<p>My son is planning on going to Europe, do some couch surfing, camping and stay in hostels, etc. He’s looking for a good backpack for his main Christmas present. He’s looking at a backpack similar to this one: [url=<a href=“http://www.rei.com/product/813811]Osprey”>http://www.rei.com/product/813811]Osprey</a> Waypoint 80 Travel Pack - Men’s - 2010 Closeout at REI-OUTLET.com<a href=“he%20thinks”>/url</a>. He likes that this one has a detachable day pack. Son is an experienced backpacker, Eagle Scout and has done Philmont twice so no advice needed on clothes, packing light, etc. </p>
<p>One of my concerns is the one he is looking at is 29" long. That will be okay for his flight out, but I know that smaller airlines often have smaller luggage allowances. Of course, we don’t know particulars of what airlines he may be using (that would be too easy) but if anyone has any experience or suggestions about general baggage allowance for European travel that would be great. He will be arriving in Stockholm in mid January and is tentatively planning to go to Greece first.</p>
<p>My daughter spent 7 weeks in Europe with a small internal frame backpack. Comfort really matters if you’re going to carry it all the time, and many hostels don’t have a place to leave luggage. I would suggest your son try all the backpacks and then buy the smallest one he can imagine using.</p>
<p>29" will deffinitely not work as a carryon. Even larger airlines such as Lufthansa specify that the largest dimention of the carryon should not exceed 55 cm (about 22"). And they mean it!</p>
<p>SeatGuru has information on luggage policies of many airlines (here is one for Lufthansa):</p>
<p>I guess I wasn’t clear, he doesn’t intend for it to be a carry-on. We just got back from REI (the closest store is 45 minutes away) and they did not have the ones he was looking at on-line but they had some similar ones and the good thing is he has a better idea of the size that he wants. Thanks for the suggestion to check SeatGuru BB.</p>
<p>My S spent his junior year abroad and spent 4 weeks between terms traveling all over Europe. This is the pack he used: [Kelty</a> Redwing 2650 Backpack](<a href=“http://www.kelty.com/p-28-redwing-2650.aspx]Kelty”>Kelty Backpacks For Camping And The Trail). Its made by Kelty. Since then, he’s crammed it many times with his “stuff” when he comes home and its held up very well. I believe he got it at Eastern Mountain Sports.</p>
<p>Son is going for four months, so he’s looking for something a bit larger - he thinks. I personally think the one your son used looks pretty good Mansfield. The attached daypack seems to be more of a requirement the longer he looks since he can’t lug the full one around and wants the convenience of an attachable small pack.</p>
<p>What is your son expecting to do with his big pack when he’s not carrying it? As I said, many youth hostels do not have storage for luggage during the day. That may not be an issue for your son.</p>
<p>I think she really liked it – I spent a week with her in France and definitely was impressed with the thing – it was amazing what she managed to cram into it.</p>
<p>Son really doesn’t want a wheeled bag. He’s a fairly tall and strong guy so toting a backpack isn’t that big a deal. Of course after a mile of toting, wheeling may seem like a better option. ;)</p>
<p>Train stations usually have lockers (or at least they did back in the day when I was travelling around Europe with a backpack.) </p>
<p>I think taking some sort of smaller bag along is a good idea. It doesn’t have to be a zip-off day pack, though. I had a thin, lightweight nylon bag. It worked on the trip and I kept it in my suitcase for years after that in case I acquired enough stuff on a trip to need an extra bag.</p>