Gear Review: Lat 56 Holdall

We have reviewed many bags from Lat 56, a Scotland based bag company known for their unique use of EVA foam and twill fabric on all their products.

A few months ago, they sent us a slew of new bags to review and we have finally reached the last one. It’s the Lat 56 Holdall.

Holdall, my U.S. friends may ask, what’s a holdall? Well, it’s a British term for what we would normally call a duffel bag albeit a little fancier. And traveling with this type of bag is very popular in Britain.

(I’m going to use Lat 56 photos in this review as they are better than mine.)

The Lat 56 Holdall measures 18.5” x 11.8” x 11.8”/47cm x 30cm x 30cm. It weighs 2.9lbs/1.3kg and holds 2441cu in/40L.

It has a two strap handle on top and carry handles in each end. The bag has two metal D-rings for attaching the included padded shoulder strap. (This bag does not have backpack straps.) There are two loops at the rear top of the bag for your brolly.

The main, and only, compartment has a D shaped opening with a lockable zipper. Inside are three mesh pockets—one in the lid and one on each end. There are no external pockets.

Also included is a detachable wet/dry bag designed to carry shoes or dirty clothes. It measures approximately 12” x 7” x 7”, weighs 6.5 oz, has a diagonal zipper on top and a partially  clear front panel so you can see what’s inside. It’s very pliable so if not filled it should fit easily in a packed bag.

The Holdall is water resistant.

Like all of the other Lat 56 products we’ve reviewed, the Holdall seems very tough and should withstand quite a bit. It could easily be used for numerous purposes such as a gym bag, overnight bag, or even as a simple, non complicated small travel bag. (An Eagle Creek 18” Folder can be made to fit but it won’t lie flat. The Eagle Creek 15” folder fits with room to spare.)

The bag should qualify as a carry-on as the total measurements are below the standard 45”/115cm limits. However, it’s best to check with your airline as some go by exact measurements rather that the total of three sides.

If you’re looking for a multi-purpose, uncomplicated designed bag that’s easy to pack and  makes a bold statement, then definitely consider the Lat 56 holdall. If you like lots of pockets and bells and whistles, this isn’t the bag for you.

The Lat 56 Holdall is available through Lat 56 and retails for $199. It’s only available in black and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

(Lat 56 provided the bag for review.)

Gear Review: Lat 56 Small Messenger Case

I don’t normally review briefcase style messenger bags because they really don’t fit into the true onebagger philosophy. However, I know there are many of you out there who must travel with lots of equipment  for work purposes including, in some cases, two laptops. I realize that it is impossible for some, because of the requirements of their work, to be the ultimate onebagger but are doing their best to reach it.

So, why not include that group by introducing some bags that would help with the load.

Today I want to talk about the Lat 56 Small Messenger Case.

Anyone who follows this website knows that we have reviewed quite a few products by this company. Based in Scotland, they are known for their Military grade EVA material which I describe as sort of a rubbery, plastic material. (I’m sure they hate that. But it is what it is.)

Measuring 15.7” x 12.2” x 3.9” (40cm x 31cm x 10cm), the Small Messenger Case weighs 2.2 lbs (1kg). It holds approx 12L (732 cu in.)

On top is a padded handle with a D ring for the included padded shoulder strap and a loop for your brolly on each side.  (Not sure what a brolly is?  Google it. Okay, I’ll give you a hint—I’m not surprised it’s included considering the bag is from a British company. )

But I digress.

The back has a zippered pocket for magazines, files, etc. or can be unzipped at the bottom as well to act as a pass through should you wish to slide it on to the handles of a rolling case.

(Photo courtesy of Lat 56)

Once opened, the Messenger Case has a front organizer panel that includes a full length zippered pocket, two smaller pockets and three pen holders. (Note, while the picture shows one small magnet closing pocket and one small zipper closing pocket, my bag had two small magnet closing pockets.)

Inside the main compartment, there is a separate laptop section that will hold a laptop up to 13.3” and has a full length magnet closing top for extra protection. There should be enough room in the rest of the main compartment to hold an additional laptop. The entire compartment is lined with memory foam for extra protection but if you put a second laptop in the front portion of the main compartment, I would protect it with some type of cache just to be sure.

The bag is nice and definitely looks like it belongs in an urban environment—more briefcase than manbag/murse yet could easily be carried by a female in a nicely in a button down corporate or high tech world.

The Small Messenger case also offers a compromise for those who feel a soft messenger bag may not have enough protection for their electronics but also don’t want the weight and bulk of a hard sided case.

If this bag is not big enough, Lat 56 does offer a larger version.

The Lat 56 Small Messenger Case sells for $199.00

Lat 56 supplied the Small Messenger Case for review.

Gomadic Portable Chargers

We all travel with gadgets. It’s inevitable that, at some point, we’ll have to recharge them. Good luck finding an outlet in an airport that isn’t already being used, or an outlet on a plane that works. (Do they purposely make sure that no more than 50% of the power outlets on aircraft actually work?)

For the past few years, I worked around both issues and carried back up power for my Ipods, cell phones and small tablets.

One company I’ve been dealing with for years is Gomadic. They make top quality products, have excellent customer service and offer a lifetime warranty  guaranteeing all their products are free of any defects.

Gomadic uses a tip exchange system. Rather than carry multiple charging cables, Gomadic allows you to change the tip (plug) so you can use one cable with many devices. This saves weight and space.

Gomadic offers two backup power chargers for small devices:

The first one (seen on the far left in the above photo) is the AA Battery Extender. It takes four AA batteries, either standard or rechargeable, has an on/off switch, and weighs 4.8oz/137g (with batteries.) The AA Battery Exender comes with a tip of your choice. $19.95

It is simple to use. Just attach the tip you need, plug it in to your device, and turn it on. I’ve been able to fully recharge an Ipod Touch with this. I  liked it and only recently stopped using it because of the next device.

The Lithium Rechargeable Pack (second from the left in the above photos) holds 3400 mah of power and can be recharged from any USB port. It offers an LED display to let you know approximately how much charge is left. It weighs 3 oz/84g and comes with a coiled USB cord, a mini-USB tip for charging, and a tip of your choice. I used my Gomadic rectractable cable (far right in the photo above) in lieu of the coiled cable and it worked fine.) $49.95 (By the way, the other two items in the photos are examples of “tips.”)

The Lithium Rechargeable Pack utilizes both a standard USB and mini USB port so you don’t have to use Gomadic cables if you prefer not to.

The rechargeable pack has given me hours of extra time on my iphone and 7” tablet. I won’t travel without it.

