Thule Crossover 30-Liter Backpack
A 30-litre daypack aimed at people carrying a laptop and travelling, and Thule still makes bags to this brief.
What this size and shape is for: the one-bag work trip, and the personal item on a flight. 30 litres is the largest a daypack can be while still fitting under most seats, and it holds a laptop, a change of clothes and a wash bag.
What to look for in this category:
- A padded laptop sleeve against the back panel, not at the front. Weight close to your spine is weight you do not notice, and it is also the best-protected position.
- A back panel that breathes. The main failing of business-styled packs, which prioritise looking smart over not arriving sweating.
- A hip belt that can be removed, so it does not dangle in an office.
- Openings that let you reach the bottom, which is the difference between packing and excavating.
The airport note, which has changed: checkpoints with modern CT scanners often let a laptop stay in the bag, so the old butterfly-opening "checkpoint friendly" designs are no longer worth paying extra for. Where older scanners remain, it comes out regardless of the bag.
What to be realistic about: a 30-litre bag with a laptop in it is heavy, and most of these have a token hip belt. If you walk distances with it loaded, a proper hiking daypack with a laptop sleeve is more comfortable and looks less smart.
And the rule for any bag carrying a computer: it travels in the cabin. Always.
Part of the guide to backpacks and daypacks.