Why backpacks make great carry-ons

I’m a big fan of backpacks. They're easy to carry and their soft sides make them more likely to be allowed in overhead storage bins on aircraft. Hard-sided rolling carry-ons, on the other hand, are sometimes tagged and moved to the hold at the last minute, which gives the airline one more chance to lose your luggage.

My selfish tip is to go to a high-end store that sells camping backpacks and let them fit you for a long-distance backpack; they’ll explain what they’re doing as they go along. Tell them you’re window-shopping for a friend to come back later and make the purchase. Remember what they told you, leave, and look for a comparable backpack secondhand. I’ve never paid more than $20 for my backpacks, and they last about a decade each.

The features that I’ve found to make a real difference in backpacks are:

• padded straps; by the sixth or seventh hour you’re traipsing across the countryside or between airports, train stations and hostels, your shoulders and back will appreciate every ounce of it

• straps shaped for specific genders (females are more comfortable with straps that are shaped differently than males’ backpacks)

• padded waist belt; this takes pressure off your back which is especially useful if you have a “tenuous” back

• lightweight, sturdy, waterproof construction

• an all-the-way-around zipper so it’s easy to open fully

• at least two separate “big” compartments

• bonus: a bright color (this makes it harder to leave behind if you’re in a sleep-deprived stupor, as well as being easier to pick out if you put it on a train's luggage storage rack and need to find it fast before you exit)