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What kind of luggage to take backpacking? Die every minute you don't read this article!

Beautiful sunset scenery

In December we're going traveling around western Europe by train for several weeks and I need to buy some kind of luggage. One thing worth noting is learning how do I use my outdoor stove!

I had thought that a ~35-45 litre backpack would be about right, sizewise and for portability.

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Quechua Hiking Backpack
Hiking Backpack:

But I've heard from people with direct experience that pickpockets are a big problem in several of the places we're going and that makes backpacks a bad idea.

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Quechua College,school backpack


So What Kind Of Luggage Should You Pack:

That will be reasonable to carry around but still secure given we're changing locations (and thus hotels) regularly.

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I'm not interested in tips on how to travel light or what to pack.

I know there are backpackers who sell everything and take off with just a pair of hiking boots and clean underwear in their pocket. But I'm not one of them, and it will be fairly cold while we're travelling too.


Quechua College,school backpack

Also, if it matters, we're planning on checking bags for the flight tickets, so I'm not asking for a small overnight, or weekend bag, because that is not appropriate for the trip we are taking (plus I have one already).

But I don't want to be dragging a heavy suitcases around with me either, so some kind of portable luggage backpack seems reasonable.

Beautiful farm scenery

Backpacks are designed for this kind of carrying

But I don't see how I can carry one safely in a crowd so that it can't be stolen from.

Pickpockets are a real issue but long train holidays are still popular, so I assume there's some solution or best practise that people use for carrying stuff in this situation. What would it be?

Quechua men and boy backpacks

I don't currently own anything at all suitable so have to buy something regardless of what it is.

I'll probably need to make my husband buy something too because he currently thinks he's going to take his 90 litre travel pack which is way too big and super easy to unzip like a lightweight backpack tent.

We're good for sekrit bags for hiding our money in and that kind of thing, it's the big stuff that we need to sort out.


Quechua kids backpacks

So what kind of luggage, bag, suitcase, pack, whatever - generally or specifically (noting that I live in Ireland and will only buy online from within Europe) - should I be buying for my inter-railing holiday round Europe?

I'm specifically worried about the safety and/or non-stealability aspect since just finding a comfortable backpack or rugged carry bag is pretty easy.

Quechua boys and girls backpacks