My girlfriend and I are planning an around-the-world trip (starting in South America) with a mix of travel and multi-day hikes (W Trek in Patagonia, Salkantay in Peru, etc.).
We’re trying to find a *single backpack* that works for both:
\- Carry-on travel (ideally within \~55x35x25 cm)
\- Multi-day hut-to-hut hiking (comfort > everything)
From what I’ve seen, classic onebag travel packs don’t seem great for longer hikes, so we’re leaning toward hiking backpacks instead.
**What we’re looking for:**
\- 34–40L (carry-on sweet spot)
\- Comfortable carry system (real hip belt, load lifter straps, frame, ventilation)
\- Nice to have: some kind of front/side access (not strictly top-loader)
\- Compressible if slightly over airline dimensions
**Packs we’re considering:**
Fjällräven Abisko Hike 35
Osprey Sirrus 36/ Stratos 36
Gregory Zulu 35
**Questions:**
\- Any models that balance *carry-on + real hiking comfort* well?
\- Has anyone done similar trips with a hiking-first pack?
\- Would love to hear what worked (or failed) in real use