Pro Backpack 34L

Hyped for first trip!

I just picked up the Tortuga Travel Backpack 34L, and it already feels like the perfect setup for one‑bag travel. The material has that tough, premium feel without being heavy, and the clamshell opening makes packing way easier than I expected. It fits everything I need for a week and still stays comfortably within carry‑on limits. The straps and back panel are surprisingly comfortable, and the laptop compartment feels well thought out. I’m genuinely excited to take this on my first trip—it feels like a bag I won’t have to think about, which is exactly what I wanted.

Almost a six stars travel backpack

I've just received the Tortuga Pro Backpack 34L, and after spending some time comparing it with my other Tortuga bags, I wanted to share my first impressions. For context, I also own the Daily Carry Pro 25L and the Expandable 27L. I was looking for something slightly larger than the Expandable but still smaller than a typical 40L travel backpack, while also benefiting from the upgrades in the Pro line: EPX200 fabric, dual water bottle pockets, and a dedicated admin pocket. So far, I'm very impressed. The Pro 34L shares a layout that's very similar to the Pro 25L, which is one of my favorite aspects of that bag. The combination of a large main compartment and a well-designed front admin pocket is exactly what I look for in a travel backpack. The EPX200 fabric feels premium and durable, and the addition of two water bottle pockets is a welcome improvement in both convenience and flexibility. The grab handles also feel noticeably more robust than those on the Expandable 27L, giving the bag a more refined, durable feel. In terms of size, the Pro 34L is a little taller than the Expandable 27L, but surprisingly it has a slimmer profile, even when the Expandable is not expanded. Interestingly, the Pro 25L actually appears to be the deepest of the three bags. My only real complaint is the absence of a luggage pass-through. Both the Daily Carry Pro 25L and the Expandable 27L include one, and I think it would have been easy to incorporate a similar solution on the Pro 34L. In particular, the Expandable's design works especially well because the shoulder straps can be tucked away for extra security while attached to rolling luggage. Overall, my first impression is that the Pro 34L fills a gap in Tortuga's lineup perfectly. It offers more capacity than the Expandable 27L without stepping into the bulkier 40L category, while retaining the thoughtful organization and premium materials that make the Pro series so appealing. I give it five stars, but with the luggage pass-through would be a six stars, no doubts!