So you’re thinking about setting off on the journey of a lifetime, well, you’re going to need a sturdy backpack that’s able to carry all your gear. Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you, researching and testing a bunch of options to bring you the top 10 backpacks for travel below!
Any of these packs will be an excellent addition to your gear, and make sure to check out our Top 10 Daypacks of 2016 too.
Please read our disclosure statement regarding the affiliate links that are contained in this article and on the Backpacker Travel site.
With specialized fabric that protects from slash-and-run thefts, the VentureSafe 65L GII Travel Pack from PacSafe lets you see the world without having to keep an eye on the gear in your pack.
This pack also comes in a smaller Women's 55L model
The Deuter Act Lite 65+10 Backpack’s Aircontact Lite system supports heavy weekend loads while providing continuous airflow and a comfortable fit. The anatomically shaped X-frame distributes weight equally on your shoulders and flexes with your movements, so you can focus on the hike instead of your pack.
The North Face engineered its Terra 65 Backpack with the easy-to-use Optifit suspension system to give you a fully adjustable fit before you hit the trail for a weekend. An included tool measures the length of your back so you can match the Optifit system in the backpack to your exact measurements.
Gregory gave the Baltoro 65 a hefty helping of cargo capacity and a supremely comfortable suspension system so that even when the pack is fully loaded on a one, two, or three-day trip, it will offer stable support for mile after mile.
Bring everything you need without checking a bag. Suitcases aren’t up to the demands of city travel. Hiking packs are disorganized and too big to be carried onto a plane. International travelers like you need the right luggage.
This affordable, full-sized backpack features a spacious main compartment that holds your gear and food for a week of trekking in the wilderness. Plus, its separate sleeping bag compartment makes it easy to pull out your bag without totally unpacking, and a side-access zipper lets you quickly grab gear or a puffy when the weather gets a bit chilly.
Capacious enough to easily accommodate a week’s worth of gear, the Osprey Porter 65 Backpack also is versatile and impressively mobile. You can sling it over your shoulder in a mad dash from bus to plane or don it like a full-on backpack for the trek to gate Z99.
The Osprey Exos 58 Backpack has space for your backpacking trips in summer and ice climbing trips in winter, and it’ll carry your gear without adding excess pack weight to your trip. A combination of the AirSpeed back panel and the light yet durable 6065 aluminum frame brings a lot of breathability by dumping excess heat out of the sides.
The bestselling Osprey Aether 60 pack just got even better with an updated design and a stiff, well-padded hip belt. You’ll be amazed by its lightweight, support, comfort, and highly customizable fit.
Ready for your next plane trip, the lightweight REI Vagabond Tour 40 Travel Pack has a comfortable backpack-style harness that stows away neatly when it’s time to slide the pack into an overhead bin.
Instagram has quickly become the favorite social network for travel lovers and very recently for us. We were late to join, focussing heavily on Facebook instead, but now see the true value it brings.
Like any large social network, you need to cut through the noise to find the best quality content – and believe me, there are a lot of terrible photos on there too. So, we scoured through thousands of profiles and searched a multitude of hashtags, to bring you the Top 50 Travel Instagrammers that you should be following.
Of course, we’d like to think our Instagram profile is up there too so be sure to follow us at @getbackpacking if you’re not already.
Without further adieu, here are our Top 50 Travel Instagrammers of 2015.
@thetravelbite
Rachelle is the founder of The Travel Bite, a food and travel blog. As you can imagine, food features heavily in her Instagram feed.
@jack_bolshaw
Jack is an English photographer who is currently traveling through Australia.
@insatiabletraveler
Susan’s photos have appeared in The Huffington Post, New York Times and many other large publications. She is also a full-time contributor to Yahoo! Travel.
@storytravelers
Caspar is the cofounder of Story Travelers, a site dedicated to creating stories through travel photography.
@pausethemoment
Ryan is a travel blogger who has been on the road since 2010. You can read more about his adventures on his blog, Pause the Moment.
@triphackr
Clint is a travel blogger and photographer from Boston. We like his ‘feet-first’ perspective.
@tourist2townie
Gareth is the blogger behind Tourist 2 Townie who left his high-paying job to travel the world.
@divergenttravelers
Dave and Lina have been traveling since 2001. Their journeys are documented through their blog Divergent Travelers.
@whereswiwi
Olivia (aka Wiwi) caught our eye with her use of vibrant colors. She’s also visited all 7 continents.
