as a camping or hiking backpack by the manufacturer but we mostly like it for traveling. The pack doesn’t hold a complex customization structure nor has a variety of features like TriPole Walker 65 or Trawoc 60. 

The pack is made up of durable but lightweight polyester suitable to carry week-long travel necessities. We particularly appreciated the thoughtful design of the harness, padding, and hip belt, as they effectively distributed the weight of the pack onto our hips rather than burdening our shoulders.

More than that it has 2 excellent things first it is ultralight and second the pack is very cheap. But on the negative side, it provides only 4 external pockets and no hip belt pockets. 

We’ve been using the Turnkit for more than 6 months, and we’re really happy with how comfortable it is to carry, how well it lets air flow through, and how easy it is to keep things organized. It’s a simple design that includes everything we need without any extra stuff we don’t.

Check our full review of the Trunkit Adventure Series 55.

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Travel Backpacking Backpacks Comparison Table

Pack	Price	Weight	Material	Capacity	Access	Pockets
Wildcraft Trailblazer Plus 50	₹3,899	1700 g	Nylon	50 L	Top	6 exterior
Trawoc 60	₹1,895	1300 g	polyester	60 L	Top	9 exterior
NEVO RHINO	₹13,986	1100 g	Lightweight Nylon	40L,50L, 60L, 70L, 80L	Top	10 exterior
Skybags Sonic 45	₹2,460	960 g	Nylon	45 L	Top	5 exterior
Trunkit 55	₹599	299 g	Polyester	55 L	Top	4 exterior

Reason To Trust

This review is done by the founder Tanmoy Misra. Tanmoy is an experienced traveler who has traveled from Andaman Nicobar to Leh Ladakh covering difficult treks of Amarnath, Kedarnath, Yamnotri, and more.

He has experienced bone-chilling snowfall on the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. The sands of Rajasthan and the bays of Gujrat have been traveled by him over a period of 15 years. 

Tanmoy, in particular, has seen how backpack technology, design, and features have changed over time. He knows what actually works well and what’s just advertised as being great.  

We spent a lot of time researching to pick the best backpacks. We carefully selected the ones we thought were the most likely to be good, then bought them at regular prices and tried them out. Our team has been traveling and climbing mountains for many years, so we’ve used a ton of backpacks. 

Are Backpacking or Hiking Backpacks Suitable For Travel

Backpacking or hiking backpacks are basically crafted for outdoor adventures like camping, hiking, trekking, expeditions, and more.

If you like to know our opinion we will not recommend a rucksack for traveling purposes unless your travel menu includes some sort of hiking or trekking.

For travel purposes, we always recommend our guide on the best travel backpacks which you should definitely check. 

Whereas in the same way in our on-field testing we found backpacking or hiking backpacks perform better than travel suitcases. They offer durability, comfort, and ample storage space for various types of trips. 

Difference Between Backpacking Backpacks And Travel Backpacks

Purpose:

• Backpacking backpacks are designed for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and trekking where the wearer carries all necessary gear for extended periods.
• Travel backpacks are more versatile and suitable for various types of travel, including city exploration, sightseeing, and short trips.

Size and Capacity:

• Backpacking backpacks tend to be larger, with capacities ranging from 40 to 80 liters or more to accommodate camping gear, food, and clothing for multi-day trips.
• Travel backpacks are usually smaller, ranging from 20 to 60 liters, optimized for carrying essentials like clothing, toiletries, electronics, and documents for shorter durations.

Weight Distribution:

• Backpacking backpacks prioritize weight distribution and comfort for carrying heavy loads over long distances, often featuring padded straps, hip belts, and suspension systems to ease the strain on the wearer.
• Travel backpacks may also have padded straps and hip belts but are generally designed for easier maneuverability in urban environments rather than long hikes.

Accessibility:

• Backpacking backpacks typically feature top-loading designs with a single main compartment and few external pockets, emphasizing durability and simplicity.
• Travel backpacks often have multiple compartments, including front-loading options like a suitcase-style zipper opening, allowing easier access to belongings without unpacking everything.

