I have had my @ebagsonline motherlode travel backpack now for 5 years and it is superior is every way for my travels than my rolling bag. What makes a travel backpack compared to a rolling bag a better option is: 1. Most airlines won’t ever make you gate check it. On our last flight they were gate checking all rolling bags in the last three groups. My husband and I were able to walk right on not gate checking because they are backpacks which saved us time and worry about baggage claim. Ours also will fit under the seat if we squeeze it. 2. Shuttles, trains and other forms of transportation. Have you ever been in a crowed shuttle where you have to hold your luggage? I have more than once and the backpacks are much preferable to the rolling luggage’s. On top of that some shuttles will charge you a fee for your rolling bag. Trains are also easier to get on, to get off and to store the bag while you are on the train.. We can take tuktuks with our backpacks where it would be more difficult for rolling bags. 3. Accessibility. Have you ever had to try and roll a bag on cobblestones, or in sand, or up 180 stairs, or store it in a tiny tiny room Singapore? Rolling suitcase makes these harder or more exhausting. I have taken my backpack through all these conditions with no complaints. 4. Avoid fees. We avoid so many fees thanks to these bags because very few airlines have ever checked their size for a carry on. LATAM, AirPeru, AirAsia, and Cambodia Air to name a few. Since they don’t look like “carry ons” on our back we have saved some $$ 5. Weight limit. You can overpack without hurting your back so you pick less and bring home less.