Travelling with a backpack / rucksack can be so much easier if you are planning on moving around and getting several flights. I decided to use a backpack to get around Vietnam. Even though we wouldn’t be having to trek with them on our backs we knew that we would be getting 7 flights in total and also lots of taxis etc.

Every time my suitcase goes through the airport it always comes out with a little bit more damage, a zip bent or a handle broken. So with that in mind, I wasn’t sure how my suitcase would last for this trip. If you want to see the planned trip we have for Vietnam,  you can take a read here.

I have never travelled around a different country with a backpack so I wasn’t too sure on what type to use. I already owned one from many years ago when I did the DofE. So I had to do a bit of research to find out what size to get. I didn’t want to end up going to big and I didn’t want to go to small where I couldn’t fit anything in!

As we were only travelling for two weeks we didn’t want to have to do any laundry while away. This meant we needed to be able to fit two weeks worth of clothes in the backpack. After doing some research I came to the consensus that a 65 litre would be a good size to use, especially being the first trip using one. This was great news as the one I already owned was a 65 litre, Perfect!

My next worry was the fact that the backpack has lots of straps and clips all over it. These could very easily get caught in the conveyor belt at the airport and break. The worst thing would be to find your backpack with a broken shoulder strap, making it unusable! The other thing is that there is no way to properly secure the backpack as I have several pockets and access points, so this meant everything inside would be vulnerable.

I found out that you could get travel bags to put your backpack in when travelling and you could also secure it with a cable lock! This was ideal, so it was quickly ordered off Amazon. This gave so much peace of mind during the journey. I didn’t expect the bag to last as the material seems quite thin. I thought the handle on it would be the first to go. But it has had to go through 7 flights and it is still in perfect condition and the handle is still very much attached! It is so much stronger than I first thought. The bags also fold up quite small and don’t take up much space in your backpack.

 I managed to fit everything I needed for our trip in my backpack, I did have to take less than I would normally take but I had to be more strict on what I would need. I am glad I opted for a backpack though as it made it so much easier to get around without hauling a suitcase. I would highly recommend using one if you are planning on a travelling holiday.

Have you used a backpack / rucksack before when going on holiday? Are you planning a trip and considering using a backpack?