Best Travel Backpacks for Women: MATEIN vs Travelpro vs Osprey Fairview
By Sarah Chen · October 7, 2026 · 8 min read
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These three differ in size and in how they carry. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 is a 19 L under-seat pack that slips over a rolling suitcase handle. The MATEIN is a 40 L pack with a shoe compartment and a 17 in laptop section. The Osprey Fairview 40 is a 40 L pack cut for women, with a torso length you can adjust and a harness meant for heavier loads.
Which One Should You Get?
- Best for a budget weekend bag with lots of compartments – MATEIN Travel Backpack with Shoe Compartment – a 40 L pack with a shoe compartment and 17.3 in laptop section.
- Best for day trips and as a second bag on a rolling suitcase – Travelpro Maxlite 5 Women's Laptop Backpack – a 19 L under-seat pack that rides on a suitcase handle.
- Best for longer trips, heavier loads and smaller frames – Osprey Fairview 40L Women's Travel Backpack – a 40 L women's-fit carry-on pack with an adjustable torso.
Under-seat, budget carry-on or women's-fit carry-on: three ways to pack
Pros
- 40 L with a vented bottom compartment for shoes size 10 to 12
- Separate compartment for laptops up to 17.3 in
- Organizer pocket section and double-zipper main compartment
- Built-in USB pass-through for a power bank (battery not included)
- Padding stays comfortable when full, according to a review
Cons
- Single water bottle sleeve
- Soft, lightly structured build
- No sizing or torso adjustment
- Listing sizes vary between sellers, so check the pack against your airline limit
Unique Features & Insights
Pros
- Lightest of the three at 1.3 lb
- Rear strap sits on a rolling suitcase handle
- Many small pockets for essentials
- DuraGuard water-resistant polyester
- Zappos owners: 92% of 39 reviews give 4 or 5 stars
Cons
- 19 L is the smallest capacity
- Laptop pocket fits up to 14 in, not 15 in
- Trolley strap can be tight over a larger bag when full
- Works best for short trips
Unique Features & Insights
Pros
- Torso adjusts for 15 to 18.5 in, hips 27 to 39 in
- Curved straps and contoured hip belt cut for women
- Harness comfortable even when fully packed, per Packhacker
- Sleeve for devices up to 16 in
- Lockable zipper sliders and a hide-away strap system
Cons
- Heaviest at 3 lb 7 oz
- Gear can fall out of the stash pocket and there are no strap keepers
- Little interior organization
- Top pocket hard to reach when full
Unique Features & Insights
Final Comparison Table
Decide on trip length first. For a day trip or as a second bag that sits on top of a rolling suitcase, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 is the lightest at 1.3 lb, but its 19 L and 14 in laptop pocket are the smallest. For a weekend trip on a tight budget, the MATEIN has the most storage features (a shoe compartment, a 17.3 in laptop section) and the best-documented owner satisfaction by count, 4.7/5 across 4,000+ Amazon reviews in one review, but it is a soft, lightly structured bag, with no fit adjustment, that weighs 2.2 lb. For longer trips or heavy loads, the Osprey Fairview 40 is the only one built around a women's fit, with a torso adjustment for 15 to 18.5 in and a harness reviewers call comfortable even when full, at the cost of 3 lb 7 oz of empty weight. Check availability through the links above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these fits as a carry-on?
The Osprey Fairview 40 is 22 x 14 x 9 in, which is 45 linear inches and meets most airlines' carry-on limit, though Packhacker scores its carry-on compliance at 38%, so check your airline. The MATEIN is listed at 18 x 13.5 x 8 in and the Travelpro at 15 x 10 x 5.5 in, both small enough to be marketed as personal items.
Will a 15-inch or 16-inch laptop fit?
The Osprey Fairview 40 has a sleeve for devices up to 16 in, and the MATEIN lists a compartment for up to 17.3 in. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 laptop pocket fits up to 14 in according to a Backpackies review, so a 15-inch laptop will not fit, even though the listing title says 15-inch.
Which is best for a small frame?
The Osprey Fairview 40 fits torso lengths of 15 to 18.5 in and hips of 27 to 39 in, with curved shoulder straps and a contoured hip belt, and reviewers say it works for petite frames. The other two have no fit range stated by the brand.
Can I use the Travelpro on a rolling suitcase?
Yes. It has a rear strap to stack on a spinner or rollaboard handle. One Zappos reviewer noted the strap was hard to get over a larger bag when the pack was full.
Does the MATEIN have a place for shoes?
Yes, a bottom compartment with two vent holes, described as wide enough for size 10 to 12 shoes. It can also hold toiletries.
Is the MATEIN a personal item for budget airlines?
It is marketed that way, but a 2026 guide notes that a version measured at 19 x 13 x 8 in is an inch over Spirit's and Frontier's 18 x 14 x 8 in limit. The listing for this pack gives 18 x 13.5 x 8 in, so measure the one you receive when packed full.
Are they water-resistant?
The Travelpro uses polyester with a DuraGuard water-resistant coating, and the MATEIN is described as water-resistant nylon. No source gives a rating, so use a rain cover or packing bag for heavy rain.
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