Posts Tagged bags
Kelty Station Laptop Backpack Does It All
Collectively the three of us have tried out a lot of laptop bags and Kara’s getting to another one next week. I’ve been giving this Kelty Station one an unusually tough workout though. I’ve been using it since the spring and so far this thing has been on six flight legs, eight long-distance bus rides, at least twenty taxi rides, and a dozen walks around town in various locations.
My conclusion? This is one tough, multi-functional bag that does everything I want it to. It’s a real workhorse that I expect to keep using for years on end. Coming from Kelty, a company known more for its value proposition than its long-term durability, this Station bag continually surprised me with its ruggedness and it’s thoughtful design.
Be advised that this is a laptop backpack on the large side: it will easily hold a 15-inch laptop with room to spare and it has a total capacity of 29 liters (1,800 cubic inches). That practically puts it in the overnight bag or ultra-light backpacker category, so it’s got support straps for your waist and another one that goes across the chest. There are four padded mesh sections on the back and the shoulder straps are both contoured and padded. This is not some cute little pack that makes a fashion statement. It’s for people who need to cart a lot of things along.
In my case, this held virtually everything I needed for a day of work or a nine-hour plane ride: camera, papers, notebooks, magazines, Kindle, my gadget/cords case, pens, music player, keys, cell phone, press kits people keep handing me, and on it goes. I have yet to actually fill the thing up, even when bringing along a change of clothes and a toiletry kit. (Hey, you never know when you’ll get stranded at an airport.) I’ll get into specific features, but in general I like the way this bag is organized. There’s a padded laptop pocket you can open from either the top or the side—handy. Then there are three separate compartments of different sizes, with the front two having sub-pockets inside those. So it’s very easy to keep things organized.
There are a whole lot of nice touches that make this laptop backpack a pleasure to use. There are handles on the top, the side, and the front, which is great when you want to get the bag off your shoulders or pull it out of an overhead compartment. There are water bottle pockets on both sides, with zippers for expansion and Velcro flaps for when you want to use them for something else. (I use one to hold my Steripen Opti.) There’s a rubberized bottom that is easy to wipe off. Reflective tape helps you be seen on dark sidewalks. Lots of little pockets inside are sized for business cards, pens, cell phones, and gadgets. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything—there’s even a hook where I can fasten my keys so they don’t get buried.
All that considered, I also like this Station bag because it meets my main criteria when walking around foreign cities: it doesn’t scream, “Hey everybody, I’ve got an expensive laptop in here!” It just looks like a backpack.
The Kelty Station laptop backpack comes in six color accents and lists for $90 at the Kelty site, but is less than that if you follow the eBags link below.
Get the Kelty Station Laptop Backpacks at eBags.
Posted by Tim in Business Gear, General Gear on September 2nd, 2010
Backpacker Classic: Osprey Waypoint 65 Pack
I’ve written in a few different places about the best backpacks for travelers and one name that always comes up near the top in both quality and popularity is Osprey Packs. If you go backpacking around the world, you’ll see that Osprey logo on the backs of a lot of travelers, either in the Waypoint 80 size or this more manageable Waypoint 65 size.
The number refers to cubic liters and as any backpacker will tell you, empty space doesn’t last long. When you’re carrying your worldly possessions on your back, you tend to fill any available capacity. So I like this 65-liter (4,000 cubic inches) version better as it forces some discipline. Whether you’re going for two weeks or two years, you should be able to cram what you need into here as long as you follow our regular advice on double-duty travel gear and lightweight, quick-dry travel clothing.
But enough preaching—what about this backpack? Well, it has all the elements I look for in a travel pack, as opposed to a super-light top-loading tube used for hiking. It’s got a comfortable handle on the top and another one on the side for all those times you’ve got to sling it onto the top of a bus or check it onto a plane. The straps zip behind a flap when necessary it doesn’t get shredded in a luggage carousel. It’s got cinch straps in all the right places plus side supports to keep it from bulging out. It has the all-important waist strap and chest clip for weight distribution.
