Last Updated on 18/06/2023
It’s not often I get excited about flight carry-on luggage, especially ladies’ travel backpacks, which are often very drab or sporty in appearance. In light of this, I’ve always found it so difficult to find fashionable travel backpacks that are also ideal for a flight carry-on.
That all changed, when I saw The Travel Hack Backpack.
The Travel Hack Backpack Review – A New Stylish Backpack for Travel Ladies
The Travel Hack Backpack is made for girls getaways and adventures. It’s a super stylish travel backpack, ideal for everyday use, as well as a spacious, compact and cute carry-on bag. Designed to fit under a plane seat to save valuable money on luggage for flights, it’s also a great choice for European city breaks.
**Please note, It’s worth checking out these products directly on the Cabin Max website for additional colours, free shipping, if you are looking to purchase outside the U.K or if the products are showing as out of stock on Amazon.
Shhh – keep reading to find out how you can win a Travel Hack Backpack
I knew I had to buy The Travel Hack Backpack (link here) and purchased it straight away on the release date. Before purchasing, I had already entered Monica’s Travel Hack competition to win The Travel Hack Backpack (and ended up being a lucky winner!) I was very pleased as I never win anything and I am now the proud owner of two Travel Hack backpacks.
After enjoying two trips using the backpack, I had to share my own Travel Hack Backpack review!
The Cabinmax Travel Hack Backpack is Not Like Other Women’s Carry-on Bags
Using its full title, the Cabinmax Travel Hack Backpack is not like other backpacks I’ve seen. It’s not in outdoorsy colours, it’s not got horrid complicated straps to make opening it a chore and it’s not some huge great thing that looks like you’re about to embark on a trek to the Himalayas.
Sleek Appearance and Design of the Trendy Travel Backpack
Every little detail of the design of the Travel Hack Backpack has been carefully considered. After all, it has been designed by The Travel Hack Travel Blogger Monica Stott in collaboration with hand luggage specialists Cabin Max.
It’s such a chic travel backpack, from the sleek black quilted design, the trendy rose gold zips, the faux leather details and stylish rose gold logo.
The sleek style of The Travel Hack Backpack means it can be used for more than a cabin carry-on or a one-off occasion when you need a backpack. It can be used as an everyday bag and black goes with everything, don’t you know!
Appearance aside, it’s the features of The Travel Hack Backpack that have made this backpack a real staple item for me.
The Features of The Travel Hack Backpack
As I mentioned, The Travel Hack Backpack is a ladies travel rucksack with a difference!
Small Sized Ladies Cabin Backpack
Its small size means it’s ideal as a lightweight backpack for travel and hand luggage on flights, especially low-cost airline carriers that seem to be upping their prices every year to bring on cabin luggage. It’s been tried and tested for the free under-seat Ryanair and Easyjet cabin bag requirements, as well as other airlines.
Most girls (me included) like to be able to bring on a handbag, as well as a wheelie cabin case. But, price hikes on flights has meant it is becoming costly to do so. Especially, if you don’t have the handy compartments in The Travel Hack Cabin Luggage Collection – They really are the best carry on luggage for women who like to travel stylishly.
The Travel Hack Backpack fits nicely under a flight seat with no risk whatsoever of being put into the hold (mine is pictured below under a Jet 2 flight seat).
Its strap at the back means it also fits nicely on top of the Cabin Max Travel Hack Pro Cabin Case, if you were looking to purchase the set.
Minimalist Travel Backpack with 20L Capacity
The backpack’s 20-litre capacity allows you to fit so many items to pack for a city break or a short getaway.
In all honesty, I had never considered just taking a rucksack with me on a mini-break. I pack far too many things to have even considered it! My opinion has changed since I’ve used this backpack on two trips.
The generous 20-litre compartment is ample size to fit clothing for a weekend break or even longer depending on your packing skills (and refusal to take along 5 pairs of shoes…it’s hard, I know!)
This capacity for The Travel Hack Backpack is even better when used with the Travel Hack Packing Cubes. I had never used packing cubes before, but trust me, these are an absolute godsend!
The zipped areas in the main compartment of The Travel Hack Backpack are ideal to pack items such as a travel plug, shower cap, hairbrush, medication and mini toiletries.
If you’re looking for a travel back with a bigger capacity, check out my Travel Hack Tote Bag review!
The Travel Hack Backpack Top Zip Pocket
The top zip is ideal for storing little items you always seem to lose in your bag but readily need, such as a purse, phone, headphones, lipsticks, to flying essentials such as a passport or boarding pass. The pocket is fairly deep and secure for these items too, which makes it even handier!
The Travel Hack Backpack Front Zip Pocket
The front zip is another great addition to the top zip, particularly, for items you want to be able to get out of your bag easily. This section is also deep and rigid enough that it’s not too easily opened, which is handy to prevent theft when you are out and about.
The Travel Hack Backpack Side Pocket
The side pocket is ideal for additional items such as sunglasses, earplugs and hair-ties. A girl has got to be prepared, right?!
The Travel Hack Backpack Extendable Pocket/Water Bottle Holder
This side pocket, made from what I can only describe as similar to wetsuit material, is ideal for storing a water bottle.
A thermal reusable water bottle is now a travelling staple for my travels, as it ensures I have water on the go, as well as helps the environment by preventing the use and waste of plastic bottles.
