What makes a backpacker a backpacker?

BECAUSE THEYER TOWING A SUITCASE.SORRY COULDNT RESIST.WHEN YOU GROW UP YOU TURN INTO AN INDEPENDENT TRAVELLER.

My definition would be this: Someone who is traveling on a one-week, two-week, three week holiday is a tourist. (And I'm not criticizing -- I've taken many trips as a tourist.) A backpacker is someone traveling for an extended period of time -- maybe a summer-long trip, or a year-long trip, or whatever. Many, but certainly not all, backpackers are more travelers than tourists, staying and experiencing rather than ust seeing the sights and moving on to see other sights in other cities.

In practice, though, a young person carrying a backpack is typically referred to as a backpacker, whether they're traveling for a week, a month or a year.

Dave

I think of backpackers as people who travel without a real itinerary, regardless of how long they travel for. And having a physical backpack helps the image.

I have a lot of personal conflict with the term and culture of a "backpacker", but I like the concept of wandering around the world.

good question.

a backpack of course.

within in the backpack:
half a roll of toilet paper in a zip lock bag;
quick dry clothing that smells like it was laundered by a divorced dad;
pac lite towel; a laundry line; a pad lock; duct tape;

that's what pretty much separates a backpacker from a package traveler.