A Great Laptop Bag for Traveling

I think back in the day laptop/briefcase bags were kind of a niche market. First off, laptops were ridiculously bulky and heavy, and so you generally needed a massive bag to support the weight. Plus, not everyone had a laptop. Nowadays, it seems that everybody has a laptop, including my grandma, and they are much smaller, lighter, and oh so portable. It makes sense that if you're going to get a backpack, you might as well get one that is designed to hold and protect your laptop.

In comes Timbuk2, with their line of laptop bags that are designed to be stylish and functional for a commute, especially if you're biking around town. Timbuk2, a San Francisco based company, has been making bags for twenty years. I first came across their bike messenger bags when I was living in Boulder, Colorado back in 1997. I remember seeing their tri color packs and thinking these guys not only make a great waterproof bag, but they are super stylish. So, it only makes sense that Timbuk2 would evolve their line and bring in some great laptop backpacks.

The guys luggage.com at asked me to review one of their briefcases, so it was only natural to pick Timbuk2's Underground Daypack. First off you'll notice that the bag is made of ballistic nylon. It's lightweight, but the material was designed to protect World War II airmen from flying debris. Just think about what it can do to protect your precious things inside. The material is also water resistant, and I can attest to this since I wore the bag out in the pouring rain for about 30 minutes, and my valuables were still dry.

The bag has 5 compartments. One main area where you can slide your laptop in the back, plus room for books, camera, or whatever else you need for the day. There are two side compartments that have great organizing sections, one side that can hold a water bottle and has a mesh small pocket, and the other side that has sections for pens, a key ring tether, and a mobile phone pocket. There is a pocket that runs the whole front side of the bag, where you can put items that need to be easily accessible, like some change, a granola bar, sun screen, etc. The pocket I love the most is on the top of the pack, which is a little compartment to hold your mp3 player. It has an inner sleeve to keep your music player in one place, and also has a slot to run your earphones out of the bag, so you can listen to your favorite tunes while you're dodging pedestrians or traffic on your bike or walk to work, school, or just sightseeing around town.





There are a couple other features worth mentioning. The bag has some serious padding on the back, with mesh to keep you a little drier while being active. The undersides of the shoulder straps also have this same mesh. I like that the padding is pretty thick as well, since you know it's going to protect your laptop, and I also hate when items in my bag dig into my back. The bottom of the bag also has two rubber guards that help to protect it from the elements and scraping against the pavement.



All in all, I think this is a fantastic bag for the traveler and for the city dweller. The pack is great as a carry on bag for planes, trains, and buses. I also think it's a good commuter pack if you're heading to school or to work. The design helps it sit higher on your back, and this is awesome when you're on a bike. I give Timbuk2's Underground Daypack two thumbs up, and for $83.99 plus free shipping here at luggage.com, you can't pass it up if you're currently shopping for a new bag. It comes in three color variations to choose from, but the one featured here is the Army/Spinach/Army colors.

Since I had such a great time testing out this pack, I want to give one lucky reader the chance to win it for free, and enjoy it for a lifetime. Drop me a line at jared@globestompers.com, and tell me why you have to have this bag.

Travel Gear I Couldn't Live Without

Jared and I will soon be packing our backpacks again for the first time in ages. After nearly four months of living out of a car and then an apartment, we've accumulated a fair amount of stuff. Faced with 15kg baggage limits on Jetstar (Qantas' low-cost subsidiary), we can only take the bare essentials. Fortunately, I almost have packing down to a science. There are a few things in my backpack that now stand out as must-haves. For those of you who are embarking on a round-the-world trip soon, pack much less than you think you'll need (you can buy stuff along the way), but don't leave home without these crucial items.

• Inflatable neck pillow, eyemask, and foam earplugs: Indispensable for overnight buses or rowdy hostels, and the pillow will also come in handy when camping. Spend a few bucks on an eyemask with a soft lining, and keep the airplane freebie as a spare. Make sure the inflatable pillow has a removable, washable exterior.


• Convertible pants: Space in my backpack is precious, so everything must perform double duty. Convertible pants zip off at the knee into shorts. You'll find these at outdoor stores like REI, EMS, The North Face, and Patagonia. Shop around to find a brand that fits and flatters, and remember these are "summer clothes" that won't be in stores past September.


• Space Bags: Put clothes into these plastic bags, zip shut, and roll the air out. Jared and I simply would not be able to fit all our clothes into our backpacks without Space Bags, available at The Container Store.


• Collapsible water bottle: Both Nalgene and Platypus make soft water bottles that take up little space or weight when empty.


• Quick-dry towel: It may only be one foot long by two feet wide, but hey, it dries quickly.


• Sarong: If you're going to be spending time on beaches, bring a sarong or buy one as a souvenir. I've used mine as a beach towel, dress, bathrobe, picnic blanket, and scarf.


