My philosophy is, if you buy a smaller pack, you will be forced to take less stuff, which trust me is a good thing beacuse eveyone overpacks. Eagle Creek makes great dependable packs. I just bought one myself, and it seems fantastic. Hope this helps

My concern is that it might be too small for 6 weeks in Europe. Any thoughts?

I like to pack lighter and bring some laudry detergent tablets and clotheslines with me, and do laundry in the sink of the hostels I stay at. Ita much much much cheaper than going to a laundromat. As to your new question, I have seen people take smaller packs for longer trips. I have also seen people take larger packs for much shorter trips. Just use yopuor best judgement, and if you end up having to leave something behind at home, you can always buy it in Europe. Good Luck!

If you can’t fit 6 weeks worth of stuff into the Continental Journey, then you’re packing too much. Way too much.

Eagle Creek packs are expensive but very good quality. Their suspension isn’t really built for hiking or trekking but for European travel they’re quite practical.

By the way, the CJ is ok for carryon requirements on most major airlines and international flights, but may be too big/heavy for some of the budget European airlines like Ryanair or Easyjet. Check requirements carefully.

Laundry in the sink is very impractical unless you’re staying in a hostel for several days, because stuff takes forever to dry. Laundromats just cost a couple of euros. Well worth it for clean clothes every 5-7 days.

I guess it matters what kind of clothes you bring. I brought really light clothes on my last trip. No jeans. I could do my laundry at night usually, and it would be dry by morning. I agree it can be impractical if you have heavier more absorbant clothing. But its better than paying 15 euros and an afternoon at an overcrowded smoky laundromat when you find you don’t have clean clothes.

to add to this, the one time I went to a laundromat I made the mistake of going to one in a major city in a touristy location. So I definetly overpaid. But unless you can find a 24 hour one, you will be spending prime sight seeing time doing it.

15 euros and an afternoon? Sheesh! I kept finding all these places that cost 6-8 euros (even less in southern Europe) to drop off laundry and get it back at the end of the day all done and folded and everything. Of course, it has a price – I lost a t-shirt at the laundry in Rome – but I didn’t like the shirt all that much anyway and it gave me room in my pack to buy a new one in Germany.

It was a lesson learned indeed. Since then, I have been too jaded to go to a self serving laundromat, and have not taken the opportunity to go to one that does laundry for you. What can I say, live and learn…..

Thanks alot for the help.
Specifically, does anyone know about the weight restriction on British Airways carry ons? The site is pretty vague but does mention something like a 13lb. weight limit. Do they weight it there? Is this a reasonable weight for a backpackpacking trip?

Think size not weight. They’re more likely to make you check the bag if it obviously looks to big. As far as 13lbs I have no idea but that sounds way to low.

There’s no question that bag’s big enough for 6 weeks, but for your first time no matter how light you think your going, your gonna overpack. Its just the way it is. I have two packs but my favorite is a north face terra 40. Its more vertical so it sits better on my back and its alot cheaper than that CJ. Its a little bit smaller, though I’ve never had trouble with it as a carry on.

Several European carriers do actually weigh your carry-on.

carry on if at all possible
6 week trip = clothes for 4 days and washing each night in the shower

British Airways has very low carry-on allowances for weight and yes, they do weigh the bags. I had to hastily repack breakable souvenirs into my checked luggage at Heathrow and cross my fingers hoping they’d make it in one piece. You might get lucky and get an agent who doesn’t care or doesn’t check, but I suggest taking them seriously.

The intra-Europe budget airlines like Ryanair or Easyjet are even stricter on size and weight than the major carriers. If you’re going to use any of them for short-hop flights, check the limits in advance, or be prepared to check your bags.