Lightweight Backpack for Seniors

My recommendation is to go to a sports store (maybe REI though there are cheaper places) where they can find a bag that matches you. We all have different bodys and if you want a back pack with frame, and hip belts, etc. then get it fitted.

We're in the same age bracket and share your sentiments about packing. Carry on limits are tight these days. KLM (which I just used) allows 21.5 x 10 x 13.5". Dimensions and polices vary a lot. Ryanair's carry-on (the one you pay a fee for, not the free one) is 21.7 x 7.9 x 15.5"; a 10 kg weight limit is imposed as well. (Ryanair's free personal bag/small bag is only 13.75 x 7.9 x 7.9.) You might want to check all the possible airlines you might be using and shoot for one with the toughest size standards - then you can fly with any of them. What I did this year... I wanted to see and feel out the bag in person as well... jotted down the smallest dimensions I might need and a measuring tape with me to Ross and found a very lightweight bag that had what I wanted for about $20. No waist belts, no frame. We carried no more than about 10 pounds each at any given time and it was all good.

At your (and our) age, why a backpack? Small wheeled suitcases are easier, except for stairs, which you want to minimize anyhow. I prefer the two-wheel models over the spinners, thinking the bigger and maybe sturdier wheels are more stable on European cobblestone pavements. Anyhow, you can still downsize and simplify with checked luggage. A checked bag doesn't have to be lugged into a plane cabin, a task that grows no easier as I get older..

"At your (and our) age, why a backpack?"

There are good reasons. A few of mine...

Rolling carry-ons are heavier and more difficult to load into overhead bins, with firm sides that don't "give" well when smooshed into snug spots. And a borderline-sized roll-on is more likely to get inspected by gate attendants (who understand the "smoosh" factor with backpacks.) Wheels must also fit within the carry-on dimension limitations, which reduces storage space to some degree. You have to carry wheeled bags in one hand and off to one's side when you hit cobblestones and stairs - that means losing one's center of gravity. A backpack stays centered. If you use an umbrella, rolling bags still get wet in the rain, whereas a small backpack often stays mostly dry.

"Anyhow, you can still downsize and simplify with checked luggage."
True but in addition to the fees involved you must check it at the counter (which you normally can otherwise skip on flights within the continent) and you have the usual wait at the carousel and sometimes a trip to the baggage office if a bag goes missing or gets crunched. It sure is nice to step off the plane with a pack on my back and just go.

Rather than look for the largest possible bag, I'd suggest a largish day pack with a hip strap and a chest strap to connect the shoulder straps. I'm convinced everyone travels happier with less stuff which means less bulk and less weight. I'm using a shoulder bag now and keeping my load to under 12 lbs.

I've used a day pack twice with decent results. The first was a fairly basic bag with only one large interior area plus a double pocket on the front for tickets, pens, plastic fork, etc. The last one was a more expensive bag but it had more internal structure than I needed, including a pocket for a lap top/tablet. The extra structure adds unneeded weight and bulk.

I’ve been using Rick’s Convertible Carry-on with packing cubes for about 8 years. It weighs less than 3 pounds, has a number of great stash pockets and is very versatile. BTW I’m in my mid 70’s and horribly out of shape but find it the easiest way to travel.

Thank you all for your terrific suggestions. Our son has been in London for the last couple of years and will be returning to the states early summer of next year. As a result, we have been traveling across the pond at least twice a year. We spend some time with him and then travel to various other countries. Our last trip was to Belgium and the Netherlands and while we loved visiting so many wonderful places, we were pretty exhausted dragging luggage on trains, buses and transportation other than planes. Upon our return home, I felt we needed to re-evaluate how we travel, and therefore the question of backpacks. What I'm hoping to do is have a backpack as a carry-on and our roller "carry-ons" will be checked when we are traveling by air. My thinking is that a backpack will enable you to be hands free with a roller carry-on as additional storage. I guess I'm still not abandoning the idea of having 2 potential pieces of luggage, but I definitely want to downsize. Philip, thanks for your recommendation on Rick Steve's Convertible Carry-On. I have been looking at that piece and was curious if it was a worthwhile choice.
(Just as a sidebar, on our last trip we each had 1 medium-size suitcase and a carry-on. Our trip on the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station was a piece of cake, but the rest of our tube rides were a nightmare...luckily we were traveling on the weekends so we didn't interrupt the locals during rush hour.)
Thanks again for all your suggestions.

Well...I ain't no spring chicken (also in my 60's) and after a broken back a few others damaged bits I finally decided to make a change to a new bag for our recent trip to Italy. My wife and I figured that the bridges in Venice, the steps in Cinque Terre and cobbles in Rome would be our undoing if we went with our old bags. We each bought a RS Rolling Backpack. I was 100% sure that we'd need to carry these buggers at some point and that the backpack straps were essential.
Maybe on our next trip to Asia... we never carried our bags once as back packs..not on trains, not up 1 million steps, not over the bridges in Venice, never once on cobbles. The straps spent the entire time tied back to keep them out of the way. The wheels, well we used those everywhere. I dragged my bag up stairs, down stairs, over cobbles, everywhere. A few times in Vernaza I carried our bags by the handles but we were in the nose bleed section. I also used the handles to carry up the steps to our apartments in Rome and Firenze..but come on, even us old folks can make it up a few flights of stairs.
To be clear, I'm a pretty seasoned traveler. I pack pretty well (as in not too much crap). The RS bag was really light (I hope it holds up? TBD over time) and if I needed to hoist this onto my back I could have. My wife's bag...not so good. It might have been filled with rocks...it couldn't stand. If you let go of it it would immediately tip over...but again, it was not too much to carry a short distance by the handle if we were climbing a few flights (sometimes 4) of stairs. She did as I do, dragged it along without any problems.
If I bought another bag I would still buy the RS Rolling Backpack because I know that there will be a time when it will be necessary to carry it..but for a general trip to Europe ....it's not essential in my opinion.
This is the bag: https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/rolling-backpack
It's pretty light, the material seems quite thin so we'll see how ,long it lasts but otherwise the layout is fine, it has enough pockets, good handles and if you use organizers (my wife did not) it can pack pretty neatly and still have room for a few great bottles of wine.

Thanks Mack for your great overview. Good advice and gave me a chuckle as well. Thanks

Why a backpack? I have an issue with one of my shoulders and don't want to lift a rolling carryon. My backpack, which doesn't meet the OP's requirements, only weighs 15 lbs when fully packed and I can distribute the weight equally between my shoulders. I can walk faster in airports to keep up with my husband with a backpack than with a rolling bag, which I do still use In situations where I won't have to lug it on steps, such as on a bus tour(not RS). I can then use my backpack as a personal item(as long as I don't pack it full) which is still better for my shoulders than my much-loved and still in good shape LL Bean bag.

The main key to lightweight is to pack light and get a small bag. I'm thinking around 35 liters (about 2100 cubic inches). The bag will be lighter than a 45 or 55 liter one, and (more to the point) so will your load.

You will of course note that the key to this strategy is not so much the right bag but the right "Pack light" routine.

Another key, which you seem to grasp intuitively, is no wheels, which are heavy.

Ebags has its own line. I use the Mother Lode TLS Weekender as a second bag for longer trips. Found out about it via this Forum. https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-weekender-convertible/143101?productid=10492749

Before switching to the Mother Lode a lot of us on the Forum swore by a $29 bag from Campmor, but then Campmor splashed its name all over it in huge white letters you could read from outter space..

Take a look at the Osprey Talon series - comes in a number of sizes - fits really well and is light weight. I've been using mine for about 5 years though mainly in the mountains as i prefer a light weight roll-on (also from Osprey) for travel. I love the fit and how light it is plus the hip and chest belts keep the backpack close to your body.

You might want to check out the REI Rucksack, https://www.rei.com/product/118816/rei-co-op-ruckpack-40-pack-womens and the man's version, https://www.rei.com/product/118815/rei-co-op-ruckpack-40-pack According to the comment section, both packs can be used as carry on luggage. My husband owns the man's version and likes it very much. I have my eye on the woman's version. Both packs fall within your cost limit. Yes, we are both seniors (64 and 68) and still love to hike, backpack and travel!

We tried the Rick Steves convertible backpacks a few years ago and I felt like I was going to fall over backward! I am short and it just was not the right fit. Plus, I needed a daypack and the 22” size for our rather long trips.

After experimenting with R.S. 22” rollaboards plus Civita day packs, we settled last year on Osprey Ozone 22” rollaboards and coordinating day packs. The cases themselves are much lighter than the R.S. line, durable, easy to pack. We love the Eagle Creek lightweight packing cubes, too. Anything I can do to reduce weight!

We do check the roller bags these days as we take our trekking sticks and they can not be carried on. But we always spend a couple of nights in our arrival city to acclimate and in case of issues with luggage. So far so good!

Thanks to one and all for your helpful suggestions. I will be checking out the MotherLode Weekender, Tortuga, REI -Rucksack and the Osprey brands. I feel that at least now we have a starting point. Take care and safe travels.

I checked and I too carry the Osprey ozone and I love it. My wife has the Osprey Meridian which came with back pack straps that I removed as she prefers the roll on. It is built of stronger materials than the Ozone and therefore feels a bit bulkier.