While the devices come with a tip of your choice, I’ve purchased extras of all types. Most are $5.95.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking: Why spend all that money on charging cables and tips when you can buy Chinese knockoffs for much less. Well, I have purchased those Chinese knockoffs. Some work, some don’t work, some stop working when I need them. With Gomadic, I’ve never had a product fail on me.

It’s also their customer service. I’ve been in touch with the company numerous times to ask questions. They have never taken more than one business day to get back to me and in most cases, the same day.

But two incidents stand out that have proven they care about their customers.

The AA battery extender I mentioned above is the 2nd generation model. I purchased the first generation when it came out years ago. It worked fine with my cellphone and mp3 player but it wouldn’t work on my Ipod Touch 2nd generation. I contacted Gomadic, they said they were aware of the problem, and were working on it.

Shortly thereafter, they came out with the 2nd generation battery extender. Being the cheapskate that I am, and a true believer in the phrase: “You don’t get if you don’t ask,” I contacted Gomadic and asked, since I already owned the first generation model, and couldn’t charge my Ipod Touch, if they’d be willing to sell me a 2nd generation model at a discount. The response was unexpected. They would be glad to send me the newer model at “no charge.” (Now in case some of you are thinking I got that because of this website, well, this was done before I was involved with OBOW. I was just another customer.)

The second incident took place a few months ago when I got my Iphone 5. Apple has yet to license any of the new “Lightning” tips to 3rd parties including Gomadic. So, to use the Gomadic system, it was suggested I use the  charging cable that came with the iphone and a USB tip. I already had a USB tip to use when charging my camera battery. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. I contacted Gomadic and found I needed a different USB tip and they would be happy to send me one at no charge. ( I found that many of the tips may look the same but the inside wiring is different.)

Yes, I do pay a little more using Gomadic products. However, between their quality products, and excellent customer service, I feel I’m getting my money’s worth.

Gomadic supplied the Lithium Rechargeable Pack for review.

Gear Review: The Travel Halo

This may sound surprising to some, but I have a hard time sleeping on airplanes. I just can’t get comfortable enough to doze off and rest. I don’t trust the cleanliness of the pillows offered by the airlines and I can’t stand the inflatable “things” called neck pillows. Very uncomfortable.

I recently heard about a new product that is supposed to make sleeping easier. It’s called The Travel Halo

 The Travel Halo is basically a stretchable  headband with two pillows sewn into the back of the headband and a fold down travel mask on the front.

The pillows are placed at 8 and 4 o’clock and act like chocks to stabilize the head and prevent it from rolling to one side. The fold down travel mask prevents light from disturbing your slumber.

The Travel Halo rolls up nicely into the included carry pouch. While rolled up it can fit in your hand. It’s made of polyester and spandex and weighs a whopping 2.5 oz.

Their website said it can not only be used on planes but also on high back chairs so I tested it on my own recliner. I put it on, rolled down the eye mask to block out all light, laid back and fell asleep. My head did not roll during the nap and no light got in preventing me from sleeping.

If there’s one drawback, it’s this. I have a large head. (Keep your comments to yourself.) I mean that literally not figuratively. (Okay, maybe figuratively too but that has nothing to do with this review.) With that in mind, I did find the head band to be fairly tight. There is no way to adjust the size of the headband. Perhaps future models can incorporate an adjustable ‘Velcro closure. Or perhaps over time the headband will loosen slightly to make it more comfortable for people like me.

 The Travel Halo sells for $29. It’s lightweight and it works. And did I mention it won Third Place in the Product Innovation Award category at this year’s Travel Goods Show? (The rest of the winners were wheeled bags.) It’s machine washable and is made in Colombia.

Disclosure: The Travel Halo company suppled a Travel Halo for review. OBOW is an Amazon affiliate and will receive a small commission for any items purchased through the Travel Halo link in the previous paragraph.

Photos courtesy of The Travel Halo.

Gear Review: Google Nexus 7

A few months ago, I purchased a Google Nexus 7 tablet to replace the netbook I had been lugging around.  I did it for one reason: to save weight. I like it. It does everything I need.

 Is that enough of a review or do you want more?  All right, I’ll give you more.

Let’s take a step back and start from the beginning.

Like most people, I first set my sights on the Ipad. But after playing with it in the store, I felt it was bigger than I needed and much heavier. Rumors were all over the place about a smaller Ipad but they never seemed to materialize. The Kindle Fire was released but it seemed more a platform for Amazon than a fully functioning tablet It was also without Bluetooth, something I definitely needed.

 And then I started reading about the Google Nexus 7.

Specs: A 7” screen, weight of 12 oz, wi-fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, 8 or 16 GB HD, 1 GB SDRAM,  microphone, GPS, a standard micro-usb plug, and the ability to load books, music and video direct and not have to go through something like Itunes.

Sounded great.

There were downsides:  no support for flash, limited to 8 or 16 GB of HD, not all Android apps would work on it.  

Yet all the reviews at the time said it was the best of the 7” tablets. So, I plopped down $249 and took one home.

I was happy.  It did everything I wanted. I downloaded apps to take care of just about all my needs: word processing, surfing the net, posting and editing to this site, making and keeping track of travel arrangements, news, streaming radio, etc.

And then  I found one app that changed the game.

For $2, I downloaded Nexus Media Importer.. The app, when paired with a Micro USB OTG to USB 2.0 adapter, less than $2 on Amazon, lets you plug a flash drive or SD card (if you have an SD card reader) into the tablet and read from it thus expanding the HD to basically unlimited amounts depending on how many flash drives you take.  I currently have a 32GB flash drive with books, audio and video attached to mine. (Unfortunately, however, you can’t download to the flash drive as of yet.)

How well does it work?

When paired with my wireless Bluetooth keyboard, I can do almost anything I could on the netbook. (I even find the onscreen keyboard easier and more responsive than the ones on the Ipad. )

Surfing the net is easy with the included Google Chrome browser. Apps for Twitter, Facebook, Google Reader, and more, work fine.

GPS works if you only have one destination and pre-set it. If you need to add a destination after you leave, you’ll have to find a way to connect to the internet first.

The only trouble I’ve had occurs occasionally when I disconnect the USB OTG cord. the Nexus 7 sometimes crashes and needs to be rebooted.  More of a nuisance than a real issue.

Usage time is pretty good. They claim up to 10 hours of web browsing or ereading. I get about 7-8  hours of browsing as long as there’s no audio or video streaming. Being continually connected to wifi uses up battery time.

Overall, I like it.

The Google Nexus 7 is no longer available in the 8 GB version. You can buy it in the following configurations:

16 GB wifi—$199

32 GB  wifi—$249

32 GB wifi and HSPA (ATT or T-Mobile)—$299

(Both the ATT and T-Mobile versions come with unlocked.)

