Backpacks, Totes + Small Bags

Finding the perfect personal item is a highly personal decision but our team of experts is here to get you started. We’ve researched everything from roomy backpacks that’ll also work on a weekend hiking trek right down to sleek belt bags for crowded city visits instead. There are totes to bring to the beach and others for the boardroom so, no matter your travel plans or style preferences, our team has you covered.

Best Bags for Travelers that Hate Carrying Big Bags

Travel Light With the 15 Best Sleek and Stylish Crossbody Purses, Sling Bags, and More — From $14

Walmart Crossbody Bag Roundup

Travelers Swear by These Lightweight Crossbody Bags for Staying Organized, and Prices Start at $10

Amazon one-off review: 3-in-1 crossbody bag in Ireland Tout

I Bought This $26 Amazon Crossbody Bag for a Week-long Ireland Trip — and I Can’t Stop Wearing It

Collage of four Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpacks on yellow and green background

I Spent 10 Days in Thailand and the Maldives With Just a Carry-on Thanks to This Roomy Duffel Backpack

Solo Traveler RFID bag Amazon roundup Tout

I Travel Alone Often, and These Are the 16 RFID-blocking Bags I Recommend to Keep Your Info Safe — From $10

Adidas ESSENTIALS SLING CROSSBODY BAG Tout

I’ll Never Fly Without This Travel Sling Bag That’s Perfect for an Easy Check-in Process

Baggalini Crossbody Review

This Compact, RFID-blocking Crossbody Bag Keeps My Essentials Safe, and It's on Sale for T+L Readers

Oprah Loved Leather Tote

Oprah’s Sleek Go-to Travel Tote Comes in So Many Pretty Spring Colors and 'Holds a Ton'

I'm a full-time traveler and I take this workhorse daypack everywhere

This Amazon Backpack Has Come With Me to Almost 60-plus Countries — and It's Only $19

Target Backpack Restock

This Travel Backpack ‘Carried So Much’ During 1 Person’s 3-week Trip to Italy — and It’s Back in Stock

assortment of backpacks for travelers we recommended on smokey background

The 14 Best Backpacks for Every Type of Traveler, From Campers to Commuters — Starting at $37

Target Water Bottle Bag Tout

The ‘Practical, Spacious’ Water Bottle Bag That ‘Holds All the Essentials’ Is Just $15 at Target

Kipling Backpack Target Tout

Shoppers Call This ‘Very Spacious’ Kipling Backpack the ‘Best Travel Mate,’ and It’s on Sale

Best Leather Backpacks

The 10 Best Leather Backpacks of 2024

Target Crossbody Tout

I’m Trading My Pricey Crossbody for Target's 'Super Roomy' Bag That's Only $20

One-off TikTok Backpack

This TikTok-viral Backpack Helps Travelers Go on 3-week Trips With Just a Carry-on — and It's $36 at Amazon

Lo & Sons Catalina Tote Review Tout

I Can’t Believe How Much This T+L Editor-loved Travel Tote Holds — and Still Fits Under the Airplane Seat

Mini backpack test group shot

Find Your Perfect Travel Backpack

Oprah loved-tote

Oprah’s Favorite Tote Is the Perfect Roomy Carry-on — and It Never Goes Out of Style

Large Capacity Travel Backpack Tout

This Large Carry-on Backpack With 6,000-plus 5-star Ratings Fits Up to 2 Weeks’ Worth of Clothes

Amazon Woven Bag Tout

This Stylish Tote Bag Looks Just Like a $4,000 Designer Version — but It’s Only $56 at Amazon

Katie Holmes and I Both Love This Leather Bucket Bag from Madewell Tout

Katie Holmes and I Can’t Stop Wearing This Best-selling Madewell Leather Bucket Bag That’s Perfect for Fall

beis backpack review tout

My Travel Bag of 10 Years Was Giving Me Lower Back Pain — So I Traded It in for This Padded Carry-on Backpack

Nomatic Sling Bag Review Tout

I’m a Travel Editor, and I Never Leave Home Without This Sturdy Sling Bag That Keeps Me Hands-free

Iâve Tested a Lot of Travel Bags This Year, and This Leather Tote Is My New Favorite tut

I’ve Tested Dozens of Travel Bags This Year, and This Leather Tote Just Topped Them All

Target new line weekender bag tout

A Roomy New Weekender Bag Just Dropped at Target — and It Comes in the Prettiest Fall Color

REI Ruckpack 40 Review Tout

I Lived Out of This Spacious Carry-on Backpack for a Month, and It Still Had Room to Spare

Calpak Water Bottle Holder Tout

This Genius Sling Bag From an Oprah-approved Brand Is More Convenient Than Any Other Travel Purse I’ve Tried

tiktok weekender bag tout

Meet the TikTok-viral Weekender Bag That’s Flying Off Amazon Shelves — and Is Now on Sale

Clear Crossbody Bag Tout

Breeze Through Security With This Clear Crossbody That’s the ‘Perfect Bag for Concerts’ — and Only $12

calpak wallet restock tout

This RFID-blocking Wallet Actually Makes the 'Perfect Travel Purse' — and It’s Finally Back in Stock

