Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45

Jacqueline: The Aeronaut is my ultimate touring bag. What I love about this backpack is that the side pockets remain completely accessible when it’s stowed under the airplane seat in front of you. A lot of travel backpacks use a full clamshell design, which is great for packing flat but makes it incredibly difficult to pull items out mid-flight once the bag is zipped up.

The sideways access on this model allows you to reach inside easily, like a briefcase. Even though the interior sleeve wasn’t explicitly designed for a laptop, I slide mine in there so it rests securely against my back. The design keeps it completely safe under the straps. It has completely ruled my travel life.