Long term Travel: Choosing the right backpack
You have many options when you're traveling depending on how long you're going for, what type of travel you're doing, where you're going and the weather. You have the option of a rolling bag, a duffle bag and a backpack, and I can imagine so many others depending on the length of your trip. Since I plan on being gone for 6 months through rain and sun, cold and warm, I need to make sure I have enough room to have clothing to fit these options as well as enough shoe options for all of the above.
I have a trusty 35L that I've taken throughout the past few years through Europe, Thailand and Bali. Although they have been perfect for the 2-4 week travel, I don't know if it would be just as great for 4-6 month long travel, especially through different climates. I'm looking for a backpack between 50-65L now with preferably a rain cover and a front and top loading pocket. We have a place here called Mountain Equipment Co-op , and it's fantastic for all things camping, traveling, sport related and everything in-between. I've found a couple options that meet or almost meet my criteria as well as fitting within my budget. I also found a few on Amazon.com and with Amazon Prime, I find that these options are great and quick for those of you that don't plan too far ahead.
MEC Flair and Forge 65L - $115 CAD
Both of these are the 65L versions of each other with enough storage for long term travel and two ways of easily accessing your stuff in a hurry. The specs off of the website claim lots of pockets and burly water-resistant fabric. There are 3 ways to get to what’s inside (so you don’t have to unpack and repack when you’re looking for snacks), and all zippers have glove-friendly pullers. It’s also designed for comfort, with an easy-to-adjust padded hipbelt and a height-adjustable shoulder harness to fine-tune the fit.
Their specs include:
EVA foam padding on shoulder straps, back panel, lumbar pad and hipbelt.
Front, top and side access let you get your gear without tunnelling.
Shoulder straps are shorter, set closer together and more flared out to the side than the men’s version of this pack.
Back panel and shoulder harness slide up and down within a 5cm range.
Floating lid has a key clip inside.
Hydration sleeve and hanger (hydration reservoir not included).
Stretch mesh side pockets hold water bottles.
Vertical zippered front pocket has darted seams to expand to hold more gear.
Gregory Deva 70 - $ 256 CAD
This backpack is a little larger then the above choice, and I quite like it for numerous reasons. It has a detachable day bag and it has packable hip belts to have your tech at your finger tips at all times. It also features a integrated weather cover which I find helpful. This one is also on sales right now for 30% off, so I can't discount the great price.
The specs featured on the website are as follows:
7075 aluminum wire frame has a women’s-specific wishbone shape to channel the load to the centre and lumbar regions.
Bottom sleeping bag compartment has a removable internal divider.
Twin side-mounted water bottle holsters are canted for easy access and stow away when not needed.
Internal hydration reservoir sleeve has a pocket and mesh shoulder straps so you can use it as an ultralight backpack.
Removable, adjustable straps attach at multiple points for lashing on sleeping pads.
Amazon Nylon Orange 60L Travel Bag
I tend to be a bit skeptical about Amazon backpacks. Partially because you can't always tell whether they live up to the quality of things you can touch and try on in-store, but also because most of these have under 50 reviews and I'm not sure how reputable they are. This bag looks a little better than most and for the price I would give it a try. Also, it's available for Amazon Prime, which is awesome.
✔ Material: waterproof nylon, don't worry about outdoor rain.
✔ Adjustable chest belt and waist belt. Straps at the bottom for sleeping pads.
✔ Breathable mesh and compression shoulder straps, bottle holder on the sides.
✔ Large-volume internal reservoir sleeve in the main body for more loading space.
✔ Ergonomic padded shoulder straps and back support for best ventilation and easing burden.
All-in-all, I'm not sure about the purchase, but it's worth a shot. Has anyone ordered a travel backpack on Amazon?
McKINLEY Yukon 60L - $108 CAD
The McKINLEY Yukon 60L is a women's specific backpack for multi-day adventures with the ultra comfortable Flex Pro Women carrying system. The durable 60L Yukon for women offers a height-adjustable top lid for an additional 10L of volume, a big front opening that provides direct access to main compartment, as well as hydration system compatibility. A separate bottom compartment allows you to separate wet or dirty equipment from the rest of your belongings or sleeping bag. This bag is a lot cheaper than most and at 60L it seems like a good price for what you're getting.
In Conclusion
Regardless of the option you choose. My recommendation is that you choose something around the 60-65L mark, something that will allow you to access your stuff more than just from the top and bonus if it comes with a detachable daypack. I plan on picking up the MEC Flair 65L soon and I'll let you know what I end up being able to pack in it!