15

Also, you'll have a day pack. So that, combined with your 35-40L pack, will be more than enough.

Agreed Craig , that's perfect and pretty much what i've been travelling with for years , Day bag is basically my gadget bag as it's always with me ...
Main bag is just clothes , so if i do get a Monkey rummaging around on a night bus , there is only dirty underwear and dirty T-shirts , heh heh ...

16

In reply to lucapal ,re pack size . With my 70 litre pack ,full ,I have rarely trekked more than 3 x,8hr days with it full although there have been the occassional 10 or 12 hr day if moutaineering . However for 5 weeks in Asia ,I leave home with a pack half full ,7 kg . This leaves room for possible purchases enroute . Cashmoneyhoney ,I`m guessing ,will make a few purchases ,which is not unusual for a first time traveller . He/she may like to take gifts back for family ,buy a couple of books ,or fabric for hobbies ,or an emerald Bhudda . A bigger pack will accomodate such .

17

You are stronger than me rinjani ;-)

18

My main pack never weighs more than 15-16 kg and my daybag packed with Notebook , Camera , and travel speakers , oh and a Kindle never any more than 7-8 ...

19

Mine is around 7-8 kilos.Plus a small day pack with 2 or 3 kilos more.

Nearly half of that is camera equipment though...only a few kilos of clothes and other miscellaneous.

That does me fine,even on my longest trips.And includes a warm fleece top and good rain poncho,for pretty much any weather conditions.

20

WOW, what a great site, i appreciate all the great advice. i think i will stick with my original plan of the Deuter 50l, its seems right in the middle of everyones opinions and felt good when i tried it on. THanks again

21

1. Don't take books...they are too heavy

2. Don't buy anything...just take hundreds of photos...save space...you'll love those photos later....

3. Take only long sleeve shirts and long pants...to avoid mosquitoes...roll the sleeves up as needed.

4. Wear light weight pants like you can buy at REI or other outdoors stores...no bulky jeans.

5. Don't bulk up on meds and shampoos and such...you'll probably have to buy as you go.

6. Take twice as many shirts as pants...shirts go fast in the tropics...you'll have to find a laundry anyway.

7. Take one pair of walking shoes that your know are OK...and one pair of flip flops for showers and leisure time...

8. Bulk and weight are to be avoided...

9. Get as big a pack as you look good in... If you're 5"6'...don't get a 5" pack...

10. If you're only going from the train station to the hostel...and not really trekking...do what I do...and get a nice wheelie bag and forget the monster backpack... Just take a small backpack for day tripping...

With six months in South Asia...you can go anyway you want...that's plenty of time to see it all...

22

I actually use a combination of both--a pac that has wheels.
Its easy to walk with the wheels and I can still wear it for steps or when im on a motorbike going to accom.

23

I did 2 years traveling around the world with a 35L and a 70L backpack. 70L was necessary in South America due to the cold (need jackets, sleeping bag, etc) and all the trekking we did. 35L was perfect for a year here in Asia.

Now, it's a 40L wheelie. Done RTW for a few years with it. Can't be beat. It's a convertible, but I've never used the straps. Sure, a few times on trains it would have been nice, but the other 90% of the time, it was fantastic.

My upcoming trip to Nepal will be with the 35L backpack, again, and a day pack. But the porter will carry the pack!! ;-)

24

Hi

You're probably starting to regret you ever asked about packs, haha...

I kind of agree with lots of different bits from different people.
First and foremost the well made, quality packs are worth the investment for sure and many can be compressed, my 70L can be strapped at the sides so it's more like a 50, just because you have the space it doesn't mean you have to fill it when you set out. Later on though, you may just wish you has that little bit extra space.

Another thing to consider is where you're going, the bigger cities and 'party' areas will certainly have stuff but if you're going to go remote, or even camp you might need stuff that won't be obtainable when you get there.

I wouldn't take shed loads of clothes, they can be got pretty easily and you can easily wash what you have.

I really like photography and have taken a lightweight tripod on trips for situations where handheld just wouldn't cut it, it's light for sure but it takes up a bit of space. For that trip 40-50L probably wouldn't have been enough.

Above all else it's your pack and it's gotta suit you, carrying very little doesn't make you better or more 'travel savvy' and carrying a bit more doesn't mean the opposite. You will at times wish you'd left stuff at home and there will be times where you think 'why the hell didn't I bring this or that''

Whatever, enjoy your trip and happy planning!