I like to think I pack light and have high standards when it comes to bags — but neither is really true. I know this because, for the past ten weeks, I’ve happily set aside my cuter, more expensive bags in favor of a no-frills, under-$50 travel backpack. It doesn't have any flashy features, but it can impressively hold at least three days' worth of clothes, a laptop and a water bottle — all while fitting within the personal item size limits of most airlines.
At first, I couldn’t even find the backpack's label and had to ask my Good Housekeeping Institute colleague, Emma Seymour — the associate director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab — what the brand was. She confirmed it's a budget-friendly pick available on Amazon from the brand Bagsmart. (Technically, it does have a label, but it’s black-on-black — very stealth wealth. Except, of course, this Bagsmart backpack costs about as much as two pizzas in my Brooklyn neighborhood — what a deal!)
Here are my honest thoughts after taking the Bagsmart bag on six trips.
Bagsmart Travel Backpack
Pros
- Fits within the personal item requirements for most airlines
- Compression bag can grow or shrink
- Holds three to five days' worth of stuff
- Trolley sleeve fits over a roller bag
- Includes packing cubes and a shoe bag
- Affordable
Cons
- Not a fancy brand-name bag
- Some Amazon reviewers have reported broken zippers
- No key clip
| Dimensions | 18.5"D x 12.2"W x 6.1"H |
|---|---|
| Volume | 40L |
| Opening | Clamshell/Front-loading |
What exactly is a "travel backpack"?
Travel backpacks are designed with convenient pockets and easy-to-pack interiors that hold a few days’ worth of clothes. You can wear one on your back or slip it over your roller bag if it has a built-in trolley sleeve, keeping your hands free as you navigate airports and train stations. Once onboard, it fits in the overhead bin or under the seat.
Normally, I love traveling with my cute Baggu Cloud Bag, but it digs into whichever shoulder I’m using — though, to be fair, I tend to overpack it. A travel backpack like the Bagsmart distributes weight evenly across both shoulders, and the added chest clip helps keeps it high and supported.
How much fits in the Bagsmart travel backpack?
The brand lists the maximum capacity at 40L. That number didn’t mean much to me until I compared it to my Béis carry-on roller, which holds 61L — meaning this backpack can carry about two-thirds of what fits in my actual luggage.
Bagsmart calls it a "weekender bag," claiming it can hold five days' worth of clothes. I tested it in winter, though, packing bulky sweaters and wide-leg jeans, and found it comfortably fit three days' worth of my outfits, plus pajamas and a gym set. I even managed to stuff in a thick, long wool coat — and it fit with no issue.
The side pocket holds a water bottle securely, and the front compartments are perfect for quick-access items, like a passport.
The best way to pack the Bagsmart travel backpack
I found the best way to pack the Bagsmart backpack was to open it up and lay it out flat, like luggage. Then load it up! The picture shows it with my extra-large Dagne Dover Roma packing cube on the right, which holds 20L and measures 13.25" x 16.5" x 5.5".
On the other side of the interior, there's a mesh pocket to hold smaller things — my travel jewelry case, my TSA-complaint toiletries, my makeup bag and my friendship-bracelet supply kit, because I go to a lot of concerts. (Don't judge!)
The Bagsmart has a compression zipper that expands the bag by about two inches all around, bringing its capacity up to 40L. Zipped down, it holds 30L — a more compact option I used while recently attending the Toy Fair in New York City (scouting new toys for the Good Housekeeping Institute), since I only needed space for my laptop and snacks.
It also has a dedicated laptop sleeve in the back, plus three zippered front pockets: one roomy enough for a book or magazine, and two slimmer ones ideal for papers or tickets.
My experience with the Bagsmart travel backpack
I wasn’t exactly excited to test this bag at first — my Bagsmart is a plain, all-black version that’s more functional than fashionable. I later discovered it’s available on Amazon in gray and occasionally other colors like khaki (despite the fact that the wider Bagsmart line includes fun colors like pinks and blues). Regardless, this is not a snazzy bag. On the plus side, it’s totally gender-neutral.
Over two and a half months, I took the Bagsmart travel backpack on six trips. The first was to California, which meant wearing it on the NYC subway and NJ Transit to Newark Airport, followed by a cross-country flight with the bag tucked under the seat in front of me. I visited five cities — including Los Angeles and Desert Hot Springs — then did the entire journey in reverse, ending at my mom’s house in New Jersey.
The following month, I brought the backpack on a road trip. It mostly sat in the car, so it wasn't strictly necessary, but I compressed it down and used it as a basic laptop backpack.
About a week later, I appreciated it more on a trip that included both Los Angeles and Phoenix. The bag held up well through Uber rides and friends' cars during a multi-city, multi-airline concert trip. Did anyone compliment my plain black backpack? No. But was I able to stuff it with lots of concert merch? Absolutely.
The Bagsmart and I also took two Amtrak journeys together. First, from Philadelphia to New York. Then, a zigzag between New York and Lancaster, Pennsylvania — there and back, then back again. It was a lot. I was grateful the bag fit comfortably at my feet on every train, with plenty of legroom to spare. Also, I managed to fill the main compartment with groceries from Amish country, which was unexpectedly delightful.
Its final ride (for now) was a plane trip up and back to Burlington, Vermont, to see my college kid. I flew up with it stuffed full of things he forgot at home during spring break, then compressed it down to its compact size for my return.
By the time I brought my Bagsmart back to the Good Housekeeping Institute and opened it up to photograph the interior, I realized it was… filthy. I hadn’t fully registered how many trips I’d taken with it. Inside were remnants of my travels: sand from the California desert, dirt from Pennsylvania produce and swiped sugar packets from hotel rooms. The black fabric had also picked up a generous layer of cat hair from home. I wiped it down with paper towels and water (it’s polyester), and I’m happy to report it now looks as good as new.
Pros and cons
No one ever asked me, “Where did you get that bag?” based on the looks of my Bagsmart — but if they only knew how much I managed to pack inside! After more than two months of testing, here are my pros and cons:
What I liked:
- Holds about three to five days’ worth of clothes, depending on how bulky your items are.
- Now comes with packing cubes and a shoe bag. (My bag didn't have those, so I'm jealous!)
- Opens flat so you can pack it like a suitcase.
- Compression feature lets you expand it for more space or zip it down to stay compact.
- Zippers and straps held up well to rough handling (though some Amazon reviewers mentioned zipper issues).
- Makes a great carry-on or personal item for plane and train travel.
What I didn't like:
- Not available in cute colors or patterns. It's utilitarian, all function over fashion.
- No key clip. That didn't bother me too much, but if this were an everyday work bag, I would want that.
The bottom line
In addition to my Baggu Cloud Bag, I also own two other backpacks, but neither holds as much as the Bagsmart. After ten weeks of testing, my Baggu tote is now reserved for car trips, the smaller backpacks are for work and the Bagsmart is my new go-to for planes and trains. While the Bagsmart is not the most fashionable bag, I’m definitely going to keep using it for travel — it’s coming to Europe with me next!
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
