Amazon Basics Travel Backpack Review
The Amazon Basics Travel Backpack ($40) is designed, first and foremost, to save you money. It definitely succeeds at that, with plenty of space and some organization for your essentials. We didn’t find much else to like about this travel pack besides that, though: It’s uncomfortable, cheaply made, and probably won’t last very long. If you don’t travel often and won’t carry it far, it can work in a pinch, but most people should save for something better.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Durability
Water Resistance
Weight & Size
Sustainability
Capacities
40L
Fabric(s)
Nylon
Hipbelt
Yes
Laptop Sleeve
Yes (19 in.)
Exterior Pockets
3
Weight
4 lb. 6.5 oz.
Pros
Cons
Amazon Basics Travel Backpack
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Travel Backpacks.
When I first shouldered the Amazon Basics Travel Backpack, I was somewhat impressed by how sturdy it felt given its rock-bottom price. The shoulder straps have decent padding, the backpanel is thick and rigid, and the mesh in both areas suggests at least a baseline attempt at comfort and breathability. This pack also comes with a removable hipbelt (just a thin strap), a basic sternum strap, and an over-the-shoulder strap that lets you carry it briefcase-style. That’s a pretty decent amount of versatility for a model that costs less than $50.
Unfortunately, the Amazon Basics Travel Backpack shows its low-cost stripes once you actually put it on. The backpanel is basically a stiff, flat board, so it didn’t match the natural curve of my back and never settled into a comfortable position. When I was carrying about 15 pounds around Los Angeles, the weight sat heavily on my shoulders, and when the hipbelt wasn’t attached, its plastic attachment loops at the base of the pack kept brushing my hips with annoying persistence. With the hipbelt in use, the Travel Backpack’s weight distribution improves somewhat, but the belt is only adjustable from one side, the buckle doesn’t center well, the loose webbing dangles, and those same plastic loops rub even more aggressively. After about 25 minutes of fighting against this pack, the irritation was bad enough that I unclipped the hipbelt—and then immediately regretted it once all the weight landed back on my shoulders.
As I tested the pack further, things didn’t exactly improve. My back started getting sweaty after roughly 10 minutes in warm weather, and when I did a stress-test hike with around 25 pounds over 5 miles, I finished with sore shoulders and lats. The compression straps do keep the load from bouncing, but they can’t save an uncomfortable harness. Even compared to other somewhat budget-leaning options (which are more expensive, but still), this pack felt rough. Both the REI Co-op Ruckpack 30 ($109) and The North Face Router ($159) fit my body far better, and their hipbelts don’t create the same weird rub points. At least the Travel Backpack outperforms the even cheaper Matein Carry On Backpack ($32), but that’s not saying much.
This is a clamshell-style travel pack, in which a hinge on the left side splays open the entire main compartment when it’s unzipped. The Travel Backpack’s organization isn’t exciting, but it’s functional enough if you like obvious, simple storage solutions. Inside the lid, there’s one large mesh pocket that covers most of the underside, which is useful for keeping flat items or small clothing separated from the main compartment. In back, there’s a flat zippered pocket for thin items like papers or a small book, plus a larger U-zip admin pocket with a handful of flat organizers and mesh sleeves for small essentials. Of note, a zipper on one of the pack’s exterior sides expands the capacity of the main compartment, bringing the whole thing to 45 liters in total if you need more space.
One of the best parts of this pack’s layout is its laptop compartment. It sits right under the shoulder straps and is separate from the main compartment, features a padded sleeve and a security strap, and can fit laptops up to 19 inches. I also liked the top-access zipper to the laptop sleeve, since it’s easier to use in tight spaces like planes or trains than side-access designs. Where this pack falls short is in its general “travel convenience” add-ons: There’s no quick-access pocket near the top for a wallet or a passport, it doesn’t have a key clip or attachment points, and the biggest practical omission is the lack of a water bottle pocket. Having to open the main compartment every time I wanted a drink got old immediately.
At first touch, the Travel Backpack’s exterior seems tougher than I expected for an Amazon Basics bag. It has that stiff, slightly burly feel that reads as “durable,” and it seems like it could shrug off minor scrapes and bumps. But once I looked closer and started using it, the story changed. Its interior materials felt thin and plasticky in a way that reminded me of a cheap drawstring bag, and I predicted that the stitching would be a real concern.
After only a few days of use, I noticed loose threads in multiple places, and some stitching along internal pockets began ripping at the seams where fabric is anchored. That’s a huge red flag for something that’s supposed to get you through repeated trips, at the minimum. With that kind of wear, I don’t trust this pack to last through consistent travel, even if you’re mostly sticking to hotels and paved streets. Compared to the Matein Carry On, it’s burlier, but once again, that’s a low bar. When put up against even relatively affordable “real” travel backpacks, such as the REI Ruckpack, the Travel Pack’s durability doesn’t come close. Those models are simply built to handle more miles, more weight, and more years on the road.
