Backpacking Question

KC, A few comments and answers to your questions...... A.) The PacSafe Bag will likely fit inside your main Pack if unloaded, but I'm not sure if it will fit when loaded. Why would you want to place your Daypack inside your main Pack? B.) Whether or not your main Pack (trekking bag) will fit inside a Hostel Locker will depend on the Hostel. Some Hostels provide full size Lockers, while others provide shorter "half size" Lockers. Note that you'll usually have to supply your own Padlock, so don't forget to pack a good quality, medium size Padlock (preferably with "heel & toe" locking). DON'T use the cheap TSA Locks. For Hostel stays, you'll also want to pack along a Towel, soap and shampoo. Are you planning to use the PacSafe bag as carry-on during your flights? I highly doubt that the Deuter Pack will be allowed for carry-on. As the Deuter Pack is a "top loader", you won't be able to secure it in the same way as a "panel load" Pack (locking the zippers). If the Lockers in the Hostels you're staying in aren't large enough to fit it in, you'll have to leave it open while you're out touring. If you lock your valuables inside the Locker, that shouldn't be a problem. Many Hostel visitors just leave their Packs open when they're out for the day, as there's really nothing of value inside to interest thieves. How long are you planning to be in Europe? Good luck with your planning!

One other point to mention..... A top-loading Pack is primarily intended for trekking / hiking and doesn't provide any provision for securing the straps during air travel. In some cases, the airlines will place Packs of that type in a large plastic tub, and in other cases they'll want to "saran wrap" the entire pack to keep the straps from being snagged by airport conveyor systems. I use panel-loading Packs which have a detachable Daypack and stowable harness (straps fit behind a zippered panel), as they're primarily designed for travel. Something to think about.....

Here's a radical idea to see if they day pack will fit inside your trekking bag. Get all the items you plan on taking, lay them out on a bed or the floor, then place all of them inside the trekking bag including the day pack. This will also serve as a opportunity to cut out what you in the long run don't need to take like too many clothes or whatever else comes to mind.

Ken - Thank you! Spot on. I know that there are "packable day packs" that can be folded into a pouch, so I just wasn't sure if this bag without said pouch would be big enough to fit into my backpack. I wouldn't really feel comfortable leaving my backpack out as I leave for x-amount of time, but I can't see why it wouldn't fit into a locker. I'm pretty sure that the Deuter would fit into an overhead compartment. It's big, but it's fairly light. Obviously, I would have to place it into a big white tub. I've been through the airport enough times to know. I'm planning a month at the minimum, but it could easily extend into two with my ridiculous ambitions. What kind of pack did you use, said "panel load?"