Duffels, Backpacks, and Suitcases: How to Choose!

Choosing the proper luggage for an extended trip is an incredibly difficult decision. Not only are you going to be spending upwards of $200-300, there is the thought that this one purchase is going to protect all your belongings on adventures from pickpockets, airline handlers, and inclement weather. A purchase of luggage is not something that should be taken lightly and should be heavily researched before any decision is made.

With that being said, there are 3 major types of luggage that are available for purchase:  Suitcases, Duffels, and Backpacks.  The pros and cons for each are outlined below: (Pictured: My Duffel, High Sierra AT Gear Access 30")


Suitcase: This type of luggage is your standard rectangular fixed frame bag that you likely used on family vacations in your childhood. The packable space is very high, however the cases are difficult to maneuver and not the most travel savvy piece of luggage. I recommend these for situations where you are only going to one or two locations and do not have to move it around very much. The added benefit is that most of these come with wheels for added mobility.

Duffel: This type of luggage is just a standard duffel bag like you see at a gym without a fixed frame. The packing volume is fairly decent and there is an over the shoulder strap to help carry it easier. The one downside is that for heavier loads one over the shoulder strap would concentrate the weight poorly and may be a bit difficult. I recommend these for longer trips if you do not like some of the limited volumes available from backpacks.

Backpacks: This type of luggage is very mobile and comes in a large variety of sizes. The over the shoulder straps add for the best mobility for long distances and buildings without elevators. Downsides to these is that packing can be somewhat difficult in a vertically oriented pack of decent volume. These are good for long trips and for those who are not packing things that need to be fairly well kept.

I purchased a 30" High Sierra A.T. Gear Access, a hybrid of the duffel and backpack variety with 6100 cu. in capacity, last year and have been very happy with its performance. The hybrid varieties typically come with the best options of all three and mine is no different. It contains a high volume in the form of a duffel, but with wheels and handle from standard suitcases, and retractable backpack straps for the instances when backpack straps are needed. (Pictured: All the gear that fit into the duffel)

When I went to Europe I found that I utilized both the wheels and backpack straps for equal amount, although I thought I would've used the backpack straps exclusively. Some short distances were much easier to traverse with the wheels, where getting the straps out would have taken too long. Incidentally the airlines damaged the handle for utilizing the wheels and with the lifetime warranty provided by High Sierra I got a replacement completely free!

After you choose the type of bag you are looking for, the major considerations are capacity, dimensions, and weight. Most bags can come up to 6000+ cubic inches which are very welcoming to have. The longer the trip, the more likely this volume will be completely filled. Dimensions and weight on the other hand are a bit more strict as airlines and other transportation systems have set limits on what can be brought on. Most common limitations airlines enforce are keeping linear dimensions under 60" and weight below anywhere from 44 to 50+ lbs depending on the airline and your ticket class. While the linear dimensions are not as strongly enforced as weight, both can garner hefty fees if not avoided. Considering bags can weigh up to 12 pounds empty, its best to determine based on your personal packing capabilities on if the added weight of the bag is worth it or not. (Pictured: The final product, complete with 5'9" traveler for comparisson!)

Once these are thought out, the final question is which piece of luggage and where to buy. From my experience any given piece of luggage ranges wildly in prices from various websites. MSRP values are typically very high and many sites offer tons of discounts. My favorite is eBags.com as they have a large collection from reputable brands, and a quick google search can net up to 30% off discount codes (or more!) to even reduce the price of your bag further to increase the bargain even more!

In future posts I will put up my packing lists from my various trips [Europe in 2008, Egypt this August, and finally for the RTW] to give a better idea on how to pack for various length adventures!

Posted in: Commitment,Luggage,Planning