Looking for a must-have travel bag that costs less than the baggage fee? I fly more than 50 times a year as a food and travel writer, and I say this with as much urgency as possible: this Dinictis Backpack $36 It’s the best travel accessory I’ve ever owned.
Many continue backpacks they are more elegant and perhaps come in more colors, but I would say that none are sturdier, more versatile and more modestly priced than this travel bag. It’s the ideal gift, whether the gift recipient is a want-to-be type of traveler or a has-been-everywhere type of traveler. That’s why I love this backpack. To find out more, here our favorite travel tech gifts AND our favorite carry-on gadgets.
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When a backpack is needed
It is available in four colors: gray, dark gray, blue and black.
To be clear, my days of backpacking they were finished before they began. Without the means to travel seriously before age 25, my life as a traveler didn’t begin in earnest until I was gifted solely with rolling luggage sensibilities. However, as a child (age redacted) when I planned a bus trip along the coast of Peru, with overnight stays in modest accommodations, a roller bag suddenly seemed a little… well, cute. Roller bags are definitely uncomfortable when dealing with unpaved or untiled surfaces, plus, they’re not exactly great when the atmosphere is more modest than luxurious. This wasn’t a backpacking trip at all, but a backpack was definitely necessary. One that can hold a week’s worth of clothes, accessories, and a laptop, but still fits in a locker.
The Dinictis 40L travel backpack entered my life for this particular trip and exceeded my expectations. Since then it has accompanied me on every trip, backpack-friendly occasion or otherwise.
Pack it like a suitcase
It’s a backpack that folds up like a suitcase.
Many travel backpacks are spacious and compartmentalized, but the Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack functions like a suitcase. It opens on three sides, so you can open it like a suitcase and pack it accordingly, with straps to hold your clothes in place. This makes finding what you need much easier than shoving your stuff from top to bottom like a typical backpack. A side handle allows you to also carry it like a suitcase.
When full it can easily hold up to 10kg, or 22lbs, the carry-on weight limit for many discount airlines. Since it is a backpack, no one has ever even asked to weigh it to check its conformity. It will always seem lighter than it is.
Store your laptop safely
As a writer, I always travel with a laptop, so I worry not only about its portability but also its safety. That said, I hate having it pressed against my back, which can be stiff and, depending on where you’re going, sweaty. The laptop sleeve on this model is ideally located near the front (sweat-free) of the backpack, but it’s not the most outward-facing compartment. Honestly, protected by a foam divider, the laptop feels hidden, even when filled to the gills.
External pockets are essential
A side handle is key to getting around on public transport.
I’m also on the soft-body team when it comes to trolleys, for two reasons. First, it’s much easier to stuff last-minute items into an already zipped-up suitcase without the clamshell action of a hard case, and second: external pockets. Who can travel without these? (No, I really want to know…) This backpack has two external compartments for miscellaneous items, probably three if you consider the extra space located in front of the laptop sleeve; four if you include the practical bottle holder. There are also compartments within compartments. In my opinion, these are the types of details that separate high-functioning travelers from those holding the line.
Read more: Essential items to pack and avoid in your carry-on for crossing TSA lines
A personal item that can masquerade as checked baggage
Secure laptop storage is crucial for a travel writer.
Many travel backpacks have an infrastructure that keeps them in some shape even when empty. While the Dinictis model has enough structure to keep the sides afloat while you pack it, its essence is still that of a lightweight fabric backpack. If you’ve ever been asked to prove that your carry-on bag actually qualifies as carry-on, you’ll understand that “smushability” is an important factor. I packed this backpack for a weekend and took it on board as a personal item. (I will fly Spirit Airlines, but I will only do so by giving them as little money as possible.) It can fit neatly under the seat in front of you when needed.
The great thing about this travel backpack, however, is that it is also suitable as checked luggage, with a durable fabric that can withstand the journey. The straps can be unclipped and tucked away, and the body secured with additional clips, for a tidy package that won’t make you panic when you watch it being whisked away on the baggage carousel.
I have been on many trips where it left with me as carry-on and returned as checked baggage. Even in the lightest gray color, its durable material does not reveal that it has ever seen the passage of a baggage carousel. It was the feature I didn’t even know I needed, but now I never travel without it for this purpose.
Read more: Best Laptop Backpack of 2024
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Average rating on Amazon 4.7
You don’t even need to take it from me. As someone who reviews various products, I understand that this type of rating is a rarity: with over 1,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and selling for just $36 after Cyber Monday, the Dinictis 40L Travel Backpack is one of the best bets sure you can place this season.
What’s more, here are the best tech gifts under $100 AND our favorite travel headphones.
