I rarely bring specifics of my personal life into this blog. I’d prefer you visit Backpackingmatt for destination specific travel content, backpacking advice, and travel reviews. However, this glimpse into my life at the moment ends with a question I hope you can help me answer. I imagine we all struggle with this as backpackers, so hopefully through comments we can gain some new advice.
I’m currently in beautiful Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island. It’s the start of winter here in the Southern Hemisphere. I’m here along with my girlfriend Nicole (the photographer behind many of the photos on Backpackingmatt) and about 2,000 other backpackers. We’re all here essentially for the same reason:
We Want to Experience a Ski Season in Queenstown.
Along with this comes the need for two things: Accommodation and Work. And both of these are in short supply in Queenstown at the moment.
I came to Queenstown about two weeks ago after a brilliant six week tour of the North and South Islands. In the coming weeks on Backpackingmatt, look forward to:
- A write up (and potential video) on my third bungy jump – the most recent with AJ Hackett here in Queenstown
- Pictures and my experience Whale Watching in Kaikoura
- A photo essay with pictures of sea lions in Dunedin’s Otago Peninsula
Most of these six weeks were done in my campervan, Max – he served us well for almost six months in New Zealand, unfortunately he took his last ride from Cardrona into Queenstown about three weeks ago. It was a big hit for Nicole and I – both personally and financially. It was shocking how connected we became to a bloody van in five months time, yet Max was our home for much of our time here in New Zealand.
So we’re in Queenstown looking for work and accommodation. I hoped to land a job working the lifts at The Remarkables ski field just outside of Queenstown. I thought it’d be a great way to spend the winter. Unfortunately, I didn’t get accepted for an interview. Why? I’m not sure. Clearly they haven’t met me. This blow has made me question whether or not I’ll be in Queenstown for the entire season. A job on the mountain would have included a season pass – without the job, I’m not sure I can afford a season pass ($800+), having my snowboard sent over from home, and investing in all the winter gear required for a ski season. I’m tentatively planning a trip to SE Asia in the coming months.
Today, Nicole and I moved from an cozy little hostel where we’ve been paying nightly to a sort of backpackers which offers weekly rates on double en suite rooms. As we were trekking across Queenstown with most of our Worldly possessions on our backs and the rest in carrier bags, I didn’t once question, “What am I doing with my life.” Instead, I said,
“There has got to be a better way to carry a backpack AND a laptop.”
This is where you, my readers, come specifically into play. While backpacking, how do you find it best to carry your backpack and your laptop? I’m the proud owner of a Macbook, however it’s often a thorn in my side when I’m on the road. From what I can tell, there are three main ways to carry your laptop:
- In a smaller backpack carried as a frontpack.
- In a side carrying messenger bag.
- In your main backpack.
Do you use one of these methods? Or do you use a method not listed above?
I’m convinced there has to be a better way to carry my laptop, and I’m excited to see your comments below.
Depending on the number of responses, I’ll post a roundup next week with the best laptop carrying tips. Cheers!
Backpacking Matt 
I’ve only traveled once with a netbook (not a full laptop). I got a somewhat bigger and sturdier day pack for it. I always do “double turtle” even without the netbook – big pack on my back, smaller pack in front – usually just one strap over my right shoulder, sometimes both over both shoulders.
Good luck with ski thing!
Hi Kathy, thanks for the comment! I’ve really considered investing in a netbook, I’m just not sure I could get used to the keyboard size.
The “Double Turtle.” I like that. The advantage to this is the weight is spaced out more evenly I guess.
Yeah – I figured I’d get pulled over backwards if I piggy-backed the day pack on the big pack like Eagle Creek designed it! Plus it’d be less secure back there – all my electronics are in the day pack when I travel.
I love my netbook (I have a Lenovo). They mapped the keys to the right of the qwerty set over the qwerty keys to shrink the overall size, so the keys themselves aren’t that much smaller than usual. I had no trouble adjusting.
I’ve only ever travelled with a netbook or other similarly sized thin & light laptop so this may not be much help, but I always use a daypack with a little sleeve/compartment inside to slip it into. I’ll carry the daypack on one shoulder if that’s all I’m carrying, and maybe on my front if I’m carrying my main pack at the same time.
I think (actually, I know) that I’d find a full size laptop too limiting in terms of size, weight and value – even though I do find the netbook a bit painful now and again, it’s a compromise I’m happy enough to make.
I carry an ultralight notebook, more power than a netbook and less weight than a 13″+ notebook. 11.3″ screen, keys are full sized, and weighs about 3lbs. Cost me about $450CDN 8 months ago. I threw in a 500GB hard drive to deal with all of my photos. Might be a decent compromise.