I know some of you are going to ask: Why Android over Apple? Well, I had an Ipod Touch and liked it. I was planning on getting an Iphone 5 so I knew I would continue using Apple products. But, I had never had anything with Android. Everyone I know who used the platform loved it so, I thought, I might as well give it a try.

And that’s the reason I chose Android.

I’m sure there are some of you with specific questions. Feel free to ask as I know I didn’t cover everything.

Gear Review: Lat 56 Traveller Bag

Last April, I did a review of a garment bag from Scottish bag maker Lat 56. The have just introduced a new line of bags and have sent me three for review. I’ll do about one a month just to space them out.

The first to be reviewed is the Lat 56 Traveller Bag. It is a part of their new Urban Warrior collection.

Measuring 11” x 9.8” x 3.9”  (28cm x 25cm x 10cm) and weighing 1.1 lbs (520g), the Traveller Bag is designed to fit the Apple Ipad but will hold a netbook up to 10.2” as well as smaller sized tablets or e-readers.

The outside of the bag is made of EVA foam (sort of a rubbery plastic) and 600d nylon.

Inside the main compartment of the bag are two smaller, zippered pockets and one snap closing cellphone pocket. (Note, my Iphone5 in a hugging case wouldn’t fit.) There is also the main Ipad/Netbook compartment that has a snap closure and red velvet lined memory foam on the front, back and bottom to protect your device.

Inside the front cover of the bag is a mesh lined zipper compartment.

The rear of the bag has a compartment with a hideaway zipper pull.

A detachable padded shoulder strap is included. There is also a grab handle at the top of the bag.

The zippers are not lockable but the zipper pulls have numerous holes allowing them to be clipped together. They are also lined to resist water.

I was able to fit my Nexus 7 (in a padded cache) and wireless bluetooth keyboard into the memory foam lined compartment. The snap hook closure is attached to a thick elastic band so I could pull it out to snap. I was also able to put my Kindle in the front compartment at the same time. A portable charger would also fit in the front compartment.

For the true onebagger, this would probably not be a good choice because it holds it’s shape very well and would take up too much room in your carry-on. However, for those of you who travel with one bag and a personal item, and are looking for a sturdy, well designed shoulder/messenger bag, then this should be considered.

The company that makes the bag refers to it as a “man bag” and I can see why. With it’s tough looking, high tech appearance, it would fit in many different scenarios from leisure travel to executive use. No one is going to refer to this as a “murse.”

The addition of the memory foam at the bottom of the tablet compartment adds an additional layer of protection against thieves who may slice the bottom of bags.

Lat 56 Traveller Bag is currently on sale for $119/£79. Made in China.

Gear Review: Briggs & Riley Exchange 20 Duffle

Okay, admit it, how many of you thought, after reading: “Gear Review: Briggs & Riley” that I had gone over to the dark side; the side of wheels, extendable handles, and excess weight? Relax, I haven’t. It’s just the opposite. Briggs & Riley, the stalwart of quality wheeled luggage, has come to play in our ballpark. And the game’s about to change.

The Briggs & Riley Exchange 20 is a convertible duffle designed for the adventure/leisure traveler. At 20” x 12” x 8” (50.8cm x 30.4 cm x 20.3 cm) and weighing in in at just under 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg), the bag is slightly smaller than maximum legal carry-on and definitely in the light weight category.

Made of 1000d nylon on the outside and lined with 420d nylon, the Exchange 20 has one main compartment on the inside and two smaller pockets on the outside. There is also a small pocket on the inside. All zippers are YKK and the main compartment zipper is lockable. Non-metal  zipper pulls are included.

The bag is expandable one inch (8-9”) keeping it well within the carry on limits of many U.S. and international airlines.

There is a padded handle on top and one on the side. While there are no compressions straps on the inside of the bag, there are four on the outside. There is also a permanently attached luggage tag. A shoulder strap, including a padded, moisture wicking shoulder pad, is included. More on this later.

On the bottom of the bag is the compartment holding the backpack straps. Unlike all other convertible bags where the wearer unzips an opening, pulls out the backpack straps, and clips them to a couple of external d-rings, the Exchange 20 is somewhat unique.

The entire back panel unzips and is folded down to reveal the permanently attached backpack straps. The folded down panel is held in place by an elastic band. In this position, the panel offers extra lumbar support and has moisture wicking mesh. There is also an adjustable sternum strap to help take pressure off the shoulders.

For packing, I easily fit an Eagle Creek 18” Specter Folder inside.

The Exchange 20 does exactly as its intended. It’s a well designed bag for the leisure/adventure traveler who isn’t looking for a lot of bells & whistles but instead wants quality, durability, simplicity and light weight.

There isn’t much I don’t like about this bag. If I could change anything, it would be regarding the shoulder strap.

By itself, the shoulder strap and pad are fine. However, instead of offering a “D” ring and clip like most other bags, allowing you to put different shoulder straps on, the Exchange 20 employs a quick release speed buckle meaning only their shoulder strap can be used.

On the whole, this is a terrific bag. If you’re a leisure traveler who doesn’t want a bag that looks as if it belongs in a boardroom, and has honed your packing down to just what you need, then I suggest you consider this bag.

Earlier I stated that this bag may be a game changer. Let me explain. Whenever I walked into a luggage store, I always had a hard time finding a lightweight, non-wheeled, convertible bag. They just didn’t carry them. We had to either order online or go to an outdoor retailer. But now, one of the main bag manufacturers is letting people know there is an alternative to wheels and you can get it at your local luggage store. To do so means they believe the one bag market is growing.

And we’ll be there to help them along.

The Briggs & Riley Exchange 20 convertible duffle is available in slate (pictured), amber (beige), and lava (red) although I’ve been told the lava is being discontinued. Like all Briggs & Riley bags, this one comes with a lifetime warranty. The bag is made in Vietnam.

That only leaves the price. As we know, you pay for quality. And Briggs & Riley bags are not cheap. The Exchange 20 retails for ………..$155.  Blink, go ahead, blink. You’re not seeing things. It really is an affordable, mid-priced, lightweight bag.

Oh, one other thing, some of you are business travelers who would like to travel with a Briggs & Riley bag but don’t want wheels. Sure, the Exchange 20 is nice, but let’s face it, it’s not for the boardroom.

Well, I have good news. I have been told that later this month, a line of “executive style” lightweight bags from Briggs & Riley will be introduced to the market….and……we’ll probably get some for review soon after. I have no other information on that so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Briggs & Riley, welcome to the world of the “onebagger.”