There’s a removable daypack as well and although I’m not normally a fan of those because they make your load top-heavy, this one might actually get used: it’s so small it won’t tip you over even if you jam it full. Plus one of the compression straps for the pack goes through a flap on the daypack to keep it all tight.
It’s all the little extras though that set this newly updated $250-list-price Osprey pack from ones that cost half as much. There’s heavy-duty ripstop nylon, quality metal zippers with good pulls, and a super-comfy padded mesh panel against your back when you wear it—which keeps your back from turning to a river of sweat. Hey, if somebody tries to rob you, there’s even a built-in rescue whistle!
There aren’t a whole lot of pockets in the main pack, but that means you’ve got one big compartment to hold everything, like a duffel bag with a few zippered pouches on the sides and the flap. Internal adjustable straps hold everything together. Plus sleeping bag holding straps and tool loops are on the outside. The daypack has places for a netbook, your music player (with a cord port), pens, etc.
The design of this Waypoint bag makes it much slimmer than other 65-liter packs I’ve used, with the compression system seeming to make the weight distribute better as well. There are versions cut a bit differently to fit men and women. The men’s version weighs 5 pounds 12 ounces. That’s a bit more than some travel backpacks, but less than anything with wheels.
You’ve got to like Osprey guarantee, which says, “Osprey will repair for any reason, free of charge, any damage or defect in our product – whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday.” I’ve taken this on a couple trips already and planning on strapping it on for many more to come.
See more features and specs on all their backpacks at OspreyPacks.com
Osprey Waypoint 65 Backpack at RockCreek.com
Osprey Waypoint 65 Travel Pack at REI
Posted by Tim in General Gear, Travel Light on June 2nd, 2010
Amelia Convertible Tote Bag from Ellington Handbags
I write about a lot of bags here at Practical Travel Gear, and I always give bonus points for bags that pull double duty. The Amelia Convertible Tote gets quadruple points for its versatility. I’m freakishly giddy with excitement about the different ways I can use this Ellington tote bag this summer.
The major selling point for this sturdy and durable nylon bag: it can be carried several different ways. Grab two top handles to carry it like a tote bag; attach a long strap to wear across the body or over the shoulder; or expose two “stowaway” shoulder straps and use as a backpack.
Like most of my favorite bags I use every day and for travel, I’m partial to how many pockets and pouches this bag has: there are two with top drawstrings on either side for water bottles or a compact umbrella. You can slide a book, notebook or folders into the exterior pouch that also stores the backpack straps when not in use. The other side has two zipper pockets, one with a magnetic closure and a couple of mesh pouches for a cell phone or iPod. The main compartment is huge — and also has a couple of interior zipper and snap pockets.
I foresee bringing this water-resistant bag to the swimming pool, using it to cart books back to the library (the kids love the local summer reading program), or filling it with snacks and water bottles for a day’s outing to the park. I’m thinking it could carry a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers and crusty bread for a grown-up picnic during an outdoor concert.
While I’m way past the diapering stage with my kids, I think the Amelia Convertible Tote would make a great diaper bag. (It’s designed for women, but I bet my husband would carry it.) It’s plenty big to fit a netbook — the bag is 14-inches high), but it won’t zip shut with my 15-inch laptop inside. It’s not as big as many of the bags I’ve used as carry-on luggage lately, but if I don’t need a ton of stuff with me on the plane (i.e. if I’m not traveling with my laptop or my kids), I’d consider using this bag.
The tote comes in seven colors. I have the purple one (pictured above) with subtle olive-green piping; it’s much more dark gray than bright violet.
The bag is available for pre-order now for $79 on the Ellington Handbags website, with delivery beginning on June 15. Order now, and you don’t have to pay for shipping within the U.S. Also check pricing on Amazon.com for many (many!) other Ellington styles, like the Parkrose Tote or the Lightweight Travel Tote/Backpack.
Posted by Kara in Travel Light on May 28th, 2010
Overland Equipment All-Purpose Acadia Backpack
We cover a lot of bags here at Practical Travel Gear. A lot. From laptop carry-ons to reusable shopping bags to rollerboards — after all, when you travel, you need something to carry your gear, clothing & groceries.
