For the most part, travelers I see are often those with backpacks. Articles circulate linking the backpack to different aspects of how one travels. Suddenly an item strapped to your back becomes a whole way of being. Backpackers are adventurous. Backpackers are incredibly social. Backpackers love jumping from place to place more easily. I didn’t know a means to carry clothes, computers and guidebooks could say so much.
I don’t use a backpack. I think it stems from a grade school distaste for backpacks. Having to lug home every heavy textbook known to man and woman proved challenging for my back. I would end up looking more like a hunchback leprechaun of sorts. I was the messenger bag, tote carrying kid. I would be made fun of, called overly girly, and even high maintenance. Once again, I had no idea what you carry your necessities in could say so much about you.
Just like in 7th grade, I feel a bit left out of the backpack traveling crew. I read these articles telling me of the backpacking lifestyle. Perhaps I am all alone in the luggage world, but give me a tote bag, duffel bag, or a rolling suitcase any day. Maybe if I am running through a jungle at some point, I will strap a backpack to my back out of practicality, but for the time being, rolling suitcase travelers, here are some of your beneficial traits that often go unnoticed.
Carrying my belongings as German statues do
You Roll With The Punches
See those stairs up ahead? A rolling suitcase traveler sees those as extra exercise, a challenge they must and will complete. Italian train stations are not conducive to rolling suitcases for the most part. Leaving Rome for the US, I had to lug around 40 pounds of suitcase up and down stairs. Was it fun? No. However, a small piece of me considers that challenge an accomplishment. The bump in the road doesn’t faze me when I realize I have a touch of Hercules in me. This trait to a rolling suitcase traveler can transition into other aspects of travel. Something challenges you on your travels. You can handle it, because you roll your suitcase up and down stairs, across mountains, and over deserts. You go with the flow and get over it. You are not limited or labeled to travel by what you carry.
You Meet People Due To Your Luggage
I’m not sure why a backpack makes you more social, but I have found rolling suitcases work the same way. “Hey, could you help me with my bag” turns into a conversation, a moment of kindness, socializing with a stranger. I think the humanity of people can be more apparent to the rolling suitcase traveler. Will that person on the narrow sidewalk get out of your way or won’t they? A backpacker never sees this aspect for no one has to step aside for them. I appreciate simple kindness of strangers a great deal more because of my set of wheels. Also, I have found in hostels and guesthouses people will socialize with you even though you have a rolling suitcase. Miraculous, I know.
Your Sense Of Travel Stands Out
As the rollers hit the ground, a noise is often created. Staring begins. “Oh no, here comes a suitcase” some seem to say on their faces. Talking to a backpacker friend of mine, he said that he loved a backpack because it drew less attention to himself. A rolling suitcase, you hear. I think it goes both ways. A giant backpack on your back tends to warrant glances just the same as rolling a suitcase over cobblestone does. Standing out is not necessarily a bad thing for a traveler. If anything, I feel a sense of traveling with that noise. I often look at those looking at me thinking, “I wonder where she is going” as I think to myself “I’m going.”
Perhaps these benefits are all in jest, but regardless of backpack, duffel bag, rolling suitcase, you travel. No matter how you carry your belongings, you are a person with a personality your backpack or rolling suitcase isn’t going to give you. If there is one thing travel and 7th grade has taught me, be who you are and carry what you will even if you are labeled in the process.
What benefits do you find of carrying a suitcase other than a backpack? Backpackers, what are the benefits of your backpack? Try and convince me of your ways. Maybe I will cave in one day and try traveling with one of my old purple Jansports.
Have you ever checked in at the same time as a backpacker? Ever gotten an upgrade when they didn’t? Enough said
See, I think that backpacks draw more attention! I carry one yes, out of convenience, but to me it screams “I am on a budget, I am tired, hungry, and dirty!!” Because that is usually how I feel after schlepping through various buses, taxis, ports, and alleys after a day of travel.
I think a suitcase on rollers (4 wheels of course!) is much more convenient. Yes, stairs become an obstacle but on a flat surface you can move much faster and easier than you would if you had 15 kilos on your back. Although I must admit I do feel a little self concious sometimes when the rollers can be noisy. Anyway, I vote for a suitcase as the way to go!
Suitcases get my vote too. Packed to just under the weight limit so as not to pay extra. Hardshells are great if you bought bottles of wine too!
Haha, I love this. I actually do travel with a backpack but I think it’s funny that it’s assumed everyone who is a budget traveler should automatically carry a backpack. There are days when I would kill to have a rolling suitcase (ie long walks looking for accommodation) and other days when I love my backpack (ie sand, stairs, gravel). I’m going on a short trip in December and can’t wait to trade in the backpack for a rolling suitcase!
I normally travel with a suitcase however leaving tomorrow and for the first time, attempting a backpack. Will let you know how I get on. still deciding which items to ditch!
Haha, I love this post! I’ve traveled on a budget plenty, but I’ve never been a true “backpacker.” I’ve always used suitcases and duffel bags, too. Partly because I’ve never been on an extended budget travel trip, and partly because my back gets sore so easily. I’d much rather be comfortable rolling around a suitcase than bent over under a hefty backpack.
Plus, like you said, when it comes down to it, we’re all traveling. And, beyond that, the details don’t really seem to matter.