(Briggs & Riley provided the Exchange 20 for review. )

Gear Review: Discovery Trekking Towels

It’s not often that a Canadian company contacts us to do a review, so when Discovery Trekking asked me about doing a review of their special travel/backpack towels, I agreed. After all, we have lots of Canadian readers yet never seem to find great products from their country.

The Ultra Fast-Dry Towel was the first one I tried. Available in four sizes and numerous colors, these towels are treated with a special type of silver to prevent odors.  They weigh anywhere from 0.88 oz (25g) to 10.6 oz (300g) with a price range of $12.95-$29.95 Canadian.

The Extreme Ultra-Light Towel was the other one sent to me. Available in two sizes and two colors (charcoal and navy), the towels weight 1.3oz/38g and 2.8oz/80g with costs of $14.95 and $19.95 CAN. This towel also contains silver but has a completely different weave from it’s larger sister.

I put both of these towels to the test by taking a shower. The Ultra Fast Dry Towel seemed to get saturated very quickly and it felt as if I never got fully dry even though I was using the largest size. I took the shower just before bed and the towel was completely dry by the morning. I could definitely see using this towel as a combination beach towel as it offers some UV protection, swimsuit cover-up, and airplane blanket. It’s light weight and takes up little space. If heading for a tropical vacation where you want to bring a lightweight, multi-purpose beach towel, then this is one to consider.

The Extreme Ulta Light Towel, on the other hand, was wonderful. While I had the larger of the two sizes offered—but still smaller than the Ultra Fast Dry Towel—it exceeded my expectations. Not only did I feel completely dried off after using this towel, it felt as if it could absorb much more. After the shower, I hung this towel up to dry and within 2 hours it was completely dry.

I’m going to start taking the Ultra-Light Towel with me to help dry my clothes after hand washing in the room. I think this towel will be able to hold quite a bit of moisture.

The material for both towels is made in the USA with completion in either Canada or Mexico.

Discovery Trekking Outfitters supplied the towels for review. The photos are courtesy of their website.

Gear Review: Original Taxi Wallet

A few weeks ago, some of our readers wrote in the forum  how they liked traveling with their Original Taxi Wallet from Alicia Klein. 

Knowing how much all of your love to hear about products that make travel easier and/or lighter, I contacted Alicia Klein, the company not the person, and they were happy to send  a wallet to review. (They also pointed out that their slogan is “One World, One Wallet.” Sound familiar?)

The Original Taxi Wallet comes in numerous designs and colors but are basically 4” x 3 1/2” x 0.5” when folded. The one I was sent was from the Canyon collection in Espresso (Dark Brown.) They come in either leather, suede or recycled fabric depending on which line you choose.

The Original Taxi Wallet is shipped in a cloth case cover inside a classy looking metal box. (Good for gift giving.)

The front flap has a snap closure and opens to reveal a two part pocket in the main body of the wallet good for coins and credit/debit cards. This pocket is gusseted and held in plaice when snapped shut so the coins won’t jingle around and make noise in your pocket or purse. The flap itself also has a small pocket for smaller, thinner receipts or ticket stubs.

Three or four credit cards wil fit snuggly in the rear section of the lower pocket leaving the larger front section for coins.

There are two currency pockets in the main section with the slightly larger rear one good for non-U.S. notes.

When fully closed, there is an additional open pocket good for business cards or perhaps a mass transit pass.

The wallet has a rounded bottom making it easy to slide in and out of my front pants pocket. It held everything I needed to carry without getting too bulky.

I never made a big deal about my travel wallets but I have to say I like the Original Taxi Wallet for it’s design and compactness. It seems to be made of good material and quality workmanship.  It’s now my main travel wallet.

The Original Taxi Wallet sells for $49 or $59 depending on the style you order. Not sure where it’s made as I couldn’t find that information anywhere on the wallet or in any of the material that it comes with.

 For a limited time if your order an Original Taxi Wallet direct from Alicia Klein., they’ll give you a 25% discount off the retail price. Just use the coupon code “ONEWORLD” at checkout. One coupon per customer and for only one wallet. The offer expires Febrary 28, 2013. (Coupon requires website registration. After registering under “my account”, please enter the coupon code at the bottom of your cart before checking out.”)

(Except for the receipt of the wallet for review, OBOW receives no compensation from any wallets sold. Alicia Klein is offereing the discount to One Bag, One World readers as a nice gesture. It had no effect on how I reviewed the wallet.)

Gear Review: Guragear Chobe

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Guragear, a company that makes bags specifically designed for photographers but were branching out into travel. Designing camera bags was, according to the company’s website, their initial goal. Keep this is mind, it will become important, and apparent, shortly.

They thought their Chobe model would be the best one to test and they sent one here to OBOW Global Headquarters.

The Chobe is made of 200d nylon exterior with a 50d lining. It measure 15” x 11.5” x 6.5” and is expandable to 8.5”. It weighs 2 lbs, 9 oz. The zippers are “Ideal.”  (For those of you unaware of “Ideal” zippers, they are the second largest maker of zippers after YKK.)

The front of the bag has two exterior pockets. On the left is an organizer pocket with slots and is designed to hold a tablet. (This pocket is not lined so a tablet in it alone, without protection, is not advisable.)

The right side pocket has slots for cards, pens and a key clip.

One one side of the Chobe is a water bottle pocket and the other side has a pocket for a cellphone (My Iphone 5 was too wide to fit in it.)

The rear has an open magazine pocket that can be unzipped tobecome a sleeve that wil fit onto the handles of a rolling bag.

The main compartment has smaller open pockets with velcro closures as well as a hanging mesh multipocket pouch. This compartment is lined.

Behind the main compartment is a lined, separate laptop compartment holding laptops up to 15”

Also available, and probably the main reason to get this bag, is the separate, removable photo insert. It’s fully padded on all sides, including the bottom and has a velcro strip running through the entire inside. It weighs 1 lb.

It comes with 15 dividers, in two different sizes, that also have velcro, allowing you to customize the layout of the insert to perfectly fit your equipment.

The photo insert fits perfectly inside the Chobe when in the expanded mode. It’s really nice.

While I am not a photographer,  I can see how well this bag was thought out with the photographer in mind. (Now you see why I mentioned the reason these bags were originally designed in the opening of this review.)

 If you have expensive photographic or other equipment that needs to be carried safely, and wish to take along a laptop, tablet, other small items, and possibly even a change of clothes, then this is a bag to consider.

Ever since 9/11, and one incident where I was almost snowed in at an airport away from home, I carry a change of clothes even if my trip is same day out and back. Just in case. This bag would fit the bill for that. It can carry what I need for work and also a change of clothes and toiletries.

