You just cant "Backpack" Europe without a....

You just can't "Backpack" Europe without a BACKPACK!

On our seemingly long list of things to do and stuff to buy before we can hop over the pond, picking out backpacks has definitely been the most stressful and exciting step in our planning process. And oh, how I wish I could tell you that I spent hours researching backpacks in order to choose the best one for our trip, but I didn't. That was Nate's responsibility, and he did a great job! 

I did maybe an hour's worth of research on backpacks, looking at travel blogs and compiling a list of my favorite features on each backpack. Much to my dismay, however, all of the features I thought would be helpful or desirable (including color) would actually add more discomfort, weight and/or cost to the backpacks I chose. So I gave the responsibility to Nate, who has ample experience carrying internal frame backpacks and exploring the world of hiking and packing. I was so pleased with the outcome of his research that I thought I'd share the experience with you!

Before we get into the specifics of backpack choosing, I thought it would be fun to do a little husband/wife Q and A session on why we chose backpacks instead of suitcases for our trip to Europe. This may seem like a no-brainer (we're backpacking Europe) but I have a confession to make: the first two weeks of our trip won't actually consist of trains and hostels every day. We'll be living out of B&B's and spending 2-3 nights in every city, so carrying a suitcase would definitely be do-able. The last week of our trip is when we'll be hopping from town to town on trains and staying maybe one night in each area, and this is where carrying a backpack will come in handy. So why did we choose the backpack rout? Here's a little Question/Answer bit to hopefully help you decide which packing method works best for you.

Backpack Q & A

Why did we pick backpacks over suitcases? 
Nate's answer: Internal frame backpacks are easier to carry around crowded cities in Europe and are a more comfortable way of carrying weight around with you. Also, internal frame backpacks are just useful things to have, even if you're not backpacking around the world.
Heather's answer: The last thing I want is for my luggage to get lost somewhere in between here and Europe, so it was this or a carry-on suitcase. Also, I am excited to take on the challenge of packing three weeks worth of stuff in a backpack! Challenge accepted!

What was the most important feature you looked for in your backpack?
Nate: The most important feature was that it fit us well. The worst thing we could do was buy an ill-fitting pack and be miserable carrying it all around Europe.
Heather: I wanted my pack to be easy to pack and unpack. To me this meant having side compartments at first, but once I played around with my pack and realized how spacious it actually was, I was satisfied with having one opening at the top.

Is there any concern you have about carrying a backpack? What will you do to remedy the issue?
Nate: I'm decently concerned about pick-pockets. Everyone has heard warnings about that in Europe. We will be purchasing rain covers for our packs which will cover all of the zippers and make it impossible for anyone else to reach into our packs.
Heather: I am worried about keeping everything organized. To remedy this, we both will be using packing cubes to help keep things together and to use space as efficiently as possible.

What other blogs did you read to determine the best pack for you?
Nate: Check out these websites for great info on backpacks and backpacking Europe:
The Savvy Backpacker, The Savvy Backpacker Again,
Travel Fashion Girl (Where we got the tip on how awesome Osprey is),
and Steph's Travels.
Heather: I love Her Packing List! I visit this blog all the time, especially when I have questions about what to pack. They have packing lists for every location, plus invaluable travel tips for nearly every vacation spot. Good luck reading just one article!

Final question: How will you survive leaving Kona behind for three whole weeks?
Both Nate and Heather: We have no idea. 

Shopping for Backpacks

As I mentioned before, Nate is the one who spent hours researching blogs and outdoorsy websites comparing sizes, prices, reviews while taking my scrupulous requests, like that I wanted my pack to have a side opening rather than an opening on the top (my actual pack doesn't have that, but I thought I wanted it at first). We both owe a special thanks to Pinterest for making research on packs a whole lot simpler!

Once Nate had compiled a comprehensive list of the best backpacks in our price range (no more than $200 per pack) we set off to try them on. Our first visit was to REI and I would strongly recommend that if you are searching for packs, try them on before you buy, even if you plan on buying elsewhere (that's what we ended up doing). REI had multiple fitting tools to help us determine what size we should select in a pack, which was so helpful. 

If you're anything like us, you might need to ask an associate for more help if you want to be meticulous. We adored the man who helped us size out our packs because he gave us multiple priceless tips about how to tighten our backpacks after taking them off each time, how to pack the backpacks and in what order, and he even measured our packs to make sure that we could take them on the plane rather than having to check them. I felt bad that we didn't end up buying our packs from him because he took great care of us and completely customized the fit of each pack to fit our bodies perfectly. 
I highly recommend going to REI to try on packs. They have a great selection and the people who work there live what they sell. 

Nate and I tried on the same pack first (except the gender specific versions) and fell in love almost immediately. This backpack was the first internal frame pack that I had ever carried before and it was so much more comfortable than I ever imagined it would be. I walked around the store with the pack on my back (wearing boots with heels, I might add!) and forgot that I was carrying anything. Stuffing the thing with 25 pounds of course made the pack a bit more substantial, but I was still so much more comfortable than I expected that I wanted to take it and run. I literally didn't want to take it off, and neither did Nate.

This is my relieved smile after I tried on my first internal frame backpack and realized how comfortable it actually was. 

We then went to the Backcountry Outlet store to try on a few more packs just to diversify our search, but we had very little luck there. I tried on a North Face pack that felt like it was digging into my liver like crazy, even without anything in the pack. This may have been because it wasn't properly adjusted to fit my body, but I couldn't get that thing off of my back soon enough. Nothing felt as comfortable to either of us as the packs at REI did. 

The Decision

We both ended up purchasing the highest rated pack we could find online. We both completely understand why these packs got the ratings they did, because they are so comfortable and come with crazy awesome features. 

                                       

  Find the Osprey Atmos 50 backpack (men) here.  

                          

 Find the Osprey Aura 50 backpack (women) here. 

If you go to the Amazon link to our packs you'll notice that the prices can be far and above what our budget allowed. We got very lucky and found our packs on a major Black Friday deal for $50 off each! This deal combined with $25 in Swagbucks Amazon Credit and upcoming birthday/Christmas money helped us purchase our packs for very little out-of-pocket expense. Christmastime proved to be the best time of year for us to buy our packs. If you know what pack you want but the price is above your budget, keep checking Amazon and other deal websites because these prices tend to fluctuate almost daily.


If you're looking for a pack, have fun and try to enjoy the experience! We're happy to answer any questions you might have along the way!

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