Travel backpacks

I actually think it is the worse of both worlds. Anytime you do a combination you trade off advantages and disadvantages. The wheels and handle adds extra weight and reduces capacity so if using as a backpack it is heavier than a regular backpack. Second, my personal experience is that the opportunity to use a wheeled bag in Europe is substantially less than the US because of crowds, sidewalks and street conditions, etc. In Europe we use the backpack style and in the US wheeled bags. We find wheeled bags in Europe a problem to use because of cobblestone streets and busted sidewalks.

I go to Europe every summer and take my RS 21" Roller Bag as my only suitcase. It has been all thru Europe, from Scandinavia to Portugal, from Eastern Europe and Turkey to the shores of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and I have never had any problems with any types of street or sidewalk surfaces. I do have to pick it up and carry it over occasional obstacles or stairs, but nothing insurmountable. I have been taking RS roller bags as long as he has been selling them and the only time I had a problem was when the expandable handle would not extend. I took it into the RS Headquarters in Edmonds, WA, and they replaced it without charge. I have a back problem that does not allow me to use a back pack so I am so happy that these roller bags have worked out so well.

I've had a RS Rolling Backpack waiting for me at home for over two weeks while I've been out of town; I plan to see just how much stuff from my RS 'Regular' Rolling Bag I can get in it LOL! I agree that it's generally preferable to pick either a rolling bag or a backpack, but I'm intrigued by the much-lighter weight of the RS bag. Being a firm believer in using a backpack if you're physically able to, I've really liked using my rolling bag from time to time... Watch for a review in the next week or so, and be sure to check out the other thread on this same subject!

My sister & I each purchased the 20" Rolling Backpack for a month-long European trip July 2010 & it packed EVERYTHING we needed. Prior to the trip, we took a practice mile walk with it-loaded-however, and realized very quickly that our 50+ year old bodies didn't react as well as hoped. We had the EuraillPass & it travelled extremely well with us from London to Brussels, Cologne, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Oberammergau, Venice, Florence, Rome, Milan, Lucerne, Nice, Carcassone, & Paris! We plan to use it again when we return in 2020 for the next Passionspiele!

My sister & I each purchased the 20" Rolling Backpack for a month-long European trip July 2010 & it packed EVERYTHING we needed. Prior to the trip, we took a practice mile walk with it-loaded-however, and realized very quickly that our 50+ year old bodies didn't react as well as hoped. We had the EuraillPass & it travelled extremely well with us from London to Brussels, Cologne, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Oberammergau, Venice, Florence, Rome, Milan, Lucerne, Nice, Carcassone, & Paris! We plan to use it again when we return in 2020 for the next Passionspiele! By "not reacting well", I mean that we instead packed he straps in the sleeve & used the rolling wheels.

Thanks for all of the helpful replies!

I think the newer designs etc make a combo a better option than it was even a few years ago, i was a die-hard backpacker until I realized everyone else was saving their back and using a wheelie just fine about 98% of the time. This included both independent travel with various partners and tours. I just got the RS combo for a month in Turkey and Greece. Pretty excited about saving my shoulders and back.

My husband and I have the Opsray 45 backpacks and they are great! You can use them either as a backpack or suitcase, but no wheels. I feel that wheels take up valuable packing space. You're better off just buying a collapsible wheeler thingy.

I agree with Frank that rolling backpacks are probably not the best idea. The wheels add weight and take up room. If you have wheels, you will probably roll it and find the straps do you no good whatsoever. Right now I'm using a Campmore Essential Carry-on backpack. It's cheap, very lightweight (under 1 1/2 lbs.), and works fine. I don't mind carrying it around (although sometimes, in Airports, I'm jealous of the roll-ons). My wife prefers a roll-on and uses a Hayes USA 20". It's well made and light, for a roll-on (just under 5 lbs.). She is happy with it. The only time she has to carry-it is getting on-off trains/metros/busses and climbing stairs at hotels. Although the cobblestones can be a problem, her bag has two large verithane (like a rollerblade) wheels that seem to work well. I'm not sure the small wheels on spin bags will handle the cobblestones as well, plus having four wheels adds quite a bit of extra weight to the bag.

I have an Eagle Creek Switchback Max 22 that is the same concept, roll aboard with backback straps...I never use it anymore( after one trip ). I find it too restrictive on space and never use the backpack straps. For the odd occasion I needed to carry it, I simply picked it up in my hand. Now I use Rick's Convertible Carry On instead, and love it. I think most people who buy the combo will end up not using the backpack straps. My opinion...buy a roll aboard, or a convertible carry on type bag, but not a combo of both, they just aren't that practical.

I discovered another way to deal with the backpack vs. wheels dilemma on my last trip. I took my RS Convertible Carry-on and a rolling tote bag as my personal bag. I put the RS bag on top of the tote bag to roll it at the airport or wherever else I could roll it, but could put the bag on my back and pick up the tote bag for stairs, on/off trains, etc. It worked out great!

Knud, A "Rolling Backpack" is generally not the best idea for travel for the following reasons: > The wheel and handle mechanism adds weight, making the product heavier when fully loaded and used as a Backpack. > the wheel and handle mechanism usually intrudes partially into the cargo area, which reduces the amount of room available for travel gear. > that type of product generally isn't designed with a waist belt, which is important when used as a Backpack. Even if a waist belt is provided, there's generally no way to properly adjust for the torso range of the user. I'd suggest making a decision between a "wheelie bag" OR a Backpack. Happy travels!