The Three Bags I Use for 95% of My Travel
I use these three bags for about 95% of my travel, LOVE them all, and would buy them all again. If you have the budget and the space, you can certainly buy a bag for every specific type of activity. I have neither and have found that these are each quite versatile, particularly the CamelBak.
They’ve also each held up impressively under my abuse – errr, not so gentle use. I have stuffed my Patagonia to fit under the seat on a Frontier flight more than once. (I will NOT pay that extra baggage fee). My backpacking backpack has seen the Appalachian trail, California campgrounds, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and now, Canada! And my CamelBak, well that is virtually an extension of my back at this point.
CamelBak Women’s Helena 22 Hydration Pack
Buy from Camelbak here | Buy on Amazon Here
(New model that replaced what I have)
Year Purchased: 2015
Price Paid: $98.99
What I Use it For: Laptop Bag
Hydration pack
Beach bag
Hiking day pack
Beer bag
Overnight bag
Camera bag
Comments:
I use this bag close to every week. I initially bought it to have a hiking day pack that could fit more than just a water bladder. I’ve since learned that it can be adapted for just about anything.
The back slot fits a laptop perfectly when you remove the bladder. The multiple compartments are great for separating a towel from other beach gear (only downside for the beach is that the breathable back holds sand so shake it out!). It somehow fits close to a dozen beers. I even used it as my only bag a three-day last minute trip to Florida.
The waist strap and should straps up are adjustable and snug-up well enough to prevent the bag-bounce when hiking. It does still bounce if I run (like that one time, I got terrified on A [Short] Walk in the Redwood Forest – that post here.), but it’s not supposed to be a running pack and I don’t run much these days anyway.
Osprey Ariel 65 Women’s Hiking Backpack
Buy it from Moosejaw here | Buy it on Amazon Here
Year Purchased: 2012
Price Paid: Under $300 (used a coupon)
What I Use it For: Camping
Outdoor backpacking
Travel backpacking
Comments:
I bought this bag for my first (and so far only) overnight backpacking trip, which also happened to be my first time camping. The pictured version is the newer model and definitely the color I would get if I were buying now. I bought it at a local outdoor store in Jacksonville, Florida and they ordered a smaller hip-belt for me which helps with comfort and weight distribution.
I’ve since used it as a travel bag, most notably on my solo-Asia trip last year, and it works equally well. Yes, there are some features and pockets that are more outdoor than travel oriented and sometimes I’m drawn to how pretty some of those bags are. But there really isn’t a need for two separate bags.
If I ever do get a travel-specific pack, I’ll probably go with Osprey again because of their women-specific designs, sizing options, and reputation as a damn, good bag maker.
Patagonia Headway Brief 22L
More Laptop Bags on Moosejaw here | Buy on Patagonia here
(Prices on Amazon are currently too high!)
Year Purchased: 2016
Price Paid: Less than $100 (on sale)
What I Use it For: Laptop bag
Luggage
Carry-on
Overnight bag
Comments:
This was the second bag that I used for my solo-Asia trip last year. I wanted a cross-body bag that could fit a laptop to avoid the double-backpack approach. It was the perfect carry-on during that trip. Easily fit the things that make a 13-hour trip more luxurious – laptop, book, socks, bathroom items, and SNACKS!
I’ve since used it also used it as my only bag for 5 days in Cancun, Mexico, a whole week in Nashville, Tennessee, and a long weekend in Colorado. Annnd for overnights when dating someone last summer when I’d sometimes go somewhere to work immediately the next morning. Does it look like just a laptop bag? No. But does it look so much like luggage that people *know* that you did not go home the night before? No.
