Backpack

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Briggs and Riley makes one that opens the way you want. I love it. In Japan now with it,
https://www.briggs-riley.com/products/convertible-backpack-duffle-zxp127

Downside no place for water bottles

Osprey makes great bags too.

Thanks. Not for me but for one of my teens who is going to go backpacking for a month. Your suggestion looks nice but not really what I am looking for.

https://www.rei.com/product/207728/osprey-fairview-55-travel-pack-womens?irclickid=THuy7yz3txycRgQ21TzUwTCqUksWcAStL01X0U0&irgwc=1&cm_mmc=aff_IM-_-197432-_--_-

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at REI?

Yes but they only seemed to stock Osprey or REI’s own brand and most seemed more for camping than backpacking.

REI has a ton of backpacking packs.

[Anonymous]

I know this is going to sound like a weird suggestion, but this is the backpack I used most when I was a traveller in my 20s:
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126758?page=llbean-continental-weekender-pack-45-liter&bc=29-915-916-1098&feat=1098-GN3&csp=a&attrValue_0=558&gnrefine=1*CPCTY_RNG*Large%20(31%20to%2060%20Liters)&pos=1

It can be a daypack, it can hold gear for a month.

It's much more comfortable than the huge "backpacking" backpacks which are hot and heavy and pretty awful.

Unless you're trying to bring a sleeping bag everywhere you go, which shouldn't be necessary in hostels, those huge framed backpacks are overkill. Just a sheet sewn over and a pillow case to fill with clothes will do.

You can bring a little fold up backpack for around town like this:
https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/packable-backpack

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is going to sound like a weird suggestion, but this is the backpack I used most when I was a traveller in my 20s:
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126758?page=llbean-continental-weekender-pack-45-liter&bc=29-915-916-1098&feat=1098-GN3&csp=a&attrValue_0=558&gnrefine=1*CPCTY_RNG*Large%20(31%20to%2060%20Liters)&pos=1

It can be a daypack, it can hold gear for a month.

It's much more comfortable than the huge "backpacking" backpacks which are hot and heavy and pretty awful.

Unless you're trying to bring a sleeping bag everywhere you go, which shouldn't be necessary in hostels, those huge framed backpacks are overkill. Just a sheet sewn over and a pillow case to fill with clothes will do.

You can bring a little fold up backpack for around town like this:
https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/packable-backpack

This is great advice. Trains in Europe generally don't have great luggage space. Those huge double backpacks will be hard to stow as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is going to sound like a weird suggestion, but this is the backpack I used most when I was a traveller in my 20s:
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126758?page=llbean-continental-weekender-pack-45-liter&bc=29-915-916-1098&feat=1098-GN3&csp=a&attrValue_0=558&gnrefine=1*CPCTY_RNG*Large%20(31%20to%2060%20Liters)&pos=1

It can be a daypack, it can hold gear for a month.

It's much more comfortable than the huge "backpacking" backpacks which are hot and heavy and pretty awful.

Unless you're trying to bring a sleeping bag everywhere you go, which shouldn't be necessary in hostels, those huge framed backpacks are overkill. Just a sheet sewn over and a pillow case to fill with clothes will do.

You can bring a little fold up backpack for around town like this:
https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/packable-backpack

This is great advice. Trains in Europe generally don't have great luggage space. Those huge double backpacks will be hard to stow as well.

Agree that this is great advice. A traditional backpacking tent is designed to carry a tent , sleeping bag, lots of water and food. These are sometimes up to 65-75 liters in size- they are huge and probably overkill for OP. I think around a 40 liter pack will be more comfortable, not as heavy and easier to manage for your needs. If you still want a daypack, buy a lightweight drawstring bag that you can stuff in your bigger bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is going to sound like a weird suggestion, but this is the backpack I used most when I was a traveller in my 20s:
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126758?page=llbean-continental-weekender-pack-45-liter&bc=29-915-916-1098&feat=1098-GN3&csp=a&attrValue_0=558&gnrefine=1*CPCTY_RNG*Large%20(31%20to%2060%20Liters)&pos=1

It can be a daypack, it can hold gear for a month.

It's much more comfortable than the huge "backpacking" backpacks which are hot and heavy and pretty awful.

Unless you're trying to bring a sleeping bag everywhere you go, which shouldn't be necessary in hostels, those huge framed backpacks are overkill. Just a sheet sewn over and a pillow case to fill with clothes will do.

You can bring a little fold up backpack for around town like this:
https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/packable-backpack

This is great advice. Trains in Europe generally don't have great luggage space. Those huge double backpacks will be hard to stow as well.

Agree that this is great advice. A traditional backpacking tent is designed to carry a tent , sleeping bag, lots of water and food. These are sometimes up to 65-75 liters in size- they are huge and probably overkill for OP. I think around a 40 liter pack will be more comfortable, not as heavy and easier to manage for your needs. If you still want a daypack, buy a lightweight drawstring bag that you can stuff in your bigger bag.

