These bags quietly change how you travel

Do you remember when you retired from a backpack, and switched to a bag with wheels? It was such a sad day for this writer – as much a reminder of time moving on as removing P-Plates, realising you’re into war documentaries or any birthday.

Thankfully, Kathmandu’s Hybrid Trolley is a sleek, adventurous option for those who are ready to wheel their bag across an airport, but still encounter enough situations to break out the straps. It’s deceptively deep – a 70-litre bag with a number of handy compartments. It opens up from the top, making it easier to get whatever you need. And, like all Kathmandu gear, and like the backpacks that somehow made it through festivals, jungle treks and grim hostels stays, it has so far proved indestructible.

FROM AU$399

Who would have thought that a trip to the post office would inspire a backpack design. Ethan Nyholm purchased a padded postal envelope to protect his laptop inside a hiking pack. Total MacGyver move. He took this idea, teamed up with his mate Adina Jacobs and they got cracking designing bags like Dux that protect digital gear but still look sleek.

This backpack is an organisers dream. Forget sorting your pantry, you’re going to want to get all your gadgets out then pack them into this bag, marvelling at your skills and the bags’ design. There’s even internal shelves. SHELVES! The shell is water resistant, has their FoamFortress 360 degree padding, offers 30L capacity and the kicker—SlingTech Laptop section that suspends devices up and away from the impact zone. Fitted with pockets just about everywhere, the Dux Backpack fits up to a 17” laptop.

FROM AU$329.95

The Scrubba Bag has been revolutionising cleanliness and travel (not something you often hear in the same sentence) since 2012.

We’ve all pushed a t-shirt or pair of jeans a day too far when travelling but sometimes you have no choice. You’re not always going to find yourself near a washing machine or shower for that matter, making the Scrubba Bag a wise investment for those who travel.

They’ve come a long way since launching their first wash bag and now boast an array of products from their range of Scrubba Bags, air sleeves for tablets or laptops, towels, travel squeeze bottles and our favourite – the Scrubba Stealth Pack.

It’s your washing machine, outdoor and compression dry bag all-in-one. With a 21L capacity (40% larger than the original Scrubba wash bag) it allows for greater laundry loads – handy when you’ve let your laundry pile up. It also just makes for a great backpack!

SCRUBBA STEALTH PACK AU$114.95

Horizn is a luggage brand with the motto Let’s Go Further.

This is something, as the kids say, that we can totally fuck with. It’s right up our alley, and the next time we’re going further in a far-flung city in Eastern Europe somewhere, we’ll be bringing with us one from the Horizn RE Series, which seems to have gone further than most when it comes to sustainability: On the outside is 97% recycled polycarbonate hard shell protecting your most important gear, and on the inside is high-end, water-resistant lining. It’s also 100% vegan. The Sofo Rolltop Backpack is really cool too—a smaller option with a padded compartment for your laptop—ideal for the on-the-go worker.

This is the sort of gear to make you look chic as, in airports, walking the streets of a new city, or pretty much anywhere. We absolutely love it.

SOFO ROLLTOP BACKPACK FROM AU$232
RE SERIES FROM AU$537

An esky, but it’s a backpack. Genius. Eskies are one of the greatest modern inventions, however portability–specifically over long distances—is a major design flaw.

Not only is the Red Paddle Co Coolbag Backpack much easier to carry, but it’s watertight, airtight and leakproof, so you can count on keeping your food together and your beers secure.

Celebrate at the summit of the next mountain with an ice cold froffie, before attacking the descent with a bit more steam than usual.

FROM AU$225

Backpacks have levelled up. MAISON de SABRÉ are a new brand that make mundane items cool, thanks to stylish leather exteriors.

Notebooks, phone covers, AirPods cases and even pencil cases are on the menu, so you can look like a boss when you’re carrying those Derwents and four-pens.

The backpack is our favourite—personalised with gold lettering, functional, but way upmarket—the sort of thing that elevates your style game when walking around a new city.

FROM AU$319

Bali, Arugam Bay or Byron Bay—wherever you’re headed for your yoga camp, Tumi’s yoga sling and tote has you covered.

Not only is it quite literally a yoga holster, it’s also got a bunch of other cool features that your standard yoga bag or clip strap doesn’t. Like an outer mesh zip-up storage pocket and a hidden magnetised pocket behind—handy for your passport or your phone.

It also morphs into a tote bag, so you can cruise along the markets and look cool when not yoga-ing. Not bad.

FROM AU$477

Have your bags ever gone missing on a trip? Good news — Samsara trackable bags are putting an end to lost baggage drama.

This means no more spending two hours on-hold to an airline computer voice while your bag sits on the back of a truck headed for downtown Timbuktu, where it will either sit unused or be divided out amongst the locals, a small Malian child now the proud owner of your favourite hoodie. Samsara bags use Apple AirTag Technology, so you can track your suitcase using the Find My phone app on your iPhone.

Not only that, the bag doubles as a portable desk so you can work or play on-the-go. Not bad.

FROM AU$585

Unlike other bags of its considerable size, the Norrøna Trolley Bag isn’t all that heavy, meaning you can pack those larger, bulkier sex toys without a second thought.

The 2.4 kilogram weight is really light for a 120 litre bag – you’re not going to go over the limit on a flight anytime soon with this bag. It’s nice to look at too, combining minimalist style with an uber-cool Norwegian strikethrough ø in the name.

FROM AU$413

Creatures of Leisure have made a pretty simple thing – keeping things dry – quite profitable by doing it really, really well.

This S-Lock Dry Bag’s versatility is its key: if you’re swimming to a remote island, you can chuck your valuables in here, strap the backpack to your back, make like Thorpey and away you go. If it’s an esky you require, chuck some ice in and there you have it. If you’re fishing, kayaking, jet-skiing or on a surf trip, and you’ve got valuable gear you need to stow away safely – it’s safe in the S-Lock Dry Bag.

FROM AU$179

The new bucket-style backpack from July features a magnetised top closure and multiple pockets.
It is lo-fi yet still stylish (did you expect anything less?) with all the compartments you’ll need for a big day of exploring a new city straight off the plane. The leather trims and metal buckle make it perfect for work or play.

FROM AU$195