Well, I’ve always wanted to start a porter service that would hire out people to carry your bags. But without that, how are you going to carry your stuff? A backpack is usually MUCH preferable to a suitcase, esp when staying in hostels. A daypack is good, but need not be anything other than a shoulder-strap bag.

I’m assuming you’re asking about a backpack versus a suitcase? I wouldn’t take a suitcase travelling unless it were only an A-B journey. Think about every time you arrive in or depart a city—would you rather have everything on your back and be able to walk around, or would you like to be lugging around a suitcase? Times however many cities/places you’re visiting, you’ll grow to hate a suitcase. Whatever type of backpack you choose is up to you—just make sure to have enough space to bring stuff home.

And as for a daypack, you may want to bring it along to carry books you find, sandwiches, souvenirs, cameras, maps, etc.—as much as you’ll need.

hahah yeah i did mean backpack vs. suitcase

thanks

Get a hybrid backpack. It can be opened from the top or bottom.

quote:
Get a hybrid backpack. It can be opened from the top or bottom.

No question, take a backpack. A suitcase is a major pain when travelling between anywhere, by train, plane or whatever.

I’ve travelled Europe with both, and there’s no comparison.

You can get fitted at an outdoor/camping store and then buy off ebay or sierratradingpost.com (They have a bargain area.)
I think campmor.com has some good deals also.

Also check http://www.rei.com and http://www.reioutlet… Check the main REI site for sales; sometimes they have some good gear marked down. The outlet site can get you good deals, but it’s generally discontinued items they’re clearing out, and so you probably won’t find it locally to try on before buying.

There’s actually a really good pack on sale at REI right now. It’s got some great features such as panel loading, a detachable daypack, and a security cable sewn into the pack for locking it down:
http://tinyurl.com/l…

No. But you do need clothes and something to carry them in. The cheaper the better. It’s no different than going to see your Aunt Ida for a month in Bose!

I have the REI backpack that augustin provided the link to and it is fantastic! I just used it on my 7 week treck through Greece and the Middle East and it made it through surprisingly well. It zips open like a suitcase, so there is no digging around for your stuff. It’s straps also zip into the frame of the bag which is great for airplane travel.

Its worth the extra money to invest in a nice pack (and the REI packs come with a warranty)that fits well. On my first trip through Europe I brought an ill-fitting cheap backpack that was a bigger pain than a suitcase. So spend the extra money, you wont regret it!