Thanks to all who provide useful advice on this forum. My wife and I (31YO and active) are planning our first trip to Italy in May and are trying to decide the backpacks vs. luggage question. Our current inventory of "luggage" consists of two backpacks we use for weekend trips in the mountains (approx. 4,000+ cu. in. each), several daypacks, a garment bag or two, several older suitcases of varying sizes and one nice carryon/roller combo that we each use when traveling on business. <BR><BR>Here's my dilemma - I'm afraid our backpacks might be too big, but I don't think our other luggage will cut it. I like the looks of the smaller convertible packs (Eagle Creek - style, etc.), but I'm not too excited about the idea of spending $250+ on a just for this trip. Incidentally, we are not "backpacking" across Italy as that term is commonly understood - we are staying in fairly nice hotels and will only be carrying the packs between our hotels and the train station/airport. I'd be interested to hear what method worked for everyone - especially with respect to storing backpacks on a train. <BR><BR>Thanks for any and all advice!<BR><BR>P.S. - For those who like to fire off replies to new posters telling them to do their own homework, I did do a couple of searches on this site for info on appropriate luggage, but most of the relevant threads I found seemed to degenerate quickly into a "smelly backpacker" vs. "elitist snob" namecalling contest . . . Entertaining and informative from an anthropological perspective, but not very helpful for my trip planning. <BR><BR>

Tom-<BR><BR>If you're used to backpacking perhaps the weight won't bother you, but I swear by my Eaglecreek convertible on wheels (even in Venice, the wheels were great! and they were fabulous in airports, on trains, and on sidewalks). About a year ago I was able to get remaindered ones at Sierra Designs and Campmor for about $100, but they're no longer carrying them. However, Rick Steves has a wheeled one for $99. It's not convertible, though, as he found folks rarely use wheeled bags in the backpack mode--which matches my experience. <BR><BR>You said "I'm not too excited about the idea of spending $250+ on a just for this trip." What makes you assume this is the last time you'd use it? You have a long travel life ahead of you, I hope! This may well be the first of many times!<BR><BR>Liz

I'm not a backpack fan except for camping, so perhaps my advice isn't what you want. But why get a backpack? Just buy a cheap 21" rollaboard, it should be fine. That's what I take to Europe all the time, and with a small carryon, I easily navigate all trains etc myself. I don't walk for miles with luggage, of course, but you aren't going to either, I've even gone probably 1/4 mile with that from a train station to hotel. I've gotten a couple of those, usually about $50 on sale at Sears or Penney's or Target. One I've had for probably 10 years now and the only problem with it is the wheels were rather small then and so one got a chip on it and it doesn't roll so smooth.

For what it's worth, we routinely travel in Europe with a combination of backpacks (ours are a bit smaller than 4000 cu in - Kelty Redwing size) and wheeled luggage. For extended trips, especially ski trips where we have a lot of extra gear, I find the 22" roller isn't enough and the backpack allows me lots of additional and flexible space while keeping my hands free. We're nearly 20 years older than you are and, if anyone is giving us disparaging looks (including the bellmen in some pretty fancy hotels) due to our "luggage", we haven't noticed - not that we'd care anyway. They work fine on trains, by the way.

Jansport makes convertible backpacks for under $100.00 and they're guaranteed for life so if you do manage to rip the seams or whatever you're covered. We've used ours all over Europe and elsewhere with no problems. The option to get rid of the straps works well in the nicer hotels (people don't look at you so funny when you check in!)

Liz do you happen to know which style convertible you have?

