After the success of the Top 10 Travel Essentials for your Gap Year Backpack I thought a more in depth guide to backpacks was needed. Selecting a backpack to travel around the world can be one of the most important decisions you make. You might be living out of the backpack for a year on you’re, you guessed it, gap year, so it’s vital that you get it right.
So let me help you choose a backpack…
Size
Yes boys and girls, it does matter. It all really does depend on you. Some people are flashpackers and must take 6 pairs of shoes in which case you might want a bigger backpack. Some people purposely take a smaller backpack to limit how much they are carrying around with them in case they get tempted to shop. General rule of thumb would be anything around the 60 litre mark. I know some guys who travel light with 50 and some girls who travel with 70. Anything more and you are in danger of falling over and any less and you won’t have room for anything.
Day Pack
These days a lot of backpacks come with a 10-20 litre detachable day bag. Pretty good idea for when you need a small bag for treks or excursions. You might have your own ideas on a day bag and therefore won’t need one.
Wheels
I am personally against wheels. I think it is part of the backpacking experience to lug around my 22kg backpack. (I have no idea how it got so heavy. When I left Heathrow it was 14kg). Let’s be serious though. Wheels are a good idea in principle. Sure they take a load off but they also can add an extra 2 or 3kg of weight to your backpack. If you are taking cheap internal flights, Air Asia for example, you will be eating into your weight limit and risk having to pay extra.
Design
The most important design feature of the backpack is how it opens. From my own research they are commonly called travel packs as opposed to rucksacks. What this means is that the zip opens all the way round like a suitcase. Under no circumstances purchase a top loader. Not only will it be the bane of your life but I will personally come and find you, roll up a newspaper, hit you on the nose with it and say “told you so”.
Fit
I hate to get all Harry Potter on you but you don’t pick the backpack. The backpack picks you. Make sure that you are getting the correct sexed bag. Female backpacks tend to suit, well females. If you are a tall female it might be worth looking at a male backpack as it might be a better fit. Go in to your local outdoor store and try the backpacks on. You’ll just feel which one is right for you.
If in doubt just ask the sales assistant who looks like he doesn’t want to be there…
The Top 10 Backpacks
I am a strong believer in the Berghaus Jalan. I’ve been using it for two years now and it is my home away from home… that I carry on my back like a snail. I digress. It’s a great backpack and I see a lot of people with it. It might not be for you so below is my Top 10 Backpacks.
5. Vango Pumori
8. Vango Sherpa
10. Caribee Dakar
Thanks for the tips!
I’m trying to figure out which one of these would be for me..
Which Jalan do you have? Do you have the 60+15? Is it big enough? I think I would prefer a bit bigger, but then it’s the 70+15 with weels, or the Luxe 70+20, plus they are both a bit more expensive..
Hi Chuck,
I have:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/BERGHAUS-Jalan-Black-Thunder-Litres/dp/B002NQA4RS?&camp=2486&linkCode=wey&tag=gapyeaesc-21&creative=20370
It currently holds 22kg. Most carriers only allow 23kg so the size is just perfect.
I would recommend it. Has served me well the last 6 months!
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Cheers for the tips.
Do you know if the Gelert Discovery Rucksack has a padded lumbar support & waist belt? The above link only has one photo of the bag from the front and I can’t make out if it does or not?
Cheers
A good list of things to look out for. my only other advice is that once you’ve found what you think will be the best bag for you, use it for long walks or a weekend away, fully loaded. It’s better to find out you’ve made a mistake before you leave so you can flog it on ebay and try again than spend a year with something that just doesn’t work for you.
attempting to pack enough things into a hiking backpack to last me for a month in Africa?