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Introduction
For modern travelers, selecting the right travel backpack is a critical logistical decision. As airlines clamp down on carry-on dimensions and raise luggage fees, a reliable backpack has evolved into the ultimate travel asset. It serves as your personal item, your mobile workstation, and sometimes your entire suitcase for a quick weekend getaway.
Among the aesthetic travel brands dominating social media feeds and airport terminals, Béis and Calpak stand out. Béis, launched in 2018 by actress Shay Mitchell, quickly gained fame for its chic, hyper-organized, and structured travel gear. Calpak, a luggage industry veteran founded in 1989, has successfully modernized its line with incredibly trendy and functional designs.
While both brands offer highly coveted bags with trolley sleeves and dedicated laptop compartments, their design philosophies are remarkably different. This comprehensive head-to-head review compares the flagship backpacks from both brands to help you identify the perfect travel companion for your journeys.
Quick Comparison Table
Before diving into the detailed specifications of each bag, here is an at-a-glance comparison of the key features, pricing, and capacities of these popular travel backpacks:
| Model | Price | Capacity | Weight | Laptop Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Béis The Travel Backpack | $118 | 22L | 1.8 lbs | Up to 15-inch | Structured flat suitcase-style packing |
| Béis The Expandable Backpack | $118 | 13.5L to 17L | 1.67 lbs | Up to 15-inch | Daily commuting and flexible expansion |
| Calpak Luka Laptop Backpack | $110 – $138 | 22L | 1.8 lbs | Up to 15-inch | Lightweight, puffy, cloud-like comfort |
| Calpak Terra 26L Duffel Backpack | $175 | 26L | 2.7 lbs | Up to 17-inch | Rugged outdoor adventures and dual-carrying |
Each model appeals to a different style of traveler. Whether you prioritize a sleek structural profile, maximum packing flexibility, pillowy carrying comfort, or rugged weather resistance, one of these options is sure to suit your needs.
Detailed Breakdown
To understand which backpack deserves a spot on your shoulders, let’s explore the individual design elements, pocket configurations, and performance characteristics of each contender.
Béis The Travel Backpack ($118)
The Béis Travel Backpack is a masterclass in structural organization. Boasting a 22-liter capacity and weighing only 1.8 pounds, its standout feature is the full-clamshell main zipper. This design allows the bag to open completely flat like a traditional suitcase, eliminating the need to dig to the bottom to retrieve packed items.
Constructed with a heavy-duty cotton canvas body and polished vegan leather trim, it maintains an elegant, structured shape even when completely empty. It includes a dedicated padded compartment for up to a 15-inch laptop, interior compression straps, two expandable water bottle pockets, and a convenient luggage trolley pass-through. Some users note that the cotton canvas fabric can attract lint and dust over time, requiring occasional maintenance to keep it looking pristine.
Béis The Expandable Backpack ($118)
For hybrid commuters and light travelers, Béis offers The Expandable Backpack. Weighing 1.67 pounds, this eco-friendly alternative is constructed from 100% recycled polyester body fabric and recycled faux-leather accents. It starts with a compact 13.5-liter profile, but features a 2-inch zip-around expansion gusset that expands its total volume to 17 liters.
This backpack utilizes a top-loading configuration rather than a flat-clamshell layout, making it highly convenient for daily use. It is packed with clever additions, including a hidden water bottle pocket that zips completely flat when not in use, a key leash, and a padded tech sleeve. Due to its smaller capacity, it works best as an everyday commuter bag that can occasionally pull double-duty for overnight business trips.
Calpak Luka Laptop Backpack ($110 – $138)
The Calpak Luka is famous for its marshmallow-soft, puffy polyester exterior. Offering a 22-liter capacity at just 1.8 pounds, it is incredibly lightweight and cushioned. The puffy shoulder straps and padded back panel make it the most comfortable medium-sized backpack to wear during long, exhausting airport walks.
Unlike the structured Béis alternatives, the Luka is built with a flexible, scratch-resistant, and water-resistant synthetic fabric that easily conforms to tight overhead bins and under-seat spaces. It features a top-loading main section, a padded 15-inch laptop sleeve, and nine organizing compartments, including a clever hidden passport pocket. Its main drawback is the absence of internal compression straps, which means clothing may shift if packed loosely.
Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack ($175)
For active travelers who face unpredictable weather or rugged terrain, the Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack is a phenomenal option. Boasting a generous 26-liter capacity at 2.7 pounds, the Terra is built from durable, water-resistant recycled ripstop polyester with a TPU-coated exterior. It is designed to withstand moisture, scuffs, and rough handling with ease.
The defining highlight of the Terra is its hybrid two-way carry design. You can wear it as a standard backpack with ergonomic padded straps, or quickly tuck the straps away to use it as a side-carry duffel. It opens wide like a clamshell suitcase, has heavy-duty compression straps, and features a padded tech compartment that fits larger laptops up to 17 inches.
Materials & Durability Comparison
The material choice represents the most fundamental difference between these brands. Béis focuses on aesthetic structure, utilizing heavy cotton canvas or dense recycled polyester that holds a rigid shape. While this looks exceptionally polished and professional, cotton canvas is prone to catching lint and showing scuff marks, meaning you may need to spot-clean it frequently.
