10 Best Clamshell Backpacks (2023)

Clamshell backpacks take a load out of packing and unpacking. A clamshell backpack is a soft suitcase with straps for carrying on your back. These bags are called clamshell backpacks because how they open mimics a clam. This kind of travel backpack opens like a suitcase. They are a favored backpack because they provide the portability benefits of a backpack combined with the packing convenience of a suitcase. These bags are convenient for a frequent traveler because it saves the stress of carting around bulky-wheeled backpacks. We have researched and put together the ten best clamshell backpacks in 2023.

Clamshell Backpacks in 2023

Hynes Eagle 38L Flight Approved Weekender Carry-on Backpack

Hynes Eagle, Travel Lite Series, offers a necessary selection of carry-on packs, travel weekender bags, and packing accessories for each leg of your journey.  The clamshell backpack provides three carrying options for travelers’ multiple alternatives, making it convenient to switch from top/ side take to the backpack when on the go. This bag has one top handle, a side handle, and suppressible adjustable padded shoulder straps for versatile carrying options. The Hideaway contoured backpack straps on the clamshell back are well padded with air mesh, so you can carry it comfortably as a backpack or easily convert it into a carry-on duffel bag. A sternum strap adjusts lengthwise and slides up and down the shoulder straps. Design for stabilization and carry comfort.

The beauty of this bag is that exterior compression straps are carefully placed to provide maximum compression and reduced stress on the zippers. So if you travel with a partially packed bag, you can prevent the contents from sloshing around. Regardless of your encounter, the front organizer’s zippered front pocket will open and is perfect for keeping boarding passes handy. The backpack also features interior slot pockets for travel essentials, from passports to tablets. The

inner tie-down straps in the main compartment are generous in length and adjust from “high” to “low” cinch positions, keeping belongings from shifting. Designed to fit the maximum size allowed on an IATA flight, available in the overhead compartment and under seat storage in flight.

Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack/ Laptop Backpack Flight Approved Luggage Carry On Water Resistant Computer Backpack

This backpack can hold lots and can be used as a carry-on backpack, commuting backpack, overnight backpack, and so on. A sternum strap adjusts lengthwise and slides up and down the shoulder straps. Design for stabilization and carry comfort. The large backpack carries three custom-made storage bags, which can improve your travel quality. The overall size meets the size standards of the aircraft, and the portable zipper opening facilitates you to pass the airport security check quickly.It has built-in elastic bands to keep your clothes from falling out.

Exterior compression straps provide maximum compression and reduce stress on the zippers, preventing your items from sloshing around. The hideaway shoulder strap make it easy for you to instantly take the shoulder strap in the back panel and turn it into a carry-on duffel bag instantly. The clamshell backpack provides 3 carrying options for travelers’ multiple alternatives, enabling you to conveniently switch from top/ side carry to backpack, making it a duffel handback when on the go. The bag is FAA flight approved and is compliant with air travel portable standards, and it does not take up more personal space and can be easily placed in the aircraft carry-on luggage. In addition, the reflective strip on the back of the clamshell backpack makes it safe to travel at night.

Vancropak Travel Backpack, 40L Flight Approved Carry On Backpack for Men & Women, Expandable Large Luggage Backpack Daypack Water Resistant Lightweight Business Weekender Bag

This carry-on travel backpack is designed with hideaway padded shoulder straps which can be hidden away in the zippered back panel when not using. Two padded handles on the top and the side are designed to lift the backpack from multiple angles, providing you more flexible carrying experiences such as carrying a suitcase or a backpack. A luggage strap on the back is designed to fit on the luggage’s handle for easier carry on international travel. The luggage backpack’s main compartment with separate mesh pocket and roomy space to store different travel gears, and internal compression elastic straps can secure items well. The front compartment with various pockets can be used to store notebooks, pens, earphones, and other small items, for quick pick out. An anti-theft back pocket is suitable for valuables. This travel backpack is made of lightweight, water-resistant polyester and anti-scratch material, which can protect on drizzle days. The zippers are also easy to close and open.

