Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6
Buying a Backpack
The most important gear you are going to carry on your trip is the bag that holds all your belongings. For
most round-the-world travelers, this is the backpack. Most travelers use a backpack over a rolling suit-
case because it is easier to travel with. It just slings on your back and you don't need to lug it over streets,
across cobblestones, or up stairs.
Suitcase or Backpack?
I hate suitcases. Despise them. On the road, traveling around the world, it is much easier to move around
carrying a backpack. Your luggage is going to get thrown about and piled high on buses in random countries.
It will get used and abused, and it's simply hard to walk up hills and stairs with your suitcase bump, bump,
bumping everywhere. Suitcases are a pain in the butt. Backpacks are simply more versatile. They're easy to
carry up stairs and pack into tight places, and overall, they just make life simpler. I don't need to pick one up
on the escalator. I can just walk. Simple. Easy.
Even if you are only going on a two-week trip, I still suggest ditching that oversized, heavy suitcase. Suit-
cases are great for weekends away or if you'll be staying in one place for a long time. But if you are moving
around a lot, it is far better to have a backpack. Backpacks just make more sense, which is why this chapter
is devoted to them and not suitcases.
If you have back problems and can't use a backpack, a smaller suitcase with wheels and a long handle can
be a good substitute. It will still be difficult carrying it up and down stairs, and annoying as you roll it across
uneven sidewalks, but there are many companies (those listed at the end of this section) that make fairly good
and lightweight travel cases.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BACKPACK
Picking the right backpack is one of the most important things you'll do before you leave on your trip. If you
pick one that is too big, you'll be carrying around too much extra weight. If your backpack is too small, you
won't be able to fit everything you want inside. If you pick the wrong material, your stuff will get soaked
when it rains.
There are many backpacks in the world and many, many places where you can purchase one. No matter
where or what you purchase, know that the best backpacks—those that last the longest—have all the follow-
ing characteristics that make them durable, protective, and long-lasting:
