Recently, Sonia and I have started traveling to destinations that require long flights and additional layovers. One-way travel for these trips can take up to 33 hours, which has helped me realize that my biggest travel necessity on flights of this length is a backpack that not only has ample space but is also well designed for easy access to my electronics, a changes of clothes, and any other overnight necessities I may require. For the past few years, I have searched for the perfect long-haul backpack, and found some good contenders, but there was always something that left it shy of perfection for me. Either it had the perfect pockets but not the right shape or it was the right shape but it didn’t sit right on my back. In the end, there was always something leaving it one step away from perfection. It wasn’t until our most recent trip to Thailand where I found my backpack soulmate – Nomatic’s 20L Travel Pack.
Size
Unexpanded, this backpack measures 18.5″ x 12″ x 6″ and has an internal capacity of 20 liters. When expanded, the internal capacity increases to 30 liters. At this size and capacity, this backpack fit everything I needed including a change of clothes, a notebook, my iPad and cables, my GoPro and accessories, and overnight toiletries in case I wanted to freshen up. When carrying all those items, I do worry about the backpack feeling heavy, but Nomatic’s Travel Pack never felt heavy to me. At a length of 18.5″ the bag sat comfortably on my back without it feeling like it was sagging and pulling down on my shoulders.
Pockets
Not only is this bag the perfect size but also the number of pockets and compartments make organization and access easy. First, there is a small, zippered pocket on the top front of the bag that is ideal for carrying your pens, pencils or any other small items that you are taking on your trip. Most backpacks have a similar pocket, so nothing to revolutionary here. Where this bag sets itself apart though is in the remaining pockets and compartments.
Front Compartment
Under the small front pocket, there is a larger compartment that has several small pockets and spaces within it, which provides dedicated spaces for items you may want to keep separated and accessible. For me, this pocket was helpful in keeping my phone, keys, notebook, power adapter, and hand sanitizer handy in case I needed to access them. The pocket opens up wide enough so that you can reach everything easily even if it is in the deepest pockets of this compartment.
2nd Compartment
After the front compartments, the next compartment is the main section of the backpack if not extended. In here, I was able to keep my GoPro gear, charging cables, and an overnight toiletry bag. I wasn’t expecting to access this area except for my toiletries, which I placed on top of everything else so I could access them immediately. A nice touch with this compartment is the eyeglass/sunglass case included with the backpack. Like the front compartment, the zippers run the full length of the bag so it’s easy to access anything in this compartment even if packed at the bottom.
3rd Compartment
The 3rd compartment is the added space if you want to expand the bag from 20L to 30L. For me, this was the section where I kept items that I most likely would not need to access during my flight. In here, I had my change of clothes. Unlike the previous compartments, this didn’t necessarily have great access from the top of the bag, rather it opened so that you could open the bag flat and access both sides of the compartment, similar to a suitcase or rolling carry-on. Since this compartment felt the least accessible, I purposely used it only for the items mentioned.
Back Compartment
The last compartment in the backpack is really your dedicated tech area. There are 3 separate pockets, so that you can store your tablet and laptop separately and still have space for a Kindle or a larger notebook. Like the front and 2nd compartments, this zippers top to bottom and can be unzipped so that the 2 sides of the bag open flat, which makes the bag TSA friendly for scanning of your electronics.
Secret Pocket
The last pocket this backpack has is a secret one on the back of bag where the straps are. While this pocket isn’t big, you can use it to keep your passport or a wallet. In reality though, I would not advise to storing anything of value there. Since the zipper can be seen when you’re not wearing the backpack, it’s not as secretive as one would like.
Remaining Features
For me the two key features for this bag were size and organization and accessibility, but there are some other great features that help make it stand out against its competitors. These include:
- Tuck away straps so you can carry the bag like a duffle.
- 2 pockets on the sides of the bag to carry water or other drinks.
- Luggage handle pass through for easier carrying when handling with a rolling check-in or a rolling suitcase.
Verdict
After traveling with other bags where I was constantly struggling to access items or having pain from the bag pulling on my shoulders, I am happy to have found the Nomatic Travel Pack 20L. When I first saw an ad for it, I was skeptical since this wasn’t a known company for me, and I had been burned in the past with other online companies. However, after using this backpack, I can say that this is my choice for long-haul trip. It simply is the best carry-on for me since it checks every box for what I want on these types of flights.
