5 Best Collapsible Backpacks For Easy RV Storage That Maximize Every Inch

You’ve finally found the perfect boondocking spot, miles from anywhere. The plan is a quick hike to a scenic overlook, but your main hiking pack is buried under three storage bins in the passthrough. This is the moment every RVer knows: the small inconvenience that highlights the constant battle for space and accessibility. It’s here that a simple piece of gear proves its worth tenfold.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Packable Backpacks Are an RV Storage Essential

In a small space, every item has a "storage cost." A traditional backpack, with its rigid frame and thick padding, costs a lot. It occupies a non-negotiable chunk of a cabinet or bin, even when it’s empty. A packable backpack, however, has a storage cost close to zero. It reduces down to the size of a fist, freeing up cubic inches for things that can’t be compressed, like food or tools.

This isn’t just about saving space; it’s about creating flexibility. That tiny pouch tucked into a drawer can become a grocery bag, a beach tote, a laundry carrier, or a daypack for exploring a new town. Instead of owning four different bulky bags for these tasks, you have one that lives unnoticed until needed. It’s a force multiplier for your storage system.

Think of it this way: a packable backpack allows you to leave your large, organized systems (the RV) behind for short excursions without creating chaos. You can grab it for a spontaneous trip to a farmers market or a walk down a riverside trail you just discovered. It’s the piece of gear that bridges the gap between your mobile basecamp and the world you’re there to explore.

Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack: The Hiker’s Choice

When you see the Osprey name, you expect trail-ready performance, and this little pack delivers. Unlike many ultralight competitors with flimsy webbing, the Stuff Pack features lightly padded, mesh shoulder straps. This is a game-changer on a hike that turns out to be longer than you planned. It won’t feel like a full-frame pack, but it won’t dig into your shoulders like a glorified string bag either.

The design includes features that serious hikers appreciate. A side stretch-mesh pocket reliably holds a water bottle, a simple detail many packable bags omit. The main compartment is surprisingly spacious at 18 liters, enough for a rain shell, snacks, and a first-aid kit. It packs into its own pocket, forming a small, soft package that’s easy to stash.

The tradeoff for this comfort and functionality is a slightly larger packed size compared to the most minimalist options. It’s more like a small softball than a lemon. But for the RVer who prioritizes trail comfort for day trips away from the rig, this is the best-balanced option on the market. It’s a real backpack in a tiny package.

Matador On-Grid Packable Backpack: Weather-Ready

The Matador On-Grid is built for the realities of travel, where the weather forecast is often a suggestion, not a guarantee. Its foundation is a waterproof Robic nylon with a special coating that beads water instantly. Add to that water-resistant zippers and you have a bag that can handle a sudden downpour while exploring a coastal town or a mountain village.

Beyond its weather-proofing, the On-Grid is thoughtfully designed for organization. It features multiple pockets, including quick-access front storage and expandable water bottle pockets. This makes it feel less like a compromise and more like a dedicated daypack. You aren’t just dumping everything into one big sack.

This level of performance comes at a premium price. It’s an investment, and you have to decide if your travel style warrants it. If you frequently find yourself in wet climates or simply want the peace of mind that your phone and wallet are protected from a surprise storm, the Matador is worth every penny. It’s a piece of technical gear disguised as a convenient stuff sack.

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Day Pack: Most Compact

If your primary goal is minimizing packed size above all else, the conversation starts and ends with the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil. This thing is impossibly small. It packs into an attached stuff sack that’s no bigger than a keychain, making it the undisputed champion of portability. You can literally forget it’s in your pocket.

This incredible compression is achieved through its material—a siliconized Cordura nylon that’s paper-thin but surprisingly strong. The design is ruthlessly minimalist: one main compartment and two simple webbing straps. There are no water bottle pockets, no extra zippers, and zero padding. It is purely a vessel for carrying things.

The tradeoff is obvious: comfort. Carrying anything heavy or with sharp edges for a long period will be uncomfortable. But that’s not its purpose. This is the ultimate "just-in-case" bag. You throw it in your glove box, your purse, or the pocket of your jacket. It’s there for the unexpected grocery run, for carrying a few souvenirs, or for holding your jacket when the afternoon warms up. For zero-cost storage and maximum convenience, nothing else comes close.

