The more observant amongst you will probably have noticed that traditional backpacks, like submarines and hamburgers, usually don’t have wheels. But what if they did?! Well a backpacks with wheels would allow users to both carry their baggage on their backs or pull it effortlessly behind them – the best of both worlds!
Sometimes, it’s just not possible to use a wheeled suitcase, while at other times, nothing could be better than shrugging that pack off your shoulders and rolling it behind you. Yes, I have been there.
Well, having a rolling backpack with wheels is ALL about convenience in the ever-changing world of travel. And besides, these days we’re all about the hybrids aren’t we? Hybrid cars, hybrid electronics and hybrid backpacks! Backpacks with wheels can be an absolute blessing. But which rolling backpack is best for your particular needs?
Well I will tell you. I tried and tested a bunch of them and so I could bring together my round-up of the top 10 backpacks with wheels, providing you with all the details you need to make the right choice!
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The Best Backpacks with Wheels – Editors Pick
Osprey Fairview 36 Wheeled Travel Pack
- Price > $330
- > Good for long-term travel
- > Versatile
Best Of The Rest
Hynes Eagle Wheeled 2 in 1 Backpack
- Price: > $279.98
- > Perfect carry on size
- > 7Ibs 3oz / 3.26kg
Osprey Soujourn 60
- Price: > $450
- > 90mm/3.5in wheels
- > Adjustable harness and padded hipbelt
Eagle Creek Tarmac XE4
- Price: > $359
- > 4Ibs 14oz
- > Expands to almost double its size
Samsonite MVS
- Price: > $183.63
- > Lightweight backpack on wheels
- > Integrated rain cover
Solgaard Carry On Closet 2.0
- Price: > $325
- > Expandable shelving system
- > Sleek, modern, and tough design
OIWAS Rolling Backpack
- Price: > $66.48
- > Padded laptop sleeve for added protection
- > Multiple compartments keep gear organised
Osprey Daylite 40 Liters
- Price: > $250
- > Padded handles and internal compression straps
- > Lightweight, smooth and durable
High Sierra XBT Wheeled Laptop Backpack
- Price: > $122.99
- > Plenty of internal and external pockets
- > Smooth rolling corner-mounted wheels
Neewer Camera Backpack
- Price: > $171.03
- > 11 adaptable compartments
- > Smooth and premium quality wheels
Best Overall Backpack with Wheels
Osprey Fairview 36 Wheeled Travel Pack
The Osprey Farpoint Wheeled is one of the best arguments for buying a backpack with wheels rather than choosing between a backpack and a suitcase. When the ground is smooth, just pull out the handle and roll it and when you hit cobbled streets, endless stairs or some horribly uneven hostel approach, deploy the proper padded shoulder straps and hipbelt and carry it like a backpack.
It comes in two sizes: 36L and 65L. The 36L is the obvious choice for shorter trips and travellers determined to avoid checked luggage. Note that while Osprey says it meets most domestic carry-on requirements, although you should always check your airline. The 65L gives you substantially more packing space and makes more sense for longer trips, colder climates or chronic overpackers, but you’ll generally be checking it in.
The compromise is that you’re carrying the extra weight and bulk of wheels, a chassis and telescopic handle even when it’s on your back. So, I wouldn’t choose the Farpoint Wheeled for trekking or trips where you’ll be carrying your pack for hours at a time. But if your travels are mostly airport – train – pavement – hotel/hostel, with occasional rough terrain in between, that compromise suddenly makes a hell of a lot of sense.
For me, I love the spacious main compartment that opens like a suitcase. Osprey makes a few of the best rolling backpacks on the market but this is the best pick.
- Genuinely versatile.
- Proper Osprey harness.
- Built for real travel.
- Heavier than regular backpacks.
- Less packing space for the size.
- Jack of all trades
Best Backpack with Wheels for Adventurers
Hynes Eagle Wheeled 2 in 1 Backpack with a detachable day pack
The Hynes Eagle Wheeled Backpack 2-in-1 is basically an entire luggage system bundled into one package. You get a 43L wheeled main bag, a detachable 20L daypack and three packing cubes, giving you 63L of combined capacity. The main bag converts between a roller and backpack, while the smaller pack can be unclipped once you arrive and used for sightseeing, commuting or carrying your laptop around town.
