Best Tumi Backpacks for Travel

Geoff Whitmore
6 min readOct 19, 2023

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Tumi is one of the most beloved travel gear brands. Frequent travelers like Tumi as their products withstand the rigors of world travel and baggage claim areas for years. Investing in the best Tumi backpack can be one of the best gear or gifts for travelers purchases you make whether you fly, hike, or take epic road trips.

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What is the Best TUMI Backpack?

best tumi backpack for travel. Credit Amazon

Are TUMI Backpacks Good Quality?

Yes, Tumi backpacks are generally considered to be of good quality. They are made with high-quality materials and construction, and they are designed to be durable and functional. Tumi backpacks are also known for their stylish designs and innovative features.

What is the Best Brand of Backpack for Travel?

Tumi is widely considered to be the best brand for a travel backpack. However, it is important to note that Tumi backpacks are also quite expensive. Some people may feel that they are overpriced, especially when compared to other brands of backpacks. Ultimately, whether or not a Tumi backpack is worth the price is a personal decision.

Alpha 3 Brief Pack

The Tumi Alpha 3 Brief Pack is possibly the best overall backpack that Tumi offers. This backpack is ideal for leisure and business travel. It can also provide years (decades?) of reliable use as it’s made of ballistic nylon or leather to withstand the rigors of travel.

Tumi states that the 15" laptop compartment can fit a 16" MacBook which is impressive.

Key Tumi backpack for travel features include:

  • 2 front U-zip pockets
  • Front straight-zip pocket
  • 2 side-zip pockets (1 with a water-resistant lining)
  • Leather-wrapped top carry handle
  • 3 interior open pockets
  • 3 interior media pockets (and 3 card pockets)
  • Padded adjustable straps

The backpack dimensions are 8 x 12 x 17 inches and weighs 3.3 pounds.

The Best Travel Backpacks from Tumi

Below is a list and review of the best traveler backpacks from Tumi. There’s a tumi backpack for every traveler so choose wisely. And don’t forget to use your credit card that earns travel rewards to maximize your purchase.

Tumi Alpha Bravo Sheppard Brief Pack

There are several Tumi backpack collections and one of the most popular collections is the Alpha Bravo series. The Tumi Alpha Bravo Sheppard Brief Pack can be one of the best travel backpacks for men as it has a military-inspired design to be durable. It’s also a top contender for being the best overall as you can fit a 15-inch laptop.

The Sheppard comes in a variety of external color schemes and is made of ballistic nylon.

Key features include:

  • 2 front straight zipper pockets and 1 U-zip pocket
  • 2 side zipper pockets (1 has a waterproof lining and air vent)
  • Add-a-bag sleeve
  • Back slip pocket with a hidden magnetic strap
  • 15-inch laptop compartment
  • iPad pocket

There are also 1 zip pocket, 3 open pockets, and 2 card pockets inside the backpack. The backpack dimensions are 17 x 14 x 9 inches. This backpack weighs approximately 3 pounds.

The add-a-bag sleeve lets you slide your Tumi backpack onto the retractable handle for an airline carry-on bag.

Tumi Nathan Expandable Backpack

The Tumi Nathan Expandable Backpack is another member of the Alpha Bravo collection. As its name implies, you can use the expansion zipper to get more interior depth when you need it.

The standard dimensions for this product are 16 x 14 x 6.75 inches. The expanded depth is 9.5 inches. The exterior fabric is ballistic nylon and leather.

The exterior and interior storage features are similar to the other options in the Tumi Alpha Bravo collection.

  • 15" laptop compartment
  • Padded tablet pocket
  • 2 side zip pockets (1 has a water-resistant lining)
  • 3 front zipper pockets
  • Add-a-bag sleeve

Tumi Alpha 3 Slim Solutions Brief Pack

The Tumi Alpha 3 Slim Solutions Brief Pack is a little smaller than the standard Alpha 3 collection. This pack has total dimensions of 16.5 x 13.5 x 6 inches and weighs 3 pounds. This bag is made from ballistic nylon.

Key features include:

  • Front U-zip pocket
  • 2 side pockets (one with a water-resistant lining)
  • Leather-wrapped top handle
  • Padded 15" laptop compartment
  • Padded tablet pocket
  • 3 interior media pockets
  • Add-a-bag sleeve

Voyageur Carson Laptop Bag

The Tumi Voyageur collection is for women travelers. The Carson Laptop Bag is spacious enough to fit a 15-inch laptop with an exterior nylon construction.

