Backpacks

The right backpack is the bag you forget you're wearing. The wrong one is a daily reminder that you bought the wrong backpack. Properly built laptop and travel backpacks distribute weight where your body wants it, protect a 15" or 17" laptop without ceremony, and survive the genuinely brutal life of a daily commuter or frequent flyer's carry-on.

Our backpack range covers both jobs: Victorinox and Wenger laptop and commuter packs for the office and the airport, and travel daypacks for the trip itself. Authorised Australian stockist for both brands. Free shipping Australia-wide, 30-day returns.

Laptop & Commuter Backpacks

Built around the laptop, not retrofitted with a sleeve as an afterthought. Padded compartments fit anything from a 13" MacBook through to 17" gaming and workstation laptops. Wenger and Victorinox both put real engineering into the back panel — moulded foam, ventilation channels, and shoulder straps that don't dig in by lunchtime.

Standard features across most of the range:

• Padded laptop sleeve (specify size at the product level — most fit 14", 15.6", or 17")
• RFID-blocking pocket for cards and passport
• Trolley pass-through strap, so the bag rides on top of a wheeled suitcase
• Organiser panel for cables, pens, chargers, and the small things you lose otherwise
• Water-bottle pocket and quick-access front pocket

Travel Daypacks

Smaller and lighter, built for the day trip rather than the daily grind. Useful as the second bag on an international trip — packs flat into a suitcase, comes out for hikes, museum days, beach days, and airport snack runs. Some fold down into their own pocket. The Wenger daypack range and the lighter end of the Victorinox travel line both live here.

One Bag Travel

For travellers committing to carry-on only, a 30–40L travel backpack with proper laptop protection is the whole solution. Front-loading panels (think suitcase-style access rather than top-loading) make packing and security checks dramatically easier. Hideaway shoulder straps turn it into a tidy soft case when you check it.

Recycled Materials

Wenger's EcoPack and the wider eco-conscious Wenger range are built with fabrics made from recycled PET — typically reclaimed plastic bottles. Same construction quality, same warranty, smaller footprint. Worth knowing about if you'd rather not buy a third virgin-polyester backpack this decade.

Who Buys These

• Commuters who carry a laptop daily and want a back-friendly bag that doesn't look like a school bag
• Students who need a properly padded laptop sleeve and enough room for textbooks and a gym kit
• Frequent flyers who want a personal item that fits under the seat and protects tech
• One-bag travellers committing to carry-on only for trips under 10 days
• Anyone replacing a tired generic backpack with something built to last 5–10 years

Why Buy From TheTravelShop

• Authorised Australian stockist for Victorinox and Wenger
• Free shipping Australia-wide
• 30-day returns
• Genuine stock, full warranty, prices in AUD

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right travel backpack?

Start with what you'll carry. If a laptop is in there daily, buy the bag around the laptop — measure your machine and pick a backpack with a sleeve that fits properly (snug, padded, doesn't bottom out). Then think about volume: 20–25L for daily commute, 25–35L for one-bag travel up to a week, 35L+ for longer trips. After that, the priorities are back panel comfort, organisation, and water resistance. Brand matters less than construction and warranty backing.

What size laptop sleeve do I need?

Match the sleeve to your laptop's screen size, but always check the actual external dimensions — a thick gaming laptop with a 15.6" screen can be physically larger than a slim 17" ultrabook. Most Wenger and Victorinox backpacks are listed by the maximum laptop they fit (e.g. "up to 17""). When in doubt, size up — a slightly oversized sleeve with a Velcro strap holds a smaller laptop fine, but a snug sleeve will not stretch.

Are backpacks allowed as carry-on luggage?

Yes — most airlines allow one carry-on bag plus one personal item, and a backpack works as either. Australian domestic carriers (Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar) allow 7kg total carry-on with combined linear dimensions up to 115cm. A 25–35L backpack is well inside those limits. International rules vary, particularly low-cost European and Asian carriers — always check the specific airline before flying. Front-loading travel backpacks are generally accepted as carry-on without issue.

What is RFID-blocking and is it useful?

RFID-blocking pockets are lined with a thin metal mesh that stops contactless card and passport readers from picking up your details through the bag. Skimming is rare in Australia but more common in some overseas markets. Most Wenger and Victorinox backpacks include at least one RFID pocket — useful for storing your wallet and passport while you're walking through busy areas without having to think about it.

How long should a good backpack last?

A well-built laptop backpack from Wenger or Victorinox should comfortably handle 5–10 years of daily commuter use. Zips and shoulder strap padding tend to be the first things to wear out, and both are covered by the manufacturer warranty when they fail prematurely. Cheap backpacks fail in 12–18 months. Buying a properly engineered bag once almost always works out cheaper over a decade.