As a solo female backpacker, I have lugged around my fair share of baggage. I am always on the lookout for reliable backpacks to try out and recommend, so when Tortuga sent me their 40l Travel Backpack to review I was thrilled to put it through its paces, both on a trip in the UK and abroad to Barcelona and Lisbon. I’m excited to share my thoughts on this hand luggage backpack that not only serves as a trusty travel backpack for women and men, but is also an excellent ethical choice – read on to check out my full Tortuga backpack review!
I received a complimentary backpack in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own as always!
How to Choose the Best Carry-On Backpack for Travel
There are hundreds of different backpack brands and designs out there, and choosing the best travel backpack will ultimately depend on a few key factors that are most important for you.
I’ve discussed more about what to look for in a travel backpack in this other article, and in this Tortuga backpack review, I’ll cover aspects including the size, weight and design of the backpack, the amount of storage and ease of use, as well as the cost and sustainability of the backpack.
Hopefully, after all that you’ll know if the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l really is the best carry-on backpack for you. *SPOlLER ALERT* – I love it!
Tortuga Backpack Review At a Glance
| My Backpacker Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Dimensions |
21.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 inches (55 x 35 x 20 cm) |
| Volume | 40 litres |
| Weight when Empty | 4.5 lb (2.0 kg) |
| Airline Requirements | Carry-on and Store in the Overhead locker |
| Sizing | Height Adjustable |
| Hip Belt | 34-62 in (86-157 cm) |
| Laptop Sleeve | Up to 16″ laptop and 12.9″ tablet |
| Colour | Black with Pale Grey Interior |
| Materials | SHELL200 (100% Recycled, Durable, Waterproof Sailcloth) |
| Waterproof | 200+ PSI / 13.8+ Bar |
| Where to Buy | Direct from the Tortuga Website here |
| Shipping | Only available in the US unless using a Freight Forwarding Service |
About the Tortuga Travel Backpacks in Detail
Tortuga is a small, founder-led business based in the US. After a backpacking trip to Europe when they both struggled with their luggage, two childhood friends Fred and Jeremy decided to make their own backpack which solved all of the issues they had to deal with in other backpacks.
The current Tortuga Travel Backpacks have replaced the Tortuga Setout and the Tortuga Outbreaker, previous models which have now been discontinued. Tortuga took the best of these, put it into the new Travel Backpack design, and made it even better.
If you come across the Setout or Outbreaker second-hand, they are still great backpacks, but as this review is just about the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l, I will focus on this pack.
My Testing of the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l
In the past couple of months, I have certainly got plenty of use out of the backpack so I could fully try it out.
The first time I used it was for a 6-week trip to Leeds when I was travelling on the train in the UK. I had a separate wheeled suitcase and packed the backpack lightly as a test run so I could get used to it.
Then I used the Tortuga 40l Travel Backpack as a hand luggage bag in addition to a larger check-in wheeled backpack when I flew to Barcelona for a 3-month stay. I still didn’t cram the bag full as I had my separate check-in bag, but it gave me a good idea of what this carry-on backpack was capable of.
From Barcelona, I went to Lisbon for 5 days, and used my Tortuga backpack as my main carry-on bag, with no checked luggage. This was the real test, as I was travelling for a conference so needed a variety of clothes for meetings and exploring Lisbon, as well as my laptop and everything else I usually pack.
In all cases, the Tortuga backpack held up remarkably well and I think I have found my new favourite carry-on backpack!
Tortuga Travel Backpack Size
The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l has a very apt name, considering it is a travel backpack with a 40l capacity. The boxy design uses up every available millilitre of capacity, without losing valuable packing space that is often taken up by wheels or curved edges in other carry-on luggage.
If you want something a bit smaller, the Tortuga Weekender Backpack 30l is basically the same design but in a slightly smaller size, which would be great for weekend trips.
The exact dimensions of the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l when empty is 21.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 inches or 55 x 35 x 20 cm for those working on the metric system. The good news is that it is suitable for putting in the overhead compartments of US and international airlines.
It is too big to go under most seats though so wouldn’t be classed as a personal item – check out the Tortuga laptop backpack for that, although be careful with budget airlines who are very tight on the dimensions they will allow.
Either way, before you fly I’d still recommend double-checking the exact carry-on dimensions specified by your airline, and one thing you should be careful of is making sure the size and weight of the backpack still comes within airline restrictions once you have filled it up.
As it is a soft backpack and not a hard case carry-on suitcase, there can be some bulging if it is stuffed full. And as it is so roomy, you might find it weighs more than the hand luggage limits when fully packed – so keep an eye on that, as some airlines have limits as low as 6 or 7 kgs!
