What’s Right For You: Backpacks Or Suitcases?

The debate between a backpack and a suitcase for travelling has been going on for so long, and the heat is still sizzling. 

A common misconception is that one is better than the other.

For example, one might think a backpack is lighter, so it is a complete alternative to a suitcase. 

The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Whether a backpack or suitcase is better for you depends on some very real categories of your trip.

Start with five questions: where are you going, how often will you move, how will you get around, how much will you pack, and how comfortable are you carrying the load?

When To Go For A Backpack Or Suitcase - Quick Guide

	Backpacks	Suitcases
Comfort	Easy on stairs, public transport and uneven streets You carry the full load on your body	Wheels take the weight off your shoulders and back Wheels struggle with stairs, cobblestones and rough ground
Weight	Usually lighter when empty	Often heavier before you start packing
Organisation	Pockets and packing cubes make essentials easy to separate Top-loaders may require digging, but some have a clamshell opening to negate this Easier to store in small rooms and tight spaces	Opens wide so you can see most of your packing at once Large compartments make packing and unpacking straightforward Needs more floor space when fully opened
Size	Lightweight options can work well for cabin or underseat travel Soft-sided so easier to squish into the size	Cabin cases are convenient Larger, hard-sided models may need checking
Best for	Multi-stop Public-transport Lightweight trips	Fixed-base Car-based heavier-packing trips

Choose a backpack if:

• You’re changing cities or accommodation often.
• You’ll use trains, buses or public transport regularly.
• Your route includes stairs, hills, cobblestones or uneven streets.
• You want to travel light or stick to cabin baggage.
• You prefer keeping your hands free while moving around.
• You’re staying somewhere with limited room to open large luggage.

Choose a suitcase if:

• You’re staying in one place for most of the trip.
• You’ll mainly travel by taxi, rental car or private transfer.
• Your destination has smooth pavements, lifts and good infrastructure.
• You’re carrying heavier belongings and don’t want the weight on your back.
• You expect to bring home plenty of shopping or souvenirs.

1. First, Consider Where You Are Going

Infrastructure plays a key role; some destinations are more backpack-friendly with stairs and cobblestones, while others favour suitcases with smooth pavements and lifts.

For instance, if you are a backpacker who frequents hostels, you may be better off with a backpack in most countries. But Japan's infrastructure might make a suitcase more practical, so doing your homework can make you feel more in control of your trip.

Destination/terrain	Better choice
Modern city (e.g., Dubai, Singapore)	Suitcase
Cobblestones (e.g., Prague)	Backpack
Stairs (e.g., Paris)	Backpack
Hills (e.g., Lisbon)	Backpack
Rural area	Backpack
Overcrowded city (e.g., Tokyo, Shanghai)	Backpack
Resort town	Both
Airport-heavy travel	Both

Where Suitcases Thrive

• A suitcase comes with wheels. Wheels work best on flat surfaces. Modern cities with smooth pavements and buildings that come with lifts and escalators are ideal for wheeled luggage.
• If you’re travelling to, for example, Dubai or New York City, then you can comfortably travel with a suitcase. 

Where Backpacks Win

• A backpack, on the other hand, aids in the exact opposite scenarios - hilly cities with stairs, ancient cobblestoned streets, or rural areas that require a lot of hopping on and off public transport.
• In other words, a backpack is unbeatable when the terrain is uneven, and you have to do a lot of manoeuvring.

2. Think About How Long Your Trip Is

• For quick getaways (under 2 days), suitcases tend to be overkill.
• For short trips (under a week) and standard trips (under 5 days), both work well, so you’ll have to take into consideration the terrain. 

For extended trips, suitcases generally hold the edge. Wheels spare your back over long hauls through airports and cities.

That said, this is just an estimation. Besides trip duration, many factors can affect how much you pack: climate, packing habits, laundry, shoes, electronics, etc.

For example, a minimalist traveller can comfortably use a 30L backpack for a week or more, with a capsule wardrobe and a very streamlined essential list. 

