I am going to be traveling through Greece for five weeks. I want to pack light and have a backpack but a roller bag is easier on my back. Does a backpack exist that has removable or storable wheels that could function both ways and still be carry on size? Or could I buy a wheeled frame that I could fold up into my current backpack and when I wasn’t using it? I have tried to research this online, but wasn’t very successful. Thank you.
Posted by
Freedonia
17809 posts
You're best option would be looking for a wheeled backpack. They can be used either as a backpack or a wheeled bag.
Rick Steves sells one on this site.
https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/rolling-backpack
A removable wheeled bag would be more prone to breakage in the wheel area. A removable frame still has to be carried.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12847 posts
No idea where you are planning to go, but we did the 2 week RS tour of Greece and not once did I think "I wish I had a backpack", while moving about with our roller bags.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
23678 posts
Backpack or roller bag …. Hmmmmm.
Okay, so I use both. The carryon is a 14 x 9 x 21 inch roller bag (so it meets the requirements of maybe 90% of the airlines in Europe. Its a hard sided bag (so I can over pack it and it stays legal size and so it slides easy in and out of the overhead on the plane). Its four wheel (so I don’t have to hold it to keep it from falling over and so I don’t have to drag it behind me and trip people and so it goes up the airplane aisle easily). Oh, and it’s a clamshell which means I don’t have to unpack the whole bag to find anything. Rarely need to unpack at all. Never had an issue with the bag on any surface. I travel to well-developed locations like Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Romania, Bulgaria so not that many cobblestone sidewalks between the airport and the hotel door.
But my personal item is a small backpack. Amazon Rangeland for $25 (almost 20 years ago, now $35 … outrageously expensive now!) which has a strap to go over the handle of my carryon. Because a lot of airlines don’t weigh the personal item I got used to putting all the heavy stuff in it. That and the stuff TSA might flag (packed at the top).
So, what about the backpack? First, there needs to be legislation to make it illegal to wear one inside. I am tired of being knocked around on the metro, in train stations and airports and having to stand 5 feet behind the guy in front of me because he has a 80L backpack strapped on in the grocery store. So, when do you wear it? When transporting your camp stove and pup tent in the national park is a good location.
Mine? Just a bag to throw over the handle of my carryon. Never goes on my back unless I am out fishing. Okay sometimes over one shoulder …. From there it drops easily to my hand if I go inside.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1297 posts
A rolling backpack weighs way too much. I was surprised to see RSE selling one because I remember Rick saying that a bag that tries to do two things rarely does either of them well. Take the roller bag. Spare your back.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11559 posts
We just did May 28 - June 28 in Greece , 4 islands lots of ferry rides and only two hotels had elevators
I only brought a carry in roll about .
Backpacks are too hot to wear for me .
Posted by
Chicago
1794 posts
Rick Steves is 6 feet tall. When evaluating his suggestion of a backpack for travel, I would take that into consideration.
Rick's backpack advice was how young people, including me, "did" Europe in the summers during college. I'm long past that stage. It's a great approach to seek advice (on backpacks or another topic), but make the final decisions based on what works for you.
NB - I do not criticize, in any sense, those who find that backpacks work well for them.