This carry-on travel backpack is designed with hideaway padded shoulder straps which can be hidden away in the zippered back panel when not using. Two padded handles on the top and the side are designed to lift the backpack from multiple angles, providing you more flexible carrying experiences such as carrying a suitcase or a backpack. A luggage strap on the back is designed to fit on the luggage’s handle for easier carry on international travel. The backpack equipped with adjustable chest straps, 4 exterior side compression buckles, air-mesh ventilated back panel, can effectively relieve the pressure on the shoulder and neck, and also reduces stress on the zippers. Thickened sponge handles and shoulder straps provide you with more comfort when you are carrying and gripping the bag.

tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L, TSA Friendly Flight Approved Carry-on Luggage Hand Backpack, Water-resistant Lightweight Business Rucksack,

tomtoc designed this large carry-on travel backpack luggage to meet all of the requirements of short business trips or family travel, it features lots of multi-functional compartments to hold necessary things including laptops, tablets, cellphones, power banks, books, wallets, clothes, umbrella, camera, etc. A great choice for traveling, commuting, business trip, hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. The large compartment can be unzipped like a suitcase for easy packing and unpacking, fits up to 4 days trip. The Innovative Clam Shell Opening Design makes it easy to gain access to the main compartment.

The 180° opening design make for easy and quick airport security checkpoint. The laptop compartment is friendly designed to be opened 90°-180° for security scanning, helps get through airport security checkpoints quickly and easily; the dimension meets the maximum size requirements by IATA flight, and it’s ideal for airplane travel. The bag is made of premium quality YKK zippers and durable recycled fabric – that is 100% post-Consumer material made from PET plastic bottles, which is environmentally friendly, and it can also reduce energy consumption and pollution. The clamshell backpack is ultra-comfortable and easy to carry as the 3D padded back panel and contoured thick shoulder straps for superior ergonomic comfort. An adjustable chest help transfer weight off your shoulders, keeping you relaxed and cozy all the time; Two handles, one on top and one on the side provide a flexible carrying experience. A strap on the back for luggage pass-through for convenient carry.

Travel Backpack,WUAYUR 15.6inch Laptop Backpack w/USB Port,40L Carry On

The laptop backpack is made of water resistant and scratch resistant durable polyester fabric. The hardshell backpack has an ergonomic s-shaped padded shoulder strap and fully 3D ventilation padded back,which make your shoulder stress released and protect your back and shoulder effectively even when full loaded. The straps can be adjusted to various heights of people and help relieve shoulder stress via transfer. A top handle and a side handle provide ergonomic comfort and travel convenience.The luggage strap on the back is a great design to attach to your luggage securely.

This resistant backpack with a built-in USB charger outside and built-in charging cable inside, enables you to charge your phone without opening the large backpack while traveling or walking. The clamshell backpack has four carrying styles that can help to free your hand and sometimes free your shoulder and back.You can carry it on back, portable horizontally and vertically, and attach on the luggage. The bag is perfect for business traveling, college students and outdoor activities in daily life. With a double-sided zipper, you can choose to close your laptop backpack in any direction, offering you a more convenient user experience. The large capacity travel backpack with many pockets great for business travel, and weekend camping.The 1st Layer for storing your small items( For tissue/keys/earphones). Meanwhile, the 2nd Layer is for books, phones, wallets and other daily necessities . The 3rd Layer for storing clothes, umbrellas or other things and the 4th Layer is for Laptop, with MacBook max to 15.6 Inch as well as 9.7-inch notebooks.

coowoz Large Travel Backpack Women, Carry On Backpack,Hiking Backpack Waterproof Outdoor Sports Rucksack Casual Daypack School Bag Fit 14 Inch Laptop with USB Charging Port

This backpack is made of waterproof, durable polyester, good air permeability and heat dissipation with two padded shoulder straps, offers lightweight carrying and of force reinforcement, relieves the pressure of your shoulders, and keeps cool when you carry it for a long time. And it is tough, firm, and does not fade. The wet bag is made of high-density water-resistant material and can help you separate dry and wet items. If you have wet clothes or a towel, you can put it in a wet bag. A separate shoe compartment can help you carry and keep your shoes better in your travel bag. A built-in charging port enables you to charge your phone anytime and anywhere.

