The following Minaal 2.0 carry-on backpack review was submitted by Julia. Check out all of our female travel backpack reviews.
Hi! My name is Julia, and I’m a history student from Brazil. In the last few years I’ve studied abroad in Italy, volunteered in Czech Republic and went backpacking more often than I can count. I used to have a great backpack that converted into a wheelie, but I wanted something smaller that could be taken as a carry-on. After a lot of research, I decided on the Minaal 2.0 backpack.
What’s your backpack brand and model? How much does this backpack typically cost?
My backpack is the Minaal 2.0 Carry-On Backpack. It usually costs around $300, and I got the Flashpacker bundle deal, with a waist-belt and three packing cubes for $350. It’s pretty expensive, but I really feel that I got what I paid for.
- Net Weight: 1.415kg / 3.12lb
- LxWxH: 55cm x 35cm x 20cm (fully packed) / 21.6in x 13.7in x 7.87in
>>Check out the backpack on Minaal’s site here.
How long have you had your backpack and where have you traveled with it?
This backpack is pretty new – I’ve had it now for six months. We’ve been to Rio de Janeiro for new year’s, to Ilha Grande, Paraty, Sao Paulo and most recently to Florianopolis, an island in the south of Brazil. Now I’m packing for Russia, where I’ll spend three months with only this backpack.
What factors were most important to you in choosing a backpack?
The most important thing for me was the size, since I wanted a backpack that can be taken as a carry-on. I wanted a front loading backpack, since it’s so much easier to pack and unpack. I also wanted a laptop compartment, since I usually take it on longer trips and want it to be protected.
Looks were not a main factor, but it did tip the scale since I love the minimalist design on the Minaal. I love that it’s gray, and I love that it only has small logos on it.
>>See our ultimate female guide to picking a backpack.
What do you like most about your backpack? Any down sides?
I love how it fits all my stuff and it’s very organised. The bag has several compartments, for my laptop, for my clothes, for the liquids, and they all have inside pockets. Combined with the front loading, it makes it very easy to pack or to find my things.
The one thing I’d like to change is to add zippered pockets on the waist belt. Women’s clothes usually have tiny useless pockets, and it’s annoying to have to open the backpack every time I want to access my phone or my wallet.
Tell us about the fit and comfort level of your backpack.
I’m very petite at 1.57m (about 5’2″) and it’s not always easy for a backpack to fit me, but the Minaal is great at that. I didn’t think it would be very comfortable because the waist-belt can be removed, but I think it does its job impressively well. Also, I’m busty, so I’m glad the chest straps are adjustable and that there is an extra buckle in case I don’t want to use them.
>>Check out the best backpacks for petite and slim women.
If you want to take your backpack as carry-on luggage, can you?
Yes! That was why I chose it. A fun detail is that the backpack’s measurements are written behind one of the buckles, so you can just show it in the airport if necessary.
>>Read our first timer’s guide to traveling carry on only.
Have you found the size to be too small, just right, or too large?
It’s perfect for me. The makers don’t like to write down a volume because there isn’t a standard in the industry, but reviewers often say it’s around 35 liters. In spite of that, it fits way more stuff than my friend’s Osprey Sirrus 36 liters.
Overall, would you recommend your backpack?
Absolutely! I think it’s a great backpack, and that anyone looking for a medium sized backpack should look into it, especially the urban travelers and digital nomads.
>>Check out the backpack on Minaal’s site here.
About the author: Julia is a traveler and history student from Brazil. When not on the road, she loves to write on her travel blog and talk about the history of the places she visited, connecting her two passions.
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Those of you who take only roughly 40l backpacks with you, what do you then use as a day bag for walking, sightseeing etc? I feel like I would need second bag, smaller than my backpack, but not so small it would be easy to slip inside (or be OK as a personal item on Air Asia)