Behind the Design: Rushfaster Travel Backpack System

The Rushfaster Travel Backpack 36L marks the launch of our new travel system, including packing cubes and modular accessories designed for one-bag travel. This project brings together years of testing, travelling, and refining what one-bag travel actually requires in the real world.

How It All Started

Over our 20-year history at Rushfaster, we’ve tested and sold thousands of travel backpacks. We’ve also spent years using them ourselves across different types of travel—short trips, long trips, business travel, and everything in-between.

For us, one-bag travel has always been the standard. Not as a concept, but as a way of travelling. Whether it’s one week or four, summer or winter, the goal is the same: carry everything you need in a single bag without compromise.

But in practice, many travel backpacks are designed from the outside in. They look complete, but don’t always solve the real friction points of travel. The Rushfaster Travel Backpack System was designed to address that gap.

Lightweight, Without Compromise

Weight is one of the most important constraints in travel design. So the challenge wasn’t simply to make the bag lighter—it was to reduce weight without removing the features that actually matter. The intention was to create a system that feels light on your back, but still fully capable in use.

At 36L, the backpack weighs approximately 1.4kg. That balance reflects careful decisions between comfort, durability, organisation, and carry-on practicality.

Lightness matters for three key reasons:

You carry gear, not unnecessary weight
Less load reduces physical strain over time
Lighter travel system improve mobility through airports, cities, and transit

But the core principle is not lightness alone—it’s lightness without compromise.

The “Goldilocks” Approach

In travel gear, there’s often a trade-off: lightweight bags with limited features, or heavy bags with too much complexity. Neither is ideal.

Instead of splitting into multiple product ranges, we focused on one system with a balanced feature set—what we refer to internally as a “Goldilocks” approach. Just enough structure to be useful. Just enough simplicity to stay light. Nothing unnecessary. The result is a travel system designed specifically for one-bag travel.

The Product Overview

The Rushfaster Travel Backpack 36L is designed around real travel requirements:

Carry-on compliant sizing for most airlines
36L internal capacity for extended trips
Laptop compartment fits up to a 16" MacBook Pro

The exterior uses 420D bluesign Cordura with a PFC-free DWR coating, paired with AquaGuard YKK zippers for weather resistance.

External features include:

Large stretch front pocket for quick-access items
Dual side pockets for bottles or travel essentials
Multiple grab handles for flexible handling

Every feature has been considered in relation to how the bag is actually used in transit.

One Bag Travel = Freedom

The philosophy behind this system is rooted in one-bag travel.

For us, the benefits are clear:

Mobility: Move directly from plane to train to destination
Reduced risk: No checked luggage, no waiting, no uncertainty
Essentialism: You naturally (are forced 🙂) pack only what you need

One-bag travel removes friction. It simplifies movement and reduces the number of decisions you need to make while travelling. This travel backpack system is designed to support that way of travelling, not complicate it.

Access and Interaction Design

A key focus of the design was how the bag opens and functions in real use. Instead of a traditional wide clamshell that doubles the footprint when opened, the backpack opens like a book. This keeps the working area compact and close to the user, especially in tight environments like airports, hotel rooms, or shared spaces.

The goal is simple: when you open the bag, everything is accessible without feeling overwhelming or spread out.

Security Without Complexity

Rather than relying on complex locking systems, the Travel Backpack 36L is designed to make access more intentional and less exposed. Security is handled through thoughtful pocket placement and an integrated secure Hypalon zipper-pull system that acts as a theft deterrent while still allowing easy access for the rightful owner.

The bag includes multiple access zones:

A quick-access top pocket for low-security items
A hidden rear pocket for high-security essentials like passports
A mid-access pocket for everyday valuables like phones and wallets
Discreet front mesh pockets that keep items protected and out of sight when moving through environments like airport security—without getting in your way

Essentialism in Practice

Essentialism sits at the core of this design. Not as a visual style, but as a functional constraint. The travel backpack system is designed so that:

External pockets remain flat when not in use
Volume expands only when required
Every feature exists for a clear reason

When the bag is lightly packed, it stays compact and unobtrusive. When fully packed, it expands without becoming chaotic. Nothing is decorative. Everything has a purpose.

Shape & Colour Blocking

Two design decisions strongly influence how the bag feels in use: shape and colour blocking.

Shape: The silhouette is designed to fit naturally into overhead compartments, under seats, and tight travel spaces.
Colour blocking: The harness is darker than the main body of the bag. This reduces visual bulk when worn, making the bag appear smaller and more compact than its actual volume.

These subtle decisions shape perception as much as function.

Harness System

Comfort is built through a layered structure:

Structural foam base for support and shape
Perforated EVA for cushioning and breathability
Soft-touch top layer for comfort against the body
Knitted nylon contact zones for airflow and wearability

Each layer contributes to long-term comfort across different travel conditions. The goal is not maximum softness—it’s consistent comfort over time.

Built for Real Travel

Travel is not static. It’s movement, transitions, and constant adjustment. That’s why the system is designed to be modular:

Removable waist belt for heavier loads, built using a multi-layer foam construction. It can be added or removed depending on the journey. The purpose is simple: reduce shoulder strain and improve comfort during longer travel days.
Packing cubes designed specifically to optimise internal packing space. The cubes use a flexible horizontal divider system, allowing you to easily separate clean and dirty items during trips.

These elements allow the system to adapt to different travel styles without changing the core experience.

You might also be interest in this post about “Why We Left Out Load Lifters on the Rushfaster Travel Backpack 36L”.

Quality as a Non-Negotiable

For us at Rushfaster, quality is foundational. We believe travel gear is deeply personal. It’s the one constant you rely on while moving through unfamiliar places. That’s why every material and component was selected with long-term durability in mind. The goal is simple: build something that performs not just on day one, but for years of travel.

The Rushfaster Travel Backpack 36L + System is the result of years of testing, iteration, and refinement. But at its core, the idea is simple: travel should feel easier, not more complicated. Every part of this system exists to reduce friction. Nothing more. Nothing less. Because to us, the best travel gear doesn’t demand attention. It quietly supports the journey.

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