Suitcase Vs Backpack

Last Updated: Jan. 05, 2009

Tags: all countries, luggage, what to pack

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1. To Explorer1120111 re: vietnam and thailand… Ive not done a contiki tour of these countries, so im not sure of what things you’ll be doing, but i suggest you have a backpack. I took a suitcase when i went, and its very difficult to lift a 20kg case above your head when your waist deep in water getting in and out of long boats (once you get there you’ll understand what i mean):). These countries are not very developed and i found it difficult to wheel a case through under-developed streets, carrying up stairwells, and throwing them ontop of tuk tuks and such. Not to mention trying not to get in the way of cars, scooters, and bikes. lol. I was the only one on my tour with a case, and id realy wished id has a backpack, merley just to keep up the pace with the rest of the group. Cases are convenient for ease of packing, but i think for these places, a backpack is the way to go! I hope you have an awesome time, karlz :)

   Karlz* posted 5 days ago Flag as Inappropriate

2. Im planning on going on the Thailand/Vietnam tour for 14 possibly 28 days. Would it be better to take a backpack?

   Explorer1120111 posted 7 days ago Flag as Inappropriate

3. I did the 32 day camper! Wicked trip, thanks Mark, Pheobe and Mel for a great tour! Itravelled with a backpack while my tent buddy travelled with a suitcase. I found that it doesn’t make much difference whether you travel with one or the other. The room in the tent wouldn’t have changed if we both had a backpack or a suitcase. I must say it was easier to carry a pack thru the mud in Vienna than it was dragging a suitcast thru it.

   kiwicampinggirl posted on Nov. 28, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

4. I did a Time Out tour and the suitcase worked fine as we stayed in hotels with lifts and only carried our luggage to and from the bus. However, as I travelled independently after the tour and stayed in hostels where there are no lifts and would walk to them from train stations, I would have loved the convenience of a backpack. I’m using a backpack from now on.

   Emzies posted on Nov. 15, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

5. I used a back pack for my tour, and I was the one laughing all the way to the 13th hotel floor when the elevator broke down, by the time all the others with suitcases got to their rooms I was relaxed with a cold beer and ready to hit the town that night!
   Was really annoying having to unpack and repack every time that i needed something from the bottom of my pack, though. You can get packs where the entire front unzips – much like a suitcase. I recommend them.

   Spam posted on Nov. 15, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

6. i went on the 21 day london to athens tour and took a backpack and have to say it was one of the best decisions i ever made. while other people struggled to get suitcases up and down stairs and through gravel i found it easy.
   i recommend one that opens on the front to pack easily and has dividers inside to make it more organised to pack.
   biggest tip is make sure you get a backpack that fits you. being a girl and not very big i got a smaller bag in which i could only pack a weight i can handle, also womens design ones are great!
   i have found backpacks are also a lot lighter than suitcases so takes up less of ur baggage allowance on flights :)

   Explorer1115902 posted on Nov. 01, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

7. Nice backpack appropriate for vacation and tour

   jolinarodriguez posted on Oct. 20, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

8. I started my European adventure with a backpack. Two weeks into my trip, I bought a duffel-style bag on wheels in London for 15GBP. The backpack gave me a sore back and was just far too fiddly for packing/unpacking. And I couldn’t fit enough stuff into it.
   It was a bit inconvenient to have to carry the bag up stairs when there was no elevator, but if you can’t carry your own bag, perhaps you have too much stuff in it!
   I kept the zip-off day pack off my big pack, and posted the pack home from Austria (the post office was a great adventure too!).

   Explorer1097999 posted on Sep. 28, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

9. In 2004 I bought an Eagle Creek backpack on clearance at the REI outlet online. I paid just around 70 USD and it has definitely been one of the best travel investments I have made. I have a bad back as a result of a bad accident, so the sternum strap and the hip belt not only helped disperse the weight evenly, but it forced me to maintain proper posture as well. I originally bought it for a 30 day tour around the UK and France, but now use it in place of a suitcase every time I travel. I also bought two packing cubes which kept my clothes and souvenirs safe and organized. As far as lifting it onto my back I just pay attention to proper body mechanics and have no problems. Make sure any backpack you buy is the right size for you, I took mine to an REI store when I received it and they adjusted it to my height.

   MammChicago29 posted on Sep. 12, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

10. Hi. i have decided to take a backpack for two reasons.
    One: I dont have a decent sized suitcase so my friend lent me her backpack. Two: In the past I have hated dragging my cases across a snowy/wet road and up the stairs of hostels. I think it may come down to personal preferance as well but I can see why a suitcase is practical in the sense that it protects breakables. Plus the backpack has a detachable smaller bag I can carry round during the day or use as a overnight bag if I want.

