This backpack can replace your suitcase
And it’s on sale
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The Recommendation

May 13, 2026

Today: A very good deal on one of our favorite travel backpacks. Plus …

This backpack can replace your suitcase

The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L, our also great pick for the best carry-on travel backpack.
Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

A travel backpack can free you from the burden of a cumbersome wheeled suitcase. And one of our favorites is a nearly perfect blend of backpack and luggage. It’s easy to pack , with a spacious interior and plenty of helpful organizational features. Plus, its adjustable shoulder straps and waist band make it comfortable to wear over endless miles. It could very well become the only bag you use when you travel.

It’s $70 off right now→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

Plus: 16 screen-free ways to keep kids entertained while traveling

A graphic design with different images of products we recommend in our guide.
Source photos by Mudpuppy, Kiko, Lite-Brite

We tested dozens of games, books, and toys — on planes, in cars, at restaurants — to find the best screen-free activities that can keep kids occupied for hours. Our favorites, which include a collection of charming reusable stickers, a magnetic play set, and a scratch-and-sketch notebook, can make travel days, dare we say, enjoyable.

Plus, a throwback game that’s addicting in the best way→

More for travel

A person folding clothes into a suitcase with other travel items inside.

Is packing lighter better for the planet?

Well, kind of. But the biggest impact you can make starts with what kind of ticket you buy→

Illustration of three individuals in travel gear, including one using a power wheelchair, set against an orange background with blue icons of a passport, ticket, and airplanes.

We asked 3 solo-travel experts what they always pack

Their essentials include a rubber doorstop, a compact first-aid kit, and more→

Our top picks for the best carry-on luggage, The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21-inch Carry-On Spinner and the Travelpro Platinum Elite 22-inch Carry-On Rollaboard.

Our favorite carry-on luggage is on sale right now

After 10 years of testing, it still stands out for its durability, ease of use, and high-end details→

Three of our top picks for portable power banks.

The best portable power banks

For phones constantly in the red→

Your daily deal: Fancy toiletry containers

The Medium Trio capsules from Cadence in the color Eucalyptus
Cadence

These good-looking travel containers come in various sizes and can hold everything from skin care, to jewelry, to supplements. Unlike conventional squeezy tubes, each magnetic capsule has a rounded well, making it easy to scoop and scrape out all of its contents — and even easier to clean between trips.

A 3-pack is nearly 20% off right now→

One last thing: Two words. Packing cubes.

An assortment of packing cubes, packed and resting atop one another, alongside a water bottle and a U.S. passport.
Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter

Packing cubes are an extremely effective way to maximize space and tidily zip away clutter. “With cubes, I not only pack faster, but I also pack more efficiently than I did before,” writes travel expert Claire Wilcox. “Even better, they help keep me organized when I’m on the road.”

Our travel expert’s foolproof method for using packing cubes→

Independent reviews, expert advice and intensively researched deals from Wirecutter experts.

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