Picking a backpack for your gap year across Europe, working holiday in Australia, journey from Rio to Machu Pichu, or can be a big deal. This might the piece of equipment that you use the most for the foreseeable future. The trick is to get the right size so that you have enough room for everything you need but not have so big a bag that you fill it and then get a back problem just taking it to the airport. So here are some tips to help you get an idea on what kind of bag you need.
1. How long is the trip?
A weekend trip with a car to a camping ground is not what we are talking about here. A round the world trip that has an open ended ticket is where it gets tricky. If the trip is going to include months through Asia on 12 hour bus rides then you might want to consider something that can fit in your seat with you. Travel can really take a toll on handles and zippers and if you are going to be using them for months at a time then you will have to take extra special care of weak equipment. Look for heavy duty zippers and double stitching. It is not a bad idea to have someone who can sew to put some extra stitches on handles and the seems around zippers. The thicker materials on the bottoms and handles can help in the long run. Take into consideration the amount of time you will be gone and how many times you will be actually using your bag. The longer you have it on your back the lighter you will have wished you had packed and the smaller bag you will wish you had gotten.
2. What kind of trip?
Whether backpacking or flashpacking, if you are looking to strap on a bag to your back week in and week out then you want to find something that fits your trip. If you plan on flashpacking around Europe for the summer then you will probably be ok with a suitcase with wheels, handles, and it's own gravitational pull but if you are planning on hiking the Inca trail then you will have a hard time lugging it up thousand year old cobblestone paths. A gap year abroad on a working holiday in Australia is pretty posh and you won't have any problem getting any size bag in and out of the taxi the two or three times you move it. Often on long bus rides in developing countries there is not space to store your luggage or if there is then your expensive new name brand bag might be used to prop up a chicken coop. If you are planning on being outdoors or being in tropical areas during their rainy seasons then looking into having a rain cover or spraying your bag with waterproofing is an option. Some bags now have water resistant zippers and materials. If your trip is going to have you lounging on beaches and never even seeing a pair of socks then you will want to rethink that extra large bag that fits 3 pairs of jeans and boots and sweaters.
3. What sort of weather?
4. Second hand options.
5. Rethink the size.
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