Packs made for town, trails, and slopes. Adventure with style in new colors and patterns for Spring. Snow backpacks built for big days in the backcountry and resort days with friends. After a big day on the water, drop the tailgate and get busy relaxing. THE ICONIC SPLIT ROLLER BAG With divided sections to organize gear and keep the stinky stuff from the fresh stuff.Update: I’ve owned the Caribee Fast Track Wheeled Backpack for over a year now and I still love it. I test out a lot of backpacks and suitcases and this is still my favourite. I can’t recommend it enough for long journeys, backpacking or any trip where you need a large case! For my last few trips I’ve been using the Caribee Fast Track Wheeled Backpack 75L. I’ve been looking for a wheeled backpack for a while now to give me the flexibility of wheeling or carrying my luggage. If you’re going backpacking, this is a massive bonus. The pack also has a detachable daypack which is perfect for your hand luggage or a separate compartment for dirty shoes or maybe things you want to access quickly.

When I first went backpacking through Asia and Australia I had a traditional backpack and I hated it. It was difficult for me to carry and, in two whole years, there were less than 20 times when I actually needed to carry it. The only time I really needed to carry my backpack was when I was staying in a beach hut which would have meant dragging my bag across the sand. Getting on and off boats would have been awkward too. Everywhere else it’s fine to wheel it! Even if you plan to ‘get off the beaten track’ there’s still going to be a fairly smooth track for your wheels. I travel a lot but I actually very rarely need a backpack. I’m fairly small so I find it difficult to carry a heavy backpack and would much rather wheel a suitcase. Having said that, there are times when I sometimes need the ease of carrying it. Plus, let’s be honest, you don’t feel like a proper backpacker unless you have a backpack. When you’re in a queue of backpackers and you see one girl with an enormous suitcase, everyone judges her!

With this bag you feel like a backpacker but without the effort of actually carrying a backpack. I opted for the Caribee Fast Track Wheeled Backpack due to the size, toughness and detachable daypack. There’s also a smaller 45 Litre Caribee Fast Track Duffle which I’d definitely consider if you’re going on a shorter trip or you’re really good at packing light. Here’s the official video review.ziggy zinnia backpack TIP: I previously had a top loader backpack and hated it because everything would sink to the bottom and it was impossible to find anything without emptying the entire bag.isoki backpack review TIP: You can check the whole bag in with the small backpack attached. 7lab backpack

I’ve done this with multiple airlines and it’s fine. Since raving about this bag I have a queue of friends waiting to use it in between my own trips. It’s already been to Sri Lanka, Thailand and Croatia without me. I don’t think that suitcase endorsements come better than that! Massive thanks to Travel Outdoors for providing me with the case to try. All thoughts, opinions and suitcase obsessions are, as always, my own. wilson blx backpack reviewThe bag is currently priced at £149.99, discounted from £189.99.oyama backpack I really do think this is a great bag for adventurous travel and wish I’d had it when I travelled around Asia because it makes travelling so much easier.kezi backpackLeft: my friend’s 70+10L backpack. dabbawalla backpack review

Right: my 45L backpack. People are often surprised when they see the backpack that I have been travelling with for over a year. A question I often get is “where is your main bag?” as they think it must be my daypack. That’s because my backpack is about half the size of what many people travel with. It’s great to travel light. In fact, ask any experienced traveller what they would have done differently in the beginning and invariably they tell you they wished they had packed less. If you are new to backpacking or long-term travel, your instinct might be to pack a lot of things ‘just in case’… but more often than not, these are not things you really need. While it’s possible to pack less by being very discipined, I personally find it much easier to start by using a smaller bag. Gone is the temptation of just dumping everything in; instead, you are forced to prioritize. I travel with a 45L Lifeventure Dakar backpack. The brand is not important (as there are many different brands of high-quality travel gear) but what matters is the size.

Some backpackers travel with heavy 70, 80 or even 90 litre backpacks: these are so big they stick out above their heads. This type of bag became iconic as it’s what mountaineers and wilderness hikers use, and it’s what you see in all the ads by popular brands of outdoors equipment. But unless you plan to go camping (in which case you need some room for a tent and sleeping bag), you really won’t need that big a bag for regular travel. If you have the choice, I recommend getting a bag with a capacity of around 40 litres. This can fit everything that the average person might need on the road. There are many reasons why you should try to pack small and pack light:Picture the scene: you are walking around a new place in sweltering heat with no sense of direction looking for a hostel. Or: you are running to the bus station to catch the last ride out of town. Do you want 30 kilos on your back? It’s at these times that you will love the increased mobility and comfort of a smaller bag.

Harder to lose things. Bringing heaps of things with you? Chances are you will lose stuff more easily. By having a compact bag, it’s much easier to manage your essential belongings. Easier to get stuff out. Is that thing you need buried all the way at the bottom of your 80L bag? Have fun taking everything else out to get to it! A smaller bag usually means your items are more readily accessible. Easier to keep secure.  A smaller bag is easier to keep in locker, easier to keep tucked under your seat in a bus or train, and easier to chain to something or cover with a security mesh. A big bag is heavy even without anything in it. A large camping/hiking bag with a strong harness can already weigh up to 3 or 4 kilograms just by itself. You won’t buy stuff you don’t need. A smaller bag reduces the temptation of buying too many souvenirs, clothes or other items that aren’t necessary. If you really want to buy something that won’t fit, you can always pack it up and mail it home.

While packing light might take some time and effort during your trip preparation, it will keep paying dividends throughout your journey. Are you going to travel long-term? Travelling longer does not mean needing more things. If anything, it means you should pack less. For you, the comfort of a light bag will be far more important in the long run than for someone travelling for just two weeks (who perhaps won’t tire quite as quickly from hauling some big luggage around). I should say that besides a 45L main bag I also carry a 20L daypack. I could fit everything in the 45L, but I like having the versatility of an additional small bag. As a travel blogger I also carry more electronics than most backpackers (camera, laptop, etc.) and I feel these are a little more secure when they are in my daypack that’s always close to me during transit while the main bag might be stowed away. Another advantage is that when I go trekking, I can leave the bulk of my stuff in the main bag in a locker at the hostel, and use the daypack for my camera, snacks, and so on during the hike.