Packing for Long-Term Travel: Backpacks and Luggage
Before you start packing for long-term travel, you have to figure out what to put all that stuff into! We went through several iterations of this before we figured out what worked for us as a full-time traveling family of four.
Our travel gear has seen us through more than three years of full-time travel, three seasons of climate, and many, many countries. While we are always trying to slim down a bit more, here’s the luggage we recommend for long-term travel.
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Luggage for Long-Term Travel
We did a lot of research and decided on larger wheeled backpacks for each adult, plus a larger backpack for the girls’ clothes.
Here’s how we made it all work, so we can carry everything in one trip, with our girls each carrying a small backpack, weighing around 10% of their body weight.
Once you’ve settled on your luggage, check out our full packing list for long term travel.
Carry-on Only?
When we were figuring out our packing system, we read many posts of people who packed “carry-on only” and managed to pack very light.
While one of our top family travel tips is “Don’t Overpack,” we find that this means something different to everyone. Ultimately, we prefer to carry more clothes and do laundry less frequently. We travel carry-on only for trips of two weeks or less; for anything longer, we take at least one checked bag.
We’ve detailed below approximately what works for us, but you’ll figure out for yourself what exactly “comfortable” means to you.
Adults’ Luggage: Osprey Sojourn 28″/80L Wheeled Backpacks
We often had to lug our bags for short distances, and putting them on our backs did not always make sense. These Osprey wheeled backpacks mean we can pull our packs on wheels when on smooth surfaces (airports, hotel hallways), but still have the option of carrying them backpack style when needed (stairs, cobblestone streets).
The Osprey Sojourn 80L packs are big: 28 inches long, and roughly 16 inches wide, with a minimum height of around 10 inches if not packed full. There is one large zippered opening and a second small zippered pocket at the top to hold things for easy access.
The bag opens horizontally, like most suitcases, rather than top-loading like a traditional backpack. It also has two external compression straps that protect the outer zippers.
The large wheels and collapsible handles make the pack easy to maneuver. I was able to handle two, pulling one and pushing the second with no issues.
Inside the main compartment, there are two side zippered pockets as well as two mesh pockets on the top flap. For a large bag like this, I find all the pockets really helpful for organizing, while still having plenty of room for packing cubes.
Check Prices: Osprey Sojourn 80L
We can hold all our stuff in these packs, as well as some of the kids’ extra gear, and have a little room left over for things we might pick up along the way.
Packed as they are, they currently weigh between 39-44lbs (18-20kg). We are starting out a little heavier than we would like, but we are also carrying extra snacks and lots of liquids (bug spray, sunscreen, lotions) that we will use up as we go.
Osprey Customer Service
After we had the Sojourn 28″/80L Wheeled Travel Packs for two years, the bottom of one of them developed two large cracks in the plastic molding just above the wheels, and would no longer stand up when fully packed.
Osprey has a lifetime warranty and will repair or replace the bag, but there is often a lead time of 6-10 weeks for this, so we had to wait until we had a longer stay in the US. Once we shipped the bag to Osprey for repair, we received it back a few weeks later with a newly installed back plastic piece, and the bag is perfectly sound again.
Osprey Product Line Update
In 2023, Osprey re-released the Sojourn Wheeled Travel Series with some new updated features, and while I still like the 28″/80L, Cynthia is looking at the 25″/60L as it is a little smaller in all directions and has a more adjustable backpack harness that would likely fit her 5′ 2″ frame better.
You can check out the full Osprey travel series for options.
Kids’ Luggage: Osprey Fairview 55L Backpack
We initially bought the Osprey Fairview 55L for Cynthia but found it still too small for long-term travel. However, all the kids’ packing cubes fit into it nicely. The front zip-off pocket of this bag holds all their other accessories, including their hairbrush, pouch of hair ties and accessories, bruise lotion, and nightlight.
This backpack zips fully open like a suitcase, allowing full access to the interior, rather than being top-loading like a traditional backpack. The front section can be zipped off and used as a small daypack, which has come in handy.
The inside front flap contains a large mesh zip pocket that can be used to separate things. We keep our pouch of medicine in this pocket. We rarely need to access it, but always know where it is.
This backpack has two handles, so it can be carried in either orientation if you’re not wearing it on your back. We’ve also found it can be balanced on top of one of the Osprey Sojourn bags and wheeled along with it.
Check Prices: Osprey Fairview 55L
Adult Carry-On Backpacks
It is important to use that our backpacks function as both carry-ons on long travel days, and day packs when we are on hikes, day trips, and other adventures.
Cynthia: 5’2″ Woman
Cynthia carries the Gregory Maya 30L. This light and easy-to-adjust pack fits her well and has a nice 3D foam back panel to keep her back cooler on longer hikes. With both an interior and 3 exterior zippered pockets for small personal items, the pack is easy to organize and keeps what you want within reach.
She uses the separate zippered compartment designed for a water reservoir for her laptop and headphones, as well as larger travel documents. The outer mesh stuff sack has come in handy countless times for jackets, snacks, maps, and information packets.
The two mesh water bottle pockets are accessible while wearing the pack and can handle even our large 40oz water bottle.
Update: This size is no longer available. The largest size in this style is the Maya 25L.
