Best Travel Bags for Every Type of Trip

As we have already covered, we have a bit of an obsession with travel pillows. But I think our obsession with travel bags runs even deeper! I can’t even count how many travel bags I have purchased in my lifetime, and it embarrasses me to admit that I often pack 4-5 bags for a single trip. Want to join in this obsession? Read on for an overview of the best travel bags for every type of trip!

Note: We may earn a small commission from the affiliate links below.

Best Travel Bags for Theme Parks

Some theme parks allow you to carry bags on rides and others don’t. My choice of theme park bag will vary depending on this rule.

When I can carry bags on rides, I like to be fully prepared with everything I might need. This includes a water bottle, sunglasses, small umbrella, rain ponchos, snacks, phone charger and wet wipes along with my usual purse contents. I love this inexpensive AOTIAN Small Backpack. It holds all of this stuff, and I can even fit a lightweight packable windbreaker in it as well. It’s actually pretty tiny and doesn’t get too heavy – I barely even know I’m carrying it, even with all of my junk inside!

When theme parks don’t allow shoulder bags or backpacks on rides, they often will allow waist packs that have a three pronged buckle. This WATERFLY Fanny Pack is water resistant and large enough to carry everything that the small backpack above does except my water bottle, umbrella, and jacket. It’s a dream to walk around a theme park with nothing hanging on your shoulders, too! If I could live without my water bottle and umbrella, I would always take this fanny pack to theme parks.

Best Travel Bags for National Parks

When I’m in a national park or just doing outdoorsy activities in other places, I like to have a packable backpack in my luggage to use on hikes. This Zomake Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack has been on a ton of trips with me. This backpack can hold everything you might need for a day on the trail, including water and lunch. Yet it packs away into it’s own pocket and takes up almost no space in your suitcase.

The Outlander Packable Backpack is another option. It’s larger and holds more than the Zomake Backpack, but it folds up just as small. It’s a good option for people who have to carry around a lot of kid gear such as diapers. When my kids were small, I would carry the Zomake Backpack and my husband would carry the Outlander Packable Backpack on trips. We would have room for everything we needed for a day.

Best Travel Bag for Work Trips

This Baggallini Avenue Tote is the perfect bag for work travel. It has a padded inside pocket for your laptop, a luggage sleeve to attach to the handle of your suitcase, and two external pockets that can hold your water bottle and a small umbrella. Plus there’s room for all those important papers (if anyone has those now!), snacks, wallet, tablet or e-reader, and plenty more. I have a similar Baggallini tote that I use daily for work, and it has held up for years and still looks brand new. Bonus points for the fact that these bags are machine washable!

Best Travel Bag for Trips to the Big City

I have two different recommendations for travel bags when visiting a large city. The first is this streamlined Baggallini Far and Wide Crossbody Bag. This small bag has room for your basics – phone, ID/cash/credit cards, phone charger, and perhaps a few small items like lip balm, medication, etc. It is a great choice when visiting a city with a reputation for pickpockets.

But who am I kidding? I want to tote around FAR more stuff than this little Baggallini Crossbody can hold! So I usually opt for this larger Baggallini Helsinki Crossbody Hobo. It’s large enough for all my stuff (including the ever important water bottle and umbrella) and it looks slightly more stylish than other options in this post!

Best Overall Travel Bag

Unfortunately, my absolute favorite travel bag, the Baggallini Travel Messenger Bag, is no longer available for purchase. I hope it will someday come back in stock because it’s perfect! It can be worn as a crossbody purse or as a sling backpack. It has plenty of room for all my important stuff (including that water bottle and umbrella I keep referring to). Fortunately, this Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag is very similar in size and features. It also has a ton of anti-theft features such as lock-down straps, locking compartments, slash-resistant body and straps, and RFID blocking pockets.

Best Travel Bag Combos

As I mentioned, I have difficulty determining what bags to take with me on any given trip. My trips often combine work meetings with visits to big cities as well as outdoorsy activities. Here are a few bag combos that should work for most types of trips without taking up too much space in your luggage.

Combo #1 – Most Trips

Take the general all-purpose Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag for touring along with a stylish crossbody purse for evenings out on the town. Toss this great packable shopping bag in your messenger bag to hold all of your souvenirs while you are out shopping.

Combo #2 – Work Trips

Take the Baggallini Avenue Tote to carry your laptop and business stuff, and tuck the Baggallini Far and Wide Crossbody Bag inside to take on excursions and to restaurants.

Combo #3 – Active Trips

Take the AOTIAN Small Backpack to serve as your main purse. Tuck the Zomake Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack into your luggage in case you need a bigger bag for a day or two of the trip. You may also want to slip a stylish crossbody purse into your luggage to take out to dinner or shopping.

Combo #4 – Sightseeing Trips

If your itinerary mainly focuses on city sightseeing, take the Baggallini Helsinki Crossbody Hobo along with either the Baggallini Far and Wide Crossbody Bag or stylish crossbody purse. You can use the smaller bag for visiting heavy pickpocketing areas and when you just want something smaller to lug around. Make sure you have your packable shopping bag with you! It’s so handy to have an extra bag to hold your souvenirs or even take out food or snacks purchased at grocery store.

Do you have a favorite travel bag?

Share the link to it in the comments below.  We want to connect with you!