Travelling long-term is an experience like no other. Whether you’re trekking through the mountains of Nepal, navigating the bustling streets of Bangkok, or inter railing through Europe, one thing is certain: your backpack is your absolute best friend. But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming choosing the right one. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back—literally! Here’s what you need ask yourself when choosing your backpack.
“Where Do I Plan to Go?”
Your destination(s) will heavily influence your choice of backpack. If you’re heading to tropical climates, you won’t be bringing the same weight of gear that you would travelling to colder climates, simply because layers can be bulky (and heavy). I could quite happily backpack around South East Asia for 6 months with a small 50 or even 40 litre backpack, but if I was to backpack through Europe in the winter months, I’d probably need a larger pack. An example is I’ve visited Arizona in May for 2 weeks with a 16 litre backpack. I then took that same backpack to Iceland for 5 days and struggled to fit everything in.
If you’re planning a multi climate trip, I’d say bigger bags are better, generally no bigger than 75/80 litres at most. If you’re planning to stick to just cold climates for 6-12 months, definitely a larger bag, again 75/80 litres should be plenty. If you’re planning to just visit hot climates (depending on your skill at not overpacking) I’d say 50/60 litres is perfect.
“Do I Need to Make Any Special Considerations When Packing?”
Think about what you’ll need to bring along. Do you take daily medication that you’ll need to stock up on several months worth of? Are you a photography enthusiast who needs space for gear? As a chronic illness sufferer, I require a fair amount of prescription medication. I’ll always carry my meds in my carry-on when flying, but just day to day moving around I like to store them in my main bag but with easy access. This means finding a backpack with good organizational pockets is key. The last thing you want is to be digging through your bag at customs because you can’t find your prescription!
Similarly, if you have lots of hiking gear or photography equipment, you need to find a solution that works for you. This quite possibly could mean going to Go Outdoors or any other outdoors shops with all your camera gear and fitting it in bags to find the right one. Tedious, yes. But it’ll be worth it because you know for sure it works for you.
“Am I a Chronic Overpacker?”
Be honest—are you the type who packs “just in case” items (welcome to the club, hope you like back pain and wrestling packing cubes)? If so, you might need a larger bag, but beware: bigger bags tend to get heavier and more cumbersome (hence the back pain!). If you’re prone to overpacking, consider a bag with compression straps to help you maximize space while keeping things manageable.
The downsize to having a bigger bag however, is you’ll feel the need to overfill it. It doesn’t ever look quite right when you take a half empty big bag but trust me, you’ll be buying plenty when you’re away so DON’T fill the space just to fill it.
“What’s Your Budget for Both the Bag AND Onward Travel?”
Your budget isn’t just about the backpack itself, but also your travel plans, which is something I think a lot of people don’t think about. If you’re flying frequently, consider the cost of checked luggage and whether your budget allows for that—or if you should stick to carry-on size. While a lot of airlines include one piece of checked in luggage for long haul flights, the smaller flights once you’re there charge extra (treat them like a Ryanair flight, everything can be a fee).
“How Long Do I Consider ‘Long-Term’ ?”
Long-term travel can mean different things to different people. Are you thinking a few months, a year, or even longer? For 3-5 month trips, a mid-sized 50/60 litre backpack will do the trick, but if you’re planning to be on the road for a year or more, you’ll need something that can handle the wear and tear. Remember this bag will contain all of your earthly possessions (minus what’s at home of course) so you need a bag that can handle that. They’ll also be thrown around and bashed about on every mode of transport so while a cheap quality backpack will withstand a while but you need high, decent quality for longer trips.
Choosing the right backpack for long-term travel isn’t just about picking the trendiest or most expensive one—it’s about finding the one that fits your needs and your journey. Consider where you’re going, what you need to bring, and how you travel. And most importantly, remember that your backpack is an extension of you on the road, so make sure it’s something you love!