Plus, it’s probably the coolest-looking backpack with wheels – a sentence I’d never thought I’d find myself writing but here we are! A few of its sexy features include a large main compartment for all your clothes and other items, an exterior USB charging port, zip mesh pocket, and the packing cubes are a great addition to help you keep your luggage organised.
There is a catch: this is a lot of bag. The main wheeled pack alone weighs around 2.6kg/5.7lbs, and attaching a fully loaded 20L pack makes the whole setup considerably bulkier. I wouldn’t buy it for minimalist travel or trips involving lots of walking. But for travellers who want to wheel their luggage through airports, carry it when necessary and then detach a proper daypack at their destination, the Hynes Eagle offers a hell of a lot of functionality in one relatively affordable package.
- Comes with detachable day pack
- Weatherproof and extremely durable
- Tons of pockets and compartments
- Little bit unsteady
- Small wheels
- Heavy beast
Best Wheeled Backpacks for International Travel
Osprey Soujourn 60
The Osprey Sojourn 60 is built for travellers who want the convenience of rolling luggage but still expect to encounter some seriously crappy surfaces along the way. Its oversized 90mm wheels and chunky HighRoad chassis are designed to cope with cobbles, gravel and rougher ground considerably better than your average airport suitcase. At 60L, there’s also serious room here for longer trips without drifting into enormous expedition-bag territory.
When wheeling isn’t an option, the Sojourn reveals a proper AirScape backpanel, adjustable harness and padded hipbelt. That’s an important distinction because plenty of wheeled backpacks technically have shoulder straps but aren’t something you’d willingly carry for more than ten minutes. The Sojourn is still no trekking pack, but if you’re faced with a long staircase, steep old-town streets or a dirt track to your accommodation, it’s properly equipped for the job.
The big decision factor is weight and price. At around 3.7kg/8.2lbs empty, the Sojourn is seriously heavy (believe me, it gets painful to carry after a while), and it’s currently considerably more expensive than the Farpoint Wheeled 65L. You’re essentially paying extra for that tougher chassis, huge wheels and more substantial carrying system. If your travels are mostly airports and taxis, it’s probably overkill; if your trips regularly take you beyond perfectly smooth pavement, the Sojourn starts making much more sense.
- High wheel clearance
- 65-liter capacity
- Good-looking design
- Durable and sturdy
- Large, heavy size
- May require additional rain cover
- Not carry-on compatible
- Not for adventure travel
Best Carry On Wheeled Backpack with Wheels
Eagle Creek Tarmac XE4
When it comes to a backpack with wheels that meets the requirements of aircraft carry-ons, you can’t get much better than the Gear Tarmac.
For carry-on functionality, the 22-inch backpack comes with a very decent 34-liter capacity, but should you find your travels leave you needing more space, zipper expansion will give you an additional overall capacity! Designed to be durable and survive the rigors of air travel, the Load Warrior is constructed using tough ripstop nylon, with extra reinforcement in areas known to take the most wear and tear.
All things said, this is a great pick for travellers who value durability and organisation over keeping weight to an absolute minimum. Its hybrid construction combines a tough polycarbonate shell with softer recycled-nylon sections, while chunky spinner wheels, compression straps and easily accessible exterior storage make it particularly good for airport-heavy trips. The downside is weight — the 67L version comes in at around 4kg empty — and unlike the Osprey options above, this is fundamentally a wheeled suitcase rather than something you’ll throw on your back when the pavement disappears. Still, if you’re a frequent flyer who gives luggage a proper beating, the robust construction and Eagle Creek’s excellent No Matter What warranty make the Tarmac a compelling long-term investment.
- Carry-on compatible
- Expands to almost double its size
- Reinforced corners
- A good number of pockets in addition to the main compartment
- Not a rigid case
- Water repellent but not waterproof
- Single-strut handle
- No RFID-blocking technology
Now, you could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.
So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card! REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉
Buy on REI!Best Lightweight Backpack with Wheels
Samsonite MVS
The wheels and retractable handles that come part and parcel of a backpack with wheels means that these bags are invariably more cumbersome than their non-wheeled counterparts. That said, there are still some excellent lightweight backpacks with wheels out there to choose from, of which the Samsonite Rewind is perhaps the pick of the crop.
