What Is The Best Travel Hiking and Camera Backpack? I’ve pursued such a perfect pack ever since our waterfall chasing went global back in 2004, and it remains an ongoing search.
Indeed, looking for the best backpack that serves me on my day hikes (especially to waterfalls) while meeting travel restrictions (I have a laptop and semi-pro camera that I’d rather not check in) is not easy.
Heck, I’ve bought and used a multitude of different backpacks (as well as luggages) over these years, and I now have a much better idea of what the perfect pack should have.
Nevertheless, it seems like backpack designs have been pulled in three different directions, and that’s why after going on waterfall adventures for over 20 years, this search for the perfect pack continues.
The picture you see above is a sampling of the packs (and luggages for context) that we’ve used and haven’t discarded after all these years.
So what is my perfect pack for hiking, travel, and photography that enable me to enjoy chasing waterfalls while capturing my experiences without the complications of travel restrictions?
Through trial and error, I realized that two of the packs that we own and use have come the closest to fitting my very divergent needs as a waterfall-chasing hiker, world traveler, and semi-serious photographer.
These packs are the Osprey Ozone 46 and the Osprey Manta 34, and my perfect pack would be the right combination of the two.
Why Did I Like The Osprey Ozone 46?
The Osprey Ozone 46 Travel Backpack was purposefully built with travel in mind, yet it has served me on several hikes both on road trips as well as on trips requiring flights.
Here are the features that I’ve come to appreciate about this backpack.
- It Meets Carry-on Requirements (& Passes As Personal Item)
- It Has Roomy Main and Front Compartments
- It Can Conceal Shoulder Straps And Hip Belt If Needed
- There Are 2 Side Pockets
- It Has A “Slash” Pocket
It Meets Carry-on Requirements (& Passes As Personal Item)
The Osprey Ozone 46 has dimensions of 20″ x 13″ x 12″ (50cm x 33cm x and 30cm) and weighs 2.35 pounds (1.07kg) on its own.
It doesn’t have a frame so I can actually squeeze this pack underneath the airplane seat in front of me or handily fit in the overhead compartment.
In addition, it has compression straps on the side and the top for further compacting of the pack’s bulk.
Indeed, I’ve been successful using this pack as my personal item while bringing my carry-on luggage aboard to stowe in the overhead compartment for that liberating plane ride without worries about lost or misrouted checked-in luggage.
It Has Roomy Main and Front Compartments
The Osprey Ozone 46 can handily fit both my DSLR (which itself is stowed inside a Tamrac 5627 holster camera bag) along with my Caselogic ZLCS-117 laptop bag with 13″ laptop and other electronics.
That way, the pack itself counts as a single piece of carry-on luggage or personal carry-on item (the latter depends on how strict the airline agents are).
Just to give you an idea of the type of electronics I put in my laptop bag, it includes a power splitter, GPS nav, mounts, adapters, USB hub, mouse, laptop AC adapter, lots of interface cables, and more (many of these things help us when we self-drive).
For easier access to and protection for the laptop, the Ozone 46 has a padded velcro sleeve inside the main compartment.
Meanwhile, the front pocket can hold my wallet, keys, compass, first-aid, climbing gloves, headlamps, backup flashlight, pen, notepad, and phone among other things.
It Can Conceal Shoulder Straps And Hip Belt If Needed
The Osprey Ozone 46 can also allow for tucking away the shoulder straps and hip belt to make the backpack appeareven thinner.
If the straps and belts aren’t tucked, then I can also use that extra space to hold two packed rain ponchos (though I have to remember that I put them there as it’s an easily forgotten compartment).
I can even hack it by putting a hydration pack or “bladder” in that space while using the top handle to keep the bladder suspended with a carabiner (though the bite nozzle doesn’t have a place to keep it from freely hanging).
There Are 2 Side Pockets
There are also two side pockets for holding stainless steel bottles (though my taller 32ox bottles fallen out from time to time due to how shallow they are, which I’ll go into later).
This allows for quick access to hydration without needing to unsling the pack to get at the water.
If at least one of the pockets aren’t occupied, I can also use it for holding my tripod as well as trekking poles with the help of the compression straps to keep them from falling out while hiking (if the lower loop is insufficient, which I’ll cover later).
Roomy “Slash” Pocket
Finally, there’s a so-called “slash” pocket between the front and main compartments, and this pocket is scratch resistant.
This pocket is good for holding sunglasses as well as maybe a tablet or phone.
