Why does my main luggage need to be soft sided?
Even if you're not going to be carrying your own gear when you're on trek, we still ask that you take your luggage in a soft-sided bag, and recommend one that's about 80L.
When it comes to adventurous travel, a soft-sided holdall is almost always a better option over a hard-sided suitcase. Some of you might wonder why this is, so let us tell you.
(Some of our expeditions will require you to carry your own kit in an expedition rucksack that you will carry on your back; this article is for travellers whose main luggage will be transported throughout the trek for them.)
On most Tribal Most Tribal Tracks expeditions, especially during the trekking phase, your luggage won't always travel neatly in vehicles from one place of accommodation to another.
It might be carried by porters in places like Nepal or Uganda, on pack animals like mules or camels in Morocco, Yaks in India or Horses in Kyrgyzstan.
Holdalls and rucksacks can flex to fit these different modes of transport, whereas hard-sided suitcases can make this almost impossible, and uncomfortable, and they are much more likely to break.
It might be that your team's luggage is squeezed into the back of a 4x4 or onto a roof rack (like they are in this page's cover photo). Soft-sided holdalls can be squeezed into places that suitcases can't. Because you know you'll have to carry your luggage, it's less likely you'll overpack. Remember, on some expeditions, there are weight limits as to what you can take on certain parts of the trek. In Nepal for example, the weight limit on the flight to Lukla is 15kg. They take up less space in your tent, too!
So your bag has been unloaded from its mode of transport, now you (or someone else) has to take it to your guesthouse, riad, tent, teahouse. Have you ever tried wheeling a suitcase across desert sand or mountainous terrain? It's much, much easier to carry your luggage with a grab handle or shoulder strap(s).
Packing for an expedition isn't like packing for a holiday. For the bulk of your expedition, you will be using your trekking gear, there is little need to take several changes of outfits or 'options'. You will want to keep your luggage to a minimum. Although some of our suggested kit lists look long on paper, surprisingly, they can all be packed into the main compartment of your holdall, or split between your main luggage and day sacks.
There are no affiliate links here, we don't make any money for recommending these, we just think they are good value for money - do shop around to find the best price!
Northcore Duffell bag 85 L - approx £50
Berghaus 80L holdall - approx £60
Mountain Warehouse Cargo bag 90 L - approx £60
Decathlon DUFFELL 500 - 80 L extendable to 120 L - approx £80
Sea to Summit Duffel bag 90 L - approx £110
Carried by people
Carried by pack animals (mules, donkeys, yaks, horses, camels)
Easier to move from A to B
Space saving in shared vehicles
Weight restrictions on internal flights
Let’s get you on the right track!