I started off our adventure thinking about what to pack and confident that I was doing it right after reading tons of very very useful packing blogs and packings lists.

One of my first blogs posts was about what I packed for our long-term travel. You can read about it here.

But I’ll tell you; there are things I learned that I now carry with me anywhere I go.  I plan on sharing my lessons from packing for my long-term travel in 3 parts. One about your gear, one about your clothing, and one about resources. So welcome to Part 1 where I attempt to answer the question: Rolling Suitcase Versus Backpack?

For my first leg of my 8-month trip, which spanned for six months, I choose to bring a backpack. Why? Honestly, because everyone told me to.

Every blog I had read was all about the backpack and let’s be honest, the name for a long-term traveler is literally “backpacker” – although a backpacker comes in many forms and with many travel styles.

I also imagined a scenario where we were lugging two huge suitcases up and down stairs and being overcome with anger. So I thought a backpack made more sense.

My Backpack Story

First, when choosing our backpack, I did a lot of research. I relied a lot on seasoned travelers like Nomadic Matt who wrote this excellent article on it.  I decided that I wanted a backpack that I could lay down and open like a suitcase so I would not spend six months dumping my bag out every day to find undies. I also decided that packing cubes were the only way to go and I used Eagle Creek Packing cubes the entire time and it was a Godsend.

When deciding on a backpack, one of the most important considerations is fit it. You could theoretically order your bag online, but you will have to fit it yourself or get a friend to help. To avoid this and get the perfect fit we went to REI. It’s not the cheapest store but when you are buying your closet for the next six months spurring a bit is worth it. Your back will thank you later.

We both got the Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Pack at REI for a hefty price of 180.00 dollars. One of the reasons we choose this bag was because it came with a detachable daypack. I had seen pictures of backpackers walking around with a daypack in the front, and a massive backpack on their back and I did not want to be them. We also assumed that since we had backpacks, we’d be skipping the luggage carousel at the airport and not checking in our bags.

Well  ….let me tell you….

Me giving up all hope of keeping any of my goals to not look like a tourist.

*also disclaimer this bag is not technically approved for the overhead either.

Both of those ideas went to hell in a hand basket.

First, I stuffed my backpack which made it super difficult to carry, especially when attached with the daypack (If I could even connect it). It was also an extra 40 pounds on my back which did not seem worth it to me most of the time. We ended up checking our bags for every flight and letting that dream die (Backpack 0 Points/ Suitcase 0 Points). Being able to check our bags came in handy when we were in Amsterdam, and I took down my braids and bought some large bottled product to maintain my natural hair until I could get it braided again. So, always budget for checking your bag.

Also, my daypack was too small to accommodate my camera and my laptop. I carried around a Canon T6i Rebel with my 75mm to 300mm lens because there was just no room to bring another lens. It would have made sense to get a larger daypack that would have allowed me to bring additional lenses. Furthermore, if both the main bag and daypack are full, it’s nearly impossible to attach them.

All that being said, having a backpack was beneficial while running around Europe (Backpack 1 Point/ Suitcase 0 Points). Europe was where we took the most public transportation. In all other countries, we either had a car because of pre-arranged hotel pick-ups/ drop-offs and tours, or we hired a car. Plus the cost of hiring a car is so cheap in South East Asia, Africa, and Latin America that it was hard not to justify. So instead, with the exception of the time we were in Europe, the backpack felt more like an extra burden (Backpack 0 Points/ Suitcase 1 Point). I thought a lot about suitcases while traveling with just my backpack and decided I would immediately switch back to a suitcase for round 2 (Backpack 0 Points/ Suitcase 1 Point).

My Suitcase Story

Round 2 was significantly shorter. Instead of six months of travel, I spent three months on the road between India and Southern Africa. This time around I packed a suitcase. I choose my suitcase I’ve always had: a T-Tech by Tumi, that was a graduation gift from my cousin. I had no particular reason for why I choose this besides that it had been with me since 2008 and always served me well.  It’s just big enough to fit most of what I need without being too big where I risked packing too much for it to be constantly overweight.  It’s also expandable. However, there are a few things to consider when choosing a suitcase if you are starting from ground zero.

