I have a 22 inch roller suitcase I've used. For my trip to Italy in less than 3 wks we plan to hop on and off trains and I figured a back pack would be much easier (i've also heard those roller cases dont work well in Como, Tuscany, Venice or CTerre where we are going!). What do you suggest? We're going for 2 wks but can do laundry after wk 1 I think.

Having done both, I vote for wheels. See this post for more:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34399296

I just bought a new bag for my Spain trip and after tons of good advice here went with a rolling backpack from Eagle Creek!

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ory_rn=4501712

Hi e_roz...

I myself, prefer a backpack. But there are some things you should take into consideration...

-Will you be walking to your hotel from the stations or taking a cab/transportation? If you are taking transportation, the benefits to carrying a backpack are certainly less. However, you are right...they make life so much easier when getting on and off trains, and anywhere where there are steps! But...while waiting at trainstations, if you want the thing off your back, it gets to be a slight chore taking it on and off.

-Have you worn a backpack before? If not, you may want to throw it out the window in the first few days. It takes a little while to get used to.

-Are you traveling to many different destinations in the two weeks? If not, maybe a suitcase would work. However, what I hated doing was packing my backpack every few days! Mine was a toploader. If yours is a toploader, I would recommend not bringing a ton, and using stuff sacks or ziplock bags.

-Oh, and if you're staying at nicer hotels (meaning pretty posh), they can look at backpackers funny. ;-)

I loved carrying my backpack. If you see others carrying one, it's often common and easy to start up a conversation, which was great for a solo traveler like me. I traveled for 4 months, and it took me a couple of weeks to even like carrying the stinkin' thing, so I do think that is something to consider. In a place like Venice though, I was thrilled I had a pack. My cousin with her small suitcase didn't fare nearly as well.

If you don't have a backpack yet, make sure you get one that fits correctly, and shop for one at a place who knows what they are doing!

Wendy's suggestion may work for you. Those bags were really popular, and most likely you will be just wheeling them around, since the wheels make it heavier and people only wear them when necessary.

Travel packs are a good option if you aren't wearing them a lot. They tend to be wider than a outdoorsy type backpack, and distribute the weight differently, and probably less efficiently. The benefit is that you can get into them much like a suitcase.

The other thread elberko pointed out has interesting points. I did see quite a few people with packs too big, and they really didn't know how to wear them (and nearly flattened a few people). But if you are aware that you have an extension on your body, wearing a pack is very easy, even on metros. For a two week trip, I wouldn't carry anything over 55L. And even that would be big.

Also one last point I forgot to mention. If you don't have a pack already, getting a decent one is quite expensive compared to getting a decent wheeled suitcase.

I don't have a backpack so can't comment on that, but I have used a 22" wheeled suitcase quite a bit on trains and have never had any problem getting on and off. That isn't that big a suitcase and I would think trying to get on/off trains with a huge thing on your back would be a lot worse -- if it's not on your back then it couldn't be any easier then a regular suitcase, and maybe less easy (a lot of the backpacks I've seen look more unwieldy than suitcases because of their odd shape).

Maybe a roller backpack would be your solution.

Ergonomics! How fit are you? Back packs no more than 20% of body weight. Narrow wheeled luggage is easier to manage in tight spots than wide wheeled. Do not overlook luggage carts.

Just back from Lake Como (Varenna/Menaggio/Belaggio) and had both a BIG Samsoniyte hard-sided four-wheeler and a backpack. Depends on how many cobblestones you want to wheel the behemouth over before deciding that just this ONE time a taxi was worth the money!

Wheels! No question.
Melissa

I prefer a duffel bag with a shoulder strap (but I'm atypical in other ways, too). If you're travelling in July or August, remember that it will be hot and probably humid, and that a backpack will make your back & neck sweat something awful!

I've got a backpack with wheels. I used it as a backpack the first time I used it, but not again. It is solid, i.e. the wheels are well made and stand up to rough use. It has a handle on top to lift over curbs. Another handle on the side to carry like a suitcase. It has a small backpack that unzips from the main one.

You can get a duffel bag with wheels, too.

I used a small expandable roller suitcase recently for trip to Rome, Florence, and Venice. No problem at all on the cobble streets. Keep it light and carrying it over the Venice bridges and onto trains won't be difficult. In retrospect, I could have done without at least 1/4 of the clothes I brought. Best advice: travel as light as possible, no matter what you pack in.

We used a rolling suitcase in Venice without a problem (on vaporettos and on the cobbles). Keep in mind we had a good rolling 22 inch. The wheels on it are almost like inline skates. It is a briggs & riley, medium price. We had a tote on top of it that fit over the handle.

Having traveled with both I vote for the rolling suitcase. That said, pack the smallest possible bag (mine is more like 14" rolling rather than 22&quot and pack light light light. If you take a 22" suitcase you will fill it up. If you take a 30" suitcase you'll fill it up. If you take a 14" (or 18&quot suitcase you will amaze yourself at your ability to pack everything into such a small bag. With a small bag you can easily pick it up to hop on and off trains, negotiate cobblestones, etc. With a backpack you have no choice but to carry the bag no matter how tired you may be.

I take a cheap cheap (Target) suitcase and it has done fine after being rolled over miles and miles of sidewalks, streets, etc. Inexpensive to replace once it wears out.