Bags, bags, and more bags

These days, a lot of my YouTube and social media feeds are about traveling bags. Part of that is my fault. I look, I search, always thinking that I’m going to find that one bag that will finally replace the Eagle Creek backpack I have been lugging around for 20 years.

It’s tough to get rid of it. Look how long I’ve held out. But really, it’s still perfect for what I expect and believe. Some days, I think I need to change expectations and some of the things I have learned (AKA habits).

One thing that I have to let go of is feelings for the old pack. There are a lot of miles there. And maybe the reason it is so hard to get rid of it is because of all those miles. Not that time spent is the driving force to keep it. The old pack would just become a van pack or road trip pack. But I have this problem with owning multiple things that serve the same function.

But what size to get is the first obstacle. The whole thing comes with an attachable day pack, which can also clip to the front straps to hang it in front as you walk or hike the two miles to the hostel. That feature has come in surprisingly handy. So if I exchange the main pack, I have to get a new day pack too. Another roadblock.

It’s not hard to find suitable carry-on size backpack replacements. There are a lot of durable, quality bags out there. The stickler for me comes down to features. There is also the real issue of owning some bag which make you a target. Cotopaxi bags look awesome, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t considered one. But the flashy colors and the name say something else when your traveling abroad. Look at me, I have nice stuff and money. Flashy, big name bags have great quality. You pay for that quality, and nothing acts more like a beacon to shady folks than a fancy name.

There are two sides to the coin. A bright bag is easy for you and your travel companions to pick out in a crowd. You know your bag right away when it comes off the baggage carousel. If a baggage thief tries it, that makes it harder. But there are a lot of ways to make your bag distinct. Which is one way to deter that kind of theft. Someone like that would go for a more drab, run-of-the-mill bag, being able to claim confusion later.

But stuff like that is rare. And it’s not something to keep you from traveling or make you fearful of everyone. Be mindful of your surroundings. If something feels off, it probably is. Somehow I went from bags to personal safety.

Recently, I did something that I never thought I’d do: I got a rolling carry-on bag. For years, I have hated them. But when we took a trip to Seattle, I thought I’d give it a try. We were staying in the downtown area, so moving with luggage was car to plane to transit and a short walk to the hotel. So, I bought a mid-priced one on Amazon and figured if I really hated it, I could return it.

Here is where I had to figure out what size. We were flying Frontier, which gives you quite a large carry-on allowance. But I didn’t want to use it for just one airline. So I sized it for the more standard carry-on sizing, 22x14x9 inches. The one I ordered was just slightly under those dimensions. It’s a good idea to have some leeway.

Using it didn’t change my life, or make me want to abandon my Eagle Creek pack. It was nice for those trips that are mostly vehicle or transport based. Good for city trip? Certainly. Good for going to Bergen? Probably not. I could see it useful for road trips and car packing. I can still fit a lot more in the EC bag. But I think this is a good edition.