Trying to find the perfect backpack….

Baggage – like a lot of things is a very personal taste.

Now those who regularly tune into GhettoIFE for my Trip Reports will notice that I have a small thing for rucksacks verses other forms of luggage (namely roll-aboard luggage)

Now my reasons are simple – I tend to take a lot of public transport anywhere when I travel, so I like to “blend in” as much as possible. And a rucksack is far blendable in than a big roll-aboard case. The backpack also has to carry a fair amount. A standard load  (for a 3 day mileage run) is:

Clothing:

• 4 x t-shirts/polo shirts
• 1 x pair of trousers
• 1 x tracksuit bottoms
• Various socks and underwear.

Computer:

• MacBook Pro
• Memory Card reader
• Power Supply with EU/US Plugs (depending where I end up)

Camera Crap:

• My Canon EOS 50D
• 3 different lens at least
• 1 Holga
• A couple of rolls of film and a wallet full of memory cards

And of course, any other crap I pick up on the way. Therefore a bag has to be very flexible for what I throw at it.

However this has… extra problems for which I’m going into.

For the past few years I was using a very nice Adidas backpack that I was given by the IAAF. And it’s served me well.

You’ll notice the bottom of the bag is a bit padded at the base. This is because it had a lovely segment in it that allows me store “wet” or “dirty” items separately from the main part of the bag. Or if I’m on a mileage run, it’s where I can put my clothes for a weekend when I’m travelling, allowing me to stack the rest of the content I need in my .

This was all well and good until Germany Security got to it at Frankfurt got to it when I had to send it as a checked item and… well this happened.

And no, I haven’t forgiven Frankfurt Security over the amount of tape used. Heck, I had to knife the bag to finally get in it. By then the bag was busted and I couldn’t really use it again. The zip was mostly destroyed sadly, and whilst I could stitch a new zip in, this bag had really brought the farm.

Recently, I decided to try something different as the bag was getting a little tired before this trip, and I got myself a Karimoor Urban 30.

In the words of Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons – Worst Bag Ever!

Apart from being a bit limited in space at the bottom (you’ll notice no seperate bottom bit), the stitching actually fell apart after the second use of it.  Thankfully, being handy with a needle and thread, I repaired it, and used it since. And then the zip handles broke… and then.

Well you get the picture.  It was enough for me to downgrade the bag to “Hunt a new bag”.

And believe me, it’s tough finding a bag like the old Adidas one.  Now British Airways gave me a very nice Antler bag thanks to the damaged that was caused.

Whilst this looks all well and dandy, there are of course a few minor issues. Least of all, it can’t take the standard load I throw at it. Pretty useless, but good to lug the laptop around in.

So what next? A backpack with wheels on it and a trolley bit? Well apart from not having a bottom storage area, have you actually carried one on your back? The metal doesn’t feel comfortable at all.

In the end (for this round anyway), I’ve decided something a little more… sk8ter boi style and I’ve got myself an Etnies Transport Backpack.

(It’s a stock photo – mine I suspect will bulge in different places) 

Now this is more like it. A bit of volume (30lts easy), and the magic storage pocket at the bottom of the bag. It’s semi rugged too and looks like it can handle life with muggins in the air.

A few minor forboiles as I picked it up mail order:

• The toploader zip is a single zip – not a double zip. Annoying, but not the end of the world (unless the zipper jumps off the rails)
• No document pocket – means I have to dig out the sleeve for the laptop
• Some of the space seems oddly assigned inside with the big pocket at the front being a lot bigger than needed
• And the transport sacks for the skateboard I’ll never use look plain ridiculous.

So, any good? Well tune in from Thursday onwards when YYZ2 – Multi-Modal Madnessgoes into overdrive, and I’ll be able to tell you what I think…..