Skip the rolling backpack for flights

Rolling backpacks are the worst of both worlds for airline travel.

They sound sensible until you think about what actually happens on a trip. A rolling backpack is just a backpack with all the downsides of a suitcase: a rigid frame, heavy wheels, and a handle. You lose the one thing a backpack is good at — squishing into whatever space exists — and end up with a worse version of a roller bag.

The moment you hit stairs, a curb, a shuttle bus, or a narrow airplane aisle, you’re carrying it anyway. And it’s heavier and less comfortable to carry than a normal pack because of all the hardware. The wheels also touch the airport floor and then ride in the overhead bin right next to your clothes, which is a real reason to avoid it.

If your back can’t handle a backpack, buy a proper spinner suitcase. If you’re flying carry-on only, get a normal backpack. The rolling backpack only makes sense for a student walking between classes on flat ground — not airports.

A backpack should be a backpack.