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Travel season is upon us, with the American Automobile Association reporting that an estimated 71 million Americans will hit the road on July 4 alone, and millions more expected to take their vacations on Labor Day. One way to beat the airport chaos: Make sure you have a portable tracking device for your gear. Another travel tip: Skip your check-in bag in favor of a carry-on.
This season, you can reduce your carry-on baggage allowance by using hybrid A backpack, like this $49 option from Target. Part of Target’s in-house travel accessories line, Open Story, the 35-liter Travel Backpack looks like a regular backpack, but opens to reveal separate interior compartments for packing clothes, toiletries, and even a laptop. In our experience, it was adequate for a weekend trip to the beach or an overnight trip.
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Open Story 35L Travel Backpack
The soft-sided backpack opens to reveal a zippered mesh compartment on one side that's perfect for clothing, while the other side features smaller zippered pockets for toiletries and accessories. Meanwhile, the front section features a padded laptop sleeve (up to 17″) or tablet, with room for your phone, chargers, and books, too. The zippered front pocket is great for your passport, plane ticket, snacks, and other on-the-go essentials.
This multi-purpose bag is designed for travel and comfort – in addition to padded shoulder straps and a top handle, the backpack also has a pocket on the back that allows it to slide over the handle of the bag for easy maneuverability. Meanwhile, the durable material is water-resistant and easy to clean.
Most airlines only allow one carry-on bag and one personal item, but this backpack's clever design allows it to function as a second packed bag as well.
Goal
Target's Open Story Travel Backpack measures 19.25″H x 13″W x 8.25″D. At under $50, it's a no-brainer to take with you on your next flight or road trip. It also works as a great work bag, with a separate compartment that's great for packing gym clothes or changing before dinner.
The Target 35L Travel Backpack is available in four colors, get it while it's in stock at Target.com. The Open Story Backpack has a 4.7-star rating (out of five) from hundreds of online reviewers. More than 80% of shoppers gave the bag a full five-star rating.