A zipper pocket on the back of the bag can store valuables such as mobile phones and iPads, which is anti-theft and convenient. The Hybrid conversion enables the bag to transform four ways (Backpack/Duffle Bag/Shoulder Bag/Travel Bag). It can be served as an everyday backpack, spacious college bookbag, professional backpack for a laptop or daily use anywhere for a weekend getaway. Main pocket x 2, laptop compartment x 2 (fit for a 13” tablet and 14” laptop, respectively), and many other pockets, including a separate shoe compartment for different purposes.

SwissGear Hybrid:

To combine the best parts of a backpack with the design language of a carry-on luggage, Swissgear got it right with this one. Upon closer inspection, the Swissgear Hybrid Laptop Backpack is replete with cool, useful features such as daisy chain webbing, a rugged outer shell to prevent potential rips and tears, and a nice, plush, breathable back panel and straps for balanced carry. Exploring within the bag is when things get interesting. The main compartment allows you to open the bag totally flat like a piece of luggage and you can pack it like one too. Inside you’ll find that the elastic and zippered pockets are as useful as you would find in a carry-on bag and every bit as effective. The bag’s front pocket is even designed to be used while the pack is horizontally attached to a piece of rolling luggage and multiple carry handles let you maneuver with this bag however you see fit.

The hybrid backpack and luggage construction make this clamshell backpack one of the favored travel bags. You can prepare for a two-day business trip or weekend getaway and pack everything in this one pack. With a split-case design, the interior mimics the organization of a piece of luggage while exterior pockets stay true to its backpack origins. This bag enablelets you protect your 16” laptop in a separate back compartment with a clever side zipper to quickly access your laptop exterior organizer features multiple divider pockets for your smartphone, passport, and other essentials. Other exterior pockets include a top sunglasses fleece pocket, a side elastic water bottle pocket, and a discreet pocket to hide valuables. Along with ergonomic, adjustable shoulder straps and side compression straps. A zippered add-a-bag strap glides over your wheeled luggage for seamless mobility at the airport.

BANGE Business Smart Backpack Waterproof fit 15.6 Inch Laptop Backpack with USB Charging Port,Travel Durable Backpack

The business laptop backapck with usb charging port can hold 15.6 inch computer, it is an excellent overnight backpack and travel backpack,the laptop compartment is rationally divided 180° opening pocket can hold 15.6 laptops, 9.7 inch ipad etc. The front pocket can fit casual shoes, magazines and other small things, the main pocket can store 4-5 clothes it is excellent as an overnight backpack, constructed with durable and water-resistant fabric padding. center zip fully opens for ease of packing multiple compartments. The multiple external straps handle for easy handling. added shoulder straps provide comfort while carrying. multiple zippered quick-access stash pockets and the USB charging port system allows you to make electronic devices more convenient to charge, so that you don’t need anything to charge outdoors.  the laptop backpack has an anti-theft pocket in back can fit an ID card, wallet, pen, etc. the luggage strap is suitable to be placed on various suitcases convenient for your travel and business trip.

MATEIN Carry-on Backpack, Extra Large Travel Backpack Expandable Airplane Approved Weekender Bag for Men and Women, Water Resistant Lightweight Daypack for Flight 40L

The 3-in-1 Luggage backpack is specifically designed with multiple carrying options like BACKPACK, SUITCASE and BRIEFCASE style. The S shape shoulder straps are padded with air mesh, it could be hidden away which can be easily converted from backpack into a carry on duffel bag, offering you more carrying options. This clamshell backpack has an expandable compartment that expands to 8L capacity with 4 compression straps providing you more packing capacity. It also can reduce stress on the zippers. The sternum straps could be adjusted lengthwise (slide up and down the shoulder straps). Offering you better wearing experience.

The bag is designed to fit the maximum size allowed on an IATA flight, available to fit in the overhead compartment and the under seat storage in flight. Its decent size makes it perfect to bring as carry-on luggage on an airplane. No more worrying about not take your backpack to the plane. Zippered access pocket is perfect for business or travel essentials, from passport to tablet. The large backpack is spacious enough to hold belongings and essentials for a one-week trip like your clothes, shoes, laptop and so on. Inner compression straps are generous enough in length and the positions could be adjusted, preventing your belongings from shifting.

