Backpack or Suitcase? How to Choose the Best Luggage for Travel
If you’re packing for your first trip, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make isn’t what to pack. It’s what you’ll pack everything in.
Should you get a backpack or a suitcase?
If you ask ten travelers, you’ll probably get ten different answers. Some people swear by backpacks, while others refuse to travel without a wheeled suitcase.
The truth is, neither is objectively better. The best choice depends on the kind of trip you’re taking.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each, the situations where they shine, and how to choose the right size if you’re buying your first piece of luggage.
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When a backpack is the better choice
For the kind of travel I usually do, I’d choose a backpack almost every time.
The biggest advantage is freedom of movement. Instead of dragging your luggage behind you, you simply put it on your back and walk.
That may not sound like a huge deal until you’re rushing to catch a train, climbing stairs at a metro station, weaving through a crowded market, or walking twenty minutes from the bus stop to your accommodation.
A backpack is especially useful if you plan to:
- Visit multiple cities during one trip.
- Stay in hostels.
- Use buses, trains, ferries, and public transportation.
- Walk long distances with your luggage.
- Take budget airlines with only carry-on baggage.
There’s a reason budget travelers are commonly called backpackers. Many budget trips involve exactly these situations, where being able to comfortably carry everything you own is a huge advantage.
One place where backpacks really shine is Europe.
Many of Europe’s most beautiful old towns were built centuries before wheeled luggage existed.
Their narrow cobblestone streets, steep hills, and endless staircases can turn even a short walk into a workout if you’re pulling a suitcase behind you.
The downsides of traveling with a backpack
Backpacks aren’t perfect.
Everything is carried on your body, so if you overpack, you’ll definitely feel it.
Backpacks also tend to wrinkle clothes a little more since they’re packed more tightly.
Some travel backpacks also open only from the top, meaning you may have to dig through half your belongings just to find a T-shirt.
If this matters to you, I’d recommend looking for a front-loading backpack that opens like a suitcase instead. But note that these may prioritize organization and laptop compartments over carrying comfort.
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Front-loading backpacks
When a suitcase is the better choice
Suitcases have one obvious advantage: you don’t have to carry them.
As long as the ground is smooth, rolling a suitcase requires much less physical effort than carrying a backpack.
A suitcase is often the better choice if you:
- Plan to stay in one destination.
- Are taking a resort or beach vacation.
- Will mostly travel by rental car or door-to-door taxis.
- Need to pack bulkier clothing, photography equipment, or formal wear.
- Simply prefer having more organization.
If your luggage is only going from the airport to the taxi, then from the taxi to your hotel, there’s very little reason to carry everything on your back.
Suitcases also tend to keep clothes neater and make it easier to organize your belongings into separate sections.
The downsides of traveling with a suitcase
The biggest weakness of a suitcase is that it’s completely dependent on the surface beneath it.
Airport terminals, shopping malls, and hotel floors are easy.
Cobblestones, gravel roads, muddy paths, sandy beaches, broken sidewalks, steep hills, and long staircases?
Not so much.
Even a relatively light suitcase can become frustrating when you constantly have to lift it over curbs, carry it upstairs, or drag it across rough ground.
What size backpack should you buy?
If you’re buying your first travel backpack, resist the temptation to buy the biggest one you can find.
For most people, a backpack between 35 and 45 liters is an excellent choice.
It’s large enough for trips lasting anywhere from a few days to several weeks if you pack efficiently, yet still compact enough to carry comfortably and, in many cases, use as carry-on luggage.
If you regularly travel during winter or need to carry bulky gear, you might consider a 50 to 60-liter backpack, but I wouldn’t go much larger unless you have a very specific reason.
💡 Not all backpacks are created equal
If you plan to carry your backpack for long periods, pay attention to how it’s built. A properly fitted hiking backpack will usually be much more comfortable than a basic school-style backpack.
Look for features like a padded hip belt, sternum strap, and internal frame, which help transfer much of the weight from your shoulders to your hips.
If you’ll mostly only be carrying your bag for a few minutes at a time, these features are less important.
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What size suitcase should you buy?
If you’re leaning toward a suitcase, think carefully about how often you’ll actually use it.
A 20 to 22-inch carry-on suitcase is enough for many trips and has the added advantage of avoiding checked baggage on many airlines.
If you frequently travel for longer periods or need more clothing, a 24 to 26-inch suitcase is a good middle ground.
Extra-large suitcases may seem like a good investment, but they’re heavier, harder to maneuver, more likely to exceed airline weight limits, and much easier to overpack.
Unless you’re traveling with your family or relocating, you probably don’t need the biggest suitcase in the store.
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20 – 22-inch suitcases
Should you get a hard or soft suitcase?
Both work well, but they have different advantages.
Hard-shell suitcases offer better protection for fragile items and are more resistant to rain. They’re also easier to wipe clean after a trip.
Soft-shell suitcases usually have more flexibility, making it easier to squeeze in that last jacket or souvenir. They often include external pockets too, which can be handy for keeping documents or snacks within easy reach.
For most travelers, either option is perfectly fine.
I would pay more attention to the quality of the wheels and handle than the shell itself.
Cheap wheels can turn even a short walk through the airport into an annoying experience, like getting stuck with that one faulty shopping cart at the supermarket.
Still unsure?
Here’s what I’d suggest.
If you think you’ll be traveling the way many budget travelers do, moving between cities, taking buses and trains, staying in hostels, and exploring on foot, buy a backpack. It’ll probably serve you well for years.
If your trips are more likely to involve resorts, rental cars, family vacations, or destinations where you’ll mostly unpack once and stay put, a suitcase is likely the better investment.
Neither choice is wrong. The goal isn’t to join Team Backpack or Team Suitcase. It’s to choose luggage that makes your trip easier instead of harder.
And remember, no matter which one you choose, packing smart matters far more. I’ve seen people struggle with enormous backpacks just as often as I’ve seen people wrestle oversized suitcases through train stations.
The right luggage is the one that’s appropriate for both your trip and the amount you’re bringing.
Planning your first trip? Browse my other travel tips for more beginner-friendly guides, or explore my Travel Toolkit for the exact resources I use to find flights, book accommodations, plan itineraries, and more.
