Size of backpack for inter-railing

[agraceabrace]

Probably not the best board to post on for this but I'll make it work.
DD1 is going inter-railing this summer, she's looking to buy a backpack. They'll be fine for a little less than 5 weeks, sort of following the med from Croatia to Spain.
She's looking at osprey bags, budget around £300 or so.
She wants the Osprey Kyte 58l but I think this is too big for what she's doing.
AIBU to ask for bag size/type recommendations?

For DoE, they use a 50l bag.

The best advice is to go to a camping and outdoor shop and try some on for size.

She's already done this and that's why she wants the Kyte bag by Osprey (she's 5'9 so size doesn't worry her). She did DofE in Y10/11 but we gave the bag to a friend.

She really has to manage it easily when full and will depend on her strength and frame. I have backpacked a lot and have always found 35 litres to be the best size for that sort of trip.

Personally I think a bit bigger isn't terrible as you can.plan to underfill and have space to be able to shove a jumper/book in as you run for your train etc. You don't want to be constantly right at capacity and forced to carry something that won't fit, or to have to fold everything tiny and have packing it as a military operation everytime you want to getbsomething out. I think the absolute most important thing is comfortable straps and the hip support flaps (what are they called!?) sitting at the right level for her height. I went with someone who had the roughly same weight bag as me (it was actually a bit lighter), but it was ancient and the straps had no padding and were in the wrong places. They ended up too sore to be able to carry it and we had to swap Really made the trip more painful than it needed to be!

As small as possible. A big heavy bag is a pain.

I had a 65l when I backpacked for a year but that was 20 years ago when you needed lonely planet books , sleeping bags etc

She's only going for 5 weeks so doesn't need much stuff- a few days worth of clothes, toiletries, chargers

Worth researching "one bagging" for advice on best brands and sizes and advice for travelling light.
There are some really strong but light bags out there.

58l sounds ideal. In comparison I use a 45-55lt bag winter mountaineering.

Trying to remember what DS got! I think it might have been a 55L one like the first bag on this link. The game-changer for him was the detachable day sack that it comes with - he was able to leave the big rucksack in his accommodation when there was somewhere to lock it away and just go out with a much smaller pack.

we went on a rail tour in uk last year and used 2 of these for the 5 of us. (made use of hotel laundry service).

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women's-travel-trekking-backpack-travel-900-50-6-l-with-suitcase-opening/_/R-p-324164?mc=8616393

My DC went for a 45 l which also fits airline hand luggage criteria. This frees up a bit of weight to add a small day rucksack on the front. The big pack then stays in a locker at the hostel for anywhere they stop for a few days. They chose one that had easy access to everything . This worked brilliantly in Europe for them and this summer they are repeating in North America without having to pay for checked luggage.
Suitcase style opening bag

She wants the Osprey Kyte 58l but I think this is too big for what she's doing

But she's the one who will be carrying it around. Just get her the one she wants

I wouldn't spend £300 on a bag that will thrown around, squished under seats manhandled by airport and all the rest. It will also be a target for thieves if it's all shiny and new.

My backpack got chewed by rodents, attempting to get my chocolate stash 😁 (I had to stitch flags I'd travelled to over it.)

It's s a 60-65 lt Karrimore, still have it and use it. It has a separate section at the bottom for boots or dirty laundry and good pockets. I wanted room to fit a daypack in and to add souvenirs. Plus I needed a small sleeping bag and hiking shoes.
It's bigger than she would need, but her next adventure might be longer or have slightly different requirements.

Interesting - she says she wants a more expensive one as she wants it to be really supportive and the more expensive Osprey ones seem to be the best for that. She's tall and very skinny and worried about back issues if it doesn't fit well. She plans to travel more in the future so I figured it would be worth the investment.

The bag you name is only £170 in the sales, not £300. If she wants it, I would let her have it - she has to carry it. DC has just been travelling to the other side of the world including camping in very cold weather and staying in some very nice hotels, I’m not sure if their bag was that big including carrying a top rated winter down sleeping bag. I will ask them what make / model.

I'm a tiny size 8 and I find it very comfortable. I don't know if Karrimore are as well made now as they were back in the day. I did like all the pockets and separate sections, it can be a pain having to empty a whole bag to get what you want.

I never found I carried it for particularly long stretches to be honest, you leave it in your room (locker) it's chucked in the luggage compartment, it's thrown in a pile on the floor with your friends. The airport will put security stickers over all the clasps.

If she's travelling Europe she will need to aware of pickpockets, who are really good at accessing backpacks, even when people are wearing them. Before I went travelling, a well seasoned traveller gave me a great piece of advise. "look like you have nothing worth stealing" 😂

Anything of value should be in a small messenger type bag on your front.

I hope she has a lovely time, backpacking is amazing. I recommend she buys the small flags and stitches them onto her pack, it's so much fun to look at the countries you have travelled to.

My ds used this one last summer for 4 weeks inter-railing. Great bag. He just loaned it to a guy he works with and he was delighted with it too. It’s a really decent size without being ginormous

Honestly I wouldn't even bother with a backpack. They are a bit of an outdated concept IMO. I think they were great for before suitcases with wheels were commonplace. I have travelled solo around South America and around Croatia (island hopped for several weeks, staying in hostels, etc). I took a large backpack to South America and a wheelie holdall to Croatia. I much preferred the wheelie option. The backpack was a complete faff. If I am ever to travel again (as opposed to a regular holiday) I will definitely be wheeling!
My large backpack only comes out now for wild camping trips where a suitcase really would be ridiculous.

Osprey is a good make but YABU to get a 58L. What is she going to put in such a big bag? Even for D of E that would be on the large side and with that you have to carry a camping stove, food, sleeping bag, waterproofs etc! It's summer in Europe, DD won't need lots of warm/bulky clothes. If she wants to take hiking boots she can wear them when she's travelling or tie them to the outside, otherwise she'll only need trainers and sandals/sliders/flipflops. I haven't backpacked in Europe but have done Asia and South America and all hostels give you bedding now - you don't need a sleeping bag or pillow (maybe just take a silk sleeping bag liner). You don't need more than one or two books, plus a Kindle. You don't need loads of clothes, take a tube of travel wash and a travel washing line and you can wash and dry things on the go (it will be hot and sunny).

I would go for about 40L for a trip like this. Maybe get her to actually set out everything she wants to take and then think about how much space she needs. And definitely get her packing cubes, they are a lifesaver!

This is my backpack, by the way:
https://www.osprey.com/gb/osprey-fairview-40-f22#color=Black

Will she be camping and so needing to carry a tent & sleeping bag? Because if not it is too big, indeed even with that it seems excessive. I have a 45L with a small zip off day pack and that was more than enough for a few weeks in Europe in summer. Some extra space is a good idea but she's not climbing Mt Everest.

Also tell her from me that anything that comes up high behind your neck as that Osprey one appears too, is really, really annoying, hot, itchy and restricting.

If she's tall and/or longer in the torso it's worth her trying on men's ones as well, they may fit better. Priorities are the hip belt sitting right and of course the shoulder straps. She should load the pack up in store with the probable weight she'd be carrying (take a bag of clothes/shoes & toiletries with you to the shop to bung in) and walk around for as long as possible. I also second the recommendation of packing cubes.