Before heading out on a trip, travelers often face the dilemma of choosing between a backpack or luggage. This is especially true for beginners who want a hassle-free journey while making sure they bring essentials like laptops and tablets, without fully knowing what to expect during the trip.
It's tough to say outright which one is better—backpack or luggage—but here's a quick guide. Putting aside functionality and personal style, the duration of your trip can be a key factor in deciding which to go with.
Long-distance travel usually means trips lasting more than 5 days, where you'll need to bring enough clothes and personal items. Honestly, most regular backpacks aren't ideal for this. While there are specialized backpacks that could work, in most cases, luggage over 22 inches is better suited for carrying and protecting your belongings on long trips. Here are some key factors that both backpacks and luggage should meet for long-distance travel:
Backpack
Backpacks for long-distance travel tend to have a tough, functional design, prioritizing durability and water resistance over style. The latest trend is hybrid backpacks that can switch between a suitcase and a backpack, often with detachable pouches for extra convenience. Travelers under 35 especially prefer backpacks for their comfort and practicality, with sales increasing by about 15% annually.
Luggage
Hard-shell luggage typically comes with 4-wheel spinners for easy movement and a durable hard or soft shell. Inside, there are compartments to keep things organized.
Modern luggage often has a sleek, minimalist look with metallic or textured finishes, making it popular with business travelers and frequent flyers. Smart luggage is also gaining ground, offering built-in chargers, GPS tracking, and weight sensors, especially for long trips.
Based on Aluvox market feedback, hard-shell luggage now makes up over 60% of sales in the high-end market, thanks to its superior durability and protection compared to soft-shell options.
For short trips, both backpacks and luggage under 22 inches can easily cover your basic needs. At this point, the choice mostly comes down to function and style. Some people prefer a sleek, all-in-one design, while others lean towards the luxurious look of aluminum luggage. So, there’s no right or wrong choice—it just depends on personal preference.
Backpack
Backpacks are great for short trips since they're easy to carry on as personal items, helping you avoid baggage fees. They're usually compact, and lightweight, and often come with a laptop compartment and quick-access pockets for essentials like passports.
Styles range from sleek business designs to trendy casual looks. The trend is leaning toward compact, versatile backpacks that work for both professional and casual use, with eco-friendly materials becoming increasingly popular.
Luggage
Carry-on luggage is essential for short trips, featuring spinner wheels, telescopic handles, and a durable shell. Many also have compression systems to maximize packing space, making them easy to fit in overhead bins and helping travelers skip check-in and avoid waiting for bags.
As more travelers opt for smaller, more efficient packing to avoid extra airline fees, carry-on luggage is becoming a top choice for many.
Another key factor when choosing between backpacks and luggage is the brand. While there are only a few globally recognized names, the following brands are well-regarded and meet the diverse needs of travelers. Though they vary in style and function, these brands are widely trusted by consumers and are worth your attention.
Osprey
Best for: Long-term travel, adventure trips, hiking
Notable Features: Ergonomic designs, comfortable padding, high-capacity models, and durability. Known for their All Mighty Guarantee, offering lifetime repairs.
Popular Models: Osprey Farpoint, Osprey Atmos
The North Face
Best for: Outdoor activities, everyday use
Notable Features: Weather resistance, rugged materials, multiple compartments for organization. Popular with both travelers and outdoor adventurers.
Popular Models: North Face Borealis, North Face Recon
Patagonia
Best for: Eco-conscious travelers, outdoor adventurers
Notable Features: Environmentally friendly materials, minimalist design, and multi-purpose use. Patagonia has a strong focus on sustainability.
Popular Models: Patagonia Black Hole, Patagonia Arbor Grande
Timbuk2
Best for: Urban travelers, commuters
Notable Features: Customizable bags, durable fabrics, and water-resistant features. Designed for urban professionals and cyclists.
Popular Models: Timbuk2 Authority, Timbuk2 Command
Herschel Supply Co.
Best for: Stylish, everyday travel
Notable Features: Retro designs with modern functionality. Known for style-focused backpacks with durable construction.
Popular Models: Herschel Little America, Herschel Retreat
Rimowa
Best for: Luxury travelers, business professionals
Notable Features: Known for their premium aluminum and polycarbonate luggage with high-end features like dual spinner wheels and superior craftsmanship.
