One of the most important considerations for any long-term traveler is his backpack. Having to carry the entirety of your belongings every day can quickly become tiresome if you choose incorrectly. A backpack is a big purchase, and lots of care should be taken in selecting the correct one. Considerations such as length or trip, type of trip, whether you will be buying items along the way, and where you will be staying all play a part. Travel backpacks range from daypacks to expedition grade 75 liter monsters, so there are a lot of options.

A good outdoor shop should be able to steer you in the right direction. Always, always try on a backpack before buying it. You want it to fit comfortable if you are going to be using it every day. Be on the lookout for discount store brands like REI that still offer very good bang for your buck. Be sure to test the backpack with some weight in it while in the store, an empty backpack is not an effective test.