Before you go on any backpacking trip, by definition, you will need a backpack. Those who travel with suitcases, wheels or not, are tourists. They either presume someone carrying their stuff for them, or rarely veer off paved roads. But that’s not you – you carry your load on your shoulders, or, as it should be carried, on your back. Don’t worry, it is actually less of a hassle than any suitcase if you have the right gear.
When I first started traveling, I bought a huge trekking top-loading backpack. It was not the smartest idea. First, it was too big – it was designed for a tent and a sleeping bag or two. Secondly, it was a major pain in the ass getting anything from its bottom. Fortunately, there are plenty of bags to choose from that open with a zip across its perimeter, giving you unrestricted access to all your stuff. You have to be sure, however, that the zipper is of top quality and would not unzip spontaneously while your backpack is on top of a chicken bus in Guatemala going up a bumpy mountainous road. And always lock your backpack whenever you are on the road with it.
Backpacks are characterized by their volume in litres. I reckon 55-65 litres is plenty of a backpack volume for most trips 3 weeks or longer. I’ve seen people travel with smaller packs – especially women – and I have always envied their ability to fit everything they need in a pack that’s 45-50 litres large. I think my first backpack was something like 100L, and it was enormous. Sometimes, I couldn’t find things in it for days, especially if they were stuck at the bottom. It was just too big – sometimes, I couldn’t even fill it completely, particularly on trips to the tropics. The problem with that is that a backpack that’s half-full is sort of shapeless and will be squashed and squeezed in baggage compartments as you travel, together with all your stuff inside. I then switched to a 65L Deuter zipper-opening pack and have never looked back. Mine has been discontinued since then, but you can find a similar Deuter pack on Amazon. Another good mid-range brand with a good selection of travelling backpacks is North Face. Some backpacks have a rain cover attached, which is a good feature although it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker as the regular fabric should withstand a moderate rain exposure quite easily.
It goes without saying that you must choose a backpack that is ergonomic and comfortable specifically for you. Make sure its lumbar straps are strong, hug your belly and the plastic fasteners are not too flimsy. If in doubt, get advice from salespeople at your local outdoors store, such as REI – they seem to have written a book about the right-fitting pack. There are countless brands out there, and a whole lot of prices for similarly-looking packs. But not all backpacks were made the same, so choose the best combination of size, comfort, price and quality for you. The basic rule of thumb when buying sports goods is: you can have 2 out of 3 desirable qualities – cheap, light and strong – in almost any product, but never all three. This rule applies to backpacks, too. One recommendation I can give you is try to find a slimmer but taller backpack. Not only that would be more comfortable for your back on those long walks searching for hotels, but it would be easier to fit it in narrow spaces, such as under beds or on top shelves in buses and trains.
With the exception of some cheaper models, your main backpack should have a shoe compartment. Technically, it is usually designed to carry a sleeping bag, but you can use it for your shoes and/or to separate dirty clothes from the clean ones. Also, this way you wouldn’t have to tie your dirty shoes outside your backpack bothering everyone around you, the considerate backpacker that you are.
Speaking of separation, it is a good idea to have plenty of plastic bags inside your backpack with you on any trip so that you can keep different types of clothes packed separately. Why? Because if you need a fresh pair of underwear, you are not rummaging through the entire backpack looking for one. You simply reach into your underwear plastic bag. Simple. There are special packing vacuum bags available for sale, but I’m not really sold on their usefulness. They are often not really vacuum and after a bit of use will seep even more air in, thus becoming essentially expensive plastic bags. And why pay for those if you can still get free plastic bags in most countries, including the ones you will be travelling to.
For your big backpack, it is essential to get a lock. Remember, this is not only the piece of luggage you will not see while it travels away from you on tops of buses or luggage compartments, but you would often leave in hotel receptions while you are walking around, either waiting for your room or your departure after checkout. Don’t worry about the lock being bulletproof – it is not designed to physically protect your belongings but rather send would-be thieves to another item that might not be locked. I recommend combination locks, preferably with 4 digits as there are simply more combinations, as I would never guarantee I would not lose a tiny key no matter where I keep it. And make sure that no matter what lock you choose, it is TSA-approved so that airport agents don’t have to break it or cut through your bags when they inspect them. There is a special diamond-like symbol on the TSA-approved locks.
Some backpackers also carry chains or wire cables similar to bicycle locks to secure their bags to something stationary. I personally don’t, but that’s mostly because I know I would often neglect doing it.
In one of the next posts, we will talk more about your other carrying items, such as a daypack.
P.S. Dear reader: as you see, there are a couple of Amazon affiliate links in this post. If you do click on it and even if you do not buy the product mentioned, be a pal and use the opened window should you need to buy anything else on Amazon. It won’t cost you a penny extra, but will help me maintain this blog and provide more incentives to write posts like this 🙂