When I move from place to place I carry my 55L pack, and a small daypack (12L) that I keep my notebook, and extra lenses. If I really wanted to, I could fit everything into the 55L but I prefer to have my valuables in the daypack.
I like hearing about your life! At this point I’m speaking purely theoretically but my plan has been to carry my (netbook) in a messenger bag. I hate the feeling and look of the “double turtle.” Still, I’ll be really interested to see what everyone else has to say.
I struggle with this too. I usually use a day pack to carry my 15 inch Macbook and my main backpack for my backup (just in case). It’s a bit annoying through airport security lines but usually I can fit my day pack into the larger pack when just walking around.
I like the separate pack for accessibility and the fact that the smaller pack tends to get knocked around less (and thus better for the laptop).
Hey Matt! I recently bought two bags from Tom Bihn to function as my new travel gear: the Aeronaut and the Smart Alec. The Smart Alec is a small backpack that holds Tom Bihn’s “Brain Cell” laptop case. I have a 15″ MacBook Pro that fits snugly in the sized-to-fit Brain Cell, which fits perfectly in the Smart Alec (the power of integrated systems here). The Aeronaut is my main bag and can be carried by a shoulder strap, handles, or hide-away backpack straps. Everything is made of ballistic nylon and other rugged materials.
Grand total this is about 70L worth of space, and all the pockets, nooks, and crannies make it feel like a lot more than that.
I purchased this pair to ensure that I would never need to check baggage again and to keep me packing light. The Aeronaut is designed to be the maximum allowable carry-on size. So far, I love it.
Hey Matt, I’m in the same predicament as you! I love my 13″ Macbook and I’ve not yet regreted bringing it on my travel’s, great for watching movies but most importantly I need it for all the graphic design I do, so that cute bright pick netbook I always wanted would never have worked unfortunately! So I end up looking like a tiny girl lost under a (double turtle) pile of bags! Many people seem to find it amusing when they see me!!!
I use an STM messenger computer bag. It’s a little bit heavy (sorry) but the computer compartment is plenty padded, and there’s lots of room for computer accesssories/ camera stuff/ whatever else you want to keep accessible. It also doubles as a really big and sturdy daybag so you can take your lunch along, a change of clothes, whatever you might need.
I have a soft briefcase style computer bag that I carry while wearing my backpack. It keeps my business and travel things separate and I think I would be too disorganised if everything was in my backpack. I’ll probably go for a messenger bag when my laptop bag needs replacing. I have a 14″ notebook. I would love to have a more compact netbook but I need a bigger screen to work with programs like Dreamweaver, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.
I’m with Anil — I carry a day pack and a main pack. The laptop, camera, and extra lens go in the daypack and are with me at all times. If need be, I can cram everything into the main pack, but the balance is a bit awkward.
The Macbook adds about 5 pounds to my total pack weight, but I don’t think I could survive without it 🙂
I have a MacBook Pro and bought a great clear shell for it as well as a zipper case and throw it right into my purse. It’s times like this I love being a girl. bringing back the bag lady look 😉
Carrying a laptop is a necessary evil for me! I carry it in a little tight zip case (for a little padding) and then put that into a smaller backpack which I carry on my front or use for a carryon for flights. I swing my camera over my shoulder (across my body) where my lenses are also included and then my big pack on back. I look like a nut – but it works.
I’m planning on doing what Anil and JohnnyVagabond are doing. I have my main pack and then a daypack. All my most prized possessions (netbook, external HD, camera, tripod, etc) will go in the day pack and most likely stay with me at all times.
I always travel with two packs. My main pack and then a day pack where I put my laptop and other electronic gadgets and important things. I do the double turtle- feels safer for me.
Thanks everyone for the terrific feedback! I’ll compose a post next week featuring a synopsis of the going laptop and backpack carrying strategies. Cheers!
Just a note to say best of luck. I have never backpacked. I travel a lot but never for backpacking purposes. I think you are very courageous to pursue the things you want to do and I am sure things will fall into place for you, Matt….Keep us posted!
@Farnoosh Thanks for the support. Things will work!
@Rebecca My laptop is one of my most important possessions on the road. Researching trips, booking accommodation and travel, and of course keeping the website updated. Bring the iPhone into the picture and the pair can easily become a distraction. Yet I strongly believe you can find a balance that allows you to use the technology for its benefits without totally drawing you away from the reason you’re traveling.
Oh, how the times have changed! When I left the US 3 years ago (!) for NZ/Australia and beyond, few people had laptops and those that did, were frowned upon because it’s like, you traveled all this way and you can’t get your head out of your computer? You might as well stay home!
I did two years with just my USB drive and digi cam it was fab. Granted I didn’t have a website/blog/whatever to keep up. USB for bookmarks, music and document files and my camera for pictures, which I uploaded whenever I had the time or found cheap internet.