Luggage recommendations for South America trip

[TravellingRock]

I am due to be travelling to South America in October with a group of friends, it will be a multi stop holiday, staying at each place 1 or 2 nights before moving on, the trip is 2 and a half weeks in total.

I'm pondering what my luggage options are. I currently only have a large Tripp suitcase and a cabin suitcase but a few friends have said these will be unsuitable as we may have to wheel/carry them up roads and tracks with not great footing and a wheeled rucksack would be more suitable.

I've had a browse and found this: www.amazon.co.uk/Kathmandu-Hybrid-70L-Trolley-70LTR/dp/B0774DCBGK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=KATHMANDU+Hybrid+70L&qid=1563222111&s=luggage&sr=1-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=rucksack00c-21&linkId=9da5c048785ea264b02fbb86acfdd543&language=en_GB

But I am 😱 at the price! I can't afford that. Also unsure whether it will be big enough? My big suitcase is over 100L...

Does anyone have any recommendations for luggage for this sort of trip? It will be hold luggage for all flights, and ideally I want it to be easily accessible as I will be living out of it for 2 weeks without unpacking.

This is a Karrimor.

Are you essentially DIY back packing? Are you not getting taxis to hotels? We have Antler wheeled duffle bags (not sure if they Brie them any more?) but I wouldn’t carry one as a rucksack. I’m not up to that weight! Your friends will travel might I suspect. So if you must have it as a back pack look at outdoor specialist companies. And know what you can realistically carry!!

Thanks for that, we are hiring a car and doing a self-drive tour and staying in cabins/lodges in the arse end of nowhere down dirt tracks basically! So no, no taxi's to hotel doors unfortunately 😂

I think I'd rather carry something as a rucksack, much easier than lugging it about using 1 handle.

So you need the biggest rucksack you can carry when it’s full. You can definitely get cheaper than the one you posted.

My dc have used these for extended overseas trips.

www.thenorthface.co.uk/shop/en-gb/tnf-gb/bags-and-tents-travel-bags-duffel-bags/base-camp-voyager-duffel-62l-52s3?variationId=KY4

There are these on Amazon. Green one is Mountain Warehouse and £70. Look at their stores too. The secondary bag looks useful. I haven’t looked at the padding etc but I would try one on personally!

And dd's friend used one of these:

www.ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb_en/fairview-70-2017

OP, my DH has a large backpack duffel similar to the one linked above. It’s 90L and we just got back from using it on holiday. We packed inefficiently (ie not maximising space) but did include some books, and it was 18kg. It would easily be over 20kg if packed properly. Would you be ok carrying that? It isn’t so much the weight as the size of the bag and the weight distribution.

I have this decathlon backpack duffel and it is much more manageable for me.

Definitely use packing cubes with a duffel, they make for much more efficient packing (and unpacking).

I highly recommend a backpack with a detachable pack at the front which becomes a daypack. Pack light and wash half way through. Lighter the better with this sort of travel eg use a hiking towel, pack quick dry clothes and take detergent

Osprey rucksacks are usually comfortable. Just a bit more money than Mountain Warehouse.

careful with anything with zips or easy accessible outside pockets.
it's not unknown to be unwittingly used as drug mule.

Duffle bag with wheels, packing cubes and a laundry bag. Packing cube each for undies, socks, tops, bottoms, swimwear, nightwear and a toiletry bag. Towels and shoes stuffed around the cubes. Each time you stop you pull out what you need from the cubes, re pack the cubes and dirty stuff gets stuffed in the laundry bag.

I also like packing cubes. We've done lots of multi site holidays and they have transformed the packing. I also split out toiletries into various packs.

I would also buy 1 nice outfit that can be rolled up and not wrinkle.

wash and dry shirts, and walking trousers.

We are off to S. America on Friday.

Those North Face duffle bags are great sturdy bags but i find them really hard to carry. They don't fit half as well as a rucksack and mine is too long in the body so it bangs me on the bum constantly when I walk. They're also really hard to carry by the handles as they're wide when packed full. Great for car trips or wheeling round on an airport trolley but less easy to man handle IMO.

My dc really like the North Face duffels but they are both tall and long in the body. I think if you are planning to carry it on your back quite a lot then it's worth trying some for size and comfort if you can.

@aftonwater
I think it’s vital to try them. I’ve had ones that really sit in the small of my back which I don’t like. I would never have one with no wheels so it has to be carried everywhere, even in airports! But I’m too old for that! We often use wheeled duffle bags but you really need a well designed one if you carry it on your back.

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15989082/eurohike-nepal-65-rucksack-15989082

We've got 3 of these. In my opinion there is no need to spend more. They are lasting well after several backpacking trips and scout camps.
I never need to unpack fully so packing up takes no time.
Clothes all in the bottom, undies in a drawstring bag. Take the minimum and do a wash or two.

Never had anything pinched from side pockets, but just pack non-valuables just in case.

If you're going to carry for more than a minimal distance, the waist strap makes all the difference. Adjust properly and all the weight is then on your hips.

OP, if you’re going for a rucksack or similar, consider getting a travel bag for it for plane journeys/if it goes in the luggage storage bit of a coach. They’re like giant, lightweight holdalls that go around your rucksack, and you can padlock the main zip closed for peace of mind. Like this.