BootsnAll Travel Community

There are a few threads on "which bag/pack"....but they are old and I'm wondering if anyone has changed their mind since embarking on their adventures!

The advantage of wheeled ones seems to be that they would be easier to pull - but that's only helpful in airports and train stations - what about on cobblestones and hiking? We're likely to spend more time hoofing it than flying!

Our kids are already used to having only three sets of clothes to wear (they fit in a box under their beds!) - but even that will be too much for them to carry too far. How do you draw the line between being able to afford to get dirty one day and managing to carry your gear?

Our children will be 13, 12, 10, 9, 7, 5, 4 and 2 at the time of departure so we will really have to carry the smallest one's gear for her anyway (and if we follow our current pattern, there'll be a baby aswell who will travel with cloth diapers!!!!)

What would you do? Should we take a portable trolley to bungee on packs of those who cannot go another step? (our kdis are actually used to walking - even the two year old can go 5 or 6 km under her own steam....and our 12yo can carry the 10month old on her back for an hour or so.....but it's different when you're tired and fed up with the weight on your back)

Not sure I have a very good answer. I just felt compelled to say that I am in awe of your plan to travel with eight kids! Good luck to you!

My wife and I travelled with one (an 18-month-old) for about six weeks through eastern Europe. That was tough enough -- but quite rewarding. Now that we have a second one, we're trying to figure out how to travel as a family of four.

For what it's worth, we carried two full-size backpacks, one daypack, and a backpack carrier (since he wasn't "focused" enough to do much of his own walking). We also traveled (mostly) in our usual backpacking style.

Well much depends on how you are traveling and how long. I am amazed too at your ambition of traveling with so many kids.The good news is you can pair up the older ones with the little ones.

We move slow with one, so I HIGHLY recommend that you move slowly with your crew. That said, I agree that even a 2yo can walk a lot more than people realize.

If you go by bus or RV, you will make it much easier on yourselves. It is a great method for kids and families and you only have to pack once. A French family went around the world like this and did it for four years on a low budget,so might be something to look into deeper.( link posted below...I am on the road now moving myself). It is great for solving some of your questions. ( The kids will not need to carry everything on their backs at all times).

We have not used our wheelie backpack that much, but we are glad that we have it as it is great for airports. My child just uses a light daypack for most of our travel and always carries it on her own.She was 5 when we started and can outwalk me even with it on and enjoys walking and walking and never seems to tire. We do allow lots of time for fun things tho as we go.

I think you will need to talk to other parents who have traveled with this many kids. There are some big families on the road thru the Families on The road site that I left earlier here ( or google it). Perhaps they would be able to help. You have some unique problems because of your number.

We recently traveled with family as a party of 6 with two octigenarians with mobility challenges and that was more challenging,but we found a way.The logistics and costs just get harder and higher with the challenges.If there is a will there is a way. Look to others who have done it ,that was our inspiration, and then we made it our own.

Good luck!!

Thanks for your advice...we certainly plan on taking things slowly...hopefully it will look something like: 2 weeks with famly in Malaysia....hubby working for 11 weeks in China.....winter over in Mongolia....June on Mercy Ship in Africa....July/August buy van and caravan and go round England/Scotland....September onwards volunteer at an orphanage in Romania.....June/July/August take that caravan round Europe....following academic year teach in Poland (already have experience of doing this)....then head towards India where we might meet up with friends for a few months......not sure how we'll go with traipsing across America in a covered wagon, but we're keen to! By then our kids should be big enough to do a cycle tour round South America. Of course our plans that far out are very vague, but we have dreams and will get on the road and make it happen. As you can see, we'll settle for a few months at a time...but when we are in travelling mode, we need to be able to walk up the street without everyone caving under the weight of what they're carrying!

It sounds like a very ambitious plan and I wish you great luck. I could not handle that many kids in one place, so could not imagine homeschooling and traveling the world long term with them. LOL!

With just one it is a challenge at times and we do not have to work as we go. You must have a lot of energy and know how to handle lots of chaos!!

But if there is a will there is a way, so I support your dreams and say go for what you want!

As far as backpacks I don't see why they can not all carry there own except the 2 yo and I would have even that one carry a little lite pack of something.

We loved the rolling back pack that we got which also converts to one that you can carry on your back. It is a good one with a guarantee ( I named it in another thread here but forget now) and it is holding up well. Also worked well for lots of school books when we were in school for 4 months. We also love having a lite daybag.

This combination has worked best for us for many different types of travel ( we have walked, biked, planed,RV'd bussed etc).

My child was 5 when we started and is an extreme light weight ( 35 lbs) and carrying and walking has not been a problem for her, altho I hear even walking is a problem for some kids. We have always done a lot of walking ( she started at 6 months) and she has endless energy, so it has not been a problem for us.

Sometimes we have had to go at a hectic pace ( like 3 museums in Paris one day ) and it has not been a problem, but we usually rest after a heavy day.

I would buy as much of exofficio type clothes as you can as they last forever and pack light. It is worth the money, but try and get them on sale which is even better.We just have one pair of socks each ( smart wool) and it has worked great. ( My daughter has more as she is an only and can remain a fashion queen on the road).

Jeans and a black sweater have been great for my daughter..she has worn them a ton and a little down like vest ( to put over sweater when cold). Silk underwear is a ife saver under clothes if it gets cold and can be used as PJ's.Also a pair of water resistant ski pants worked great for my daughter as they are easy to wash and wear in cooler temps and great with rain.Think black and dark colors. Think odor repellent and cool wick things , bug repellent clothes for hot weather ( T's that have it all can be worn and worn).Think fast dry for clothes.We love our fast dry towels that fold down to nothing.It is worth spending a little more on things that you are going to use a lot.

Hope that helps a bit.