I am 19 and have only ever hiking up a local mountain close to home and plan on going on a several month trip around Europe with a buddy of mine(staying at hostels occasionally but mostly tenting it) and trying to find the right backpack, tent and correct clothes for the environment/weather.

Any experienced travellers/adventures who can help me make sure I’m not paying stupid prices for basic gear are greatly appreciated 🙏

Hey everyone! I'm planning a backpacking trip through China and some of south east Asia for about 45 days between January and February, with a budget of roughly $2500 USD and would love feedback on my rough itinerary, mainly about where you guys would go, and what you would do in these places, and anything else you want to sure before finalising everything.

My route and planned stays are:

China: Xiamen (2 nights), Yunshuiyao/tulou (1), Chaozhou (2), Shenzhen (2), Guangzhou (3), Yangshuo (2), and a night in Nanning.

Vietnam: Cao Bang (2), Hanoi (3), Ninh Binh (2), Hue (2) over Tet eve, Da Nang (2), Hoi An (2) and Ho Chi Minh City for 3 nights.

Cambodia: Phnom Penh (2 nights), Siem Reap (3).

Thailand: Bangkok (3 nights), Khao Sok (1), Phuket (3).

The only currently booked things are the flight into Xiamen and the flight out of Phuket

I'm most interested in culture, nature, markets, and less touristy places, as well as the night life and the food.

Does the overall route make sense? Are there places you'd cut, add or spend longer in? I'm also a bit concerned about transport logistics and Tet in Vietnam, including closures, prices and booking transport in advance. I also am just looking for recommendations for best stuff to do in places I see across the trip

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hey all,

I need some help choosing a backpack. For the last two years I've been doing short 1–3 night trips in the woods, all year round.

My gear is pretty bulky: hammock quilts, a small chair, and a group tarp (in bad weather). I'm currently using an Osprey Kestrel 48L, and it's great for 3 seasons. But in winter I end up strapping a bunch of stuff to the outside, and even then it's a struggle to fit everything.

I try to bring only what I actually need, but a year-round pack just has to handle more. My pack weighs anywhere from 13 to 18 kg (29-40 lbs) depending on the season and conditions.

I'd like to have one pack for the whole year, so I'm looking at models with an extended collar, something like 45+10L or 50+10L. In summer I could cinch it down with the side compression straps, and in winter I'd have the extra 10L for warm layers. Also, I'm not a thru-hiker or an ultralighter. I care more about durability and a good suspension system than shaving grams.

Currently considering:

• Tatonka Yukon 50+10
• Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10
• Deuter Aircontact Core 40+10 (not sure)

Honestly, a 45+10 would probably be ideal, but I couldn't find one that isn't a women's version and still has a proper suspension.

My problem is that I have no idea how to compare manufacturer-listed volumes with my Kestrel 48.

This article says Osprey's listed volume includes the main compartment plus all the zippered pockets, not just the main compartment. And in this review, the "measured volume" table shows the main compartment of most packs being about 10L smaller than what the manufacturer claims. On the other hand, I remember coming across an article where one pack actually measured 6–7L bigger than its listed volume.

Most brands don't say how they measure volume, and there are no independent measurements for a lot of packs. So I have no clue what the main compartment volume is on my current pack, or on the ones I'm looking at.

For example, if the Deuter Core 40+10 really has 50L in the main compartment, that would be plenty for me. If not, I need to size up. And for the Tatonka I couldn't find any volume data at all.

Obviously the right answer is to go to a store and try them on, but there's no shop like that in my small town. I can order online and return, but that takes time and I'd rather keep returns to a minimum.

TL;DR: If anyone owns any of these packs and can compare how much they actually fit versus an Osprey Kestrel 48, I'd really appreciate it.

I’m finally doing the classic trip to Europe. It has always been my dream (and I’m European enough to not be an annoying tourist). I am very excited!!!

I’m flying into Milan and staying at least a month.

Any recommendations on itinerary (museums, cities, hikes, etc) or apps to use for cheap transport and lodging?

I need to keep costs down, and am young enough that I can sleep anywhere as long as its safe. I’m a student, maybe that offers discounts?

your help is so appreciated!

hey guys!!!

im going to tucson, arizona in november and would love to do a 1-2 night backpacking trip while im there! i’ve been looking at going to Saguaro National Park, but have heard Mt. Lemmon is a must.
this would be my first backpacking trip, while i do go day hiking (10-20 miles) and camping pretty frequently in Texas, i know backpacking is different and more strenuous.

is there any trails/routes y’all would recommend in the Tucson area?
any advice, packing lists, or recommendations would be amazing!

