A wheeled backpack offers the best in versatility and convenience, letting you take a load off when you need to, but also shouldering the weight when necessary. Frustratingly, when choosing luggage it can be hard to know what to look for. That's why we've put together this article to help you find your new favourite backpack.
We've scoured the internet for the 10 best wheeled backpacks from UK retailers, including Amazon, Argos and John Lewis. We'll even help you choose the right capacity, materials, straps and number of compartments to ensure you pick a pack that suits your needs!
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of backpacks with wheels available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Cabin Max | 2 ![]() Mountain Warehouse | 3 ![]() Wenlia | 4 ![]() Osprey | 5 ![]() Stanley | 6 ![]() Kono | 7 ![]() Cabin Max | 8 ![]() it Luggage | 9 ![]() Samsonite | 10 ![]() Kipling |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Lyon Flight Approved Bag | Voyager | 3-in-1 Wheeled Backpack Set | Sojourn 80 Unisex Wheeled Pack | 1-79-215 Fatmax Backpack on Wheels | Children Luggage Suitcase Luminous | Manhattan Hybrid 30L Backpack | 28L Backpack with 2 Wheels | Roader 2-Wheel Recycled Laptop Backpack | Sari School Bag 25L |
Features | Get the Most From Your Carry-on Allowance With This 44L Bag Under 2KG | a Sleek Black Bag From a Titan of the Outdoors Equipment Industry | Travel Bag for Stylish Kids With Matching Pencil Case and Lunchbox | Huge 80-Litre Wheeled Backpack for Long Haul Trips | Industrial Strength and Plenty of Compartments With This Iconic Bag From Stanley | Wheeled Backpack That Glows in the Dark | Sophisticated 30-Litre Backpack With Chest Strap | Budget-Friendly Professional Backpack That’s Perfect for the Commute | Rugged Travel Backpack Made Form 100% Recycled Polyester | A Front-Wheeled Design That Cuts Out the Inconvenience of Removing and Deploying Back Straps |
Price | £44.95 | £54.99 | £52.99 | £197.48 | £47.58 | £29.60 | £59.95 | £40.00 | £129.00 | £184.00 |
Capacity | 44 L | 35 L | 30 L | 80 L | - | 25 L | 30 L | 28 L | 28 L | 25 L |
Material | Polyester | Polyester | Polyester | Nylon | Nylon | Polyester | Polyester | Polyester | Recycled polyester | Polyester |
Waterproof | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Water resistant |
Weight | 1.7 kg | 2.52 kg | - | 3.65 kg | 1 kg | 1.44 kg | 1.9 kg | 2.08 kg | 2.26 kg | 2.31 kg |
Straps | Shoulder | Shoulder | Shoulder | Shoulder, chest, hips | Shoulder | Shoulder | Shoulder, chest | Shoulder | Shoulder | Shoulder |
Compartments | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - |
Colours Available | Black, blue, green, red | Black | 4 patterns available | Black | Black/yellow | Black | Beige/black | Black | Black, blue | 6 options |
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The most important feature to look out for when shopping for a backpack is the capacity. If you're looking for something for your daily commute, it's best to avoid the larger sizes and opt for something between 15 and 25 litres. For short trips and carry-on luggage, you can size up to around 40 litres, and for longer getaways, an even larger capacity may be necessary.
If your chosen bag only specifies the dimensions and not the capacity, you can easily work this out by multiplying the width, length and height in centimetres and then dividing by 1000. This will give you the approximate capacity in litres. Don't worry, we've made this simple by doing the calculations for you in our top 10 ranking!
Another key feature will be the material your backpack is made from, as this will contribute to the style, comfort and durability. If you want something tough with great water-resistance, opt for a nylon bag. These tend to be fashioned from recycled plastics, making them more sustainable as well as rugged.
Polyester is another hugely popular backpack material. These bags are just as tough as nylon, but much lighter. This is a huge bonus as it will make carrying the bag easier and will contribute less to the overall weight of your luggage when weighed at the airport. The only downside is that polyester isn't always as water-resistant as nylon, so always check the specifications to ensure it meets your needs.
Don't let the rain get you down by choosing one of our Best Dry Bags!
Bearing the full weight of a loaded backpack can be tough, especially if it's on the larger side. Luckily, wheeled backpacks alleviate some of this difficulty as they can be pulled along instead of constantly carried. That said, it's still important to check the carry straps on your backpack, as you'll want to be sure it's comfortable when you do need to wear it on your back.
Smaller bags can be easily carried with shoulder straps, but larger bags may require chest and hip straps to evenly distribute the weight of the bag and help you retain good posture. If you suffer from back problems or you're not known for packing light, opt for a bag with additional straps to relieve discomfort.
Pack everything you need to hit the road with a high quality Hiking Backpack!
Packing can be a nightmare, but choosing a bag with multiple compartments can help make it a little more bearable. Bags with fewer compartments are great for transporting awkwardly shaped or cumbersome objects such as sports equipment, as the bag's full capacity can be used without obstruction.
However, it can be hard to keep things organised in a bag with minimal compartments. If you're carrying more conventional items, such as papers, electronics, toiletries and clothes, you might want to consider a bag with three or more compartments to arrange everything neatly.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£44.95
Capacity | 44 L |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Waterproof | No |
Weight | 1.7 kg |
Straps | Shoulder |
Compartments | 3 |
Colours Available | Black, blue, green, red |
£54.99
Capacity | 35 L |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Waterproof | No |
Weight | 2.52 kg |
Straps | Shoulder |
Compartments | 3 |
Colours Available | Black |
£52.99
Capacity | 30 L |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Waterproof | Yes |
Weight | - |
Straps | Shoulder |
Compartments | 3 |
Colours Available | 4 patterns available |
£197.48
Capacity | 80 L |
---|---|
Material | Nylon |
Waterproof | Yes |
Weight | 3.65 kg |
Straps | Shoulder, chest, hips |
Compartments | 4 |
Colours Available | Black |
£47.58
Capacity | - |
---|---|
Material | Nylon |
Waterproof | No |
Weight | 1 kg |
Straps | Shoulder |
Compartments | 5 |
Colours Available | Black/yellow |
£29.60
Capacity | 25 L |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Waterproof | Yes |
Weight | 1.44 kg |
Straps | Shoulder |
Compartments | 5 |
Colours Available | Black |
£59.95
Capacity | 30 L |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Waterproof | No |
Weight | 1.9 kg |
Straps | Shoulder, chest |
Compartments | 3 |
Colours Available | Beige/black |
£40.00
Capacity | 28 L |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Waterproof | No |
Weight | 2.08 kg |
Straps | Shoulder |
Compartments | 3 |
Colours Available | Black |
£129.00
Capacity | 28 L |
---|---|
Material | Recycled polyester |
Waterproof | No |
Weight | 2.26 kg |
Straps | Shoulder |
Compartments | 2 |
Colours Available | Black, blue |
£184.00
Capacity | 25 L |
---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Waterproof | Water resistant |
Weight | 2.31 kg |
Straps | Shoulder |
Compartments | - |
Colours Available | 6 options |
Written and researched by Alicia Byrne
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