Whether in its original size, or expanded, it should fit under the seat in front of you on most airliners. There are foam panels on the front and back of the bag that allows it to keep its shape.

The bag is made in Vietnam. It comes in black.

On the downside, only the main compartment has dual zippers so none of the other pockets are lockable at all.

Let’s see. Have I forgotten something? Oh, yeah. The price. The reason it took me so long to get to the price is because I had to wait for the all clear from the paramedics who were called to revive me after I took a look at the price.

The bag retails for $299 and the photo insert is an additional $50. Seriously? $299?

So I checked the Tom Bihn, Red Oxx and even Briggs & Riley websites for similar sized bags. What I found were bags made of better material, better zippers, and in some cases, made in the USA—for less than half what Guragear is charging.

My final verdict is this. If you are a photographer or someone who carries expensive equipment and wants to be able to tote it in a nicely padded, customizable bag, then I would say consider the Chobe with photo insert. And should you also travel occasionally without the equipment but want a decent overnight bag, then this one could do double duty.

But if you’re looking strictly for an overnight or day trip bag, I’m sorry to say you can do a lot better, and cheaper, with other bags.

Sidenote: After initially looking at the bag’s website I went back today and noticed that between now and the end of 2012, if you buy a Chobe, you’ll get $100 in Amazon gift certificates as a bonus. That helps a little.

Gear Reviews: Tom Bihn 400d Dyneema/420d Nylon Travel Bags

A couple of months ago, we announced that Tom Bihn would begin making their travel bags out of a new lightweight material.—400d Dyneema/420d ripstop nylon—in addition to its regular 1050d ballistic nylon.

The manufacturing has begun and two of their most popular bags, the Aeronaut and Tri-Star, made of the new material, have found their way to OBOW Global Headquarters. You might want to get yourself a cup of coffee—this is a long review.

Previously, I’ve reviewed both the Aeronaut and the Tri-Star.  Since the design,  workmanship and quality of each bag hasn’t changed, rather than go through another complete review, I’m going to focus in on the differences between the two materials. For lack of better terms, I’ll refer to the newer Dyneema/Nylon bags as the “newer” model and the ballistic nylon as the “older” one.

(From l. to r.—Tri-Star in Steel, Tri-Star in Steel Dyneema, Aeronaut in Black, Aeronaut in Steel Dyneema)

The first thing I noticed about the  newer bags when I unboxed them was of course, the color and the checkerboard pattern. Both of my new bags are Steel/Steel. (They’re also available in Nordic/Steel.) When I looked at the bags online, they seemed much lighter in color than the steel Tri-Star I currently have. However, once put side by side, the steel in the newer bag is the same as the steel in the older bag—much darker than onscreen. What makes them seem lighter in color is the white Dyneema material.

(As a reminder, the reason the newer bags are not solid color is that they are a blend of Dyneema and Ripstop nylons. While the ripstop nylon will accept dye, the dyneema won’t and it stays its natural white color.)

The next thing I noticed was the weight. The newer bags  are much lighter. Each bag is 10 ounces lighter than its older sibling. (The Aeronauts weigh in at 3 lbs vs. 2 lbs 6 oz. The Tri-Stars are 3 lbs 6 oz vs. 2 lbs 12 oz. ) While 10 ounces may not  sound like much, we onebaggers know better, don’t we?

Next came the feel. The newer bags are smoother and slightly thinner than the older bags but no slouch. Don’t confuse this newer Dyneema/Nylon material with the lighter, thinner Dyneema/Nylon currently being used as lining in many Tom Bihn bags. This is definitely tougher.

What I believe concerns some people is the following statement on the Tom Bihn website:

It must be noted that while our new 400d Dyneema®/420d nylon ripstop is a very durable fabric, there is a compromise in choosing it over 1050 ballistic or Cordura® nylon: your bag will be lighter, but it won’t stand up to the all-out abuse these heavier fabrics can handle. You will need to exercise care and not drag or otherwise mistreat a bag made from 400d Dyneema®/420d nylon ripstop. It’s a compromise many will feel worthwhile, but it’s a compromise to consider.

I want to address that. Yes, the newer material is not as tough or abrasive resistant as the older material. The reason is simple: 1050d ballistic nylon is a double weave and therefore a much stronger material that can take more abuse. The Dyneema/Ripstop combination is a single weave. But don’t think this new bag is a wallflower, it will be able to handle quite a bit as long as the bag is not abused. (The ripstop nylon is very tear resistant. After all, the material was developed during World War II to prevent tears from growing in parachutes.)

What do I mean by abused? If your travels include taking the Congo Railway from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville, or three days in a hammock on a ferry along the Amazon from Tabatinga to Manaus, then you’re probably going to want to get the  ballistic nylon bag.

But if your biggest adventure is taking the RER from CDG airport to central Paris or a cab from LGA to midtown Manhattan, then the newer, lighter, Dyneema/Ripstop bag will do just fine.

And that takes us to the big question: which bag to get?

This is a tough one. You really need to think about how you travel. If, as I mentioned above, you’re a true adventure traveler  where the bag may get extra rough handling, then go with the ballistic nylon. But if you’re basically an urban adventurer where you go from plane to taxi to hotel, or something similar, then the newer bag will be fine.

Consequently, ask yourself what methods of travel you use. If weight and size are a factor due to carry-on restrictions for the airlines you take most often, then the newer bags would win.

You have to also decide if you prefer a three compartment bag like the Tri-Star or a one compartment bag like the Aeronaut. There are pros and cons to both and it is strictly a personal preference—one is not better than the other.

I’ll give you an example of how I see myself using the newer bags. I’m planning a trip for sometime in 2013 to an area near the Arctic Circle. It will be cold. I want to, of course, take only one bag but the airline I’m flying—the only airline to fly where I’m going—has a limit on both size and weight of carry-on bags. I was able to figure out a way to do this with my older Aeronaut. But with the newer, lighter one, I can now pack an extra microfiber sweater and still stay under the weight limit. I might even be able to take the newer Tri-Star. I like having a choice.

Let’s talk about packing for a moment. I was concerned that the newer bags would bulge more than their stiffer siblings. But I’m happy to say each model, regardless of the material, held about the same and was prone to the same amount of bulging if overpacked.(Sorry, I forgot to take photos of each bag when packed and I was too lazy to redo them all.) Of course, no regular OBOW reader packs their bags to the gills. As we say, just because you CAN take more doesn’t mean you HAVE to.

