Packed for summer: how to choose a backpack for camp, the beach and the plane

The flight attendant doesn’t care how many litres your backpack holds

She only cares about one thing: will it fit into the metal sizer at the gate? And that sizer is merciless. It has zero tolerance for a “slightly bigger” backpack you packed at the last minute because your beach flip-flops didn’t fit in the suitcase.

It’s a moment almost everyone who has ever flown with a low-cost airline knows. You’re standing in the queue, your backpack looks normal, but then you try to squeeze it into the metal cage — and it won’t go. People pile up around you. The flight attendant waits. And you know you’re in for either repacking your things on the floor or a surcharge that costs more than the ticket itself.

And this is exactly where the problem with choosing a summer backpack begins. Because summer isn’t one situation — it’s at least three completely different missions. The plane. Camp. The beach. Each has different rules, different risks and a different way a poorly chosen backpack can give you a hard time.

The plane: the only place where a backpack can cost you an exact amount

The wrong backpack can make any trip less pleasant, but on a plane it gets downright expensive. With low-cost airlines, the fee for oversized cabin baggage is commonly around 30–60 euros. For that money, you could already have had a great, reliable backpack.

What really matters

Dimensions, not volume. This is the key difference. A 20-litre backpack can have completely different outer dimensions from another 20-litre backpack — it depends on the shape, the pockets and the construction. Most airlines allow cabin baggage of around 40 × 20 × 25 cm (personal item) or 55 × 40 × 20 cm (cabin bag). But watch out — every airline has different numbers.

What helps? A removable aluminium stay. Most of our backpacks have a back reinforced with an ergonomic stay, which is also one of the reasons they’re so comfortable to carry. But you can take it out, and the backpack then adapts better to the sizer at the gate. If it isn’t packed to the brim, you squeeze it a little and it fits. A hard-shell suitcase doesn’t have that advantage.

And one more thing people forget: a document compartment. It sounds trivial until you’re standing at passport control looking for your passport at the bottom of your backpack between your swimsuit and the sun cream. A quick-access front pocket — ideally with a zip you can open with one hand — is priceless on a plane.

Our city backpacks have exactly this profile: compact dimensions, a soft construction and low weight. And above all, they look like a normal backpack, not a bulky hiking pack.

Summer camp: a backpack that survives two weeks without you

This is a completely different discipline. On a plane, the backpack is with you and under your control. At camp, it isn’t. There, the backpack is in the hands of a seven-year-old who throws it into the corner of the tent, sits on it, drags it along the ground and sometimes uses it as a pillow.

Two weeks. No parents. Nobody to say “don’t forget to close the zip”.

What really matters

Zips. That’s thing number one. A cheap zip jams by day three and the child either rips it out or simply stops closing the backpack. A quality zip is the basic thing every camp leader will recognise.

Handles and straps. A child will lift the backpack by whatever they can grab — the top loop, a strap, anything that sticks out. The stitched seams have to hold up more than you’d expect.

A name tag. It sounds old-fashioned, but at a camp with twenty similar backpacks in one place, a visible name tag is the only way your backpack gets back to the right child.

And then there’s one thing parents underestimate: the child’s independence. The backpack has to be simple enough for a seven-year-old to handle completely on their own — open it, find their snack, take out the rain cover, close it. Without help. Without instructions. If they need an adult for it, at camp that means they simply won’t do it.

For primary-school children we have school backpacks that meet exactly these needs — easy to use, a durable construction and a 4-year warranty. Yes, they’re school backpacks. But they work brilliantly at camp, because they’re built for everyday wear and tear from children, not adults.

The beach and holidays: why the lightest backpack isn’t always the best choice

The beach looks innocent. Sun, water, relaxation. But for a backpack, the beach is enemy number one.

Sand. It gets everywhere — into zips, into buckles, between layers of fabric. And then it starts acting like sandpaper. After a week on the beach, an otherwise decent backpack can look as if it were five years old.

