We are back today with another luggage post as I walk through my CALPAK Terra Backpack review.
It’s no secret that I am a CALPAK girl through and through. My family uses their gear on every single trip we go on. (Check out my reviews of the Luka and Stevyn duffels, and I’ll share a few more favorites at the end of the post).
I have used the CALPAK Terra Duffel Backpack twice this summer, once for an overnight “staycation” and once on a four day trip to see my in-laws. Now that I’ve had a chance to familiarize myself (and fall in love) with this duffel backpack, I thought it was time to put together a full review.
In this CALPAK Terra backpack review, I’ll walk through all of the specs and details of this 26L duffel backpack and share my thoughts after using it this summer. And at the end of the post, I’m share a roundup of my favorite CALPAK products.
SALE ALERT: CALPAK’s Black Friday event is in full swing, and the Terra duffel backpack is currently marked down to $140! Shop the entire sale here.
My CALPAK Terra Backpack Review
The CALPAK Terra duffel backpack is, hands down, the most functional and versatile piece of luggage/travel gear I own. It is a powerhouse. This backpack holds a ton, has an unbelievable amount of pockets/compartments, and feels so comfortable on my back.
This backpack is so thoughtfully designed. It’s clear how much care CALPAK puts into all of their designs, but this one takes the cake for me.
The Terra combines the size of a duffel, the ease of a backpack, and the functionality of a soft suitcase all into one. You can wear it as a backpack or tuck the backpack straps in and use it as a traditional duffel.
The Terra backpack opens up flat like a suitcase, making packing so much easier than stuffing things into a standard duffel bag. However, you can also open it from the top with a separate top zipper for ease on the go. I’m telling you, the options are limitless with this backpack.
I love that this duffel backpack holds so much in the main compartment. It’s easy to keep my clothes and shoes organized because of how you can open it up all the way like a suitcase. However, what takes this duffel backpack to the next level is the amount of external compartments. This is what makes this such a great carry on bag. You can fit most of your in-flight essentials in the external pockets without even having to access the main part of the bag.
This bag is so impressive. It’s perfect for the frequent flyer who wants to invest in a sturdy carry-on that will serve them for years to come. It would be a fabulous backpack for a study abroad student who is planning to explore on the weekends or a parent making a trek with small kids. This backpack is for travel nerds and adventurers alike.
Compartments
Buckle up, baby (literally!). This is one of the most “Type A” pieces of travel gear I’ve ever seen.
The CALPAK Terra duffel backpack has one large main compartment–this is the space that opens up flat like a suitcase. That main area contains a couple of compression straps and a small zipper pocket along the side. On the “flap” of the inside main area, there is a spacious zipper pocket and two compartments with elastic. You can see all of this pictured below.
When you close the main compartment, you can use two sets of buckles to tighten and secure the contents of the backpack, making it compact enough to carry comfortably on your back. You can access the main compartment through a separate zipper on the top of the bag too.
There is a full length padded laptop compartment on the back side of the backpack.
The front of the Terra backpack has two large pockets, the lower and bigger of which containing several small pockets, zipper compartments, and even a hook for a set of keys. The top outside pocket is spacious too. Each of those external pockets have additional small zipper pockets along the front.
There is a large pocket on one of the sides of the backpack that doubles as a water bottle holder. Genius!
Straps
There are two padded backpack straps with an option to connect the two over the chest once it’s on. I want to specifically call out how comfortable the straps are on this backpack–they are ultra-padded and designed for long travel days.
The Terra backpack comes with an additional strap that you can connect on the top and bottom which converts the bag into a traditional duffel. In “duffel mode,” you can tuck the backpack straps into a dedicated sleeve along the back. The duffel backpack has a small, sturdy carry handle on both the top and along one of the sides.
I love all of these carry options because it allows for flexibility on a chaotic travel day. It is all very much streamlined which I always appreciate, especially when we have our kids with us!
Trolley Sleeve
The Terra was designed with a helpful trolley sleeve on the back. You can slide the bag onto the top of a rolling suitcase horizontally and carry it securely through an airport.
Material
I love that CALPAK went so bold with this material. The material is made from eco-friendly recycled ripstop polyester with a TPU laminate/coating. It looks like plastic because it is: the exterior was crafted from recycled plastic bottles (each backpack contains 27 of them!). Pretty cool, right?
It seems like CALPAK is not marketing the material as waterproof, perhaps for legal reasons, but I can say it is extremely water-resistant.
The back of the backpack and its straps are made of a comfortable, breathable mesh.
Colors
I have the Terra backpack in Juniper which is a pretty sage green and one of the “classic” colorways, along with Obsidian (black) and Canyon (light orange).
