If you are currently looking for a daypack or a carry-on backpack that is both stylish and functional for your travel, you may want to take a look at the new Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack, a backpack that I have been traveling with for a while now and am incredibly in love with.
As some of you may know, I am a big fan of Herschel Supply backpacks. I have been using their classic Little America backpack since 2013. However, recently, I decided to change it up a little and try out their newer backpack models.
There's something about their rustic vintage design that marries seamlessly with modern features like a laptop compartment and padded shoulder straps, which makes their backpacks stand out from the rest.
The Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack takes the best of their classic Little America backpack features to the next level by providing more of what you like, while also enhancing its unique design and looks, which, to be honest, have been shamelessly copied by other knock-off brands.
To see how the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack improves upon its iconic design and why it will be a great daypack/carry-on backpack for your trips, let's dive deep into what one should look for in a daypack and how the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack will help you solve these problems.
- Summary of the Herschel Buckingham Backpack
- Things You Should Look For in a Travel Daypack/Carry-on Backpack
- Why Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack Is A Great Daypack/Carry-on Backpack?
- What I Personally love About the Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack As A Traveler
- The Drawbacks of Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack
- Overall, Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack is Great As a Daypack/Carry-On Backpack
- Further Reading for Resources
Summary of the Herschel Buckingham Backpack
If you are short on time, here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of the Herschel Buckingham Backpack and a link to see the recent price of the backpack.
- Great Size
- Great Design and Colors.
- Comfortable Shoulder Straps
- Plenty of Pockets
- No padding for the laptop compartment
- Available in only one size.
- Side Pockets Aren't Elastic
Things You Should Look For in a Travel Daypack/Carry-on Backpack
One of the most important things you should look for in a travel daypack/carry-on backpack is its size. It has to be able to carry everything you need for a short trip, from camera gear to all your clothes for the duration of your trip.
The compartment has to be large enough for everything, but it should also not be too big that you won't be allowed on an airplane with it. The balance between function and size is the most important thing to look out for. All the other features are great to have but not as important.
Having your backpack straps padded is also welcome, as more often than not, the bag will be heavy and you will have to carry it with you most of the time. It will be torture if your backpack straps aren't padded.
Lastly, the backpack has to look good on you because, after all, you will be traveling with it and you will likely be taking photos with it. If you don't like your backpack, then what's the point of buying it, right? This may not be as important to many, but it is worth considering nevertheless.
Why Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack Is A Great Daypack/Carry-on Backpack?
Great Size
If you are looking for the one backpack to carry everything in, the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack has a 33 L-size compartment with dimensions of 8.5"(H) x 12.25"(W) x 8"(D). That is plenty of space for you to carry your travel essentials in.
The main compartment is huge, and it comes with no unnecessary dividers, allowing you to be flexible with your bag management. The backpack allows you to utilize its main compartment to its full potential with your own packing cubes and dividers.
Even with the backpack fully loaded, you should be able to use it as a carry-on bag on airplanes without having to unload it. It's this balance between function and size that makes this backpack so attractive for travelers.
Comfortable Shoulder Straps
The Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack comes with well-padded shoulder straps, which help make carrying a fully-loaded bag much more comfortable. I was able to carry around 9kg worth of camera gear all day with this backpack, thanks to the comfortable padded shoulder straps.
One of the worst things that can happen when you travel is your backpack straps breaking during your trip. Thankfully, the shoulder straps of this backpack are well-stitched and feel sturdy no matter how much load you throw at them, which should give you peace of mind when you travel.
Plenty of Useful Pockets
In addition to the main compartment, the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack comes with 5 extra pockets for your travel essentials, and they are all easily accessible from the outside.
The two front pockets are great at keeping your frequently used travel essentials, such as a power bank, a passport, or your sunscreen, etc. The top lid pocket is great for your rain cover or items that can be flattened, like important documents. The side pockets are great for your water bottle.
All in all, the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack comes with plenty of useful and easily accessible pockets that I wish my old Herschel Supply Little America backpack had.
What I love About the Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack As A Traveler
Great Design and Colors
One of the best things about Herschel Supply backpacks is their unique design. The iconic mountaineering-style double straps that were popularized by their Little America series are what attracted me to their brand in the first place.
And with the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack, they were able to maintain that iconic design language while giving us all the space and pockets we need. Now, that is a great example of a company listening to its customers.
The Buckingham backpack also comes in over 26 colors and counting. Some colors are available with the old-school leather straps, some are more utilitarian, and some have unique color combinations. It is these variations and options that make it so fun to browse through the Herschel Supply website to pick the perfect colors that match my travel style the most.
I have the olive green Delta collection Buckingham backpack, which has that military green look that fits well with how I travel and the places I often go. The Navy blue with a white Herschel label and the Picante Crosshatch/Tan one are also my favorites as well.
Fit All My Essential Gear
As you know, due to my work running this blog, I have to carry around a ton of camera gear with me all day long. From the DJI Mavic Mini to the four lenses I currently have for my Sony a6500 camera.
My daypack load keeps increasing as I upgrade my gear, so when I got my Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack, I was ecstatic to see that it can carry all my camera gear with some space left for other travel essentials like jackets and books, etc.
