As someone who has spent over 2.5 years on the road, I know what I need in a good suitcase or backpack. There’s nothing worse than buying a suitcase or backpack and finding out half way around the world that it doesn’t meet your needs and it’s holding you back. Some people are suitcase travellers and others prefer to travel by backpack – whatever works best for you. I personally take one of each and that works well for me. If you’re looking to buy a new suitcase or backpack for long term travel, check out In Luggage and these tips on choosing the perfect travel bag:
Tips for Picking a Good Long Term Backpack
Let’s face it, when you buy a backpack you’re probably going to set aside a decent amount of cash to do so, so why not pick something that’s going to last you a few trips or a few years? Here are the things I personally make sure my backpacks have:
- Excellent, Padded Straps
If you’ve ever loaded your backpack up to the max, you’ve probably noticed what a difference properly fastening the straps can make. I prefer backpacks with two straps: one that goes around the waist and the other, a smaller strap, across the chest. I also like my backpacks to have firm padding on the back of the pack so that I am comfortable when it’s heavy.
- Easy Access Area
There’s nothing worse than having to remove ALL of your clothes in order to find something at the bottom of your backpack. I have a backpack that zips all around for exactly this purpose – it means I can open the bag easily and remove whatever I need to use without pulling everything else out.
- Lockable Features
You will want a backpack that you can lock, especially if you’re traveling by public transport such as trains, buses and planes. It will give you an extra level of security and you’ll know instantly if your bag has been tampered with. My backpack has a lockable zip which attaches to a special part of the bag making it ultra secure.
Tips for Picking a Good Suitcase
I recently bought a small suitcase for my work stuff while I travel and spent quite a long time checking what features were important to me and practical. Here are my tips for picking a good suitcase to travel with:
- Make Sure it Balances When Full
I decided to read reviews of specific suitcases I was interested in to make sure they stood up when full. Many suitcases have a habit of falling over when they’re full, which means you constantly have to babysit them while in transit – annoying. You can look to buy a suitcase with two legs and a stand underneath, but I prefer suitcases with four wheels so make sure it is well balanced.
- Look Into Four Wheeled Suitcases
Suitcases with four wheels can be pulled along a variety of different ways and make it easier to fit in narrow areas, which is particularly important for cabin-sized suitcases.
- Check for Compartments
I personally required my cabin sized suitcase to have a sleeve area for my laptop, so that I can easily transport it around with me without carrying it on my back.
- Durable Wheels
If your wheels stop working on your suitcase, you’ll effectively have a box, which isn’t much help if you’re traveling the world. As such, it’s really important that you invest in a suitcase with decent wheels and good sized wheels, too.
Is there anything you find essential when you’re buying a suitcase or backpack? Leave it in the comments below.