CALPAK does release limited colors often, and the current offering is so fun: Blossom (light pink), White Sands (Cream with beige zipper details), Amethyst (lavender), Dragonfurit (bright pink), Cacao (rich brown), and Storm (medium grey).
This backpack was designed with the Instagrammer in mind. It looks good in photos and is easy to spot in a lineup.
Weight
The 26L Terra duffel backpack weighs in at 2.7 lbs.
Price
The CALPAK Terra 26L Duffel Backpack costs $175.
CALPAK 26L Terra Backpack Dimensions
The CALPAK 26L Terra Backpack measures 18’ x 12” x 7.5”.
This duffel backpack is compact enough to count as a personal item on an airplane and fits under the seat in the US.
You might have a harder time counting this as a personal item in Europe, but I have seen reviews both ways. If you’re traveling by air within Europe with this duffel backpack, I would triple check your airline’s regulations to make sure.
How much can the CALPAK Terra Backpack hold?
Although 26L is on the small side for a duffel bag, this backpack does hold a TON of stuff.
I packed for our four day trip earlier this summer comfortably and was able to fit the following into my Terra backpack: running shoes, a flat pair of sandals, four warm weather outfits, two sets of workout clothes, two pairs of pajamas, enough socks and underwear for those days, AND my medium clear cosmetic case. In the external compartments, I stored my Kindle, phone charger, and ice roller. And, of course, I put my computer in the padded laptop sleeve.
This is a great carry-on/personal item, overnight bag, or warm weather weekend trip bag. I wouldn’t be able to pack for a weekend if I needed to bring boots, coats, or thick sweaters unless I was extremely disciplined and planned to wear my coat and/or boots on the plane.
26L Terra Backpack vs. Terra Large 50L Duffel Backpack
The Terra duffel backpack does come in a 50L size. This size is much bigger than the one I have and holds, obviously, almost twice the amount. This would be a great option for a week or multi-week trek but wouldn’t work as a personal item on an airplane because it’s too big.
The Terra 50L duffel backpack reminds me of my old Patagonia Black Hole duffel backpack that I wore when we backpacked around Italy for our honeymoon. I loved how much the Black Hole held, but it did fall apart after a couple of years of use. Also, it did not contain nearly the same amount of compartments, easy open layout, and comfort straps that CALPAK’s version does.
Other CALPAK Favorites
Terra Hanging Toiletry Bag: This is a great option if you need something that you can hang on the back of a door, and it matches the Terra duffel backpack perfectly. I still prefer the clear cosmetic case (linked below) because I like to see everything when I lay it out on the counter, but this is great if you’re going to be tight on counter space or camping.
Packing Cubes Set: If anyone is asking me, packing cubes are the secret to family travel. I use CALPAK’s packing cubes to organize my suitcase for every trip. Often, I will roll all of my own clothes and line them in the bottom of the suitcase and then have a packing cube or two for each child stacked on top. This makes things so much easier and more streamlined for us when we are switching locations. I love this set because they have a label slot, are very sturdy, and have a hidden pocket on the back of each cube.
Clear Cosmetic Case: These are the best toiletry cases. They look chic, hold so much, and are super easy to clean and wipe down at the end of a trip. I have both the small and the medium. The small holds everything I need for a long weekend trip or if I don’t need to bring a bunch of hair products. See this reel to see how I’ve packed up the small size! Pro tip: the small size is perfect for going through security in Europe because they make you put all of your liquids into a plastic bag if they are not stored in a clear case already. The medium holds everything I need, including hair products, for a long trip. If you are someone who travels with a lot of full sized products, I would consider the large.
Tech Organizer: I used to think tech organizers were a sham, and then I grew up. This organizer is AMAZING. It holds all of our cords, chargers, converters, and adapters when we are traveling. Leave it to CALPAK to go so hard on such a small but consequential piece of gear.
Luka Duffel Bag: I have used the Luka duffel SO much the past two years. I think the design is so chic. It’s the perfect size for the gym or if you are going somewhere for just one night. I also use it as a carry on for long flights when I want to pack blankets, pillows, and such for the girls. If you need a bit more space than that but still like the design, the Luka also comes in a bigger size! Here’s my review.
Stevyn Duffel Bag: Tyler has used his Stevyn duffel a bunch of times this year and always makes comments about how much he likes it. It’s solid and sturdy and has an entire compartment along the bottom for shoes. Check out my review here.
Thank you for checking out my CALPAK Terra Backpack review!! I hope it was helpful. Happy adventuring!
On that note…
My Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack Review