However, I’ve put my backup pen and pad there just in case I forget to bring one on a trip (it has happened before).
Moreover, if I need to bring a separate camera lens (you never know if you need the extra zoom), I’ve managed to fit my Sony SEL24105G 24-105mm zoom lens (or even a larger Canon 70-200mm Zoom Lens) with lens hood into that pocket.
What Prevented The Osprey Ozone 46 From Being The Perfect Backpack?
While there were a lot of things I liked about the Osprey Ozone 46, here are some things that kept it from being my perfect pack.
- Back Ventilation Not Great
- Weak Hip Belt Clip
- Lack Of External Loops For A Tripod Or Trekking Poles
- Shallow Side Pockets
- No Elastic Loops On Shoulder Straps
- No Open-Air Compartment
- No Zippered Hip Pockets
- It’s Discontinued
Back Ventilation Not Great
Because the Osprey Ozone 46 lacked a frame, the pack necessarily had to rest up against my back.
Even though there was padding to help insulate the sweat on my back from penetrating the pack’s contents, I’ve returned from long hikes with a pretty wet back.
That said, usually on long hikes like that, I’ve learned to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and eventually that inconvenience gets mentally blocked out.
Limited Weight Redistribution
While the lack of a frame compromised back ventilation, it also provided limited weight redistribution.
There could be a threshold where shorter packs yield diminishing returns for the overhead of having a frame, and perhaps that’s the case with the Osprey Ozone 46.
Nevertheless, if I happened to be carrying a lot of stuff on a long hike, some of the contents’ weight would go to my shoulders and back instead of my hips.
Weak Hip Belt Clip
One disappointing thing about our Osprey Ozone 46 was the hip belt clip, which didn’t last very long.
It failed during a local waterfall hike in the Los Angeles area, but perhaps the clip itself couldn’t withstand me using the pack’s hip belt through the loops on my Tamrac 5627 camera bag so my DSLR’s stowed weight would be on my hips.
This is my preferred way to carry my camera because it relieves my shoulder from both the camera’s weight as well as the one-sided loading which leads to chronic discomfort in my shoulder blades.
I discuss the way I carry my camera in this article, but the bottom line here, is that the hip blt clip is definitely a weak point of the Ozone 46 backpack, especially if it can’t withstand the weight of my DSLR camera on my hips.
Lack Of Front Side External Loops For A Tripod Or Trekking Poles
Another weak area of the Osprey Ozone 46 for my needs is the lack of side loops at its front to secure long items like a tripod or trekking poles (the lower one is a single centered one instead of 2 on the lower sides).
The workaround for this would be to use the side pockets combined with the compression straps to ensure the tripod or poles don’t fall out.
However, that would render at least one of the side pockets unavailable for quick access to my water bottles.
For long hikes lasting at least a half-day, I may need at least two bottles (where one would have to be stowed inside the pack), or I could put up with the chemical leaching and taste of the hacked hydration pack scheme for hands-free drinking.
Seeing that such loops shouldn’t add to the bulk nor the weight of the travel pack, it seems like a big improvement if it included this feature (especially if that lower loop in the bottom center of the pack became two side loops on either side).
Shallow Side Pockets
Speaking of the side pockets, as much as I appreciate this feature, the pockets themselves were shallow.
I’ve had multiple occasions where my 32oz water bottles fell out of the side pocket (once it went down an shallow cliff).
I also learned that it’s not wise to put a water bottle in the side pockets when on the plane for the same reason (that they fall out easily).
No Elastic Loops On Shoulder Straps
Something that I’ve noticed on all my backpacks that are more geared towards hiking is that they have extra elastic loops on the shoulder straps.
Such loops open the possibility of keeping a hydration pack’s mouthpiece from dangling below the hip, but it also can allow for sunglasses to be attached for easy access without needing to stop, unsling the pack, and then take them out.
In addition, those loops could also be useful for attaching other items clipped by a carabiner.
Such items could be a retractable mirror, which allows me to see behind me without needing to turn around as this can be useful if I’m worried about being pursued by a predator.
I could also attach a legitimate whistle (not the tiny included one on the sternum strap) to scare away wildlife or to alert someone if I’m lost or debilitated.
No Open-Air Compartment
The Ozone 46 also lacks an elastic open-air front pocket for those times where I have a wet poncho or jacket that needs to be temporarily put there to somewhat air dry once the rain, mist, or brushing against wet foliage stops.
