Some links here are affiliate links. If you buy something, I might earn a small commission—thanks for supporting my blog! I only share products I use and stand behind.
The family in the photo? Spoiler, that’s not us!
When we first decided to slow travel for a year, we thought, Let’s do this right. Let’s be carry-on-only kind of people.
Lean. Nimble. Efficient.
So we went all in on research mode, like the nerds we are. We fell headfirst into the magical world of travel YouTube. Bag review channels? Subscribed. Luggage packing cubes? Obsessed.
Shout out to @awaytogether with Nik and Allie – whom we watch religiously for travel tips and gear reviews. Most of our gap year gear purchases are based on their recommendations.
After hours of scrolling and a couple of rabbit holes later, we emerged victorious: We were Team Backpack.
Specifically: Osprey Farpoint 40L for the hubby and Osprey Fairview 40L for me and my daughter – great for shorter torsos!
We proudly marched ourselves to the nearest MEC, tried them on, adjusted all the straps, and strutted around the store like we were headed straight to Machu Pichhu. We went home and did our first “practice pack, feeling smug about our newfound minimalist lifestyle.
Then we wore the packs around the house.
For 10 min.
And that’s when it hit us.
We are not 21 anymore.
We’re in our mid to late 40s, and while our wanderlust is strong, our shoulders, knees, and lower backs had other ideas. After 10 minutes of walking around with fully loaded backpacks, we started to feel it—twinges here, stiffness there, and a growing sense that maybe this wasn’t going to work long-term.
What Were We Thinking?
Backpacking is great in theory. And honestly, the backpacks were great. Just not for us. Luckily, we were well within our return window and able to make a quick pivot.
We decided to swap our backpacks for wheeled carry-ons. A little less adventurous-looking? Maybe. But a lot more sustainable for a year of travel. We’re all about slow travel, and being comfortable means we’ll enjoy the journey so much more.
The Syps Survival Summary
Did we survive Team Backpack? Alas we did not.
If you’re in your 40s or planning a long-term family trip, don’t feel pressured to go full minimalist with a backpack if your body’s not on board. The best travel gear is the gear that works for you.
Would we recommend the backpacks we tried? Absolutely—for younger travelers or anyone not haunted by their sciatic nerve. They were incredibly well-designed and super packable.
But for us? Team Backpack had a short, sweet run—and we’re okay with that.