To me, the benefit is actually twofold: you can go anywhere with a backpack, including up and down stairs, and it forces you into minimalist packing, because you have to be able to carry it. It doesn’t matter what kind of ground you encounter, because the backpack is not meant to be on the ground, by design. I love the versatility of traveling with a backpack. This is what I found: The Benefits of a Backpack I figured that this was a diverse and varied sample size that would allow me to weigh the pros and cons.Īdditionally, I travel alone, so ain’t nobody carrying my stuff but me. Cool? Moving on… The Experiment:Īfter using a backpack for most of my trips from 2012 until present (and often doing so carry-on only), I decided to use a suitcase when traveling in the US, Germany, Japan, and southern Africa. This almost looks like a joyful backpack stock photo or something…īefore we dive in, I just want to rule out duffel bags, which are the least convenient because they have neither support nor straps for a back, and while we’re at it I’m ruling out rolling backpacks too because they bring the worst of both worlds – they are clunky and hard to carry on your back, and soft and squishy, removing the benefits of a suitcase.
So I decided to experiment with both, so that we can end this debate once and for all. I was left torn, confused, and bewildered, if you will.
I found that I could carve out a bit more space in a suitcase as well, and have a bit more confidence of things not getting squished. Suitcases made little sense to me, especially when traveling in developing countries that didn’t have sidewalks.īut then something odd happened, I got tired of carrying backpacks on my back, constantly hoisting them up and sweating underneath them. Now I used to be a backpack lover all the way. Dear friends, it’s time we talk about a hotly debated topic in the travel world – one that divides friend groups – between the stairs and the elevator, anyway: Which reigns supreme between the suitcase and the backpack?
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