BANGE Travel Overnight Backpack,40-Liter FAA Flight Approved Weekender Bag Carry-on Backpack

THE stylish, rugged BANGE backpack is the ultimate in travel versatility, with enough twin-zippered, water-resistant compartments for all your needs. Its huge tri-modular main compartment has space for three mesh-enclosed soft modules, the largest being designed for several changes of clothing. In contrast, the medium module is perfect for toiletries, and the smallest module can carry smaller valuable items, spare batteries, headphones, etc. The middle pocket has a computer compartment and a tablet compartment. It can also hold magazines and books. The main pocket is large which can hold a camera, clothes, shoes, books, umbrella, keys, power bank, glasses case and so many other items. Reinforce Buckle Adjustable Chest Strap can prevent shoulder straps from slipping.It can be adjusted to fit your shoulder by stretching the adjustment strap and it can balance the pressure on your shoulder.

The sturdy and convenient traveling bag has a hand strap on the side and top, which can be used as a tote. The clamps and straps on the exterior four corners of the case cinch the bag down, and keep it from feeling like you have a huge, and they can make the backpack more load-bearing. The back of the backpack has a hidden breathable and elastic shoulder strap, and an elastic adjustable chest strap on the shoulder strap, which can hold the backpack tightly. The BANGE carry-on backpack has three cubes of different sizes, and you can classify your items easily, keeping your backpack neat. The backpack size is 18.5 x 9.5x 12.5 inches with a 40L volume, which is approved by FAA flight. With the luggage strap at the back, you can place it on your suitcase during business travel. They are designed to fit easily in overhead compartments or safely under your airline seat. It has a large capacity, and you can put 5–7 clothes in the main compartment. The laptop compartment can hold your 17-inch laptop

Choosing a Clamshell Backpack — Buyers Guide

Clamshell backpacks are very convenient to carry around as they free up your hands when traveling so you can keep your phone and documents handy. When traveling with a clamshell backpack, accessing your items becomes handy and easier compared to a traditional backpack. Before deciding which bag is right for you, here are a few things to consider.

Size

The size is one of the most important considerations when selecting any backpack, especially a clamshell backpack. Carry-on backpacks are gaining traction as more airlines continue charging passengers for checked baggage. Generally, backpack sizes are described by volume in liters. The backsides between 25-35 liters are usually considered carry-on size and are ideal for a weekend trip or a tad longer if you’re a light packer. On the contrary, backpacks between the sizes of 35-50 liters are typically too big to be a carry-on, especially on budget airlines, but are excellent for longer trips between 1-2 weeks, and anything larger is best for long-term backpacking trips or getaways that require a lot of gear.

Comfort

Comfort is key! The straps, the back of the backpack, and how the bag carries weight all contribute to the bag’s comfort. It is advisable to look for a backpack with a mesh back and a slight curve to absorb sweat and help prevent overheating

Durability

You can never overstate the benefits of buying a durable backpack. It saves you money and it can be used times and for will last for many years. The best travel bag is an investment, and it’s essential to choose a pack that’ll hold up on your travels.  The most durable bags are typically made of tough nylon or polymer that’s waterproof and dirt resistant. This material will also hold up well when checking a bag and ward off scuffs and rips.

Material

Tough materials such as canvas, ripstop nylon, or high-end synthetics are the hallmarks of a premium backpack. Be sure it’s constructed of water-resistant and fast-dry fabrics for those unavoidable rain slogs. Go for an aluminum frame because of its lightweight, robust properties. Since these are the first pieces to give way, look for double or triple stitching along the strap seams.

Conclusion

Clamshell backpacks usually provide more protection than top-loading. They are also typically often crafted from a much tougher material than their top-loading counterparts. Since you are going to move your backpack  so make sure it is stable and is of paramount importance to protect your back, shoulders, and waist. You‘re probably going to find yourself unpacking and repacking your backpack a couple of times while on a trip so ensure you a durable backpack.