Features:

• Backpacking backpacks prioritize features like hydration compatibility, attachment points for hiking gear (like sleeping bags, camping tents, or trekking poles), and weather resistance.
• Travel backpacks may include features such as lockable zippers, hidden pockets for valuables, laptop compartments, and TSA-friendly designs for airport security checks.

Durability:

• Backpacking backpacks are built to withstand rugged outdoor conditions, often using heavy-duty materials like ripstop nylon or Cordura, reinforced stitching, and water-resistant coatings.
• Travel backpacks prioritize durability for urban environments and may use lighter materials like nylon or polyester, still offering decent weather resistance but focusing more on style and convenience.

Appearance:

• Backpacking backpacks typically have a more utilitarian and rugged appearance, often with earthy tones and minimalistic designs.
• Travel backpacks come in a variety of styles, including sleek urban designs, vintage-inspired looks, and more fashion-forward options to suit different preferences and travel settings.

What To Look For

The selection of backpacking backpacks depends on many factors like Value, Comfort, Ease of Use, Weight-to-Volume Ratio, and Adjustability if you want to know our testing and analysis results you can check this article section. 

But when you are choosing the best backpacking backpacks for traveling you need to pay special attention to the 4 following points:

1. Backpack size: Backpacking backpacks are available in various sizes most popular range is 30 to 95 liters. The best-recommended size to use backpacking backpacks for traveling is 30L to 65L. 

However, we do not suggest you to use 60L or 65L backpacks for traveling unless you are going on a much longer trip. Similarly, 20L to 30L backpacks are only suitable for 1-2 day trips so choose carefully. 

Thus, 40L to 55L backpacks are best for traveling purposes. This is the size we recommend for most travelers since it gives you enough space.

2. Backpack fabric: Today every backpacking backpack comes with Nylon or Polyester. Our first choice of fabric is Nylon. Why Nylon and not Polyester? 

Because Nylon is known for its strength and abrasion resistance, making it a popular choice for items like backpacks, tents, and outdoor gear.

It also has good elasticity, which means it can stretch without losing its shape. However, nylon can degrade over time when exposed to sunlight (UV radiation) and certain chemicals.

Polyester is also highly durable and resistant to stretching and shrinking, making it a common choice for items like clothing, upholstery, and carpets.

It is also more resistant to fading from UV exposure compared to nylon. However, polyester may not be as abrasion-resistant as nylon in some cases.

3. Weather resistance: In my view, I don’t really mind if the backpack I get isn’t super good at keeping out rain, especially since heavy rain isn’t common in the northern parts of India where I’ll be using it. 

It’s good when backpacks try to keep water out, but it is good to worry about rain as the southern part of India is much more prone to heavy rain, you can just buy an inexpensive rain cover. Most backpacks have them available separately, although some come with them already.

Remember, no bag can completely stop water from getting in, but some are better at resisting water than others.

4. Travel style: Selecting a travel backpack depends a lot on your travel style and needs. Here’s a breakdown based on different travel styles:

Urban Travelers: If you’re mainly traveling through cities, you might prioritize a sleek and stylish backpack that can also hold your laptop and other gadgets securely.

Look for features like padded laptop compartments, multiple organizational pockets, and theft-resistant designs.

Outdoor Adventurers: For those who enjoy hiking or camping trips, durability and functionality are key. Opt for a backpack with rugged materials, comfortable straps, and plenty of compartments for outdoor gear.

Look for features like hydration bladder compatibility, external attachment points for gear like sleeping bags or tents, and breathable back panels.

Minimalist Travelers: If you prefer to travel light with just the essentials, a minimalist backpack might be your best bet. Look for lightweight packs with simple designs and just enough space for your belongings.

Consider features like compression straps to keep the pack compact and comfortable for long walks.

Long-term Travelers: For extended trips where you’ll be living out of your backpack for weeks or even months, prioritize comfort and organization.

Look for backpacks with adjustable suspension systems, padded hip belts, and plenty of internal and external pockets for easy access to your belongings. Consider a pack with a detachable daypack for shorter outings.

Budget Travelers: If you’re on a tight budget, look for backpacks that offer good value for money without sacrificing quality.

Consider durable materials and essential features like padded straps and multiple compartments. Keep an eye out for sales or consider buying second-hand to save money.

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