BootsnAll Travel Community

Here's the deal: My husband and I are leaving on a one-year RTW this fall, and we're trying to decide on packs. We are active backpackers (I mean this in the hiking/camping sense) and thus each have a bag (or two). The bags are well-broken in, very comfortable, and are the size we'd like to take. (I have a 45L and a 52L; he has a 50L and a 60L.) To be honest, I love my bag and have yet to find anything I like as much.

However, the more I read these boards the more a little voice in my mind says that taking a top-loading only backpack is not a good move. But I've looked at some of the travel packs (Eagle Creek, MEI, etc.) and I'm just not sold. We will be doing a fair amount of trekking on our trip (Anapurna Circuit, Patagonia, etc.), and the travel packs seem like they wouldn't be so great for that. As for accessing gear, obviously the travel pack will make that easier, but we'll be using stuff sacks and packing cubes, so things shouldn't be too terrible with just the toploader.

So the question is do I ditch the bag I love for a travel pack that makes access a bit easier? Or do I deal with things being a little harder to get to in exchange for the comfort of a pack I really like? Your opinions are much appreciated.

Then you'll have lots to appreciate because it seems everybody has an opinion on this one. If you do a search you'll find plenty of opinions. It comes down to what works best for you. I'm a top loading pack person. I dislike all the panel loaders I've come in contact with (they are less likely to fit me properly, they tend to be wider which really pisses me off, I find the general construction not to my liking, the type of pockets they have irritate me... the list goes on) so I stick with a top loader.

For me if its a question of accessing things easily while on the move well, I always have a pocket or two on my top loader I use only for things I'll need before stopping at the night's lodging and I generally carry some sort of little bag that has the important stuff (passports, wallets, etc). The little bag is handy when flying because it usually has all the stuff you need to pull out for security and things I'll be using on the flight. Then when not in transit or settled down during transit I just shove the bag in my back pack. Thinking ahead virtually negates the need to dig in the bottom of your pack anyhow and personally I find it easier to dig through a top loader without having everything spill out of it like a panel loader. I think they're easier to rummage through while on the go.

*Edit* Sorry, at work and had to run. Seeing as how you and your husband are already at ease and comfortable with your top loaders I think they would probably work best for you while travelling too. Why not take a short trip to test drive them?

It depends a lot on the individual, but personally I'd always want a proper hiking pack for any trip where I was planning on doing more than a couple days of real trekking.

I've never had real "convenience" issues with my top loader while using it for travel. As long as you organize your stuff sensibly you can avoid major hassles. (e.g. Whenever I pack my bag for travel, the tent and sleeping bag are at the bottom, dirty clothes on top of them, clean clothes and other items on top of those, with frequently accessed items going in the pockets.)

quote:

Originally posted by Theresa_B:
So the question is do I ditch the bag I love for a travel pack that makes access a bit easier? Or do I deal with things being a little harder to get to in exchange for the comfort of a pack I really like?

It sounds like you've already made up your mind.

But if you want my opinion: travel packs are great for hosteling. But if you're actually trekking, nothing beats a real backpack. You'll get good at packing. The top-loading annoyance will be worth the comfort on the trail.

Personally, if during my travels I am going to be on a trekking trip that lasts longer than 2 or 3 days while carrying all my own gear (no porters) than I leave the travel pack behind and go with a proper backpack. Other than that, I'd rather have my travel pack.

When my travelpack got stolen, I found another traveller who sold me his very sturdy toploader. I made it work for me on the rest of my trip, good packs being hard to find in CA.

I found it a bit small, but that was nothing a big grain sack tied to the front with cords couldn't solve. Yes, I looked like a real vagabond, but no one ever tried to steal THAT pack. Why was it small? Becuause it was a rough and tough mountaineering pack with very thick rubber like material. Well, I finally replaced it on my next RTW, and that was fine too, but then. I don't do a lot of trekking.

Follow your instincts on this one. You0ll have to live with the results.

People who have no need of a "proper" pack tend to love the travel packs. Personally, I'd go with the better suspension system over the convenience of a full zip travel bag.

Also, well broken in sounds like you're quite used to living out of them. If you can not kill yourself having to dig out that spare pair of socks from the bottom of your pack several days into a long trek, then you'll probably be fine in a hotel room in Bangalore.

Thanks for the feedback! As was fairly obvious, we're definitely leaning heavily toward our top-loading trekking packs, but I wanted to see if someone had a reason that I hadn't thought of why we should go with a travel pack. Seems like if I can live with the digging through the bag (hopefully stuff sacks and packing cubes will eliminate some of that hassle), then I'll be fine.

I think you will be fine with the pack you already have. If you use the stuff sacks or other packing organizers it will help a lot. I don't have a top loading pack and I'm still always searching for stuff anyway!

I just don't get you guys......


For round the world, you will appreciate the ease and practicality of a panel loader pack. Easier to get at things on the fly. Easier to pack...Easier to see if anyhthing is missing... Easier all around. Panel loaders routinely have some compartmentalization, which is damned handyu as well. The one thing that top loader people go on about all the time is that the zipper will blow, barfing everytyhing all over the place....I have never seen this happen anywhere at any time. I suppose it's possible.

I agree, though, that if you have an old friend backpack, it is hard to betray it and go with something else. On this point ONLY do I side with people saying that you should take your old top loader.

Out of curiosity, let me know what you decided to go with.

D

Sounds like you'll spend a lot more time carrying the pack than digging through the pack, so go with something that's better at carrying a load versus providing organizational convenience. You've already adjusted your top-loaders to your liking, and you undoubtedly know exactly how to pack them and how to balance your load properly.

Besides, a well worn broken-in pack is like an old friend. You can't just leave them behind! They've served you well on your previous trips, and they deserve to come along on your next journey too.

see my post above, edited. Stuff sacks, meh.