Instead, I’d have to stuff the wet gear inside the pack which can ruin other belongings inside while also introducing mold from the inability of the wet items to properly dry out while on the move.
As a result, this is another weak point of a travel pack that could use this functionality to enhance its utilization for hiking.
No Zippered Hip Belt Pockets
Finally, the Osprey Ozone 46 doesn’t utilize its hip belts for additional space that could allow for stowing things I need quickly without stopping to unsling the pack to get at them.
Such items that I can see going into this compartment would be a smart phone (especially if I use it as a backup GPS with Gaia GPS), a handheld GPS, spare AA batteries, or a pen and notepad.
Of course, the zippered hip belt pocket would also have to be zippered so nothing would fall out.
But without this extra space available, I’m relegated to using my shirt pockets or pant pockets, which can be subject to sweat damage (especially the notepad) as well as falling out if the pockets are not secured (not all clothing pockets have zippers and/or velcro).
It’s Discontinued
I personally thought the Ozone 46 pack was very capable as both a hiking and travel pack.
Unfortunately, Osprey doesn’t make this version of the pack anymore, and they’ve instead opted to focus more on travel packs having more suitcase-like features while sacrificing on hiking functionality (more on this later).
Therefore, I’m holding onto my bag and trying to maintain its usefulness, but in order to do that, we’ll have to test Osprey’s lifetime warranty by replacing that faulty hip belt clip that gave out on us.
Why Did I Like The Osprey Manta 34?
In addition to the Osprey Ozone 46 travel backpack, I also found that the Osprey Manta 34 hiking backpack came equally close to my ideal backpack that suits my travel, hiking, and photography needs.
In fact, many of the things I like about the Manta 34 pack are missing or compromised in the Ozone 46 pack.
Moreover, I consider the Manta 34 to be the best day hiking pack that I’ve owned and used, and here are the main reasons why…
- Superior Back Ventilation
- Superior Weight Redistribution
- Zippered Hip Belt Pockets
- Lots of Storage Space
- Deep Side Pockets
- It Has A Set of External Loops For Holding Tripod Or Trekking Poles
- It Has Outer Air-Ventilated Elastic Front Pocket
- It Includes A Rain Cover
- It Has A Slash Pocket
- It Includes A Hydration Pack (“Bladder”) With Its Own Compartment
Superior Back Ventilation
The Osprey Manta 34 has a back ventilation system where my back is literally separated from the pack itself!
In all the times I’ve done long hikes with this backpack, the sweat on my back never touched the pack so its contents never suffered from any of my sweat seeping into the interior.
As a result, this helped immensely with allowing me to hike comfortably.
Superior Weight Redistribution
The Manta 34 pack includes a fairly tough internal frame that curves.
This not only allowed for the back ventilation that I really like, but it also stabilizes the weight and distributes it to my hips through the hip belt.
Therefore, hiking with this pack yielded maximal comfort as my back, neck, and shoulders were relieved of whatever I was carrying.
Zippered Hip Belt Pockets
Unlike the Ozone 46, the Manta 34 does have zippered pockets on the hip belt.
Thus, I could put my smart phone, pen and pad, spare AA batteries, a handheld GPS, or whatever other item I need immediate access to without the need to unsling the pack.
By having this pocket available, it also keeps me from ruining whatever items are there (e.g. my pen and pad) had I put them in my shirt or pant pockets due to sweat.
Lots Of Storage Space
The Manta 34 has lots of storage space in both its zippered front compartment as well as the main compartment.
It barely fits both my DSLR holster bag with camera stowed along with my laptop bag with laptop stowed.
The front pocket also has the same organizational benefits as that of the Ozone 46.
Deep Side Pockets
While the shallow side pockets on the Ozone 46 can make my 32oz stainless steel water bottles fall out, the Manta 34 has much deeper pockets to prevent that.
Moreover, each side pocket has an additional hole for angling the water bottles more sideways for easier access (as long as I don’t lean too far forward to make them come out that way).
These side pockets are also roomy enough to let me repurpose them in such a way that I could put my Chaco sandals there (just like I could with the Ozone 46 though that pack had to rely more on the compression straps given its shallow pockets).
It Has A Set Of External Loops For Holding Tripod Or Trekking Poles
Since I also like to take good photographs with a more professional camera as opposed to relying exclusively on a smart phone, having my pack enable me to bring my tripod is a major plus.
The enabler in this instance are a couple of loops (one bungy-tightened) on the front of the pack which can hold my tripod to the pack itself without tying up any internal compartments.
