I fly almost every week. The backpack I carry on every flight costs $36 right now
Looking for a great travel backpack that costs less than an extra bag fee? As a food and travel writer, I fly more than 50 times a year, and I say this with as much conviction as possible: this Dinictis Backpack for $36 is the best travel accessory I have ever owned.
A little hand luggage bags they may be sleeker, and some come in more colors, but I’d argue that none are sturdier, more efficient, and/or better priced than this sub-$40 travel bag. If you have a trip planned in 20205, this is why I love this backpack and recommend it, period.
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When a backpack is needed
Available in four colors: grey, dark grey, blue and black.
To be clear, my backpacking days they were over before they started. Without the means to travel seriously before the age of 25, my life as a traveler didn’t begin in earnest until I was equipped solely with the sensibilities of a roller bag. As a (age redacted) year old, when I booked a bus trip along the coast of Peru, with overnight stays in modest lodgings, suddenly a roller bag felt kind of… well, stingy. Rolling bags are decidedly inconvenient when it comes to unpaved or unpaved surfaces, plus it just doesn’t look good when the atmosphere is more modest than luxurious. This was by no means a backpacking trip, but a backpack was definitely necessary. One that can hold a week’s worth of clothes, amenities and a laptop, but still potentially fits in a locker.
The Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack came into my life for this particular trip and exceeded my expectations. Since then, it has come with me on every trip, suitable for a backpack or other occasion.
Pack it like a suitcase
It’s a backpack that packs like a suitcase.
Many travel backpacks are roomy and compartmentalized, but the Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack works like a suitcase. It opens on three sides so you can open it like a suitcase and pack it accordingly with straps to keep your clothes in place. This makes finding what you need much easier than pushing your belongings from top to bottom like a typical backpack. A side handle allows you to even carry it as a suitcase.
When full, it can easily hold up to 10 kg, or 22 pounds, the carry-on weight limit for many discount airlines. Since this is a backpack, no one has even asked to weigh it for compliance. It will always look lighter than it is.
Store your laptop with confidence
As a writer, I always travel with a laptop, so I’m concerned not only about its portability, but also about its safety. However, I hate having it pressed right against my back, which can be tight and, depending on where you go, sweaty. The laptop sleeve on this model is perfectly located near (no sweat) the front of the backpack, but it’s not the most outward facing compartment. To be fair, protected by a foam divider, the laptop feels hidden even when packed to the gills.
External pockets are a must
The side grip is key to navigating public transport.
I’m team-soft-body, even when it comes to roller bags, for two reasons. First, it’s much easier to stuff last-minute items into an already zipped suitcase without the clamshell of the hard case, and second: exterior pockets. Who can travel without them? (No, I really want to know…) This backpack has two external pocket compartments for miscellaneous items, maybe three when you factor in the extra space located in front of the laptop case – and four if you include the handy water bottle holder. There are even wards within wards. These are the kinds of details that, in my opinion, separate the high-end from the toe-to-toe.
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A personal item that can be disguised as checked baggage
Safe laptop storage is critical for the travel writer, and this bag has a dedicated sleeve.
Many travel backpacks have infrastructure that keeps them in a certain shape even when empty. The Dinictis has enough structure to keep its sides afloat while you pack it, but its core is still like a lightweight fabric backpack. If you’ve ever been asked to prove that your carry-on actually qualifies as carry-on, you’ll know that “capacity” is an important factor. I packed this backpack for a weekend and took it on board as personal item. (I will fly Spirit Airlines, but I will only do so by giving them as little of my money as possible.) It can fit completely under the seat in front of you when needed.
The beauty of this travel backpack is that it is also suitable as checked luggage, with sturdy material that can withstand the journey. The straps can be unclipped and stowed, and the body can be secured with additional clips, for a tidy pack that doesn’t make you feel panicked as you watch it being carried out on the baggage conveyor.
I’ve had many trips where it leaves with me as carry-on and returns as checked baggage. Even in a lighter gray color, its durable material doesn’t give away that it’s ever seen the tread of a luggage carousel. This was the feature I didn’t even know I needed, but now I never travel without it for this purpose.
Read more: The best laptop backpack of 2024
4.7 average rating on Amazon
You don’t even have to take it from me. As someone who reviews various products, I understand that this kind of rating is rare: with over 1,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and selling for just $36, the Dinictis 40L Backpack is one of the safest bets you can make this season.
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