There is a clear difference between a duffel bag and a backpack. For starters, backpacks can be much larger with more zippers than rural Iowa has zip codes. When it comes to the daily duffel shuffle, remember this: if it doesn’t fit, you don’t need it.
There are many minimalist travel toting options. If you’re accustomed to the backpack for outdoor adventures, or the suitcase for more stylish stays, you’re about to purposefully limit your carry-on options, and that, dear traveler, is a good thing.
You’ll want a strap that after an hour doesn’t burn your shoulder clean off, and double check the duffel to ensure there are pockets in the bag itself, along with separated dual end spaces, and the most overlooked and underrated amenity: the mesh water bottle holder.
Carrying a duffel bag through airports, train stations, metro lines, etc. allows for swift maneuverability; whereas a suitcase can and will be much more arduous. While the standard backpack may afford the impression of seasoned traveler, it may also induce glances of, “Maybe I’ll keep my distance from Johnny Woodsman over there in case his only recent bathing has been in a creek.” While that may not provide for many new travel besties, it does make way for a rather snazzy transition: