Arnor B
Traveller
4 comments
Posted 17 years ago
Hi kids.
I'm going on my first Interrail this summer, and I was wondering about the possibility of using a small suitcase on wheels instead of a large backpack.
It's mostly because I don't have a very strong back. I'll mostly be travelling in cities, and I'm not really planning on going hiking in countrysides, and no camping for me!
All insights and experiences on this matter are very much appreciated!
Radu
Traveller
4 comments
I do my shoping with something similar and let me tell you it's not a walk in the park like you would think: those suitcases are specifically made for airport terminals and for shopping over small distances but that's about it. If you have to go through a city with one it will kill your arms (because you have to lift it at every curb, every staircase and because it puts allot of stress on one shoulder only), back* (if it's to small for you and you won't notice this in the shop but while you're walking at a fast pace) and feet* (you have a small one that hits your heels).
*those two could probably be avoided if you buy the right size but dragging a suitcase on stairs, over curbs will tire you out more than any backpack that sits nicely balanced on your shoulders will.
I have a small backback though that has wheels wich can be covered by a cloth so that you don't get dirty when you carry it on your back but the frame for the handels is a bit rough and not very confortable.
I suggest you go with the simple backback or if you can find one with wheels but with a better frame constructed to fit a human's anatomy (not that of a block of stone:\).
incolume
Traveller
4 comments
I'm waaaay to poor to splunge on a new comfy backpack from wolfskin etc. :( All i have is the really old one from my mom that has about the volume of a sleepingbag (rolled up hahaha) and was already completely full when I just went to a 3 day festival, and now a 30 days trip? I was considering bringing a small suitcase along as well but wondering about the same problems :( In most cities we'd be staying with friends or in a youth hostel, but on those that we're just passing through for a day sightseeing would really suck with a suitcase or even a suitcase AND a backpack. But on the other hand I have severe backproblems and as i said, we'd be mainly satying in youth hostels etc. but as we aren't gonna make reservations we'll have to bring along a tent and sleeping bags, too. What do you think I should do? Are suitcases really THAT bothersome?
Thanks for your help :)
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
I always used a backpack ... but I also often stayed somewhere in nature ... hmmm... and my experience says: if you only jump in a train with your suitcase, then leave it for the next hostel using public transports (subway, buses,...) it is okay...! :)
When you will not sleep in a hostel, only sightseeing the city, you can often use lockers in the stations where you can place your suitcase during the day. but it is sometimes really expensive... not unusually to pay 5 EUR per day...!
and in some cities, especially in Spain, I often had problems finding such lockers (reason: panic of terrorism/ETA) ...
and still something what I remember... only from seeing ... but suitcases seems really to work: watch the people from Asia/Japan visiting Europe. Most of them have suitcases - but also most of them uses taxis and hotels. :|
so for me, only a backpack is the real mean of transport... but suitcase is possible !! :) :)