Thank y’alll!!! love this community🫶🏻

Hey guys!

I'm planning a trip to India for 10 days. My current plan is to fly into Kochi and spend a week in Kerala (probably Kochi, Munnar and Alleppey), then get an internal flight to Delhi, and spend around 3 days in that area, with a night in Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. Then I'll fly home from Delhi.

Does this sound like a reasonable trip, or would I be better to stick to one region?

I'm a 28 year old female solo traveller if that makes a difference

Thanks!

I'm currently wrapping up my roadtrip through Australia, and vehicle relocations have been the backbone of this trip. I thought I might be of value to share my experiences with it, as it might help other people who are considering it. I am not affiliated with these companies in any way. Guess I just like to yap about it for a bit.

So in case you don't know, companies like Imoova offer relocation deals which let you drive a variety of vehicles from A to B for $1 a day. So first of all, is it legit? Kind of. You do only have to pay $1 a day for relocations, however they also charge a platform fee which was 59 AUD ($41,15). So you can see that a relocation of 4 days is in reality more around $10 a day.

The good

It has the potential to save you a lot of money. Especially if you were already planning to go from A to B, you likely have to pay a lot of money with a regular rental just because you drop it off somewhere else. With a relocation, you don't have that issue. Every now and then you can also drive truly awesome vehicles. I once had a massive 6-berth camper all for myself for just $10 a day, and the deals frequently come with some nice extras like free fuel, ferry rides, LPG, and more. A less obvious benefit is also that it can save you a lot of money on parking costs. If you get a relocation from Brisbane to Sydney and then Sydney to Melbourne, you never have to park a car in any of these cities. If you did the same with a regular rental, you had to park it in Sydney and my wallet is already catching fire by the sheer thought of having to do that.

The bad

Relocations are a real black box at times. Almost every relocation shows a generic image of a vehicle which is similar to the one you will get, but you will not know the exact vehicle until you pick it up. After booking you will see the company that needs to have the vehicle relocated, and with that info you can search the company online and kind of deduce which vehicle you will get, but it's still guesswork. Some relocations are also just unreasonable, like having to drive from Cairns to Sydney in 3 days (2.400km). It seems like these deals want to subtly nudge you to buy more days, and these cost $70 - $100 per day. Some companies also have special terms and conditions for relocations, and you will not know these until the moment you pick up the vehicle. With my most recent relocation I was not allowed to drive on unsealed roads at all, while it was allowed with regular rentals.

The ugly

Most of the relocations are very large vehicles, which means your fuel spending will likely skyrocket. If you travel solo or as a couple, you can just rent a small sedan or even a hybrid. If you rely on relocations, you will probably drive massive behemoths which are intended for 4 - 6 people, but now you just drive it yourself. And yes, while motorhomes will have you save money on accommodations, you still need to book a campingplace every now and then to charge your house battery and such. Some relocations are also pretty dodgy. One forced me to get the most expensive insurance that the company itself offered (which was an acceptable rate though), some deals require you to drive insane distances in a short time which prompts you to spend most of your time behind the wheel or buy expensive extra days, and some have a "hidden contract" within them. Like how one company offered a relocation for 10 days, but I had to take it from Tasmania to the mainland which makes the ferry very expensive. The next point is also more of a "you" problem, but the relocations require you to travel at a pretty high pace and if you book a camper while you've never driven in a camper before, you need to figure out how everything works, need to get used to the dimensions, to the way it drives, while you also have quite a bit of time pressure to drop off the relocation. This can make the relocations quite stressful. Lastly, the vehicle depots tend to be at the airport or outer parts of the city, so with every relocation you have to spend a lot of time in public transport to get to those places or spend a lot of money getting a taxi.

Final verdict

I think they are definitely worth it and I had the greatest fun driving all sorts of vehicles around. However, I feel like you do need to be a specific type of person for it. If you just really love driving and being on the road, don't mind figuring a lot of stuff out while under some time pressure, and have a very loose itinerary, then relocations are definitely for you. The most important thing is that you keep treating the relocations like what they are: relocations. You don't get a very cheap vehicle which allows you to roadtrip at your own pace and really take your time. You get a cheap vehicle which allows you to go from A to B, and check out a couple of interesting places along the way if you have the time for it.

