When to Travel With a Backpack Vs. Carry-on Luggage

• I went backpacking through Europe for two weeks and traveled by train through four countries.
• The trip left me thinking about how backpacking compares to traveling with a carry-on suitcase. 
• A backpack might be more convenient for flights, but suitcases are better for long travel days. 

With a love of fashion, traveling with just a backpack never appealed to me before 2022. There were always too many things I wanted to bring with me on my adventures.

But since I began taking more trips over the past three years as a travel reporter for Business Insider, I realized I needed to lighten my load to make it easier to hit the road for longer periods of time.

I made a minimalist travel style a priority in August 2022, when I spent a week backpacking for the first time through Eastern Canada. It turned out to be a lot easier — and more efficient — than I’d originally thought. 

So when I planned a two-week train trip through four European countries two months later, I decided to push myself to fit everything I needed into my backpack again.

For my European adventure, I was able to pack lighter than ever for the longest trip I’d ever taken. By the end of it, I questioned whether a backpack was really more convenient than a carry-on suitcase. In some situations, a backpack felt easier, but sometimes, I wished I hadn’t prioritized packing so lightly.

A backpack can make flying easier for budget travelers

One of my favorite things about flying with just a backpack is avoiding the stress of finding a spot for my suitcase in the overhead compartment.

I typically travel on a budget, which means I’m often in the last boarding group for flights. This tends to make having luggage more difficult, and I’ve often found myself frantically searching the aisles for any open spot — even if it’s nowhere near my seat. In other cases, I’ve gotten less lucky and been forced to check my bag at the gate. This leaves me wondering if my bag might get lost.

If you’re going to be in one of the first few boarding groups, I’d consider bringing a carry-on suitcase to make other aspects of your trip easier.

Suitcases are less physically draining — especially on travel days

On travel days in Europe, I had to carry my backpack for long periods of time. I wore it on the go to catch my train, and then when I arrived in a new city, I had to keep it on until I was able to check into my accommodation. I’d repeat the entire process when I checked out before catching a train to my next destination.

Each day, after wearing my backpack while walking for extended periods, my shoulder and back muscles felt incredibly sore.

I also wasn’t used to the weight and size of my backpack, which made it challenging to get around. And in crowded spaces, I found myself bumping into people with my pack before realizing that I needed to reconsider how I was taking up space. 

This made me long for a normal suitcase. Sure, carry-on luggage is larger and often needs to be wheeled around, but after lugging my backpack around all day, I felt as if it would have been easier and better for my body to bring a suitcase.

So, if you’re not used to carrying weight on your back and your itinerary includes long travel days, I’d consider taking a suitcase.