My husband has started traveling for work and is in need of items to help lighten the load. To say he is a bit anal about his things would be an understatement! I have already started my research, but hoping others have great suggestions.
His current knapsack does the job, but he has complained that it is too heavy on his back with what he has to carry on the plane. He checks a bag, but his knapsack is packed all the time. He says the problem is when he has to stop in the menās room as he has to keep it on his back! For some reason, once it is time to deplane, he is not able to get his knapsack on his back. Most of the rolling knapsacks seem to have a large back section meant for maybe overnight packing; not something he really needs, and he would rather have more top access sections for laptop, table, notepads, etcā¦ Doesnāt want anything too expensive, not anything too heavy as he will carry it as a knapsack when local; he is not willing to switch his bag back and forth with traveling vs local.
For his gym bag, his home bag could fit a small child, and he has it packed full! I think I have convinced him that he may have to deal with a tote bag for travel so that it can be folded and fit in his checked bag. He really wants a bag that has side and front outside pockets like his home bag, but all I have seen are tote bags; most advertised for women, but do come in dark colors. It has to have a shoulder strap. Does not have to have a shoe or wet pocket, but fine if it does. He currently is using an old Nike bag of our sonās, but it has a hard bottom and is large, so takes up a lot of luggage space.
Is āknapsackā equivalent to a backpack? Or is there some specific difference.
I am an everyday backpack purse/person. I often look for one that can be carried on back OR have a shoulder strap - wonder if there is a style of this for men?
The other thing might just be to lighten his load in his backpack - if itās jammed full it is going to be hard to maneuver when deloading from the plane.
I use the word backpack and knapsack interchangeably, which might not be correct. He only wants a rolling backpack to replace his current one which is a High Sierra. They make a rolling one which we are currently looking at; there is also a larger one that might work.
High Sierra Freewheel Wheeled Laptop Backpack, True Navy, 20.5 x 13.5 x 8-Inch https://a.co/d/7PwRsMG
He has some equipment that has to be carried on, including a battery pack which is why the bag gets heavy as he also has a laptop and tablet. Again, only interested in a backpack with wheels if he is going to charge what he carries on the plane. Did I mention he is very particular?
The gym bag needs to be able to hold gym clothes and shoes, Dopp kit, a change of clothes, a towel, his tablet, and a bunch of small crap!
He wants two different things, correct?
I donāt really understand the āspecsā yet.
I suggest checking REI offerings. Unfortunately you just missed one of their big sales.
@1214mom, yes 2 different bags; a rolling backpack and a gym bag that will fold and fit into his checked suitcase. He goes to a gym daily at home and when traveling, so needs a different gym bag when on the road.
While I havenāt shown this to him, I am thinking for the gym this could work, but I donāt think it is large enough: https://a.co/d/bDb9JBA I have looked at other similar totes, but have yet to find something that isnāt a tote.
Will he consider a backpack without wheels? The wheel hardware adds weight and reduces capacity. Additionally, a non-wheeled one can more easily squish to fit in overhead bins that are slightly too small.
A heavy backpack means that he automatically gets exercise (rucking) while walking around with it.
Here is a Jansport model that is perhaps a bit smaller than the High Sierra. I have that High Sierra with wheels and it is a larger day pack and also not acceptable to some airlines as a carryon as it can be quite wide. The older and more achy I get, the more I use it wheeled rather than on my back. But I do love the capacity and organizational features.
I gave away a ālooks brand newā bag just like this through our neighborhood group recently. Now I see why it was taken quickly ($$$) and someone else actually knocked on our door to see if it was still available even though I said Iād put it on porch for someone else. I suspect that second person would have just taken it if it was still on porch. Nothing to do with this threadā¦ sorry
@great_lakes_mom that JanSport is the same size as the smaller of the 2 High Sierraās I linked.
I did just find out today that my husband usually slings his backpack over one shoulder instead of wearing it on his back; well no wonder his back hurts! He has had back surgery many years ago, so the pain is not all due to his bag. Something else I realized is, while his current backpack fits under the seat in front of him, I would guess a rolling one will not. Mr. Particular want his bag accessible without getting up, so does not put his bag in the overhead bins.
I did suggest his try wearing it on his back as it is intended, and maybe, at least when walking through the airport, add his chest strap.
that I can toss into a suitcase, packed or not. It has good functionality on its own. Thereās a good way to deal with wet bathing suits and stinky shoes. It also has a bit more structure than my most packable bags. I prefer it to a simpler tote.
Mine is almost exactly the same but was from REI. I didnāt see it on a quick search, but honestly, the pockets are what I love too! So much easier to keep track of stuff.
If you can get to that article, there are others that are similar, and perhaps bigger!
I have already started my research, but hoping others have great suggestions.
