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While black easily blends in, a bright-colored backpack will definitely stand out. In a sea of black bags, colors and patterns are way easier to see – and they look way cuter and livelier than black!
So if you’re a traveler who likes to express herself with color, read on because you might find the perfect colorful backpack for your next travel adventure.
Why go for colorful travel backpacks instead of black?
Dark backpacks have always had the reputation of being better than their colorful counterparts because of their ability to blend in.
This can be good when you don’t want to stand out in crowds, if you’re hoping to look more professional, or if you simply want to hide any dirt that might accumulate on your luggage.
However, backpacks made with bright colors have their place. Here are some reasons why:
1 – It’s easier to spot a bag with bright colors and patterns.
Have your bag sitting with others in your hostel dorm? Sitting on a bench with the rest of your tour group? A bright color will help you quickly identify your bag from others.
2 – It’s easier to describe a colorful bag if something goes wrong.
Our fingers are crossed that all will go well! But just in case something goes wrong, describing a pink bag with accents of white and red will be easier to spot than just a plain black backpack.
3 – It’s livelier, and some may even say cuter.
Do you find black to be drab? Would you rather tote around something in your signature pink so that your boring backpack turns into a fashion accessory? We thought so.
4 – It’s a fun way to express your personality.
We completely understand that a lot of travel gear and clothing that helps you to pack light isn’t always the same stuff that fits in with your personality. If you like patterns, prints, and yellow – but most travel gear is black, monotone and cargo pockets, then you will not feel like yourself when you travel. Getting a fun backpack can help your personality to shine.
Speaking of personality…
What Does Your Choice of Color Say About You?
Your color of choice says a lot about your personality. In a nutshell, colors affect and/or project your emotions. They also say something about your style preferences or portray your values.
For example, you might choose a black or dark color bag because:
- Your style is one that is sleek, classy, or professional.
- You value having low-maintenance gear- either because it needs cleaning less often or because black backpacks are the most common on the market.
- You want to portray a feeling of simple sophistication.
You might choose a multicolor bag because:
- Your style is quirky.
- You value creativity and artsy design.
- You want to portray a feeling of outgoing energy.
Just for fun, here’s a quick breakdown of what each color might say to others about your personality:
- Purple – you’re intuitive, charismatic, and a visionary.
- Orange – you’re optimistic, inspire others, and loves to solve problems.
- Red – you are determined, passionate, and driven.
- Pink – you’re approachable, caring, smart, and easygoing.
- Blue – you value peace, warmth, and like things in order.
- Green – you’re loyal, honest, and seek balance in everything.
- Yellow – you’re energetic, optimistic, and very imaginative.
- Brown – you’re simple, steady, and stable.
- Gray – you’re sophisticated, stable, and professional.
- Black – you exude power, strength, and sophistication.
- White – you are organized, neat, and logical.
Do you agree with this list? Let us know what your color choice would be and why in the comments!
Now that you know what each color signifies, here are some of our top choices for the best bright-colored backpack that you may want to buy.
Colorful Travel Backpacks Quick List:
Our Top Picks for Different Types of Travelers
With so many options on this list, we made sure to pick every type of backpack for every type of traveler. Here’s a quick roundup of our top picks for colorful backpacks for travel. Click the link to jump to the section with more information, or keep scrolling to explore them all!
Colorful Travel Backpack Options for Women
The Tiny Washable Duffel
You’d think that the Tiny Washable Duffels is not a backpack. But it is! You can convert it to become a backpack with its detachable shoulder straps. It looks so cute with its multicolor zipper design. With this bag, you get a 15” padded laptop sleeve with a waterproof zipper, four equal compartments, two interior bungees, and a zippered pocket. There’s also a secret pouch for your water bottle.
- Volume: 30L
- Size: 8 x 13 x 17 inches
- Material: strong woven polyester
- Weight: 2lbs
- Colors: Orange/Yellow/Ocean Blue/Teal Green
The North Face Borealis Backpack
This Borealis backpack is a perfect-sized bag with plenty of pockets when traveling. It also has a waterproof design which is great when outdoors. This bag is also designed to be ergonomic with a rounded back panel and a FlexVent™ suspension system complete with side bungee cords and bottom compression.
