What’s Right For You: Backpacks Or Suitcases?

The debate between a backpack or a suitcase for travelling has been going for so long, and the heat is still sizzling. 

A common misconception is that one is simply better than the other.

For example, one might think a backpack is lighter, and so it is a complete alternative for the suitcase. 

The truth is, the answer is not one-size-fits-all. Whether a backpack or suitcase is better for you depends on some very real categories of your trip.

Start with five questions: where are you going, how often will you move, how will you get around, how much will you pack, and how comfortable are you carrying the load?

Choosing between a backpack and a suitcase depends on many factors.

When To Go For A Backpack Or Suitcase - Quick Guide

Choose a backpack if:

• You’re changing cities or accommodation often.

• You’ll use trains, buses or public transport regularly.

• Your route includes stairs, hills, cobblestones or uneven streets.

• You want to travel light or stick to cabin baggage.

• You prefer keeping your hands free while moving around.

• You’re staying somewhere with limited room to open large luggage.

Choose a suitcase if:

• You’re staying in one place for most of the trip.

• You’ll mainly travel by taxi, rental car or private transfer.

• Your destination has smooth pavements, lifts and good infrastructure.

• You’re carrying heavier belongings and don’t want the weight on your back.

• You expect to bring home plenty of shopping or souvenirs.

First, Consider Where You Are Going

Infrastructure is important to note. Not all destinations have the same friendliness for a backpack or suitcase.

For instance, if you are a backpacker who frequents hostels. You may be better off with a backpack in most countries. But Japan is one of the rare countries where hostels and even the trains are suitcase-friendly. So our advice is do your homework first.

Where Suitcases Thrive

• A suitcase comes with wheels. Wheels work best when there is a flat surface. Modern cities with smooth pavements and buildings that come with lifts and escalators are ideal for wheeled luggage.

• If you’re travelling to, for example, Dubai or New York City, then you can comfortably travel with a suitcase. 

Where Backpacks Win

• A backpack, on the other hand, aids in the exact opposite scenarios - hilly cities with stairs, ancient streets that are cobblestoned, or rural areas that require a lot of hopping on and off public transport.

• In other words, a backpack is unbeaten when the terrain is uneven, and you have to do a lot of manoeuvring.

Think About How Long Is Your Trip

Backpack is king when it comes to weekend getaways.

• For quick getaways (under 2 days), suitcases tend to be an overkill.

• For short trips (under a week) and standard trips (under 5 days), both work well, so you’ll have to take into consideration the terrain. 

For extended trips, suitcases generally hold the edge. Wheels spare your back over long hauls through airports and cities.

That said, this is just an estimation. Besides trip duration, there are many factors that can impact how much you will pack: climate, packing habits, laundry, shoes, electronics, etc.

For example, a minimalist traveller can comfortably use a 30L backpack for a week or more, with a capsule wardrobe and a very streamlined essential list. 

Common travel backpack sizes

Common travel suitcase sizes

Then, Check Your Baggage Allowance

Another thing to keep in mind is the baggage allowance of airlines.

If you’re flying, this is the number one thing you should prioritise. 

Many full-service airlines offer a whole package of both cabin and checked baggage. For example, British Airways allows a personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm), a cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm), and 1 checked bag (23 kg) in Economy for free. That can translate to:

• 1 small backpack, typically below 28L, 1 larger backpack, and 1 suitcase (Medium to Large)

• Or, 1 small backpack, 1 cabin-sized suitcase, 1 regular suitcase (Medium to Large)

On the contrary, budget airlines tend to allow only 1 personal item for free with the larger cabin bag being paid.

So your ticket fare allows 2 carry-ons, feel free to bring a suitcase along with a small bag.

If your ticket includes only one underseat bag, it makes more sense to stick to a backpack.

Be Mindful Of Getting Around

You wouldn’t think there’s much of a difference when between a suitcase or backpack for travelling around your destination, until you’re actually there. By then, it’s probably too late to undo the mistake.

Pros of getting around with a backpack

• Maximum mobility on public transport, especially during rush hours, like Tokyo at 8 a.m.)

• Getting around the city with your hands free for checking the map and taking photos

• Moving up and down ancient buildings

• Saving money in checked baggage 

A suitcase still makes senses when:

• You get around mostly by car. If you plan to road-trip, then a suitcase, which will likely sit in the back of the car most of the time, works. 

• You’re staying in at one location only for the whole trip, such as a resort in Bali

• You’re sharing one suitcase with family members.

Pay Attention To Your Accommodation Type

Kate, our Partnerships Coordinator, speaks about how she travels: “If I'm staying in one hotel and mostly using taxis, a suitcase makes more sense. I can unpack everything and leave it open.”

Ask yourself these questions:

• Does the accommodation have a lift?

• Are there narrow stairs?

• Is the room/dorm too small to open a suitcase?

• Are you changing accommodation every night?

• Are you walking 15–30 minutes from a station?

The more yes you get, the better it is for picking a backpack over a suitcase.

