Backpack vs. suitcase, 2
 

The only other post I saw about this issue was from a student taking side trips on weekends.

What about for your entire 2 week trip? Is it doable? We don't plan to stay in hostels or anything, but DH claims that suitcases will make traveling in Europe too clunky and difficult on trains, metros, buses, etc. C'est vrai? We're young-ish (almost 30), but I don't want to look like "backpackers." Also, though I believe in packing light, I do like to have a few changes of shoes, makeup, some nice dressy clothing, etc.

Is it preferable to use a backpack when traveling in Europe (in lieu of luggage) and is it possible (ladies!)?

Merci!

Recently returned from 4weeks in Italy. Very few travelers, college age included, were using backpacks. Most had wheeled suitcases.

Yes, you can carry a backpack on your back, but with a rolling suitcase you don't need to carry the weight yourself - let the wheels do the work.

I agree.

We do carryon only, but with a rolling bag. We just got back from 2 weeks in France and used a 21" rolling bag. It was easy to maneuver on the train, no problem.

We did meet a guy who was traveling around for 6 weeks and the only bag he had was a messenger bag. I was impressed, lol! I can't go THAT light!

If you are taking a small suitcase (the size you can carry on the plane), I don't think its an issue, but I wouldn't advise taking a large suitcase. Last trip dh took a backpack and I took a large suitcase. My suitcase was a pain to lug around, it was heavy and dh had to carry it for me up and down any stairs in addition to his backpack. For our next trip (2 weeks long), I'm going to just take a 22' rollerboard. I'll have to be careful with my packing, but I think its doable. J62 was right though, we saw very few other people with backpacks.

A backpack is also clunky, but in a different way. Can you imagine standing on a bus wearing a backpack? You do want to be able to carry your luggage up and down stairs (likely many, many stairs) with ease, so make sure you pack accordingly.

Personally I've had no problems with trains and public transit, while using a rolling suitcase of a small to moderate size (20-24"), and I've always been able to fit in enough for a 2-week trip. Many people have happily used backpacks. There's no need to have a religious war over this - each of you can do whatever feels most comfortable.

It is quite possible that with either a bus or backpack that carrying luggage during rush hours in a major city will not be terribly comfortable. So just keep that in mind.

We are spending 2 weeks in October in Italy,with a lot of train travel to various places. My DH has similar views as your DH, and bought us both very nice and expensive backpacks to haul around Italy. Well...I have decided to use my 22" roll-on and matching tote,the contents of which will include my purse. I would much rather roll a small suitcase than haul a backpack. My DH will still use his backpack,but it is my belief that ladies have more necessary items needed for travel.

>>suitcases will make traveling in Europe too clunky and difficult on trains, metros, buses, etc.<<

Not so.

Most suitcases fit on overhead racks on trains; many backpacks do not.

Also, on metros and buses, the other passengers will be very, very grateful if you don't whack into them with a backpack.

I just HATE backpacks. I don't mean I dislike using them, I just find that others that use them are such a pain in the #@&! Every time they turn around in a crowd or while standing in line they smack their neighbors with that unwieldy, knobby, bludgeon. They seem oblivious to the carnage they leave in their wake, too.

I'm done ranting, now ---

:-(

This is something that I will be trying myself, later this week!

I was debating between the these three:

- Rick Stevens bag with convetible straps that I bought just last year (and now they have a newer version that I think looks more stylish, wouldn't you know!)

- something called the Air Boss from Red Oxx (very expensive for my budget, but I did buy a tote bag and love it, even at $20, and really love using it for groceries--I no longer come home with all those store bags)

- what I finally did purchase after seeing a recommendation from another female traveler: LL Bean's Turbo Transit backpack.

The Rick Steves bag is fine, but I've not really taken a shine to it, maybe I'd like the newer version, I don't know.

The Turbo Transit has 5 compartments and a handle on the side to allow carrying it and not looking like you're carrying a backpack. When I enter the B&Bs, I'll be doing this :-)

Your DH may want to look at the Air Boss. Perhaps it's also the name, but it has the look of a bag that guys can really love.

Looking at soo many bags has me realizing that, for me, 20" is the size I like, or maybe even just 19" because checking with LL Bean's web site that's what the Turbo Transit is: 19" x 14" x 9". I'd have to see/handle both a 20" and 19" bag to know for sure, but I know now that it must be the 21" that I'm unhappy with.

The RS is 21" and the Air Boss is 21" x 13" x 8". I'm so glad now that I didn't succumb to temptation and buy it. Writing this post has me realizing it's that inch or two that's making me happier with looking at my Turbo Transit and not the RS bag in my "pile-it" room.