There’s a padded tablet and laptop sleeve, external pockets for water bottles, a front compartment, and multi-use pockets. One of the external pockets is lined with fleece where you can keep your eyeglasses or sunglasses if you don’t have any case.
- Volume: 28L
- Size: 12 x 6.5 x 19.5 inches
- Material: water-repellent nylon ripstop
- Weight: 2lbs 5oz
- Colors: Blue/Mandarin and Dark Sage/Fiery Red
Roam Backpack
The Roam Luggage backpack is a compact and lightweight backpack that comes with plenty of pockets to help you organize your stuff when you travel. What’s great about this backpack is that you can customize and change the backpack style (Downtown, Metropolitan, Continental) and modify the colors of the front, back, sides, straps, and handles according to your taste and personality.
It’s made of water-resistant material and has a key leash, an exterior laptop pocket, and a luggage sleeve. If you’re not satisfied, the company offers a 100-day trial which allows you to return the bag within 100 days of purchase. Pretty cool, right?
- Volume: 26L
- Size: 17.75 x 14 x 8 inches
- Material: water-repellent nylon ripstop
- Weight: 2.4lbs
- Colors: Cornwall Slate/Venetian Green/Rio Fire
Boondocker Recycled Backpack
The Boondocker backpack from Passenger is a limited edition backpack in bright primary and multicolors. It can easily carry 26 liters of stuff with room for a laptop or tablet on the side. For organization, the bag has two large side pockets, a front zip pocket and a top pocket.
What makes this brand even better is that they will plant a tree for every order you make, which makes them environmentally friendly.
- Volume: 26L
- Size: 19.68 x 11.81 x 5.9 inches
- Material: water-resistant polyester
- Colors: Primary, Multicolor
Ogio Alpha 25L Backpack
The Ogio Alpha backpack looks spacious with its standup design and can fit 25L of clothing and gear. Their most colorful choices are purple passion and hyper camo. At 25L, the bag has more than enough space for when you want to travel light but have wiggle room for a few small souvenirs. (Yes, I just said that! Learn my ultralight packing method to understand how.)
The dedicated laptop sleeve can fit a 17-inch laptop. There’s a security pocket at the back, two large side pockets for water bottles, front and internal zippers, and an abrasion-resistant polyester body.
- Volume: 25L
- Size: 19.68 x 13 x 8.7 inches
- Material: abrasion-resistant polyester
- Colors: Purple Passion, Hyper Camo
Patagonia Refugio Backpack
The Patagonia Refugio is a 30L lightweight backpack that looks a lot like the North Face Borealis. It comes with two side pockets for water bottles or trail packs, a laptop sleeve, and one large compartment.
If you’re someone who likes to organize stuff in pockets or dividers, this backpack may not be for you. On the other hand, it’s a big backpack that can fit a lot of things and you can always use packing cubes if you want to stay organized. (Brooke actually likes these types of bags as you can customize your own organization.)
- Volume: 30L
- Size: 19 x 12 x 86.5 inches
- Weight: 1lbs 12oz
- Color: Husk Tan
Tom Bihn Synapse 19 Backpack
The Synapse 19 backpack from Tom Bihn is a compact backpack with just 19L capacity that is perfect for a regular day of traveling, like hiking or sightseeing. The bag has a main compartment with 2 O-rings, 5 exterior front pockets, and removable sternum and waist straps.
While this bag is a bit on the small side (unless you learn to pack personal-item-only), it’s very comfortable, durable, and serves its purpose. Plus, Tom Bihn is one of our personal favorite brands here at Her Packing List for high quality gear!
- Volume: 19L
- Size: 11.4 x 16 x 7.9 inches
- Material: water-repellent nylon ripstop
- Weight: 1lbs 8.5oz
- Color: Blue
Outlander Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack
The Outlander backpack is so lightweight that it weighs less than a pound! Not to worry, you can easily carry 33L of items inside this backpack (although we’re not sure of the comfort level at that point). It has 4 compartments and several pockets for storage. Mesh side pockets are available for water bottles and the whole backpack is very compact since it’s foldable.