When deciding on a suitcase you should think of a few things:

1. Your style of travel. Flights, Roads, Cruises, combination?
2. Airplane size and weight limits. Avoid overtly large suitcases because the temptation to pack them to the brim will certainly lead to baggage overcharge fees or airplanes may deny them because they are too large.
3. Ease of use. Make sure your suitcase has some suspension and can roll in all directions.

I thought about the flights I was taking and since some of them would be in smaller planes in Africa with strict weight and measurement limits I made sure my suitcase was under them for all pre-booked flights. For example, my South African Express flights only allowed for baggage up to a maximum dimension of 158cm (62inches).  Make sure to check domestic flights to ensure you are not over the limit.  This is something you typically do not have to do with a backpack since it’s almost always underweight and under the limit for measurements. (Backpack 1 Point/ Suitcase 0 Points). If you are road tripping, you will want to make sure the suitcase fits in the car. If you are on a cruise, it’s really no big deal but know that they often pack suitcases (like flights) so wrap any breakable souvenirs tightly or carry them on with you.

I also liked my suitcase because I could bring my daypack and use the suitcase handle to hold it while at the airport or train station. My mother brought a suitcase and an additional roller carry on (something I 100% discourage) and she had quite a time carrying it everywhere. Not needing to carry my daypack on my back while lugging around a suitcase was a huge plus for me (Backpack 0 Points/ Suitcase 1 Point).

One of the pitfalls of suitcases is that they are easy to overpack (Backpack 1 Point/ Suitcase 0 Points). So to try and avoid it I packed everything I needed first into my packing cubes and then put them in my suitcase. This left room for bringing home souvenirs, which I was happy about since it’s impossible to leave India or Zambia or Zimbabwe without a ridiculous amount of items you probably do not need. But I was also happy to buy souvenirs with ease.

When traveling with a backpack I bought souvenirs and had to immediately ship them. But with a suitcase, I could take them with me depending on the size, and it did save us money (Backpack 0 Points/ Suitcase 1 Point). Plus, since I was mostly on tours and in countries with cheap transportation, lugging my suitcase back and forth was almost seamless. Even when I joined my mother and we had 3 cases of luggage between us. And even when my mother and I joined my husband and my two in-laws in South Africa and we had seven pieces of luggage between all of us. It was easy to just buy a cart at the airport and roll it.

I also made sure to bring my daypack because let’s face it, it’s a must. If you have a camera or like to take notes or want to bring a jacket, sunglasses, and a bottle of water with you, daypacks are the best way to go about it.

I also carried around a Kinley Crossbody Fossil purse which could fit my camera, sunglasses, medicine, and keys all without looking like it.  When I did not want to bring my daypack this purse did the trick. I used a carabiner to attach the zipper to the strap loop for extra security.

Overall, I think because of my style of travel, suitcases are still my preferred choice. The main advantage of backpacks is that they force you to bring less, they can be check-in, and it’s easy to carry when using public transportation, especially around Europe. However, if you can swing it, you can get a super travel-friendly carry on (instead of a suitcase which will make you pack less) and still come out ahead. Plus carry-ons now have cool features like phone charging stations. When I am traveling for less than two weeks, I always bring a carry on when it’s just me.

Let’s look at the points, shall we?

Suitcase: 4 Points

Backpack: 3 Points

So the verdict is: It depends but suitcases win out for me.

A 3-month backpacking trip through Europe demands a backpack. You typically don’t need to pack extra conservative clothes or wraps to accommodate cultural norms, and it’s way easier and cheaper to take public transportation from destination to destination instead of taking an expensive taxi or Uber.

But a three month trip in Africa, South East Asia, Latin America, or Asia (except Tokyo & China) can most definitely be made with a rolling suitcase, and it may be preferable. But you have to be careful not to overpack.

Something I learned from having a backpack for six months was that I need a lot less than I think I need. No matter how annoying the backpack felt at times I rarely required much extra then what I had packed (except for that time I had to buy a jacket in Mongolia and a little black dress in Austria). What I learned packing for my trip now allows me to pack a lot less. Often Christian and I will bring one suitcase between the two of us for trips three weeks or less and be perfectly comfortable. Or we will just take two seperate carry-ons for two-week trips. If I am traveling solo then it’s usually just my carry on and me.

While I feel the debate between Backpacks and Rolling Suitcases is settled for me; I do believe it is a personal choice and something the traveler must make.

I’m a suitcase girl, what about you?