TOP 5 SURFING BACKPACKS IN 2023
WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS?
Surf Indonesia has tested these products in and out of the surf in different conditions around the world. The best products are handpicked, and the features are discussed (even argued) and analyzed from our experience. Then the best-of-the-best are selected with reviews written by actual surfers. We aren’t paid to talk about certain brands, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases if you purchase a product through one of our links.
TOP
PICK🔥
MULTI
PURPOSE
BEST
STYLE
TRAVEL ESSENTIAL
MOST
RATINGS
FCS
Mission 40L Backpack
DAKINE
40L Builder Pack
RIPCURL
F-light 40L Hydro Eco Surf Backpack
DAKINE
Mission Surf DLX Wet/Dry 32L Backpack
OAKLEY
Men’s Kitchen Sink Backpack
TOP PICK 🔥
You won’t want to travel without this backpack! Loaded with lots of purpose-built and extremely practical pockets. A very well-constructed and thought-out backpack that’s worth every penny.
MULTI PURPOSE
A backpack that can do it all. Not only purpose-built for carrying tools (even chainsaws) but a great quality and reliable backpack for surf travel due to its organizational pockets.
BEST STYLE
Loaded with features galore this surfing backpack is the real deal. Roll and clip wet/dry section, compression cords, fin organizer, EVA molded front section for added protection of contents, and more.
TRAVEL ESSENTIAL
Great value for money, a little smaller for lighter traveling. Super convenient seam-sealed waterproof roll top wet or dry pocket. Great backpack option for trips to the beach, surf travel, or boat trips.
MOST RATINGS
This surfing backpack has a staggering 5000+ ratings and 270+ answered questions on its product page. It’s easy to see why it’s called the Kitchen Sink Backpack, they’ve thought of everything.
Size: 40 liters
Laptop compartment: Yes
Wet gear pocket: Yes
Material: Lightweight rip-stop polyurethane with a water and abrasion-resistant PU finish.
Super comfortable, with easy access to important things when traveling. There’s a waterproof compartment for your damp gear, lockable splash-proof zippers, and other features that make this backpack the perfect option for surf travel.
Size: 40 liters
Laptop compartment: No
Wet gear pocket: No
Material: Strong and durable 1000D nylon with durable water repellent and a polyester lining.
If you’ve got a bulky item that you need to lug around and it doesn’t fit in your traditional backpack, this is the one for you. There is a tonne of unique features in this backpack, including added padding for comfort. Be sure to check it out.
Size: 40 liters
Laptop compartment: Yes
Wet gear pocket: Yes
Material: Rip-stop polyester, water-resistant TPE coated fabric and EVA moulded front panels.
This is a sturdy and durable surfing backpack that is still very lightweight. It even has an insulated cooler pocket and fleece lined pockets for valuables. An extremely versatile backpack that can be used for the beach and/or office.
Size: 32 liters
Laptop compartment: Yes
Wet gear pocket: Yes
Material: 600D Polyester diamond dobby weave with PU coating.
This is a very well-constructed surfing backpack that is made to last with a limited lifetime warranty. It has a good mix of pockets keeping all the important stuff within easy reach, including fleece-lined sunglasses storage. Handy for any kind of surf travel.
Size: 34 liters
Laptop compartment: Yes
Wet gear pocket: Yes
Material: 69% Nylon, 31% Polyester.
Think serious hardware and security with versatile storage options and a heavy-duty appeal. If you’re looking for a surfing backpack that can do it all, this is the one for you. You’ll find a lot of internal pockets which are great for arranging small items and features to eliminate pick pocketing!
This surfing backpack is truly hard to fault. Constructed by FCS, one of the leading global surf gear brands.
Maybe a little bulky if you don’t need all the storage available on the exterior of the backpack.
The backpack is quite ridged which some people like and some don’t (but that comes down to personal preference).
This is a very hard backpack to fault. It’s super convenient, but if you’re looking for a backpack to store a lot of gear then you may want something bigger.
It maybe a little overkill for a quick trip to the beach but super handy for traveling.
FCS
Mission 40L Backpack
TOP PICK 🔥
You won’t want to travel without this backpack! Loaded with lots of purpose-built and extremely practical pockets. A very well-constructed and thought-out backpack that’s worth every penny.
Size: 40 liters
Laptop compartment: Yes
Wet gear pocket: Yes
Material: Lightweight rip-stop polyurethane with a water and abrasion-resistant PU finish.
Super comfortable, with easy access to important things when traveling. There’s a waterproof compartment for your damp gear, lockable splash-proof zippers, and other features that make this backpack the perfect option for surf travel.
This surfing backpack is truly hard to fault. Constructed by FCS, one of the leading global surf gear brands.
DAKINE
40L Builder Pack
MULTI PURPOSE
A backpack that can do it all. Not only purpose-built for carrying tools (even chainsaws) but a great quality and reliable backpack for surf travel due to its organizational pockets.
Size: 40 liters
Laptop compartment: No
Wet gear pocket: No
Material: Strong and durable 1000D nylon with durable water repellent and a polyester lining.