Empty, the newer bags seem to keep their shape as well as the older ones. Not too much floppiness. (In the following photos, the older bags seem to sag more. They’ve both been used and sadly, were stacked underneath some other bags for awhile so they got “compressed” down.)

A better structured bag is also more comfortable when carrying it on your back. I found all the bags to be comfortable while wearing although the lighter bags made me happier. As I get older, lighter is better.

 Personally, I was skeptical about the look of the newer bag. I have a severe allergy to non-dark color bags. I like to blend in. I thought the Dyneema bag would be too flashy for my taste. But I was surprised to find myself actually liking it. Yes, I’ll be using the new bags.

And if I can change, anyone can.

If you’re really not sure about the color, contact Tom Bihn. If they have some available, they’ll send you a swatch of the material. That should help you see their real color and not just a “monitor” color.

Have I answered your questions on which bag to buy? No? I’m not surprised. Every one of you has different criteria for bags. Some will be weight, others will be durability, and for many it will come down to color. Whichever way you go, you’ll get a well built, well designed bag. Go with the bag that speaks to  you, the one that fits your needs, the one that excites you. Or better yet, if you can’t decide which material to get, buy one of each. You know you want to. (Bag acquisition syndrome?)

A side note….I just received these bags in the last couple of days. I was fortunate enough to get some of the first ones to come off the line.  I haven’t had a chance to actually travel with them. I wanted to get these reviews up in case anyone here is thinking about getting any of these bags for the holidays and wanted to make the shipping deadlines in place for Christmas arrival. I think I’ve tested enough bags over time to give them a good review without taking them on the road. If I find, in the future, that something is different, I’ll note that in a separate posting. But I doubt there will be a problem.

I can honestly say I like both of these new bags and the continuing trend of using lighter material. In all of my reviews, I try to find things I don’t like. Except for the fact that I can’t get the lighter material in a solid color, there really isn’t anything I don’t like about these bags.

Because of the material’s popularity, Tom Bihn has announced it will not only make bags in the new Dyneema material, but many accessories as well. A review of a couple of new ones will be up in a few days.

If you have any specific questions about the new bags and material, let me know and I’ll answer them if I can.

The Aeronaut is listed at $250 and the Tri-Star is $280. Both are available directly from Tom Bihn.

All Tom Bihn bags are made in the USA.

If you see a “d” after a number referring to a type of material, the “d” stand for “denier” which is a unit of weight used for different types of material. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a measurement of strength.

Tom Bihn supplied the Aeronaut and Tri-Star in 400d Dyneema/420d Ripstop Nylon for review. The Aeronaut and Tri-Star in 1050d ballistic nylon were purchased with my own hard earned money.

Gear Review: Eagle Creek Specter Pack-It Packing Solutions

I am a fan of packing cubes and folders. For years, Eagle Creek has the been the product line is use. They are well made, versatile, and hold up nicely. But, the weight can build up.

Now, Eagle Creek has come out with a new line, the Specter line of packing products.

Sized the same as many of their popular products, the Specter  line is made of Silnylon Ripstop, an ultra-lightweight material. This brings the weight down tremendously.

(The photo above shows (clockwise from the left), an 18 inch packing folder, a sac, a  set of full, half and quarter sized cubes, and a Quick Trip toiletry bag. A 15 inch folder and full set of sacs are also available.)

The folder weighs just 8 ounces and the cubes/sacs/toiletry bag weigh anywhere from 0.6 ounces to 1 ounce.

.The line is translucent and semi-seethrough so you, or anyone looking, like airport security, can see inside without having to open them up. (Think more Victoria Secret than Playboy—you can see most but not everything.)

The Specter line is available in white with strobe green trim, white with red trim and all strobe green. A line of tangerine colored products is available, and I believe exclusively, at REI.

Except for the folders that come with a plastic “packing board,” the remaining products don’t hold their shape like the standard line of cubes. If you want to use them in a “floppy” type bag, and hope they will give shape to that bag, you’ll have to pack them tight.

I like the line. I’m able to save about a pound in weight yet still keep organized. They cost more than their heavier cousins and the lack of a mesh top doesn’t really make them easier to look into. But if you’re truly looking to save weight, yet get the benefits of cubes and folders, then you might want to consider this line of product.

One note—Eagle Creek rarely has sales but if you’re patient they do come around. I bought all of the above at 20-25% off full retail during sales at Ebags and REI.

Gear Review: Zaggkeys Flex Bluetooth Keyboard

I no longer take a computer with me when I travel. My Nexus 7 does just about everything I need including the use of a very good on-screen keyboard.

But for serious typing, I have to take a separate one. I already had a Verbatim folding wireless bluetooth keyboard but wasn’t satisfied with it. It was clunky, laid out poorly and a pain to type on. I needed to find something else.

After much searching, I came across the Zaggkeys Flex Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard. I’m glad I did.

The Flex measures 9.4 x 5.0 x .75 inches and weighs 6.3 oz/128g (11.3 oz/320g with case.)

It has a  rechargeable battery that supposedly lasts for weeks.  (I haven’t had to recharge yet.)

The keyboard contains island style/chiclet keys and there is also a row of special function keys for both audio control and word processing.

The front panel has (L to R) an on/off switch, Android/ios switch to choose between the two types of devices, the pairing button and the micro usb charging port.

The cover folds up into a stand for your tablet. No need to carry an extra one.

When in it’s case, the Flex keyboard keeps a very slim profile.

Pairing was easy on both Android and Apple devices and took a matter of seconds for each one. The keyboard is easy to use and I was quickly up to speed. It is slightly smaller than full size but I’m able to do modified touch typing with no problem. I’m very satisfied with this product.

The Zaggkeys Flex keyboard sells for $79 but it’s available at Amazon.com for less. (If you’re not in a rush, you might want to monitor the price. As the time I’m writing this review, it’s selling for $64. Three weeks ago I paid $52. If you do decide to order from Amazon, please use the link in this paragraph as we get a small commission that goes towards the operation of this website. There’s no additional charge to you.)

Gear Review: Waterfield Designs Travel Express

A few weeks ago, I received a press release from a company I had heard of, Waterfield Designs, but didn’t know much about. They were announcing their new line of cases for the Ipad mini and Macbooks. I perused their website and saw they made cases for all types of electronics and some for specific items. Since I recently got a Nexus 7, I was intrigued to see they carried numerous cases specifically for that tablet.

The Travel Express for Nexus 7 caught my eye for a few reasons: It was meant for travel, the design was available in numerous sizes besides just for my tablet, and since this was a travel website, it seemed the perfect model for my readers.

So, I contacted Waterfield Design and asked if they would be willing to send one for review. They were and one soon came winging to OBOW World Headquarters.

