My dad LOVES flashlights. He loves to tell you how many lumens each light has. He loves tiny lights, and big lights. He loves battery-powered and solar-powered and lawd-only-knows-how-powered lumens. Does he have a favorite flashlight? Yes. Does it change? Also yes.
In that spirit I reveal what readers of this blog already know: I am obsessed with travel bags. How can I pack the most stuff into the smallest vessel that will allow me to take the peasant cheapest fare, carry the minimum viable fashion, and still have room to bring back blankets*?
To that end, I have raved—but not written, it seems??—about my Ogio Alpha 25L, which has been my go-to backpack for the last year. It has gone to Mexico thrice already. I have raved about the Briidgs which held up well for a few years but has fallen out of favor with its non-padded backpack straps (tank top? fugghedabboutit). I am currently stewing over though I don’t need! trying these (thanks for nothin’, instagram):
Tobiq Aspen 60L duffel $229
Obsessed with: the four compartments! you can organize by type: day clothes / workout clothes / shoes / other things or outfits (as if I plan that far ahead) or anything! The colorways. The recycled plastic construction.
Wary about: SIXTY LITERS? This is no backpack and I have a hard time believing it fits into Frontier’s personal item dimensions, which I consider critical for flying Peasant. Road trips, though!
Solgaard Endeavor 27-35L $245
Obsessed with: OK. The fold out closet system. Do fold out closet systems work? The expandable size. IT FITS PEASANT. The padded laptop pocket. Padded straps. Passport/card pocket on the strap for easy access for me only. Obviously the recycled ocean plastic bit.
Wary about: um, nothing? I need this? Fine, I don’t know how to use the closet system … can I still cram as much stuff as I need to into it with that setup?
Related
Am I the last heathen around using a makeup bag for travel toiletries? Is everyone hanging their clothes AND bathroom stuff all over the place without me?
RAREFORM Vienna $60
Obsessed with: My old standby recycled billboard bag company hasn’t gone anywhere and is still doing the recycling work of the gods.
Wary about: the size (6 x 8.5 x 2.75″ I DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS)? Do I bring this much bathroom junk?
Gravel Travel (ha) Explorer PLUS $59
Obsessed with: the instagram videos I keep getting served showing all the specific pouches! waterproof!
Wary about: the instagram videos I keep getting served … am I really taking my Gravel Travel with me to the fantastic outdoor shower I’m about to use? Yes? Oh, well. 10 x 7 x 3 it’s even bigger than the Rareform!
Sidenote: I was going to ask if either of these is really nicer than this well-reviewed amazon one ($22), but then I clicked on the link and thought, damn, they are.
… then I ordered the Amazon one because $18 on BFCM. I’ll report back.
*other qualifications include: backpack or backpack option because I need to be able to be mobile, not rolling a suitcase over cobblestones or down lugging it up and down stairs.