Backpacks!
Posted on 29. Jul, 2010 by Kirsty in Blog, Planning
From very early on we had decided that one of the most important things we would buy for our upcoming trip were our backpacks. I really really really like shopping, but all this saving has forced me to buy less and less. So now I have replaced clothes shopping with window shopping for the perfect backpack.
When I first started looking I asked myself a few questions:
* How much space do I want? – 80/90 – I am a girl and a hoarder?!
* How much space do I need? – I settled for 65/70 litres
* Front or top loader – front for easier access
* Wheels or back? – I’m a bit of a weakling , wheels if possible
* What is my budget? – It was an investment so around £150
Creative Commons: Lululemon athletica
Why do you want a wheeled bag?
Speaking to a few of my female friends who had already been travelling, they told me that they wished that they had taken less stuff (no doubt I’m going to have to learn that the hard way) or they had a wheeled bag. One friend confirmed it would be possible to wheel a bag almost anywhere, other than stairs of course, which sounds great to me.
It seemed that most bags I looked at either didn’t have a pull out handle or were just to similar to a suitcase, unable to convert to a backpack. I wanted both, I already had experience of a wheeled bag without a pullout handle whilst travelling to the world scout jamboree in Thailand and vowed never to use such bags again!. It constantly flipped over and by the end of the trip I wanted to throw it out of the nearest window… and I only travelled with it twice!
On the other hand I didn’t really want to compromise on the backpack part and go for a suitcase. There might be times when it is necessary for me to carry it, and I wanted the option to do so.
So what did you go for?
I stumbled across Caribee, an Australian brand new to the UK. They make all sorts of different sized bags but most importantly, I had found my bag! The fast track model has wheels but a stable handle and also converts into a good backpack with lumbar support.
Me and my new Caribee pack.
Do you like it?
The bag is a bit on the heavy side weighing in at just under 4kg, but the wheels are big and I have tested it on a range of terrains in the UK and it has passed with flying colours. No flipping over, and whilst running for a couple of trains I’ve carried it on my back – perfect J
The only con of this bag is that when you attach the day sack to the front it does tend to fall over! Also the day sack isn’t that good with just very thin straps, especially when you compare it to poi’s so I decided to replace the day bag with my own for our trip. Apart from that though this bag seems pretty perfect, it has got a lot of space in it and does have a separate compartment at the bottom to put my shoes and dirty washing.
I love that this bag is front loading as it means I can get to my stuff easily and with the packing cubes I have just bought, I reckon I can just about keep my bag tidy (please don’t hold me to that).
Poi with his Caribee Grand Air, stuffed with pillows for affect.
How about Poi?
Poi’s bag was pretty much decided for him. He liked the sound of Caribee too (he’s not really into the whole research thing). His only preference for his bag was that he wanted it to be front loading and a backpack – no wimpy wheels for him. Within seconds of seeing the website he had settled for the grand air model. This is extremely comfortable and has plenty of features including lots of hidden away pockets for all those important items. He really did seem to get the better end of the deal, his bag looks great.
Inside of the Caribee Grand Air
And that’s it, we bought them a couple of months ago and now we’re just waiting to get on the road and give them a proper test…
An English couple travelling China and South East Asia since August 2010. 
Tinny
29. Jul, 2010
Backpacks really, really excite me.
BAbackpacker
30. Jul, 2010
Oh wow so you guys are so close to departure, how awesome. I love love doing research before I buy something Im glad Im not alone. Looks like you guys found some good bags. They actually look smaller than some of the other bags Ive seen people use. Cant wait to read y’alls packing list!
kirsty
02. Aug, 2010
that’s good to know! Packing list should be coming in the next week or so, just deciding exactly what we are going to take!
Jenneil
30. Jul, 2010
Same here… I don’t know what it is about backpacks that have me drooling for hours, but they do.
kirsty
30. Jul, 2010
i really like mine! I think that they are like a house, very personal
AdventureRob
31. Jul, 2010
I think 65-70 litres is too big. I went with a 50-70 and although it seems like a quality piece that’s going to last, if it didn’t I’d go down to 30-40 litres next time.
ayngelina
01. Aug, 2010
I agree with @AdventureRob and Im learning the hard way. I have a 65L and I wish I went with 45L. That said I never have to ‘turtle’ with my daypack on the front of me but Ive just learned now after 4 months that just because I have 65L doesnt mean I have to use it. When I first left it was packed but Ive slowly dumped stuff.
But I wouldnt worry, I think everyone learns the hard way
kirsty
02. Aug, 2010
i’m not really planning to use the day pack side of things mainly because it makes use bag really unstable.↲Also when buying the bag i could never imagine me needing something smaller, i reckon i’ll have to learn the hard way! I’ve tried to only have the essentials whilst packing and it does seem that my bag isn’t full to bursting
Kirsty
30. Jan, 2011
I want to say now… I have learnt the hard way!!! I still love my bag but know I am carrying far too much stuff!
Dave
30. Jan, 2011
Hehehe, it’s something that we all learn eventually I reckon, but wow can it take a long time! Seriously, I reckon I’d been travelling for a decade before I really figured it out properly. For me now, a 50l main pack is more than enough, with a small daypack to throw a book and a water bottle in…
three kat five
07. Aug, 2010
Good things definitely do come in small packages when it comes to backpacks but MOST importantly when traveling in a couple is ensuring that you’re bag is smaller than your other half’s…
That way when someone gives you a few books that they’ve finished reading – oh! no space in my backpack…plenty of space in yours, darling…chivalry kicks in and the big heavy books go into the gentleman’s backpack…
(if only it was that easy…)
Poi & Kirsty
09. Aug, 2010
I was thinking of deleting this comment before Kirsty read it and got any funny idea’s but I’ve already told her it’s not happening. Stop trying to put ideas in her head haha.
Poi
three kat five
13. Aug, 2010
sorry!
Poi & Kirsty
16. Aug, 2010
Already read it – but he is very stern, anything that “slips” into his bag will be thrown away!
Samantha
28. Dec, 2010
Thank you for this
It has just helped me pick the right backpack. I wanted to go for Caribee already but I have now chosen the Grand Air 
Hope you are having/had a good trip!
Poi
20. Jan, 2011
Glad we helped – I’m still very happy with the bag and hope you will be too!