The Travel Express comes in your basic black with a choice of seven accent colors. I chose copper. The case measures approximately 11 x 7 x 2 inches and weighs 8.6 oz/244 grams. (I’m sure this varies depending on the size ordered.)

The outside of the bag is made of 1050d ballistic nylon and the inside is nylon with a black foam lining. This soft lining protects your devices from scratching. Each of the outer walls of the case have a stiff plastic insert sewn in to help keep its shape and protect the items inside. The other side of the tablet pocket has a gold lined panel with yet another stiff plastic insert making the tablet truly protected.

The case comes with a self-locking YKK zipper meaning when the zipper pull is down, it won’t move. No worries about the zipper opening by itself and the contents falling out. The zipper opens on two sides making for easy packing and unpacking.

Besides the tablet pocket, there are five additional smaller pockets inside. Since this case was made for the Nexus 7, the tablet pockets fits the device perfectly. I’m guessing it’s the same on all of the other models.

The inside holds a ton of stuff.

Besides the tablet, I carry my Zapp Flex bluetooth keyboard (review forthcoming), dual usb power plug, backup battery power supply, retractable USB/micro usb cable, headphones, OTC cable, SD card reader and Ipod Touch. The case for the keyboard turns into a tablet stand but I could easily add my mini-tablet stand if needed.

The case was snug when closed but I have faith the YKK zipper will hold.

Optional “D” rings are available as is a shoulder strap. There is also a small loop on the outside of the bag which I found useful.

As many of you know, I’m very security conscious and was concerned that a thief could easily pick up this case and walk away with it—especially at airport security. So, I put a carabiner with a key ring through the loop and can now easily attach it to my Aeronaut via a key strap and the Aeronaut’s built in “o” rings.

I’ve been using this case for a few weeks. It easily and safely transports all I need in one package. No more separate cases for everything. No more chance of leaving something behind.

As soon as I first picked this bag up, I knew it was something special. It felt sturdy. It felt well made. I checked it over carefully. The material is excellent, the workmanship impeccable, the attention to detail was obvious.  And, it looks classy.

I get quite a few products to review. Some get sold because I’m never going to use them, some get stored in my travel goods closet for possible future use, and others get put into daily use. This case is being used daily.

If this case is indicative of what Waterfield Designs has to offer, I look forward to reviewing more of their products in the future. This is a winner.

Oh, and did I mention the case, as is all this company’s products, is made in the USA at their headquarters in San Francisco?

The Travel Express for Nexus 7 and Ipad Mini is $59. For the Ipad and Nexus 10 it’s $69. $10 more if you want the accent stripe in brown leather. “D” Rings and shoulder strap additional as well.

Gear Review: Eagle Creek Adventure Weekender Bag

Earlier this year, Eagle Creek came out with a new smaller than MLC bag, the Adventure Weekender Bag. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen so many people wanting a review of a particular bag. And since I want to keep my OBOW readers happy, I picked one up.

Let’s start with the specs: The Eagle Creek Adventure Weekender Bag (ECAWB) measures 20 x 13 x 8 in/51 x 33 x 20 cm. It weighs 2 lbs, 9 oz/1.16kg and holds 2500 cu in/41L of stuff.  It’s mostly made of 600d ripstop polyester.

There are two external pockets on the front of the bag and a luggage tag held in place by an elastic band.

The smaller of the two external pockets has an organizer panel and another full length zippered pocket that contains a key ring.

The second external pocket is larger and designed for a laptop although there really isn’t much padding. The back wall isn’t rigid and can expand to let larger items fit in this pocket. Be aware, however, that the more space used here, the less you’ll have in the upper internal section. They share that floating panel.

The main compartment opens wardrobe style and has two equal sized halves. This is unusual as most bags have a fairly thin lid. The upper section has a full zipper closure and is partially meshed. It is meant to be used with the Eagle Creek Pack-It system. The other section has two compression straps.

The back has the compartment holding the hide-away backpack straps as well as a pass through should you wish to carry it on the handles of a wheeled bag. (None of you would do that, right?)

The hidden backpack straps area easily clipped into place. They do not have either a sternum or waist strap. The backpack straps are comfortable and fine for short treks.

All external zippers are fully lockable and come with large, reflective zipper pulls. There is a double main handle that can be clipped together. There is also one small side handle.

It comes with a padded, removable shoulder strap and the “D” ring attachments are off-set for better balance while carrying it that way. 

When I first got the bag, it seemed a lot smaller than my full sized carry-ons. In the following picture, it’s side by side with the Ebags Weekender on the left and the Tom Bihn Tri-Star on the right:

Although it looks smaller than the Tri-Star, it is slightly longer. And in real life, the ECAWB looks a lot smaller than the Ebags Weekender.

My first impression of the material used was not very favorable. The polyester didn’t feel as smooth or strong as similar weight nylons. But after awhile, the material grew on me and I could see it was stronger than I initially thought. It’s doubtful that this bag would ever have to be checked so I doubt much harm  would come to it. And if it does, Eagle Creek does offer a lifetime warranty. The workmanship on the bag is good.

Its briefcase style looks means it could pass as an oversized laptop bag should you need to take it into a meeting. I was actually surprised they made this bag part of their “Adventure” series.

Even with my few issues such as size and feel of material, it’s a well designed bag that would make a good choice for those looking for a slightly smaller than MLC, mid-priced bag.

The ECAWB is available in black, rust and olive. $150 U.S. Made in Vietnam.

Upcoming Reviews on One Bag, One World

I know my postings have been minimial these past few months so I thought I’d give you a sneak peak at a few of the products that have made their way to the OBOW World Headquarters and are awaiting review:

Eagle Creek Adventure Weekender Bag

Eagle Creek Specter Packing System

Google Nexus 7

and more to follow!!!!

Gear Review: REI Overnighter Pack

Earlier this year, REI introduced a new, smaller than maximum carry on size bag they called the Overnighter Pack. It was available in my local REI store so I thought I’d pick one up and check it out.

The Overnighter Pack measures 18” x 12.5” x 7”, has 2075 cu in/34 liters of packing space and weighs 2 lbs, 3 ounces. It’s made of Codura nylon fabric and has smaller YKK zippers. 

The front of the bag has three pockets: one small fleece lined for valuables; a second curved zipper pocket for tickets, a small book, etc; and a third, larger organizer pocket.

The Overnighter Pack has a clamshell like opening. Inside the lid is an open end mesh pocket. The main compartment has two tie down straps. The inside of the pack, as well as all pockets, are lime green in color.

