Apologies for cross-posting - this is also in the 'Travelling with children' forum, but I am desperate for any advice.

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 body, especially my back, can take it. I want us (or me, at least) 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? Has anyone done a RTW without using a backpack?

This has been discussed a number of times and by scrolling down or hitting on "Find" you will probably find past discussions.
In essence, though it is personal choice, wheelies are OK for nice smooth surfaces like in airports or hotel foyers but get out on something rougher and if you are going to say Asia or Africa and you will be dragging that suitcase along rather than it following nicely on its wheels.

And where you are in crowded areas, it is say comparable to driving a car with a trailer in traffic as against zipping around with something on a roof rack.

Come your crook back, and if you think walking along with a twist in your body will be better for it, you could be in for a shock.
Find someone who has a wheelie that you can borrow for a trial and fill it up with some clothes and see how you go taking it from home down to a crowded shopping centre, wander around with it for a while and then drag it home again, ditto with a backpack.
I have seen backpacks about with wheelies so you could look at a compromise.
But a good well fitted backpack should not be a strain and one thing you can also do to make it less so is have two medium size ones, one slightly larger than the other, say a 35L and 20L, the 20L becomes handy as a daypack but also doubles up for transport and you have a fairly light , say 10-12 kg load on your back and then just wear the smaller say 8-10 kg load on front and that;s where you can keep valuables like passports and cameras etc., all under your nose and easy to get to.

Ok, compromise reached. Have purchased two Osprey wheeled packs, one 40L and one 80L (remember we are toting for five). The Osprey is well built and seemed worth the (lot of) extra cost.

Thanks for your adive, gonorth. I get what you are saying about the trailer versus roof rack - good analogy!