10 Tips on How to Choose a Travel Backpack to Support Your Trip

Traveloka Team
14 Sep 2024 - 4 min read

When it comes to travelling, one of the most pressing concerns is efficiently packing all your necessary belongings. It's all too easy for travellers to end up lugging around items they won't actually use during their trip. So, how can you prevent this from happening? The solution lies in selecting a suitable travel backpack to accommodate all your essentials. But with so many options available, how do you go about making the right choice and ensuring that the travel backpack meets your specific needs?

How to Choose a Travel Backpack Based On Your Needs

Here are some tips you can use to pick your travel backpack that will suit your requirements:

Flight From Singapore to Bangkok

Wed, 21 May 2025

Scoot

Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)

Start from RM 287.82

Tue, 13 May 2025

Jetstar Asia Airways

Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)

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Tue, 29 Apr 2025

Malaysia Airlines

Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)

Start from RM 521.04

1. Multiple Compartments

The first step in deciding on a travel backpack for your trip is picking the one with multiple compartments. Having more than one compartment allows you to sort your belongings into specific sections. This will help you easily remember the exact placement and find things you need immediately.

You don’t need to dig around your travel backpack and scramble your other belongings only to find one or two things. Besides ensuring your bag has multiple compartments, another aspect of how to choose a travel backpack you should have to pay attention to is its speciality compartments.

These compartments would be helpful, especially when you have to bring your gadgets like a laptop or tablet during your trip. Even like an external water bottle pocket when you must travel on foot to cross a considerable distance. Don’t settle for a travel backpack that has much fewer compartments.

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2. Lockable Zippers

Next, ensure that each compartment in your travel backpack has two zippers to lock them together. Why should you have lockable zippers? This will deter strangers from sneakily opening your bag, putting something suspicious, or stealing some of your belongings.

When purchasing locks, choose the ones that are TSA-friendly. What is TSA? It stands for Transportation Security Administration. So, if you have TSA-friendly locks for your travel backpack, TSA agents can swiftly open and relock it without having to cut open the lock.

You can easily purchase TSA-friendly stocks at any large retail store. They are relatively easy to find, and your travel backpack will have added protection in any unfavourable situations.

3. Size

The third step in choosing a travel backpack is selecting the correct size. You can decide on the size of your backpack based on your needs, preferences, and the trips you will be taking. However, the most crucial part is that it should be proportional to your body.

You don’t want to get a travel backpack that’s either too big or too small for your body. If you end up with this kind of backpack, it will cause neck or back pain and possibly even cause you to topple over. Choose the one that is big enough to carry all your essential stuff.

Therefore, the travel backpack should make you feel comfortable carrying it around, even for an extended time. Please refrain from thinking that the bigger it is, the better.

4. Water-Resistant Material

Even though your trip isn’t for hiking, having a travel backpack with water-resistant material will help. If it’s hard for you to find a backpack with 100% water-resistant material, you can look for the ones made of semi-waterproof material. This is necessary to prevent your belongings from getting wet quickly.

In addition, search for materials that won’t stay wet for too long, making them musty. It is advisable to look for thick materials that feel lightweight for your travel backpack. Here’s a quick tip: pick the one made of treated nylon, and you won’t find your belongings drenched in water.

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5. Padded Hip Belt and Shoulder Straps

The fifth step in choosing a travel backpack is checking the number and location of straps. Why is this necessary? Putting all the weight on your backpack is dangerous, may damage your body, and is not good in the long term. The weight should be equally distributed on your body.

Choosing a travel backpack with hip belts and shoulder straps is advisable. These two will prevent you from straining your body unnecessarily. Moreover, these belts and straps will help facilitate and support your upper body while you carry the backpack during your trip.

6. Front-Loading or Bottom-Loading System

Another excellent tip for choosing a travel backpack is to pick one with a front-loading, bottom-loading, or both systems. This type of backpack will open like a suitcase and allow easy access to all your belongings without shuffling over them.

Ensure you don’t buy a travel bag with only one opening, as it will inconvenience you more than help you during your trip. You don’t want to experience having such a messy room during your stay, right?

7. Contoured or Padded Back

The next step in choosing your perfect travel backpack is to check whether it has a contoured or padded back. A padded back provides a soft surface on a section of your backpack that moulds to the curvature of your spine, providing spinal support, comfort, and injury prevention during a long and harsh trip.

In addition, it will create a small space between your back and the backpack. This allows air to pass through and lets you stay cool even in hot weather. This feature on your travel backpack allows for a more natural arch and can avoid back pain.

8. Rain Cover

Last but not least, remember to get a backpack with a rain cover. This is important when choosing a travel backpack, as only some bags are made with fully water-resistant material. Sometimes, water still seeps through the seams and zippers.

Further, you must keep your important documents safe from rain and dumps. Documents such as flight tickets must always be safe wherever you buy them. In Traveloka, you may get e-tickets to keep your flight documents safer. Still, having rain cover is essential.

Always carry around and get your rain cover ready to use when a downpour is likely to occur in the place you’re going to. When you finish choosing your travel backpack, enjoy your trip to the fullest and make great memories while you can.

9. Pockets

Similar to compartments, pockets are also significant for some reasons. You may put every small or compact belonging there when your backpack has pockets. For example, if you are often thirsty and need to drink frequently, it is terrible if your backpack has no pocket for keeping your bottle.

Therefore, you must be careful while choosing a backpack. Remember this tip on choosing a travel backpack so you won’t suffer.

10. Colour

Lastly, backpack colour is also as important as the model. You can have anything you prefer if you find it faster. Sometimes, you may choose a primary colour like monochrome, but it doesn’t have to be like that. You may purchase the one you like and remember the model. Don’t ever forget which one is yours!

For a convenient booking process and special offers, think about reserving through Traveloka. and confirm your ideal vacation with just a few clicks. Use Traveloka to book your flights, find comfortable places to stay, and plan fun activities. Traveloka is the best platform for getting the top deals, ensuring you always get great value.

In This Article

• How to Choose a Travel Backpack Based On Your Needs
• 1. Multiple Compartments
• 2. Lockable Zippers
• 3. Size
• 4. Water-Resistant Material
• 5. Padded Hip Belt and Shoulder Straps
• 6. Front-Loading or Bottom-Loading System
• 7. Contoured or Padded Back
• 8. Rain Cover
• 9. Pockets
• 10. Colour

Flights Featured in This Article

Wed, 21 May 2025
Scoot
Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)
Start from RM 287.82
Book Now
Tue, 13 May 2025
Jetstar Asia Airways
Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)
Start from RM 346.83
Book Now
Tue, 29 Apr 2025
Malaysia Airlines
Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)
Start from RM 521.04
Book Now

Hotels Highlighted in This Article

Amara Bangkok

8.6/10
Si Phraya
RM 452
RM 400
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