@a_girlwhotravels
Marta is the digital nomad behind A Girl Who Travels. She’s been living the life of travel since 2010.
@jasoncharleshill
Jason is an Aussie traveler and photographer with a primary focus on the great outdoors.
@adamsenatori
Adam is a pilot who also happens to be an amazing photographer. If you like planes, you’ll like Adam’s page.
@infarawayland
Marta is the face of the blog In a Far Away Land. We’ve featured her photos previously so she’s obviously awesome.
@chaiwalla
Allan is another guy who quit his job to travel the world… there’s a theme here. He also takes great pics.
@jaypeeswing
JP’s photo’s make you want to pack your bags and book a flight to the Philippines right away.
@tiffpenguin
Take one look at Tiffany’s photography and you’ll get lost for hours. Landscapes, waterfalls, and nature abound.
@budgettraveller
Kash is the man behind Budget Traveller, a blog for discovering luxury hostels, some of which feature on his Instagram.
@uncornered_market
Daniel and his wife Audrey are well-known among travel bloggers. Daniel’s photos invite you into their life on the road.
@mikeseehagel
Mike’s photography captures the essence of outdoor life. We love his use of light.
@gmateus
A mix of travel and art. Gabriela takes you on a journey with her wonderful photos.
@lebackpacker
Johan set off from Belgium in 2013 and hasn’t looked back. After making his way to New Zealand, he landed a gig with Lake Wanaka Tourism.
@shanemichaelblack
Shane caught our eye with some of his night photography. If you like the Milky Way, check him out.
@treyratcliff
We met Trey a couple of years ago while he was shooting at Burning Man. A nice guy and truly amazing photographer.
@expertvagabond
Matthew (aka the Expert Vagabond) lives an action-packed life even James Bond would envy. Definitely worth following along.
@paulodelvalle
Paulo calls himself a professional Instagrammer, and we can see why. With over 200k followers, doors are certainly opening for his career.
@olegmks
Oleg is not your typical Instagrammer. He is a Russian cosmonaut so his photos are unlike any other – taken from space.
@goldie_berlin
Hailing from Berlin, Sylvia has been tearing up Instagram for the last 4 years, growing her following to over 200k.
@photojbartlett
Jeff is a Canadian adventure photographer who shares his passion for adventure and the outdoors through his images.
@zakshelhamer
Zak has been ranked among the top Instagrammers by the likes of Forbes, Huffington Post and Lifestyle Mirror.
@thefella
Conor is a travel and destination photographer from Belfast who has traveled to over 50 countries amassing a stellar portfolio.
@theplanetd
These guys need no introduction. Dave & Deb are constantly topping lists for travel blogging and photography.
@machbel
Víctor is a relatively undiscovered travel photographer based in Gijon, Spain. While not as famous, his photos are up there with the best.
@theblondeabroad
Not just a pretty face, Kierstan from the Blonde Abroad, has made a name for herself by capturing the fun of her travel lifestyle.
@sean_ensch_images
Sean is a travel photographer with a focus on landscapes and underwater photography. An avid freediver, he feels at home beneath the surface.
@everythingeverywhere
Since setting off in 2007, Gary has visited over 170 countries and territories and been named Travel Photographer of the year!
@jordanherschel
Jordan is somewhat of an Instagram celebrity, royalty you might even say. No wonder though when you see his photos.
@thomaspeschak
Another National Geographic Photographer, they really pump them out don’t they? Thomas’ photos will transport you to a life in the sea.
@michaelchristopherbrown
While not strictly a travel photographer, Michael’s photojournalism provides a glimpse into the people of the world.
@roundtheworldgirl
Take a look through Elise’s Instagram feed and you’ll think you’ve landed in a North Face ad.
@stefanounterthiner
Stefano is a National Geographic wildlife photographer with a keen interest in wildlife conservation. No zoo required!
Brooke Saward is an Australian travel blogger who has risen to stardom in the last 3 years. Her blog ,World of Wanderlust, now has over 4 million visits and 500k + social fans. It’s clear that exceptional photography has played a large role in the growth.
We came across Ken almost a year ago and have been mesmerized by his photos ever since. This year, Ken co-founded Dream Photo Tours offering photograph-centric tours in Cambodia, Jordan, Myanmar, Iceland, Japan, Namibia, Vietnam, and Italy.
Cory Richards is a National Geographic Photographer, filmmaker, and experienced climber. He was named the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2012. Get ready to be blown away by his captivating feed.
