Gabi Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 hey everyone! I have recently decided to go over to Oz as a solo beginner female backpack on a working holiday visa...needless to say I am pretty lost in all this what to get what not to get crap. I have many questions but I'll try to keep it short! 1. I am going away for a year and feel as though a 70L bag is a good size, but I'm starting to second guess myself. I would be getting the osprey meridian bag that has convertible wheels but now my concern is will i have to check this bag or can i bring it as a carry on? i will be traveling to Oz, New Zealand and Brazil (possibly more) and i don't want to risk having a missing pack. (also if anyone has this pack feedback would be nice) 2.is it really worth it to buy the expensive clothing made for trips like this, or am i okay to just pack the cloths i own that are mostly cheap buys. 3. Packing cubes? compression bags? rip off or not? i have more things to ask to come! Thank you -Gabi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Hard to give firm answers as you haven't given enough detail. But, as a guide. A 70ltr bag is almost certainly going to be needed to be checked in. You might get away with out not doing if you are in first class, but in economy yes. However, as someone that flies the equivalent around the world several times a year, I would not worry too much. Your bag bag choice should be based on what and where you are going. If you plan on spending most of your time in cities, then I would recomend a suitcase. Far easier. I even sometimes use a suitcase to place in remote places if I am not moving about much. Clothing. Impossible to say, as will depend on where you think you will be heading in each place an when. For example, if you are planning on heading into the rainforest, then it may be worth buying some specialist clothing. In NZ are you going to be there winter or summer? Packing, I just pack by folding lengthways and then rolling very tightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 I don't own a suitcase, never have and backpack window shopping is one of my favourite pastimes. I'm still hefting mine around quite easily at 66 (one of the few grey haired little grannies still backpacking I think!) I like this bloke's thinking on packs http://gapyearescape.com/top-10-gap-year-travel-backpacks/ Don't have the Osprey but their gear looks pretty substantial. I'm not a great fan of wheels - wasted weight IMHO. Whatever you get, try it on with 20kg in it, check the adjustable backs/straps etc. nothing worse than a pack that doesn't fit. I have a Kathmandu with a detachable day pack. I rarely attach the day pack - it's just too cumbersome. Having some sort of hideaway for straps is a must for me - getting your straps ripped by airport machinery is a chore! You'd have to check a big pack on any flight and yeah, it might go astray (only happened to me once in many years but it got returned within 2 days) but that's what insurance is for. Keep the vital stuff with you. My my son swears by compression sacs - he uses Kifaru which are top of the range and I was really impressed when travelling with him and he had to produce some shoes for disinfection at Sydney - everything out of the pack, shoes out, everything back in the pack and nothing scattered anywhere. On my last trip I used lightweight Eagle Creek ones (on special at Cotswold) and think I'm a convert! Clothing - I tend to wear a lot of the special stuff as a matter of course all the time anyway because I find it functional and comfortable but I wouldn't be buying it if it wasn't what I regularly used! I also wear bushwalking shoes and sandals as a matter of course too - if you're going to spend money, get good shoes/sandals that you can live in for a year - I'd be lost without my Meindls - and wear them in first. I always reckon that there's nothing that a credit card and a passport won't solve so don't panic and have a fabulous adventure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfromdublin Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 This doesn't really help you but when I did the same I met a guy in NZ who had been travelling for 18 months. He started with 15kg and had whittled his way down to 9kg! He was my hero. Bring as little stuff as possible and don't bother investing in fancy clothes unless you're intending to do some hiking or something where it's actually necessary. If you don't have much stuff then there's no need for compression bags, etc. If you're not sure if you need something then don't bring it and see how you get on. You can always buy it on your travels if it's that important. I brought way too much stuff in my 100L backpack. Ended up ditching most of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seraphim Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 take less than you think! if you're taking a 70l rucksack, roll up 3 large towels and put that in first. then pack the stuff you'll take. Then take out the towels! it will be a LOT easier to carry around where the wheels don't roll (see everywhere except airports/posh hotel lobbies) and you will have room for the things you will buy when in country, such as local clothing/toiletries etc. great investment is something like a berghaus spirit rucksack. the straps zip in to a cover which protects them in transit, and they're comfortable straps when needed. the pockets are also all inside facing = only 1 lock to 1 zip locks everything and no one can sneakily zip a side pocket containing your whole life (wallet phone passport money) while you sleep. I also bought a pacsafe which travelling alone through SEA and South America I thought was great. you can chain it to yourself even for those loooong local bus journeys! good luck and enjoy the trip! the bigger your rucksack, the more you pack, do at least 3 trial packs and be brutal, you will come home with things you never used otherwise! remember you have to haul it round for a year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 I agree with Quoll. A backpack with a zip cover over the harness, no side pockets, a wide opening flat zipper on the front, detachable day pack and internal compression sacks are the way to go. Im a tight arse though, i have a three pack of compression sacks; for the rest, i just pack things into large ziplock bags and sit on them to get as much air out as possible first. Mine is a black wolf pack; its been to the US, UK, Nepal, China, Singapore, Europe etc. Pack everything you want to take, then unpack half. The old adage of 'pack half as much stuff and take twice as much cash' still holds true in the 21st century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 3 factors, the type of bag, the type of clothes and how you fold them. Check out http://www.onebag.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graemsay Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 If you want to travel carry-on only then you'll be limited to about 40 to 45 litres. There are a number of bags designed around the box, but something like the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 would be an (expensive) example. However, some of the Aussie internal flights limit carry on bags to 105 cm, rather 115 cm. That's 48 x 34 x 23 cm, or about 30 to 35 litres. The Tom Bihn Tri-Star would fit into that box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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