Common travel backpack sizes

Capacity	Typical use	Rough estimation of days
20-25L	Personal item, day hike, day trip	1-2 days
28-32L	Cabin bag, weekend getaway	2-4 days
35-40L	Cabin bag, short trip, standard holiday	4-7 days
40-45L	Extended trip	7-14 days
50-60L	Checked baggage, even longer trip	14+ days

Common travel suitcase sizes

Size	Typical use	Rough estimation of days
Carry-on (18 - 22 inches)	Weekend, short trip	2-4 days
Medium checked (23 - 26 inches)	Standard holiday	5-10 days
Large checked (27 - 30 inches)	Extended trip	10-21 days
XL checked (30+ inches)	Even longer trip	21+ days

3. Then, Check Your Baggage Allowance

If you’re flying, this is the number one thing you should prioritise. 

Flight situation	Backpack advantage	Suitcase advantage
Personal item only	Soft-sided so easier to squish as needed	May need to remove wheels
Cabin bag	Lower empty weight, flexible shape	Easy to wheel through airport, especially with heavy loads

Many full-service airlines offer a whole package of both cabin and checked baggage. For example, British Airways allows a personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm), a cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm), and 1 checked bag (23 kg) in Economy for free. That can translate to:

• 1 small backpack, typically below 28L, 1 larger backpack, and 1 suitcase (Medium to Large)
• Or, 1 small backpack, 1 cabin-sized suitcase, 1 regular suitcase (Medium to Large)

By contrast, budget airlines tend to allow only 1 personal item for free, with the larger cabin bag paid.

So if your ticket fare allows 2 carry-ons, feel free to bring a suitcase along with a small bag.

If your ticket includes only one underseat bag, it makes more sense to stick to a backpack.

A Complete Guide: How to choose a backpack?

4. Be Mindful Of Getting Around

You wouldn’t think there’s much of a difference between a suitcase and a backpack for travelling around your destination, until you’re actually there. By then, it’s probably too late to undo the mistake.

Pros of getting around with a backpack

• Maximum mobility on public transport, especially during rush hours, like Tokyo at 8 a.m
• Getting around the city with your hands free for checking the map and taking photos
• Moving up and down ancient buildings
• Saving money on checked baggage 

A suitcase still makes sense when:

• You get around mostly by car. If you plan to road-trip, then a suitcase, which will likely sit in the back of the car most of the time, works. 
• You’re staying in at one location only for the whole trip, such as a resort in Bali
• You’re sharing one suitcase with family members.

5. Pay Attention To Your Accommodation Type

Kate, our Partnerships Coordinator, speaks about how she travels: “If I'm staying in one hotel and mostly using taxis, a suitcase makes more sense. I can unpack everything and leave it open.”

Ask yourself these questions:

• Does the accommodation have a lift?
• Are there narrow stairs?
• Is the room/dorm too small to open a suitcase?
• Are you changing accommodation every night?
• Are you walking 15–30 minutes from a station?

The more yeses you get, the better it is for picking a backpack over a suitcase.

“If I'm changing trains, walking between accommodation and stations or using public transport, I prefer a backpack. I don't want to drag wheels over cobbles,” Kate says.

6. Consider Weight, Comfort, and Physical Demands

Before you even start packing, you can almost tell whether a backpack or suitcase is right for you based on weight and fit.

Everything is lightweight when nothing is in it, but a suitcase is definitely always heavier than a backpack. With a backpack, even when it's empty, you'll still carry the load on your shoulders and back. 

6.1. Suitcases

Weight: An empty hardshell suitcase can weigh between 2 kg and 7 kg, depending on the materials and size. For most airlines’ baggage policy, that’s like a good chunk of dead weight counted towards your allowance.

Comfort: A suitcase is unbeatable on smooth terrain. Since you’re not carrying it, your back and shoulders can stay completely load-free.

6.2. Backpacks

Weight: Travel backpacks typically weigh ~800g to 2,5 kg empty, depending on materials and the internal frame (or lack thereof).

Comfort: You carry the full load, regardless of terrain. If you pack too heavily, you risk straining your back and shoulders. You might find your centre of balance a little off as you’re walking.

Some are specially made to be even more lightweight, such as CabinZero’s 28L Classic at 600g. 

