luggage help needed - Best lightweight travel backpack?
 

Hi,
I am after a 65 or 75 ltr. lightweight backpack, preferably with wheels. I had a BLACK WOLF backpack for many years. Nice and light, but no wheels. I like the narrow tall look of DEUTER and HIGH SIERRA, but I am not sure any of them have wheels? Any suggestions?
Cheers.

Groan, WHY do you think such a pack would be a good idea schatzi?

It's hard to know even where to start with this. The pack is too big and too heavy. Weight is the number one enemy of a traveller and particularly a traveller who will carry their 'stuff' on their back.

Anything that adds weight is to be avoided. That incudes wheels and the frame necessary to support/attach them. To use the word 'lightweight' in the same sentence as 'wheeled pack' is an oxymoron.

How do you plan to travel? Will you carry the pack on your back often? Do you have any particular item that is big that requires such a large pack?

It may be that you have some justification for wanting such a pack. I'd be interested in hearing what it is in that case. Replying blindly to a question about 'which' backpack without knowing why you think you need such a large pack or whether it makes sense, is not something I would willingly do.

Hi Improviser,
We often travel to Europe with very limited luggage, as we use trains and buses. BUT on the last day we SHOP big time! Which means adding another 40 or 50 pounds to two pieces of luggage. My husband loves his light suitcase with wheels. I prefer to use a backpack, that at the end, once it becomes too heavy to carry can be wheeled around airports etc. Now you know WHY i posted this question. Cheers

OK, so you aren't really carrying the pack on your back for any amount of time at all. If your husband manages with a wheeled suitcase, that pretty much indicates HOW you travel.

Now it makes sense. A wheeled pack from any of the many well known reputable companies should do. Since you will sometimes carry it on your back though it makes some sense to try them on before buying if you can.

You do not say what your home country is which would determine which places to suggest you visit to try some. As you mention Black Wolf I would guess you are Australian. I'm not familiar with what shops would carry a decent selection in Australia.

Deuter is a good brand and do have a 60L and 80L Helion wheeled pack. Osprey is another possibility and offer a 60L and 80L Sojourner model. Black Wolf have a 60+20L Ridgerunner model.

Really, given your kind of travel I don't think it will matter much what you buy as long as it isn't a truly poor quality piece of junk.

If you look around online you should easily be able to determine which brand names have backpacks with wheels. Also nice online because they usually list the weight of the piece empty.

The Osprey wheeled pack mentioned above is called the Sojourn. Main issue is it weighs almost 8lbs. I would not consider it lightweight.

That's why I would never buy a wheeled backpack, worst of both worlds.

Thanks guys for all your replies. I like Deuter and Osprey and might get one of them.If it wasn't for the damn good shopping a big light backpack, like High Sierra or North face without wheels would do. Decisions. Decisions.

Schatzie, I for one can understand why you would do some power shopping. Better shoes in Milan than the Sunshine Coast, for example.

We buy stuff when we travel. Maybe not so many shoes, but glassware from Venice, some clothing, the odd work of art. Last trip, I took a small duffle type bag that could be stuffed empty into a case, and then filled it for the trip home.

Something to consider – take and use a small backpack for when you are travelling, and buy a cheap wheeled bag towards the end for purchases. It can be cheap, because it’s maybe only got to last for a single flight or two. We’ve done that in the past, buying a cheap bag for about 40 bucks.

If you click on a poster’s name on the forum, it takes you their profile.

Which might explain a lot about a particular poster.

Ciao Peter_S_Aus!I saw you are near Venice right now.Nice.
If you are near Lake Garda check out Limone! Our fave place in Northern Italy.
It isn't only shoes and yummy chocolates.. LOL, but my Hubby brings all this German Schnapps back to OZ. 6 bottles on the last trip.
Great advise about the luggage. Thanks!
Did the "poster click". OMG. That explains a lot.
Aren't there any guidelines on this forum? A particular poster would have long been kicked off TRIPADVISOR.

Schatz, updated the profile. In Melbourne right now, not venice.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...over-again.cfm

might be interesting.

When buying luggage, I generally start with www.ebags.com . From there, I will google around for a better price.

There is a long-established tradition of hauling stuff home when travelling – and maybe the stuff needs to be packed somehow. A few examples:
Ming vases from the Summer Palace
The Elgin marbles
The four horses on the Basilica in San Marco
Both columns on the Molo in Venice
And I’m happy to be a prole.

Rastaguytoday, Your link www.ebags.com is fannnntastic. There are so many choices and even bigger backpacks with wheels, that are still light for their size!Thank you very much!

Hi schatienoosa
I have been using a 26in High Sierra wheeled bag with backpack attached I bought from Strandbags at DFO Brisbane Airport in 2009.Wore out the wheels from a tour in Greece but they were guaranteed for 5 years so replaced free-no worry.I would buy this brand again. Last year I managed to buy too much(for husband) so I bought a small wheeled carry-on in Santorini.Fit very nicely in the overhead locker, after repacking lighter items, and I managed to wheel both smaller bags no problem.
I love visiting the leather shop at Cotton Tree .

Thanks travelnut265. 5 year warranty sounds good. I need to check out that leather shop next time I am down in Maroochy. Cheers!

You might also check out Eagle Creek's Switchback 26. No Matter What warranty will fix or replace your bag as long as you own it.

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/switchback-26/d/1284

hi,
please have a look at this model from Samsonite:

WANDER 3-WHEELED LAPTOP BACKPACK, will it be suitable for you.