From Tribes to Terminals: Why a 35L Backpack Beats a Suitcase Every Time

We used to travel in caravans and canoes. Now it’s e-gates, overhead bins and sprinting between platforms because Platform 8B is apparently not next to 8A. Through all of it, the best kit has stayed the same at heart: carry what you need, keep your hands free, move like you belong there.

A sleek 35-litre backpack does this better than a suitcase almost everywhere that real travel happens. Here’s why—plus how the Trekarius Travel Pack 35L supports that style without the gimmicks.

1) Movement > Management

Suitcase: Made for polished corridors and hotel lobbies. Falls apart (figuratively) on stairs, cobbles, buses, beach paths, and muddy car parks.

35L pack: Made for the in-between bits—stairs, kerbs, rush hour. You step, swivel, sit, stand. No wheels, no drama.

The win: You’re quicker, quieter, and less of a target.

2) Hands Free = Head Up

When both hands are busy towing luggage, you can’t check signs, hold a coffee, or keep your wits about you in a crowd. A balanced 35L on your back keeps your head up and pace smooth, which is half of looking like you belong.

Tip: Train yourself to grab essentials from external pockets without taking the bag off. (We’ll talk layout in a moment.)

3) Pack Once, Access Often (without the floor explosion)

The secret sauce isn’t endless pockets—it’s smart access. Your pack should give you a simple main space for clothes, plus a couple of dividers and targeted pockets for the bits you reach for all day. That way, you’re not unzipping the whole world for one item.

How Trekarius helps (exact features only):

• Main big opening for calm, flat-surface packing/unpacking.
• Quick-access front opening, a front pocket, and a top hanging pocket (phone/sunglasses).
• 1 large main compartment with 2 main dividers and multiple interior pockets for clean, simple organisation.
• Side water pocket so you’re not cracking the main zip every 15 minutes.

4) Security Without the Theatre

Real anti-theft is habits + layout.

• Keep day cash/card in a quick pocket you can reach while the bag stays on.
• Keep passports and backups out of obvious zips.

How Trekarius supports this (no over-claims):

• Hidden back pocket (a natural passport spot).
• Two small hidden pockets on the shoulder straps (tap-and-go card, tiny cash fold).
• Two small pockets on the removable waist belt (tickets, coins, lip balm).

None of this is magical. It’s just design that helps you stick to sensible habits.

5) Comfort You Actually Feel After Hour Six

Wheels are lovely on marble. Less so on cobbles, gravel and stairs. Carry comfort matters more than people admit.

What to look for: cushioned straps, a padded back panel, and a sternum strap to steady the load when you walk faster than planned.

Trekarius ticks (as listed):

• EVA-lined shoulder straps
• PU-foam padded back panel
• Adjustable sternum strap
• Top handle and side handle for quick lifts in tight spaces

6) Built for Real Weather, Not Fantasy Forecasts

A 35L is about moving through the day, not babying a bag. You want materials that handle light rain and splashes without fuss, and that wipe clean easily.

Trekarius materials (published specs):

• Shell: 100% RPET 600D ripstop with TPU coating (water-resistant)
• Lining: 100% RPET 210D PU2T
• Webbing: PP | Zips: SBS | Buckles: Woojin

No “waterproof” chest-beating, no fairy tales—just honest, durable materials for normal travel weather.

7) The 35L Sweet Spot

Why not smaller? Why not bigger? Because 35 litres is the Goldilocks zone for long weekends, carry-on-only city hops, and the kind of trips where plans flex by the hour. Enough room to breathe; small enough to stay nimble.

Where Trekarius says it fits: weekend getaways, week-long journeys, and outdoor adventures.

8) The Two-Zone Method (never dump your bag on the floor again)

Run your backpack like a tiny studio flat:

• Fast zone (front/top/external): phone, wallet, tissues, sunglasses, snack, water, hand gel.
• Slow zone (main): clothes cubes, wash kit, spare shoes, charged battery pack.

With Trekarius, that maps neatly onto the quick-access front opening, front pocket, top hanging pocket, and side water pocket versus the main big opening with 1 main compartment + 2 dividers + interior pockets.

9) Stairs, Cobblestones, Buses, Boats

Every suitcase advert avoids these four. Real trips love them.

• Stairs: one hand on the rail, the other free—backpack wins.
• Cobbles: no rattling wheels, no snapped telescopic handles.
• Buses: bag in lap, padded strap; you always face your kit.
• Boats: balance first, belongings second—hands free matters.

10) The Honest Checklist (use this before you buy any pack)

• Clear materials listed (not just “premium”).
• A simple main compartment with a couple of dividers and interior pockets.
• Quick access to the things you grab all day.
• Hidden pockets for sensitive items.
• Comfort bits you actually feel: cushioned straps, padded back, sternum strap.
• Carry handles for tight manoeuvres.
• A stated use case and size that matches how you travel.

The Trekarius Travel Pack 35L answers each of those with plain, listed features—no extras, no fluff.

Trekarius Travel Pack 35L — The 60-Second Tour (spec-true, nothing added)

• Capacity: 35 litres
• Main space: 1 large compartment, 2 main dividers, multiple interior pockets
• Access: main big opening, quick-access front opening, front pocket, top hanging pocket, side water pocket
• Discreet storage: hidden back pocket; two small hidden pockets on shoulder straps; two small pockets on removable waist belt
• Carry/comfort: EVA-lined shoulder straps; PU-foam padded back panel; adjustable sternum strap; top handle; side handle.
• Materials: 100% RPET 600D ripstop with TPU coating (shell); 100% RPET 210D PU2T (lining); PP webbing; SBS zips; Woojin buckles
• Use-case (as stated): weekend getaways, week-long journeys, outdoor adventures

Explore it here: Trekarius Travel Pack 35L.

FAQs

Is 35L really enough for a week?

For most travellers, yes—if you pack a simple capsule and do a quick sink wash once. The gain in mobility is huge.

Backpack sweat vs suitcase ease—be honest.

You’ll feel a pack on long, hot walks, but cushioned straps, a padded back and a sternum strap help massively. In return, you float through stairs, cobbles and queues.

Is it “anti-theft”?

No bag is. But a sensible layout helps: quick pockets for non-sensitive items, hidden pockets for valuables, and a main space you don’t need to open in public.

What about rain?

Think water-resistant, not “waterproof”: everyday drizzle and splashes, then dry off indoors. If you expect a soaking, add a cover or liner.

Final word: We’re still travellers, not porters

From tribal paths to airport terminals, the principle hasn’t changed: carry what you need, keep moving, keep your hands free. A tidy 35-litre backpack wins that game nine times out of ten—and the Trekarius Travel Pack 35L gives you honest, well-placed features to do it with calm and confidence.