I'll be over there for 3 months during winter and I don't want to be washing my clothes super often so I went ahead and booked luggage (30KG maximum was standard on all flights i saw, not taking 30kg).
I was hoping someone could recommend a good large backpack that is good value and comfortable, bonus if it comes with a detachable smaller backpack for day trips and for carry on.
Thanks for any help you may be able to give
That looks like a great option. Shame they don't have any m/l left, subscribed to their mailing list though, thanks this is definitely going on the short list
There's some excellent advice here already.
My advice would be that you do not buy online. Go to a physical store, load some weights in, try and adjust it and see how it feels.
Really this is an intimate item, so a "one size fits all" isn't a good option. I mean I've bought shoes from several physical stores where sometimes I'm a size 9 and other times I'm a size 11. There's a massive difference between size 9 and 11, and that just goes to show how inconsistent fitting items can be in store, so I would image it would be much worse online when you're buying blindly.
What could be a good solution is to find a well stocked brand, and try them out in the physical shops. And once you found the right one, then purchase the same model online for cheaper.
There's nothing worse than getting a great "bargain", only to find out after you actually trek with it for 5 hours that its not at all ergonomic for your body and that you've made a mistake. And injuring your back (even a night-ache) is that last thing you want when you are trying to get some leisure time.
I bought mine years ago at 50% off. I was using longer than 3 months though.
Ask around and see who amongst your friends and family has 1 . Mine just sits in a storage room for last >5years. If I knew you, would happily lend it for 3 months:)
I can't recommend a particular pack but you need to think about how you intend to travel. Is this real backpacking where you are going to be doing a lot of walking around with the pack, or just schleping the pack from hotel/hostel/Air BnB to the next? We have travel packs, which we prefer to standard luggage due to stairs, uneven ground, etc; but we don't actually "backpack" per se. Unzip the harness, put it on and carry it to the hotel/Air BnB and then use the zipoff dayback for day to day until we need to go to the next place we are staying.
Yeah i won't be camping or hiking much at all, just hostels
In all honesty we usually wash about once a week when we travel, so we have, roughly, 10 days worth of clothing at any given time. I wouldn't go for a massive pack because they can be awkward on public transport but make sure it has a good zip off day pack; if you aren't doing serious backpacking you will probably get more use of the daypack than the backpack. Even in winter I would layer easily dried light weight clothing, including thermals, rather than heavy jumpers/jeans etc. Do you have an itinerary yet?
Yes already bought my flights but no real strict plan other then the first month in denmark with family
@YourImag1nat1on: Denmark in winter, brave lad(ette). You might also want to think about Spain, Italy, France, Portugal if you want to warm up a bit afterwards :)
30kg is crazy overkill. You can easily get away with half that, even if you avoid ultralights.
Week's worth of underwear and shirts should only be ~2kg. Wear 1 pair of trousers and your heaviest outerwear. If you're going in winter, you can skip the thongs and swimwear. Layer thermals, gadgets, 1 jumper/hoodie, buy toiletries/towel as you need them, etc., and still come well under weight.
I was hoping someone could recommend a good large backpack that is good value and comfortable, bonus if it comes with a detachable smaller backpack for day trips
I generally don't like these. The included day pack is usually an ugly, flimsy little thing with non-padded straps that clips under the hood or hugs the top like a baby koala. I'd get a reasonably-sized 50-60L frame backpack, and wear a decent backpack on the front on days when you carry both.
30kg is what came with the tickets, its a maximum, I'd never take that much
So long as it isn't bursting, you can usually bring a frame backpack as carry-on. I've done it with a 60L about 5-6 times without paying for check-in. If the bag is full of souvenirs on the return, I'd add the luggage option or… bin the towel, wear ALL your layers, compress the backpack, and pass it as carry-on again.
I have bought backpacks from here: https://www.snowys.com.au/
They are fairly cheap (compared to Anaconda and the such), and pretty much exactly what you want.
Except you don't want to think about taking 30kg worth of stuff - take advantage of any local coin-op laundromats while you're there obviously
Agree with the Laundromats. The ones in Switzerland were pricey, but the ones in Paris weren't too bad. If you are going for an AirBnB with a washing machine you might also want the dryer as well. When we were in Tuscany, a few years ago, the humidity was so bad we couldn't get anything to dry.
Backpacking but purchased 30kg allowance?
30kg was standard on every flight i looked at, i didn't have an option to go for less
Can always take less kg for yourself, then have leftover weight to take gifts of Aussie stuff to your relatives in Denmark :)
10kg of TimTims perhaps
Deuter makes excellent frame backpacks, but quite expensive. Otherwise, Decathlon makes decent ones for the price.
I love my Osprey Farpoint 40.
Most of your hostels will have a laundry right?
https://www.snowys.com.au/traveller-7010-travel-pack-blacksi…
I used the older bag for a month in EU and another in USA, was perfect size to live out of and come home with a bunch of band shirts. The zip off day bag is super comfy, and the whole harness zips away for when ur on train/bus/planes.
Tip:
* Use hostel's Towels, much easier.
* Buy small shampoo/soap when you get there.
* Minimize you weight as much as possible, walking with a pack suuuuucks in the snow.
I usually take a microfibre towel - lightweight, dries easy. Use whichever towel looks better.
I take small samples of my shampoo and liquid soap in travel containers. I know what they are, the hostel stuff might be close to detergent.
This. microfibre towel & when still clean can double as a blanket on plane. Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy were onto something.
Buy transparent travel containers and make your own.
Also don't forget to bring your own detergent.
Sorry, that is what I meant. I get the clear travel containers and decant out small quantities of my existing shampoo and liquid soap.
I agree with the detergent but make sure you have it well sealed; I usually double seal in ziploc bags. It is a pain to have laundry powder through everything.
check out aussie disposals, my partner used one of theirs that came with wheels, very sturdy & packed lots.
also had a separate smaller bag plane carry on/valueables etc. plenty of people carry two bags!
I spent 7 weeks,Canadian Rockies,Alaska Cruise and Cuba with 7kg Tortuga carry on Backpack :)
you either washed your clothes pretty often or nobody would stand next to you :)
I have a Kathmandu hybrid, 70l. Most of the time I use it as a normal suitcase, because most of the time backpacking is the same as using a wheel around suitcase, you just stay in hostels instead of hotels. But the hybrid function means I can take out the straps and carry if need be.
Anyway, when it was physically full it was around 17kg. If I bought a lot of heavy stuff I’m sure it could get more but the 70l usually hits before any weight limits would.
I would probably recommend getting the 50l and then buying the day pack that clips onto the front. So then you have a daypack but also additional space if you do need to clip it.
problem with hybrids is that they are rarely comfortable on the back for any long periods of time.
Yeah, I have an issue with hybrids as well - if I have it as a backpack I don't want to be lugging around the wheels. They are probably OK for only using it as a backpack for short distances.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/379838