Travel lighter than ever. Built from fibers 15x stronger than steel by weight. Lightweight, durable, and comfortable to carry.
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Superlite Backpack by Tortuga
Ultralight (2.2 lb) Carry On Backpack
Travel lighter than ever. Built from fibers 15x stronger than steel by weight. Lightweight, durable, and comfortable to carry.
The Superlite Backpack from Tortuga is designed for ultralight travelers who refuse to compromise on durability or comfort.
Weighing just 2.2 lbs (1 kg) and built from ULTRA™, with fibers 15x stronger than steel by weight, the Superlite will help you pack lighter, move faster, and go farther without ever worrying about your bag.
Most lightweight fabrics are too delicate for world travel. Not this one.
The Superlite’s balance of weight and strength comes from ULTRA™, the most advanced pack fabric in the world. ULTRA™ is lightweight, waterproof, and abrasion-resistant with fibers 15x stronger than steel by weight.
At Tortuga, we’ve been making travel backpacks for 16 years. In that time, we’ve been named both a Wirecutter pick and a Pack Hacker pick.
Almost 90,000 travelers have carried our bags on their most memorable trips. They’ve rated us 4.6 (out of 5) across more than 7,700 reviews.
Travel can be a drag. Your trip of a lifetime shouldn’t be weighed down by physical and mental baggage.
Suitcases are too big and heavy for world travel. But even travel backpacks have gotten too weighed down with unnecessary features.
The Superlite weighs 44% less than the average travel backpack.
How light can a travel backpack be without sacrificing durability or comfort? We’ve been working on this problem for a decade.
The Superlite uses only 14% of your carry on weight limit (15 lb, 7 kg), even on the strictest airlines. The rest is yours for clothes, gear, and everything else you actually want to bring.
The Superlite is 34L so it’s carry on compliant, worldwide. Your bag always fits in the overhead bin. Yes, even on Ryanair.
No checked bags. No wasted time. No dead weight.
Most ultralight bags skimp on the harness. They use thin straps without padding and load lifters. They punish your shoulders to save weight.
For the Superlite, comfort was the only “feature” we weren’t willing to cut. The Superlite isn’t just lightweight. It also has all the comfort features Tortuga is known for.
For long carries or heavier loads, add the optional hip belt for even more support. The hip belt will transfer up to 80% of the weight from your shoulders to your hips.
At Tortuga, we’re known for making comfortable travel bags.
The Wirecutter called our heavier Travel Backpack Pro “comfortable to wear over endless miles” with “the carrying comfort of a hiking backpack.” The Superlite carries the same harness DNA in a bag that’s less than half the weight of the Pro. Now imagine how comfortable that is.
Most ultralight bags are built for the outdoors. The Superlite is designed for easy packing and efficient travel.
The clamshell main compartment opens flat like a suitcase, so your stuff is always organized and easy to reach.
The Superlite holds its rectangular shape, and the sides stand up on their own for easy packing.
Here’s what fits in the Superlite for a one-week trip:
- 5–7 days of clothes
- 1 pair of shoes
- Toiletry kit
- Up to 16″ laptop
- Phone, earbuds, chargers, and cables
Experienced one-bag travelers routinely pack for 10+ days in a bag this size. In fact, I packed for an 11-day work trip to Vietnam in the Superlite.
The Superlite doesn’t ask you to pack less; it helps you pack efficiently.
Enough pockets for what you need. No more, no less.
Top admin pocket: For quick access without opening the main compartment. Includes a stretch mesh pocket, zippered mesh pocket, and key leash.
Padded laptop sleeve: Fits up to a 16″ laptop, suspended from the bottom for protection from drops. Top-opening for in-flight access without taking the bag down from the overhead bin.
Interior mesh pockets: Act as built-in packing cubes for smaller clothing and accessories.
Stretch mesh water bottle pocket: Made with Ultra-PE for increased durability.
Top and side carry handles: Grab and go.
The Superlite is built from ULTRA™ 200TX by Challenge Sailcloth, a multi-layer composite engineered to be both light and strong.
- Layer 1: Ultra-PE face fabric. The outer layer is 200-denier UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) blended with high-tenacity polyester, making it one of the strongest fibers by weight ever made.
- Layer 2: Ultra-PE CrossPly. More UHMWPE fibers laid in a 45° diamond pattern to provide stability in all directions and to prevent tears from spreading.
- Layer 3: Film backing. A 0.75 mil film layer that makes the fabric waterproof to 200+ psi. (Note that the bag itself is water-resistant but not waterproof.)
- Layer 4: Recycled polyester ripstop. The back of the fabric is a 70-denier recycled polyester ripstop that adds structure, improves stitch-holding, and gives the interior a clean look and feel.
ULTRA™ 200TX is lighter, stronger, and more abrasion-resistant than the ECOPAK™ EPX200 used in our Pro line of backpacks.
Choose the Superlite Bundle reward to get everything in the collection. Or build your own bundle by selecting a backpack, then choosing from the add-ons below.
Superlite Backpack: The ultralight, ultra-strong carry on bag
Superlite Hip Belt: For an even more comfortable carry. Takes 80% of the weight off your shoulders.
- Size: 23-59 inches
- Weight: 0.4 lb (0.18 kg)
Superlite Compression Cube: Compresses your clothes 33% so you can pack more. Made with ULTRA™ and ULTRA-PE stretch mesh just like the backpack.
- Expanded Dimensions: 12.4 x 8.9 x 4.7 inches (31.5 x 22.5 x 12 cm)
- Compressed Dimensions: 12.4 x 8.9 x 3.1 inches (31.5 x 22.5 x 8 cm)
- Volume: 8.5 liters, compresses to 5.7 liters
- Weight: 6 oz (170 g)
Superlite Pouch: A small carry accessory to keep you organized. Stands on its own.
- Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 2 inches (20 x 15 x 5 cm)
- Weight: 1.2 oz (32 g)