In the rear of the bag are two padded backpack straps that can be hidden in their own pocket. This pocket is open, there is no zipper closure. The backpack straps have a sternum strap connected. The back panel is padded for comfort while being worn.

The Overnighter Pack comes with a detachable shoulder strap. There are two grab handles: one on the long side and one on the end. The bag is only available in black.

As you can see, the tags are still attached to mine. I haven’t actually taken it on the road and I don’t plan to. Not because there is anything wrong with the bag, it’s just that I don’t really need it.

I like the bag. If you’re looking for a smaller than maximum carry-on bag, and don’t want to spend a lot of money, then I suggest you consider this bag. It’s well made of good material, seems sturdy and holds its shape. It should fit as carry-on for even the strictest of airlines when it comes to size.

I recently received a set of the new Eagle Creek Specter line of ultralight packing cubes and folders. I tried the 18” folder in the Overnight Pack but it doesn’t fit very well. The folder is rectangle while the top of the bag, when held vertically, has roundish edges. (A review of the Specter line will be coming soon.)

The Overnighter Pack costs $89.50 and is available exclusively from REI. It can be purchased online from their website or in their stores. In the past few months, they’ve run out of stock twice but it seems to be back as of this writing. Available only in black. Made in China.

Gear Review: The Scrubba

Awhile ago I became aware of a new product out of Australia that is supposed to make travel laundry easier. It’s called The Scrubba and the company sent me one for review.

The Scrubba is made of polyurethene and weighs practically nothing. To use, simply put water in the bag, add detergent, your clothes, push out the air, roll down a few times, seal via the clips,and lay flat. There is an additional air release valve should any air remain. (The photo above shows a foot long ruler to give you an idea of size.)

Next, roll the bag against a hard surface. What’s unique about this bag is the built in flexible urethene “washboard.” Rubbing the clothes against the washboard should help to get them clean.

This is a photo of the “washhboard” from the outside.

Take the clothes out, rinse them out, hang them to dry and you are done.

Mine was delivered without any packaging or instructions. I’m not sure if this is how they all come or just mine because it was for review. Either way, the Scrubba website gives good directions.

I put the Scrubba to the test and it does what it says; it cleaned my clothes.

That being said I’m going to leave this one without a verdict. If I was camping, or doing some serious adventure travel, or traveling to equatorial countries, as is shown in the demonstration video on the product website, I would definitely consider taking this along as it will help to clean clothes better than simply sink washing or a large ziploc. (The demonstration video was funny as it showed them cleaning clothes with the bag on a sidewalk and a train corridor.)

However, if my trip is taking me to New York, Paris or some major city where I’m probably not going to getting that dirty, I don’t know if this would really be an asset.

The Scrubba can be rolled up or folded into almost any space for storage or traveling.

The Scrubba goes for $50 (U.S. or Australian) and includes worldwide delivery.

Addendum: I have been told by the people at Scrubba that it does come packaged with instructions if you should buy one. They also say they are working on new packaging that is more aesthetically and environmentally pleasing.

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Travel Stuff Sacks

About a week or so ago, Tom Bihn introduced their Travel Stuff Sacks.

While I’m not usually a user or fan of stuff sacks—I much prefer packing cubes—I agreed to give them a try. I’m becoming a convert. Not only are they well made but I’m finding uses for them that help to fill the nooks and crannies of my bag. (I like the fact they can be molded to fit almost any space. Not so with a packing cube.)

Let’s get the details out of the way. The Travel Stuff Sacks are available in four sizes:

Dimensions:
Size 1: 5.2” tall x 3.8” x 2.6” / 130 x 100 x 70mm
Size 2: 6.3” tall x 5.2” x 3.5” / 160 x 130 x 90mm
Size 3: 7.9” tall x 6.6” x 4.3” / 200 x 170 x 110mm
Size 4: 9.2” tall x 7.9” x 5.2” / 230 x 200 x 130mm

Volume:
Size 1: .7 litres (40 cu.in.)
Size 2: 1.6 liters (100 cu.in)
Size 3: 3 liters (185 cu.in)
Size 4: 5 liters (300 cu.in.)

Weights:
Size 1: .7 oz (20 grams)
Size 2: 1.0 oz (28 grams)
Size 3: 1.4 oz (40 grams)
Size 4: 1.7 oz (48 grams)

And four colors: (from L. to R.) Steel, Wasabi, Iberian and Ultraviolet.

(To give you an idea of size, that’s a foot long wooden ruler in the center alongside an Ipod Touch which is about the same size as an iphone.)

Made of 200 denier Japanese Dyneema ristop nylon, each bag comes with a cinch drawstring and a cord lock to prevent it from opening.

As I said earlier, I’m beginning to like these bags. I used the #3 for underwear, socks and gym shorts.

I found a unique use for the #2 size. It’s my security bag at the airport. This size easily fits my wallet, keys, change, cell phone, moneybelt and watch. Once all the items are put in, I cinch it tight and then use a carabiner to clip the drawstring of the bag to an “o” ring in one of the end pockets of my Aeronaut. No loose items in trays and no way anyone can just grab the bag and run.

The largest size is probably too small for a laundry bag unless you are very petite and do laundry often. I’m hoping Tom Bihn comes out with some larger sizes and there have been hints as such. Perhaps a size 6 which would be 1 1/2 times the size of a size 4.

I’m still playing around with the sizes and may try to use one as my onboard “goodies” bag for flights rather than my current daybag.

Priced from $14-20, these light weight stuff sacks  will last a long timeand feel much sturdier than the other ultralightweight materials on the market. And like all Tom Bihn products, they’re made in the USA.

Tom Bihn supplied the stuff sacks for review.

Gear Review: Daymaker Wallet Jr.

When I travel, especially for leisure trips, I keep most of my important/valuable items in a moneybelt. But I still need some type of wallet to hold enough money for the day.

The Daymaker Wallet Jr. is exactly what I was looking for. At 4.75” x 3.25” x 0.25” it’s the perfect size to fit in my front pocket.

The main zippered compartment is just large enough to hold folded paper money and has a small inner pocket perfect for a key or a small lip balm. A center zippered pocket is meant for coins. The unique part of the front of this wallet is the lower front section made of rubber which will not only help to prevent the wallet from falling out of your pocket but also produce enough friction should someone else’s hand wind up in your pocket with the idea of taking what’s in there.

The rear has an open pocket for credit cards. There is a slight overhang at the top of one side of this pocket that helps to prevent the cards from falling out.

The Daymaker Wallet Jr comes in either microfiber ($7.50) or leather ($9.50).  They come in a choice of colors as long as the color you want is black. 

This is now my wallet of choice for light leisure travel.