Backpacks; Rucksacks and/or Suitcase queries

Daisies · 03-04-2014 8:49pm

Duff wrote: »

That's what I was thinking, not sure on how much clothes to bring, I usually pack way too much even when I'm going for a weekend away..:rolleyes:

When my 55l is full it was pretty heavy. Buy a smaller bag and even if you fill it, it won't be too bad. I would also try them on as it's hard to judge from looking online how comfortable it will be.

corkleo · 09-04-2014 9:38pm

I use a 70+10l for interrailing. I keep in it a lot of stuff so to wash it rarely. If you wash your clothes more often you could go with a smaller one, and this would be better.
Also note that, if the bag is good quality, once you have it on your back correctly in place and with the correct setting you won't feel too much weight. I bought mine for 140 euros, if it helps knowing, and am very happy with it.

bluemagpie · 11-04-2014 4:16pm

I'd recommend a smaller bag, I used 40l expandable by 10l for a year and it was grand. You can pick up anything you need around the place but you are just not going to need that much, you can wash stuff as you go. I had trekking boots, cold and hot weather gear in the bag too. Definitely buy a decent brand, loads of them out there deuter, osprey, berghaus etc are all grand, have a look at the sizes in the shops but 70l is a lot of gear, and very heavy!

Gatica · 11-04-2014 4:31pm

corkleo wrote: »

I use a 70+10l for interrailing. I keep in it a lot of stuff so to wash it rarely. If you wash your clothes more often you could go with a smaller one, and this would be better.
Also note that, if the bag is good quality, once you have it on your back correctly in place and with the correct setting you won't feel too much weight. I bought mine for 140 euros, if it helps knowing, and am very happy with it.

It's grand if you have a trolley handy for wheeling around big bags or maybe if you're just doing a couple of transfers. I can't imagine it being comfortable if you wanna be quick and light on your feet. We were able to jump into a cab with our bags without having to put them into the boot and it was really handy in dodgy looking places where one might worry about the driver going off with your luggage in the trunk. It was also great when we had to walk around to find our accommodation. In SE Asia easy to get on a tuk tuk with a small bag than large cases too.

purplecow1977 · 11-04-2014 5:27pm

Check out the Berghaus one I bought above.
It's 43L + 8L if needed so really 52L. That's well enough. I'm only small so don't want a big heavy yoke!
70L is WAAAAY too big

alwayssideways · 24-06-2014 12:43pm

Just wondering if anyone has ever used Aldi backpacks for travelling? I'm planning on doing a 6 month trip in SE Asia early next year and I just spotted this in the special buys in Aldi this Thursday.

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thursday-26th-june/products-detail-page/ps/p/trekking-backpack/

Would it be foolish to cheap out on a backpack? Potential bargain alert though if the quality is decent.

DavyD_83 · 24-06-2014 12:58pm

A tried & tested Bargain in my book!

I used to do a lot of camping, hiking etc with scouts at various different levels.
I still have a rucksack I got in Aldi a few years back (must be ~10 yrs now :eek:) that has seen me through a fair few adventures.

It is comfortable to carry, doesn't sweat the back off me, and has stayed fully intact, zips and all.

All depends on your level of expectations I suppose.
You're not buying North Face product, or paying NF prices; so you can't expect the same quality, finish and small features, but it should definitely do the job

Best advice would be to go into a couple of outdoor shops (Rambler's way; Trespass; Great Outdoors etc) check out varying priced bags, try them on, figure out what you like and want.
Then go to Aldi and see how their bag lines up.
From my experience the Aldi rucksacks will probably be as good as the rucksacks up for around €80 in the shops.
example: http://trespass.ie/accessories/bags/trek-66-66-litre-rucksack.html

If you want a top of the range rucksack, there is no cheap alternative.
Mid-range, Aldi is your man!

PerrinV2 · 17-03-2015 4:50pm

Looking for a recommendation for backpack too guys.
Gonna be travelling around europe for a few weeks so looking to get one.
Browsing through the argos website I imagine something like this would be far too big
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9152021/Trail/searchtext%3EBACKPACK.htm

Judging by the comments here.

Also would anyone be able to hazard a guess to the size of this?
Litres wise.thanks

purplecow1977 · 20-03-2015 10:15pm

Looks big enough. I'd guess about 65L.

