#1: Mark Ryden Backpacks

I bought a Mark Ryden backpack for around forty dollars on Lazada a few years ago, expecting to replace it within a year. It's still going strong after several international flights, countless airports, and being stuffed to the gills with souvenirs. The brand is Chinese and nobody outside of budget travel circles has heard of it, which is exactly why it's so affordable. The build quality punches way above its price. YKK zippers, which actually matter because cheap zippers are usually the first thing to fail on bags. The material is legitimately waterproof, not that "water resistant" marketing speak that means nothing when it actually rains. Fits my 14 inch MacBook Pro in a padded sleeve with room to spare.

The sizing is perfect for carry-on, so I've never had to argue with a budget airline gate agent about checking luggage. There's a USB charging port built in, which I honestly rarely use, but it's there if you want to run a cable from a power bank inside the bag. The back panel is padded and breathable, which helps in tropical heat. I've recommended this to probably a dozen people who were spending three times as much on name brand bags that do the same thing.

You can find them on the official Mark Ryden website, Amazon, or if you're in Southeast Asia, check Lazada or Shopee where prices tend to be lower.