Women's Travel Backpacks: Essential Features Guide for Female Travelers

On most trips a backpack is the second bag: the one that sits under the seat in front, holds the laptop and the things you need during the flight, then goes out with you every day once you've dropped the suitcase at the hotel. A women's travel backpack for this job needs to be light, sit close to your back and fit a laptop without looking like a work bag. It doesn't need a hip belt or 50 litres.

Size: 16 to 20 litres is enough

A laptop, a charger, a cardigan, a water bottle, a toiletry pouch and a book fit comfortably in 16 to 20 litres. Go bigger and you'll fill the space, then carry the weight around a city all day. Our women's backpacks are all medium-size city bags: the LY503 is 16 litres, the LY507 is 20 litres, and the other three sit in the same range. All of them take a laptop up to 15.6 inches.

If the backpack has to go under the seat as your personal item, compare its dimensions with the airline's limit before you pack. Some budget airlines measure personal items at the gate. Our carry-on size guide lists the limits for the main airlines.

Weight: start under 1 kg

The bag's own weight is carried before you've packed anything, and you feel it by the end of a day of sightseeing. The BANGE LY models weigh between 0.65 kg (LY506) and 0.8 kg (LY501) empty.

Keep the heaviest thing, usually the laptop, in the sleeve against your back. The bag then sits close to your body and doesn't pull your shoulders backwards.

Straps and fit

Backpacks this size are rarely made in more than one torso length, so fit comes down to the straps. Curved shoulder straps follow the line of the shoulder and are less likely to slide off or press on the neck if your shoulders are narrow. The LY503 and LY507 both have curved straps. Tighten the straps until the bag sits against your back with the base above your hips, and it will feel lighter than it is.

A strap for your suitcase

If you travel with a wheeled case, look for a pass-through strap on the back panel. It lets the backpack sit on top of the suitcase handle, so your shoulders get a break in long queues and on the walk to the gate. The LY503, LY505, LY506 and LY507 all have one.

Pockets you'll use on the road

A padded laptop sleeve comes first. After that, what helps most is a few pockets for small things: passport, phone, keys, earphones, a charging cable. When they each have their own place, you're not digging through the main compartment at security or in a taxi. A side pocket that holds a water bottle upright is worth having on a flight.

For valuables, a pocket on the back panel, against your body, is harder for anyone to reach in a crowd than a front pocket. Our anti-theft travel backpack guide covers what works and what doesn't.

Rain and spills

All five LY backpacks are made from waterproof polyester, so the fabric sheds rain instead of soaking it up. A laptop stays dry on a wet walk from the station, and a spilled coffee wipes off.

BANGE women's travel backpacks

The LY505 ($67.99, four colours) and the LY506 ($66.99, three colours) are plainer designs with the same 15.6 inch sleeve and several pockets.

For a weekend away, take the 20 litre LY507. For a light day bag, the LY503. If you prefer a flap and buckles to a zip front, the LY501.

If you want one bag for a week with no suitcase, you'll need something bigger than any of these. Our one-bag travel guide covers 22 to 45 litre expandable backpacks.