I’ve come across this dilemma recently. What should I take on my travel? A suitcase or a backpack? What will be easier? What will be more convenient?
Note: Obviously, your decision may be affected by factors such as length of holiday, purpose, weight etc.
BACKPACKS
Pros
- Easy to move around. Whether it be up a flight of stairs or over cobblestones, backpacks are a breeze to maneouvre around.
- Hands free. Once it’s on your back, you still have your available to use as you please.
- Comfortable. If you invest in the right backpack, they can be really comfortable to move around.
Cons
- Health issues. If you have to lug a heavy backpack around on your back, chances are by the end of the day you’ll be wishing for a suitcase.
- Not easily accessible. If you want to grab that thing at the bottom of your backpack, you basically have to empty the entire contents of your bag!
- Second backpack. Usually I have a day backpack for all of my daily activities. But if I already have a large backpack on my backpack, the second backpack becomes an awkward front pack.
SUITCASES
Pros
- Easy on the back. As long as the road is level, a suitcase can be easy to lug around and it won’t turn you into a quasimodo.
- More sturdy. I could be wrong, but I feel like out of a suitcase and backpack being thrown around by airport staff, a suitcase will hold together longer.
- Accessible. You can easier get to all of your stuff without messing up the entire contents.
Cons
- You’re not a true traveller. Let’s face it… If you think of a backpacker, you don’t think of them pulling a suitcase.
- Unless its a level road, it’s hard to pull. Whether it be stairs, dirt, cobblestones, sand, a heavy suitcase can become very difficult.
- Broken wheel, is a wheely big problem. If your wheels break, you either need to invest in a new suitcase or carry your beloved broken one everywhere.
- Handsy. You have the suitcase permanently attached to your hands when on the move and you have to stop if you need to do anything involving hands.
After much thought, I decided to take a backpack with me as it’s easy to walk around and I’ve kept things to a bare minimum so the backpack won’t be too heavy (well here’s hoping!).