Mini backpacks from Paravel, Dakine, Dagne Dover, and more earned top scores for durability, comfort, and style.
Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Since living overseas in 2018, Anna has been a travel writer and began reviewing products in 2021. Luggage
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Bigger than a crossbody bag but smaller than a typical backpack, a mini backpack is the perfect hybrid that combines practicality and style. And don’t let the word “mini” deter you from investing in this style because the capacity of some of these bags will certainly surprise you.
We don’t take luggage tests lightly here at Travel + Leisure (or any test for that matter) so we thoroughly researched and identified 21 mini backpacks to try in our New York City lab to start. Then, we continued the assessment by sending out the bags to be further evaluated in everyday settings like flights, commutes, and errand runs. Comfort, durability, design, and capacity were the biggest factors we took into consideration to compile our list of the best mini backpacks and we’re certain one of these bags below can match up with your next adventure.
The backpack folds up into a small pouch so it can easily be tossed in a bigger bag.
There are only two pockets for organization.
This uber-portable backpack from Paravel earned its spot as the best mini backpack after scoring highly in design, comfort, and durability in both lab and real-world testing. The mini backpack has a solid capacity for its size and easily fits items like a tablet, a wallet, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and a small pair of shoes. And, best of all, when the backpack isn’t needed anymore, it folds up into a compact zippered pouch the size of a small wallet so it can be tossed into your personal item or stored at home without taking up much space.
The discreet zippered pocket on the back of this bag is ideal for a passport or cash and there is a small front pocket for keys or chapstick, too. While there could be a few more pockets for organization, most fold-up bags don’t have any at all so it’s better to have two than zero.
Made out of a super lightweight nylon material, the backpack is virtually weightless which lightens your load while packing, and the pack still feels durable against daily wear and tear. The straps are woven nylon that won’t dig into your shoulders and they can easily be adjusted to fit your back and shoulders no matter where your day takes you.
The Details: 12 x 10 x 6 inches (unfolded); 4.5 x 5 x 2 inches (folded) | Recycled nylon
The main compartment is spacious enough for a water bottle, snacks, books, and a wallet.
The fabric doesn’t have any padding so the backpack might not protect fragile items if it’s tossed around a bit.
If you’re not completely sold on a mini backpack, this bang-for-your-buck Madison & Dakota mini backpack is a great way to test the waters without spending too much. This basic bag has all the necessary components for everyday use including comfortable padded straps, a large main compartment, and a helpful front zippered pocket for smaller items. There is a solid amount of space for storing bulkier items like a water bottle or a lightweight jacket, or you can easily pack it full of smaller items like pens or snacks with plenty of room left over. The polyester material is fairly thin which means you’ll want to be careful if you’re traveling with a tablet or other fragile items, but the fabric is very lightweight. Thanks to the padded and adjustable straps, the pack is easy to toss onto your shoulders and plenty comfortable. Plus, the tote bag handles on top have a snap closure so the sack can be picked up and carried by hand, which is helpful for going through the TSA security line quickly or hoisting it into an overhead bin.
The Details: 13.5 x 10 x 4 inches | Polyester
The anti-theft design includes discrete pockets for tucking away valuables while traveling.
There is a slight learning curve for opening up the backpack and finding all of the pockets.
Getting your phone, wallet, or passport stolen on vacation can put a real damper on your trip so we recommend the Cheruti Anti-theft Mini Backpack for its thoughtful, anti-theft design. Unlike a typical backpack, this one has a zipper in the back of the bag to open up the main compartment so you’ll never have to check behind your shoulder to make sure the zipper is closed. Inside the bag are a variety of discrete zippered pockets for organizing items like a tablet, passport, wallet, or keys. There isn’t much padding in the back or straps but the PU vegan leather material doesn’t add much weight or feel cumbersome to carry. One unique feature is that this backpack comes with a removable tote strap so you can carry the protective, stylish bag both of those ways, or use the top handles instead.
The Details: 12.6 x 12.6 x 5.9 inches | PU vegan leather | Fits 10-inch tablets
The lightweight recycled nylon material and ample padding make this pack virtually effortless to wear.
The front buckle and drawstring closure make it less convenient to swing the bag around to quickly grab something out.
This rugged mini backpack from Topo Designs is a champion when it comes to comfort, durability, and sustainability. Its 100 percent recycled nylon fabric is dyed from certified dye mills without harmful chemicals and the backpack has a Fair Wear certification for production, ensuring the welfare and safety of garment factory employees. Although the backpack looks small at first glance, the 10-liter capacity can fit a range of small and large items including a tablet in the back slip pocket and lip balm or keys in the small front pocket. Since the top has a buckle and drawstring closure, it’s not as convenient to grab something out of your pack but the double closure does provide peace of mind that your items are tucked away safely while traveling. With adjustable straps for a customized fit and a fully padded back panel, the backpack provides hassle-free comfort whether you’re trekking through the woods or the concrete jungle.
