Backpacking with a suitcase - is this real backpacking?

Me too, I'm 71 now.
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Looking forward to field testing 1.

Sometimes it is absolutely necessary... I was backpacking in Croatia and my knees went out somehow, making the weight of any pack impossible. Not wanting to stop travelling, I got a (small) rolling suitcase and actually found it much better, if slower, to drag the thing around behind me. You have to make accommodation fot the endless cobblestone, curbs and uneven surfaces (in Europe) but the plus side is that if you fly, you can fit it as carryon under your seat and save a whole lot of luggage trouble! Carry a small pack for a purse/bag/daytrip pack, though, you WILL need it. And something discreet for your passport.

They are certainly making it more difficult for backpack travellers in some airports...making you go to a separate place to check your bag in etc.-I usually use one of those 'travel pack'type backpacks now,where you can at least close the strap compartment and either carry it on as hand luggage or check it in normally (depending on airline).

Hmm, isn't it technically suitcasing?

Suitcases with wheels keep falling over, on textured sidewalks. I see it all the time in Seville. My new home town.

I took a backpack on my last rtw trip just short of a year and I was sorry I did because it was probably only necessary for 5% of the time or less.
It depends on what type of travelling you will be doing. If your camping, trekking up mountains etc then yes a backpack will be the answer but if you will be travelling between airports, hostels, towns and cities etc I see no reason for a backpack apart from a few places with cobbled streets.

I saw a few good backpacks with big durable wheels and a pull out handle in some of the travel gear shops in Kensington High Street a few years ago which gives you the best of both worlds where you can simply throw it over your back should the need arise in those rare occasions while the bigger, stronger wheels allow it to negotiate some of the uneven streets you may come across.

I disagree Linfield, I personally find backpacks much easier to handle than unweildy cases.

Just my experience mikehuxley. I would personally go for the combination option if I were to do it again.

Thus proof that there's a market for both.

{quote:title=kmingnath wrote:}
My friend and I were having a debate about this - she says yes and I say no. Thoughts?

suitcases will still have wheels but will have some kind of remote control so that you don't even have to pull them around, they just follow you.{quote}

What a brilliant idea. Why haven't we done this already. So much easier!