man showcasing travel backpacks for men

If you’re a fashionable man on the move in need of some great gear to stow your, well, gear and clothing in, you’ll have a few things to take into consideration. Being a chic fella, you’ll want a stylish backpack, of course, but having a practical side as well, you’ll need something that’s comfortable yet still hardcore enough to hold everything you need it to hold. It’s not always easy being under the thumb of fashion and function. Let us make your life a tad easier with this mixed list of the five smartest (or at least most interesting) travel backpacks for men that are perfect for wandering around, a weekend holiday, or even a bit of a longer jaunt.

Filson Twill Journeyman Backpack

This twill backpack is stylish and rugged, bridging the divide between function and fashion quite nicely. While it’s not cheap, coming in at more than $300, the fully-lined Journeyman Backpack — with padded straps and shoulders, solid brass zippers, an expandable front pocket, plus plenty of internal dividers and compartments — is just the type of water-repellent pack a guy rushing about town, or the wild countryside, can make incredible use of.

Sandqvist Bob Waxed Blue Backpack

The Sandqvist Bob Waxed Blue Backpack, which also comes in sand, waxed khaki and waxed olive, is simple, elegant, practical, very pleasing to the eye, and, coming in at $189, definitely affordable. Constructed from heavy cotton canvas with leather details, with plenty of room on the inside (including sleeves built for iPads and laptops), this drawstring pack with covering top flap is incredibly easy to get into when you want access your stuff. It still offers loads of protection for your valuables as you scoot about during the day.

 GORUCK GR2

If you’re the kind of guy who needs something a little more hardcore when it comes to backpacks, the GORUCK GR2 offers all of the burly kickass features your heart is after, and a hell of a lot more. Although advertised as TSA carry-on compliant, this bag, built in America from “special forces-grade material” with a “bombproof” laptop compartment, is something you could literally take onto the battlefield as well, putting this high on our list of the best travel backpacks for men. Coming in black, green and grey, with YKK zippers, a false bottom, and a host of other features (and a hefty price, at just under $400), the GR2 is one tough bag that should last you a lifetime.

The North Face Router Backpack

The North face is a famous brand, run by folks who really know how to make backpacks of all shapes and varieties. For city dwellers not planning on hiking through the forest or climbing a mountain anytime soon, some of the company’s offerings might be a little too sporty. The Router Backpack ($149) is the perfect marriage of North Face quality with something more appropriate to an urban setting.

Available in grey or black, this 35-liter nylon bag offers copious amounts of room, with organizational compartments for all of your junk treasures. With a fleece-lined main compartment that can accommodate a 17″ laptop, as well as a ton of other secure zip pockets for phones, sunglasses, and various trinkets, this durable backpack is not only useful, it’s pretty damn stylish as well.

Dakine Gemini 28L Backpack

The Dakine Gemini boasts a crisp, elegant design, with ample space for larger laptop computers and other digital gear. You can choose from black, navy canvas, and grey, all of which complement the pack’s ergonomic design. With its main compartment’s 270-degree zipper opening, shoulder straps built with breathable air mesh, plus headphone, sunglasses, and water bottle pockets — not to mention its very reasonable price ($125) — this backpack is comfortable, practical, and good-looking, and rounds out our entry into the world of travel backpacks for men. Really, what more could you ask for?

 

 

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