BootsnAll Travel Community

Not sure if this belongs in the Travel Gear forum or here, but it does strongly relate to travelling with kids.

Myself and my dh cannot agree: we are leaving in 5 weeks time for a 3-month RTW with three children, aged 10, 5 and 4.

He wants us both to have backpacks, with small packs for the kids (we have the small packs already). I cannot bear the idea of dragging a backpack more than 2 yards as I just don't think my post-having-kids body, especially back, can take it. I want us to have suitcases with wheels. We will be visiting seven/eight countries and, because of the children's ages, alternating staying put in a single location for 1-2 weeks with travelling for some days. Obviously we will be packing light, but when you are carrying for 5 people, it makes a difference.

Advice, anyone?

Why not backpacks with wheels for the kids? That is what we did with our 5yo and it is working well,tho we are going at a much slower pace than you will be.

We also got one of those little tiny backpacks that folds up to about a 3inch by 2inch size and that has been a real handy daypack when we are walking or biking around touring.

There is a thread here in the childrens section where several of us are discussing the kid back pack choices for RTW trips.It really helped shlepping around the airport to have my child have her own wheelie backpack and that was the main reason I got the wheeled one.

I suppose a lot depends on your kids and your trip.We are doing a lot by RV,so it has worked for us thus far and I am glad about my choice for us.But then I only have one.

Thanks. I am enjoyng your blog, by the way, WT!

Personally I like a backpack. Though ever since my daughter was born, we have been traveling with a suitcase. It is a painful thing for me to checkin with a suitcase compared to my pack, but we have found it is a whole lot easier. She is under 1, so maybe it is different with older kids (I hope so!!!).

So what did you decide on? I would not want to carry a heavy backpack either,but dh has been carrying a heavy one where we ever we go.


Nice to hear that you enjoy the blog ,rmeg! Thanks ,it is hard to know who is out there and if anyone is interested besides mom

The trick with kids is to go slow.We are going much slower than I imagined and it is good to have do nothing days too.Sometimes they just need to play.

I will say tho that this has been the best trip of our lives thus far ,so kids bring a special element to the mix.Enjoy!

In the end we opted for two Osprey wheeled packs. Incredibly expensive, but so far they have proved their worth.

I couldn't agree more about going slow!!! But so far it has been wonderful and the kids have added to the experience, more than anything else.

http://our-awfully-big-adventure.blogspot.com