I'll report back in a couple of weeks about my experience. Cheers!

We have just purchased "rolling backs" from MEC for an upcoming trip to Prague and Odessa. THey are rather expensive so I hope we made the right choice, certainly rolling 20 inch suitcases would have been less expensive. These have detachable day packs and lots of compartments for packing. I think DH was trying to limit the excessive packing by 2 teenage girls! They are heavy so I expect we will be mostly "rolling merrily along". eds

thank you very much, to all of you, for your input and assistance on this matter!

my husband is EXTREMELY conscientious of others' space and would never bump into others with his pack whereas i am a klutz ;) so maybe we should each go our own way, so to speak, and use what comes most easily and naturally to us both!

I've travelled a few times with a wheel-less convertible backpack (i.e. one that you can carry like a suitcase with straps that can be zipped away), and hated it. I have travelled a lot in the past 8 years (for work and play), including some monthlong or longer trips. The trips have involved lots of planes, trains, a few boats, a helicopter and a mule (Moroccan honeymoon). Except for the Moroccan honeymoon, when we needed to carry softer luggage that could be packed on the mule (we used a rolling duffel), is a strong but lightweight rolling, expandable suitcase and a fairly large (about 35 litre) backpack. My current favourites are made by Victorinox. I tried a friend's "rolling backpack" once and thought that it was too heavy and uncomfortable for a long trip. I do find wheeled luggage the most useful; there are only a few places where you have to pick it up and carry it any distance (e.g. up long flights of steps - and it can be loud on cobbled streets, but I don't care). The backpack that converted to a soft-sided suitcase would be my second choice for the kind of trip you're taking.

I HATE backpacks! I think a single small roller suitcase is the very best way to go (22" size), to Europe or anywhere else for that matter.

I don't mind a small day-bag with backpack type straps, if you want that for toting stuff around instead of a pocketbook.

I don't like backpacks either. It doesn't matter how I adjust the straps, they always pull at my clothes until I feel like I'm trussed up like a turkey.
It's worse with layers.

I HATE backpacks too! My husband LOVES them. So when we travel, all of his stuff is in his backpack which you can't see into to find îtems at the hotel so even for one night it is necessary to dump everything out - usually on the bed. I simply open my little wheelie suitcase and take out what I need...

Another loather of backpacks with a DH
that adores them!

After hauling one last Sept. for a
month I told him 'never again' and
made sure of it by cutting out the
sub-structure strapping.......

I'm gettin' on in years and I'm
well-endowed and I looked absolutely
stupid with that thing on my back
yarding up my front.....yeck.

So he rolls all his clothes into
his pack and I fold all mine into
a Delsey wheelie or a Le Sportsac
weekender and we trundle off, muttering
under our breath. Ah, the joys of
conjugal travel.....all 42 years of it!

I have to agree with nukesafe. In the hands of some people, backpacks become dangerous weapons. In crowds and queues the people don't seem to realise they have a solid and sometimes sharp lump sticking a foot or so out from their back when they make sudden movements.

I was bought a backpack several years ago and have never used it. A holdall or suitcase is preferred.

Wheeling something along is much less stressful for me physically, than hoisting something up and down, onto my back would be. You're young so maybe not an issue. When you say a few changes of shoes, makeup, nice dressing clothing... that just doesn't say backpack to me.

If you really don't want a small rolling case, my second choice is a good duffle bag with a strap you can wear across your torso or over your shoulder. In both duffles and backpacks your clothes get more rumpled up than in a suitcase.

Oh LlamaLady - sounds just like our relationship. :)

...but DH claims... (ladies)?

If it were me, I would bring a 22" rolling suitcase. Have the DH pack his things in a backpack (The Rick Steve type, or similars--check e-bags.com). He can wear the pack and wheel your suitcase for you!

This is so funny - I guess it's one of those battles of the sexes LOL. My BF loves his convertible backpack; I prefer my rolling luggage!

The backpack is a Victorinox that he primarily uses as wheeled luggage. The detachable day pack locks on if you want to check the whole lot. I will say that the backpack aspect comes in very handy on those interminable Metro stairs, and on some particularly narrow cobblestone streets. Besides, it gives him a free hand to help me with my Samsonite LOL!

As for rolling luggage, my one piece of advice re: Europe is to make sure it's not too wide. Both of my suitcases are 22", but the older wider one was very difficult to maneuver through Metro turnstiles and on narrow sidewalks (thus the more recent Samsonite purchase). Definitely the smaller the better; I'd go with a 19 or 20" rather than my 22" for a two-week trip...

