Need Assistance: Picking Travel Backpack

[hevnsnt]

My wife and I will be heading to Europe for a couple weeks in the near future, and we are looking to get a couple of packpacks to take with us. Requrements are that they shouldl be able to fit on the airplane as "Carry On" (that way we don't have to check them)

I figure there has to be some resident back-pack expert on here that can help me out!

Currently we are looking at:
Columbia Express

Any opinions on this, or better bags?

 

[gopunk]

i'm not an expert, but how are you going to be using these bags? living out of them? or will you be leaving most of your stuff in the hotel and just using the pack for misc personal items...

 

[DrVos]

Check out the Eagle Creek Travel bags at REI. I don't remember quite what the model name was, but it was great to carry around when I backpacked around Europe last year. I found that the removable zip-out day pack was very handy (I could leave travel books, maps, sunglasses, and water in the day pack porttion and take it all with me when i went out for the day). Depending on how you pack your gear, you shouldnt have to much of a problem getting the bags to fit in a overhead compartment.

 

[lowtech1]

You might want to get backpack that have supportive spines, waist strap & no more than 60 litters if you are doing more than an hour of walking a day.

And, it is best to go to your local shop, such as Mountain Equipment Co-op & get help with picking the right pack for you.

My favorite back pack that I own is the Arcteryx pack that I purchased in the mid 90s, but there are many others well made pack that can be had for much less money in today market.

 

[hevnsnt]

Originally posted by: gopunk
i'm not an expert, but how are you going to be using these bags? living out of them? or will you be leaving most of your stuff in the hotel and just using the pack for misc personal items...

Yes living out of them..

 

[kuk]

Originally posted by: hevnsnt

Originally posted by: gopunk
i'm not an expert, but how are you going to be using these bags? living out of them? or will you be leaving most of your stuff in the hotel and just using the pack for misc personal items...

Yes living out of them..

Then you should look for something larger ... around 75 liter.

 

[angrymaxx]

I spent 3 weeks in europe this last october staying at hostels and hotels and I used this bag. It was big enough to carry all of my stuff and small enough to use as carry on luggage. The girls on my trip carried the 2500 female version of it. Its a roomy bag, easy to pack, has a bendable internal frame and a hydration system with padded straps. Lemme know if you have any euro-travel questions.

 

[MoJoichiban]

I was going to ask for advice on the same issue here. I need a back for 3 weeks to live out of (Staying in hostels, train, etc.) Would like to use as carry-on. Weather condition are May-June in Italy, France and Spain. I would probably be using this back for backpacking after I get back this summer. Thoughts? Thanks
Rich