Front Loading Backpacks by Tortuga | Award-Winning Travel Backpacks

Front-Loading Backpacks

Travel bags that pack from the front, like a suitcase, for easy access and organization.

Carry On Only

Meets US and international carry on limits so you can pack light, move fast, and skip baggage claim.

All Day Comfort

Comfortable on long travel days, even when fully packed and on the move.

Built for Years of Travel

Made with best-in-class fabrics and hardware for all your future adventures.

Save $40

Pro + Compression Cubes Bundle

The comfortable carry on backpack with cubes for organization

$400 $440

Best Seller

Travel Backpack Pro 40L

The comfortable carry on backpack for international trips of a week or more

$350

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Travel Backpack Lite 40L

The lightweight carry on backpack

$300

Expandable Backpack

The flexible carry on backpack for short to long trips

$250

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Daily Carry Pro

The maximum-sized personal item for pairing with a suitcase

$250

★★★★★

"The clamshell design is genius and made it a breeze to open up the bag and see everything at a glance."

—Moira, Verified Buyer

Packed and Carried on Real Trips

FAQ

What's the difference between front-loading and top-loading backpacks?

Front-loading backpacks open like suitcases with full access to their contents, while top-loading backpacks open only from the top like a garbage bag. With top-loaders, you must unpack everything to reach items at the bottom. Front-loaders let you see and grab any item immediately without repacking your entire bag.

Why choose a front-loading backpack for travel?

Front-loader backpacks are better for travel because they eliminate the daily unpacking and repacking required with top-loaders. You can open your bag like a suitcase, see everything at once, and grab what you need without touching anything else. This saves time and frustration during daily use.

What's a front-loading backpack?

A front-loading backpack opens from the front like a suitcase, allowing you to see and access all your stuff at once. Also called panel-loading, these backpacks use a large zipper that opens the main compartment fully, making packing and finding items much easier than traditional top-loading backpacks.

A good travel backpack should carry like a backpack but pack like a suitcase. Your travel bag should be front-loading like a suitcase and open side-to-side like a book.

Most travelers start off with a hiking backpack because that's what they've seen "backpackers" carrying. I made the same mistake on my first backpacking trip.

But hiking bags don't work for travel because they're top-loading like a garbage bag. Every time you need something from the middle of your bag, you have to dump out everything above it, get what you need, then repack your whole bag.

You shouldn't be unpacking and repacking your entire bag every day of your trip.

The solution is a front-loading travel backpack. With a front-loader, you can open up your bag and see everything at once just like in a suitcase. Every item of clothing is right at your fingertips. By opening to the side, your bag will be easy to open and pack on a bed or luggage stand.

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