    JessKat posted on Sep. 05, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

11. i am currently travelling and i have a backpack on wheels with daysack. All i can say is it is a nightmare! i have to bend down to wheel it and it flips constantly whilst wheeling it! Its too heavy to carry long distances and to get it up stairs you carry it like a suitcase anyway rather than unzip the straps. I say a suitcase is fine!

    kat2808 posted on Sep. 02, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

12. i just went on european panorama (month long tour) in june/july. i think all but one or two people had suitcases. one had a bag you carry on your back and one had a duffel. if you plan on buying souvenires i would consider a suitcase to protect the fragile ones. i cant say for the snow/sludge since i was there in summer, but i can say that typically you dont have to walk all that far from the coach to the hotel entrance (im not sure of budget/camping tours), so i dont think it would be that hard to get a suitcase around. you might consider going to the meeting place for your tour and seeing what your tourmates will be bringing.

    melaniet posted on Aug. 19, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

13. I’m taking the European Discovery (winter) in October and I was thinking of taking a suitcase for all my luggage but perhaps a backpack to carry for the day. i.e drink bottle, jumpers and any souviners. Do this sound reasonable?

    Sam posted on Aug. 14, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

14. Hey.
    In December, my sister and I are going on the European Vista tour and I have a hard shell suitcase which I was planing on taking, but today some one was telling me that I shouldn’t take a suitcase, but take a backpack. I think that it would be way too heavy and disorganising//unorganising..¿ to take a back pack, and after reading all those comments and the stuff contiki wrote, I think I will be sticking with my suitcase, even though that hybrid thing sounds good, I like the thought of my hard shell suitcase protecting all of my goods. A comment also mentioned the snow and sludge in Europe which I didnt think about. I hope it wont be too hard pulling my suitcase through that aswell.
    What sort of day bag would people recomend? Like a small or medium sized back pack?

    funky_gal112 posted on Aug. 01, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

15. After reading all these comments, I will definately be taking a suitcase. (And we don’t have the High Sierra range in South Africa.)

    Franita posted on Jul. 28, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

16. You’ll be fine….you wouldn’t want to get any bigger than this though. Size restrictions exist because if 50 people brought huge pieces of luggage with them, the luggage simple would not fit in the luggage hold of the coach.

    mattyvcontiki posted on Jul. 01, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

17. We have just received our “contiki pack” for the European Highlights tour and it says you bag has to be no bigger then 73cm x 50cms x 25cm. Our hard cases are 76cms x 60cms x 30cms. including the handle. Can anyone tell me if this size rule is strictly adhered to or if our cases will be ok as they are only slightly over?

    Explorer1105221 posted on Jul. 01, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

18. I also bought the same high sierra duffel bag which has wheels. i used this with the wheels the majority of the time and the few times that we were in hotels with stairs and no lifts i used the straps that are hidden behind the zip down panel on the back. I found this bag useful for keeping the different kid of clothes separate so they were easier to find

    Tracie posted on Jun. 25, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

19. Hi,

    I’ve just bought a High Sierra backpack with wheels and a handle so if it gets a bit too heavy I can just pull it along. The measurments are 91cm(W) x 41cm(H) x 36cm(D.

    I hope this is OK. The size smaller than this was tiny.

    Courtney Budd posted on Jun. 16, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

20. My first time I went to Europe with just my friend, we did the backpacking thing. Never again. For my male friend it was okay but I had a difficult time carrying around the weight even up the stairs. Second time I went the suitcase route and never regretted it. I just dragged it up the stairs. That was much preferable to the backpack :D

    Explorer1099891 posted on May. 14, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

21. I went on the wild west tour last year, i had a small backpack with wheels but i wish i’d used a my medium suitcase. Its good to travel light as you always packing and unpacking put a medium suitcase would have been fine,

    claire2007 posted on May. 13, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

22. I brought a suitcase and my travel buddy brought a backpack. For the most part, the suitcase was much easier. It really depends on your preference on getting up stairs. You are in a different hotel every other day and you will usually end up taking the stairs to your room unless you, a) get lucky and have a first floor room, or b) want to take turns using the elevator with the other 35 folks on your bus.

    The suitcase is much better for getting to and from the bus/hotel. The backpack is easier for getting up the stairs, unless you have especially strong biceps. And if you don’t, no worries, you will by the end of the trip.

