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!