8 best backpacks with wheels for smoother travel

One of the titans of the luggage industry, Samsonite is known for making suitcases that are light, slick and smooth-wheeling. And the 28l roader fits that profile like a glove. The roller case functionality is excellent – responsive wheels feel like they could turn on a dime, while a smooth-gliding handle tucks away nicely in a dedicated pouch. We love the sleek interior material, too, which is easy to keep clean and feels the same as the material used in other Samsonite cases.

The bag itself is made with recyclex material – exactly 26 recycled 0.5l PET plastic bottles were used to make the fabric for the bag. The best bit, though? Whether you’re using it as a backpack or as a wheelie case, it never looks like a two-in-one hybrid. There’s zero compromise on style. That’s a giant tick from us.

Of all the bags out there, backpacks with wheels are not ones that you might consider “high fashion”. But then again, most of them aren’t made by Victorinox. The producers of the famous Swiss Army knife also do a roaring trade in sleek, built-to-last luggage, and that translates here to this good-looking hybrid. When you’re not using them, comfy padded straps tuck away quickly and easily into a dedicated middle pouch, making transitioning between pack and wheelie bag super quick. The handle is one of the sturdiest and smoothest we tried too, and the exterior is water-repellent. There’s a generous 37l capacity as well – enough to keep you going over a long weekend.

Eastpak bags are made to take a knocking – we’ve had some for well over a decade that still look and operate almost as good as new. And this, the brand’s take on a backpack with wheels, is no exception. It comes with all the same classic lightness and roominess that is the signature of Eastpak bags, but with added straps that fold discreetly away in a zippered pouch. It is on the boxy side, which means when you wear it as a backpack, it basically looks like you have a wheelie bag strapped to your torso. It could be a little comfier, but on the flip side you get a cabin-sized bag that’s light and fits an absolute tonne (the capacity is 42l). A no-brainer for air travellers.

This cutesy Cath Kidston backpack – plastered with a print of blooming sweet peas – is the perfect pick for day-to-day use. It’s compact enough for toting around town on your back, then after you’ve popped by the supermarket or corner shop to pick up a few bits, you can convert it into a wheelie bag for the journey home. There’s a padded laptop compartment too, and clever top handles so you can even carry it like a handbag. It opens up pretty wide to quickly get stuff in and out, too. One more reason to buy? It has some eco-creds: that classic cool-kitsch Cath Kidston fabric is a hardy polyester that’s been made from recycled plastic bottles.

This is an investment piece but you do get loads for your money. With a 60l capacity, this bag will easily squeeze in enough for a week – or longer, if you’re a pro packer. And yet, it’s built in a way to make carrying it on your back super comfortable, with a ventilated mesh layer and an adjustable harness and hipbelt for support. The thick base wheels are super smooth-rolling, and the double-bar retractable handle is grippy. Inside, compression straps securing clothes, and pockets for liquids and shoes, keep everything neat and tidy. On the outside, “straightjacket” compression keeps everything stable. You could take this on a tour through southeast Asia, a camping holiday or a city break to New York, and no matter what, it will keep up with you all the way.

Kiwi brand Kathmandu knows the outdoors inside-out – it’s spent more than 30 years making kit for exploring the world’s wild corners, and is now a certified B-Corp. So, as you might imagine, this is a company that knows what makes a good explorer’s backpack. Kathmandu evolved its hybrid trolley to make it as light (2.36kg), strong and comfortable as possible, while still maximising volume (32l). The internal mesh pocket is handy for, say, separating out dirty laundry, while compression straps will let you squeeze in as much as possible. We love the flash of bright neon colour, too.

It may not be quite as stylish as some others on this list – the look is more corporate “biz traveller” than runway – but for the £40 price tag, this really is a small niggle. With a padded section to keep your laptop safe, a load of internal pockets and three zippered compartments, this bag has the same functionality as many others on the market and yet won’t hurt your bank balance. The polyester exterior seems like it could take a few hits, and we like that the fold-away shoulder straps are padded. There’s a 10-year manufacturer’s guarantee, too, which, for a bag of this price point, is a bonus.

Looking for something to take to and from the office? Here’s your bag. The padded 15in compartment is the voyager’s main selling point – it will keep your laptop comfortably encased while you make the journey to your desk. The bag’s subtle wheels (tucked discreetly under a patch of fabric) make it look more like a “normal” backpack than some others. When it is time to tuck the straps away and put those rollers into motion, you’ll find the bag’s handle is sturdy and it holds as much as you could possibly need (it’s a roomy 35l). The heavy-duty fabric, meanwhile, feels built to last.