So many airports now have free water filling stations to enable you to fill up with water after going through airport security.
No more trying to cram a water bottle into the main compartment of your bag. The fact this pocket is extendable is another great feature.
Best Travel Backpack with Laptop Compartment
If you’re looking for a travel backpack with a laptop pocket to carry your laptop with you on the go, The Travel Hack Backpack’s laptop zip pocket fits laptops up to 13”.
This compartment was the only aspect of the Travel Hack Backpack that I had some initial difficulties with. At first, I thought this section was a tiny bit too small to comfortably fit my Apple Airbook. I tried numerous times to get the laptop in and even with a friend’s help it was a tight fit.
I then realised I was being a complete idiot…Adam picked up the laptop and placed it in the backpack’s laptop pocket skinny-side first and it fits perfectly!
I am now able to easily use the laptop compartment! Remember, place the laptop in skinny side first!
Failing that, I can still pack my laptop in the main compartment behind my packing cube.
What I love about The Cabinmax Travel Hack Backpack
- I love the colour and style! The black and rose gold style enables me to use it as an everyday bag, as well as a free under-seat flight cabin bag.
- It’s the first stylish and affordable carry-on backpack I’ve seen for such a bargain price
- It opens like a suitcase so makes for easy packing!
- The overall design of the Travel Hack Backpack is shower-proof to keep valuables dry.
- The individual zip compartments are so handy to pack with ease and to know where individual items are!
- The Travel Hack Backpack fits so many items of clothing and packing essentials in the main compartment (much more than I expected).
- I love that it takes away the stress of packing hand-luggage and the worry about what I can take on-board a flight. It’s great to know it has even been tested on Ryanair cabin bags!
The leather ID holder was not included in The Travel Hack Backpack package, but I do not like to include my full ID on luggage items anyway. Therefore, The backpack was absolutely fine without the ID holder.
Where I’ve travelled with The Travel Hack Backpack
I received my Travel Hack Backpack just before Christmas and as I am writing this post in mid-January, the backpack has already been on two trips with me!
The first trip using the Travel Hack Backpack was to Fuerteventura for New Year. I took the backpack as my hand luggage and could fit my trusty Kate Spade handbag in there too (you know, the one I almost lost in Copenhagen airport!) For this trip to The Canary Islands, I also had a suitcase in the hold, but taking along the backpack gave me extra space for shopping items I picked up on holiday.
I enjoyed a boutique stay in Bedford at The Embankment Hotel and took the Travel Hack Backpack as my only luggage. No problem, whatsoever!
The Travel Hack Backpack was my only luggage item during my weekend trip to Barcelona to see my best friend. I knew visiting Barcelona would be a challenge as I normally can’t resist shopping in Barcelona and bringing hordes of clothes back! Of course, I happened to choose Sunday as my shopping day, which turns out is when all the shops are closed in Barcelona!
Stylish Girls Getaway Bag
After what seems like an endless search to find girls carry-on luggage, which is practical enough to fit all my must-have-items, but still has the look and style I’m after – I am so pleased I found The Travel Hack Backpack!
I only wish I’d had The Travel Hack Backpack as a girls weekend bag when I enjoyed an Autumn trip to Brighton (I had to take Adam’s green Ellesse bag instead!)
Though, things have gotten slightly more complicated since the release of The Travel Hack Tote Bag, which I also love, and this has made choosing which one to take that much harder!
Could The Travel Hack Backpack be the best carry-on bag for women who like to travel stylishly?
Designed by Travel Blogger and frequent flyer Monica Stott, the black travel backpack caters for all the features you need for a ladies carry-on bag.
It makes for a fabulous small carry-on bag, specially designed as a travel backpack for ladies, even down to the thinner feminine straps!
If you’re looking for a trendy travel backpack, which is compact, lightweight and spacious enough for all your packing essentials, The Travel Hack Backpack is a perfect choice. Ideal for girls getaways, city breaks and to save money on luggage for flights; it is also a great everyday bag.
I hope you enjoyed reading The Travel Hack Backpack review and I’ve inspired you to buy the Cabinmax Travel Hack Backpack (click here) for your next adventures. It has done wonders for my trips so far and I hope it will enable me to be more minimalistic as I use it for more of my upcoming trips!
Jaz
Xoxo
Pin this post to Pinterest to save for a later date, especially if the backpack is out of stock and the links take you to the Cabin Case!
The Comments
Katie Diederichs
Oh, this is so cute! I love the size of it and all the features (what a cool graphic, by the way!). I’ve never heard of this brand before, but it’s going on my list!
Rachel
I’ve heard such good things about this backpack, It looks so good and handy for flying about. I also love the look of the suitcase too, I may need to invest in them! xo
M
It looks so stylish and am thinking to buy it. How many clothes would you say can fit in main compartment, would really help!
thelifeofasocialbutterfly
MI think I could use it for 5 days travel now. I roll all my items and generally take 3/4 tops, 3 skirts, 1 or 2 dresses, 1 shoes, 1 sandals, 1 thin towel, swimsuits, toiletries etc. That’s using the packing cube with the bag. It’s been a game changer for my trips and so handy for flights as it fits under a plane seat 🙌🏻
shaika tufa
this is so much informative page about luggage. thank you for your article that i get more knowledge about bag/luggage .
thank you