The Details: 13.5 x 8.5 x 3.75 inches | Recycled nylon | 10 liters | Tablet sleeve
The larger capacity and traditional design resemble a regular-sized backpack.
The laptop sleeve isn’t padded or zippered.
The 12-liter Dakine Mini Backpack offers a generous capacity for a mini backpack, as it’s able to fit laptops up to 14 inches long. Resembling the style of a typical school backpack, the timeless design makes this bag versatile for running errands or going into the office. The 600-denier recycled polyester material is impressively lightweight without feeling flimsy, and this water-resistant fabric boasts excellent durability designed for long-term use. To keep the contents of the pack safe, the bottom panel is padded for extra protection (especially if you do pack electronics).
While the slip pocket in the back for a laptop or tablet isn’t padded or zippered, all of the contents remained secure despite the backpack being dropped off a counter during lab testing. There isn’t much padding around the backpack but the material is soft enough that the adjustable straps and back panel don’t cause any discomfort while wearing it for long periods of time.
The Details: 15 x 11 x 7 inches | Polyester | 12 liters | 14-inch laptop sleeve
The back panel and straps have an impressive amount of padding for extra comfort while trekking.
The side pocket is slightly awkward since it isn’t quite big enough for a water bottle.
If the outdoors are calling, you’ll want to be prepared with all of your hiking essentials in North Face’s comfortable and lightweight Borealis mini backpack. Whether you’re packing items like a beanie, neck gaiter, or even a lightweight layer, the front compression straps help keep items packed tightly so they won’t shuffle around while on the trail. Although the side pocket is a bit too small to fit a water bottle, there is plenty of space in the main compartment for a bottle and you can easily use the side pocket for a phone or other small items you want to quickly access.
The best part of this athletic-style backpack is the thick and breathable padding on the back panel and adjustable straps as that adds impressive comfortability for wearing the pack for long periods of time. And, if you want to use this bag for non-outdoor related activities, there are a variety of interior pockets for tech like a tablet sleeve and slot for phone chargers.
The Details: 13.5 x 8.6 x 4.15 inches | Recycled polyester | 10 liters
This style has a variety of useful pockets for a laptop, tablet, phone, notebook, and more.
It can be a little tricky to open up the main compartment because the zipper is hidden under a hooded cover.
Heading into the office? Bellroy’s mini backpack has all the organization you need without the hassle of lugging a bulky bag around. Designed with ample storage for technology, the laptop sleeve is ideal for a computer 13 inches or smaller and there is a super convenient top pocket for a phone, too. For tablets or eReaders, there is a small slip pocket on the front of the laptop sleeve so you can pack this bag up with everything you need for work or school.
When you’re packing up tech, you’ll likely need a spot for chargers or other accessories, so we love the spacious mesh pocket for storing smaller items since you can easily see the items tucked away in that spot. While the main zipper can be a little tricky to locate because of the edged fabric that hides the zipper, it gets easier to locate the more the bag is used. Come rain or shine, this comfortable, padded backpack is made with durable, water-resistant recycled fabric so you won’t have to worry about the pack getting damaged whether you commute via bike, train, car, or on foot.
The Details: 15.7 x 10.2 x 7 inches | 16 liters | 13-inch laptop sleeve
The neoprene material is lightweight, water-resistant, and feels super premium.
Dust and dirt cling onto the material easily but it does come with a drawstring bag for storage.
The sporty Dagne Dover Small Dakota Backpack is made with a sleek, plush neoprene material that feels ultra high-end. From the gym to a restaurant, this versatile mini backpack has an impressive enough capacity for a small grocery haul, a lightweight jacket, or large 32-ounce water bottle. When it comes to comfort, this backpack truly shines thanks to its thick neoprene that adds extra cushioning in the back panel and straps so, no matter how heavy a load is, the bag won’t dig into your shoulders. Plus, the wide-tooth zipper glides like a champ even when the backpack is filled to the brim.
The pockets proved to be perfect for storing a variety of items, especially the discrete front panel pocket and slip pocket for a tablet. The key leash in the main compartment makes it easy to locate your keys without having to dig around and, when you get home from running errands, the backpack comes with a storage bag to prevent dust or dirt from clinging onto the backpack.
The Details: 13 x 9.5 x 5 inches | Neoprene | 8 liters
There are just the right amount of pockets to stay naturally organized without it feeling too intricate.
This is one of the smallest mini backpacks we tested.