There’s an integrated rain cover to keep all your kit protected from the weather, a dedicated laptop compartment to keep your prized machine secure, and compression straps to hold everything in place whatever you find yourself doing.
Weighing just 2.1 kg when empty, this soft-shell bag is largely made up of tough polyester durable material and has a capacity of 30 liters.
The Samsonite brand is a popular choice and I feel that this suitcase backpack with wheels lived up to the brands high reputation. I loved just how light the pack felt even when fully loaded whilst still retaining that characteristic Samsonite sturdy and tough feel.
- Lightweight backpack on smooth wheels
- Integrated rain cover
- Dedicated laptop compartment
- Made from tough polyester
- Not as light as a backpack without wheels
- 5-liter capacity may be too small for some
- Laptop compartment fits machines no larger than 16”
- No hip belt
Best Suitcase with Wheels for Business Travellers
Solgaard Carry On Closet 2.0
Ok, so this smooth wheeled suitcase is in fact not a backpack, BUT, it is such a neat product idea that I could not keep it off of this list.
Hailed as one of the most practical wheeled luggage designs of all time, the Carry on Closet 2.0 is the perfect unit for busy business travelers looking to add a bit of order to an already crazy schedule.
As the name suggests, the Carry on Closet features an expandable shelving system that makes packing, access to your stuff, and general organization much more streamlined.
There are a total of six different shelves to work with and compression straps to help secure all of the contents. The shelving system is also removable in case you are the kind of travleer who prefers packing everything into the main compartment instead.
The exterior design of the Carry on Closet is sleek, modern, and tough looking and has interesting security features including a built in lock and unbreakable polycarbonate shell.
Our testers were pleasantly surprised by this suitcase. Let’s be honest, sometimes these things can be a bit of a gimmick that in reality aren’t all that practical. But qudos to Solgaard because the closet design actually works wonders especially if you like to keep all your gear organised. The material also feels sturdy enough to withstand proper usage too.
- Unique shelving system is the undeniable highlight
- Can be integrated with Solgaard’s solar charging system (Solar Bank sold separately)
- Comes in two sizes based on carrying needs.
- Stylish and tough as nails.
- Heavy (9 lbs/4kg when empty).
- Not factually a wheeled backpack.
- Too small for extended trips
- The closet can decrease the amount of clothing you can actually pack.
Another Great Backpack with Wheels for Business Travellers
OIWAS Rolling Backpack
Why is the OIWAS Rolling Backpack great for business travelers? First and foremost, its clean, professional design fits perfectly in an office, airport lounge, or conference hall. But more than that, this backpack with wheels is incredibly functional for business and short-term travel.
For instance, it contains multiple internal compartments of different sizes, meaning there’s a dedicated space for everything, from your laptop and tablet (both in padded sleeves) to A4 files, smartphone, and accessories. With a capacity of around 40 liters and a weight of just under 5 lbs, there’s more than enough room for an overnight trip or short business stay.
What we have here is a much more budget-friendly proposition than the Osprey options, and it makes particular sense for business travellers, students and short city breaks. You can roll it, carry it by the top handle or deploy the hidden backpack straps, while the padded laptop compartment, multiple pockets and water-resistant polyester make it practical for tech-heavy travel.
The downside is that at around 29L and 2.3kg/5lbs, the wheel and handle hardware takes quite a bite out of the usable space-to-weight ratio, and the carrying system is nowhere near as sophisticated as an Osprey harness. Still, if you’ll mostly be rolling through airports, stations and city streets and only occasionally wearing it, the OIWAS delivers the hybrid concept for considerably less money.
- Professional design suitable for business travel
- Smooth, easy-to-use telescoping handle
- Multiple compartments keep gear organised
- Padded laptop sleeve for added protection
- 40-litre capacity may be small for longer trips
- Not fully waterproof
- Basic wheel design not ideal for rough terrain
- Limited colour options (mostly black)
Best Wheeled Duffel for International Travel
Osprey Daylite 40 Liters
Is the Osprey Fairpoint Wheeled too big for you? Do you want a high-quality Osprey backpack with wheels to handle all of your travels?
