Backpacking gear suggestions?

Samillus

Samillus

Joined
Nov 6, 2010
Messages
563
Hey everyone, I'm heading for Europe in January and will be backpacking for about a year. I'm looking for suggestions on what type a pack I should get. I need to be able to carry it on a plane. Loved to hear what everyone has to say. Your input would be much appreciated.
 
I love travelling with my Eberlestock half track. (no affiliation :) )
It's got by far the best organization features of a large backpack so you'll never have trouble finding your chargers, pill bottles, maps, etc.
It's relatively box-shaped so fits well in an overhead bin.
It's got tons of padding so you can wear it 12+ hours without discomfort.
It's got PALS webbing everywhere, EVERYWHERE, so it's highly adaptable. You could easily have a separate day bag that you keep attached via PALS.
You can remove the waist strap, again adding to versatility and ease of storage in an overhead bin.
It's rugged, you won't ever have to worry about something falling through a hole in the bag.
Also, every strap has a velcro tie-down which is helpful on the plane and in general.

Do you have any other requirements/preferences?
 
if you are checking your bag in, you probably want to look into an over-bag to keep the straps and buckles from getting destroyed by the conveyors. I'd think a non-military looking bag would be ideal, especially in eastern Europe. But to each his own. You might also want to look into pak-safe mesh, but that depends on where you are staying.
Another thought, having mesh bags or small zip pouches are a great way to organize things, and really speed clearing security. if they see something they want to look into, its an easy matter for them to unpack one at a time, while you can easily re-pack the stuff they've looked at. I've even had them just scan all the little bags, to find the thing they wanted to see (that was in Aus though) of course, I knew what they were looking at, so it was easy for me to find the straights and knives to show, instead of them having to dump everything.
 
The only requirements I have is that it must be able to fly with me on planes. I don't want to have to deal with checking in bags. The bag you described sounds along the lines of what I'm looking for. I'm also worried about water, I don't want my things getting wet.

Also, would this topic be better suited in the Outdoor Gear, Survival..... forum?
 
The pack you choose depends on what you want to put in it and how you plan to carry it. Overall size, wheels etc.

1 year is a long time to live out of a carry on size bag. It is doable I guess as long as someone else is supplying the towels and bedsheets. I have done max 1 month. In a trip that long you will have to deal with changing weather as well. You will also have to be careful with the dimensions. Carry on size and weight limits are different with each company.

I have had my eye on the osprey atmos 35 lately. The osprey porter 46 looks intering too. You might consider a 50 liter pack too like the osprey atmos 50 since you could overpack it when necessary.
 
Honestly man I would go with a nice piece of carry on rolling luggage. I did the whole backpacking thing in 2010 all throughout Europe, and there is no need for a backpack - all the streets are paved.

I found that shlepping this 40lb backpack was a pain in the ass, made me look like a ridiculous turtle tourist, and ensured that all of my clothes were wrinkled at all times. It's much easier to casually meet people/ girls when walking with a rolling bag then a huge backpack.

Think this guy:
107212.jpg


Vs. This guy
Shannon_Davis_gfullerton.jpg


--> Both are carrying about the same amount of clothes.

Especially when you consider the size and weight limits imposed on carry on bags in Europe, rolling luggage really kills it.

I've now been back to Europe twice since then, and all I roll with is rolling luggage. Properly folded you can carry 3 pairs of pants, 4 button down shirts, 7 pairs of t-shirt, socks, underwear, plus 2 pairs of shoes and a toiletries kit. All without having to physically carry it.

I've been using the earlier (non expanding) version of this bag for 7 years now - wish I had brought it with me in 2010. It's very rugged, fits perfectly overhead, and is made by Victorinox so you know it's knife friendly ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Mobilizer-Expandable-Carry-On-Size/dp/B003Z62ISS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ_WafW8Ddw
 
If you actually plan on having it with you all day every day the wheeled thing is not really viable. Disclosure: I travel with wheeled carry-on luggage most of the time, but that is with the assumption that I am going from point A to point B and then leaving the bag at point B while I explore unencumbered. For one year of actual travel this might not be an option.

The 40 lbs thing you can forget right off the bat. The lowest limits on european airlines are 8 kg afaik. So you should be aiming to get below that. There is a blog you might find interesting if you want to go really light weight. The dude went around the world with no luggage.
http://www.rtwblog.com/
 
mark greenman said:
Honestly man I would go with a nice piece of carry on rolling luggage. I did the whole backpacking thing in 2010 all throughout Europe, and there is no need for a backpack - all the streets are paved.

I found that shlepping this 40lb backpack was a pain in the ass, made me look like a ridiculous turtle tourist, and ensured that all of my clothes were wrinkled at all times. It's much easier to casually meet people/ girls when walking with a rolling bag then a huge backpack.