Appearance and Style
At first glance, the Tortuga backpacks seem a little austere – they are only available in black, and the only visible branding is a subtle turtle shell icon in the top centre of the back panel, which is also black, and small black turtle icons on the black buckles.
If it was a check-in bag I’d want some more distinguishing features or would add a colourful strap around it so I could easily spot it on the luggage carousel, but as this is a carry-on backpack it doesn’t need to stand out.
In fact, as someone who prefers to blend in with the crowd and look as little like a tourist as possible, the Tortuga backpacks are perfect.
The only contrasting colour is on the internal pockets which are light grey which is nice as you can easily distinguish the different pockets inside. I suppose they might get dirty with frequent use, but as no one sees inside but you I don’t think it matters.
Durability and Material
This backpack is extremely sturdy. I love how strong it is, and it is so well made it felt like I could throw it out of the plane and it would be fine (not that I would do that!). As well as sturdy shoulder straps, there is a carry handle at the top and on the side of the backpack.
These are the technical details:
According to the Tortuga website, the body fabric is made from SHELL, a three-layer, laminated “sailcloth” material originally developed for the sails of racing boats. It is durable, lightweight, and waterproof up to 200+ PSI / 13.8+ Bar.
SHELL is 100% recycled and uses no harmful TPU, PVC, DWR, or other coatings. The durable, water-repellent coating doesn’t contain fluorocarbons like PFAS/PFOA or any VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Tortuga uses water-resistant YKK zippers for durability and security, and there are lockable zippers on the three main backpack compartments.
Packing Compartments
I am used to having one large space with a couple of pockets, like the Osprey 40 l backpack. However, the Tortuga Travel Backpack splits up the available packing space into smaller compartments. I found this a bit difficult to get used to at first but once I’d decided what should be packed in each place, it was much easier to find everything!
The main compartment has lockable zips and opens up like a clam shell so you can see everything inside without having to stick your arm in and feel around. It is large enough for two standard size packing cubes, or one packing cube and whatever else you want to fit in the other side.
I am a recent convert to packing cubes and I love them as they keep my clothes neat and tidy. You can buy Tortuga packing cubes which are a perfect fit, but mine were from Amazon and also fitted just fine.
The main compartment also has a mesh pocket which is handy for things like dirty clothes or sandals – when I went to Lisbon I rolled up some bulky clothes which wouldn’t fit in my packing cube and popped them in there which worked well. The zips on the main compartment are lockable for extra security.
The front compartment opens halfway and has lots of handy pockets in the organizer panel, as well as a Kindle sleeve. The zips are lockable here too so you could keep your passport, wallet or travel documents in here and know they are secure.
There is a separate laptop compartment which is a fleece-lined padded pocket, suitable for laptops up to 16 inches, and another compartment that fits a 12.9″ tablet. There is also a smaller mesh pocket which fits my laptop charger and mouse perfectly.
The laptop compartment is closest to your back when wearing the backpack and I liked that it was close to me and protected from potential knocks coming from the outside. The fleece felt lovely and soft too so I was confident my laptop was safe – and locked the zips on this compartment too for extra peace of mind!
The small top pocket has a key clip which is handy, although I was still nervous about putting keys in there in a pickpocket hotspot like Barcelona, so I preferred to keep those in the zippable compartment and put things like tissues and lip balm in the top.
On the front, there is also a flat pocket which comes in handy for paperwork or anything slim that wants shoving somewhere out of the way.
There are two external side pockets for water bottles and other things like umbrellas too. My Water-to-Go water bottle fits perfectly, but larger bottles might be too much of a squeeze as the pockets don’t have much stretch to them.
Another nice little feature is the pockets on the hip belt. They are too small for my travel wallet but useful for spare change, tissues and other bits and bobs.
BUY NOW on the Tortuga Website
Comfort and Fit
This Tortuga backpack is one of the most comfortable backpacks I’ve ever worn. For reference, I’m around 5 ft 7 tall, or 1 metre 70 cm.
One of the best comfort features is the adjustable height, meaning you can move the height of the shoulder straps up and down to find the perfect position for you based on your height and distance from the base of your neck to the bottom of your back.
I watched the video on the Tortuga website which shows you how to adjust your backpack and had some help measuring my back from my mum. The velcro securing the straps is very strong so it takes a bit of effort to separate and move the straps, but once they are in the right place they will stay there!
When I first tried on the backpack, the hip belt was around my waist so it didn’t take any of the weight, but once I moved it to rest on my hips it was much better – it can take 80% of the weight off of your shoulders which makes a huge difference to comfort, both at the time and then later on once you’ve taken it off!
