backpack practicality/dorkiness?

[U2fan]

Hey guys, as I just bought a ticket to Europe last week and leave in 2, so I haven't had much time to think everything through....here's the question. This is my first backpacking trip. Two years ago I lived in Ireland studying for 2 months, and this is the backpack I used for the trip here But in addition to this backpack, I also had a small purse and a small duffel bag with other stuff in it, because I was living in an apartment most of the time and traveling only through Ireland on the weekends. So the situation worked out ok with this backpack. But now that I'm going for 2 months all over the place in France, Spain, and Portugal, this backpack seems impractical. It's not that big, and even though I'm an efficient packer and don't take the much....still...it's not that big. Plus, I regret that it has wheels...I can't see myself wheeling the thing down old streets and what not. Plus, will I look like a dork? But I don't know I can justify spending 200 dollars or more to buy a new pack just for this trip. So I don't know what to do. Also, I am debating about spending the money on a digital camera for the trip....worth it? I don't know if I can/should buy both!?!?!

Sorry so lengthy, but I would love to hear what all you experts think!!! Thanks and see ya in Pamplona (possibly wheeling the dorky backpack?!

[joanofarc]

man, i was dying for something with wheels when i was in europe - mind you i was staying in hotels not hostels.
for whatever it means to you, i'm not even bringing a backpack the next time i'm in europe.

my advice:
use what you got and get a digital camera.

[Canadian Dude]

The pack you have looks sweet, but I think you might be right about it being a bit small for a full on trek, and I do not know how the wheeled thing is going to work out?

I had the same problem and went and got a pack at the end of last Aug, I scored an 80L pack for 99$ CDN...Now i do not know if it was because it was the end of the season, or what, but i think I scored pretty good.

I do not know where your from, but if you visit some of your local outdoor stores and see if you can pick a "last\" year model for cheaper than 200$. You caould also check your local paper and mnaybe you could find a used one thats in good shape. You may even wanna try the Goodwill for a sweet find. Some places have swap meets for out door equipment aswell. Just mkae sure you give a serious once over on the used stuff, check zippers, snaps, tie downs and all that jazz.

I think you can find a better deal tha 200$ for a new pack...If your anywhere near the Canadian border, you might wanna try to skip across and hit one of our shops...

I think if you look hard enough you can find a cheap pack and get the camera!

Hope that helps ya!

[Canadian Dude]

So there I was thinking about what you should do..and then it hit me!!!

EBAY

I went on and searched backpacks and man there was tons of sweet look'n pack and good prices!

Just another option!

[MolsonGirl]

I'd have to agree with CD. looks a bit small and I dunno about the wheels.. if you say you pack light anyways it shouldn't be too heavy. I also agree with CD on the idea of Backpacking Swap meets... if you're in Toronto there's a MEC swap coming up soon.. I'm sure someone will know better the details than I do. anyways have fun buying a pack (and digicameras are good if you have a Large memory card) I think buying a pack is always the most fun part of a trip (if you're lucky enough to need a new one) all the fun pockets and zippers and stuff... I'm a big dork.. I know. Haha.

PS. Great CD you've given me another way of wasting time by looking at packs I'll never buy

[worldwidemike]

I dunno...if you pack light enough, that might be enough. You should see the size of the one I took to Italy for two weeks...most people would just call it a book bag. Plus, the wheels will come in handy in airports, train stations, town squares with nice pavement.

And I don't think anybody will feel you look like a dork wheeling your pack around town. Now, wheeling it across country, or on a hike, yah...that might raise a few eyebrows...

worldwidemike

[Delaney]

Originally posted by joanofarc@May 3 2004, 03:02 PM
for whatever it means to you, i'm not even bringing a backpack the next time i'm in europe.

Just out of curiousity... what are you bringing?

[joanofarc]

i'm bringing wheeled luggage. i have the victornix 22" carry-on with rollers! woo! unless i decide to to more hiking than i expect, in that case a duffel bag - sweet and simple. but i don't hoof it a lot while in europe, i spoil myself.

[voyd]

I never saw the need for wheels, I dunno...?

[d_fresh]

i got my asolo parisienne (60 L) for 160 canadian new.
ebay's a good place to look too.

[Aisha]

The size looks fine - a small pack can be a blessing, cos it seems the more space you've got the more stuff you decide you can't possibly live without and must take with you (and next thing you know it's two months around europe with 20kg of crap). But...
When backpacking around europe last christmas, my friends and I kept doing so much shopping that we had to buy an extra bag between us to hold it all - it was a sports bag kind of thing, but with wheels. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but not so great over all the cobbled streets. I was absolutely amazed that the wheels didn't fall off. Turned out to be an absolute pain in the butt, and I have vowed never to use a bag with wheels again. So maybe you do need a new pack?

[TheWills]

Sell the current pack you have now in the paper or sometihng and all that other stuff and put tat cash towards a new one

[joanofarc]

i just like the look of regular luggage better, whelled or not. the backpack is actually cumbersome too - ha! i'm not a real backpacker anyway, hardly even a budget traveller. i just like to chat, that's what i do here, ahha.

[Blakeimus]

I hate backpacks I hate them I hate them I hate them..... but i loveeee traveling ;]