Think this guy:
107212.jpg


Vs. This guy
Shannon_Davis_gfullerton.jpg


--> Both are carrying about the same amount of clothes.

Especially when you consider the size and weight limits imposed on carry on bags in Europe, rolling luggage really kills it.

I've now been back to Europe twice since then, and all I roll with is rolling luggage. Properly folded you can carry 3 pairs of pants, 4 button down shirts, 7 pairs of t-shirt, socks, underwear, plus 2 pairs of shoes and a toiletries kit. All without having to physically carry it.

I've been using the earlier (non expanding) version of this bag for 7 years now - wish I had brought it with me in 2010. It's very rugged, fits perfectly overhead, and is made by Victorinox so you know it's knife friendly ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Mobilizer-Expandable-Carry-On-Size/dp/B003Z62ISS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ_WafW8Ddw
Click to expand...

I lol'd. Your statements are true, I have a pet peeve when i travel and that is when every piece of clothes is wrinkled up to be damned. I use back packs for camping/hiking/long weekend adventures/hunting, for travel, I much prefer a good rectangular rolling suitcase. Provided the OP will not be camping in the wilderness ala Survivorman, suitcase. You should have a smaller pack to take with you throughout the towns and villages while the main bag is safely locked in a Hostel, but a backpack . Naw man.
 
That's the thing though... can you guarantee that every hostel along the way will have adequate lockable storage facilities? You might have to take the bag with you during the day and in that case I prefer a sub 8kg pack to trying to dodge the piles of dog business on parisian sidewalks with a roller. I would not overpack for such a journey since managing a large pile if stuff detracts from the experience imho.In any case remember to not bring more valuables than you can carry on your person at all times, that way you can decide to take the risk with the socks and underpants and leave them at the hostel even if security is not the best.
 
It seems to be as If theres a lot "to backpack or not or not to backpack.." going on here and nothing about the "gear" suggestions that was asked for.

Im dead serious about the SAK my man. If you're gunna be raoming around for a year, you're going to need some tools and some nail clippers too. A non locking blade to keep you out of trouble.

Consider a Vic. Handyman?

I wouldn't feel comfortable traveling without a good USB battery powered charger for all my devices.

You know, the kind that's a large battery you charge up at your hotel and then you can charge your electronics off of it
 
I'm 100% going with a backpack. Rolling a suitcase for a year sounds very unappealing. I'll be hopping on planes here and there so I'm not sure how the blade thing will play out exactly. Any more pack suggestions?
 
Samillus said:
I'm 100% going with a backpack. Rolling a suitcase for a year sounds very unappealing. I'll be hopping on planes here and there so I'm not sure how the blade thing will play out exactly. Any more pack suggestions?
Click to expand...
Bladeless mulititool
 
The main things to consider in a backpack is that it fits into the legal carry on size, that it is not unnecessarily heavy, and that it is comfortable to carry for the long haul. That doesn't rule out much, anything up to about 40 litres should work. Larger packs without rigid frames that aren't overpacked could work.

Do you want a top loader or a front loader? That might narrow it down a bit more. Top loaders are usually made for hiking, they are lighter and more comfortable but also much more awkward to pack and unpack.

Osprey, deuter, the north face and any number of other outdoor gear makers have something that fits the bill. Go to a shop try on as many packs as you can with 10kg's of weight inside and buy the one that is most comfortable. You probably already have something suitable in the cabinet. ;)

Another concrete option. Osprey farpoint 40.
 
Last edited:
This is a very tricky question. Are you always going to take it onto the plane with you? I ask because if you may need to check it, then definitely look for one that has locking zippers. Many backpacking rigs dont have this option and all those pockets can be easily accessed by thieves and or drug people.

My suggestion is this: check out North Face, who have excellent luggage although they do tend to divide it between wheeled bags and regular backpacks. Two very different entities. Depending on the trip, my preference is to have a North Face duffel, which I check, and I recently acquired a GoRuck GR1 for going on the plane with the laptop and other items I want with me. The NF duffel does come with backpack straps but its not designed to be carried too far like that.

If you want ONE bag that WILL go on the plane I would suggest checking out the GR2, which is bigger (40 liters) but still complies with TSA requirements for check-on luggage. It does not have locking zippers (paracord pulls) although you may be able to get around with certain types of cable locks (can't hurt to be extra secure). But the design is great for planes/travel because it is a single compartment, clamshell design, with internal organisation - and has an internal frame sheet! They also don't have tons of straps and other crap to get in the way, although they do offer some MOLLE webbing if you want to add a pouch or two. They are also built to take serious abuse. Be prepared for some sticker shock though... ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top