If I don’t have my tripod with me, then I could also use the same loops to put my trekking poles there.
In my experience, I can secure both my tripod and my SwitchPod using the same set of loops (the SwitchPod also needs the side pocket), but it’s really pushing it if I also try to fit my trekking poles together with them (more on this later).
It Has Outer Air-Ventilated Elastic Front Pocket
Another feature that’s missing on the Ozone 46 but is present on all my day hiking packs, including the Osprey Manta 34, is the elastic non-zippered front pocket.
If I happen to be carrying a wet poncho or GoPro and I don’t want to put the wet items inside my pack, I can use this air-ventilated front pouch instead.
That way, they don’t ruin any of my other belongings inside my pack due to their wetness, and they have a chance of drying faster while I’m on the move.
When I go through airport security, I also use this front pouch for my mini liquids and gels so I can take out the TSA-approved plastic ziplock bag immediately for inspection.
It Includes A Rain Cover
The rain cover is a nice-to-have feature that is included with the Manta 34, and it’s stowed in a hidden underbelly compartment at the very bottom of the pack.
Therefore, it’s not in the way competing with other items needing to use storage space in the front and main compartments, and I can rest assured that I always have this means of waterproofing the bag when the weather turns foul as I’m wearing this pack.
It Has A Slash Pocket
Like the Ozone 46, the Manta 34 also has a slash pocket though it’s not as roomy.
Nevertheless, it’s barely big enough to fit my old Canon 70-200mm zoom lens as my secondary lens if I needed the extra zoom beyond my primary zoom lens.
If a lens would occupy that slash pocket, then I’d have to put my sunglasses and backup pen and notepad in a different compartment.
It Includes A Hydration Pack (“Bladder”) With Its Own Compartment
Also pretty standard for all the day hiking packs that I’ve used, the Manta 34 includes a 2.5L hydration pack in its own compartment.
This enables hands-free hydration if I’m not up for using my water bottles or if I need the extra hydration in addition to my water bottles.
If I’m not using my hydration pack, then I can use that extra space for my laptop (though it’s not padded and it’s curved) or I can also put my packed rain ponchos there as well.
What Prevented The Osprey Manta 34 From Being The Perfect Backpack?
While there are lots of things I really liked about the Manta 34 as far as hiking is concerned, it left a lot to be desired as far as a travel pack is concerned.
It also could use some improvements even as far as the hiking and photography aspect are concerned.
So here’s what I feel could be improved about the Osprey Manta 34 backpack.
- Frame Too Tall, Too Curved, and Too Rigid for Carry-on Compliance
- Hip Belt Fastener and Webbing Too Thin
- Could Use A Higher Loop in the Front of Pack for Carabiner Attachment
- Could Use Second Set of Loops to Enable Bringing Both Tripod And Trekking Poles At The Same Time
- Hip Belt Zippered Pockets Could Be Slightly Larger
- No Padded Laptop Compartment
- Could Use A Larger Slash Pocket
Frame Too Tall, Too Curved, and Too Rigid for Carry-on Compliance
Of all the grievances I have about the Osprey Manta 34, this is the one that gives me the most anxiety when I try to bring its hiking benefits to places that require traveling on a plane.
With dimensions that are officially 22″x14″x14″ (or 56cm x 35cm x 35cm), it doesn’t meet the 45″ (or 114cm) linear requirement even though I have been successful bringing it with me as a carry-on (though it’s really pushing it as a personal item).
Moreover, the internal frame (causing the unloaded pack weight to be 3.09lbs or 1.4kg) is too rigid to try to squeeze the pack into tight spaces (e.g. under the airplane seat in front of me).
The pack’s depth also suffers from the frame’s curvature, which further makes it not carry-on compliant, especially since it doesn’t buy you any pack space (if anything, it takes pack space away against the carry-on requirements).
In fact, I’ve found that the curvature of the pack actually made it more difficult to store my laptop and DSLR camera in the main compartment together (though I have done it with some warping concerns on my laptop; see how I try to travel with the Manta 34).
Hip Belt Fastener and Webbing Too Thin
Between the padded hip belt of the Manta 34 is a mere 3/4″ webbing and hip belt clip or fastener.
This is actually thinner than the Ozone 46’s hip belt, which is about 1.5″, and to me that’s the weakest part of the weight redistribution system of this pack.
