Posts Tagged luggage
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
New Products Unveiled at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010
I’m just home after a whirlwind three days at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010 held annually (with a Winter Market in January) in Salt Lake City. More than 1,000 exhibitors show their wares on a massive trade-show floor in some totally tricked-out booths (think ice sculptures, two-level showrooms, lounge-like areas with comfy couches — and plenty of beer at happy hour). The event allows brick-and-mortar, website and catalog retailers to find out what will be on the market in spring 2011, so they can do their planning and merchandise ordering now.
In the coming months I’ll be checking out firsthand some of those products — from apparel to luggage to shoes — that will appear in stores next spring. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of what’s to come, as well as some items that you can purchase now:
I’m freakishly excited about all the fabulous women’s clothing items that GoLite will roll out next spring. This brand is best known for its base layers, outer layers and performance apparel for hiking, backpacking and trail running, but it’s certainly going to make its mark next year with a collection of versatile dresses, skirts, pants and tops for sightseeing, restaurant meals and walks on the beach. Some sample pieces I saw are made out off cocona fabric, created from recycled coconuts shells. (How cool is that?)
One item in the Adventure Travel line that is available now is the Cayambe Reversible Travel Dress, which is oh-so soft and feminine, and ultra versatile, too: spill some wine on one side of the dress? Flip it around and wear the other color on the outside the next night! It also packs quite small and is made from Dri-Move Lite fabric, with important moisture-wicking qualities — great for humid climes.
We cover ExOfficio a lot here at Practical Travel Gear, for good reason: this is a clothing brand that understands traveler’s needs. The company makes apparel that is not only stylish, but offers a ton of features that are so important on the road, like quick-drying or wrinkle-free qualities.
My colleague Tim shared his admiration for ExOfficio underwear last year, and now the brand has released a slightly sexier version for women: the Lacy Lu bikinis, thongs and briefs, plus tank tops and camisoles — all with the same great qualities as its original undies, just with slightly more feminine appeal. Right now the Lacy Lu line is only available at REI, but will be for sale on the ExOfficio website, other online retailers and brick and mortar stores next year.
Also coming this spring from ExOfficio: clothing from the Sol Cool line, made from fabrics that include xylitol, the ingredient found in sugar-free gum that has natural cooling properties (I felt the fabric, and indeed it is subtly cool to the touch).
Another brand we sure do like here at Practical Travel Gear is Briggs & Riley, which makes incredibly durable and classy luggage for the business and leisure traveler. (My Large Shopping Tote continues to make frequent appearances on my travels.) The latest release from Briggs & Riley: BRX, the line for “adventure travelers.” This product is made with lightweight materials and they are soft-sided, with a nifty docking system. See at left, where the Excursion Backpack is attached to an upright roller, for wheeling ease through the airport. If you wanted, you could attach the backpack to a larger piece (say, the 28-inch Rolling Duffle), and still only be charged one fee for a checked bag — clever, huh? The entire 7-piece BRX collection is available now.
This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the products I saw and touched at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. I’ve got loads more to share about new Eureka! tents and sleeping pads, Wallaroo hats, GoLite and Ecco shoes, Timbuk2 and Eagle Creek luggage, Polarmax base layers and many more pieces of fabulous travel apparel and gear. Stay tuned!
Posted by Kara in General Gear, Travel Light on August 6th, 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
Eagle Creek Global Commuter Laptop Bag
I’ve been using Eagle Creek gear since my first backpacking trip, but the company makes practical luggage for those who have moved on to real jobs as well. Take this Global Commuter laptop bag, which will speed you through the airport but last you through several career changes.
Consider this to be the versatile traveler’s laptop briefcase. Sure, you can carry it into a meeting wearing a business suit, but you can also sling it over your shoulder as a messenger bag or strap it onto your back with shoulder straps if you’ve left the laptop in the hotel room and are sightseeing. With the kind of clever but unobtrusive design work Eagle Creek is known for, the flap that hides those backpack straps also has a wide fabric loop that lets you slide the bag over your wheelie suitcase handle.
Of course that’s just the beginning. The Global Commuter is checkpoint friendly, meaning you can just unzip it and lay it flat while going through security instead of having to remove your laptop from its bag. It’s got pockets and more pockets for all your papers and gadgets: one on the outside, four on the inside, and specific pouches and pockets for a phone, music player (with audio portal for the cord), and pens. There’s a removable key fob and a file organizer. Two-way zippers have handy pulls and there’s Velcro in all the right places.
This bag holds up to a 17-inch laptop and will only add an additional 2.5 pounds to your load. It’s made of heavy-duty ripstop nylon though that is water-resistant.
It comes in three colors and lists for $135. There are certainly cheaper laptop bags out there, but consider this one an investment. Like all of Eagle Creek’s gear, it’s built to last: the bag is guaranteed for life. See the full specs and more photos at the Eagle Creek site and check street prices at the online retailers below.
Eagle Creek Global Commuter Carry On Bag from Backcountry.com
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Posted by Tim in Business Gear, Travel Light on April 28th, 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
