EQUIPMENT | Which backpack to choose for a trip, round the world?

WHAT YOU FIND IN THIS ARTICLE
→ The different types of backpack for the trip.
→ A help to choose the best bedding for you.
→ The key points to consider when choosing your backpack and our returns to ours after 13 months of nomadic life.

1- THE CHOICE OF THE MODEL

First step.

First of all, it is a question of trying to answer this question: « What do I need first? ». We explain: we will compare 2 flagship models of bags for the journey that correspond to two very distinct uses and will guide you in choosing your ideal future bag.

For us, it was about finding the best quality ratio – price by focusing on the wearing comfort and solidity. Why? To withstand the long hours of treks, be comfortable with our backpacks on the back, and prevent the many shocks in transport. In view of the journey that we were going to make this was what seemed most important to us: we knew that we were going to travel a lot on foot and do a lot of big hikes (so a lot of walking and wearing) and that we were not going to take the plane (which implies many small different transports and therefore a lot of shocks and opportunities to damage the bags). Compared to these criteria (good value for money, comfort, strength) it must be recognised that Decathlon offers a range of prices Very attractive with bags 2 see 3 times cheaper than other international brands. Beyond that, the brand sells products intelligently designed which correspond rather well to the two types of travel bags you are talking about: the one made to transport your things from one place to another without you having to carry it much on your back (travel type) vs the one optimized for having often on the shoulders (type trek).

> TRAVEL 500, QUECHUA*

We begin: impossible to speak bag-to-dos and travel without evoking the Travel 500 from Quechua, which claims to be specially designed for backpackers. Ultra compartmentalized, with a wide opening type suitcase and some well thought out new features such as a large zip padlock, it seems to be the new must-have of the backpacks community. But... This is not the one we chose.

* Back then. Now it is the Forclaz brand that develops this model.

> TREK 900, FORCLAZ

We now continue and compare with the Trek 900 from Forclaz. First thing: they are in the same price range. The first is presented at EUR 100 (depending on the bedding) and 120. The real difference is made in terms of... Use.

The trek 900 is a real backpack: robust, comfortable, suitable for trips where you will be led.e to move a lot with on the back / trekker. The travel 500 when to him is more like a portable suitcase : practical, clever, but less pleasant to have on the back (it is said to be less pleasant to wear on the duration than the trek 900, it is said not comfortable at all). It will be perfect for trips where the portage is less (if you have a van or if you often have fixed places to leave your belongings).

Of course, nothing better than trying them to account for it and find the one that suits you, even if by putting a bag on your back in a shop the differences of comfort do not always jump to the eye (shovels).

For us no hesitation : we would have to travel great distances bag on the back and move all the time. The choice was naturally directed towards the Forclaz range: the Trek 900.

2- LITRAGE: WHAT VOLUME DO I NEED?

Reading (or the capacity of the bag in volume) will influence its size and therefore your ease of wearing it, removing it, putting it back, carrying it (in public transport...), storing it, throwing it away (when you are tired of it...), etc. But it's going to define what you're going to put in there... Or not!

The more you'll be taken to move with it, the more important this question will be. Having room is good, having the equivalent of a beer barrel on your back, it's less good (in terms of weight, of course...). Morality? There's no point in taking a bag too big, once it's filled, you won't be able to carry it!

Good to know: Ideally the weight of your bag should not exceed 15 to 20% of your own weight. If you weigh 55 kg, your bag should not exceed 8 to 11 kg; If you weigh 80kg, between 12 and 16kg. This recommended total weight of course varies according to people, their physical resistance, their muscles.

The choice of volume will also depend on your template/morphology. If you are small, models above 60L are to be excluded.

For our part, we left on 2 different reads : the female model in 50+10 and the male model in 70+10 (capacity of the bag + the upper pouch, which can be detached). Don't forget that the more important you take a bedding, the more heavy the bag alone will weigh (for example, for an empty trek 900 in 60l, it already counts 2.4kg and knows that once properly filled the weight can quickly reach 15kg).

The choice of bag is essential, but the filling too. For a trip, a tour of the world, what do we take, what don't we take? The subtlety of art « Just enough » is not always obvious. To help you, we'll show you our tips and equipment lists for a tour of the world.

3- After more than a few months of traveling around the planet, we'll see what we're thinking.

