The Travel Backpack You Cannot Live Without

Have you always wanted a travel backpack that’s both functional and fashionable? Well, you could soon have one, thanks to Elephant Stripes Travel Packs.

Francesca Logan and Jordan Abrahams, both 23 and New Zealand-based, are the masterminds behind the bags. A couple years ago, Logan and Abrahams were planning a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia, but they were missing one key thing—the right backpack. “We found that all packs were either too complicated, unattractive, or made for hikers not travelers,” Logan tells Simplemost. “We thought we could do better, so we decided to create something better.”

And that, they did.

Logan and Abrahams worked on the bags for over two years. And the funny thing is, the women almost never met. Back in college, neither wanted a roommate, yet were randomly paired together. Today, they’re inseparable. And did they major in “Backpack Creation”? Nope. Abrahams got a Bachelor of Science and Logan got her degree in law and languages, which just goes to show that if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it.

The pair not only reached their Kickstarter goal of NZ $15,000 (aka $10,380 USD), but surpassed it, earning $14,993 (with just 93 backers!) as of this writing, with a couple days to go. Which means more bags for us all. (Yep, it’s not too late to order one, via Kickstarter or their website.)

There are several styles to choose from, one that’s a carry-on and one that can be checked and comes with a detachable daypack.

Aside from looking good on the outside, the bags look good on the inside, too, providing travelers with many key features, from an attachable side strap to front loading (so they open like a suitcase, not like a stereotypical traveler’s backpack that causes you to panic when you realize you packed an essential item all the way at the bottom).

And the best part? The women are charitable. With their “Bag for Bag” donation program, for every Travel Pack bought during their Kickstarter campaign, the women will give a school bag to an Indonesian child in need. Awww.

After the Kickstarter campaign, bag production will be underway, with the bags ready to be shipped in the Fall. (Yes, please.)

And if you want to see how much you can fit into one of their carry-on bags, look no further than this video. (You will never pack the same way again!)

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And for more on the bags, you can check out this YouTube video, too.