I’m using a rolling suitcase right now and I’m loving the extra space and organization: I have two big sections and lots of zippered pockets. However, I dread subway and train stations: stairs are just so much easier to navigate with a backpack. Staying on the fifth floor of a hostel with a teeny, tiny, twisting staircase wasn’t much fun with my enormous suitcase either. Totally thinking of investing in a structured duffel (like yours!) for weekends though 🙂
Given the choice to drag around a 40 lb (oftentimes more) suitcase or having 20lbs strapped to my back, I’d prefer the latter. I always feel like I need to get somewhere to leave my suitcase, but never feel the need to leave a backpack..
Carrying a backpack also forces you pack light, where otherwise you may overpack..
I recently switched to a rolling suitcase too. Was planning on writing about it this week… now, I guess I wait a couple of weeks to do so! lol
I really don’t know. I fly every week and I keep going back and forth, one trip the rollaboard, the next a backpack. Here’s my method for choice since I seem to collect luggage like some women collect shoes: I start out with a tote. If everything doesn’t fit, I move up to my “day and a half” backpack. If it is still to small, I move up to my rollaboard. If I still don’t have the room, I move up to my full size backpacker’s backpack (which still fits in a plane’s overhead bin). That said, if you are about image, I think rollaboards are for business trips, plane travel, and stays at a Marriotts. Backpacks are for vacations, train travel, and stays at guest houses.
I think as long as you are making the effort to travel it shouldn’t really matter. When I’m on shorter trips I’m totally all about the rolling suitcase – and I’m okay with the clacky wheel noise when I’m barreling down a European street.
Brava! You are not alone, Suzy. I’m a big fan of rolling suitcases, too. Less stress on my back and I can take more with me. 🙂
Great tribute to the humble rolling suitcase! There’s a reason it’s (arguably) the most popular type of luggage 😉
Hi Suzy! I enjoyed your post but I’m going to be a fencesitter…I love my wheeled suitcase I bought in England and I love my more than 10 year old pack. For me it all depends on the trip. Where, why and how am I travelling? I camp and when I do the backpack comes out. When I travelled for work in a previous job it was a suitcase and a briefcase all the way. If I’m not moving around much–1 or 2 destinations the suitcase usually wins but if I’m only going to be in each place for a night or two I find it much easier to use my pack. It’s true that what you carry says something about you as much as your clothes do–but sterotypes often lie. I’m keeping both for now and just hoping to dust one of my bags off soon!
I’m like you, I prefer suitcases. Much more comfortable, you can fit more into them and I don’t have to worry about back pain. But lately and with increases in domestic luggage fees, I’ve started carrying a backpack -especially for shorter trips.
I have been thinking on my last couple of short European trips about taking a little rolling suitcase, but I am still struggling to put down my backpack. I turned 30 this year so perhaps it’s time?
I wasn’t a backpack fan at first. I started with a rolling suitcase for more than a year. Mostly it was because I didn’t feel I was strong enough to carry it. I had the same experience in Italy when I took my 83-year-old grandma and I had to lug her suitcase and mine, except of course when an Italian hottie helped us 😉
After dragging my roller through the rough streets at Bali late at night upon arrival, I had had enough. However, I hope one day I can graduate to a roller again 😉
I’m glad you wrote this. I’ve traveled both ways and actually prefer the suitcase method. You can jam more stuff inside them, for one thing. And I like more stuff. A backpack is never over the weight limit at the airport, whereas my suitcase is almost always over. But it’s all right. I always make it work out. I like the grab it and go style of traveling with a suitcase. When you’re standing around in line somewhere, like at a bus stop or airport or waiting to check into a hotel or hostel, being able to just stand there freely without supporting a 35-pound backpack is just sooo much easier. In many instances a backpack works better but for the most part, suitcases are where it’s at, as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve traveled both ways. I love my backpack, it gives my attitude. Travel-tude? But it’s never as easy to live out of for a week +
noooooo, backpacks forever! altho there’s something a little more ladylike when a woman is elegantly sliding her rolling bag across a platform. Still, what do you do if you need to climb a mountain in a hurry!?
I think it’s really depend on the kind of movement with luggage that you do. If you don’t need it to be a backpack, then use suitcase. But for me, backpack is more than just a style. It’s functional. It makes me maneuver better. As long as my back doesn’t scream, I’ll stay with backpack.
I have traveled with both, and for me backpack wins. When we are walking long distance in non-tiled surface, carrying backpack is much handier. Wheeled suitcase is shaky. Some roads that I passed are rocky, stony, or full with holes. Backpack also allows me to maneuver inside a totally crowded market. I have a really good backpack that honestly makes the burden feels like nothing: it’s to heavy to be picked up by my hand, but once it’s strapped properly on my back, the burden is gone and I can walk for 2 hours with it just fine. I walk faster with backpack on my shoulder than suitcase dragged from my hand. I also don’t like to walk 1-2 hours with 1 hand stretched back to drag the backpack, it’s tiring me up faster than having backpack. Suitcase is too limiting my movement.
But hey, you are the one that knows your own type of traveling the best. Use whatever comfortable for you.
I love the don’t-be-judging message of this post! I’ve got a fragile back, so I’m a rolling suitcase traveler. But why not get both? Eagle Creek’s Switchback, for example, can roll or can be a backpack. That’s the way I’d go, if I had the slightest backpack envy.
I’ve git a backpack that also has wheels. Seems to work quite well and it’s still carryon size
I think it depends on where you’re going. Rolling suitcase is awesome if you know before hand that there are no flights of stairs or broken sidewalk to navigate… beats carrying heavy ass backpack everytime.
But backpack is just so… mobile. Definitely my preference when heading out the the unknown.
I use rolling duffle bag luggage… works great. And they can take a pretty good beating without falling apart.