Hey all.
This is my first post and I need some advice for backpack size on 2 weeks trip. I'm pretty new to the whole backpacking thing. Will be spending time in Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket etc) and Hong Kong. The trip will be 70%!u(MISSING)rban/city walking and 30%!n(MISSING)ature/forest/backcountry hiking. What would be your recommendation in term of backpacks?
I recently bought this pack (55 liters) with discount coupon that was about to be expired. It was one of the only few internal frame packs available at the store. It looks pretty nice and not too bulky.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3955079&010=7053666&cid=CSE:&cid=CSE:GooglePlusbox&003=3933188
Is this still too big? I can still return them. I am 5'5" and I am not sure if I need something bigger than 55 liters. Any advice? Thanks!
[Edited: 2011 Oct 17 00:33 - lennyd44:220336 - typos]
Reply to this Hello Lenny and welcome to Travelblog!
55 litres is going to sufficient for two weeks. However, I normally carry the same amount of clothing for a three week break as I do a two month break. Thus, it is not the amount of time that determines if you backpack is going to be too small or too big, it comes down to the items you place within it.
There are two ways to ensure that 55 litres will be enough.
Firstly, go on a spending spree to purchase a whole wardrobe of lightweight travel clothes that are tough, easy to wash, quick to dry and can be rolled to fill a small space. You may want to leave the jeans at home - they are heavy, bulky and dry slowly. You are heading to a warm clime, thus you are unlikely to need serious cold-weather clothes. However, if you do need something warmer for any cool evenings, bring thin and lightweight thermal undergarments. Good idea to buy a light rain jacket to protect against the rains as well.
Second, transfer your toiletries into smaller containers. I put my shampoo, shaving gel and body wash into containers no more than 100ml large (mine are usually 50ml). If you wish to bring a soap instead, just buy a small one (the size you normally find in hotels) instead of the larger variety. It is also possible to buy travel-sized toothpastes nowadays. After quite a few years of travelling, I've found that by following this rule, I have halved the weight of my toiletries and it takes much less room.
Hope this helps!
Reply to this I'm the same as Hal on this. I use the same 55 litre backpack for a week holiday as I did for a three month backpacking trip. Bearing in mind that you can get clothes washed en route and you can buy toiletries as you go and throw them out when you don't need them, there isn't much difference in what you need to take.
If you get bigger than a 55 litre at 5'5" you could risk looking like a turtle and it being a pain to carry around.
Reply to this Thanks for the advice. I will definitely take that into consideration during packing. My trip is about 3 weeks from now!
Reply to this 55L is plenty. I took a 65L pack and most of the time I only used 2/3's of it. I also carried a load of crap I didn't need. On my next trip I'm taking a 43L (carry-on size) pack.
Reply to this To give you an idea of what's possible, I once lost my bags at the beginning of a two-week trip. I bought some socks, underwear, and hygiene stuff, and with it a canvas grocery bag for one euro. I lived out of that bag the rest of the trip. It was the trip where I felt LEAST like a tourist because everywhere I was I looked like I was just heading home from the market 😊
It all boils down to how much you're willing to wear the same stuff every day. If you're seriously grungy you could get by with no bag at all! (That's a joke though, please don't try it!)
Reply to this A canvas grocery bag will definitely make you look like a local for sure haha.
Reply to this i have one of 40/45 liters and i tell you it's quite if you travel with couchsurfing ,, and then when if you have your bag on your back yes it's quite =) 55 it's ok i think if you go some where,and if you put inside the necessery stuff .. PS a plastic rope always useful!
less stuff you have it's better!!
ciao
moreno
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