“If I'm changing trains, walking between accommodation and stations or using public transport, I prefer a backpack. I don't want to drag wheels over cobbles,” Kate says.

Consider Weight, Comfort, and Physical Demands

Going off-the-beaten-path is often better with a backpack.

Before you even start packing, you can almost tell if a backpack or suitcase is good for you just based on their weight and fit.

Everything is lightweight when nothing is in it, but a suitcase is definitely always heavier than a suitcase. For a backpack, even when they’re lighter, you will be carrying all of the load you pack on your shoulder and back. 

How Much Do Suitcases Weigh Empty?

Weight: An empty hardshell suitcase can weigh between 2 kg to 7 kg empty, depending on the materials and size. For most airlines’ baggage policy, that’s like a good chunk of dead weight counted towards your allowance.

Comfort: A suitcase is unbeatable on smooth terrain. Since you’re not carrying it, your back and shoulders can stay completely load-free.

How Much Do Backpacks Weigh Empty?

Weight: Travel backpacks typically weigh ~800g to 2,5 kg empty, depending on materials and the internal frame (or lack thereof).

Comfort: You wear all the load, regardless of terrain. If you pack too heavily, you might run the risk of straining your back and shoulders. You might find your centre of balance a little off as you’re walking.

Some are specially made to be even more lightweight, such as CabinZero’s 28L Classic at 600g. 

Their weight gives you an advantage over suitcases in terms of airline weight limits. Budget airlines like WizzAir or RyanAir often cap the free underseat bag at certain size and weight

When designing a travel backpack, capacity is only part of the equation. Weight, opening style, strap design, organisation and how the bag behaves when you're moving all affect how useful it feels on the road.

The best way to avoid this issue is to shift the weight to your hips, which is something most well-designed backpacks can do. They come with features like a hip belt, adjustable padded straps that are wide and an intuitive-packing layout that lets you know how much you should pack in one compartment.

Accessibility

A clamshell opneing lets you pack a backpack like a suitcase.

Choosing between a travel backpack or suitcase, you should think of accessibility. Alongside weight, it is one of the factors that will bless you or curse you later on into your trip. For example, you’re trying to dig through every pocket to find an item, in a queue, at a crowded airport.

Let’s look at some pros and cons about suitcase or backpack for travelling in terms of accessibility.

• Suitcases are always easier to access, but you will need more space.

It’s true that suitcases give you a full view of what you have packed. You can easily find things you need in a quick glance. That is, if you have a big enough space to open your suitcase. Keep in mind that shared accommodation like a dormitory might not provide enough space to open your suitcase all the way.

• Backpacks are difficult to dig through, but some let you pack like a suitcase.

If the backpacks are top-loading, then you might need to do some digging. You will have to pack vertically, and most of the non-essentials need to be at the bottom. Grabbing something from the bottom means you have to take the top items out. 

Travel backpacks are diverse. There are many models out there that have a clamshell design that offers the same front-loading packing mechanism as a suitcase to solve the problem. 

Using Packing cubes for your backpacks or suitcases:

Packing cubes can be used for both a backpack and a suitcase. 

• For a suitcase, you can use packing cubes to separate items. If you don’t have enough space to fully open your suitcase, just take out the cube you need.

• For a backpack, even with a top-loading design, packing cubes add some extra compartments. They also help keep things organised and in-place while moving.

Backpacks With Trolley Sleeve - The Best Of Both Worlds

You don’t have to really make a choice between a backpack or a suitcase. The right answer usually depends on the trip, not which type of packer you are.

Here are a few combinations you'll actually see at the gate:

• Suitcase + small backpack: A carry-on or checked suitcase does the main packing job. A small backpack carries whatever you want to hand — passport, phone, a book for the flight.

• Checked suitcase + personal-item backpack: Check the big case, keep a slim backpack as your personal item. Everything you need mid-flight stays with you; the rest is out of your hands until baggage reclaim.

• Carry-on roller + laptop bag: Common on work trips — a rolling case for clothes, a separate laptop bag for the flight and for meetings once you land.

• Backpack + day bag: One main backpack carries the trip. A smaller packable day bag comes out once you're there, for hikes, markets, or days you don't want to carry everything.

• Rolling backpack: Straps and wheels in one bag — carried when the ground's uneven, wheeled when it isn't.

That last combo is where a trolley sleeve earns its keep. CabinZero backpacks with a trolley sleeve slot straight onto your suitcase handle, so your hands stay free for coffee, your passport, or a kid who's had enough of queuing. Check out our collection of bags with a trolley sleeve to travel hassle-free now.

Is It Better To Travel With A Backpack Or Suitcase: The Bottom Line

Whether you choose to travel with a backpack or suitcase, the real winner is the one that works specifically for your trip. Some days, it’s a backpack. Some other times, it’s a suitcase.

We hope you find your true travel companion between a backpack or suitcase. Don’t forget to stop by our Blog and social media to stay ahead of news on all things travel related.

Nguyen Tran Gia Khanh