Check Prices: Gregory Women’s Maya 25L Pack
Waker: 6’1″ Man
I originally carried the Gregory Citro H2O, available in 24L, 30L, and 36L sizes. I chose the 36L for its size, thinking it would give me the most flexibility for packing. However, the 36L size is no longer available. This pack was similar to the Maya, but had a rigid internal frame and came with a 3-liter water reservoir.
The Citro pack has a VaporSpan ventilated suspension that keeps the pack away from your back and allows for lots of airflow. This, along with the larger size, makes it a great day pack that is comfortable for all-day adventures.
However, the suspension frame that keeps you cool also means it doesn’t fit under the seat on an airplane or easily up in the overhead compartment of smaller planes or most buses.
So I decided to go with the Recon 30L pack from The North Face. This backpack was a much better fit for travel and day trips, with lots of pockets to keep my belongings organized, including a designated padded pocket for a laptop. It has two large water bottle sleeves that can handle larger water bottles, an outer mesh stuff pocket, which is great for stashing my fleece at the airport or my rain jacket for a hike. The straps are very comfortable with a sternum strap with a whistle buckle and a minimal waist belt for longer hauls. It also comes in a women’s version of the same size with women-specific straps.
I just took this pack on a ten-day trip to England, and it was my only carry-on luggage, fitting comfortably under the seat in front of me. It was also my daypack while we were hiking in the countryside. This is a very versatile pack, and with several color options, this is a great pack at a very reasonable price.
Check Prices: The North Face Men’s Recon Backpack
Kids’ Carry On Backpacks
Our 4 1/2-year-old has the REI Co-op Tarn 18 Kids Backpack. While REI says it is sized for 8 to 12-year-olds, we found that it fits her with room to grow, while being large enough to hold what she needs to carry.
We cannot say enough good things about this pack. It is well made with easy-to-use zippers, interior and exterior zippered pockets, two mesh water bottle holders, and an exterior stuff pocket for a hat or jacket. It has a padded waist belt with a small zip pocket on each side.
After three years, we still love this bag. It’s still going strong and still fits our 8-year-old well. She just used it for a quick trip to the UK as her only luggage.
Check Prices: REI Tarn 18 Kids Backpack
Our 9-year-old has a Deuter Speed-Lite 21L backpack. After carrying around a much bulkier backpack for school, she wanted a similar size pack, and this was the smallest and shortest 21L we could find.
It is a minimalist pack with an interior divider where she keeps her iPad, headphones, and a notebook. There is an external zippered pocket for small personal items and a stuff pocket that can be reached from either side, although we wish it could be unclipped at the center. There are two mesh water bottle pockets and a minimal waist belt.
This is a good pack that is well proportioned for smaller bodies. When I asked our now almost 11-year-old how she likes this pack, she said it’s a good pack, but she wishes it had a few more pockets.
Check Prices: Deuter Speed-Lite 21L Backpack
Personal Travel Bag
Along with your carry on, you can bring a “personal item” with you, this is a combo purse/small travel bag.
For small, gender neutral bag, we like the Alpaka Flow Satchel Crossbody Travel Bag. It’s not huge, but it has a pocket for either a water bottle or an umbrella- and it’s water resistant, making it perfect for rainy or changeable conditions. Check out our full review of the crossbody for details.
Check Prices: Alpaka Flow Satchel Crossbody 4L Bag
Luggage Security
We carry several things to secure our luggage when necessary. This may be in a luggage locker in a bus station or secured to a pole in a train compartment so we can visit the dining car without worrying about our things going missing.
All of these items are kept together in a small zip pouch.
Luggage Locks
We carry a standard TSA-approved luggage lock for each of our large bags. These don’t weigh much and provide peace of mind. We don’t use these often, but when leaving our larger bags in storage for a few days while we jaunt off to the jungle with just backpacks, it’s nice to know the bags are locked.
Luggage Cables
We have two lightweight cables that can be looped through bags and used with the luggage locks to secure our bag to a pole, or another secure part of a bus, train, or boat so someone can’t walk off with our bags when we aren’t paying attention.
AirTags
Each of our bags has an AirTag GPS tile so we can track the bag if needed. These devices have a battery that lasts about a year.
Check Prices: AirTags
Don’t miss our safety tips for traveling with kids- from AirTags to family code words!
AirTag Silicone Covers
We initially had AirTags loose in each of our bags but found it easy to lose track of them. We also saw that they were starting to get scratched up bouncing around our bags.
We bought these silicone AirTag covers which color code each tag, protect them, and allow us to easily clip them into place so we always know where they are.
Check Prices: AirTag Covers
Extra Batteries for Airtags
We carry one set of extra batteries with us so we can swap these out in our AirTags after being on the road for a year. AirTags take a flat watch-style battery that may be hard to find on the road and weighs very little to carry with us.
There You Have It
After a lot of trial and error, and switching around bags, this is what we found worked for us. Ideally as the kids are able to carry more of their own gear, we’d have four carry ons and one checked bag for long trips.
Ultimately each family’s bags will look a bit different, but we hope we’ve given you a few good ideas for what luggage might work for you.
Read Next: Complete Packing Guide for Long-Term Travel or a Family Gap Year
Read Next: Full-Time Travel with Kids: 3 Month Report
Don’t miss our full page dedicated to long-term travel planning, packing, and exploring on a Family Year Out!
