I am standing by the baggage carousel at Copenhagen Airport waiting for my backpack. It’s half past one in the morning, I’ve just landed from a week’s hiking trip in the Norwegian mountains, and around me are people with their trolleys and elegant suitcases. My neighbor, a man in his 40s, looks at me and says with a smile, “You’ve clearly had the serious trip.” I laugh. I had. And what I’m carrying on my back right now, here in the middle of the airport, is the very reason the trip became a reality.
Three years ago, I would never have set off with a 50-liter backpack on my back. I was the kind of traveler who packed a small suitcase and booked a hotel away from all the wild stuff. But something happened. A friend suggested a weekend in Lapland, I borrowed a proper backpack from her, and since that weekend I’ve been in love. With the freedom. With having everything I need on my back. With the feeling that I can sit anywhere and be okay.
In 2026, the bag and backpack market has become more exciting than ever. There are options for all kinds of trips and everyday situations, and as a Danish woman who loves both adventure and a nice day in the city, I’ve tested my way through quite a few. Today I’m sharing the finds that have become staples in my wardrobe and why exactly these bags have won my heart.
The waterproof backpack that changed the way I travel
I’ll start with the one I get the most questions about because it’s the one that has given me the most experiences. A 50-liter waterproof nylon backpack isn’t something you think about daily, but once you’ve had a proper one, there’s no going back. I clearly remember my first real backpack investment. I was standing in the store looking at the price and thinking it was crazy to pay so much for “something to carry things in.” It’s not “something to carry things in.” It’s what carries your whole world while you’re away from home.
My current favorite is the 50L waterproof nylon backpack for adventurous travel. It has accompanied me on five different trips now, and it still looks like new. The waterproof material is not just a marketing claim. I got caught in a rainstorm in Scotland last year, the kind that falls sideways and lasts for three hours, and I opened the backpack afterward expecting everything to be soaked. My passport, my books, my extra clothes, everything was completely dry. That’s the kind of thing that makes a bag a reliable partner and not just an object.
What I especially appreciate about a 50-liter backpack is that it hits the perfect balance. Big enough for a week’s trip if you pack smart, but not so big that it becomes clumsy on narrow trails or public transport. I can get on a train and find a seat without hitting everyone with my luggage. I can hike up mountains without feeling like I’m carrying a whole house. That’s the great thing about that size. It’s just right.
A little tip from my own mistakes: learn to pack your backpack properly. Heavy items close to your back and in the middle, light items at the bottom and top. I packed completely wrong for many years, and my back paid the price. When you do it right, you hardly feel the weight, even on long days.
70 liters for the longer adventures
There comes a time in every traveling woman’s journey when 50 liters is not enough. For me, it was a planned camping trip to Sweden with my sister Camilla. We were going for ten days, needing a sleeping bag, tent parts, cooking gear, and everything. I knew my trusty 50-liter wouldn’t cut it, so I invested in a bigger one.
70L Nylon Camping Backpack with Rain Cover has become my go-to for longer trips. The extra space makes a huge difference when you actually have to pack for camping. Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, food for several days, clothing for everything from warm sunshine to nighttime cold. It all fits, and the backpack has a carrying system that lets you wear it for hours without shoulder pain.
The included rain cover is not just a nice-to-have. It’s a lifesaver. On that mentioned trip to Sweden, we had two full days of rain. We put the cover on, kept going, and the backpack came home dry. Camilla, who had a cheaper backpack without a cover, had to hang all her gear in a tree to dry. It’s not fun drying out chalk and a three-day-old sweater in a Swedish forest.
For the Danish woman dreaming of her first real camping trip, I say: go all-in on the backpack. It’s the thing that either makes or breaks the whole experience. A bad backpack makes you hate life after two days. A good backpack makes you forget you’re even wearing it. The difference is huge, and it’s worth every penny.
The messenger bag for everyday trips
Not everything is about wild mountain hikes. Most of my everyday life is honestly more prosaic. I work, I take the train, I walk around Odense, I bike to meetings, I go to Copenhagen occasionally. For those kinds of everyday trips, I need something completely different from a big backpack.
Enter my messenger bag. My husband, Lars, was actually the one who convinced me to invest in one. He’d had his own messenger bag for years and loved it, and he said that kind of bag was “fundamentally underrated for women with busy everyday lives.” He was right.
I went for the Adam Nylon Vintage Men’s Messenger Bag, and even though the name sounds like it’s for men, it’s absolutely perfect for me. It has that vintage aesthetic that doesn’t look like a typical women’s bag, and that’s exactly what I’m looking for. I’m tired of all the narrow, small, impractical women’s bags that can only hold a lipstick and a credit card. This bag can hold my laptop, my notebook, a book, my packed lunch, my water bottle, and a rain jacket. All at once.
The smart thing about a messenger bag is how it sits on the body. It’s easy to wear for hours, you can open it with one hand while walking, and it looks good with both casual and slightly dressier clothes. I’ve taken it on short weekend trips to Berlin and Stockholm, and it’s big enough for two days’ gear if you pack smart.
A little trick when shopping for messenger bags: check the strap length. It should be adjustable so the bag sits comfortably at your hip, not too low near the knees or too high near the ribs. I’ve seen so many bags where the strap doesn’t fit properly, and that’s what makes the difference between a nice bag and a disappointing one.
The leather handbag for special occasions
Then there are the times when a backpack or messenger bag just doesn’t fit. An anniversary dinner, a wedding, a nice occasion where you might need to carry something but it has to look good. That’s when I reach for my leather handbag, and it’s the kind of bag I’ve learned to appreciate over the past few years.