If you’ve got a bulky item that you need to lug around and it doesn’t fit in your traditional backpack, this is the one for you. There is a tonne of unique features in this backpack, including added padding for comfort. Be sure to check it out.
Maybe a little bulky if you don’t need all the storage available on the exterior of the backpack.
RIPCURL
F-light 40L Hydro Eco Surf Backpack
BEST STYLE
Loaded with features galore this surfing backpack is the real deal. Roll and clip wet/dry section, compression cords, fin organizer, EVA molded front section for added protection of contents, and more.
Size: 40 liters
Laptop compartment: Yes
Wet gear pocket: Yes
Material: Rip-stop polyester, water-resistant TPE coated fabric and EVA moulded front panels.
This is a sturdy and durable surfing backpack that is still very lightweight. It even has an insulated cooler pocket and fleece lined pockets for valuables. An extremely versatile backpack that can be used for the beach and/or office.
The backpack is quite ridged which some people like and some don’t (but that comes down to personal preference).
DAKINE
Mission Surf DLX
Wet/Dry 32L Backpack
TRAVEL ESSENTIAL
Great value for money, a little smaller for lighter traveling. Super convenient seam-sealed waterproof roll top wet or dry pocket. Great backpack option for trips to the beach, surf travel, or boat trips.
Size: 32 liters
Laptop compartment: Yes
Wet gear pocket: Yes
Material: 600D Polyester diamond dobby weave with PU coating.
This is a very well-constructed purpose-built surfing backpack that is made to last with a limited lifetime warranty. It has a good mix of pockets keeping all the important stuff within easy reach, including fleece-lined sunglasses st
This is a very hard backpack to fault. It’s super convenient, but if you’re looking for a backpack to store a lot of gear then you may want something bigger.
OAKLEY
Men’s Kitchen Sink Backpack
MOST RATINGS
This surfing backpack has a staggering 5000+ ratings and 270+ answered questions on its product page. It’s easy to see why it’s called the Kitchen Sink Backpack, they’ve thought of everything.
Size: 34 liters
Laptop compartment: Yes
Wet gear pocket: Yes
Material: 69% Nylon, 31% Polyester
Think serious hardware and security with versatile storage options and a heavy-duty appeal. If you’re looking for a surfing backpack that can do it all, this is the one for you. You’ll find a lot of internal pockets which are great for arranging small items, easy access to your laptop, and features to eliminate pickpocketing!
It maybe a little overkill for a quick trip to the beach but super handy for traveling.
HOW WE TEST PRODUCTS
We recommend these products based on many different surfers’ perspectives and real experiences using the products. Those expert perspectives are discussed and evaluated in depth to cut through the many products available online. Based on hours of intensive research and the consideration of many factors, we bring you only the best-of-the-best for consideration. Our recommended go-to’s.
1o
Surfers consulted
12
Factors considered
25
Hours evaluation
OUR GO-TO’S
TOP PICK 🔥
FCS
Mission 40L Backpack
THE GUTS OF IT…
You won’t want to travel without this backpack! Loaded with lots of purpose-built and extremely practical pockets. A very well-constructed and thought-out backpack that’s worth every penny.
MULTI PURPOSE
DAKINE
40L Builder Pack
THE GUTS OF IT…
A backpack that can do it all. Not only purpose-built for carrying tools (even chainsaws) but a great quality and reliable backpack for surf travel due to its organizational pockets.
BEST STYLE
RIPCURL
F-light 40L Hydro Eco Surf Backpack
THE GUTS OF IT…
Loaded with features galore this surfing backpack is the real deal. Roll and clip wet/dry section, compression cords, fin organizer, EVA molded front section for added protection of contents, and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SURFING BACKPACKS
Who invented the first backpack?
The first backpacks were made from sticks and canvas fabric, and were used to carry soldiers’ equipment when traversing a battlefield.
In 1882, Camille Poirier improved the modern backpack at the time by adding straps to make it more durable and relieve stress from soldiers’ shoulders and backs.Â
Hiker and mountaineer Gerry Cunningham created the lighter, utilitarian backpack in 1938, featuring zipped sections for ease of access by an outdoorsman. By 1967, Gerry Cunningham had revolutionized the modern-day backpack, introducing the durable, lightweight, tear-drop-shaped nylon backpack.
In 1950, Ake Nordin founded Fjallraven, when he made a small canvas pack that was tall and narrow for a backpacker; and in 1952, Dick and Nina Kelty created the modern backpacking pack, using aluminum from discarded planes to create larger, lighter frames for their gear. The pair introduced contoured frames, cushioned shoulder straps, and sternum straps.
By the 1960s, innovations that would define modern backpack design were set.
What to look for in backpacks for surf travel?
The perfect surfing backpack that never lets you down is one that has well-thought-out storage for the items you travel with.
But what sets surfing backpacks apart from regular backpacks is that they let you store wet gear inside one isolated compartment from the rest of your bag’s dry contents.
For serious surf trips on a boat, a 100% waterproof backpack to keep your gear dry is an option you may need also. Â
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