Eddie Bauer Stowaway 20L: Affordable Versatility

Not every piece of RV gear needs to be a top-of-the-line, specialized item. The Eddie Bauer Stowaway is the workhorse of the packable world. It offers a solid 20 liters of capacity, two external zippered pockets, and two side mesh pockets for water bottles. It provides 90% of the function of more expensive bags at a fraction of the cost.

This backpack is frequently on sale, making it an incredibly low-risk entry into the world of packable gear. It’s the perfect bag to keep stashed in your tow vehicle for unplanned errands or to hand to a guest for a day trip. The materials aren’t as technical and it might not withstand a decade of abuse, but its practical design is undeniable.

The Stowaway proves that good-enough is often perfect. You don’t need a waterproof expedition pack to carry towels to the campground pool or haul laundry to the laundromat. For the vast majority of day-to-day RV tasks, this bag hits the sweet spot of affordability, capacity, and useful features. It’s a no-nonsense tool that gets the job done.

Cotopaxi Batac 16L: Sustainable Style and Function

The Cotopaxi Batac is more than just a backpack; it’s a statement. Each bag is part of their (Re)Purpose™ Collection, made by employees in the Philippines who are given creative control to combine leftover fabric scraps. The result is that every single backpack is a unique, one-of-a-kind color combination. It’s a piece of gear with a story.

Functionally, the Batac is an unstructured, lightweight pack perfect for city exploration or light trail use. Its 16-liter capacity is well-organized with a main compartment, a front zippered pocket with an internal divider, and a mesh water bottle pocket. It’s comfortable for carrying essentials for a day of wandering.

The unstructured design is both a pro and a con. It helps it pack down easily (though not as small as a dedicated stuff-sack model), but it means you need to be mindful of how you pack sharp or bulky items. For the RVer who values sustainability, individuality, and vibrant design, the Batac is an easy choice. It injects a dose of personality into a highly practical piece of gear.

Key Features to Look for in a Collapsible Backpack

Choosing the right packable backpack comes down to being honest about how you’ll use it. Don’t just buy the smallest or the most feature-rich. Instead, weigh these four factors against your travel style.

• Packed Size vs. Comfort: This is the primary tradeoff. A keychain-sized pack like the Sea to Summit is brilliant for emergencies but terrible for a three-hour hike. A more comfortable pack like the Osprey will take up the space of a softball. Decide which is more important: minimal storage footprint or comfort in use.
• Capacity and Organization: Liters can be misleading. A simple 20L sack feels different than a 16L bag with smart pockets. If you just need to haul a jacket and some groceries, a single compartment is fine. If you want to carry electronics, keys, and snacks for a day out, look for a model with at least one external pocket.
• Material and Weather Resistance: Don’t overpay for features you don’t need. "Water-resistant" is fine for a quick dash from the store to the RV in a light drizzle. "Waterproof" materials and sealed zippers, like on the Matador, are for people who won’t let a rainy day in the Pacific Northwest stop their exploration.
• Your Primary Use Case: Be realistic. Will this be your dedicated hiking daypack? Your grocery-getter? Your emergency bag? The best bag for a hike is rarely the best bag for a trip to the laundromat. If you have the space, owning two different styles—one for comfort, one for pure compactness—can be a smart strategy.

Integrating Your Packable Backpack into RV Routines

The true value of a packable backpack is unlocked when it becomes part of your daily RV life. It’s not just gear you pack; it’s a tool you position for easy access. Keep one in the glove compartment of your truck or tow vehicle. When you’re out and decide to stop at a roadside farm stand, you’re ready.

Hang another on a command hook right by the RV door. This becomes your default "quick trip" bag. Heading to the camp store? Grabbing mail from the office? Taking the dog for a walk down a new trail? Grab the bag, throw in your wallet and a water bottle, and go. This simple habit prevents you from having to dig through your main bags for small errands.

Finally, think of your packable backpack as a modular component of your larger systems. Use it to ferry laundry to and from the machines. Use it as a "shore excursion" bag when you visit a beach or lake, keeping sand and wet towels out of your main vehicle. By integrating it into these small, daily routines, the packable backpack transforms from a niche hiking accessory into one of the most versatile and space-saving tools in your entire RV.

Ultimately, the best collapsible backpack is the one that seamlessly fits into your specific rhythm of travel. It’s less about the specs and more about how it solves your daily challenges, whether that’s conquering a mountain trail or just a massive grocery run. By choosing wisely, you’re not just buying a bag; you’re buying space, convenience, and the freedom to say "yes" to spontaneous adventures.