Now, I no longer have to compromise on what gear I can or cannot carry on my trip. With the capacity that the Buckingham backpack provides, I can take all the gear I have with me and utilize them as I see fit during my travels.
Side Pockets Help Save Space
Last but not least, one of the greatest additions to the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack that was not available before is the side pockets, which are very important to me as I often go hiking and prefer not to have my water bottle occupying the precious backpack space.
The side pockets are also useful for other things as well. I often use one side of the pocket to hold my tripod, which I often had to put inside the main compartment. This was not ideal as it takes up almost one-third of the space. Now, I can have it outside, saving me space and also allowing me to access it much easier than when it is inside.
The Drawbacks of Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack
No Padding for the Laptop Compartment
One of the things I do not like about the Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack, especially when compared to the Little America backpack, is the lack of padding for the laptop compartment.
The big problem I found is that when my backpack is fully loaded, and I take my laptop out, it is difficult for me to slide the laptop back in because the laptop compartment does not have the padding to help keep the space intact.
I often have to move all my stuff in the main compartment to the side so that I can slide the laptop in easily. With a padded laptop compartment, I do not have to do this as the laptop space is maintained, and you can easily throw your laptop in and it will slide into place without you having to adjust your stuff.
That said, I found a quick fix for this issue. By having a thin booklet or a cardboard sheet of some sort in the laptop compartment, when I want to put my laptop back in, I just put it behind the cardboard, and the laptop should slide right in, no problem. I just wish the Buckingham backpack came with the same padded laptop compartment as the Little America series.
Available Only in One Size
The Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack is big, and it looks even bigger if you are not tall. Therefore, the backpack, at its current size, might not be for everyone. I have seen many people return the backpack just because it looks massive on them.
I wish Herschel Supply made a medium-sized Buckingham backpack for those who do not need that much space but still prefer the functionality that the backpack gives.
Side Pockets Aren't Elastic
Herschel Supply almost got it right with the inclusion of the side pockets on the Buckingham backpacks, but it would make the backpack even better if they made the side pockets elastic like their Trail Collection backpacks.
The problem with the current implementation is that when my bag is fully loaded, and I take my water bottle out, it is harder for me to put it back in without having to readjust the main compartment to make space for the bottle.
With elastic pockets, you can easily put items back without having to take your backpack off and continue your travel. This problem is even more prevalent when I use (misuse? 😂) the pocket to hold my tripod, which takes up even more space than the water bottle, and I always have to make room for the tripod when I'm done using it.
Overall, Herschel Supply Buckingham Backpack is Great As a Daypack/Carry-On Backpack
Despite its downsides, there is no denying that the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack is one of the most stylish and functional bags out there. The backpack is as regal as the name suggests, and with all its functionalities and capacity, the bag has proven to be excellent for a day out exploring or for those who are going on a short trip but do not want to pay that hefty luggage fee to the airlines.
All in all, if you are looking for a large daypack or a carry-on backpack, I recommend you give the Herschel Supply Buckingham backpack a go. The size, the design, and the functions you get for around $100 USD are the best bang for your buck in my opinion.
Herschel Supply is often running discounts, especially during this COVID time, so be sure to check the latest discounted price out with the link below:
Check Price For Herschel Supply Buckingham Bag
Further Reading for Resources
Looking for more articles to help you with your travel, may it be camera gears or clothing? Here is a collection of articles you might like:
- Finding a great camera bag you can travel with is not as easy as it sounds. If you are looking for one, here are the 10 Best Camera Bags for Travel, Backpacking, and Hiking You Should Buy.
- Now, if you are looking for a camera sling/shoulder bag instead of a full-fledged camera backpack to travel with, here are the 11 Best Camera Sling/Shoulder Bags For Travel.
- Looking for the most versatile camera sling bag? Check out: A Traveler's Review: WANDRD Roam (Rogue) Sling.
- For a smaller setup, the Nomatic McKinnon Sling is a great camera bag to check out. Here is A Traveler's Review: Nomatic McKinnon Camera Sling 8L.
- Looking for a good-looking and functional camera strap to buy? You're going to love the Langly Tactical, Premium Leather, and Paracord camera straps. Check out my review here: A Traveler's Review: Langly Camera Straps.
- You can't travel without a great daypack, and if you are looking for one, check out:7 Best Herschel Supply Bags For Travelers.
- Ever wondered what a full-time travel blogger like myself carries in my camera bag? Check out: What's In My Camera Bag in 2025?
- Looking to buy a new travel camera but not sure where to start? Check out our camera guide on 10 Best Travel Cameras to Buy.
- Bought a new camera and not sure which camera accessories to buy? Check out: 14 BEST Sony Camera Accessories You Should Buy.
- Traveling light with camera gear is all about balancing between what you need and what you want. Here are the 8 Best Tips For Traveling Light With Camera Gear.
- If you like hiking and going on adventures for weeks on end, you are going to need a bigger backpack. Here is Why the Osprey Atmos AG is the Best Hiking Backpack To Buy.
- If you are into making travel videos, here is my ultimate advanced filmmaking gear guide.
- Planning to go on your first-ever hiking trip? Here is How to Pack for Hiking and Camping.
- Technical hiking gear doesn't have to be ugly. Here is a guide to hiking gear that actually looks good on you.
- For more resources like this, visit my Resources page.
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