When it comes to luggage, I am a bag hater.
As with many other aspects of travel, I have yet to find the bag that does it all for me.
I am continuously looking for the best travel bags out there.
What follows is a description of what I look for in luggage bags as an active traveler who prefers to pack light, travel widely, and go off-road whenever possible, as well as recommendations in each of the most popular categories.
Roller Board Luggage
Rollerboard suitcases are extremely popular. I dislike them since I am always traveling over rough terrain, carrying items to my destination (by hike or bike), and prefer to keep my hands free.
However, for a roller board-friendly travel scenario, I think G-RO bags are the most fascinating. They stand out with their huge, lightweight, all-terrain wheels, and the backpacks are both water-resistant and extendable. They are not the lightest option, weighing 9 pounds, but the idea is that you will not have to raise them as frequently. If you need to check it, the battery in this backpack is detachable to meet with current TSA restrictions.
MLCs
MLC stands for “maximum legal carry on,” which refers to travel backpacks that are the largest authorized by airlines. The precise specifics vary, particularly with international carriers, but an MLC bag will work on the majority of flights.
The idea started from 20-year-old travelers traveling around Europe who had previously worn climbing backpacks but disliked the outside look and feel. MLC travel bags are lightweight, well-organized, and durable enough to withstand lengthy periods of travel, all in an overhead bin-friendly size.
Large Backpacks
For larger weights, Deuter is often regarded as the best travel backpack manufacturer.
They are top loading and have a stronger suspension to bear more weight, making them ideal for outdoor use. Katherine, one of our staff members, swears on the Deuter ACT Lite 70+10 SL for transporting her belongings (she works remotely and travels full-time). One of the most popular characteristics is that, in addition to men’s sizes, they make travel backpacks for ladies.
Large Duffle Bags
Our most fascinating travels, in my opinion, frequently necessitate the transportation of equipment. Wetsuits, skis, trekking boots, and so on. These things immediately need traveling beyond carry on. When I check a bag, I like to make it a duffel to go with the backpack I’m currently carrying on the plane.
I recommend the Patagonia Black Hole as a fantastic travel duffle bag. Honestly, I believe duffel bags are generally overengineered. I’ve owned several extremely durable, more basic duffel bags that lasted a long time but were not as hefty.
Carry Isn’t Easy
Bags are difficult, and when I talk to people, I discover that they usually have a number of them for various situations.
Despite my ongoing search for the ultimate bag, it’s worth remembering that most people carry their belongings in non-fancy technical bags. I’m inspired by how other civilizations get things from A to B. Take a peek at some of the resourceful examples below!