I got a Berghaus Verden 45L last year. Paid about €80 delivered. Well worth it. Such a comfortable backpack.

biohaiid · 26-04-2015 12:43am

Hi,

I'm heading interrailing with 2 friends in June for 10 days, and am unsure what backpack to bring.
We have some old hiking/camping backpacks in the house, but they seem excessively big for 10 days, and much too long to be allowed in Ryanair cabins.
So, I've been searching online and have been finding the whole thing quite confusing.
What size should I be going for? 30l? 50l?
Bear in mind I would like to fit it in the Ryanair cabins, don't really fancy checking it in.
I also think I'm able to pack fairly light.
Does anybody know of where I could get a fairly good quality one (don't care how ugly, just needs to be comfy) fairly cheap, i.e less than €50?
I've found some online, but again, the size confuses me.
Recommendations of reasonable brands would be great too.

Thanks!

purplecow1977 · 27-04-2015 6:35pm

Remember if you're checking bag in your toiletries will be limited. I'm a woman and went for 3 weeks so it was different! Ten days is nothing.. Leave the 50l at home! I had a 45L one for my trip.

Humour Me · 27-04-2015 9:44pm

I had a 38l backpack for my last 2 interrail trips which was perfect. Easy to carry on and off of buses and trains and big enough to bring everything while not overpacking.

I got my bag in the great outdoors, they were brilliant. they put weight in different bags for me to try on so I could check the fit - since I'm a girl, the shoulder straps on some bags were too wide so the bag sat on the wrong part of my shoulder if that makes sense. I would definitely recommend trying a few bags for fit, you could always try and get the bag cheaper online.

I think my bag was €95 but backpacking is one of my favourite ways to travel so it was an investment for me.

Todd Gack · 27-04-2015 10:10pm

biohaiid wrote: »

Hi,

I'm heading interrailing with 2 friends in June for 10 days, and am unsure what backpack to bring.
We have some old hiking/camping backpacks in the house, but they seem excessively big for 10 days, and much too long to be allowed in Ryanair cabins.
So, I've been searching online and have been finding the whole thing quite confusing.
What size should I be going for? 30l? 50l?
Bear in mind I would like to fit it in the Ryanair cabins, don't really fancy checking it in.
I also think I'm able to pack fairly light.
Does anybody know of where I could get a fairly good quality one (don't care how ugly, just needs to be comfy) fairly cheap, i.e less than €50?
I've found some online, but again, the size confuses me.
Recommendations of reasonable brands would be great too.

Thanks!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cabin-Max-Backpack-Approved-55x40x20/dp/B002Q5APX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404123255&sr=8-1&keywords=cabin+max+backpack

A similar branded bag (e.g. Lowe Alpine, North Face), which would be higher quality, is €80+

crushproof · 28-04-2015 3:46pm

Berghaus keep having sales on Amazon at the moment. I got a 40L rucksack down from £70 to £28, great buy. Solid quality too, I expect it will last me years and years. Don't go buying a cheap brand, the stitching isn't great and the back supports can be fairly insufficient. As HumourMe suggested, you should check shops for sizing etc.
40L is definitely the max I would go though, previously had a 35L and it suited perfectly for trekking around Europe. You'd be mad to have a giant 70L in the middle of a sweaty European summer!
The less clothes the better, you can easily wash them anywhere!

purplecow1977 · 28-04-2015 7:11pm

crushproof wrote: »

Berghaus keep having sales on Amazon at the moment. I got a 40L rucksack down from £70 to £28, great buy. Solid quality too, I expect it will last me years and years. Don't go buying a cheap brand, the stitching isn't great and the back supports can be fairly insufficient. As HumourMe suggested, you should check shops for sizing etc.
40L is definitely the max I would go though, previously had a 35L and it suited perfectly for trekking around Europe. You'd be mad to have a giant 70L in the middle of a sweaty European summer!
The less clothes the better, you can easily wash them anywhere!

Oh my god that is excelletn value.
Thought I was doing well with my Berghaus one for €60 delivered I think it was, maybe more. (€120 on the Berghaus website!)

killbillvol2 · 28-04-2015 8:04pm

Todd Gack wrote: »

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cabin-Max-Backpack-Approved-55x40x20/dp/B002Q5APX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404123255&sr=8-1&keywords=cabin+max+backpack

A similar branded bag (e.g. Lowe Alpine, North Face), which would be higher quality, is €80+

That's a great bag for the money. I've been using one for about three years now with no signs of wear and tear. It carries enough for me for 8 week trips but I do travel light.

crushproof · 30-04-2015 12:29pm

For a medium sized bag, this Berghaus Freeflow II 30L is on Amazon at the moment, reduced from £77 to £27.
I have the next size up, only problem with mine is I can't take it as carry on luggage. They are superbly built bags with excellent support.
Perhaps you can with the 30L version...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-Freeflow-II-30-Backpack/dp/B00IG71SKU
81uqb420kWL._SL1500_.jpg

Jackobyte · 05-08-2015 12:41am

Hi,

I'm going interrailling for 3 weeks and I am looking to check in a bag with Ryanair. I picked up a backpack from the local hiking store, a vango nanga 60L bag. I was just wondering if anyone would know what weight such a backpack would be for checking in? I've a choice between 15kg or 20kg baggage allowance and I was unsure which would be more appropriate. I have no idea how to visualise the size of such a weight. Have never travelled in such a manner before so this is all new to me.

Thanks.

05-08-2015 12:49am

Jackobyte wrote: »

Hi,

I'm going interrailling for 3 weeks and I am looking to check in a bag with Ryanair. I picked up a backpack from the local hiking store, a vango nanga 60L bag. I was just wondering if anyone would know what weight such a backpack would be for checking in? I've a choice between 15kg or 20kg baggage allowance and I was unsure which would be more appropriate. I have no idea how to visualise the size of such a weight. Have never travelled in such a manner before so this is all new to me.

Thanks.

You would have to pack it and weigh it to find out. Stand on the bathroom scales with it packed on you, then weigh yourself without it and subtract the difference. You will know which option to purchase. Ryanair could be strict on weight sometimes.

Atlantic Dawn · 05-08-2015 12:52am

You can buy cheap travel scales with hooks on them in Dunnes Stores and sometimes in Lidl/Aldi. If you live near the airport you could go in to the desks before and weigh them, plenty of empty desks.

05-08-2015 1:05am

Jackobyte wrote: »

Hi,

I have no idea how to visualise the size of such a weight. Have never travelled in such a manner before so this is all new to me.

Thanks.

I don't think that one can visualise a weight - depends on the density sort of! as others have recommended, pack your bag and weigh it. if you got a 40 or 45l bag you could get away as carry on - have done so myself before.

think that it's this one that I have -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highlander-Rambler-44-Rucksack-Cobalt/dp/B00284AJC0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1438734319&sr=8-6&keywords=highlander+rucksack

if you plan well no need to carry more with you really - wear the heaviest stuff on you in the plane.

Narsil · 05-08-2015 3:16pm

I had a 60L for 3.5 weeks in South America and at it's heaviest it was 14.8kgs, and that was jammed full!

Civilian_Target · 14-08-2015 1:04am

Nice bag. You could carry the kitchen sink in that.
Unless you clip a stuff to the outside (and I recommend that you don't, for inter-railing, you'll only need to half fill it), you will come in at less than 15kg. When I went hiking across Costa Rica with the same size bag this year, it was 9kg.

If you pack it lightly, you can even pass it as hand-luggage!

sheepman · 03-11-2015 10:39pm

Hi there. As someone who's travelled a bit and knows the difference the right backpack can make, I've done a lot of research for my next big trip and decided to purchase the Osprey Farpoint 55. However, I'm having some trouble deciding on a smaller backpack for shorter trips (2-4 days). I currently have a 35L hiking backpack from Trespass but it feels a bit big. I'd like something a bit smaller (maybe 30L) that opens like suitcase. Any suggestions?

sheepman · 03-11-2015 10:42pm

Actually, the suitcase-style opening is not essential.

Ronin1980 · 21-12-2015 7:49pm

I'm looking for a backpack suitcase with wheels, similar to the suitcases that are made with hard plastic. Anything around 40 L is good.

Louche Lad · 21-12-2015 10:47pm

If you do find a good one, let us know - I'll want one myself at some point (but Ryanair-sized 55x40x20 which is 44 L).

Ronin1980 · 22-12-2015 12:01am

I'll keep looking but every one I've found is over €100, some even up to €400

Eponymous · 22-12-2015 10:13am

If you could go with a soft case with hard sides, I can recommend this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-Optimus-Wheeled-Travel-Bag/dp/B007C0MUI6/ref=sr_1_1?s=luggage&ie=UTF8&qid=1450775410&sr=1-1&keywords=berghaus+cabin+bag

That seller doesn't deliver to Ireland, but you could probably use Parcel Motel. I had picked one up from Amazon themselves a couple of years ago as a lightning deal for a lot less than the £63 it's priced at now.

It's a fantastic case. Fits the Ryanair dimensions and it's like the tardis, it holds so much! Pretty sturdy and the straps are grand too.

Kat1170 · 22-12-2015 10:31am

Check out cabinmax.com don't know anything about them but they are around a while. Few others on Done Deal if you search 'cabin bag', but the ads all seem very similar.

Backpacks; Rucksacks and/or Suitcase queries

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