Choosing Your Backpacking Pack Like a Pro
It's Time To
Sack Up
Planning for Thailand has been a trip in itself.
There is so much to learn about the places I will be visiting and the sites I want to explore. But before I get ahead of myself I need to get down to the basics. This past week I picked out and bought my new BFF, my backpack for the trip. I can’t tell you how many reviews I read and how many hours I spent deliberating between a few liters of space, top or side loading, extra pockets, zip off backpacks, the WORKS. You can read some pretty in-depth reviews here, here and here. And, for the ultimate resource check this list out here, they not only list the best bags but have specific reviews of each by actual travelers that are honest and helpful. But here you have it, the object of my obsessive research, the new love of my life, the Osprey Farpoint 70 Liter in Volcanic Grey (sexy as hell).
Here are the hard and fast facts:
Made of: Nylon
Weight: 3 pounds-ish
Capacity: 70L (duh)
Price: $150 on sale on Amazon.com
Features:
Large panel zip access to main compartment with lockable sliders provides accessibility and security to main contents.
Fixed, backpanel, hipbelt and harness system can easily be stowed
Dual front compression straps keep gear stable while wearing the pack
Top and side padded carry handles are helpful when you need to hoist the pack
Detachable daypack
So let’s break this down. What I needed:
I needed a pretty big pack, I travel with extra things always. I know, I KNOW- a good traveler would go light, not me. I like suvies.
I needed something that I could potentially carry on the plane with me.
Front-loading because if it was top loading I would lose everything at the bottom of the pack, including my mind.
I love the idea of a detachable daypack for bringing along my laptop for working without too much fuss. The larger versions of this pack do not come with this feature.
Tuckable straps so I can easily change the bag into a carry on deal and less of a strap heavy backpack.
I will be in SE Asia and I didn’t want a roller bag if I was hiking somewhere or the roads sucked or something.
For those of you out there that are more visual and want to see the pack in action take a look at this video of what appears to be an REI employee sitting in a sauna describing the pack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0GcZZ4gFw
And for good measure here I am geeking out about my new gear:
The Osprey checked all my boxes and more. The fact that they provide a sweet guarantee for travelers is a bonus as well. They will replace or repair any of their backpacks for any reason at any time. Boom! Love it and will probably need it at some point.
I will review the bag again after I have had some significant time on the road with it and I can really see how it works for me. I am so happy with my travel buddy and I hope you find the right one for you too! What bag did you choose for long-term travel? What factors did I miss?
Catch ya later!
Liz