Hi Tom:<BR>You seem to be the same type of traveler I am. I'm 28 and too old for the hostel scene but too young to be on a motorcoach tour. I recommend using your roller/carry-on and one of your backpacks. Yu should also stuff a collapsable type bag for extra stuff on the way home that youmay have picked up. No need to spend a lot of money on new stuff if you aren't sure what you need or want. Get a feel for it while you are over there. Whatever you do, pack light! Believe me you will thank yourself for it. Have your wife limit her shoes to two pairs. A good walking shoe and maybe a lightweight dressier shoe or sandal she can pack. Bring clothes you can recycle and don't bring alot of guide books (just pick one) keep toiletries to a minimum.<BR>If you have one backpack you can use that for days trips and and then you have the roller in case one of you gets tired from the pack. It doesn't matter what luggage you bring really, as lomg as you don't pack too much stuff. Have a great trip

Wendy--<BR><BR>It's a Latitude Switchback expandable (but an older model of Latitude). It has a zipper that allows it to expand, so it can be either 7 x 14 x 22" or 9 x 14 x 22", and it can be carried, wheeled, or worn on the back. But I think that when it's packed, it's too heavy for the back--at least mine!<BR><BR>Liz

Basically my idea of packing is to forget everything about packing light and stuff a lot of things into a big backpack. A backpack allows carrying a heavy weight quite comfortably for half an hour and with some swearing for half a day, while a suitcase gets on my nerves much earlier. I've never had any problems with a backpack on airplanes or trains. I also take a daypack and leave the rest in the hotel or train station while sightseeing. <BR><BR>The carryon/roller combo might be a good idea for taking some nicer clothes which shouldn't become crumbled, but I would pack that one lightly so that it can be carried if there's a need.<BR><BR>So my advice: If you can carry your luggage for half an hour and feel comfortable, take it and forget about the packing tips of the guide books. At least for me, it always worked out. <BR><BR>

I think the rolling carry-on would be great to travel with, and you could use it as one of your carry-on bags. Then you could also take a daypack as a second carry-on bag for the plane, putting books for the plane, emergency change of clothes, etc. in it while en route, then using it as a daypack for your sightseeing in Italy.<BR><BR>Then I think I would break down and buy another wheeled bag. Maybe you could go slightly larger than a carry-on, like a 30-inch bag or something, if you think you need more space than just taking two wheeled carry-on size bag. (For instance if you are staying longer than a week, or packing more nice clothes because you're staying in nice digs). You could then go ahead and check this third larger bag. (We found on our England trip that our luggage was always waiting for us when we got through customs so checking was not really a hassle). <BR><BR>Eagle Creek seems to be the most expensive brand; you definitely would not have to invest $250.00 but could go with another brand for a second wheeled bag. Mine is a stylish wheeled High Sierra backpack that I found for under $100.00 on the web.

My vote is that if you need more space, take extra small bags, rather than fewer bigger bags. On trains, luggage storage often consists of an overhead rack which may accomodate 2 smaller bags rather than 1 big one, especially if others have got there ahead of you. It's also a great strain on the back to hoist heavy bags overhead. <BR><BR>Plus,in a future trip should you use a small rental car, it is easier to make more efficient use of the trunk space with several small bags rather than 2 big ones.

Tom: This is certainly personal preference if anything ever was.<BR><BR>With our experience of about two to three European trips per year over the past five years, we've settled on the one roll-on luggage method. We looked, like you, at the convertible backpack/roll-on and decided it wasn't for us.<BR><BR>Here's our sum experience: We've travelled for three weeks with just a large backpack (wore our hiking boots on the plane); we've gone the "check a medium/large suitcase and carry small carry-on" route and have done several versions of "one roll-on luggage plus small carry-on." Constantly changing airline regulations impact different versions per flight/trip. <BR><BR>Here's why we found the roll-on to be the best: <BR>1) Makes it more likely you will actually wear 98% the of the clothes you pack. <BR>2) Size and shape of the roll-on makes it easy to store in small European trunks, overhead compartments of trains, etc.<BR>3) European rooms are tiny--large luggage gets in the way. The teeny-tiny elevators are no problem when we travel with this size of case.<BR>4) Less luggage means it more likely you can keep track of your possessions around pickpockets.<BR><BR>We buy cheap, usually discontinued roll-ons so we can take advantage of newer technology as the cases "die". When we shop, we look for extended handles that suit our height and mold to our hands. And each member of our party has preferences. My husband loves expandables (although when they're expanded, they are no longer carry-ons), my oldest daughter loves pockets, and I'm attached to my current find, a case designed to roll forward (it's great on my back)with a see-through, removable, waterproof toiletry bag that snaps onto the case to rest over packed clothes. My youngest needs one that corners very well since she has no height leverage.<BR><BR>What do we consider the most important quality? Number/Location of handles. You need to grab quickly on trains, you need to carry over stretches of cobblestones, etc. I can't believe they still sell models with only one "grasp" handle at the top, but it's true. That type is too cheap to be helpful.<BR><BR>We have often packed a special purse or sack inside the suitcase. I have a nice flat canvas purse perfect for maps and guidebooks that I lay across the top of my clothes in the suitcase. I use a small backpack, though, as my extra carry-on, because I'm the travelling "office" for our family.<BR><BR>Good luck with your decisions! <BR>

