I recently came across a number of backpacks on wheels and as they seem to be on the increase, I thought I’d share my views and experiences with you all. Personally, I have only used them a couple of times as a last minute stand in when a lightweight rucksack of mine broke unexpectedly, but I got a good enough feel for them after carrying one around for a couple of months!
Click here to see Amazon.com’s range of backpacks with wheels
My first impression of a backpack on wheels is that it doesn’t quite look right! It looks like a hybrid between a traditional suitcase and a normal rucksack but have a ‘cuteness’ that many hardened backpackers would not want to be associated with. Everyone knows the looks they give people who turn up at a hostel with a suitcase, and I imagine people that using backpacks with wheels get a similar treatment.
Backpacks on Wheels - Not your everyday kind of backpack!
They do have many practice advantages however. They have a very rigid back as the handles go the length of the backpack when pushed in, which enables the whole front of the backpack to be hinged on a zip for easy access. Those who have travelled with a top load only backpack will realise just how useful this feature is. There’s nothing worse than having to empty the entire contents of your suitcase to get at a piece of equipment you packed at the bottom.
The wheels also mean that transporting the backpacking is a great deal easier than normal and it considerably reduces the strain on your upper body when carrying it around town. For those backpackers that like to go off the beaten track they would be a nightmare as stones and grit would soon get stuck in the small wheels.
Another attraction of a backpack on wheels is the variety of colours and patterns that they come in. I appreciate this won’t appeal to hardliners, but it may to those beginning to take up backpacking and girls in particularly may like to add a bit of flair to their outfit. A red and white striped rucksack isn’t for everyone, but it does make a change from the standard blue/black.
Wheeled backpacks have recently fallen in price, with many now available for under $30. However, don’t be fooled into getting a cheap in cheerful model as the build quality will not withstand a long trip away. Makes such as Barghuas and Jansport are very popular and as usual, Amazon has a very large range and is competitive on price.
To conclude, backpacks on wheels are not something I would set out to buy. For me, you can’t be the versatility of a standard backpack and they can hold significantly more, but I can see the attraction of the wheeled variety and certainly won’t be giving funny looks to those who choose to use them!
Click here to see Amazon.com’s range of backpacks with wheels
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