Am I too small for a backpack??

Danniboo

Bit of an unusual one, but planning to go travelling soon and need advice on a dilemma I have. Basically i'm only 5ft and a lot of people told me i'd be crippled with a backpack. Is this true? Surely they cater for all shapes and sizes? Thoughts of hauling a suitcase around sounds dreadful.

SolitaireX

That's nonsense, you just need to get a backpack that suits your frame and then just don't overload it.

Danniboo

SolitaireX wrote: »

That's nonsense, you just need to get a backpack that suits your frame and then just don't overload it.

Thanks for that, is it likely to cause damage to your back. I know that's a pretty broad question, surely they're designed to distribute evenly then like you say don't put bricks in it. Thought it was a bit of a silly statement myself.

SolitaireX

I'd always advise getting one that you clip at the front (Think it's called a H frame), The only ways a backpack is going to do damage to your back is if it is overloaded or you are not careful putting it on/taking it off (think manual handling, bend the knees all that, if you have someone to help getting it on/off all the better but not a concrete requirement)

miamee

I'm 5ft 3 and went travelling a few years ago with a backpack, no problems. Obviously if I was tired it felt like a tonne weight but for the most part it was absolutely fine. try them all on, get one with adjustable straps and that closes in the front/round your waist too as SolitaireX has advised. The bigger it is, the more stuff you are likely to put in it so go as small as you can.

Ask in a shop for advice on what will suit you anyway, they are the experts

Danniboo

miamee wrote: »

I'm 5ft 3 and went travelling a few years ago with a backpack, no problems. Obviously if I was tired it felt like a tonne weight but for the most part it was absolutely fine. try them all on, get one with adjustable straps and that closes in the front/round your waist too as SolitaireX has advised. The bigger it is, the more stuff you are likely to put in it so go as small as you can.

Ask in a shop for advice on what will suit you anyway, they are the experts

Super, thanks for the advice. Think it will probably be the overloading that will be an issue for me, just have to think light

silvo

I am 4' 11" (ok 4' 10 and a bit) and I travelled all around South America, OZ and NZ with a normal backpack. When you are trying it on just make sure that the straps adjust enough for you but I never had any problems with mine. Happy Travels!

Danniboo

silvo wrote: »

I am 4' 11" (ok 4' 10 and a bit) and I travelled all around South America, OZ and NZ with a normal backpack. When you are trying it on just make sure that the straps adjust enough for you but I never had any problems with mine. Happy Travels!

Thanks, what size did you get?

jamo2oo9

Just an advice for packing, put the heavy stuff at the top of your rucksack as it is resting on your shoulders rather than the bottom where it'll pull your back backwards.

Gatica

Danniboo wrote: »

a lot of people told me i'd be crippled with a backpack.

What a load of nonsense. Any size person, 4ft or 6ft, is fine with an appropriately sized backpack and likewise could be crippled with an unsuitably sized backpack.

We got airflow backpacks for travelling, which had adjustable hooks and lacing-straps for the shoulder straps. Mine had settings for XS, S, and M. Some have only M and L.
Something like this:


Just find one that's the right size for you. Try it on and make sure it fits comfortably. Don't carry more than you can handle and you should be fine.
My mum's just over 5 ft and she used to regularly go hiking with a 20kg backpack. She managed fine. As SolitaireX said, make sure you put it on and take it off in the right way so as not to strain your back.

Danniboo

Thanks guys, is a proper outdoorsy shop defo the way to go then? Seen some online, but don't want to end up with something that won't last.

Gatica

Definitely try finding somewhere where you can try one on. Then see if you can find same cheaper online.
Also, what I did was go back to the shop and tell them I could get it 20 Euro cheaper on Amazon and they gave me a discount. Prefer to support local shop if I can, but am not paying way over the odds.

Stinicker

Buy a suitcase with wheels, backpacks like that are such a cliche. Once you have a suitcase you will get much more respect in your host country and at airline checkin desks.

Gatica

While I generally agree that fancy suitcase rather than ripped rucksack might mean you have more money, sometimes it just isn't practical. Suitcases are also easier to pack/unpack and access, but it really depends on where you are travelling.
If you're heading to a Euripean city, e.g. to Paris for a week, then I wouldn't find a backpack all that practical.
However, depending on the type of holiday you want in SE Asia, a backpack might be more practical. The week before we were in Sapa in Vietnam they had landslides and those getting the bus had to carry their luggage across the landslide to get the bus on the other side. Now which luggage would've been more convenient to carry? :rolleyes:

Danniboo

I'm going to Thailand for 10 days and will be doing a bit of Island hopping. Then i'm going to Sydney, probably have to stay in hostels for a bit. While a suitcase does sound more glamorous, is it really practical.

FouxDaFaFa

See if you can try it with some weights in it in the shop to make sure it's right for you.

Zebra3

Danniboo wrote: »

I'm going to Thailand for 10 days and will be doing a bit of Island hopping. Then i'm going to Sydney, probably have to stay in hostels for a bit. While a suitcase does sound more glamorous, is it really practical.

Obviously minimise what you bring, avoid heavier clothes like jeans.

Bring a small amount of biodegradable washing liquid for handwashing clothes as you go and if you're gonna be camping bring a little clothes line with you for tying between tents to dry your clothes.

Will help keep the weight in your backpack down.

Jelly2

If you go to a shop with knowledgeable staff and a good range of packs you will definitely get the right bag for you. I got a new one recently, and tried on about ten packs with the advice of a member of staff, who added weight to them, spent time watching me walk and jump and made numerous adjustments to straps etc. I had never had such attention when buying packs previously and I couldn't believe the difference it made. Well worth the time!