When I started my 9 months travels, a big topic was whether I was going to travel with a suitcase or a backpack.
I ended up traveling with a big suitcase and a smaller backpack for more of my luggage on my back as hand luggage and a small backpack for my important stuff I need with me during the flight.
As you can imagine, I was always fully packed with gear.
One reason I decided to opt for a suitcase was that I was doing an au pair for 6 months before traveling around, so most of the time I was in one place and then to me, a suitcase seemed best.
For short trips I did during my au pair, I used my luggage backpack, which was always enough and pretty convenient.
But now to the question of what you should opt for.
Suitcase or backpack?
Firstly, I have to tell you that there is no universal answer, but I will give you some pros and cons for each side and in what situations which one is best.
There will always be situations where you question your decision with either one.

These are some things your decision will depend on:
– how long are you traveling
– where are you traveling
– how much you are moving places
To put those points into perspective, I will look at both options.

Backpack

A backpack is especially good when you are moving places a lot.
It also doesn’t really matter how long you are traveling when you are traveling with a backpack because there are many different options and sizes.
The last point I mentioned before is where you are traveling.
If you are planning on traveling in a region with low infrastructure where you might have to walk on rocky or sandy roads or walk a lot of stairs, a backpack is definitely the better option.
You will also always have 2 free hands to navigate difficult terrain or to carry more bags in your hand.
Because in backpacks you can often pack less than in suitcases, you can only bring the necessary stuff, which is very useful.
I definitely brought some things I didn’t use once, but on a 2-week trip where I traveled with a small backpack, I used everything I packed, and didn’t miss anything.
When you buy more stuff, it is easier to stuff it into a backpack than a suitcase.
I can also recommend bringing a drawstring backpack.
They are flat to pack and can be used as a day backpack and if you end up with more luggage in the end, you can put it in there and also wear it on your back on top of your backpack instead of having to carry it in your hand.
The downside is that you have to carry all the weight on your back, and you are more likely to get shoulder or back pain.
If you close the chest and hip belt that most backpacks have, it takes away weight from your shoulders and is contributed over your whole body.
So use those belts if you want to prevent your shoulders from hurting.
In a backpack, it is harder to have an overview of all of your luggage because everything sinks down to the bottom.
When you need something specific, you might need to unpack your whole backpack to get it out.
To help you with that problem, I can recommend using packing cubes, so you don’t have to take everything out one by one and have your backpack better sorted.

Suitcase

A suitcase is practical when you are not moving places much and rather staying in one place, like in a hotel, or when you do an exchange year and stay in one place.
It is also practical if you know you are traveling in places where you will be able to wheel your suitcase everywhere.
When you have to walk an inclination or on rocky roads, it might get harder with a suitcase.
On an island around Bali, they had to carry and drag my suitcase over sand from a ferry, and that would have been way easier with a backpack.
Today there are already so many different kinds of suitcases, so it doesn’t really matter how long you are traveling, but I think there are still less options as with backpacks.
In a suitcase, you can sort your luggage better and have a better overview, so you can possibly pack more.
Due to the wheels, you don’t have any weight on your body except your arm, so make sure you can still pull it with your stuff in it, but your back and shoulders wouldn’t hurt.
Something that is not recommended, but possible is that you can sit on it while you wait and when you travel, you will have to wait a lot anywhere, trust me.

In the end, I can say, that when you are really backpacking, use a backpack.
It is called like that for a reason, and it’s also a cool vibe a big backpack gets you in a foreign country.
Looking back at my choice, I was happy with my suitcase during my au pair, but afterward a backpack would have been more practical, so it really depends on your plans.
Next time I will definitely take a backpack though to also experience the backpacker vibe and to make me bring less.
I hope this helped you a bit.
Maybe also ask friends and family for their opinion if you are still unsure.