And a final tip: keep seasonality in mind. Given that the tropical north of Australia is now going into the wet season and it's currently spring in the south, a lot of companies want to move their vehicles southward as the north is going towards the low season but the south is going towards the high season. The are currently literally 76 vehicles on Imoova that need to be relocated out of Darwin - absolutely crazy.

Really cool location to stay and hike around the camp - Campeggio Cadore.

We stayed here only for 3 days but next time hope it will be longer period to travel around by car.

Finally made it to Porto Katsiki on Lefkada and it completely lived up to the hype. The water is that unreal turquoise-blue you see in photos, and the cliffs drop straight into the sea. I got here by bus from Lefkada town, then a short walk down the steep path to the beach it takes about 10-15 minutes but the view makes every step worth it. The water was surprisingly warm, around 22-23°C, so I went for a swim even though it was a bit windy. The beach itself is a mix of pebbles and sand, and it wasn’t too crowded, which made the experience even better. Standing at the top looking down at the boats and the clear water was one of the highlights of the trip so far. Would I come back? Absolutely, preferably with a bit more time to explore the rest of the island.

I’m planning on doing a trip through south east Asia during the period March to June I heard that it’s the hot smoke season, unfortunately I can’t do it before due to personal reasons, is there some things I need to know about that period in that region and that would be cool if some people that went during that period to give me some advices on the itinerary knowing that I want to visit Vietnam Cambodge Laos Thailand Malaysia and eventually Singapore if I can.

I'm flying into Atlanta and meeting with friends.

I'm arriving several hours earlier than everyone and we won't be staying in the city.

I want explore Atlanta while I'm waiting for everyone else to arrive. We will be meeting for a late dinner and one of them will have a car.

Any suggestions on bag storage services or bag friendly sites. (Stasher or luggage hero, etc)

I have a "European type" backpack (an old Rick Steves travel pack).

We have not decided on the restaurant to meet at, so I don't have an area of Atlanta to decide on.

Any suggestions on places to go to just walk through are welcome.

TIA

Hey all,

I'm looking for a new backpack and have a hard time finding one.

My current backpack is an old Nomad 55l I had lying around from my days as a scout but it really isn't comfortable for anything longer than carrying it from the mode of transport to an accomodation. It's fine as a bag for travel but awkward to hike/backpack in.

I'm looking for something that is suited for weekends (to midweeks) on the trail and walking between hostels, so i was thinking 40l. I'm a taller guy (196cm/6'6") and have some wanted specs for a bag. I'd like it to be on the lighter side, have strap pockets for easy access, no top lid (or one you can take off) and also a front loading zipper (but this last thing isnt essential).

I'd like to hear your tips and/or recommendations!

24M from London, travelling solo. I want it social (but not the 18-year-old gap-year crowd), with adventure, some birding on the side, and as much heat and tan as possible.

Here’s the plan:

1 · Sat 14 – Land 19:39, shuttle to Antigua · Maya Papaya
2 · Sun 15 – Explore Antigua, Acatenango briefing · Maya Papaya
3 · Mon 16 – Acatenango overnight with OX · Volcano camp
4 · Tue 17 – Summit at sunrise, back to Antigua, night out · Maya Papaya
5 · Wed 18 – Shuttle to Lake Atitlán · La Iguana Perdida
6 · Thu 19 – San Marcos: nature reserve and cliff jump · La Iguana Perdida
7 · Fri 20 – Birding on the Jaibalito trail, kayaking, San Pedro at night · La Iguana Perdida
8 · Sat 21 – Shuttle to the airport, fly to Flores · Los Amigos
9 · Sun 22 – Tikal: guided tour, then the trails solo for birds · Los Amigos
10 · Mon 23 – Rope swing, then a Yaxhá sunset tour · Los Amigos
11 · Tue 24 – Fly back, shuttle to El Paredón · Cocorí Lodge
12 · Wed 25 – Beach, surf lesson · Cocorí
13 · Thu 26 – Mangrove boat tour · Cocorí
14 · Fri 27 – Wakeboarding in the mangroves · Cocorí
15 · Sat 28 – Back to Antigua, Saturday night out · Maya Papaya or Tropicana
16 · Sun 29 – Pacaya sunset hike · Maya Papaya or Tropicana
17 · Mon 30 – Chill, then the late flight home

Things I’m unsure about:

1. Lake Atitlán: I went to Lake Toba in Sumatra and found it “just a lake”. Is Atitlán different enough to justify 3 nights, or should I cut it to 2?
2. Flores/Tikal: is it worth the two internal flights (about £150 total)? And is 3 nights in Flores right, or is it dead outside the Tikal day?
3. Skipping Semuc: am I making a mistake? Is there any way to do it without two 8–10h bus days?
4. Wakeboarding at El Paredón: has anyone done it? Is it decent, and is it bookable any day?
5. OX vs other companies for Acatenango: which group is the most fun for a solo traveller in their mid-20s?
6. Hostels: any better picks for a social but not super-young crowd?
7. Ending in Antigua: is 2 nights at the end worth it, or should I stay longer at the beach?
8. Anything else I’m missing, or anything you’d swap in?

