Vacuum Compression Travel Backpack, 15.6in Laptop Bag

Every carry-on bag involves the same negotiation at the door: what comes out so the zip closes. A backpack with a built-in vacuum compression system changes the terms, because instead of removing things you compress what is already in there, and the bag goes from 38 litres of packed volume down to a shape that fits an overhead locker.

The compression works on the main compartment, so bulky soft goods, jumpers, jackets and a week of clothes, lose the air between them rather than being crushed. Expanded, it takes 38 litres for a long trip. Collapsed, it sits at 28 litres and reads as a normal daypack, which matters at the gate. A padded sleeve takes a 15.6 inch laptop, and the shell is waterproof, so the walk from a terminal to a taxi in the rain is not an event.

Eight colours: beige, black, mossy, arona, navy blue, brandy snifter, tangerine and daylily. Suits one-bag travel, commuting with a laptop, weekend trips and anyone who has paid a checked baggage fee once and decided never again.

• Compression: built-in vacuum system on the main compartment
• Capacity: 28L standard, expands to 38L
• Laptop: padded sleeve fits up to 15.6 inch
• Shell: waterproof
• Colours: Beige, Black, Mossy, Arona, Navy Blue, Brandy Snifter, Tangerine, Daylily
• Best for: one-bag travel, commuting and weekend trips