Home is Where Your Bag is

I’d like to start off with backpack tips since this is going to be your most prized possession while traveling.

Because I was constantly moving around, my backpack became a close companion as well as my “home”. No matter where I was, my home was wherever my bag was, whether it was a hostel, a train bench, or an airport floor. Not only did my bag carry all my belongings, it also acted as my pillow on my occasions!

Before my first trip, I spent tons of time trying to find cheap backpacking backpacks.  Unfortunately, these bags range from $100 to $400. The bags that are in the $100 -$150 range generally hold less than 60 liters, which would be way too small if you were traveling for more than a month (I was traveling for 3 months). I was absolutely determined not to waste so much money on a bag, so I put my thinking cap on and ending up coming up with a brilliant solution.

Tip #1

DO NOT BUY A BACKPACKING BACKPACK!

           

   

BUY A DUFFLE BAG INSTEAD!

Instead of purchasing a backpacking backpack, I bought a duffle bag. Duffle bags cost about a 1/3 less than backpacks!

The backpacking backpack shown above costs $189.

The duffle bag shown above costs $54. 

This duffle is able to hold more than the backpack and also has wheels.

Not only did my duffle bag save me about $100, it also made my life SO much easier while traveling. If you’re using a backpack to hold all your belongings, you have to strategically pack and unpack constantly. You need to make sure that all the items you use the most are towards the top, if you need something towards the bottom, you have to unload your entire bag. Because I used a duffle bag, I never experienced this problem; everything in my bag was easily accessible.

I chose to buy a duffle bag with wheels so that I would be able to take some of the stress off of my back. I also chose a duffle bag with wheels since this is the only type of duffle that has a sturdy bottom. Carrying around 50-60 pounds on your back for hours on end is exhausting. Whenever my back would start to get sore, or if I was traveling uphill, I would take my bag off and use the wheels instead. I loved having this option.

The only downside to using a duffle bag is that they do not have the adjustable shoulder harness for comfort or the hip belt that helps to distribute the load of your bag.  Typically duffle bags do have comfort straps on the handles but they are not as thick as ones found on backpacks. These comfort straps do provide some relief on your shoulders but it is a good idea to add extra padding.

A great idea for extra padding is to buy a pool noodle and cut it into pieces. You can place the noodle on the duffle straps and secure it with Velcro. This way, the noodle can move up and down the straps to provide relief exactly where you need it. The noodle is also thick enough to prevent the straps from digging into your shoulder. Instead of paying the extra money for a backpack with shoulder straps, you can make your own straps with a $1 noodle!