(1st and 3rd image are not mine)
I see this question pop up again and again on travel groups, 'what's better a backpack or a suitcase?' and I always say it depends on your trip. Lets take a look at the pros and cons of backpacks and suitcases shall we?
Backpacks
Pros:
Overall, backpacks are easier to move around with and I don't mean country to country or even hostel to hostel, I mean daily things like accessing your upstairs hostel dorm or carrying it down to the underground coach car park. Stairs and suitcases don't work well together, unlike a backpack and stairs
Talking of coaches and hostels- you'll find it easier to store a backpack in these places compared to a suitcase. The large lockers in hostels will fit a backpack but not a suitcase
There is less space for you to fill with useless junk! A backpack really forces you to be sensible with what you pack ensuring you only have the necessities needed for the trip, too much space and you'll pack everything you can and then never use it while you're away
Using a backpack will evenly distribute the weight across your back and shoulders (compared to a shoulder/cross body bag or lifting a suitcase repeatedly with the same arm)
They are easy to wash/clean if needs be, just empty them, chuck them under the shower and out in the sun to dry
Cons:
The limited space mentioned above does also provide a con, as you are limited on what and how many souvenirs you can fit in. However, you can always opt to post these items home, just make sure you follow the international postage rules
The soft exterior of a backpack can mean your belongings get a little bit battered on their travels, to account for this, wrap any fragile items in clothing and place them in the middle of the backpack. Alternatively, put them in your hand luggage
Even with the weight distributed between both shoulders (instead of weighing heavily on one arm at a time) backpacks are heavy to carry, depending on how much you pack
Suitcases
Pros:
The hard exterior protects your belongings much more than a backpack does, meaning you can keep your fragile goods in your hold luggage without worrying
They are, of course, easy to maneuver on flat, smooth floors and don't weigh down your back and shoulders
Most large suitcases offer more space than a backpack, so you can shop to your hearts content without worrying about space in your luggage or having to pay to post it all home
Cons:
Those wheels aren't always helpful- wheeling a suitcase over a rough surface and up/down stairs is an absolute pain in the backside. With a backpack you wont have to stop and lift your luggage over these obstacles
As briefly mentioned above, suitcases are not as easy to store in hostels or on coaches. If you're lucky it might fit underneath the bunk bed or down the side of some lockers, but if that space isn't available in your dorm, the suitcase is left to clutter the room causing many frustrations
Hard material suitcases are prone to scratches and dents, which isn't too much of a concern for myself personally but can be slightly annoying. Also wheel and handle breakages are possible and have happened to me before! Losing a wheel from your suitcase is the most annoying thing that can happen
Depending how much you pack, the suitcase is going to be heavy to lift and the weight isn't evenly distributed like in a backpack. Your dorm might not be on the ground floor, not every hostel has a lift and they rarely offer the service of carrying your luggage to your room for you
With all that extra space it is easy to over-pack. By doing this you run the risk of packing things you wont need, making your luggage much heavier for yourself and wasting valuable souvenir space!
TOP TIP- if you have space in your luggage once you have finished packing...LEAVE IT. Do not pack any more, you'll be grateful for that space later in your journey
I hope that helped you come to a decision on what's best for you! There are, of course, other options such as backpacks which turn into suitcases (have wheels and handles). It's up to you on what you feel is best for your trip and itinerary.
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