- Volume: 33L
- Size: 19 x 13 x 8.21 inches
- Material: water-repellent nylon
- Weight: 0.5lbs
- Color: Orange
Patagonia Ultra-Light Black Hole Tote Backpack
Another contender for the best colorful ultralight backpack is the Patagonia Ultra-Light Black Hole Tote Backpack. Similar to Outlander, the Patagonia tote backpack is super packable since you can fold or roll it up when not in use. Depending on where you’re going, you can carry this as a backpack or a tote pack.
However, the only downside to this backpack is that it has limited number of compartments and yes, it can become wrinkly when you use it just after folding or rolling it up.
- Volume: 27L
- Size: 15.5 x 10.25 x 8 inches
- Material: water-repellent nylon ripstop
- Weight: 13.1 oz
- Color: Burl Red, Husk Tan, Steam Blue
Kanken Backpack
The Fjallraven Kanken backpacks come in a lot of bright colors with different stylish designs. From muted to pastel to bright multicolor patterns, you definitely won’t run out of options to choose from. The Swedish brand, which specializes in upscale luggage and outdoor equipment, has a selection of colorful tote packs and backpacks that can fit between 13-inch to 17-inch laptops and other items when you travel.
They’re perfect for packing light with 16 liters of space for your stuff.
- Volume: 16L
- Material: Vinylon, polyamide, and polypropylene
- Colors: Ochre, Sky Blue, Rowan Red, Plum, Multicolor, etc
Metro Banana Pudding Backpack
The Metro backpack in banana pudding color is so cool you’ll probably order it as soon as you see it (I would!). This cheerful yellow backpack is waterproof and scratch-resistant, can fit a 15-inch laptop and organizes your stuff thanks to its smart compartments. The backpack also comes with a Metro Classic Kit, a detachable kit for added organization of small items like valuables, perfumes or even mirrorless cameras.
- Volume: 18L
- Size: 11.5 x 16.5 x 6 inches
- Material: Vegan Leather
- Weight: 3lbs
- Color: Banana Pudding
Cotopaxi Batac Del Dia Pack
The Cotopaxi Batac Del Dia backpack is very unique because they use a one-of-a-kind colorway for every order. Uh, what? Their website notes, “be prepared for a total surprise!” because apparently, they will be the ones to choose a pack for you at random (and no two packs are alike!)
The Batac Del Dia is a rainbow of colors, so having a one-of-a-kind bag is really possible. It’s also ultralight and packable. Plus if you’re going on a hike, the Del Dia backpack will not let you go thirsty thanks to the internal hydration sleeve. As for carrying your stuff, there is a padded laptop sleeve that can fit 15-inch laptops, two mesh side pockets, and a large main compartment.
- Volume: 24L
- Size: 20 x 11 x 7 inches
- Material: Ripstop Nylon and Mesh
- Size: 2.63lbs
- Color: Unique Colorway
Global Travel Bag
The Global Travel backpack is so nicely designed you won’t think that it can fit 30 liters of stuff when you travel (or even more because it expands!). The bag offers 3 options for carry: using backpack straps, the shoulder strap, or the grab handles.
The bag is designed for comfort and organization with plenty of pockets. The side pockets are expandable and the laptop sleeve is on the outside of the bag for easy access.
- Volume: 30L, expandable to 35L
- Size: 12.5 x 20 x 7 inches
- Material: Recycled Nylon
- Weight: 2.63lbs
- Color: Olive
REI Co-op Trail Pack
The REI Co-op Trail Pack has a larger capacity compared to any other backpack on this list at 40L (which is typically the largest size bag range that we recommend). We love that this is a backpack that is designed for women. The contoured foam in the harness and hip belts are meant to provide better comfort aside from the padded straps.
For organization, you get plenty of outer pockets for your phone or sunglasses, a hydration sleeve, underside zippered pockets, and side and back pockets inside the bag.
- Volume: 40L
- Size: 21.6 x 13 x 10.5 inches
- Material: Recycled Nylon
- Weight: 2lbs 15oz
- Color: Olive
And that ends our list of the best colorful travel backpacks!
Which one of these bags is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
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