While I don’t expect a very thick belt and webbing like my Gregory Palisade internal frame pack for multi-day overnight backpacking treks, I would have expected something more substantial than what’s included currently.
I don’t think this is a deal breaker, and perhaps in a weird way, the smaller clip is actually seemingly more durable than the larger clip that broke on me in the Ozone 46 pack.
Could Use A Higher Loop in the Front of Pack for Carabiner Attachment
This is kind of a nit, but the front of the Manta 34 pack has only 2 loops to let compression straps through as well as one more rigid loop at the very bottom of the pack near the rain cover compartment.
That’s pretty much it as far as what I can attach to the backpack via carabiners or tying things (especially if they’re heavy).
The one on the bottom is good for clipping my boots if I had to cross a stream that went no higher than knee-deep (thigh-deep is pushing it since that loop is too low).
In fact, I actually compensated by stressing the clip securing the open-air front pocket by attaching my boots there when I was crossing a shin-deep to knee-deep stream on a waterfall hike in Colorado.
It would be nice if there was a sturdy loop near the zipper of the front pocket or between that and the slash pocket so my boots wouldn’t be riding so low while crossing a deeper stream.
Could Use Second Set of Loops to Enable Bringing Both Tripod And Trekking Poles At The Same Time
I was surprised to see that there was only one set of loops (one bungy-tied upper one and one lower “ice axe” loop) to secure my tripod (as well as SwitchPod at the same time) to the outside of my Manta 34 pack.
For weight balancing purposes as well as being able to carry another long item (like my trekking poles) at the same time, that’s best done if there was a second set of loops on the other side of the pack’s front.
As it is now, I don’t think the single set of loops could reliably hold my tripod and trekking poles at the same time (let alone my SwitchPod as well).
But if that second set of loops is available, then I’m more likely to always have my trekking pole with me (to make stream crossings in boots easier) as well as my tripod so I have less of an excuse not to use it (to take those silky waterfall shots).
Hip Belt Zippered Pockets Could Be Slightly Larger
While I really appreciate the hip belt zippered pocket on the Manta 34, I feel like it could be just a tad bigger so it can comfortably fit my smart phone as well as pen and notepad.
Even though these items do fit, I’ve found that I have to mind the zipper as well as how I tuck the items in that pocket, which impact their accessibility.
In fact, I still prefer using my shirt pocket for the pen and notepad while using my pant pockets for the smart phone since they’re easier to access that way.
However, then there’s the sweat damage risk (to my notepad) as well as the lost phone risk from it falling out of my unsecured pant pockets (as typically my wallet and keys occupy the lone zippered pant pocket).
No Padded Laptop Compartment
This particular issue is indicative of how I’d like to make a premium day hiking pack serve a dual purpose for international travel, and so it’s not surprising that there’s no padded laptop compartment.
As it is now, I try to use the space in the hydration pack for my laptop if I have to fit both the laptop bag and DSLR camera (inside its holster bag) all within the Manta 34 so the whole thing can pass as a carry-on.
That said, it’s not a long-term solution, and as soon as I’m seated on the plane, I would immediately take the laptop and its case out of the pack and put it underneath the seat in front of me, or in the overhead compartment next to my pack if I needed the leg room.
What Does My Perfect Hiking Travel and Camera Backpack Feature?
Indeed, from examining what I liked and didn’t like about both the Osprey Ozone 46 and the Osprey Manta 34, it was clear to me that my perfect backpack was a complementary mix of the two.
Thus, it would take the best of the hiking-friendly aspects of the Osprey Manta 34 with the best of the travel-friendly aspects of the Osprey Ozone 46.
Therefore, the features and attributes of my perfect backpack would have the following…
- Meets Carry-on Requirements with dimensions of 20″x13″x12″ (ala Ozone 46)
- Roomy storage in both the front and main compartments (ala both Ozone 46 and Manta 34)
- Same organization in the front pocket (ala both Ozone 46 and Manta 34)
- Roomy “Slash” Pocket Big Enough For A Secondary Zoom Lens (ala Ozone 46)
- Maybe 20″ Frame With Just Enough Curvature for Back Ventilation & Weight Redistribution (I’m on the fence on this)
- Zippered Hip Belt Pockets (slightly bigger than provided by Manta 34)
- 2 Deep Side Pockets with Additional Angle (ala Manta 34) and Option For Compression Straps To Bypass It
- 2 Sets of External Loops For Holding Tripod And Trekking Poles At The Same Time
- Outer Air-Ventilated Elastic Front Pocket (ala Manta 34)
- An Included Rain Cover (ala Manta 34)
- An Included Hydration Pack (“Bladder”) With Its Own Compartment (ala Manta 34)
- Adjustable Shoulder Straps For Different Torso Lengths/Heights
The bottom line is that I would prioritize hiking functionality over travel convenience, but I’d still try to meet the carry-on travel restrictions as much as possible.
