Welcome to our nomad guide to choosing the best wheeled backpack for Europe travel. In this zero-fluff guide, we share our expertly chosen top 5 best wheeled backpacks for travelling through Europe, because after all, in Europe it’s “travelling,” not “traveling.”
Why choose a wheeled backpack? It’s all about convenience and saving your lower back the trouble of lugging around a heavy, clunky traditional backpacking backpack. Plus, there’s the advantage of avoiding checked baggage fees.
We put in the time to choose only packs that people have successfully used for their trips abroad in Europe.
Imagine rolling through the streets of London, Paris, or Amsterdam carefree. When one experiences the unadulterated beauty of a backpack on wheels with the Parisian breeze flowing through his/her hair, it’s in that moment, that the person realizes the decision to go wheeled was an exceptional one. All previous bad life decisions instantly flush down the abyssal drain never to be seen again.
It’s a new lease on life that everyone should have the pleasure of experiencing while soaking in the sumptuous European sights.
Okay, that’s enough of that, let’s talk about the bags.
Backpack | Features & Highlights |
#1 Best Wheeled Backpack for Travelling through Europe
#1 High Sierra AT3 22″ Carry-On |
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Verified to Survive European Cobblestone Streets
#2 Hypath 2-in-1 Convertible Travel Bag |
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Approved by Travelers for Multi-Week European Excursions
#3 JanSport Driver 8 Core Series |
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Our #1 Pick for European Adventures & Multi-City Tours
#4 Osprey Sojourn (22″) |
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Our #1 Premium Selection
#5 TUMI Merge Wheeled Backpack |
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How to Choose the Best Wheeled Backpack for Travelling
High Sierra & Hypath
The High Sierra and Hypath wheeled backpacks are best for people who are planning longer European vacations and want to skip checking a bag as much as possible.
The greatest advantage of these combination backpacks is the ability to use the daypack as a personal item backpack and count the main bag as a carry-on. In the end, you may avoid enough fees to pay for the bags.
Trust me, baggage fees are steep in Europe. I sometimes find myself paying 50% or more of the ticket price to check my rolling suitcase.
Aside from avoiding expensive fees, you also have the luxury of disconnecting the daypack for sightseeing and exploring. With the other bags, you’re forced to bring the entire bag or purchase a separate daypack.
Finally, both of these rolling backpacks are fairly priced and cost significantly less than Osprey and TUMI packs #ad.
JanSport Driver 8
JanSport is the most reliable brand in our Top 5 that’s been around since the beginning of time. Choose the Driver 8 backpack if you value reliability and functionality above all else.
The Driver 8 has all the necessary features without all the unnecessary bells and whistles you’ll find on competing brands that attempt to compensate for inferior materials with flashy features.
The last advantage we want to highlight is weight. The Driver 8 is the lightest wheeled backpack in our Top 5.
Osprey Sojourn
Osprey manufactures packs that are loved most by adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. If you’re an aging backpacker with a weary lower back, maybe it’s time to switch to a wheeled backpack instead of the traditional mountain-on-your-back travel backpack.
Plus, there’s always the option to flashback to your youth by breaking out the shoulder straps and hip belt. Overall, the Sojourn pack provides the most back support of all the bags in our Top 5, which also means Osprey went the extra mile to ensure even weight distribution.
We also love the larger wheels and additional clearance to tackle even the bumpiest European cobblestone streets.
TUMI Merge
Last but not least is the TUMI Merge wheeled backpack. The Merge is for people who value style and functionality above all else. If you’re a successful businessman who frequents Europe for casual weekend getaways that often include expensive champagne and 5-Star hotels, the Merge is the perfect companion.
It has the sleekest appearance and the best laptop compartment of the packs in our top 5. Its size makes the check-in process effortless throughout Europe without any questioning from airport employees. Become the smooth operator with the TUMI Merge.
Bottom Line
These are the 5 best wheeled backpacks for Europe travel that are guaranteed to satisfy everyone’s needs and wants, even the pickiest of individuals. Whether you treasure functionality or grandeur, we quenched your rolling backpack thirst with our Top 5 selections.
We took the European cobblestone and ancient steep stairs into account because we want you to glide across Europe like melting butter over hot pavement. We want people to see you rolling and say to themselves, That person has it all figured out, and I hope to be like them someday.