The Open Story Day Trip Backpack is a great budget-friendly option for short trips thanks to its structured compartments, large capacity, and thoughtful details frequent travelers will love.
While this backpack doesn't have as large a capacity as the others on our list — it's best for one or two night stays or as a supplement to a carryon suitcase — Open Story by Target has jammed so many clever features into this backpack we'd be remiss not to mention it in our guide.
I tested it on a three-day trip to Disney World and utilized it as both my personal item while I flew and my daypack at the parks. For me, trips to Disney mean carrying a ton on my back all day including an emergency kit filled with first aid supplies, a large water bottle, and a full change of clothes for me and my partner — you never know with the volatile Florida weather.
In the past, using lesser backpacks meant fumbling for the item I needed, overstuffing, uncomfortable straps, and being jammed in the back by displaced items. I experienced none of that with the Day Trip.
While it doesn't open flat for packing, the thick nylon construction is structured enough to stand upright and open. You could easily fit two or three days worth of clothes in the main compartment. Also, hidden in there is a zipper RFID compartment.
The front features a large, flat compartment further divided internally that's great for your smaller items like keys, glasses, pens, and chargers. Above it is a velvet-lined pocket meant for sunglasses and other scratchable items which I used frequently as we went in and out of rides, shops, and restaurants.
At the back is a separate section for your laptop so your tech never has to come into contact with your clothes. It contains a padded sleeve large enough for a 15-inch laptop and a mesh zipper pocket to stow accessories.
The wide straps are comfortable for long wear and mesh padding between your shoulders and at your lower back ups the comfort factor further. My favorite feature on this backpack is a very small one — a tiny zipper pocket on the front of one of the straps. It's great for keeping cash, a key, or anything small you might want to access without taking off your pack. — Jen Gushue
Pros: Budget-friendly, utilitarian pockets, comfortable to wear, 15-inch laptop compartment
Cons: Smaller capacity, doesn't open flat for packing