I’m a fan of the backpack for a few reasons — I like having both hands free to either grab a kid’s hand as needed or roll another bag, and I like having two straps across my shoulders avoid neck/shoulder strain (I get plenty of that simply by squeezing into economy airplane seats). I also get a lot of use out of backpacks — if I don’t use them for plane carry-ons, I use them to carry my laptop and folders to occasional in-person meetings. I also regularly carry a pack on day hikes.
This Acadia pack from Overland Equipment suits all of the above occasions. It has a side-zipper sleeve that fits 15-inch laptops, with a breathable-mesh padded back panel so the hard laptop isn’t banging against your body. On the other side is a compression water-bottle holder. Other highlights are a chest strap and multiple mesh pockets and pouches in both the roomy main compartment and smaller outer compartment. (My favorite pouch: the fleece-lined one designed for cell phones.)
The style is straightforward and simple, like other Overland Equipment bags. Simultaneously rugged and sleek, this nylon-exterior bag truly can take you from plane to cafe to hiking trail. It retails for $100 on the Overland site and comes in Storm Blue and Black. Also see availability on Amazon.com and eBags.
Feeling lucky? Enter to win your own Acadia backpack. All you have to do is tell me where you’d first use the bag — whether it’s on a trip or somewhere close to home. Leave comments below until Thursday, May 13 at 6 p.m. (EST). I’ll draw one winner via a random-number generator and announce the winners in a this post on Friday, May 14. U.S. mailing addresses only; one entry per person. Good luck!
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UPDATE: Congrats go out to lucky commenter #86 Shilo Beedy, whose number came up via Random.org. She’s the winner of the Acadia backpack — in her choice of color (black or dusty blue) by Overland Equipment.
Posted by Kara in General Gear on April 30th, 2010
5 Things I Always Pack – Janna Graber
This month’s guest post of “5 things I always pack” is from Janna Graber, editor of international travel site www.goworldtravel.com and the Colorado uber-site, www.goColorado.com. A travel journalist and video producer, Janna has worked in some 38 countries. She feels completely at home on the road.
1. My “airplane sleeping gear”
Over the years, I’ve developed a routine for sleeping on airplanes, and I always bring the same items with me. First, I travel in comfy clothes (my friends call them my “travel pants,” but they are really just nice looking sweatpants). Then I have a stuffed neck pillow (leopard print, it was all they had on sale at the time), and two inflatable neck pillows. I put one half-inflated pillow behind the small of my back (no back ache then!), and use the two other pillows to keep my head in place while I sleep. Then I have my usual ear plugs, eye mask and lightweight blanket. Sure, I may look ridiculous, but at least I’m fast asleep.
2. My book.
Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, and traveling gives me the opportunity to catch up on my favorite authors. I always have a good paperback with me. 
They’re easy to stick in my backpack, and I can get some good reading in whenever I have to sit and wait.
3. My Rhonda Allison sunscreen
Since it comes in 1 oz bottles, this Rhonda Allison sunscreen is perfect for my carry-on. It’s not greasy and is formulated specifically for faces, which means I actually wear it every day. This sunscreen is usually only sold in high-end salons or dermatologists’ offices, but you can find it online for a good price.
4. My cameras
Photographs are the best souvenirs, and they’re also a huge part of our reader experience at Go World Travel and Go Colorado. I always have a good digital camera with me. Right now, I use the Nikon Coolpix S630. I like the 7x zoom it has, as well as its light weight.
If I have the space, I also have my Canon HV20 3MP High Definition MiniDV Camcorder and tripod. (The newer version of this is the Canon VIXIA HV40.) These days, we produce video stories whenever we can.
5. My Samsonite carry-on suitcase
The zipper is on its last legs and one of the wheels is starting to wobble, but I still cling to my favorite Samsonite carry-on suitcase. It has my faded “I love Canada” handle protector, so I can easily locate the suitcase on the luggage belt, and has traveled with me across the world. Someday, I’ll have to break down and buy a new suitcase, but I’m keeping this one as long as I can.
See other 5 Things guest posts
Posted by Tim in General Gear, Travel Light on April 22nd, 2010
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