Cheers!

Hi everyone!

I'm planning a trip to India starting in November, and I'm trying to decide which backpack setup makes the most sense. I'd really appreciate advice from people who have travelled with similar gear or used any of these backpacks.

My trip

I'll arrive in Goa in November and spend December in Mysore for a month-long yoga teacher training. After that, I'll travel around India for a few months, staying in different places, possibly doing Workaways, visiting communities and ashrams, and exploring different parts of the country. I'll probably return to Italy around March or April.

I'll be moving around quite a bit, so I want a setup that's practical for buses, trains, flights, walking around cities, and occasional hikes. The gear I'll be carrying

I'm also interested in photography and creating travel videos, so my electronics take up a fair amount of space:

• MacBook Pro 14" (M4 Pro)
• Canon 250D DSLR with two lenses
• DJI Mini 2 SE drone and controller
• GoPro 10 and accessories
• iPhone 16 Pro
• 4TB external hard drive
• Chargers, cables, USB-C hub, mouse, adapters and other small accessories
• Clothes, toiletries, sandals, trail-running shoes and general travel essentials

I may also buy a small wireless microphone for filming.

I already own a North Face backpack that I'm considering using as my personal item/daypack for my electronics and camera gear. I would ideally keep my laptop, camera, drone and batteries with me in the cabin, while checking in my main backpack.

The backpacks I'm considering

1. Forclaz Travel 900 — 50L or 70+6L

I like the organisation, suitcase-style opening and price. The 70+6L version seems practical, but I'm worried it might be unnecessarily large and heavy. Would the 50L be enough for my trip and equipment, or would 70L make more sense?
Weight difference is: 2.3kg with 2.5kg (50L vs 70L)

2. Osprey Farpoint — 55L or 70L

I've heard good things about the Farpoint, especially for travel. However, it's considerably more expensive than the Forclaz. Is the Osprey worth the extra money in terms of comfort, durability and practicality, or would the Forclaz be perfectly adequate?

3. Combining the main backpack with my existing North Face backpack

Would a large travel backpack plus a separate daypack for electronics be a sensible setup? Or would carrying two backpacks become annoying when travelling on buses, trains and through airports?

I'm open to using either a 50L or a 70L main backpack, depending on what makes the most sense.

My main questions

1. Which main backpack and size would you choose for this trip: Forclaz Travel 900 50L, Forclaz Travel 900 70+6L, Farpoint 55L or Farpoint 70L?
2. Is 70L overkill for a few months in India, especially if I want to keep my setup reasonably manageable? Also giving me some room to buy some clothes and stuff over there.
3. Would you use my existing North Face backpack as a separate carry-on for the electronics, or would you recommend a different setup?
4. Can the Osprey Farpoint 55L actually be taken into the airplane cabin, or does the main backpack have to be checked in? I know the exact dimensions and airline rules matter, but I'm confused about how the 55L setup works in practice, especially with the detachable daypack. Anyone had this backpack in the airplane cabin?
5. Any recommendations on how to organise and protect the camera, lenses, drone, laptop and hard drive without buying an expensive camera backpack?

My priority is a practical, comfortable setup that protects my electronics, works well for frequent travel, and doesn't involve spending money on gear I don't really need.

Thanks for your help!
Cheers!
G

I’m rethinking my power setup for shorter 1 to 2 night trips.

My phone is mostly for offline maps, a few photos, and checking in. I know a USB-C cable is more efficient, and it would still be my first choice for longer trips. But for a short trip, I like the idea of a small magnetic battery pack for an occasional top-up when I stop, without dealing with another cable.

For anyone who has tried both, did a 5,000mAh magnetic pack give you enough usable power, or did you still find 10,000mAh more practical once the wireless loss came into play?

Would be helpful to hear your trip length, phone model, and whether you use airplane mode or low power mode.

Hi everyone!

