Voyagner

It’s funny how some people talk about backpacking like it is a club, the dress code is whatever you want as long as it hasn’t been washed in at least a week, and of course, a backpack.

Recently Gary Arndt of EverythingEverywhere & Chris of MyEggNoodles proposed suitcases as a more suitable alternative, especially the wheeled variety. This is complete blasphemy to some backpackers, mostly the ones who have been sucked in by the whole backpacker image. Is travel is meant to open the mind then take an open minded approach to your luggage as well.

Why Backpacks suck

Ok they don’t completely suck but how often do you see over-sized backpacks filled to near bursting point on the likes of Khao San Road. In Sydney I could hardly believe my eyes at some of them, and I thought mine was bad. People tend to buy packs bigger than they need, you can make the same mistake with any type of bag but at least it’s not on your back if you’ve gone overboard.

The more you pay for a backpack the more straps it seems to have, straps that get caught on, looped around or tangled up on everything however careful you try to be.

Top loading packs. These packs are usually actually designed for trekking and mountain climbing they just happen to hang out on the same shelf as travel backpacks or look coolest in the catalog. Unless you are trekking or mountain climbing you will quickly discover how much they suck, these are the worst pack design for travel you will ever come across.

Crappy fabrics, JohnnyVagabond had a recent post about technical clothing and the case is similar with backpack materials. By the sound of them you could be forgiven for thinking your backpack is bulletproof “Ripstop Ballistic nylon” sound familiar? So it’s not really bulletproof, I wasn’t planning on getting shot anyway. I’ve found these fabrics don’t stand up well to a more common travel problem than bullets, friction. Don’t even get me started on stretch nylon, that shit is like the bastard child spawn of crappy fabric and annoying straps.

The Call of Carry On

If a wheeled suitcase is blasphemy then a carry on might just be the anti-Christ, but I’m converted. Small means packing less and packing smarter, no lost luggage and no waiting at carousels, quick check-in and beating the pack to passport control. And it doesn’t have to be a suitcase, all types of bag come in carry on size.

North Face Overhaul

My take

North Face Base Camp

I have no desire to be in the backpacker club. My travel style is a Bruce Lee inspired “No Style” which has its own pros and cons. I get the impression that people think they will be walking around for hours looking at things or accommodation, in my experience for the most part you load it onto or into the nearest form of transport and that is where it stays until you are ready to dump it on the floor of your new digs. Backpack, suitcase, whatever, I see them all as a burden I want to get rid of as soon as possible, whatever you use, while it is nice if it looks the part it does not represent who you are, it is a repository for getting your shit from one place to another, nothing more.

There is no ideal pack, bag or case for travel. But if you limit your style of travel you can definitely get something far more suited to your needs. To me though having no limits on the style of travel you partake is very important.

Here are a few of my picks. Truth be told if I had one of each of these, I’d be pretty well covered. My vote for the most well rounded luggage isn’t a wheeled suitcase, it is the trusty old duffel.

Recommendations:

For the Flashpacker or Digital Nomad, the North Face Overhaul, a backpack but carry on sized and perfect for tech freaks. Straps cleanly and easily tuck away.

Osprey Vector

For Adventure Travelers, North Face Base Camp Duffel – 42L carry on size up to 140L Goliath. You can even still wear it as a backpack which will make you super hardcore, rub some mud into it and you instantly further amp up your travel cred.

For the Concrete Jungle Traveler, I can’t recommend any one suitcase, if you like the travel brand look at Eagle Creek and Osprey’s offerings. Briggs and Riley and Tumi are very popular with frequent flyers. The biggest thing against traditional luggage is the prices, for what they are they don’t offer much value.

Kelty Redwing

For Backpackers the Kelty Redwing, it doesn’t come in size XXL so you won’t be making that mistake, front loading and made from decent materials, this is a highly rated pack by backpackers.

A word on convertibles (backpacks with wheels), these are super uncomfortable and just generally crap. If you see one, run. If you buy one, “I pity the fool”.

If you are a bit a travel gear geek like me, I discovered Carryology while writing this post, yep there is a blog about carry bags/packs/cases etc and it is actually very interesting.