The traditional backpack vs wheelie bag

kristy

Namaste,

So, right now I'm trying to decide whether to bring my old traditional backpacker pack, or to bring a hard cased (light) wheelie bag. I don't really like carrying my big backpack on my back or over my shoulder like a sports bag, and I could be swayed away from it.

Has anyone travelled around in India with a wheelie bag rather than a big backpack? I haven't noticed other backpackers doing this in other places... and I'm not sure why. I will be travelling for many months so I want to make the right decision.

Thanks : )

Matthew Morris

It depends on where you are going and how you plan to travel.

For me there is no way I would travel around India with anything other than a backpack.

I think you would end up having to carry the wheelie suitcase a lot of the time, and thus negate the usefulness of it.

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ananda2193

I think it depends really on how your going to travel and to where. Lots of Indian roads aren't the smoothest and if you gotta walk some distance to get to you hotel then it can be a real burden lugging a suitcase. If your going to take a taxi straight to your hotel then it should be no problem. I'm sure a suitcase is much easier to pack and find what your looking for in it than a backpack.

I prefer a small backpack or little bag that I can hang on my shoulder as its better for walking distances because sometimes you have to walk alot to find a hotel thats in your budget and has rooms available. A suitcase can be a real pain in those times.

bks

majority of indian roads are not smooth enough for wheelie's,
most of the time you will have to carry the wheelie on your head

abracax

I have a backpack with wheels. Here in Canada we have a place called Mountain Equipment Co-op that sells useful things like that.

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ananda2193

There you go.

Dilemma solved.

federica

It sounds nice, but they are more heavy than normal backpacks because of the wheel system. If you carry your luggage most of the time or go for hiking, a normal backpack is better, for the occasional use the wheel version is a good compromise.

Aupmanyav

Now you get plastic wheels. With some ingenuity, these wheels could be affixed to the backpack.

gobbledegeek

I used a wheelie bag in Himachal last year. It started coming loose - the telescopic handle frame. Now the bag I was hoping to use for 5 to 6 years may not last longer than a couple of years. Bad rough Indian roads are not suited for such luggage. The 100 odd mtrs you drag it from a bus or station to wherever will shorten its life over just a few weeks.

HTH
Cheers

camelgirl

My first 4 trips to India I used a backpack.

My last two trips I used a wheelie bag. It can convert to a backpack but as federica said, they are much heavier than a regular backpack & I've never converted it. Always used the wheels.

Even though the roads & sidewalks are uneven & there were a few times the wheels did not work (going over rairoad tracks), I still will never go back to a backpack!

The price of the bag doesn't guarantee the quality. My wheelie duffle style bag was very inexpensive ($40 U.S.) and it's held up to 7 years of rugged travel & still fine. My husband's Eagle Creek wheelie ($150) handle broke after 2 years. But Eagle Creek guarantees their products and sent him a new bag.


You will see lots of people using wheelie bags in India now. Many old India travelers like me are no longer able to use a backpack--too old & out of shape .

A daypack is still useful.

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goingback

We are to-ing and fro-ing between backpack and wheelie duffle, I thought "great" when I found this thread. Backpacks the way to go. Then, Camelgirl I saw your post and became indecisive again.

Our kids will be with us and we were thinking backpack each, daypack (fits onto backpack) camera bag and one holdall for snorkel gear. More hands available for keep kids close and safe near roads.

However, the wheelie duffle fits loads in. Hubby can wheel it with one hand and hold a child's hand with other.

Hang on though, we have two overnight train journeys - the backpacks might be easier.

See what I mean about indecisive!

It's a good thread - thanks for the information.

Haylo

How old are the kids? Are they too young to learn road safety or be trusted not to run under a car - if so maybe making them wear reins (or the threat of it) would help. If they're very young, maybe an offroad buggy that can also carry day luggage might help?

If they're older, don't forget that you can get them to carry some stuff too! I used to very proudly lug my father's old army backpack around when I was little!

Maybe there's a market for a wheely duffle with a "child rack".
Sorry, I meant to say "child seat"

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Aupmanyav

Wheelies would not be a problem for one or two overnight train journeys.

goingback

Hi Haylo, I was thinking about you a short time ago as I should be packing instead of being on here and I recall you saying the same fairly recently!

The girls are 5 and 10 and have good road sense (in Europe anyway). It's just so many people keep warning us about the girls and roads and being trampled etc. I should know better than to listen; these are the same people who think we shouldn't take children to India!

They do have a small daypack each to carry.

goingback

Thanks Aupmanyav, the one we have is big though and we have used the handy measurements given by Steven Ber on one of his train threads and we think it may be too big!