Brendan’s reputation has been on the rise of late. His work has allowed him to travel extensively through Southern and Central America capturing the beauty of the locations and people he meets.
With nearly 1 million followers, Cole must be doing something right! You better believe it. Not only are his photography skills rock-solid but he has a way of storytelling through his images. A worthy addition to the top of this list.
Liz makes us want to get out there and start exploring. She is a master of composition and knows exactly how to draw your eye into the scene. Couple that with her thirst for adventure and you’ve got a winning combination.
Another guy on the verge of breaking into the million follower club is Alex Strohl. This French photographer has been featured in Forbes and counts Apple, Google, Facebook, and Canon among his clients. Needless to say, his photos are unreal!
Oliver is a talented photographer from Barcelona, Spain. At the age of 17, he began traveling and carved a nice niche with his unique view of the world. We just can’t get enough of his stunning photography.
Lauren went from being a chef to Instagram fame. With nearly half a million followers she has turned her social fame into a flourishing photography career and Australia’s first professional Instagrammer.
Welcome to the millionaire club. Chris Burkard is a renowned surf photographer who is constantly seeking remote (mostly frozen) destinations to shoot. Chris has spoken for TED and worked with the world’s top brands, yet it is his passion for adventure and the unknown, coupled with his incredible photography skills that puts him on the top of our list.
A BIG congratulations go out to everyone who made this list. You not only caught our eye but our imagination too. You inspire us to keep seeking the path less traveled!
It took many hours of research to compile this list and our opinions are purely that. Of course, we’d love to discover more people like those featured above so if we’ve missed one of your favorites, post it in the comment section below.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram too as we post the best images from our backpacking community. If you’d like to be featured, you can upload your best photos in our fan photo section. We post a new pic every day!
FOLLOW BACKPACKER TRAVEL ON INSTAGRAM
Selected photos are posted on this site backpackertravel.org, our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Full accreditation is provided.
If you’re anything like us, you end up leaving your Christmas shopping until the very last minute. Well, look no further, we have put together a list of the top 10 gifts that are sure to wow even the pickiest of travelers.
Best of all – the majority of our picks are under $100!
This wireless, fun-sized speaker is small enough to fit in your hand and loud enough to get the party started. Super lightweight and compact, toss it in your bag or backpack – or clip it onto a strap. G-POP rocks Bluetooth wireless (with a speakerphone too).
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you have no doubt seen any number of YouTube videos shot with one of these tiny cameras. The new Hero4 packs in all the best features to make it easy for you to capture those special travel memories.
Show off where you’ve traveled to while livening up your wall with this colorful world map. This fun world map poster lets you scratch off each of the countries you have visited making for an excellent conversation starter. Measuring 88.1cm x 52cm.
Now you can charge all your devices while you are traveling. This all-in-one adapter works in over 150 countries with 4 international (US/EU/UK/AU) plug adapters. An additional 2 USB ports will charge your smartphone, tablet, camera, or any other device. Simultaneously charge 3 devices using the one wall plug!
This ultra-lightweight daypack is the perfect addition to your travels. With comfortable, multi-point straps and enough room to store all your hiking or sightseeing gear, this is an excellent gift for any traveler.
Popular travel blogger Matt Kepnes (aka Nomadic Matt) shows you how to travel the world on the cheap. How to Travel the World on $50 a Day reveals Matt’s tips, tricks, and secrets to comfortable budget travel that you won’t find anywhere else.
This neat little compact camera packs an almighty punch with a 20.2-megapixel sensor and ultra-bright Carl Zeiss f/1.8 lens. Small enough to fit in your pocket giving you the freedom to take incredible pictures no matter how active your travel schedule is.
The Comfort Pal Travel Neck Pillow is one of the best travel pillows for the airplane, bus, train, or car. This luxury memory foam neck pillow includes a microfiber pillowcase & carry bag for easy storage in your pack when not in use.
This lightweight hammock is designed with durability in mind for the adventurous traveler or camper. It stuffs into the attached compression sack for ultimate portability. With a range of colors, you can’t go wrong.
The world’s largest capacity external battery pack and portable charger with dual USB ports with 12000mAh rechargeable battery power capacity. Small enough to fit easily into any bag or pocket. Provides instant power whenever you need to charge your mobile devices. Perfect for long flights, road trips, or whenever you are away from a power source.