    If I was able to go again, I would take a suitcase again.

    jennymac posted on May. 13, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

23. Hi emma-lol
    im an 18 year old guy from australia going on the greek island hopping tour in june. how is it? got ne tips? also would it b better to take a backpack or suitcase?
    thanks

    macca posted on Apr. 24, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

24. I would go a suitcase with wheels any day of the week!As a small petite female there is no way I could lug a large backpack around a country for a month!Trust me when you get to the airport after spending 13 hours + on a flight wheels are you’re best friend!

    Princessvixen posted on Apr. 12, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

25. hi everyone, i went on the greek island hopping last year it changed everything for me. my tour manager was amazing (nick). im off to australia in september to meet some of the girls i met in greece, cant wait. love emma g

    emma-lol posted on Mar. 17, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

26. Well… I got a backpack on my Europe tour. It was great to carry around, althought it is hard to organize all your stuff in it and it can really hurt your back depending of how long is going to be your walk. I would get a suitcase next time.

    Gregui posted on Mar. 11, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

27. If you do use a backpack, make sure you have a good inconspicuous lock and keep it locked always. My brother had a lock but 2 weeks into the trip he got annoyed with it and stoped locking it, walking down a street in Rome a kid unziped it and had it almost empty before my brother felt anything at all. Also keep it infront of you on crowded trains cause I was told theives can cut your straps and dissapeared with all your stuff before you can even turn around!

    Asher posted on Jan. 24, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

28. I’ve got a Rick Steves backpack that can be carried (like a suitcase) or on your back. It was perfect for my Contiki tour!

    marla posted on Jan. 18, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

29. Personally I’d recommend taking a suitcase over a backpack. I purchased a new, standard-size, expandable suitcase two years ago. It fits all flight requirements (which was an issue for flying inside Egypt), is easy to wheel around, pack and unpack. I pack it lightly at the beginning of trips and have the ability to expand as I go…although I still end up buying a second bag at the end of my trips…what’s with that? I chose the brightest, most obnoxious exterior I could find so I could easily identify it. I’ve taken that luggage to 14 countries since I bought it and it’s never been late or lost…which is more than I can say for myself. What can I say…they were great Contiki trips!

    Marlo posted on Jan. 13, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

30. im going to australia doing the aussie explorer tour, does anyone know if a back pack or suitcase is best?

    Explorer1085746 posted on Jan. 12, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

31. I have to agree with getting a High Sierra backpack/suitcase. I was fortunate to get one for free but I haven’t put it to good use yet. It has tons of pockets for easy storage of miscellaneous things.

    Twiisters posted on Jan. 05, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

32. Hard shelled suitcase? Absolutely no problem, they’re fav luggage but it’s personal choice/opinion….the only reason no metal frames are not allowed is that the metal frame may damage other peoples luggage when it’s in the luggage hold of the bus…I think metal framed backpacks went out circa 1987 though…

    mattyvcontiki posted on Dec. 24, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

33. Was wondering if hard shelled suitcases are allowed on concept tours, as I noticed backpacks with rigid external frames are not?? Also, what exactly are the regulations on a backpack, can it be partially rigid??

    Explorer1083384 posted on Dec. 22, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

34. i brought a high sierra backpack,but i should have bought a hard shelled suitcase with wheels.its a lot easier,trust me.i just got back from the winter wanderer tour,and a big backpack sucked carrying around.get the suitcase.

    r.i.traveler posted on Nov. 27, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

35. I took a backpack on a European winter hotel tour. It was really useful to walk up the stairs to my room with it rather than wait 30min in the lobby for the tiny hotel lifts to ferry suitcases up and down all the time. It was also good to carry my luggage from bus to hotel – suitcase owners had to wheel theirs through snow and slush crossing the roads. My backpack was also fabulous for the cabins on the Scandi/Russia tour. Cabins are often up hills or along paths of stone/dirt/mud, making life difficult for suitcase owners to drag their stuff to their cabins …

    snaveks posted on Nov. 17, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

36. I bought a high sierra duffel bag, it cost me $120 and has wheels, it also has a zip down pannel on the back and you can pull out the back pack straps, so i cant complain. the straps are super compfy! I also have a high sierra laptop back pack, its awesome has like a 10 pockets both big and small, also has a small compartment for an ipod/or walkman and a hole for the cords to come out, i got it brand new off ebay for $27… also very comfortable and loads of room!

    Aussie_Jacqui posted on Nov. 15, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate