It’s one of the inevitable (and endless) debates of travel; the discussion which gets everyone riled up, the sure-fire way to start an argument – should you take a suitcase or a backpack on your travels?
While different people have varying opinions based on their experiences, we’re here to lay out the pros and cons of each – then it’s up to you to decide which you think makes the most sense for your travels!
Motability
Suitcase: Generally speaking, most new suitcases now come with a pull out handle and set of wheels which allows you to drag your case along with ease. The wheels definitely help when you’re pulling your case across the shiny smooth floors of the airport departure lounge, but they’re not great in all situations. It’s not recommended to try and wheel your suitcase across pebbles, soft grass or uneven terrain – so bear your destination in mind when you’re choosing! Most suitcases also have a lifting strap which will allow you to carry the case upstairs or lift it into any transport.
Backpack: As long as it isn’t so large that it can’t fit through a doorway, anywhere you can go, your backpack can go too. While it can be a pain to lift a heavy rucksack onto your back, once it’s on and correctly strapped, wearing the rucksack leaves your hands free to hold onto your passport / money / mobile phone. Most hiking rucksacks include a number of adjustable straps and slides which allow you to move the sections to fit both your body and how full the rucksack is.
Size
Suitcase: Suitcases come in a number of different sizes – from small enough to be classed as hand baggage, to 100 litre plus capacity large suitcases. Suitcases can be either hard or soft shelled – a soft body will allow a suitcase to stretch when you need to fit in that extra bit of duty-free, but a hard bodied case is generally stronger and more secure. When it comes to flying, each airline has different maximum baggage restrictions, both for size and weight, but for an economy flight, any case weighing more than 20kg is likely to be overweight.
Backpack: There’s a lot of size variation if you choose to travel with a backpack – capacity is measured in litres and a small day sack will start at around 30 litres, which is easily small enough for hand luggage. A 65 litre plus rucksack should be large enough to equate to a medium / large suitcase and with this there is the added benefit of multiple pockets and zipped compartments to keep items separate. Many rucksacks can also be ‘extended’ by releasing the straps to create more room within the top sections.
Price
Suitcase: Suitcases can range from very affordable to quite expensive – budget purchases can often be found at supermarkets and online, but do check quality if you don’t want your case bursting as it comes round the baggage reclaim!
Backpack: Backpacks can often look very expensive in comparison to a suitcase, but a decent rucksack will endure a lot of travelling before it begins to wear out. Some supermarkets and outdoor shops also offer rucksacks – but do some research first to ensure it won’t get uncomfortable after a few hours of carrying it around.
Ease of Use
Suitcase: Easy to pack, easy to unpack and (fairly) easy to find the things you’re looking for, the suitcase is the immediate first choice when it comes to packing for a holiday. However, the frustration of trying to lift and carry a heavy suitcase is a real disadvantage. Trying to pick out your plain black suitcase on a baggage carousel of plain black suitcases is no fun either!
Backpack: More space efficient than a suitcase, the rucksack allows you to increase or reduce the size in response to the amount of stuff you have. It’s great for putting important items in an easy to access pocket – saving scrabbling through a sea of clothes and shampoo when looking for the bottle of after-sun. Carrying a rucksack is also much easier over rough terrain – when fitted properly, a rucksack should be comfortable over long distances, even when full.
The suitcase vs. backpack argument is so strong because each have their advantages – suitcases are easier to organise, while a rucksack is much more space efficient, and easier to transport over long distances. It stands to reason that if you’re planning on lots of travel, a rucksack may be more useful – whilst a suitcase is more than capable of getting through a holiday.