This Expandable Travel Backpack Is a Game-changer

I was never much of a backpack traveler. When choosing a carry-on bag, I always felt like roomy totes or duffel bags offered more efficient packing space. However, a TikTok video featuring the Bagsmart Blast Quick Access 38L Carry-on Travel Backpack caught my eye ahead of a recent trip to South Africa. With a front-loading design and a seemingly never-ending supply of pockets, this backpack appeared infinitely better than the average rucksack, so I decided to give it a try.

After using the backpack as a personal item for two 15-hour-plus flights (to and from South Africa) and as a daypack during three safari trips, I can safely call it the best travel bag I have ever carried. I was thoroughly impressed with the bag’s intuitive organizational features, 38-liter capacity, and comfortable carrying options — all of which eased the inevitable stress of packing for travel. Plus, it’s only $75, which I consider a steal for the quality. 

Bagsmart Blast Quick Access 38L Carry-On Travel Backpack

The Bagsmart Blast Quick Access Travel Backpack comes in seven colors including a spiffy light beige, which I got. (There’s also a non-expandable, standard version available in eight colors.) Not expanded, the backpack measures 12.2 by 16.5 by 8.1 inches, yields 28 liters of packaging capacity, and even qualifies as a personal item bag on many airlines. If you expand the backpack, it adds two inches to the depth and 10 liters to the packing space. 

The most impressive aspect of this backpack is its capacity. I took advantage of the full 38 liters and was able to fit the following with room to spare: a 13-inch laptop, an iPad, a change of clothing, a toiletry bag, snacks, three pairs of sunglasses, a tech case filled with chargers and converters, a versatile jacket, a hat, my passport, my boarding pass, an iPhone, a wallet, and a 40-ounce water bottle. After stuffing it full, it still easily fit in the overhead compartment and under the seat in front of me.

Bagsmart Blast Quick Access 38L Carry-on Travel Backpack

The Bagsmart Blast Quick Access Travel Backpack makes the most of its space thanks to some genius organizational features. The main compartment unzips clamshell-style on three sides like a suitcase, which made it easy to see and stack my items most efficiently. There’s a waterproof zippered shoe compartment at the bottom, which I left empty to maximize space on the flight there, but I filled it with some dirty socks and shoes that I wanted to keep separate from the rest of my gear on the way home. My laptop and iPad fit easily into the separate technology sleeve at the back, which unzips to 180 degrees for easier packing. 

The top pocket was convenient for quick-access items like my sunglasses, a pack of tissues, some gum, and hand sanitizer. Beyond that, there were five more flat exterior zip pockets, which I used to stow my cell phone, passport, and boarding passes. The exterior water bottle compartment accommodated my 40-ounce Owala FreeSip without issue. 

Bagsmart Blast Quick Access 38L Carry-on Travel Backpack

You might think this bag adds up to a burdensome carrying experience, but that wasn’t the case thanks to adjustable padded shoulder straps, a cushy back panel, a sternum strap, a trolley sleeve on the back, and sturdy carrying handles on the top and side. 

It was even lightweight enough to use as a shared daypack for my husband and me on three safari excursions. We carried a water bottle, two sweatshirts, two jackets, sunscreen, bug spray, two pairs of binoculars, two pairs of sunglasses, and a camera. I was worried the clamshell opening might be risky to unzip on a moving open-top vehicle, but it actually made it much easier to remove the items I wanted without any unnecessary rummaging.

For $75, I consider this an incredible deal that’s well worth the investment. But if you’re looking for even more budget-friendly options or a convertible option that transforms into a duffle, read on for more travel-friendly backpacks. 

Shop More Travel Backpack Styles:   

Vecave Travel Backpack

Another bag that rose to TikTok stardom, the Vecave Travel Backpack is beloved for its spacious interior, suitcase-style opening, memory foam straps, ample compartments, and a USB port for charging your phone on the go, just to name a few. The bag’s 11.8-by-7.9-by-16.9-inch frame is still considered a personal item on budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier.

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

Though on the pricier side, this bag is a Travel + Leisure editor top pick. The high-capacity bag’s unstructured bodice proved ideal for wedging clothes into every corner, maximizing packing space in the clamshell-style compartments. During testing, the T+L team found the materials were quite durable, even through continued use, making it a good investment piece you can carry for years.

Béis The Backpack

Béis products consistently rank among T+L editors’ favorite travel bags because of their intuitive and functional features and sleek designs. The brand’s elegant travel backpack has a convenient two-way zip-around closure that makes packing and stacking a breeze. The adjustable straps are padded for comfort and a bevy of interior and exterior pockets help keep items organized.  

Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack

If you’re traveling with tech, you’ll appreciate the Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack’s middle compartment, which features a padded sleeve that can accommodate up to a 17-inch laptop, a tablet, and charging cables. The budget-friendly rucksack frequently makes it onto Travel + Leisure’s list of top-rated carry-on backpacks because it can hold 40 liters worth of clothing, which is enough to replace a larger carry-on suitcase for shorter trips.

Baggallini Modern Convertible Travel Backpack

Why choose between a backpack and a duffel bag when you can get both in a single item? This convertible backpack, which comes in six hues, opens flat for easy, suitcase-like packing, and features a convenient crossbody strap when you want to wear it as a duffel. The 11.8-by-17.7-by-7-inch bag also features an expandable main compartment, a trolley sleeve, and an easy-access laptop pocket.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.