What’s Wrong With What’s On The Market Now And Where It’s Trending?
With the discontinuation of the Osprey Ozone 46, I saw that manufacturers had gravitated towards travel backpacks acting more like suitcases or duffle bags while being less useful as hiking packs.
For example, Osprey favored the Farpoint series designs (especially the Farpoint 40) for single-pack hosteling and warm weather traveling (primarily for younger people) while the Ozone line followed more of the Sojourn commuter pack intention with wheels.
The Osprey Farpoint pack has the water bottle pockets too far out in front so I’d have to unsling the pack to hydrate as I’m hiking.
Meanwhile, the Tortuga Setout 35L and Nomatic 40L Travel Pack both behave more like a luggage with shoulder straps and hip belts like the Farpoint, but they also lack the hiking functionality that I require.
On the other hand, I saw that the Gregory Zulu 40 and Gregory Zulu 55 backpacks were closer to what I might consider as a good hiking backpack with travel hacking capabilities, but they’re definitely not compliant with carry-on restrictions.
In fact, rather than trying to get away with carrying everything in only a bulky personal item backpack (if I can get away with it) along with a carry-on compliant luggage or pack, I’m probably better off checking in a wheeled travel luggage.
For example, the Osprey Farpoint 65 wheeled luggage would at least let me roll the legitimate luggage while wearing it if the wheels become useless in rougher terrain (e.g. cobblestone streets, unpaved roads, or trails).
With that configuration, I would could wear my day pack on my front so I still remain hands-free no matter where I’m going, but most importantly, I haven’t given up on all the functionality I require for hiking and photography.
We’ve also used the conventional roller luggages (whether carry-on or full-sized) so whatever multi-purpose travel backpack I end up going with would have to be an upgrade from the luggages we already use.
So based on what I’ve seen on the market, the packs continue to specialize either for hiking or for travel, and the discontinuation of the Osprey Ozone 46 travel pack seemed to reinforce the move away from multi-purpose packs that are useful for each purpose.
Perhaps that’s the biggest reason why my perfect travel hiking and camera backpack probably won’t exist.
After all, as long as people are settling for travel-focused packs or hiking-focused packs or camera-focused packs (but not demanding ones that do all three well), then manufacturers would have less of an incentive to make that perfect pack.
Final Thoughts / Conclusion
Through my search for the best travel hiking and camera backpack, I’ve managed to find and use backpacks that have come close in the Osprey Ozone 46 and the Osprey Manta 34.
However, they have their shortcomings that force me to continue my search for the right blend of these two packs (where I’ve identified the desired features and functions in that perfect backpack).
In any case, my ideal configuration would be to use the perfect pack to stow my semi-pro camera in its holster bag (which has lens wipes and 2 spare batteries) along with my laptop in its laptop bag.
My laptop bag can be a little bulky because it also contains other electronics that I use for car accessories like GPS navigation and power adapter/splitter along with interface cables, a portable hard drive, a USB hub, a mouse, and AC adapter for the laptop.
That way, depending on how the travel restrictions are enforced, I would have the option of making the pack a personal item or at least a carry-on luggage as a fallback.
If I can get away with the perfect pack being a personal item, then I might entertain attempting to do check-in free travel with a carry-on backpack or luggage specifically designed for travel purposes.
That’s where I have a choice of using the popular Osprey Farpoint 40, the Tortuga Setout 35L, the Nomatic 40L Travel Bag, or just the default carry-on roller luggage from Costco that I’ve been using for nearly 20 years.
However, if I’m fine with checking in my luggage, then I could use a larger luggage like the Osprey Farpoint 65 wheeled travel pack or default back to the full-sized roller luagge from Costco that I’ve also been using for nearly 20 years.
It’s all about being flexible without losing out on my particular needs for hiking, travel, and photography.
Even without the perfect backpack, this is how I’ve been doing it with less optimal backpacks and luggages so I know it’s already doable.
The bottom line is that the perfect pack would make all this even easier and more feasible, and thus it would make chasing waterfalls around the world even more enjoyable than it already is!
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