If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
Travel season is here, with AAA reporting nearly 71 million Americans hitting the road for Fourth of July alone and millions more expected to vacation over Labor Day. One way to beat the expected chaos at the airport: making sure to use a portable tracking device for your gear. Another travel tip: skipping a check-in bag in favor of a carry-on.
This season, hack your carry-on allowance by using a hybrid backpack, like this $49 option from Target. Part of Target’s in-house travel accessories brand, Open Story, this 35L Travel Backpack looks like a regular knapsack, but opens up to reveal separate interior compartments for packing clothes, toiletries and even your laptop. In our experience, it’s been enough for a weekend trip to the beach or overnight excursion.
TARGET EXCLUSIVE Open Story 35L Travel Backpack Buy Now AT TARGET $49.99 The soft-sided backpack opens up to reveal a zip-up mesh compartment on one side that’s perfect for clothing, while the other side features smaller zip pockets for toiletries and accessories. A front section, meantime, features a padded sleeve for a laptop (up to 17 inches) or tablet, with room for your phone, chargers and books too. A zip-front pocket is great for your passport, plane ticket, snacks and other grab-and-go essentials.
This multipurpose bag is designed for travel and convenience — in addition to padded shoulder straps and a top handle, the backpack also has a sleeve on the back that lets it slip over your suitcase handle for easy maneuverability. The durable material, meantime, is water-resistant and easy to wipe clean.
Popular on Variety
Most airlines only allow for one carry-on suitcase and a personal item, but the clever design of this backpack lets it almost double up as a second packed bag as well.
Target
Target’s Open Story travel backpack measures 19.25 Inches (H) x 13 Inches (W) x 8.25 Inches (D). At under $50, it’s a no-brainer to pickup for your next flight or road trip. It doubles as a great work bag too, with the separate compartment great for packing your gym clothes or outfit change before dinner.
Available in four colorways, get the Target 35L Travel Backpack while it’s still in stock on Target.com. The Open Story carry-on backpack boasts a 4.7-star rating (out of five) from hundreds of reviewers online. More than 80% of shoppers gave the bag a full five-star review.