*pack not tent

[Anonymous]

Don’t most students nowadays use a combo of train and flights to get around Europe (vs it was all trains back in 1991 when I studied abroad). Assuming so, I can’t imagine why you’d want a metal framed backpack for this kind of trip nowadays. In fact, wouldn’t a lightweight roller suitcase be best, with a small daily backpack tucked inside for use for daily walkarounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t most students nowadays use a combo of train and flights to get around Europe (vs it was all trains back in 1991 when I studied abroad). Assuming so, I can’t imagine why you’d want a metal framed backpack for this kind of trip nowadays. In fact, wouldn’t a lightweight roller suitcase be best, with a small daily backpack tucked inside for use for daily walkarounds.

They are also using buses. But, really it depends on what kind of traveling the person will be doing. If they are going to the far corners of Greece or even just staying in a lot of fourth floor walkups, I can see how a backpack might be better. The budget is the big question. If they will be walking from the bus station to the center of town or the train station to the hostel ten blocks away, a backpack may be easier. But it's a personal question. I can assure you that when I take my big trip across Europe in my 60s, I'll be using a rolling bag. I will also be taking lots and lots of taxis. But as a young person on a very tight budget, this would have made less sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t most students nowadays use a combo of train and flights to get around Europe (vs it was all trains back in 1991 when I studied abroad). Assuming so, I can’t imagine why you’d want a metal framed backpack for this kind of trip nowadays. In fact, wouldn’t a lightweight roller suitcase be best, with a small daily backpack tucked inside for use for daily walkarounds.

Getting through train stations in Europe is not always easy and there can be a lot of stairs with limited elevators. Not to mention walking to where you are staying. IMO getting around with a backpack is a LOT easier than a roller suitcase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t most students nowadays use a combo of train and flights to get around Europe (vs it was all trains back in 1991 when I studied abroad). Assuming so, I can’t imagine why you’d want a metal framed backpack for this kind of trip nowadays. In fact, wouldn’t a lightweight roller suitcase be best, with a small daily backpack tucked inside for use for daily walkarounds.

New poster here
My husband (55) and I (49) were in France last fall and stayed in a B&B where our room was up 3 flights of stairs. I was grateful we use backpacks instead of wheeled suitcases. Our hostess seemed impressed; she said most of her American guests struggle with large suitcases up her stairs.

I've also stayed in more remote locations in Africa and South/Central America where I need to carry my bag on non-paved routes (wooded trails, across desert sand, etc.) and it's much easier with a backpack.

We use Nargear carry on bags. I'm having trouble accessing their website right now, but I've recommended them on here many times before. It doesn't have the waist strap that OP is looking for, but it's made of a very durable material (like a firefighter suit) so I don't worry about it if my bag is strapped to the roof of a car through rough weather.

[Anonymous]

https://nargear.com/shop/firefighter/carryon-gen2-45l/

Here is the Nargear carry on. It also comes in larger sizes

[Anonymous]

I traveled last year with Walmart backpack. It worked great. 47L capacity was pretty big for me. I bought it for the price but ended up keeping it and using for more travel. They don’t have the same model anymore, but the updated one is 35+15L detachable daypack but it is top loading.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-2-in-1-Family-Pack-35-Liter-Hiking-Backpack-with-Detachable-15-Liter-Daypack-Red/713888505?sid=a43316f8-86a9-4e0f-b8a7-8991d7923f6a

[Anonymous]

https://www.rei.com/product/236946/cotopaxi-allpa-35-l-travel-pack

I've been using this one as my carry on for a year or 2 now. I can easily maneuver it into an overhead bin. I am used to using a smaller backpack for under the seat - so I take a tote bag I can pack and pull it in and out to use as a purse. I can easily get a week of clothes in there and there a laptop/iPad sleeve. The buttery fly design takes some getting used to, but I like the size in general. you can check then out in person at REI. I think EBags is still around and they may have a similar design.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations for places to buy a good quality backpacking for traveling around Europe? Recommendations for brands also appreciated. Something like this.

https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-gemini-aztec-75l-travel-backpack/114337.html?dwvar_114337_color=Black&dwvar_114337_clearance=no#start=5

Ideal features would be a detachable daypack, a all-round zip opening rather than toploading pack, padded adjustable straps plus hip and chest strap.

TIA!

Osprey and you need to check sizing.

Very important to check sizing not all backpacks fit on the trains and or small airlines

Pacsafe has some good ones as well and they lock which is super important

We only backpack too much of a pain either way stairs

[Anonymous]

My daughter has an Osprey with a detachable day pack. Pre-kids, I used a smaller REI pack for travel -- not a travel backpack, just a smaller pack meant for a weekend trip. Maybe 45 L or so.