$40 amazon travel backpack Tout

This Carry-on Backpack Holds '10 Times More' Clothes Than Travelers Expected — and It's Only $34 Right Now

A Kuhl backpack sits on the ground next to a person's legs

The 11 Most Durable Backpacks for Every Style and Adventure

Perfect Belt Bag Tout

Thousands of Shoppers Bought This ‘Perfect’ Belt Bag Last Month — and It's Just $7 at Amazon

Roundup: Amazon's Backpacks Tout

Amazon’s Best-selling Backpacks Were Just Massively Discounted for Fall — Prices Start at $13

One-Off: Oprah-Loved Deal tout

Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Crossbody Bag With RFID Protection Is Spacious, Stylish, and Just $45

12 Large Crossbody Belt Bags at Amazon With Extra Packing Room tout

These Crossbody Bags Have a Genius Design to Give Travelers Extra Packing Room — and They Start at $12

Thule Chasm Sport Duffel on a green sofa

The 12 Best Convertible Bags of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Beis phone crossbody review Tout

I'm a Travel Editor, and This Is the First Phone Crossbody I've Tried That Actually Has Pockets for Everything

Target Wild Fable 15.4" Full Square Backpack Tout

Shoppers Call This ‘Tremendously Roomy’ Carry-on Backpack a ‘Game-changer’ for Travel — and It’s Just $15

Anti-theft Messenger Bag One-off Tout

Travelers Swear They’ll ‘Never Buy Another Bag Again’ After Using This $50 Anti-theft Purse

Lameeku RFID phone leash case review Tout

After I Was Pickpocketed Abroad, I Never Travel Without This RFID-blocking Crossbody Phone Case

Large Packable Backpack One-off Tout

Travelers Are Using This Spacious Backpack As Their Carry-on for International Travel — and It’s Only $35

Best Hiking Backpacks Tout

We Found the Best Hiking Backpacks on Massive Sale for Fall — Prices Start at $25

Oprah-Loved Phone Purse One-off Tout

This Oprah-loved $40 Crossbody Phone Purse Keeps Selling Out — but It's Thankfully Back in Stock at Amazon

Backpack One-off + Flight Attendant quotes tout

Amazon’s No. 1 Carry-on Travel Backpack Has a Sky-high Rating From Flight Attendants — and It’s Only $36

Versatile Fanny Packs Tout

I Own 30+ Purses, but I Always Reach for These Functional Crossbody Bags When I Travel — Get Them at Amazon

Dagne Dover Backpack + Look a likes Tout

I’ve Taken This Sleek, Roomy Travel Backpack on Every Trip for the Past 3 Years — and It’s the Perfect Carry-on

Madewell tote

This Jennifer Aniston-approved Travel Tote Style Starts at $50 Thanks to a Special Double Sale

Lightweight Sling Bag for Day hikes and Travel Tout

This Lightweight Sling Bag Is My Go-to for Day Hikes and Travel — and It Even Fits My Hydro Flask Water Bottle

Best Travel Hat Boxes of 2023

The Best Travel Hat Boxes to Keep Your Caps Safe and Secure

Shoppers Were Surprised by How Roomy This Sling Backpack Is That Helps Them Safely Explore Crowded Places Tout

Travelers Love This Water-resistant Sling Backpack for Traveling to Crowded Places

Calpak Terra Sling Bag Tout

Shoppers Love This ‘Utterly Perfect’ Spacious Sling Bag for Traveling, Hiking, and Day Trips — and So Do I

Iâll Never Get Pickpocketed (Again) Thanks to this $16 Amazon Fanny Pack Tout

This $16 Fanny Pack With 32,000+ 5-star Ratings Has a Genius Feature That Prevents Pickpocketing

The perfect everyday travel bag just dropped at Amazon Tout

We Firmly Believe This Newly Dropped, Spacious $40 Tote Is About to Be the Next ‘It’ Travel Bag

Target Multipurpose Beach Bags Tout

These Versatile, Multi-purpose Bags Are the ‘Perfect Size for Summer Beach Trips,’ and They’re All $15 or Less

Anti-theft Purse One-of Tout

We Found the Perfect Crossbody to Keep Your Valuables Safe While Traveling — and It’s on Sale at Amazon

Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack Tout

Travelers Call This Spacious Backpack With Packing Cubes the 'Best Carry-on' — and It’s on Sale

Belt Bags Under $50 Tout

I’m a Travel Writer, and These Are the 10 Under-$30 Amazon Belt Bags I’m Eyeing Ahead of My Next Trip

Vera Bradley Target Backpack One-off Tout

You’ll Never Have to Check a Bag Again Thanks to This Spacious, Convertible Backpack — and It’s on Sale

waterproof crossbody bag similar finds tout

Sarah Jessica Parker’s Crossbody Bag Is Perfect for Travel — and We’ve Found 8 Look-alikes for Less

Patagonia Atom Sling Bag Tout

I’ve Worn This Sling Bag Everywhere From Bolivia to Norway, and It’s Perfect for Summer Hikes

Away Sling Bag Tout

This Editor-loved Luggage Brand Just Launched the Perfect Sling Bag for Summer — and It’s Already Selling Out