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  "description": "The Bellroy Transit Travel Pack Pro gave me enough room for all my tech gear while still working as a comfortable carry-on for long flights.",
  "path": "/why-this-expandable-carry-on-backpack-became-my-favorite-travel-companion-abroad/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-22T01:20:54.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.thisweekstrend.xyz",
  "tags": [
    "gadgets",
    "wireless headphones",
    "Topo Designs Commuter Backpack",
    "Bellroy Transit Travel Pack Pro"
  ],
  "textContent": "As a technology journalist, covering the latest gadgets, I’m always trying to find the perfect travel backpack that can sit under an airplane seat, but still fit all the devices I need to carry. From a laptop and iPad to wireless headphones and power adapters, there’s always plenty of gear to bring.\n\nI’ve tried a lot of backpacks over the years. For daily use around town, I really like the Topo Designs Commuter Backpack. There’s no reason it can’t travel on longer trips, but it just doesn’t have the space I’m looking for. So, for my latest international trip, I turned to the Bellroy Transit Travel Pack Pro.\n\nThis one hits all the right notes with a large capacity that can expand to be bigger, but still fits under a seat for air travel. If you want to pack light for a weekend away, it can be used solo, featuring a clamshell opening and internal clothes hooks.\n\nDespite its premium price, I’ve been blown away by its level of organization and how good most of the design choices are. But like all carry bags, this one has its quirks that may not work for everyone. After traveling with it, here’s why I really like it and who it might be best suited for.\n\n## The little details make this bag ideal for flying\n\nThe Bellroy Transit Travel Pack Pro has enough pockets, organization, and features. But it seems to subscribe to the idea that less is more. That’s one reason it immediately struck a chord with me.\n\nThere’s one exterior front pocket that’s large enough for plenty of items, including being used as a temporary spot to stuff a lightweight jacket. The back laptop slot is well guarded and properly padded. There’s even an area next to the laptop spot for a pouch full of cables and chargers.\n\nInside, the bag is mostly free of clutter, but two large mesh pockets grace the front panel. Those can be used for shirts and socks if it's being used as a suitcase. Otherwise, those slots are good for headphones and power banks.\n\nThe bag has a 30-liter capacity, which is expandable to 38 liters by unzipping an exterior zipper. For as much as I like the shoulder strap padding, the weather-resistant material, and the finer details around the bag, it’s the expandability that really sold me on it.\n\n## The expandability is a great pressure release valve\n\nI love the Transit Travel Pack Pro’s expandability. It’s my favorite feature, but it’s not one I use all the time—purposefully. The ability to gain an extra eight liters of space is key at the end of a long trip. I like to think of the feature as a pressure release valve. It’s there if you need it.\n\nFor the most part, the extra space didn’t prohibit it from sliding under an airplane seat. It also didn’t keep it from fitting anywhere that it already could, unless you really stuff it full.\n\nThe expandability doesn’t double the space or give it a much larger capacity, but I found it to be enough extra room to be helpful. In general, I didn’t want a backpack larger than 30 liters, but I also knew I would be tempted by a slightly larger one in the future for a random trip. This one can do both.\n\n## There’s one major aspect to consider\n\nThe water bottle holder will rightfully be a source of tension for people. Instead of a more traditional open, side pocket that can accommodate a range of water bottle sizes, the Transit Travel Pack Pro uses an enclosed zipper pocket. I found it works best with bottles around or under 20 ounces, but it really depends on the shape of the bottle.\n\nI like that it can be fully concealed. There’s no risk of a bottle falling out and getting lost or broken. Of course, the counterpoint is that a defined size enclosed pocket significantly limits which water bottles you can carry.\n\nThere’s no good answer here. I fall on the side of bringing smaller bottles anyway, to keep the weight and bulk down. So, I like how this bottle holder is implemented. There will probably be a fair number of people who hate it, or it won’t work for them. That’s okay. If you don’t need a water bottle, then it’s just an extra side pocket.\n\n## Is the Bellroy Transit Travel Pack Pro worth buying?\n\nThe Bellroy Transit Travel Pack Pro retails for $319, making it a solidly premium travel bag. It performed great in my use, flying with it. But I think it’s the ability for it to gain eight extra liters of space that makes it truly worthwhile.\n\nMost of the time, it can be just that personal item type of backpack for short trips. But if you bought too many souvenirs or just need an extra day’s worth of clothes, it can expand to accommodate that. It’s flexible and versatile.",
  "title": "Why this expandable carry-on backpack became my favorite travel companion abroad",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-22T01:20:55.081Z"
}