It’s a big dilemma when planning your gap year: what bag to take? It’s worth spending time making sure that you’ve got the best luggage for your gap year – and the best luggage for you won’t necessarily be the best luggage for everyone else that you know.

Some questions to help work out what the best option is for you:

• Will you be travelling around a lot or primarily based in one place?
• Are you travelling to developed places or off the beaten track?
• Are you happy to empty your bag every time you need to get something out of it?

Gap year luggage option 1: suitcase

If you are going to be staying and working in one place, a suitcase could be a good option.

Key features of suitcases

• Great for moving around airports, bus stations and smooth pavements. Not so good for mountains, treks and hostels with no lifts!
• Most suitcases can be locked providing you with more security than an average backpack.
• Durable: hard cases are particularly durable and can protect your belongings well.
• Easy access to your belongings.

Gap year option 2: rucksack/backpack

Rucksacks are a great choice if you’re going to be travelling around a lot, and particularly if your itinerary includes places outside of major towns where it is difficult to push or pull a suitcase on wheels.

Key features of rucksacks

• Convenient to carry around. Although you’ll need to be careful of the amount you pack – packing light will help you to carry it for longer. If your gap year plans include trekking or travelling on local transport to more remote locations, a rucksack will be significantly more useful than a suitcase.
• Squishing into awkward spaces. Rucksacks can be squashed into smaller spaces than suitcases.
• Top loading and front-loading options available. If you’re happy to put up with a little less convenience when trying to get things out of your bag, a traditional top loading rucksack is generally designed to be easier to carry than a front-loading bag. If you are mainly using your rucksack for moving from hostel to hostel, the convenience of a front-loading bag might outweigh the improved ergonomics of a top loading rucksack.
• Day packs. Many rucksacks have detachable day packs which make a great option when you want to leave the majority of your luggage in your accommodation but still take a few things out with you.

Gap year option 3: duffle bag

The final alternative you may be considering is a duffle bag. Not as heavy as a suitcase but with good access to the things inside, these are probably best suited to someone not travelling around too frequently.

Key features of duffle bags

• Many have wheels so can be pulled along as well as carried on a shoulder.
• Easy access to contents. Like a suitcase or front-loading rucksack, it is usually pretty easy to get to your stuff without fully emptying your bag.
• Duffle bags are usually significantly lighter than a suitcase whilst offering many of the same benefits. They are less sturdy though so don’t provide as much protection for your belongings as a suitcase.

Gap year luggage top tips

Try it out

Whichever bag you decide is right for you, we recommend that you try carrying it before you go. If it’s a rucksack, is it the right fit for you? The majority of the weight should be resting on your hips using the hip belt rather than on your shoulders – this allows your stronger leg muscles to do the lifting rather than relying on your shoulders and back which are more likely to suffer from injury.

If you’ve chosen a suitcase, it’s also a good idea to check that the handle is the right height for you. Many suitcases have adjustable handles to ensure that you have a good fit but if you’re particularly tall or shorter than average you might find that the suitcase you are considering is not the best one for you.

Packing cubes

Packing cubes. We love packing cubes in whichever luggage type you’ve chosen, keeping clothes or kit intended for a specific destination or activity out of the way until you get there can save so much time and effort when searching for things and when repacking for the next stage of your journey. A spare cube or bag for dirty washing is also very useful.

Plastic bags

We would also recommend that you have a couple of plastic bags in your luggage. If there’s anything that is particularly susceptible to water damage, wrap it in a plastic bag. If there’s anything that might leak (your washbag?), keep that in a plastic bag too.