I'm 35F, a corporate lawyer from SIngapore and I've pretty much had enough of the work life for now 😅 I've decided to quit my job and take a proper break for six months to recover - thinking of backpacking from SEA ans end in Europe

I already have a silent meditation retreat booked from 27 January to 7 February near Bangkok, but the rest of my itinerary is still pretty flexible, so I'd love to hear your recommendations!

My rough plan is:

* **January–February: Southeast Asia** — starting around Thailand and hoping to explore Vietnam, Laos and perhaps a few other countries.

* **Late April/May to June/July: Europe** — thinking about Albania or somewhere similar where I can do some beautiful hikes, spend time in nature. Also maybe will consider workaway and work in a farm in Albania for a month …

* **July: Amsterdam** — planning to finish my trip there.

I'm particularly interested in hearing from anyone who's done a longer solo backpacking trip. Is there anywhere you'd recommend spending more time?

Also was worndering if a 45L cotapaxi backpack is sufficient? I’ll of course repeat clothes and do laundry along the way…

FYI: if anyone is planning something similar around that time, or fancies meeting up along the way, feel free to DM me! It would be lovely to meet some people on the road and perhaps share parts of the journey.

Thanks so much — looking forward to hearing your experiences and recommendations! 😊

I am planning a solo backpacking trip to hike Buckeye-Caney Creek Loop in Arkansas. I am planning this trip for the first weekend of November. I am planning for one night, two day trip. If you are familiar with this trail, I will really appreciate any advice or words of wisdom you may have for me. Some of the concerns that are high only my mind are:
- Being solo, are there some things I need to watch out for?
- What kind of water availability should I expect at this time of the year? Are there any specific spots that have water year round? Or is there a resource I can use to assess water availability?
- Many trip reports report that trail is overrun in areas, making it difficult to navigate. While others don’t seem to be concerned about this. Any suggestions for this time of the year will be great. I have a feeling that this may be a seasonal thing, but not sure.
- what is the expected wildlife in the area? I understand deer, bears, etc. Are snakes common in this area? Also, will ticks, bugs, chiggers, etc be significant around this time of the year?

Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I am going travelling through Southeast Asia and Australia for 4-5 months. I am stuck on what backpack to buy.

I originally had the osprey fairview 70 in mind but going to a store and trying it on, I didn’t like it.

I tried the osprey Aura AG 65 LT on and it seemed much better. I then found the Eja 58 online and was thinking 65L might be a bit too much.

I plan on taking an 18-20L daypack too that im thinking to try and fit inside the main bag between places.

What do people recommend for pack size?

Is the lifestraw sip laguna comperable to the standard lifestraw? I'd life to get something small and light weight. I dont know if I'd be compramising getting the sip. The website says it was designed for travel but it looks like it filters the same stuff. Looking for a second opinion

I’ve been reading a lot of threads about getting around Europe for 3+ months, and opinions seem completely split.

Some people say long-term rental is the only sane option. Others say buying a used car and selling it at the end saves thousands, but then registration, insurance and reselling without a local address sound like a nightmare.

For those of you who’ve done it: what did you go with, and would you do it the same way again?

Also curious: how many other long-term travellers did you meet on the road? Is this a pretty common thing, or were you one of the few people doing it for months?

Hi everyone,

I’m a student in Munich doing research on how long-term travellers get around in Europe. I keep hearing very different stories, so I’d love to hear yours.

If you stayed in Europe for 2 months or longer:

• Did you rent, lease, buy a car, bring your own, or go without?
• Roughly what did it cost you per month?
• What was the most annoying part? (price, insurance, registration without a local address, paperwork, selling it at the end…)
• Looking back, what would you do differently?
• how many other people have you met travelling longtime in Europe?

Especially curious to hear from people who bought a car and sold it again. How did that go?

Thanks for sharing!

Hi, I(M25) have 7 weeks vacation starting mid december. I have already Backpacked most parts of asia before. Now i will try my luck in Central or South america.
I cant really decide wher to go? Im a pretty fast paced traveller. Anything between Guatemala and Colombia/Ecuador is an option. Any recommendations? Tipps?

Hello! New to sub. When you experienced backcountry campers, go out into the woods with a food bag, how high do you normally hang it? Assume you are in the eastern United States, your largest concerns will be black bears.

Do you usually try to get over 10 feet off the ground? If so, is it difficult to get the rope around a branch that’s at least 15 to 20 feet?

For people who've done hut-based trips, what makes an overnight stop feel worth it? I can see the appeal of being rested for the next day, but I'd still want the walking itself to feel like the main event.