So why travel with a backpack at all? This can be a big decision in itself and suitcases definitely have their place. We have traveled with both – a suitcase was essential when we were traveling with babies and toddlers and had a fair bit of gear we needed to take with us. Not just this, but since we often had a kid in a carrier and a day pack, carrying a travel backpack as well would just be too much.
However, now our kids are a bit older, we are firmly back to travelling with backpacks and loving it.
This is because the best travel bags just make our life when traveling easier. As long as you have a backpack that fits well with good weight distribution, then I find them very easy to carry. This is especially the case when you are dealing with stairs, uneven payments, public transport, etc.
Another bonus is that many of the top travel backpacks 2016 are compact enough that there are no problems taking them on board buses, planes etc which not only saves time when arriving and departing a city and is more secure, but also can save a fair bit of money. If you are like us and like to save money using budget airlines, then never paying baggage charges can add up to a huge saving.
Another reason I love backpacks is because the good quality backpacks I own have lasted years and are still going strong. They do not seem to get as damaged as easily as suitcases and I find them far better value. They have a more flexible size and shape so when they are not full, there is more chance that I can take them on board planes. You can also buy backpacks that have detachable day packs to make things even easier. If you pick one of the best travel bags, you should not need to ever buy another one.