Travelling Backpacks

[crabman]

Sup ya'll

Looking at getting myself a backpacker style back pack for an NZ trip in August where I plan on just making my way with no plans from Queenstown to Aukland after a week of skiing. Also want something I could use to travel elsewhere in the world come later. Needs to be minimum 90L as I need to fit ski gear in it as well for this trip.

Any seasoned travellers out there have recomendations on backpacks to use??

Or should I just get a cheap 90L thing from eBay/Big W etc and take the gamble that it wont explode in transit. That way if it gets messed up by luggage handlers I wont cry on the inside.

Cheers for any opinions.

Jeremy

[Fozzy]

Ive got a black wolf which I have often packed to the point of explosion and it has never failed. Im not exactly nice to it and it gets abused pretty hard and still is in good shape..

[Anaru]

Must be a backpack? I travel around a lot (backpack/hostels & hotels) and prefer a good quality hard-shell suitcase. Unless you're going to be literally hiking to your accommodation, it's superiour I've found.

Downfall is you have to break out the gun show to lug it upstairs when they gave you a top floor dorm room at the backpackers with the broken lift but it's a small price to pay when you don't have to unload your whole backpack every time you want to find that shirt you want to wear.

[Mad_Aussie]

lol, backpacking with a hard-shell case. Yeah right.

Go down to Wellington Army Surplus dude, go try on a few packs. I've had a few Black Wolf bags over the years that seemed pretty solid.

[Anaru]

lol, backpacking with a hard-shell case. Yeah right.

Have you done it?

[Fozzy]

Also these http://www.kathmandu.com.au/Accessories/Travel/Packing_Solutions/40326/Packing_Cell_v2.html are your friend when backpacking..

I used to pack underwear in one ROLLED UP shirts in another and shorts etc in another very easy to remove and get what you want without fucking up everything else.

[crabman]

Doesnt have to be a backpack, was also thinking about those flashy wheeled duffle bags. Just hate being 'that guy' wheeling a suitcase/big bag around cities/trainstations etc though. Will try check out some black wolf ones for sure if they can cop a hiding.

Any info on Big W spec Caribee bags would be good, they have a wheeled 75L backpack with clip on 25L daypack for $80. Thats my kind of bargain haha

[Fozzy]

Ive not had a caribee travel backpack but had a laptop backpack and it was shit. Zips broke stitching came apart etc..

However I am pretty rough on gear so it could just be me.

[Anaru]

Also these http://www.kathmandu.com.au/Accessories/Travel/Packing_Solutions/40326/Packing_Cell_v2.html are your friend when backpacking..

I used to pack underwear in one ROLLED UP shirts in another and shorts etc in another very easy to remove and get what you want without fucking up everything else.

This^

also a travel power board comes in very handy (jackson pt2usb)
http://www.ji.com.au/products/PT2USB_main_zoom.jpg

[Mad_Aussie]

Have you done it?

What are you, 12? I have travelled all over the place. What a stupid thing to retort

[Anaru]

What are you, 12? I have travelled all over the place. What a stupid thing to retort

Wasn't really a retort as such, it was a fair question; If you've used both methods then you have a fair call. If you haven't then it's just a stupid thing to imply that using a hard-shell is not beneficial while backpacking when you haven't tried it.

[Roobiks]

I can't emphasise enough, spend the money and get something quality. Look at Macpac, North Face etc.
An not-so 'backpacker' bag that I have had great success with is a North Face 'Base Camp Duffle' (Waterproof duffle with shoulder straps). These things are excellent, bombproof bags. But if you were set on a pack type of bag, definitely look at Macpac, Arc'Teryx, North Face etc.

[POH73]

I can't emphasise enough, spend the money and get something quality

^^ This! I've had a cheap pack fail and it was a major drama until the day I threw it in the bin. Most importantly if going for a travelpack style instead of a top loader check that they have quality YKK zips. Anything else is shit and will cause a drama down the track. I'd even recommend applying some sort of wax/dry lube to the zips to keep them working and smooth in the colder climes. The Macpacs, North Face etc are expensive but treated reasonably well can easily last 10-20 years.

[crabman]

Cant really budget for the high end stuff right now. Did some online research for the Caribee's, seems a few have seen the kokoda trail with the porters using them etc.

Tried this Black Wolf one today, pretty comfy, hard to imagine it 20kgs heavier though.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BLACK-WOLF-GRAND-TOUR-WHEELED-BACK-PACK-85-LITRE-/200743632342?pt=AU_Backpacks_Hydration&hash=item2ebd40bdd6

Also spotted this one on eBay ( http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Black-Wolf-Ridgerunner-80-20L-Wheeled-Gear-Bag-Backpack-/290699458236?pt=AU_Travel_Luggage&hash=item43af09b6bc ) handier with the extra room if using it for ski trip but as I plan on bussing/training my way from queenstown to aukland i want the integrated daypack. I think this will be decided by flipping a coin lol.