Tortuga
Tortuga is a direct to consumer brand of carry on travel backpacks, founded by childhood friends Fred and Jeremy after a 2009 backpacking trip. It sells travel backpacks, personal item bags and packing accessories online.
| Founders | Fred Perrotta and Jeremy |
|---|---|
| Origin | 2009 backpacking trip |
| Focus | Carry on travel backpacks |
| Team | Fully remote |
| Website | tortugabackpacks.com |
What is Tortuga?
Tortuga is a travel bag brand whose mission is to make travel easier. It was founded by childhood best friends Fred Perrotta and Jeremy, after a 2009 backpacking trip through Europe on which they could not find a travel backpack that met their needs.
Products and positioning
Tortuga designs bags around the idea of packing light and travelling with carry on luggage only, avoiding checked bag hassles and fees. The range includes:
- Travel backpacks such as the Pro 40L, Pro 34L and Travel Backpack Lite 40L
- Personal item backpacks such as Daily Carry Pro
- Packing accessories including compression cubes
The founders describe their approach as scratching their own itch, building the bags they want to use themselves.
Distribution
Tortuga sells directly through its own website, with a product quiz and fit guide to help customers choose, plus bundles and a resale programme through a third party platform. The company is run by a small, distributed team working remotely.
Why it matters
Tortuga is a long standing example of a direct to consumer carry brand built around a single use case. A portion of purchases funds the Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship and a Gap Year Grant for young travellers.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Tortuga backpacks?
Tortuga was founded by childhood best friends Fred Perrotta and Jeremy, inspired by a 2009 backpacking trip through Europe.
What does Tortuga sell?
Tortuga sells carry on travel backpacks, personal item backpacks and packing accessories such as compression cubes.