Popular Models: Rimowa Classic Cabin, Rimowa Essential Check-In
Samsonite
Best for: All-around travelers
Notable Features: Offers a wide range of luggage from affordable to high-end. Known for durability, lightweight materials, and advanced features such as TSA-approved locks and smart tracking.
Popular Models: Samsonite Winfield, Samsonite Freeform
Tumi
Best for: Frequent flyers, business travelers
Notable Features: High-quality construction, premium materials, integrated technology like GPS tracking, and built-in USB ports. Tumi is also known for its sleek, sophisticated design.
Popular Models: Tumi Alpha 3, Tumi Latitude
Away
Best for: Millennial travelers, stylish short-trip travelers
Notable Features: Known for minimalist, modern luggage with thoughtful features like ejectable battery packs, compression systems, and durable shells.
Popular Models: Away The Carry-On, Away The Bigger Carry-On
Briggs & Riley
Best for: Business and luxury travelers
Notable Features: Lifetime guarantee on all products, innovative compression technology for packing more. Their luggage is known for durability and classic style.
Popular Models: Briggs & Riley Baseline, Briggs & Riley Sympatico
Delsey
Best for: Affordable, stylish travel
Notable Features: French brand offering chic, functional, and durable luggage. Known for lightweight construction and attention to design details.
Popular Models: Delsey Helium Aero, Delsey Chatelet
Xiamen KAKA Backpack Co., Ltd.
Best for: Functional and stylish backpacks
Notable Features: Specializes in backpacks for urban, school, business, and travel use. Known for high-quality materials, durable zippers, and multi-functional designs. They offer both OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) services.
Global Clients: Export to North America, Europe, and Asia.
Quanzhou Leader Bags Co., Ltd.
Best for: Outdoor, tactical, and sport backpacks
Notable Features: Leader Bags specializes in outdoor backpacks, tactical gear, and sports bags. They use advanced materials to produce highly durable and weather-resistant products, popular among outdoor enthusiasts.
Global Clients: Focus on North America and Europe.
Shenzhen Flyone Bags Co., Ltd.
Best for: Custom backpacks
Notable Features: Offers high-end customization options, specializing in OEM/ODM for fashion, business, and travel backpacks. Flyone is known for combining modern design with functional features like anti-theft pockets and charging ports.
Global Clients: Extensive international clients, including in Europe and the Americas.
Fuzhou Haomin Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
Best for: School and promotional backpacks
Notable Features: Specializes in promotional and everyday-use backpacks, including school bags. Known for bulk production with cost-effective pricing.
Global Clients: Focus on Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
Jiangxi Luggage & Bag Factory
Best for: High-volume production and OEM
Notable Features: This manufacturer specializes in large-scale OEM backpack production, including school, sports, and business backpacks. They are known for efficient manufacturing and affordable products.
Global Clients: Major exports to the USA, Japan, and the Middle East.
Aluvox
Best for: High-end, aluminum luggage
Notable Features: Specializes in hard, with a focus on innovative designs and durable materials. Known for its modern styling and advanced production techniques, this manufacturer is often favored by premium brands.
Global Clients: Exports to the USA, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Zhejiang Mingjiang Luggage Co., Ltd.
Best for: Durable luggage, including hard-shell and soft-shell
Notable Features: Focuses on producing premium luggage with a variety of materials, including ABS, PC, and aluminum. They are known for their robust designs and their high durability.
Global Clients: Europe, North America, and Australia.
Yifeng Luggage Co., Ltd.
Best for: Affordable, bulk luggage manufacturing
Notable Features: Known for offering affordable luggage solutions, especially in the travel and business segments. They provide OEM services and are popular for mass production.
Global Clients: Export markets include Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Chinayun Bag Co., Ltd.
Best for: Customized luggage
Notable Features: Specializes in OEM/ODM luggage with customization services. They manufacture a wide range of luggage types, from budget-friendly to mid-tier, and offer various materials and features.
Global Clients: North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Dongguan Shengying Luggage Co., Ltd.
Best for: Lightweight and smart luggage
Notable Features: Shengying Luggage is known for its modern designs and innovation in lightweight, smart luggage. They produce high-quality luggage with integrated technology, such as USB charging ports and tracking systems.
Global Clients: Focused on premium markets in Europe and the USA.
The information above offers some helpful tips for choosing your travel luggage, but ultimately, the decision should be based on your specific travel needs. In general, the luggage you pick for your first trip might not be the best choice. With limited experience and not fully knowing what to expect, it’s a good idea to travel more and try different types of luggage to find what works best for you.