It’s not always easy to stay organized on the go but thanks to the plethora of pockets built into the Aotian Mini Nylon Backpack, it’s easier than ever to find a spot for everything. There are three different-sized compartments for storing a variety of everyday essentials. Working back to front, the largest compartment can hold bigger items (like a tablet up to 10 inches long) in a handy slip pocket and the middle compartment is best for medium-sized items like a wallet, deodorant, or charger. Although the front pocket is the smallest, it’s ideal for miniature items including lip balm or a roll-on perfume stick. The straps are made out of sturdy nylon fabric and they can quickly be adjusted while you head out the door. This was one of the smallest backpacks we tried but it still packs a punch with a generous capacity and a durable nylon exterior and a polyester lining that showed no signs of damage after a lab test and real-world testing.
The Details: 12 x 9.4 x 4 inches | Polyester, nylon | 10-inch tablet sleeve
Of the 21 mini backpacks we tested, the ones below almost made our list but they ultimately fell short during testing due to slight issues with comfort, durability, and capacity.
Itzy Ritzy Mini Diaper Bag: This spacious bag has stylish gold hardware and it’s functional for being out of the house with kids thanks to the removable changing pad. However, the straps aren’t very comfortable due to a lack of padding and metal buckles that rest awkwardly on the chest when adjusted.
Gymshark Mini Backpack: The faux leather and polyester backpack has a sleek look (and a spacious capacity for sweatshirts and cameras) but, when the backpack is packed full, it looks lumpy and flimsy. Plus, the back panel and straps have no padding so the comfortability score was on the lower end.
Adidas Linear Mini Backpack: This sporty bag is very lightweight and comfortable to wear, making it the perfect pack for the gym but the other athletic and outdoorsy bags we tested had a few more pockets for organization.
Carhartt Mini Backpack: Spacious and super durable, this canvas Carhartt mini pack certainly lives up to the brand’s reputation for durability and ruggedness. However, the straps are made out of nylon without any padding so they weren’t the most comfortable, and we wish there were a few more pockets for storage.
T+L researched and identified 21 mini backpacks in a variety of shapes and sizes (all miniature, of course) and began by testing each pack in our New York City lab. Then, we sent the backpacks out into the world for further evaluation in everyday settings like running errands, commuting, and traveling via airplane, train, or car.
In the lab, we examined the design of each pack by looking at every pocket, zipper, and buckle to get a feel for the materials. Then, we loaded up the bags with essentials like wallets, lip balms, keys, small water bottles, extra shirts, and hand sanitizer to judge the capacity. At the end of lab testing, we tossed the packs off of a counter to see how durable they were, and if the contents packed inside remained safe while being tossed around.
While lab testing was helpful to take a magnifying glass to each pack, we continued using the mini backpacks in day-to-day life to get the most well-rounded testing notes. We used the bags for gym visits, grocery store trips, flights, and more to continue judging the comfort, durability, design, and capacity. After all of the testing was complete, the backpacks noted as having generous padding for comfort, spacious interiors that are intuitive to pack, and durable materials that will stand the test of time earned the highest average scores overall.
One of the best things about a mini backpack is that it should provide a bit more space and storage solutions than a purse. To stay naturally organized while out and about, look for a bag with multiple compartments, interior pockets, and exterior pockets, too. If you like to travel with a tablet or laptop, search for a small backpack with a sleeve that will fit the dimensions of your device.
Mini backpacks are generally lighter in weight due to their smaller size (which helps when wearing the bag for long periods of time), but the best way to prioritize comfort is by investing in a pack with lots of padding. The back panel and straps should have cushioned or thick fabric to prevent digging in and other discomfort. In addition, more padding can also protect the contents of your bag from being damaged in case of falls or rough handling.
The typical size of a regular backpack is about 20 to 25 liters so anything less than 20 liters is on the smaller side. In general, a mini backpack will have a capacity of 8 to 16 liters with most sitting at around 12 liters. The typical dimensions of a mini backpack will be near 12 x 10 x 5 inches, give or take a few inches.
Mini backpacks might surprise you with the amount they can hold. While it ultimately depends on the capacity and dimensions of your specific backpack, you should have no issues fitting essentials like a wallet, lip balm, earbuds, a phone charger, and keys. Other larger items you may be able to fit include a tablet, small laptop, lightweight jacket, and a water bottle.
Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at T+L where she writes nearly all of the team’s tested articles whether products were evaluated in the lab or a real-world setting. Anna participates in every travel test and, for this one, she tested the Dagne Dover Small Dakota Backpack by using it to do light grocery shopping — and discovered the bag can fit an entire loaf of bread with minimal squishing.
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