BootsnAll Travel Community

How big is your pack? I'm going on a RTW trip and I don't know how many liters my pack should be. I'm an 18 year old girl, not that strong, but I want enough room for everything I need.

Mine is 55L. I'm a 5'5" woman but am pretty strong. I don't suggest going bigger than that unless you are tall. There should be a lot of reviews and similar questions to yours if you search in gear branches.

Why aren't you strong? Do some squats, pushups and make sure you have a strong core so you can carry that weight. There are exercises you can do at home without weights or a gym membership.

I'm big and strong and I only have a 40l pack. It's amazing what you can fit in.

But it doesn't matter how big your pack is, you'll never be able to carry everything - I really wanted a kettle and an iron, but oh well.

My pack weights in at 18kg - which is a lot to be carrying around after a while.

I have a day pack on my front too.

I wouldn't get something too big, remember you have to carry that everywhere with you and I don't know where you're going, but remember you might have to get on small buses, jeepneys etc and that's not easy when you're packs too big.

I'm a 6'3" 18 year-old guy: I could carry pretty much whatever I wanted but I only have a 23l. Yes twenty-three. Its really is amazing what you can fit in. I do have to do laundry one a week with that pack, but if I am staying for longer somewhere I will pick up an extra shirt or two at the market or second-hand shop. Or if I go to a climate where its much colder, I just buy a cheap coat on clearance or at the second hand shop. I can always find something cheap quickly or borrow something.

The benefits of my 23L pack are:
-Less to dig through.
-Look less like a backpacker: Its the size most people take to school/work. (Actually I use the same pack most of the time at home.) Never been pick-pocketed, am harassed less, etc.
-No space for souvenirs. If its worth it, I mail it. If not I shouldn't buy it anyhow.
-Fits as carry-on: it can't get lost in the airport, or stolen from the baggage hold of the bus.
-I can carry it around the city for a couple hours and not be bothered by looking for a place to ditch it.
-Customs goes super quick.
-My back rarely get tiered of it; it weighs about 9.5 Kilos (20 lbs.).
...

I've been away with this pack a few times for a couple months each. Including Finland in Winter and Africa at its hottest. I was fine both places.
Pretty much what my packing list is:
-Clothes: 1x pants, 1x sweatshirt, 6x everything else (additionally I am wearing a pair of pants, shirt, etc)
-Pillow case (fill with clean clothes=big pillow)
-Travel sheet
-Thin smaller-sized towel
-Toiletries(I actually bring more of these so I don't have to look for them as often)/meds
-MP3, digicam, phone + chargers + small adapters
-Flip flops
-Papers/passport/$cards
-Book
-A bit of food
-Water bottle

What else do you need?

The only thing that is sometimes missing is if you want to go out somewhere nicer and your only shoes are grungy. Still you can buy some for like $5 that will suffice for a big night out, or borrow some. Normally I am not so into going to fancy places though, sometimes I know people who are and want to tag along.

If I go roughing it camping its normally in good weather so I don't really need anything else there either.

At 5'6" with a back that has seen better days, I use a 35L pack. I have been known to get it down to 11kg, including a light laptop and charger. I make sure it has a removable day pack for everyday use.

It only gets heavier when I decide to need camping gear - sleeping back, ground foam pad, tent, utensils... even so, all that equipment is extra lightweight.

Anything over 15kg is trouble, in my opinion.

my pack is 50 litres and I wouldn't want anything bigger than that. Even the 50 is really really big, not so much the actual size of the pack, but the weight of it. It's about 30 lbs when filled and that's just too heavy for me to carry around for any length of time. I'm working on downsizing.

Going on my RTW in August. One problem, I have had a couple of stomach operations in the past and cannot tolerate heavy weights on my back for long periods (it just hurts after a while) and don't want to get another hernia. Glad I figured this out before I went. I found a 75l backpack with wheels but this is far too big. I don't want a suitcase as I'm going to be on unpaved roads some of the time. Does anyone have any suggestions?

75l

How about this Eaglecreek bag?

That Eagle Creek bag is way too big. It's 64 liters and weighs 10 pounds before you put anything in! I've traveled with a woman who had a pull bag and she couldn't lift it and had to get help every time she took it out. I sometimes had to wear my bag and help her with hers at the same time.

I know people are getting into the zipper loading "travel packs" but they are much wider typically that regular top loader internal frame packs. The best thing about my pack is that it's narrow. Sometimes people think it's funny that it's so tall but I'd prefer it to be tall than to stick out beyond my hips. I have no problem walking down a narrow bus aisle with it.

You don't need that many things every day. Pack a toploader with the stuff you use all the time at the top and you'll be fine. If you need to look through your "wardrobe choices" or something and want to unzip your bag for that then you're a different kind of traveler than me and I can't help you.

I also hate those zip off packs on the back because they mess with your center of gravity, especially if you're a smaller female.

quote:

Originally posted by Insubordination:
Going on my RTW in August. One problem, I have had a couple of stomach operations in the past and cannot tolerate heavy weights on my back for long periods (it just hurts after a while) and don't want to get another hernia. Glad I figured this out before I went. I found a 75l backpack with wheels but this is far too big. I don't want a suitcase as I'm going to be on unpaved roads some of the time. Does anyone have any suggestions?

75l

That pack definitely looks big and probably not very supportive. Does it hurt if most of the weight is on your hips like it should be with a proper fitting pack? Have you tried going to a decent outdoor store to be fitted? What about a messenger-style bag?

My pack is 50l, and it usually weighs 9kg. The pack is way too big for what I bring, even in cold climates, and I've bought a 36l that I think I will use next time.

I'd recommend max 50l - depending, of course, on the shape of the bag. The last thing you want is to get stuck walking down the aisle of a bus...

Kath

To clarify my last post, I suggested the eaglecreek bag b/c it sounded like something that could also be wheeled was what Insub. was looking for. Anything that is a backpack with wheels is going to be heavier so it just depends whats most important to each person. Also, that bag is two bags in one so 64l is both combined. It says: Total volume: 3,900 cu. in.; daypack volume: 1,600 cu. in. One can always leave the daypack at home.

I have the 25" and I like it (even though I'm a really weak person I can carry it). To each their own is all.

38L here (arcteryx needle 35). Hasn't been road tested yet but I did a dry run and it fits everything I plan on bringing just fine.

Obviously the answer is...

It's not the size of your pack that matters, it's how you utilize it.