This is the Best Travel Backpack Under $80

 This is the tomtop navigator at 240-litre travel backpack. And if you're on a budget, this might be one of the best value travel backpacks available. So, it has a few standout features. First, it opens up like a duffel bag for easy travel packing. Once inside, you'll see this little flap that you can fold up to give the baggage structure, and we will get into why this feature is essential in a minute. But you can pack about four or five days' worth of clothing, and you might even be able to fit up to a week if you are a late Packer. 

The second central compartment is the rear laptop compartment, which has an open slot for easier access at airport security. Here, Tom's talk includes a massive 17-inch laptop sleeve and a second padded sleeve for a tablet that we found can fit a 14-inch laptop, so this second sleeve is also huge. Both sleeves are well protected, with over an inch of space between the bottom of the sleeves and the bottom of the bag to protect your devices from bumps and drops. On the other side is a mesh pocket for chargers and accessories. And here is where Tom Talk 82 starts to get interesting. 

This bag gives you dual access to the main compartment. So you can access your packing not only from the front but also from the laptop compartment. Plus, this pull tab is enjoyable to use. The Tom Talk 82 does include a few exterior pockets for organization. You'll find water bottle pockets on either side. These pockets have an elastic band to keep the pockets out of the way when unused. But they only fit slimmer bottles. Think of a 24-ounce Hydroflask or a one-liter bottle you would buy at the airport. Unfortunately, larger bottles like a 32-ounce Nalgene do not fit in the front of the bag. You have a large flat pocket for easy access to essentials. And finally, you have a pocket on the top. 

That's the perfect spot for a passport, wallet, or sunglasses. This top pocket is semi-hidden for extra security when out and about. Regarding security, Tom Talk 82 gives you lockable zippers, but only for the laptop compartment. The main compartment zippers are not lockable. Now, let's talk about size.

As you can see, this is a giant bag. And this is what it looks like on someone five foot six; it measures 20.5 by 13 by 8.7 inches, a standard carry-on bag size. It can be used as an under-seat personal item bag, but it exceeds the size limit for many airlines. 

So, keep that in mind. You can't compress its length or width because of the back panel. But these beefy compression straps allow you to control the depth and remember that flap inside the main compartment. When you keep that down, you can smush the bag and compress it as needed. This allows you to pack the bag full or keep it small. So what's the catch? Because many other travel backpacks go for hundreds of dollars, the TomTom Navigator 82 is a fraction of the price. Well, there are a couple of places where you can see that Tom Tuck has cut some corners. 

For example, although the top handle is padded, the side handle is not. You get this bear strap. And while there is a sternum strap, there is no hip belt, which is unfortunate for a bag this size, especially when it starts to get heavy, but Tom Tuck did surprise us with the overall construction. The shoulder straps are fantastic. They're thick and very padded. We were surprised to find that Tom Tuck uses y que que branded zippers and the 82, and so far, these zippers have been as smooth as butter. Overall, this backpack is an excellent value for those needing a versatile travel bag. There are pockets of organization, but it only overwhelms you with a few pockets. You can attach it to wheeled luggage, and the dual access to the main compartment is an elegant feature.