Along this same line... I am going to Italy for the first time for two weeks in June (honeymoon in Positano and Rome). Do people use daypacks/backpacks while out for the day sightseeing? Or is there another type of bag that is more commonly found and less conspicuous?

A comment on the daypack question - Last year I found a Eagle Creek bag (it's been discontinued since then) that converts from a bag to a backpack. It's been more useful and versatile than I imagined - it's black, with a detachable shoulder strap and handle on top, with several compartments. About 10 x 17 x 3 inches; big enough for everything except an extra sweater. Done that way, it's a little classier if we want to take it with us to a nicer restaurant, or just want to look less like tourists. But if we want, we can unzip the back straps and use it as a backpack. It's also expandable. I'm sure other manufacturers have a similar item.

I found a convertible backpack (wheeled) at Penney's for less than $100. It isn't hugely spacious, but had a few zippered compartments on the outside which were useful for book, water bottle, etc. and it would fit in overhead. A lot of the travel and outdoors companies make big bucks selling their equipment at high prices. I always buy cheap luggage and end up giving the still-useful and functional piece to goodwill years (and miles) later. Check the local dept store before spending.

I used an Eagle Creek convertible on my last trip & really liked it. Never had to use it in backpack mode, but tried it out fully packed & it was a little uncomfortable. Not as comfy as my real camping backpack which I wouldn't expect. Used the detachable day pack for hiking the Cinque Terre.<BR><BR>For day trips I use a kind of backpack purse found at Magellans catelog. They come in 3 sizes, diff colors and materials from leather to microfiber. The small size fits my small camera, a bottle of water, guide book, sweater, and misc. items in a tight fit. They have outside pockets (but not zippered) for handy access to whatever. The medium size was just a bit more than I needed. They look pretty casual, but not as casual as a day pack. I think they are shown on the Magellans web site and I have also seen them for sale at travel stores.

Just in case you haven't already heard enough to confuse you...I usually travel with an MEI brand convertible carry-on size backpack, but on occasion I've used a carry-on sized rollaboard instead. I really think that which is better depends upon the kind of travelling you'll be doing. If you're only going to a couple of places, if you're travelling by car, or if you're the kind of person who takes taxis and stays in hotels with elevators, the rollaboard is convenient. But if, like me, you do a lot of getting on and off trains and public transport, would rather walk to a nearby station than take a cab, and will be staying in budget hotels with stairs instead of elevators, the backpack can actually be a lot easier. Also, my backpack weighs less than my rollaboard, so I find it easier to lift onto overhead racks on trains.

You might look at Ross or TJ Maxx for luggage. <BR><BR>For a day bag, I would recommend instead of anything on the back a satchel type bag or something you can wear in front with the strap across your body diagonally. It will be much more secure, you can rest your hands on it, and it's going to be more obvious to you if someone tries to get into it. <BR><BR>Eagle Creek's Wanderer bag is about 10x7x4 with a pad attached to the shoulder strap. My husband and I take turns carrying it; it is large enough for a thin sweater or jacket, camera, water bottle, book. I'm not sure if they still make it (darn them to heck) but I saw some recently at REI.