Aircraft, metros, bus and train from and to MoscowBeijing, Ulaanbaatar, Kathmandu. The Trans-Siberian, the expeditions to Lake Baikal and the Gobi Desert, the bivouacs in Siberia, treks in the Himalayas, the climbing parties on the wild sections of the Great Wall of Chinathe dusty villages of Nepal, the infinite plains of the Mongolia... Kilometres and kilometers of unique adventures. So, our bags in all this? You have to say, we've been a little rough-up. Which is certain: We'll have tested them well.s (and it's not over!). So, are we happy with our choice? We're telling you all this.

> RESISTANCE

When we take this bag, the word that comes to mind is « robust ». It's checked. : its coating is solid and has so far resisted all the situations that were imposed upon it, except the time when a wild Siberian dog bitten in the backpack of Maxime's bag to pull out of the tent. It was not to mention Maxime's determination to keep his bag.

The good general condition after 13 months of nomadic life, this is not really the case of waterproof covers sold with the bag on the other hand, and this is normal: we have not only used them against rain but also as protection in transport, and they are not made for this use. If you want a real protective cover during transportation, we recommend you buy one separately, but know that it will add a little extra weight to your bag.

> THE CONFORT

The thickness of the different straps, straps and back protections confirm that we have there a bag optimized for portage and which can be comfortable despite heavy loads. However, after more than a year of waltz and a bag always loaded with block worn over long distances, necessarily, today, the straps are beginning to hurt! In time, the foam has come to rest and we feel it when we have them several hours on our backs. For us it will soon be time to change them.

But what we especially enjoyed on this bag is the multiplicity of settings. They give him an almost perfect morphological adaptability! The straps are adaptable to the width of the shoulders but also to the height of the back. The hip belt is wide and well reinforced, we are perfectly wrapped!

The big plusThis belt is independent of the rest of the bag: it is not « sewn » the bag, but is attached to it through a metal structure and a large scratch (visible in our photos above). What does that mean? When you walk, the belt perfectly follows your hip movements, but the rest of the bag does not move. And that, comfort level, is the top of the top. In addition, this system allows you to remove a large part of the weight of your shoulders to concentrate on the hips, essential when you have large loads to carry long.

Finally, straps at the bottom of the back allow to absorb shocks caused by movements. This little nugget is marketed as symbium shock system absorb.

Don't hesitate to ask in store a demonstration of the different settings of the bags, this will condition much of your trip!

" ... ALL WITH THE PRACTICAL COAST OF A VALISE

Why do we really love him? Because in addition to all these essentials when travelling, the Trek 900 has all the advantages of a good backpack... combined with those of a suitcase !

The opening is done either by the top (like all the bags) or by a wide ventral opening (and this is life). It's simple, the bag opens on its totality Once the zips are down, you have access to all the contents, there's only one thing to pick! Added to this, three inner straps allow to pack (compress) the contents of the bag so that it does not move.

The result: the bag is ultra compact, nothing moves, and it allows great stability, which will save you:

• Energy
• massage oil for your stabilizing muscles
• a few yells with your partner after 5 hours of walking in pain.

> SMALL + DEFINITLY BASK OUR HEART

• A waterproof cover is supplied with the bag and not all brands offer it. This one is located in the upper part, it will allow you to keep your house dry or even protect it slightly in public transport.
• The upper part can detach itself in order to transform into small shoulder bag 10L, which can be convenient for a little city ride (personally, we have extra little 20L backpacks that we take for walks, so it didn't serve us).
• Gourd door (or beer, it has already proven its worth) on each side + location for a water pocket inside. Something never dry.
• Sangs below the bag allowing to wear a tent, mattress or other equipment and thus increase its capacity. They weren't on the previous version!
• A bag declined in two versions : a male model and a female model. We're not talking about the color that changes, but about the design of the bag itself, in order to adapt perfectly to the morphological characteristics of each.

> WHAT WE WOULD LIKE

• Small compartments inside the bag (zipped pouches, etc.). Something you can compensate for by adding to the purchase of your bag: small covers / compartments. Personally, they revolutionize our daily nomads. For more details, we'll tell you everything. Here And also got a discount code for you.
• A slightly protective cover thicker which can provide waterproofness AND protection in various environments.
• The compartment at the bottom of the bag which was present on the old model and which allowed to isolate shoes or dirty linen.
• Total weight lighter. But we must find a compromise between lightness and robustness!

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