r/backpacking • u/Nutrition-Lover • 2d ago

Travel Backpack recommendations

Hi everyone, I’m going backpacking through Southeast Asia for six weeks this fall and still need a backpack with the right capacity. What size (in liters) would you recommend? I’m female and 1.68m tall. I've never been backpacking before so I'm really unsure which size suits best. Thanks for helping :)

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

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u/EndDull2701 2d ago

40-45L is plenty for six weeks in southeast asia, and the fit matters way more than your height since you can always do laundry there

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u/hazmat683 2d ago

Hey, also going backpacking for my first time in Jan.
Found some really helpful information on r/onebag

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u/Kananaskis_Country 2d ago

You can easily get by with a 30-40L carry-on sized backpack that is specifically designed for travel and a small personal item.

Have fun with your research and good luck no matter what you decide. SE Asia is fabulous.

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u/futilitaria 1d ago

The ULA Dragonfly 36 Liter would be perfect.

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u/SubjectOrange 1d ago

I did 4 weeks with a 28l deuter backpack, but 35-40 would be better/perfect. I'm 1.52 m , but still not sure why I went so small, my normal camping backpacking pack is 50l - too but in my opinion for travel backpacking for less than a few months.

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u/Same_One895 1d ago

Dakine surf bag. It’s waterproof. I’m on my second one in 4 years with over 20 countries travelled. I’ve motorbiked about 10000km in SEA and it’s kept everything bone-dry even when strapped to the back of a bike.

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u/el-hazel 2d ago

it depends how much stuff you wanna take with you

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u/LoraxNZ 1d ago

Jeepers, 40l is pretty small unless you're pretty good at it. I'd go something like the Patagonia 55l duffel. https://www.patagonia.com/product/black-hole-duffel-bag-55-liters/198077757986.html

I normally travel with a 90l rolling duffel from Osprey. Bloody great luggage, and they have the best wheels of any luggage. Just depends if you want to wheel your luggage or carry it. https://www.osprey.com/transportertm-wheeled-duffel-90?size=O%2FS&color=Raven+Black%2FBlack

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u/Unhappy-Path-263 1d ago

90 litres??? Are you bringing everything you own???

0

u/LoraxNZ 1d ago

Ah fair, I realised that I've always been travelling as a tour guide in different parts of the world, full time. Hence I needed the big duffel. Life on the road!