When you’re a digital nomad, your backpack is your best friend. It will accompany you on all of your greatest adventures and be your portable office no matter where life takes you.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when browsing digital nomad backpacks and trying to find the best one for you. You don’t want to cheap out or impulse buy when shopping for the perfect one.

We broke down some major pros and cons of five popular digital nomad backpacks to help you decide which one is best for you.

Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack

Tortuga is a brand favored by digital nomads–and for good reason! The brand knows what works for location independent folks because the co-founders themselves are location independent, and their mission is “to help you live on your terms.” One of their most loved digital nomad backpacks is the Outbreaker.

Pros

Tons of organization inside (even slots for credit cards, IDs, and pens)
Front loading/clamshell opening
Separate laptop pocket
Padded hip belt to take some weight off shoulders
Made with waterproof sailcloth
Made with soft sweat wicking foam on the back
Height-adjustable suspension system
2 easily accessible water bottle pockets

Cons

Not ergonomically designed for hiking or long outdoor adventures because it’s really primarily an “urban” backpack
At price points of $269-$299, it’s on the pricier side
Weighing in at 5.1 pounds (for the 45 liter) and 4.6 pounds (for the 35 liter) it’s the heaviest backpack on the list

Osprey Farpoint 40

Osprey specializes in backpacks and carries a wide array suited for different activities. This particular backpack from Osprey is pretty popular in the digital nomad community at large, despite just being categorized as a men's backpack.

Pros

Front loading/clamshell opening
Lockable laptop and tablet compartment
Hip belt to distribute weight (and the hipbelt can be stowed away)
Internal compression straps so contents stay put
Has attachment points to hook on extra gear
Meets many airlines size requirements for carry on
Not just an urban backpack - suitable for outdoor treks as well
Mesh back panel for ventilation
Lightweight (3.11 pounds for the S/M and 3.17 for M/L)
Both sizes fit most airline carry on requirements
$160 price point

Cons

Laptop compartment is in the front instead of against the back which can feel a little funny
Not a lot of internal organization or compartments
Can’t always fit water bottles in the front pockets when backpack is full

‍Minaal Carry-On 2.0

Minaal is another brand that really understands the needs of digital nomad backpacks, as a business with a fully remote team. The brand’s original Carry On backpack (1.0) was already very successful got an upgrade to make it even better in this 2.0 version.

Pros

Made with water resistant coating and comes with a separate rain cover
Front loading/clamshell opening
Convertible! The shoulder straps can be tucked in and made to look like a briefcase
Meets US and European carry on requirements
Adjustable chest strap for different heights and sizes
Shockproof laptop compartment
Lightweight (3.1 lbs)
Designed to fit both men and women’s bodies
Lockable zippers

Cons

Doesn’t have a hip belt to distribute weight (you have to buy one separately and attach if you want one)
$299 price point
Water bottle pocket is not great (and there’s only 1)

Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L

Well known lifestyle brand Patagonia has everything you need for an active, outdoorsy lifestyle. Plus, you can feel good about shopping there since they’re big on sustainability and 1% of their massive sales goes towards preservation and restoration of the natural environment. MLC is actually a product line, so there are some slightly variations style to style, but we’ll be discussing the newer Black Hole MLC.

Pros

MLC = maximum legal carry on! This backpack will meet most airline carry on requirements
Front loading/clamshell opening
Convertible! Wear as a backpack, shoulder duffel bag or briefcase
Bluesign® approved fabric, which means “safe for the environment, safe for workers, and safe for the end customers”
Designed to maximize space. You really can fit a lot in there
Padded separate laptop compartment
DWR (durable water repellent) fabric finish
“Black Hole” fabric is made with highly weather-resistant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
Lightweight (3 lbs 5.1 oz)

Cons

Not the most comfortable backpack -- convertible straps are thin and not super padded
Back panel doesn’t have mesh or any sweat prevention
No hip belt
No compression straps

Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP45

Safety is definitely a concern of digital nomads. While napping in transit or hanging out in hostels, you want to be sure that you and your valuable belongings are safe and sound! Pacsafe has dedicated themselves to creating products that safe gaurd you, and the Venturesafe backpack does just that.

Pros

Front loading/clamshell opening
Has a sternum strap and waist/hip belt
Built in locking cable
Puncture resistant zippers
Slash proof fabric built into the most “vulnerable” areas of the backpack
Padded adjustable shoulder straps can be stowed away
External attachment points for gear
Made with water resistant fabric
Interlocking zippers make it harder for pickpockets to quickly unzip your bag
Can be worn 2 ways
External and internal compression straps

Cons

Front pocket doesn't unzip all the way, can make it hard to get things out
Comparatively small laptop pocket
A little difficult to stow away the shoulder straps

When it comes down to it, everybody’s different and has different needs while working and travelling. With all of the great digital nomad backpacks out there and our pros and cons list, we hope you find your perfect match.

Words: Ashley Laderer for Outsite