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Looking for the best budget travel backpacks without wading through 20 options outside your actual price range? You’re in the right place. These 5 are ranked by price, from mid-range at the top to the cheapest at the bottom, so you can just scroll to your budget instead of comparing specs across a huge list. Every pick here also doubles as one of the best carry-on backpack options out there, all 5 fit standard airline carry-on sizing, so this works whether you’re calling it a best budget backpack search or a carry-on-specific one.
These days I’m mostly a rolling suitcase person, though I’ve done plenty of trips with just a backpack too. If a destination is cobblestone heavy or I know I’ll be doing a lot of walking between places, a backpack wins every time over wheels. Budget doesn’t have to mean flimsy here either, a couple of these hold up genuinely well past the price tag.
This post is all about the best budget travel backpacks, ranked from mid-range to cheapest.
Typically runs $165 to $200 (frequently on sale for less, worth checking before you buy)
Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack This is the backpack every long-term backpacker eventually recommends to a friend, and there’s a reason it shows up in nearly every “what I packed” post on the internet. Forty liters fits in an overhead bin on almost every airline, the stowable harness and hipbelt mean it looks like a normal duffel at check-in instead of a hiking pack, and it’s built to survive being thrown into the back of a tuk tuk more times than you’d like to admit. This is the one on this list I’d actually call an investment rather than a budget pick, but it earns the top price spot for a reason.
Typically runs $80 to $90 (often dips below $70 during Prime Day or Black Friday sales)
tomtoc Navigator-T66 Travel Backpack 40L A newer name than Osprey or JanSport, but it’s earned its spot on budget gear roundups fast. Full suitcase-style opening, a dedicated TSA-friendly laptop compartment, and over 10 pockets to actually organize into instead of one giant main compartment you dig through. Made from recycled fabric with real YKK zippers, which is a genuinely nice detail at this price point, and at 2.4 pounds empty it’s one of the lighter options here.
Typically runs $70 to $90
Inateck Expandable Travel Backpack The main compartment opens flat like a small suitcase, which is the single most useful feature on a budget backpack since it means you’re not digging through top-loaded chaos at airport security. The expandable zip takes it from 38 up to 46 liters for the flight home when you’ve inevitably bought more than you packed with.
Typically runs $40 to $50
Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack The most comfortable pick at this price point, largely because of the well-padded back panel and straps that a lot of budget bags skimp on first. It converts between backpack and shoulder-bag carry and expands from 35 to 45 liters, genuinely solid for how little it costs.
Typically the cheapest on this list, often under $30 to $40
Matein Travel Backpack An actual Amazon legend at this point, thousands of reviews and a rating that holds up better than a bag at this price has any right to. Clamshell opening, a dedicated shoe compartment, and a USB charging port on the outside so your power bank can charge your phone through the bag while you’re moving through an airport. The most bag for the least money on this entire list.
What’s a good budget for a travel backpack? Anywhere from $30 to $100 gets you a genuinely usable travel backpack in 2026. Below $30 you’re trading away durability and comfort features, above $150 you’re paying for brand name and long-term durability more than day-to-day function.
Is a $20 to $40 travel backpack worth buying? For occasional travelers, yes. The Matein above is proof a cheap backpack can still hold up to real use. For anyone traveling multiple times a year or carrying heavier loads regularly, spending more upfront on something like the Osprey usually costs less over several years than replacing a cheap one repeatedly.
What size backpack do I need for a carry-on-only trip? Most airlines cap carry-on backpacks around 40-45 liters, all 5 backpacks on this list fall within that range. Double check your specific airline’s carry-on size policy before you fly, budget airlines in particular vary a lot here.
Do cheaper travel backpacks hold up as well as expensive ones? Not usually over years of heavy use, budget bags tend to have thinner padding, lighter-duty zippers, and less durable exterior fabric. For a handful of trips a year, the gap matters much less than the price difference.
What’s the difference between a travel backpack and a regular hiking backpack? Travel backpacks open like a suitcase (clamshell style) for easier packing and usually include a dedicated laptop sleeve and a stowable harness system for check-in. Hiking backpacks top-load and are built around a frame for carrying heavy loads on trails, less convenient for city travel and airports.
Is one of these good as a carry-on backpack for international travel specifically? Yes, all 5 fall within standard international carry-on sizing (most airlines cap around 40-45 liters). For everything else worth packing for an international trip beyond the bag itself, my international travel packing list covers the rest.
What’s the best lightweight option on this list? The Amazon Basics Carry-On and the Matein are both noticeably lighter empty than the Osprey or JanSport, worth prioritizing if you’re already packing heavy and don’t want the bag itself eating into your weight allowance.
Whichever one fits your budget, the honest advice is the same across all 5: pack it once before your trip, not the morning you leave, so you actually know how everything fits before you’re relying on it in an airport.
For everything else worth packing alongside it, I put together a full international travel gear roundup covering tech, health, and comfort essentials beyond just the bag itself.
This post was all about the best budget travel backpacks, ranked from mid-range to cheapest.
Save this guide to Pinterest so you have it the next time you’re backpack shopping before a trip.
Check out some of my favorite tools and companies I actually use when I travel.
Need a Bank Account for Life Abroad? Wise is the best option for travelers, study abroad students and expats. I use it as my everyday checking account since it lets me hold and spend in multiple currencies without getting hit with a bad exchange rate every time I cross a border.
Want to Travel for Free & Skip the Foreign Transaction Fees? I put my spending on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card and let the points cover flights and hotels I'd otherwise be paying for out of pocket. I've been able to use the points I earn on this card to pay for flights, hotels and meals all around the world!
Please Don't Forget Travel Insurance! Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never go on a trip without it. My two favorites are:
Need a Flight? I personally love using Google Flights to track prices and compare dates before I commit, the flexible date view alone has saved me a lot of money. Skyscanner is another great search engine to find cheap flights because it searches sites and airlines around the globe, so you know no cheap deal is being left on the table.
Getting Around Southeast Asia? Book your buses, trains, and ferries with 12Go Asia. One search shows you every route and price, so you're not digging through ten different local booking sites.
Need a Place to Stay? Book your hotel with Expedia, where I start looking, especially when I want to bundle flights and stays together. Hotels.com is my backup when I want to compare prices or I'm chasing their rewards program for a free night.
On a Tighter Budget? Hostelworld is where I go for hostels. It has the largest inventory out there, and you can search for dorm beds or private rooms depending on what you're after!
Want a Free Way to Travel? Try TrustedHousesitters! You look after someone's home and pets while they're away, and in exchange you get free accommodation (minus the subscription fee). It's a great option if you're traveling long term and want to cut costs. I personally use this as a host and a sitter, and it's truly great!
Need Inspiration or Just Want to See What's Out There? Go Guides is a solid resource for destination guides, must-see landmarks, local markets, best beaches, and things to do, browsable by place or by theme. It's a good stop whether you already know where you're headed or you're still looking for your next destination.
Check out my full packing gear guide for everything I bring on international trips, or browse my favorite travel finds on Amazon for quick links to it all.
Check out my full resource page for every company I use when I travel. I list them all in one place so you can go from planning to booked without digging through old blog posts!
Hey there, I'm Angelique!
I'm a Filipina-American, Chicago native living abroad and running my online design agency from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Over a decade of traveling in, and yes, I still pinch myself. With family split between the US, UK, and SE Asia, travel has always been part of my story. This blog is where I share the honest side of living and traveling abroad, the places I explore, my best study abroad tips from personal experience, and the little hacks that make this life actually work. Glad you're here, friend!
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