Their weight gives you an advantage over suitcases in terms of airline weight limits. Budget airlines like WizzAir or Ryanair often cap the free underseat bag at a certain size and weight.

When designing a travel backpack, capacity is only part of the equation. Weight, opening style, strap design, organisation and how the bag behaves when you're moving all affect how useful it feels on the road.

The best way to avoid this issue is to shift the weight to your hips, which is something most well-designed backpacks can do. They come with features like a hip belt, adjustable padded straps, and an intuitive packing layout that helps you know how much to pack in each compartment.

7. Accessibility

A clamshell opening lets you pack a backpack like a suitcase.

When choosing between a travel backpack and a suitcase, think about accessibility. Alongside weight, it is one of the factors that will bless you or curse you later on in your trip. For example, you’re trying to dig through every pocket to find an item, in a queue, at a crowded airport.

Let’s look at some pros and cons of suitcases or backpacks for travelling in terms of accessibility.

• Suitcases are always easier to access, but you will need more space.

Suitcases indeed give you a full view of what you have packed. You can easily find what you need at a glance. That is, if you have a big enough space to open your suitcase. Keep in mind that shared accommodation like a dormitory might not provide enough space to open your suitcase all the way.

• Backpacks are difficult to dig through, but some let you pack like a suitcase.

If the backpacks are top-loading, then you might need to do some digging. You will have to pack vertically, and most non-essentials need to go at the bottom. Grabbing something from the bottom means you have to take out the top items. 

Travel backpacks are diverse. Many models have a clamshell design that offers the same front-loading packing mechanism as a suitcase, solving the problem. 

Let's Find Out: Backpack or Duffel Bag? 

Using Packing cubes for your backpacks or suitcases:

Packing cubes work for both backpacks and suitcases. 

• For a suitcase, you can use packing cubes to separate items. If you don’t have enough space to open your suitcase fully, take out the cube you need.
• For a backpack, even with a top-loading design, packing cubes add some extra compartments. They also help keep things organised and in place while you're on the move.

Backpacks With Trolley Sleeve - The Best Of Both Worlds

You don’t have to really choose between a backpack or a suitcase. The right answer usually depends on the trip, not which type of packer you are.

Here are a few combinations you'll actually see at the gate:

• Suitcase + small backpack: A carry-on or checked suitcase does the main packing job. A small backpack carries whatever you want to hand - passport, phone, a book for the flight.
• Checked suitcase + personal-item backpack: Check the big case, keep a slim backpack as your personal item. Keep everything you need mid-flight with you; the rest is out of your hands until baggage reclaim.
• Carry-on roller + laptop bag: Common on work trips - a rolling case for clothes, a separate laptop bag for the flight and for meetings once you land.
• Backpack + day bag: One main backpack carries the trip. A smaller packable day bag comes out once you're there, for hikes, markets, or days you don't want to carry everything.
• Rolling backpack: Straps and wheels in one bag - carried when the ground's uneven, wheeled when it isn't.

That last combo is where a trolley sleeve earns its keep. CabinZero backpacks with a trolley sleeve slot straight onto your suitcase handle, so your hands stay free for coffee, your passport, or a kid who's had enough of queuing. Check out our collection of bags with a trolley sleeve to travel hassle-free now.

Is It Better To Travel With A Backpack Or Suitcase: The Bottom Line

Whether you choose to travel with a backpack or suitcase, the real winner is the one that works specifically for your trip. Some days, it’s a backpack. Some other times, it’s a suitcase.

Category	Better choice
Smooth terrain	Suitcase
Uneven terrain	Backpack
Trip length	Backpack for short trips, and suitcase for extended trips; terrain and packing style are the deciding factors
Getting around	Backpack
Weight	Backpack
Comfort and physical demands	Suitcase, but a well-designed backpack works fine
Accessibility	Both have their pros and cons, and space and how you pack are the deciding factors.

We hope you find your true travel companion between a backpack and a suitcase. Don’t forget to stop by our Blog and social media to stay ahead of news on all things travel-related.

Nguyen Tran Gia Khanh