Rick Steve's Classic Backpack

I do not use a backpack, but to me it seems irrelevant how comfortable it is for other people.

Fill it up and walk around ( for an hour or two or however long you think your longest stretch would be) and see if YOU find it comfortable. Find out before you are 10 days into your trip and have an aching back

Rectangular shape is functional as luggage. Carrying the Classic Backpack a couple of K and up/down stairs/escalators is very doable. But that said, a real backpack with a harness-hipbelt suspension system would be more comfortable for carrying heavier loads longer distances.

The shoulder straps do not have a sturnum strap which could be a concern if you have narrow shoulders. And the Classic does not have a load carrying hip belt to share load between hip and shoulder. All of the load is carryied by your shoulders but that's only a problem if you are strength deficient or over load the pack.

Thanks for the idea of loading it up and walking with it. Of course that has been on my to do list. I won't be walking more than 30 minutes at a time. The shoulders are not an issue. I have wide shoulders but I am not as young as I once was! The support system of the backpack is of some concern. I will start walking around this weekend and see what happens.

I also plan on packing light.

I bought my "classic" from Rick Steves himself in 1985. Still holding up just fine. I will be using it for a month long sojourn this May through Eastern Europe. Tried others, always have come back to it.

That is great to hear! Over 30 years. Now I just need to really narrow down my packing list. I already have. I found a great thread on what people took that they didn't use and vice verse. Are there any things you have learned over the years? What I won't do this time is buy a pewter mug, a tablecloth and Christmas plate in Norway and haul it all over Europe for over 3 months like I did in the 70's.

since the top is as wide as the bottom

Since what I now pack for Europe only half fills a regulation sized backpack, and I would be very happy with a 2000 ci pack, I no longer worry about maximizing what I can carry on in a regulation sized pack. However, simple geometry tell us that a rectangular solid backpack (top is as wide as the bottom) would give you the maximum capacity within the linear limits the airlines give. A pack the tapers to the top just reduces the volume you can carry and still meet the size limits.

But, no, I do not find a pack that is as wide at the top as at the bottom uncomfortable. To me, having cinch straps to pull the load close to my back, and prevent it from sagging to the bottom, is more important.

ja,

You might find that using a backpack without a hip belt and torso range adjustment becomes tiring on the shoulders after awhile.

Although you only anticipate carrying it for no more than 30 minutes, there may be times when you have to wear it for longer.

Before deciding on which pack to use, I'd recommend having a look at packs that offer the features mentioned above. It's especially important to have torso range adjustment which allows the weight to be balanced between the hips and shoulders. Your profile doesn't indicate where you're located, but if there's an REI or similar store in your area, that would be a good place to start.

There are two general types of backpacks, panel load or top load. Panel load is probably more practical for travel. Some travel packs have a detachable daypack with is good for carry-on if the main pack is checked, and some have harness systems specifically designed for women. Some also have built-in rain covers and stowable harnesses which can be placed behind a zippered panel to prevent damage from airport conveyor systems.

You might have a look at packs from.....

• Eagle Creek - https://www.eaglecreek.com/shop/travel-packs
• Osprey - https://www.osprey.com/us/en/activity/travel/

It's a good idea to look at a range of options so that you get the product that best works for you.

Good luck and happy travels!

Add a raincover. Try any outdoor shop.

I'd recommend a travel pack with a more substantial hip belt than the RS version. It makes a huge difference in comfort if you can carry more of the weight on your hips rather than shoulders. My personal favorite is the MEI Voyageur. It's a very well constructed bag with everything you need and nothing you don't.

https://meipacks.myshopify.com/products/mei-voyageur

I have used the classic backpack for several trips, foreign and domestic now. Dont think of it as a hiking/camping/outdoors backpack: there is no frames, support straps etc. It is more of a formed duffle bag with shoulder straps, intended for carrying to and from airports, trains, hotels etc., not for walking around all day. I don't consider comfort as the intended main feature - its the convenience that makes it suitable for travel. You can put the straps into the back pocket and zip it up for hand carrying or checking. The best thing about it is that it is only 2 pounds, 3 ounces or so, leaving you a lot of weight for packing since many airlines restrict weight of carryons. I think it is great bag and a good value for the price.