The shoulder straps are lovely and thick, with foam padding on the straps and back pads to cushion the weight with a breathable area around the spine. It was also more comfortable with the sternum strap fastened to add extra support.
Added Extras
Aside from the backpack itself, there are several things that elevate Tortuga above most other travel backpack brands.
Firstly, the fact that Tortuga’s travel backpacks are made with recycled material is a big plus. Another big bonus is their home try-on program. This means you can try out a Tortuga backpack at home to see if it’s right for you. Practice packing it to see what will fit in and adjust it to make sure it fits you properly.
If it’s not what you were expecting, as long as you send it back within 30 days of purchase they’ll pay for the return shipping and give you a full refund. Many backpacks you buy via Amazon would probably be covered in a similar way too, but for buying directly from manufacturers it is more unusual.
Once you’ve decided to keep the backpack, Tortuga also offers a worldwide warranty that guarantees against defects in materials and craftsmanship for as long as you own your bag. According to their website, if your backpack fails due to a defect, Tortuga will repair it, replace it, or refund your money (at their discretion), depending on product availability.
I haven’t had any issues with my backpack, so haven’t needed to test that offer but it’s reassuring to know it’s there if I do need it.
One other thing I only noticed after digging around the Tortuga website is that Tortuga offers two yearly study abroad scholarships of $1000 and a free travel backpack to American students who want to study abroad. The money can be used for tuition, room and board, books, or travel. I’m all about encouraging people to travel and thought this is a really cool way of helping young people to travel more.
Affordability
The Tortuga Travel Backpacks do come in at the higher end of the budget scale, with prices currently listed on their website as $350 USD for the 40l pack and $325 for the 30l backpack.
However, if you are travelling for a long time or heading to a remote location, having a comfortable and sturdy backpack that will keep all your belongings safe is worth spending a bit more money on.
When considering cost, you should also take into account the worldwide warranty and all the extras I mentioned above, so you know you will be covered should something go wrong with the backpack, and feel good for choosing a backpack made from recycled materials.
User Experience
As I said earlier, I used my backpack for several different trips and it worked really well for all of them. They were city trips, but I wouldn’t hesitate to take the Tortuga travel backpack further afield.
Although it isn’t designed as a hiking backpack, you could probably take this on hikes too, as it is so comfortable. I only used it walking around cities, but don’t see why it wouldn’t be suitable for a day hike at least, and maybe more.
It was super comfy, and surprisingly roomy, as well as well made and fitting into the carry-on compartment on my flights. It’s a shame they only have US shipping at the moment, but hopefully, it will become available in other countries soon.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
The only thing that irritated me a bit was the hip belt. Because the Velcro strap is quite narrow, it flapped around when not fastened, and when I took off the backpack it got caught in my phone strap (that I wear like a little cross-body bag).
The straps could get caught or tripped over if you carry it by the top or side handle or if it is sitting on the ground. The hip belt is removable via a Velcro strap, but if you do remove it there is nowhere specific to store it when the bag is stuffed full, although it would probably fit in the front flat pocket if the pack isn’t too full. Somewhere to stash or secure the straps would be great to keep these out of the way when I’m not using them.
However, I didn’t knock any star ratings off for this as I am very happy there is a hip belt – I’ve used a 40l backpack without one and hated it, so I will still take this over no hip belt at all!
Now I’m nit-picking, but while the zips can be locked with a padlock it would be nice if the zips locked themselves or if a couple of padlocks were included in the price of the backpack. I usually carry my own padlocks with me anyway for hostel lockers but there are 3 compartments which could be locked, so I don’t want to bring several padlocks with me on every trip.
I also forgot to unlock the padlocks when I got to the airport security line so everyone behind me had to wait while I faffed around to unfasten them – not my finest hour!
That said, these are minor gripes and I really did love this backpack – just a couple of things I’d love to see in a future design.
Final Thoughts on My Tortuga Backpack Review
I love the Tortuga Travel Backpack – I was actually surprised at how much I loved it! These days I often travel with a wheeled case, or a wheeled backpack, as carrying heavy weight on my back is not ideal now I’m over 40 (eek!!!). However, I could manage this backpack quite nicely, and it didn’t feel too heavy thanks to the adjustable padded straps and hip belt which took a lot of the strain.
It’s a subtle design, with lots of handy features – and a huge plus is the recycled materials, worldwide warranty and the scholarship program.
Overall I have no hesitations in recommending the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40l to other travellers, digital nomads and backpackers looking for an understated and comfortable carry-on backpack for travel. I hope you’ve found this Tortuga backpack review useful – please let me know in the comments below if you’ve used this carry-on backpack and what you thought of it!
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