You know how it is, right? Youre packing for your next grand adventure, and you need a backpack that can handle everything from your entire wardrobe to your hopes and dreams.

　　Ive been traveling nearly full time for 12 years, visiting 65 countries thus far, and over the past decade+, Ive tried A LOT of backpacks.

　　Most recently, it was the Tortuga 40L Pro on a recent 3-week trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia. The roads were rough and dusty, and it got thrown around though it was carrying some very precious cargo. How did it do? Heres everything to know before you buy a Tortuga 40L Pro backpack:

　　TLDR: Its lightweight and offers plenty of space, plus its sturdy. Get it.

　　Table of Contents

　　Toggle Overall Design of Tortuga: A Suitcase in DisguiseTortuga Weight and Fit: Lightweight and SturdyTortuga as a Gear Hauler?Comparing to the Competition: Overall Design of Tortuga: A Suitcase in Disguise

　　The Travel Backpack 40L Pro is like a suitcase and a backpack had a love child. It fully unzips and opens like a suitcase, giving you a wide-open space to throw in all your essentials.

　　I could see this working for a long weekend. It might be a couple pockets shy of working for long-term carry on only travel (which I did for a full year in Southeast Asia!), but Id use it again if I were, say, flying Jet Blue and wanted to go carry on only and still fit it under the seat.

　　In addition to a large open main compartment, it has a back pocket just before the backpack straps thats padded for a laptop. I like that this is large enough to accommodate any size, as some bags cant accommodate a 17 inch MacBook Pro.

　　One of the biggest issues with backpacks that fly just below the max allowable carry-on size is how heavy they can get. When fully packed, any additional weight that the backpack itself adds to the equation just makes life harder.

　　Tortuga Weight and Fit: Lightweight and Sturdy

　　I like that Tortugas more minimalist design lends itself to being a lighter bag. Theyve also taken comfort into account with the generously padded shoulder straps and waist strap. Too many bags of this size lack the waist strap and its 100% necessary in my book.

　　That said, if you dont want the waist strap, its removable.

　　Theres also a generous layer of breathable padding along the back of the bag, so its comfy on your back. Of all of my backpacks, this is one of the most comfortable to wear, which is great when you have a telephoto lens to haul around thats the size of your arm. It was perfect for my most recent womens Africa safari, and you can see it stashed above onboard the Emirates A380 first class (read my review).

　　Tortuga as a Gear Hauler?

　　Speaking of that 600mm lens, lets talk gear. This backpack was my tech gear hauler on my most recent Africa trip because its one of the few bags that could actually fit my lens, which is longer than my forearm. Now, is it the perfect gear backpack? Not exactly.

　　It doesn’t have all those nifty little compartments for every gadget and doodad, though it does have an easy-access, dedicated laptop sleeve pictured above. Its great for carry on only travel where youre most likely stashing packing cubes and toiletry bags.

　　It’s minimalist, but it gets the job done. Plus, its light as a feather, which is a blessing when you’re toting around a mini arsenal of camera equipment.

　　Comparing to the Competition:

　　Now, you know me – I’m a Pacsafe devotee from way back. The Pacsafe’s got that anti-theft tech that makes you feel like your stuff is locked up tighter than Fort Knox. And the Pakt? It’s got more bells and whistles than a carnival. But heres the kicker: the Tortuga is larger and lighter than both. Sure, it doesn’t have the fancy security features, but sometimes you just need a big, reliable bag that can carry your entire life without breaking your back. And for that, Tortuga is my go-to.

　　Conclusion: If you’re in the market for a backpack that’s as versatile as it is spacious, lightweight, and sturdy, give the Tortuga Daypack Pro and Travel Backpack 40L Pro a whirl. Whether you’re jetting off for a long weekend or embarking on a year-long escapade, these bags have got your back – literally. Happy travels, and may your adventures be as wild and wonderful as your dreams!