Are you planning to go on a trip and wondering whether you should go with a backpack or use a suitcase? Well, you are not alone in this confusion. I feel I have a packing problem. It is either it is never enough or way too much. And usually, deciding between a backpack and a suitcase constitutes a major problem. But that was until I found out when to use a backpack and suitcase.
In this article, I am going to show you some interesting details you will need that can help you overcome your confusion in choosing between traveling with a backpack or a suitcase.
Should I Travel With A Backpack Or Suitcase?
The choice of what to travel with between a backpack and a suitcase boils down to the duration of your trip, the kind of clothing you are carrying, and the amount of items you want to carry with you. I use backpacks when I am going on a short trip like a solo weekend getaway or while I go about my digital nomadic venture. Suitcases, on the other hand, are for longer trips where I would need a lot of items.
Going further, I am going to discuss when to use each item. I will provide a sort of comparison guide to show when to use a backpack or a suitcase. This is going to help you decide what works.
When Should You Use A Backpack For Your Travel?
The following are some of the scenarios where I am likely going to use a backpack for my travel engagements:
Short trip or weekend getaway
If I am going on a short trip, say for three days, and all I intend to do is visit cool places, explore the city, or take a break, then my backpack is enough. This is because on such trips I do not have to carry a lot of items or delicate stuff.
We are starting a project soon on date night restaurants. So I am visiting a lot of cities and spending at most three days in each. All I have with me is my backpack. Thankfully, there’s a compartment for my laptop and charger so it is safe while I am moving around the city or backpack across airport lobbies.
These short trips do not require too much clothing and since I am not attending any formal event I can make do with a few tees and trousers.
Outdoor and adventure traveling
Another scenario where you should use a backpack for your travel is when the purpose of your trip is for outdoor adventure. So, if you want to visit a city because you want to go hiking, you will need a backpack for your trip.
A backpack will help you pack your supplies and gear properly and also assist your mobility. Imagine dragging a suitcase while you are moving along a mountain trail. Frustrating, right? Yes. You don’t want that. For outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, etc, a backpack is best suited for your trip.
Nomadic travels
If you are a digital nomad, your work essentials are the important things you need as you can work anywhere. Another thing to note is how you will need to move around. This is why you need a backpack – something you can just put on your back and hit the next work location.
You can get a good backpack that would comfortably carry the essentials you need for a trip as a nomad while also carrying your PC. I have backpacks for different purposes and different durations. Some I use when I have to make a day trip then there are others I use if the trip could go on for four days.
As Carry-on Luggage for Air Travel
When I need something to do the job of carry-on luggage but don’t want to get one, I use my backpack. The reason I use backpacks in this manner is because they work just like carry-on luggage allowing me to fit them in overhead bins and maneuver them through airports.
If I am going to have layovers on my trip, backpacks are my go-to. I often stock mine with a lot of snacks cause I love to munch on things while I work, read, or just wait for my flight.
When Should You Use a Suitcase?
I rarely use suitcases when I travel and that’s not because they are not useful. It is just that my travel engagements do not require it. I will discuss scenarios where you need a suitcase so you can get an idea about when to use suitcases instead of a backpack.
Extended vacations and long trips
The opposite of the first point under backpacks, right? Yes. and it is as simple as that. You should use suitcases when you are going on a long trip or have a vacation that can’t be considered a weekend getaway.
For instance, if you are visiting your friends in Europe and you plan to stay for a week or two. Since you will be going out a lot, a backpack wouldn’t be enough to carry your clothes and the things you might need. You get the idea now, right?
Business trips
This is one of the reasons I hardly use suitcases. I am not going for any business trips so why would I need to carry one? If you are going on a business trip, you are going to be needing a lot of formal attire, documents, and work items. These may fit in a backpack but a suitcase is better.
Since some business trips can be short, you might be tempted to want to use a backpack. But when you consider how your suits and gowns would look like when you arrive at your destination, you’ll realize that you are better off with a suitcase.
Traveling with bulky or fragile items
Another reason you should use a suitcase when you are traveling is if you will be going on the trip with items that are fragile. Let’s say you are transporting laptops, craft supplies, or artwork that could easily break if they aren’t handled properly. I would not advise that you use a backpack.
The hardback of the suitcase can help keep fragile items safe while you are in transit. You may also need to place a note on the suitcase that tells handlers there are fragile items in the suitcase so they are extra careful with your luggage.
Can I Use a Backpack Instead of a Suitcase?
There are a few reasons why you should use a backpack instead of a suitcase and I will outline them again below. You can only use a backpack during the following conditions:
- You are not traveling with formal attire, business documents, or sensitive materials
- You are going on a short trip or weekend getaway
- You won’t be needing too many clothing and items on your trip
- You aren’t traveling with any fragile item
- You aren’t going on a business trip
- You are a digital nomad exploring places for a short period
| When to Use a Backpack | When to Use a Suitcase |
| Short trip or weekend getaway | Extended vacations and long trips |
| Outdoor and adventure traveling | Business trips |
| Nomadic travels | Traveling with bulky or fragile items |
| As Carry-on Luggage for Air Travel |
Final Thoughts
There you have it. Making the right decision about the kind of luggage you need is dependent on what you want to do and the nature of the trip. This should be your prerogative. Having outlined the functionalities of each luggage type, I am sure you know which to go for when next you are considering if you should travel with a backpack or suitcase.