Good luck! :)

If you are planning on using a lot of public transport - then backpacks are an absolute pain. No matter how considerate your husband thinks he is being, he WILL be bashing people with his pack. And even if he doesn't, in a crowd it's much more pleasant for other passengers to have their feet and legs squeezed up against a smooth groundlevel bag, than have their face squashed up against a lumpy backpack. It happens. A lot. People won't like you if you wear a backpack on crowded transport - so you have to take it off and carry it. You also have to take it off to sit down. God help you if you try taking one off/putting one on while on the metro/bus etc. Seeing as you have to carry the thing anyway, take a suitcase.

To just push the point a little more - does DH use city public transport much? Does he know just how crowded it can get? You are squashed in like sardines at times. It simply won't be possible for him to be considerate with his backpack. Also, they are a lot easier to steal from than a zipped up suitcase that you have tucked between your feet.

Backpacks are designed for country trekking, not normal luggage.

On a more serious note. I think every well traveled FEMALE on this board can tell you stories on how we have gone from clothes/makeup large suitcases down to a 22" wheeled suitcase. You can pack the same for a 10 day trip as you do a 20+. Here are a few tips we have passed on to each other:
1. A few outfits that can be mixed and
matched--I pack 3 tops and 3
pants/skirt. 1 cashmere button up
sweater or dressier light jacket.
2. One or two small accessories to
dress up the outfit for evenings a
belt/silk scarf/pashmina.
3. Wear a good pair of walking shoes
on the plane and pack one pair of
dressier shoes/sandals.
4. Don't bring your entire makeup bag.
Example: If you wear powder. Buy a
small container/sifter like at
Sephora and just take the amount you
need. 1 lipstick/gloss instead of
several. Ect.
5. Just the essentials in toiletries.
You can use the hotel soaps/lotions.
Or you can run into any store /
boutique when you are there and
find some nice local things in
travel size.
6. A very small first aid/sewing kit.
Safety pin/bandaides for blisters.
Small pill box w/tums excedrin.
Things you may need in emergency
that you wouldn't want to buy an
entire box/bag/bottle of.
7. Small travel container of woolite to
wash clothes/socks ect.
8. 1 tote/duffle that can be folded
for things you may buy to carry home
on plane.

Voila-you are packed for a month in a 22".

FYI, here's the Victorinox my BF bought, which appears to be discontinued:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/3...-Trek-22-.html

And a more recent version:
http://www.luggageonline.com/product...roduct_ID=7699

Both are wheeled luggage, but can be quickly converted to a backpack when necessary...

DH and I did 2 weeks in Germany and Austria last summer. We used trains and public transport almost the entire time. I did really well with my rolling suitcase - even getting on and off trains, subways, etc with it - and I am 4'-10" tall. A 22" suitcase feels to me like a larger suitcase feels to taller people - LOL. I really think a backpack would have been a pain - esspecially since they are almost impossible to wear without getting your clothing rumpled.

My DH..(Dumb Husband) won't go anywhere without his back pack. He just loves it.

A positive word on the distaff side: I am a mid-fifties woman, fair-to-middlin' fit, certainly no hiking-fanatic but I LOVE my back pack.

MY DH and I did a month in Italy with our Mountain Equipment Co-op back packs and some with NO regrets. We are not hostelers, stayed in a combination of 3 star hotels and Parker Company rentals in Rome, Umbria, Puglia and Sicily.

Our carefully selected wardrobes took us out to some high end restaurants and the Opera, without feeling uncomfortable (pearls on black for me-black jeans for himself.)

Now, I will confess we had to buy a suitcase to send our goodies home in as I do like to shop...

But there is nothing so freeing as hands-free travel.

As LJ mentions, a real reason that I am trying this trip with a backpack is to be "hands free."

When traveling with a roller bag, I felt like I was watching a small child (but one that can walk as fast as you can :-)

In my eyes, this is another advantage: because a backpack and/or something with a strap is being carried, they force you to pack Light!

I spent yesterday packing my Turbo Transit. Found out that it has seven (7!) zippered areas. Almost too many, lol. And, yes, I did some unpacking of any/all "just in case" items I could find. It's at about 13 lb now. It'd be less if I had more lightweight true travel clothes.

As llamalday mentions, you'll probably try packing differently. I did the rolling method; everything was wrinkled, more or less, when I pulled it out later for a re-pack. I wasn't really surprised, but guess I was hoping it wouldn't happen :-D

A toss through the dryer and then I did something else. I tried bundling, pulling it tight to fit my pack's dimensions, illustrated ex.: http://www.redoxx.com/catalog/file/2/REDOXXWRAP.pdf I think that will work better. I'm checking on it later today.

The trip starts Thursday! Yeah!