Adele Leather Bag is the one I reach for most often. It’s elegant, lightweight, and fits the modern Danish woman who wants to look well-dressed without it being over the top. It hangs nicely on the shoulder, has room for all the essentials, and the leather itself is the kind that gets more beautiful with time. That’s what separates a good leather bag from everything else. Plastic and synthetic materials wear out and look ugly. Genuine leather becomes characterful and personal.
I bought my Adele in a black shade, but I’ve considered getting one in a cognac color as well. Black is the easy choice because it goes with everything, but cognac or warm brown leather is the kind of color that really spices up an outfit. That’s an investment I’m thinking about for fall 2026 because I’ve learned that a good leather bag is worth every penny.
For caring for leather bags, I’ve found a simple routine that works. Once a month, I take a soft cloth, some leather balm, and rub the whole bag. It takes five minutes. It nourishes, protects against scratches and drying out, and extends the lifespan many times over. My mother had a leather handbag for 25 years, and she cared for it like this. It’s possible to have a bag for a quarter of a century if you treat it right.
The crossbody bag for active days
Between the backpack and the handbag lies the crossbody bag, a category I’ve come to appreciate more and more. The crossbody bag is the bag you carry on days when you’re active but not on a mountain adventure. A city day with friends, a day at a market, a weekend in a European city where you’re out walking all day. For those kinds of days, the crossbody bag is king.
Adalynn Wool Bag is a model I’ve taken on several such trips. It’s compact enough that you don’t feel like you’re lugging a big bag around, but big enough for all the practical stuff. Phone, wallet, keys, a small water bottle, a foldable rain jacket. It’s all there.
What I especially love about a crossbody is the security. When I travel in bigger cities like Barcelona or Paris, I like knowing my bag is fastened to my body and can’t easily be snatched off. Pickpockets are a reality in most European tourist destinations, and a crossbody that sits close to the body is one of the best protections against that kind of trouble.
For my sister Camilla, the crossbody bag has even become her everyday favorite. She’s a nurse, she’s on the go a lot, and she says it’s “the bag that’s always just there.” It doesn’t have to look a certain way, it just has to be reliable and practical. The Adalynn bag fulfills that completely.
The wallet, the thing we all forget to invest in
A small note about something that’s not a bag but belongs in this universe: the wallet. I see so many women with fantastic bags and a wallet that looks like it’s on its last legs. It’s strange because the wallet is something we use multiple times a day, every day, and a good wallet makes everyday life so much better.
Adam Wool Wallet has space for all your cards, your bills, your receipts, and it looks neat without being over the top. I finally got myself to invest in a proper wallet last year, and I regret not doing it sooner. The joy of opening a well-organized wallet and finding exactly the card you’re looking for, no mess, no crumpled bills, is a small everyday pleasure I didn’t know I was missing.
How to choose right among all the options
With so many different kinds of bags and backpacks, how do you figure out what you need? That’s a good question, and I have a simple system I use when considering a new bag.
First: what will it be used for? Write it down. Not “travel” as a generic category, but specifically. Hiking in the mountains? Weekend trips in European cities? Daily commuting? A job interview? Each category requires something different, and a bag that tries to do everything often does nothing well.
Second: how often will it be used? A bag you use every day deserves a bigger investment than one you only use for a single trip a year. Think price per use. An 800 kroner bag you use 200 times a year costs 4 kroner per use. That’s a good investment. A 200 kroner bag that falls apart after 10 uses costs 20 kroner per use. That’s a bad investment regardless of the price tag.
Third: what is essential? Make a list of the absolutely most important features. For me, water resistance is often essential because I live in Denmark and it rains here. For some, weight is most important because they have long days carrying the bag. For others, aesthetics are key because the bag has to match a certain style. Know what’s most important to you before you shop.
My ideal bag wardrobe for 2026
If I had to start from scratch and build my bag wardrobe from the ground up, I’d go for this combination. It’s not that you need all these bags, but it’s the ideal palette I’d aim for over a few years.
A good 50-liter backpack for all kinds of trips, both city and nature. A 70-liter camping backpack for longer nature adventures. A messenger bag for daily commuting and short trips. A leather handbag for special occasions. A crossbody for active days. A proper wallet to organize all the practical stuff.
It may sound like a lot, but if you invest in quality, it’s a collection that will last you 10 years or more. And the advantage is that you always have the right bag for the right situation, which makes everyday life much easier and the experience of heading out the door much more fun.
Summer 2026 and where I’m going
Even as I write this blog, I have plans for my next adventure. In July, I’m going on a week’s hiking trip to Norway with Camilla. In August, I’m going to Stockholm with Lars for a wedding anniversary trip. In September, I’m considering a solo trip to Scotland because I simply fell in love with the country on my last trip.
For all these different trips, I need different bags. The waterproof 50-liter for Norway. The Adele leather bag for Stockholm evenings. The Adam messenger for the trains and the days in between. That’s the kind of flexibility a good bag wardrobe gives, and it’s a freedom I wouldn’t want to be without.
For you who are facing summer adventures in 2026, whether it’s wild nature experiences or nice city trips, I say: invest in good quality bags and use them. They’re not just containers for your things. They’re partners in your experiences. They keep your belongings dry in the rain, organize your life on trips, and make every day and every trip a little easier and a little more fun.
Safe travels from Mette. May your next bag be the one that accompanies you on your next big adventure.
Want to explore the full range of bags, backpacks, and travel accessories for the summer? Visit concept-odense.com and find your new faithful travel companion.