In contrast, Calpak prioritizes low-maintenance synthetic fabrics. The Luka’s puffy polyester resists scratches and acts as a barrier against spills, while the Terra’s ripstop polyester is engineered for wet conditions and heavy wear. If you want a structured designer look, Béis is the clear choice, but if you want a bag that you can toss onto the floor of a train without worrying about stains, Calpak is far more forgiving.
Organization & Pockets
Béis is legendary for its meticulous attention to pocket engineering. Both Béis backpacks feature specialized key leashes, dual front-facing zippered compartments, and internal pockets designed specifically for small accessories. The clamshell opening on the Travel Backpack is unparalleled for travelers who like to use packing cubes and visualize their entire wardrobe at once.
Calpak matches this organizational prowess but with a focus on flexible, stretchy storage. The Luka’s nine pockets are incredibly spacious, while the Terra is lined with mesh zippered dividers and compression gear that feel more akin to professional outdoor luggage. While Béis organizes like an administrative planner, Calpak’s pockets adjust more naturally to bulky, awkwardly shaped items due to the flexible, expandable nature of their soft-sided fabrics.
Comfort & Carrying Ergonomics
Ergonomics play a massive role when carrying heavy loads through expansive terminals. The Calpak Luka is the undisputed champion of carrying comfort, distributing weight beautifully across its heavily padded, puffy straps. The Calpak Terra also scores highly here, incorporating breathable mesh back panels and adjustable chest straps to stabilize its larger 26-liter capacity.
Béis backpacks, while highly functional, are sometimes criticized for having thinner, stiffer shoulder straps that offer less cushioning. Because the Béis Travel Backpack is highly rigid, it does not contour to your spine as easily as Calpak’s soft-sided models. If you frequently pack heavy tech and heavy books, you will find Calpak’s padded designs significantly easier on your shoulders over long distances.
How to Choose
Choosing between these stellar brands comes down to your primary travel activities, packing tendencies, and tech requirements. Consider these factors before making your purchase:
Packing Style: If you love flat, suitcase-style packing and neat clothing organization, select the Béis Travel Backpack or the Calpak Terra. Both allow flat clamshell packing. If you prefer a quick top-zip bag for daily commutes that also fits clothes, the Calpak Luka is the optimal selection.
Tech Screen Size: If you travel with a large, professional 17-inch laptop, the Calpak Terra is one of the very few travel backpacks that accommodates it comfortably. The Luka and Béis models max out at 15-inch sleeves, and users with 16-inch laptops often report a very tight squeeze that can slow you down at security checks.
Destination Environment: For business commuters, city-hopping, and stylish hotel stays, the structured, elegant profile of a Béis backpack looks incredible. However, if your itinerary involves trains, outdoor hikes, or potential rainstorms, the weather-resistant durability of the Calpak Terra or the casual resilience of the Calpak Luka will serve you much better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Béis and Calpak travel backpacks fit under airplane seats as personal items?
Yes, the Béis Expandable Backpack, the Béis Travel Backpack, and the Calpak Luka 15-inch are engineered to fit under most major domestic and international airline seats. The Calpak Terra 26L can also fit under standard seats if it is not packed to its maximum capacity, though you may occasionally be asked to place it in the overhead compartment on small regional flights.
Are these backpacks water-resistant?
The Calpak Terra features highly water-resistant recycled ripstop polyester with a TPU coating that successfully repels rain. The Calpak Luka offers moderate resistance against minor splashes. The cotton-canvas Béis Travel Backpack has limited resistance and can absorb water during heavy rain, whereas the recycled polyester Béis Expandable Backpack provides improved protection.
How should I clean my travel backpack?
Both brands recommend spot-cleaning their backpacks with a damp cloth, warm water, and mild detergent. You should avoid machine washing, machine drying, or fully submerging the bags, as this can damage the structural frames of Béis bags or degrade the protective coatings on Calpak models.
What is the warranty coverage for these backpacks?
Calpak protects its backpacks with a 1-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. Béis offers a limited lifetime warranty for its rolling luggage, but its everyday travel backpacks typically carry a 1-year limited warranty. Make sure to keep your proof of purchase to initiate a claim if a defect arises.
Verdict
Both Béis and Calpak deliver exceptional, highly functional travel backpacks, but they cater to distinct travel personalities.
Choose Béis if you are a meticulous packer who prioritizes aesthetic polish, rigid structure, and flat clamshell access. The Béis Travel Backpack is the ultimate personal item for business trips, stylish city breaks, and organized travelers who love structured, elegant shapes.
Choose Calpak if your travel style demands lightweight comfort, daily versatility, and weather-resistant durability. The pillowy, cloud-like comfort of the Calpak Luka is unmatched for casual travelers, while the rugged, convertible Calpak Terra 26L is the ultimate choice for active adventurers who want a heavy-duty bag that transitions seamlessly between a duffel and a backpack.
Overall, Calpak edges out as the superior brand for the average traveler. Its smart integration of low-maintenance, scratch-resistant materials, combined with vastly superior shoulder strap comfort, makes it a more practical, durable, and comfortable partner for long-haul journeys.
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journeys.
Prices and features mentioned are accurate as of the date of publication. Always check the official provider website for the most current pricing and availability.
