Zen Backpacks

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Travel Styles

There are a lot of different ways to backpack internationally, in the urban environment and in conjunction with flights, trains, busses, pack animals, etc. One way of breaking styles is by pack configurations.

As traveling often involves exposure to other people and often thieves and other criminals, many travel packs have special security features built in. Travel Pack Security is also discussed on our Backpack Security - Choosing a Backpack Page .

Single Lap-sized Pack - aka Ultralight Backpacking and Minimalists

Backpackers who like to travel light, and often on a tight budget may choose to just carry a single lightweight pack that they can fit on their lap when taking public bus rides, hitchhiking, or use it as a carry-on while flying. These backpackers are minimalist who carry just the bare essentials and are therefore very mobile. This type of backpacking is not for everyone but opens up all kinds of traveling possibilities since one is not burdened by heavy and cumbersome gear that needs special transportation and storage needs.

Rick Steves' 40L Carry-On Convertible

Shown expanded to 50L

Pack are generally small at 30L in size or so and vary greatly as per personal preference and what might be found for really cheap overseas. Anyone interested in minimalist traveling should visit travelindependent.info and Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door for tips and information on many aspects of international travel.

Single Pack often with Daypack

Many backpackers choose to carry a backpack with all of their gear and a daypack for day hikes. This allows them to travel with extra clothes and perhaps sleep gear and still allows them to travel light during the day if they have a place to store their main pack. You will see many backpackers traveling around with huge packs. It seems like a bit much, but some travelers don't seem to mind too much despite the difficulties with public transportation and walking through tightly packed shops.

Many backpackers carry a single backpack (ranging from medium sized to enormous) with all of their essentials. They tend to carry more comfort items than the ultralight backpacker and often need to drop off their packs at a hotel or hostel or find a place to store them before setting off on day hikes.

Vango Planet-System

Zip off combination pack are quite popular. They are generally made of pretty durable material with a hideaway suspension system and a removable daypack. This allows you to easily check in your pack without the suspension getting damaged or caught up during transport and once you've reached your destination, you can remove your daypack drop off the main pack and go trekking with just a small pack.

Multiple Luggage Travelers

Many travelers need to carry multiple pieces of luggage on their journeys. They may need mission essential equipment for a medical mission, are picking up or dropping off some special items found only in a particular country, or need to pack 14 pairs of shoes to match all of their outfits for their trip. These travelers will need to travel directly to the hotel after landing at the airport and plan on a private bus or van to get around if moving all of their gear.

Osprey Meridian 22 /60L

Wheeled luggage and/or even hard cased luggage may be the best option, possibly with a separate daypack as a carry-on. This may be more appropriate and even ideal for those who don't need to be very pack mobile while moving from hotel to hotel and would like to carry a lot of equipment or comfort items.

Backpack Types

Small Packs

There are so many packs that may be suitable in this category and selection if very backpacker specific. Volume can be as small as 30 to 40L and still be usable.

Rick Steves is a popular TV and radio travel figure in the US and has a popular and simple line of small packs in the 30L and up categories specifically designed for more minimalist type backpacking. Some of these allow you to maximize what you can pack into a carryon sized bag by basically making a square bag that fits the dimensions of common airline carry-on restrictions. Unfortunately, many of the bags designed specifically to be airline carry-ons have minimal suspensions that are not very comfortable for extended use. The idea of course is that if you are packing minimal amounts of gear, it doesn't really matter what kind of suspension you have as minimal is minimal.

Combination Packs - aka Travel Packs and Adventure Packs

Many of the popular travel packs made of durable ballistic nylon with many common features. These may include:

Stowable Suspension - the shoulder straps and hip belt can be tucked in the pack or covered with a zippered flap. This protects them from damage at airports and decreases the chance that they become tangled with other luggage or transport equipment and become lost.

Eagle Creek Grand Voyage with daypack unzipped

Integrated Daypack - Many packs have a daypack that is zippered, clipped and/or strapped to the main pack. This is a nice feature which allows you to carry a daypack and main pack as a single unit. Unfortunately, many of the combination packs have less than desirable daypacks built into them and are often quite pricey. With a little bit of ingenuity, a DIYer can setup their main pack to hold a daypack.

Built in Security Cable - Many packs have a built in security cable that affords you a more secure lock point for chaining your pack down to a bed frame or train seat.

Lockable Zippers - A nice feature since you may have to leave your pack in sketchy hotels or become separated from it during transport (airports, busses, etc.). See Zipper Security of more information.

Popular Combination Packs: