I've never had a travel backpack as useful as this one
When planning my European travels for 2023, something I really wanted to invest in was a travel backpack. I previously used a tote bag with pockets for my laptop and various items that I loved, but wanted something I could throw on my back while weaving through airports and rushing for trains. A backpack I could fit all the essentials in but could also handle some excess baggage on the trip home.
I discovered this travel backpack by WONHOX after searching Amazon.
WONHOX Large Travel Backpack
It had over 6,000 reviews and maintained a rating of over 4.5/5. That piqued my interest – it's pretty challenging to maintain such a strong rating with so many reviewers. Everyone was saying it was way more spacious than they expected and were pleased with their purchase. So I bought it, along with a different backpack I later returned, because when the Amazon travel backpack arrived, I knew it was the right choice.
Now I've been overseas for a month, and in that time, I've been on five ferries, three domestic flights and a long-haul. I've also had to hike up to the accommodation and frantically packed after oversleeping, so I've really given this travel backpack a workout!
It's worth noting here that the description on Amazon can be a bit tricky, and the images sometimes look the same despite being different-sized bags. I bought the D-Beige design, which is the smaller of the two beige colourway options. It's worth checking the dimensions of whichever you choose to purchase to determine if it's the right size for what you are after.
The D-Beige dimensions are 42cm height, 31cm width and 17cm depth, with a 40-litre capacity.
Here's what I love about it.
WONHOX Large Travel Backpack
It's got so many pockets and gadgets
The amount of pockets in the WONHOX travel backpack is what drew me to it in the first place. For starters, there is the large middle pocket that opens up, suitcase-style, so you can compactly pack clothing and items you can't fit in your suitcase if you need them. It fits a lot – I've managed to get my biggest packing cube in there, plus two pairs of rolled-up jeans. There is even a shoe compartment if you want your shoes separated from clothing.
The pocket in front is spacious enough for my headphones, in-flight skincare, socks and other bits and pieces, but most importantly, it's a waterproof pocket, so when I've been swimming, and my suit hasn't dried entirely, I can pop it in there if I need to move to new accommodation.
At the front, there are two smaller pockets – one opens from the side and is helpful for items you want to access quickly, like lip balm, tissues and so on. The other is a little more spacious, and I use it for cords I may need if any of my electronics run low on battery and a universal port.
The best pocket, I would say, is the laptop sleeve at the back. Firstly, it sits flat against your back, which makes me feel secure when I'm distracted in public spaces. It would be difficult to steal your laptop when wearing this bag! It's also really padded, which means my laptop is protected and also means it's comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. There is also a secret pocket at the bottom, which is where I put my passport and wallet when I'm not storing them in my cross-body sling bag.
Finally, if you have a portable charger, you can plug it in inside the bag, and then connect your charging cords to the USB port that sits outside the bag.
It's comfortable to wear and easy to clean
The padded back isn't the only comfort aspect of the WONHOX Travel Backpack. The straps are as soft and secure on your shoulders, even when the bag is at maximum capacity. It also has a great, square shape that sits flush against you, so it doesn't drag on your shoulders or stick out on the sides.
The back padding is also a little aerated, so you don't get a super sweaty back. Travelling in Europe, it's not perfect for keeping you cool – but it's definitely less sweaty!
Finally, I really like the material. I was afraid it would be cheap or thin, but it's really sturdy, while also being easy to clean. The tote bag that I did like seemed to grab onto dust and hair really quickly because it was a rough style of material. Not ideal when you have a dog who sheds or you don't really want airport dust all over your bag! The WONHOX travel backpack has a smoother material, which I can wipe down. I got the cream colour, and it still looks great after a month of travelling.
It fits magically under aeroplane seats
I don't know how, but the WONHOX travel backpack fits everywhere. When completely packed full, it becomes a square shape that, I will admit, can bump into people when you're standing in queues and turn around with it on your back! But for its sizeable nature, the design seems to have been considered with aeroplane seats in mind.
Even on small domestic flights, the travel backpack slid easily under the seat in front of me. Because the smaller pockets are placed across the front of the bag, if I face them toward me, I can access everything I want with ease.
On longer international flights, this backpack stores easily in the overhead compartment. I actually put my duffel bag in first, and then this in front of it, no issue! This meant I could also access all my in-flight necessities without taking the entire backpack down every time.
You can check out the WONHOX Travel Backpack and its different options on Amazon, here.
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