Amazon claims that the Travel Backpack is water resistant, but there’s no mention of a durable water-repellent finish or any other meaningful coating. I used it mostly in sunny conditions, but given the flimsy feel of the interior materials and the stitching issues, I have very little confidence that it would keep gear protected in any type of wet weather. At best, I’d trust it for a brief dash between your car and a hotel. If it’s actually raining, I’d rather have almost anything else—especially a pack like the Ruckpack, which includes a rain cover and is built with far more confidence-inspiring materials.
At 4 pounds, 6.5 ounces, this is a heavy pack for what you’re getting, and it feels even heavier because the carry system doesn’t manage weight well. The Travel Backpack is also bulky in a way that’s hard to ignore: The stiff backpanel means it doesn’t fold or compress nicely for storage, and it’s not something I’d want to stash inside larger luggage. It simply takes up a lot of real estate, compared to other packs in this capacity range.
The Amazon Basics Travel Backpack works as a carry-on for most flights, and the expandable volume is legitimately useful if you’re trying to stretch one bag across a longer trip. That said, it’s too cumbersome to function as a personal item in any realistic way, and unlike more polished travel packs, it doesn’t carry its bulk with much grace.
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Longevity
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Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
PFAS-Free DWR
Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are used in outdoor gear for their strong resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product uses a PFAS-free DWR, while a red X means the DWR contains PFAS.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
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Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
I’m 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, with a 20-inch torso, and I found the Travel Backpack’s fit was mediocre at best. The straight, rigid backpanel doesn’t match body contours, so the pack rides loosely and never feels truly ergonomic. The shoulder straps don’t contour especially well either, but the hipbelt/strap attachment hardware at the base of the pack was the biggest issue, creating rub points that made walking genuinely unpleasant.
It does fit better than the Matein Carry On, which felt essentially frameless and sloppy. Compared to the REI Ruckpack or The North Face Router, though, it’s night and day—those travel backpacks sit more naturally on the body, manage weight better, and don’t create the same awkward pressure points.
Matein Carry-on Backpack ($32): Less is Less
If you’re looking for a pack that costs even less than the Travel Backpack, there’s the Carry On. Its biggest upside is that it’s over two pounds lighter and takes up less space than the Travel Backpack when not in use. To achieve its compactness, the Carry On forgoes a laptop compartment, structured backpanel, over-the-shoulder briefcase strap, and hipbelt. Its construction also suffers. Both packs use lackluster materials, but the Travel Backpack’s fabrics are thicker and sturdier (which isn’t saying much). Otherwise, these two models have a similar layout, with a clamshell opening, stowable shoulder straps, two front pockets, and an internal mesh pocket. You’ll also find a luggage pass-through strap and compression straps. You can’t expect perfection from either of these bargain-bin buys, but the Travel Backpack has more going for it. Even if you’re on a tight budget, it’s worth the extra $10. For more, read our Carry-on Backpack review.
REI Co-op Ruckpack 30 ($109): A Major Step Up
If you can handle the price difference, the Ruckpack is a much higher-quality pack. Yes, its capacity is 10 liters less, and it lacks both a dorsal pocket and a luggage pass-through strap. The Ruckpack’s main compartment also uses a bucket-style design for top-down packing, instead of the Travel Backpack’s suitcase-like clamshell opening. Still, it includes plenty of features the bare-bones Travel Backpack doesn’t, such as dual water bottle sleeves, top and side pockets, daisy chains, and trekking pole attachments. It’s also built to withstand more abuse, with a 400-denier nylon shell, a polyester liner, and a stashable rain cover. When carried, the Ruckpack’s backpanel rests more naturally and offers significantly better airflow. And while the Travel Backpack digs into your hips, the Ruckpack sits flush without uncomfortable pressure points. Although it’s more expensive, the Ruckpack is still by far the better buy. For more, check out our review of the Ruckpack 30.
The Amazon Basics Travel Backpack will get the job done for the occasional traveler who doesn’t plan on walking very far. While you’ll spend less cash on this pack than with many of its competitors, your shoulders, hips, and back will pay the price.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Durability
Water Resistance
Weight & Size
Sustainability
The Carry On’s rock-bottom price is probably its most appealing feature. There are tradeoffs aplenty, though: While we appreciate its light weight and packability (when you’re not using it), we have major qualms with almost everything else.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Durability
Water Resistance
Weight & Size
Sustainability
A hybrid between a travel pack and a hiking pack, the Ruckpack is designed to take you seamlessly from skyscrapers to summits. Our testers praised its comfort, adaptability, and value, but a few awkward design choices prevented it from competing for a top spot.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Durability
Water Resistance
Weight & Size
Sustainability
Is the Amazon Backpack for You?
If you’re on a strict budget and you only need a travel pack a couple of times a year for short trips—and carrying distances—the Amazon Basics Travel Backpack can work. We’re not saying it’ll work well, though: It’s heavy, uncomfortable, and its durability is poor. If you can save up even a little, a step-up option like the REI Co-op Ruckpack will feel dramatically better on your back and last far longer. This pack would function best as a backup option.
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