Osprey’s Daylite 40L might just be your travelling chameleon! This backpack is great as a carry-on. I like the padded handles and internal compression straps to keep your things organized. The best part about this backpack is its weight. It weighs so little that it’s hard to believe it’s so durable. Wheels are also good quality!
Speaking of the wheels, they were a real stand out feature for me. They’re lightweight, smooth and durable. But if you do happen to wear them out, well a great feature is that they are easily replaceable which makes this bag one for the long haul.
The Osprey Daylite Carry-On Wheeled Duffel 40 is a strong choice for travellers who want something lighter and simpler than the Farpoint or Sojourn. At 40L and around 4.94lbs/2.24kg, it’s designed to meet most airline carry-on requirements, while the two-wheel system, telescopic handle and detachable backpack straps give you three useful ways to move it around. The clever collapsible frame also means it squashes down for storage when you’re home. The trade-off is that those backpack straps are relatively basic — this is a wheeled duffel you can carry, rather than a proper backpack that happens to have wheels. For weekend trips, city hopping and airport-heavy travel, though, that simplicity is arguably its biggest strength.
- Affordable
- Carry On to most flights
- Lightweight yet durable
- Not for adventure travel
- Not as big as Sojourn
Best Wheeled Duffel Bag
High Sierra XBT Wheeled Laptop Backpack
This is an affordable backpack that ticks off all the boxes. It is easy to maneuver with its smooth rolling corner-mounted wheels. It’s also lightweight, and features plenty of internal and external pockets for easy organisation.
We like that there are two main compartments and across them both is a compression strap to keep things tight. The front compartment is great for keeping things close to hand like your bus pass or city maps whilst everything behind it is super secure.
All in all, this bag will get the job done, and get you from point A to point B; however, it’s not the highest quality roller backpack on this list nor do any features set it apart from the rest of the bags. That said, its price is hard to beat!
Our testers loved this budget option and the fact that it still came with a padded laptop compartment, something our team takes very seriously! In fact, they said for such a well-priced bag their expensive equipment felt safe and secure.
- Affordable
- Versatile
- Lightweight yet durable
- Not for adventure travel
- Quality is so-so but good for the price
Best Budget Backpack with Wheels
Neewer Camera Backpack
Any semi-serious photographer will already know just how much kit it’s necessary to cart around when you count up the camera, lens, and other pieces of vital equipment a photographer needs.
Not only can the weight soon mount up, but much of this equipment is delicate, meaning you need a specific camera bag, that’s where the Newer Camera Backpack comes in. Open up the main compartment and you’ll find eleven adaptable compartments you can personalise with protective padding to keep your prized possessions safe.
There is also a front sleeve for laptops up to 17″ and an external strap for a full-sized tripod! The bag has smooth and premium quality wheels, perfect to roll the bag to your destination with all your gear safe and secure.
Let’s be honest, Neewer actually make some pretty good products for those of us on a budget and well, as a Broke Backpacker, I’m always on the the lookout for a bargain. I loved how versatile this bag was and for the price, it’s a steal.
- Dedicated camera bag
- Adaptable compartments
- Padded laptop sleeve
- Expandable section
- Exterior a little drab
- Wheels protrude slightly
- Can become heavy when fully loaded
- External strap better for a lighter tripod
FAQ about the Best Backpack with Wheels
Still have some questions about the best backpack suitcases with wheels? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:
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Which is the Backpack with Wheels for You?
There’s no excuse for uncertainty now we’ve given you all the relevant details on the best backpacks with wheels you can purchase right now!
Any of our most recommended bags will be able to keep up with you on your adventures. Enjoy the versatility of these great rolling backpacks!
This has clearly not been updated in 2022. Almost none of these bags are currently sold. Further – the Nomadic bag that is recced here is not even a backpack.
Hi Valkyrie
Firstly, we are well aware that the Nomatic is not even a backpack which is why we wrote “this is not a backpack” in large letters in the relevant section.
Otherwise, we are aware that a number of these backpacks are currently unavailable owing to inventory issues but are optimistic that production and sales will resume in due course. If we come across any suitable alternative products in the meantime, we will of course update this post.
Aiden
I agree that wheeled backpacks are a great type of travel bag. I’m loyal to the Osprey Brand and love their bags.