What really matters

Waterproofing is the logical first idea. But it’s only half the story. A backpack that doesn’t let water in doesn’t let air out either. And wet swimwear packed in a waterproof backpack in thirty-degree heat? After a few hours, that’s not something you’ll want to open.

So you’re looking for a balance: a material that resists splashes but also breathes. Ideally with space for wet things — separate from dry clothes and electronics.

And then there’s a question that seems minor: how do you carry the backpack? At the beach, you usually don’t want a classic backpack on both shoulders — you’re hot, your back is covered in sun cream, you’re sweating. That’s why many people switch to a shoulder bag. That’s fine for short trips, but on a full-day outing with children, one shoulder won’t thank you after an hour.

The compromise? A light city backpack with a breathable back that’s comfortable to wear even on bare skin. A weight of under roughly 1000 grams is pleasant. You’ll end up stuffing 2 litres of water and a thick towel into it anyway. But good ergonomics always come in handy and also help lighten the load.

Three missions, three different backpacks — or one compromise?

Ask yourself honestly: how many times a summer do you actually fly? How many times does your child go to camp? And how many times do you head to the seaside?

If you fly once a year with a low-cost airline and mainly need to get through the gate without a surcharge, a city backpack that serves you all year round is enough. Is your child going to camp for two weeks? The school backpack they already have is built for far tougher conditions than a tent camp.

When it pays to have a specialised backpack for each mission

When you travel often — say four or more flights a year. Then a travel backpack with dimensions precisely calibrated to a specific airline pays off. When your child goes to camp regularly and you don’t want to risk their school backpack (understandably — they’ll need it in September), it makes sense to get an extra durable children’s backpack.

How to choose one backpack that copes with all three

Does it exist? Yes, but with compromises. You’re looking for a backpack that is:

• Compact enough for cabin baggage
• Tough enough for children’s handling
• Light and breathable enough for hot days

That narrows the choice down to city backpacks with quality workmanship and sensible dimensions. No backpack will be perfect in all three scenarios — but a good city backpack will be good enough in all three. And that’s enough for most families.

Decision table: your summer vs. backpack type

Answer three questions and you’ll know what you need:

1. Are you flying?
Yes → You need a backpack with a soft construction and dimensions within your airline’s limit. Check the exact numbers on the carrier’s website before you pack.
No → You don’t need to worry about dimensions; focus on comfort and durability.

2. Is your child going to camp on their own?
Yes → The backpack must be durable, easy to use and ideally have a name tag. If your child has a quality school backpack, it will handle camp too.
No → An adult carries the backpack, so what matters is carrying comfort and how the inside is organised.

3. How long is the trip?
Day trip → A light city backpack, a minimum of compartments, and above all comfort on your back.
Weekend or longer → Larger volume, compartments to keep wet things apart from dry ones, and a tougher material.

Frequently asked questions

What backpack should my child take to summer camp?

For summer camp, a durable backpack with quality zips and simple controls works best, so your child can manage on their own. BECKMANN school backpacks are built for year-round daily wear — camp is no problem for them. They come with a 4-year warranty, so you don’t have to worry that two weeks outdoors will ruin the backpack.

Will a city backpack fit as cabin baggage on a plane?

City backpacks fit most limits thanks to their compact dimensions and the option to remove the ergonomic stay, as long as you don’t stuff them to bursting. But always check the exact dimensions your airline allows — they vary. A soft backpack has the advantage that you can squeeze it slightly when it isn’t completely full.

Can I use a school backpack for trips and travelling?

Yes, BECKMANN school backpacks are designed for daily carrying and loads, so they’ll easily handle a short trip or camp. They have a reinforced construction and durable materials. The only limitation is volume — for longer travel with more clothes, you’ll need something bigger.

How long does delivery take when I order from the zdravybatoh.cz e-shop?

We dispatch orders within 24 hours. If you’re choosing a backpack at the last minute before camp or a holiday, you’ll still make it. And if the backpack doesn’t suit you, you have 45 days to return it — no stress.