Key features include:

  • Double-zip main compartment pocket
  • Double-zip front U-zip pocket
  • Front single-zip pocket
  • Two side zip pockets (1 is a water-resistant water bottle pocket)
  • Quick-access phone pocket with magnetic snap
  • Leather top handle with a 2-inch handle drop
  • 15" laptop compartment
  • Tablet pocket

The Voyageur collection comes with an add-a-bag sleeve like the other Tumi backpack offerings.

Dimensions for this bag are 17 x 12 x 6 inches and weighs 1.6 pounds.

Tumi Rivas Backpack

The Tumi Rivas Backpack is part of the Voyageur collection and also features a sporty design. This backpack has a slightly smaller laptop compartment and fits 13-inch bags. There is a tablet compartment like the other backpacks.

You have two ways to access the main compartment. One option is the top compartment and there is a side access zipper too. Like the other Tumi backpacks, there are two side-zip pockets with one having a water-resistant pocket for water bottles.

The total dimensions for this bag are 11.75 x 15 x 6 inches and weighs 1.85 pounds. The shoulder strap measures 37 inches and has a 3-inch top handle drop.

Tumi Mauren Laptop Tote

Ladies may prefer the flexibility of a tote bag to a backpack when traveling. The Tumi Mauren Laptop Tote can be the perfect alternative to a backpack.

You can carry this tote bag with two top leather-trimmed handles that have a 9-inch drop or a 54-inch shoulder strap. Four metal feet on the bottom provide extra stability when the bag is sitting. The bag dimensions are 11 x 17 x 4.5 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds.

This bag holds a 13" laptop and comes with a tablet pocket. Other features include:

  • Front straight pocket with a locking zipper pull
  • Quick-access phone pocket with a magnetic snap
  • Add-a-bag sleeve
  • Collapsible water-resistant water bottle pocket

Tumi Alpha 3 Flap Backpack

Some travelers prefer a backpack with topside flap access instead of the traditional zipper system. The Alpha 3 Flap Backpack is stylish and holds a 15-inch laptop along with a separate tablet compartment.

Design features include:

  • Front U-zip pocket
  • Front straight-zip pocket
  • 2 side zip pockets (1 with a water-resistant lining)
  • 15-inch laptop compartment
  • Padded tablet compartment
  • Interior media pocket
  • 2 interior open pockets
  • Add-a-bag sleeve

The bag dimensions measure 17x12x6.5 inches and weighs 2.8 pounds.

Tumi Alpha Bravo Kelley Sling

If you prefer a sling backpack, you might like the Alpha Bravo Kelley Sling. This bag is made from ballistic nylon and has a 50-inch shoulder strap. The total bag dimensions are 13.5 x 6 x 5 inches and weighs 1.37 pounds.

The Kelley Sling has these features:

  • Zip entry to the main compartment
  • Front zip pocket
  • Top zip pocket with protective lining
  • Bottom zip pocket
  • Quick-access back pocket with hidden magnetic snap
  • Interior zip pocket

As this bag is small, you won’t enjoy the add-a-bag sleeve feature.

Tumi Serra Mini Convertible Backpack

When you want a tiny backpack that might substitute for a purse or a small child, check out the Tumi Serra Mini Convertible Backpack. The measurements for this backpack are 7.75 x 6 x 3.5 inches with a 1-inch handle drop. You also get a 54-inch shoulder strap and it weighs 0.89 pounds and is made of nylon.

Features of this backpack include:

  • Double-zip entry to the main compartment
  • Front zip pocket with a locking zipper pull
  • Quick-access phone pocket with a magnetic snap
  • 1 interior media pocket
  • 1 interior card pocket

Summary of Best Travel Backpacks from Tumi

Tumi backpacks come in all sizes and have a variety of features. There are several collections with different exterior designs to fit your personal travel preferences, and just like a good credit card for traveling, they are important to optimize your ventures. Whether you get a leather, ballistic nylon, or nylon exterior, your backpack will be durable and can accompany you on many trips to come.

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Geoff Whitmore
Geoff Whitmore

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