Story Highlights Pro's & Con's of Wheeled Backpacks

What to Look For When Buying A Rolling Backpack

The Top Rolling Backpacks Reviewd

Careful Comparison

H

ave you ever been travelling in a far off land pulling your rolling luggage behind you only to have the sidewalk end? Or been wandering through a foreign airport wishing you could set your backpack down? All while late to a flight or bus?

I’ll bet you have! It’s a dilemma every travel addict encounters at one point or another. And until now, there’s been no clear solution, Until now! Rolling backpacks and wheeled backpacks have come to the rescue of travellers everywhere, these backpacks with wheels are the versatile solution to all your luggage woes!

The Dilemma – Backpacks, Duffel Bags or Rolling backpacks?

Backpacks for travel can be amazing. They grant you a freedom of movement roller luggage travellers will never know. But what do you do when your back is killing you from a long day and you still have a 5KM walk to your accommodation for the night? At this point you’d wish you were pulling a roller duffel rather than trudging around with 20Kg on your back.

As travellers we’re conditioned to believe that the torn and beaten backpacks of the world scream “I’m Adventurous” to all who’d listen. In fact, I would argue that a backpack is simply another way to carry the gear you travel with. It’s not a form of travel as so many believe. I’m not anti-backpack you see, as a photographer I carry a camera bag the time. However, I hate the idea of being that dork with a backpack on my back and a photo bag on my chest as I wander the airports of the world.

It’s a well know fact that excessive use of a heavy backpack leads to health problems. But what if you could have the best of both worlds? The mobility of a backpack when the going got rough combined with the convenience & ergonomics of a roller bag. A backpack with wheels if you will! Would you give up your tried and true travel backpack? I would! In fact, I did. And I haven’t looked back!

See Also: The Best Backpacks for Travellers: Buy it Right

Wheeled Backpacks? Rolling Backpacks? This is a thing?!

Until recently the only rolling backpacks I’d ever seen were printed with kids cartoon characters and marketed towards grade school children. Then, a few months back I bumped into a luggage rep at Vancouver International Airport sporting a wheeled travel backpack. We got to talking, apparently luggage had been modernized and I’d missed the boat. Wheeled Backpacks are a thing and they’re here to stay!

Roll when you want, carry where you can’t.

If you still can’t wrap your head around the idea of a backpack with wheels think sophisticated rolling duffel bag and your favorite travel backpack got together after a booze fueled full moon party in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. The result is something to be proud of, no walk of shame needed here. Roll when you want, carry where you can’t. The best of both worlds, a backpack with wheels, it’s truly ingenious!

Pro’s of a Rolling Backpack for Travel:

Mobility

When all else fails you can always convert your bag, connect the straps and put it on your back! It seems like such a small thing but if you’ve ever traveled out of the first world you’ll know how important this can be! I can tell you from experience that roller bags don’t roll so well through sand in the heart of Africa or rural Greece’s cobblestone roads. Simply being able to put your bag on your back makes a world of difference! Rolling backpacks win this fight easily.

Ergonomics

The next largest benefit of rolling backpacks are ergonomics. Being comfortable in general is a huge part of your wellbeing and state of mind. But It’s even more important when travelling. By getting your bag off your back when possible you’ll be happier and healthier for all your adventures! Wheeled backpacks getting another point here.

Access

Living out of luggage is hard work at the best of times. Travelling with a backpack you’re usually only able to access your gear from the top or bottom. Finding what you’re looking for is downright painful and typically results in clothes everywhere. Rolling backpacks load like a duffle bag but still strap on your back. Best of both worlds!

Looks

I hate to say it. I was always taught not to judge a book by it’s cover, but first impressions count. In the real world it happens daily and you are judged by how you present yourself. As a travel blogger, writer and photographer roller bags (or in this case rolling backpacks) frankly, just look more professional. It shouldn’t matter, but it does… I get the best of both worlds with rolling backpacks.

Con’s of Wheeled Backpacks for Travel:

Weight

A rolling duffel bag will always be heavier than a similar quality backpack. Wheeled backpacks will always be heavier than a similar rolling duffel bag. You can’t simply combine all the parts from a backpack and a roller and keep it a featherweight! New designs have improved tenfold over the earliest offerings. But you’ll still be adding a couple pounds to your luggage weight with wheeled backpacks.

