1. The Right Bags
Taking the right bags for your trip is your primary starting point. In this section we will cover 3 mian types of bag we highly recommend for a backpacking trip.
- Your Rucksack
- Your Backpack
- A good Day bag
Your Rucksack
As you will be carrying this around with you for the duration of your trip, choose a sturdy, comfortable pack with adjustable straps and a good support system.
Ensure it fits your torso and has enough capacity for your trip’s duration.
For a trips of 1 month and longer, we recommend an 80-100L Rucksack. Washing and reusing clothes is part of backpacking, so you need to have enough clothes to cycle through the wearing, washing & drying cycle.
Below we have recommended a couple of options that we have all used between us. We have all been through a couple of rucksacks each, so these recommendations are based on our recurring go-to options.
We love the unisex Tripole Colonel Series Internal Frame Rucksack - with Detachable Daypack & Rain Cover for several reasons.
- Available in 80L or 95L Versions
- Comes with a fully waterproof rain cover
- Comes with a detachable 12L Day Bag
- A great all-rounder
These rucksacks are designed for long duration travelling & hiking, with a fiber frame and aluminium rod for maximum load capacity, and soft breathable black mesh cushioning on the back, providing comfort and good airflow.
The back is comprised of waterproof and water-repellant heavy duty polyester and durable zippers and clips.
This rucksack has lots of pockets on the front, sides and waist for easy access and additional storage, and a bottom opening pocket to an easy access compartment for storing shoes, laundry or anything else you want to keep separate from the rest of your bag.
The included rain cover is stores in a velcro pocket at the base of the bag, maximising your internal storage space.
The 12L Day Bag zips on to the front of the bag, providing not only the day bag, but additional storage space.
Another great option for a larger capacity rucksack is the Kabxhueo 100L Rucksack.
Made from waterproof Oxford Material, this Military style backpack is made of high density 900D Oxford fabric that anti-scratch, durable and water-resistant. Heavy duty zippers with rain diverting flaps, keep the insides dry and all stress points are reinforced, so you don't worry break during the journey.
The Rucksack has an ergonomics design for maximum breathability and comfort, with breathable mesh pad at the back, protecting your back while you are carrying a heavy load. Widening and adjustable straps help release burdens on the shoulder.
The 100L large capacity backpack comprises of the main storage bag with elastic drawstrings to expand the pack, with ample storage for clothing, shoes & Toiletries. The rucksack also has one laptop compartment, one front zipper pocket and two side pocket for water bottle or umbrella.
- Dimension88*38*28 cm (L x W x H )
- Weight: 2.5kg
- Waterproof fabrics, excellent water resistance which will avoid water infiltration.
Your Backpack
In addition to your rucksack, we recommend also tacking a backpack with you to wear on your front while your rucksack is on your back. This not only provides additional storage space, but allows you to keep your valuable and important items in front of you and visible at all times.
Wenger backpacks are our go to for business and personal travel. They have lots of pockets and compartments for storing everything you will need with you as a carry on item for your personal and Tech items, or as a small overnight bag.
We recommend the Wenger 606493 Ibex Ballistic Deluxe 14"/16" Expandable Laptop Backpack with Padded Laptop Compartment with SmartCharge USB Port and a 26 litre capacity.
Ideal as a personal item for taking on a plane, and suitable for every type of trip from a weekend break through to longer and backpacking trips, made of strong, more secure material, and double zips you can padlock closed.
Side pockets for water bottles, USB port for connecting to your power bank, and a loop on the back for easily placing the back on top of your suitcase and over the handle for pulling the two together and keeping it secure.
This is a classic all-rounder, and will serve you well for many years!
Another good choice, and for the more style conscious traveller, is the KEOFID Classic Travel Backpack for men and women. with a USB charging port and anti-theft design.
Water resistant, It has a 26 Litre capacity, suitable for a 15.6" laptop. Lots of pockets and storage space, 2 external pockets for water bottles and and a luggage loop for transporting on top of of a trolly bag.
Your Day Bag
Once you reach your destination and are out and about exploring, you probably don't want to be walking about with a full sized backpack, particularly when you are in a wam location.
We recommend getting yourself a small over shoulder "day-bag" that you can wear across your shoulder or have at your front.
Ideally you want something that can carry everything you need:
- Wallet
- Phone
- Camera
- Spare camera batteries
- Camera Lens cloth
- Ear-pods
- Phone Power Cable
- Power bank
- Maps
This is something you should also pack in your backpack/bag when travelling, so that when you get to your destination, drop your main bags at the hotel, grab this and you are ready to go!
We recommend both the small over shoulder messenger bag you can find here for £8.99 or the TITECOUGO Sling Bag you can find here for £13.99.
We all have both of these, and take the one we feel is best suited to our destination.
Affiliate Links
Please note that this site and your travel pack may contain affiliate links. While we only recommend products that we believe in and use ourselves, we wanted to let you know that may receive a small commission from any purchases you make. Don’t worry, you won’t pay any extra – sometimes you might even get a tasty discount. It’s a win for us and a win for you too!