If you’re the type to pack everything and the kitchen sink, think long and hard. The extra weight of rolling backpacks could mean the difference between a simple check in and an overweight bag fee.

Space

Most backpacks keep a fairly slim form factor. Even when loaded up with a month’s worth of dirty clothes and travellers trinkets they don’t get in the way. Rolling or wheeled backpacks will always be bulkier. This isn’t a problem in most situations. That said you won’t be taking wheeled / rolling backpacks on your next trekking trip in Nepal.

If you’re looking at carry on sized luggage this can be a factor. The wheels, frame and pull handle of wheeled backpacks all contribute to a much less flexible piece of luggage. Less flexibility can lead to difficulty getting these bags into the overhead bins. When considering a wheeled backpack for travel this can be a problem!

Comfort

Wheeled backpacks won’t replace the real thing. It’s a compromise through and through. Reducing weight and bulk is the manufacturer’s first order of business. Skipping out on some of the features and padding you’d find in a back-country or travel specific backpack.

Many of the rolling backpacks I looked at had only a rudimentary strapping and suspension system. Almost an afterthought, I wouldn’t want to have to wear them for any real length of time. The quality wheeled backpacks we found (below) seemed to have had real thought put into them. Unsurprisingly it’s the top tier backpack brands that have given us the best options in the rolling backpack niche.

Buying A Backpack With Wheels – What To Look For

Obviously the best luggage for travel is the luggage you own. But If you’re looking to buy new travel luggage, I would highly recommend looking into rolling backpacks! When comparing wheeled backpacks or rolling backpacks for travel you need to keep a few main considerations at the top of your list.

Materials

From the canvas, nylon or cordura your backpack with wheels is built from to the foam that pads its straps. The quality of materials used in these rolling backpacks is a great indicator of their long term durability. Nothing is worse than getting a call at the airport that your cheapo luggage has split wide open and its contents littered across the tarmac!

Quality Wheels make all the difference on rolling backpacks!

Look for bags using tight weave, strong but lightweight nylon fabric complimented by heavier fabrics along the edges and backs where the most wear typically occurs.

Aluminum internal frames and handle hardware typically signal a higher quality product than stamped steel and plastic setups. Any wheeled backpack will end up taking some abuse so a robust frame and trolley system is a must!

The most important part of any wheeled backpack is of course the wheels. A rugged undercarriage and large polyurethane (vs cheap plastic) wheels will take all the abuse you can throw at them!

Comfort & Fit

The suspension system of any bag you might be considering should be well padded, highly adjustable and very importantly in warm climates, breathable. If at all possible try the bag on in store and load it with a couple of gallon jugs of water to ensure it sits comfortably on your frame.

Weight

Light is right when it comes to travel. The lighter your bag the easier it is on you. But a piece of luggage that is both featherweight and rugged is a unicorn in the world of luggage. While weight is a concern don’t overvalue it at the expense of more important elements such as material and comfort. A more comfortable backpack with wheels may weigh slightly more but the trade off could be worthwhile in the end.

What Size Do I Buy?

No matter what your significant other may have told you, size matters. 😛

It’s too easy while browsing bags to buy the biggest bag available. Restrain yourself, buying a bag just big enough for what you plan to carry is hugely important.

As a general rule of thumb 35-50L of space should suffice for ~4 days without hitting the laundromat, 50-70L, about a week and 70-100+L a week in cold weather destinations where you’ll be carrying insulated jackets and warm weather clothes.

No matter what your significant other may have told you, size matters.

While most bags we reviewed had some method of compression strapping, buying a 100L bag to hold 35L of gear is a fool’s errand. Lay out what you’ll typically travel with, compress and measure it against a known piece of luggage or do the math to determine its volume!

I personally use a 60L bag and manage 6+ days even carrying all the non-electronic accessories I require to photograph and blog about the locations I visit.

The Best Rolling Backpacks for Travellers Reviewed The Best Rolling Backpacks for Travellers Reviewed

Last update on 2020-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API