• Video iPod: If you're going to be on the road for a year, buy an iPod with the most memory available. Load it with as many TV shows and movies as it will hold, especially videos that you can tolerate watching over and over again. Ever wanted to watch all six seasons of Lost, from the start? Now is your chance. (Ripping DVDs takes time, so don't leave this for the week before you depart.) Take advantage of all the free (!) podcasts on iTunes and stock up, especially on language learning podcasts like Coffee Break Spanish. Add some audiobooks and upload some photos too, while you're at it. When you are homesick or stuck on yet another 20-hour bus, your iPod will be your most valuable possession.


• Sleeping bag liner: Perfect for when it's BYO linen, or when your sleeping bag needs to be just a bit warmer. Invest in a silk liner, which weighs less and takes up less space.


• Flash drive: This isn't a must, but it's nice to have, and they are teeny tiny. Use it to store scans of your passport, immunization records, and résumé. Flash drives are also perfect for transferring photos from your camera. Otherwise, be sure to store a scan of your passport in your online email account.


• Money stashes: To split up your cash and cards, you'll need something in addition to a money belt. Try flip-flops with a secret compartment, a bra stash, or a belt with a hidden zipper. The flip-flops are heavy, but worth it.
  

Wondering what else is in my backpack? Tennis shoes, hiking boots, a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, ten pairs of underwear, ten pairs of ankle socks, two pairs of hiking socks, three bras, one tank top, four short sleeve shirts, two long sleeve shirts, one skirt, a micro fleece, a 3-in-1 jacket, t-shirt and boxers for pajamas, three bikinis, sleeping bag, mini first aid kit, assorted toiletries, camera, journal, books, a deck of cards, backpack rain cover, small Swiss Army knife, one bandanna, one bucket hat, three luggage locks, electric plug adapters, one small bottle of hand sanitizer, and a copy of my travel insurance policy. Now that we are out of cold weather for the foreseeable future, I'm ditching the winter hat, scarf, gloves, and sweater I bought in South America. You can also check out Jared's complete packing list, but he has since pared down. Pack much less than you think you'll need, we can't say it enough.

What are your travel essentials? Leave us a comment.

From a Two Bedroom Apartment to a Backpack - What To Bring For A Year Around The World

You might think that packing for a year around the world is easy. You just grab a bag and throw in a couple of days worth of clothes, a tooth brush, a sleeping bag, and a camera. If only it was that easy.

I honestly think I started to make a list in my mind about a year before we left. Every time I went into an outdoor store or saw a new gadget in a magazine, I would get so excited, thinking that would be perfect for our trip. So, after a year of mentally preparing, we finally packed our bags. The funny part, is that it was completely different from what I originally thought. I just could not fit everything I wanted to bring.

So here it is, ¨The List¨

Jared´s Bag

• Eagle Creek 80 Liter travel pack with detachable day bag, and rain cover.
• 45 degree synthetic sleeping bag, with waterproof stuff sack.
• Silk sleeping bag liner.
• 1 pair of lightweight waterproof hiking boots.
• 1 pair of collapsible running shoes - Nike Free, they are amazing and weigh nothing.
• Headlamp/flashlight.
• Sunglasses - Polarized for mountains and ocean.
• Swiss Army Knife with all the usuals, such as blade, scissors, corkscrew, bottle and can openers. Everything but the kitchen sink.
• A Spork. Plastic all in one spoon/fork/knife combo.
• 80 gig ipod loaded with tons of movies and tv shows for long bus rides, and all of my music. Plus sound isolating earphones to really get lost in my tunes.
• 2 digital cameras, one SLR with two lenses, and one automatic point and shoot. Extra batteries for each, plus 10 gigs worth of memory cards.
• Unlocked blackberry with international charger. Idea is to get local SIM cards.
• Electrical travel adapters.
• Mini first aid kit.
• Small bottle of hand sanitizer.
• Mini locks for backpack and day bag.
• Collapsable Nalgene water bladder/bottle with hydration hose for hiking.
• DUCT TAPE, rolled around a pen. Necessary for fixing broken gear/clothing.
• 2 pairs of zip off pants that are convertible to shorts.
• 1 pair of my favorite jeans.
• 2 surf/board shorts. Anyone who´s been at the beach for a while knows the smell you get from wearing one pair too long. It´s the salt water, I swear.
• 1 long sleeve rash guard for surfing or any other water sport.
• 3 tee shirts
• 2 short sleeve button down shirts. Both cotton/poly moisture wicking.
• 2 long sleeve button down shirts. 1 quick dry shirt with roll up/button sleeves, and 1 going out shirt.
• 3 undershirts/singlets/¨wife beaters.¨
• 1 long sleeve crew neck moisture wicking shirt.
• 5 pairs of quick dry/moisture wicking underwear.
• 1 pair of synthetic long underwear.
• 6 pairs of socks. 2 pairs of hiking, 1 pair of mountaineering/winter, and 3 pairs of low cut athletic socks.
• 1 micro fleece jacket.
• 1 waterproof shell jacket.
• 1 pair waterproof shell pants.
• 1 micro down vest.
• 3 hats. 1 baseball cap, 1 sun hat, and 1 lightweight fleece hat.
• Toiletries - the usual mix.
• 1 travel guide book on South America. Will get new books as we move on to new continents.
• 1 fiction book. First one is the Kite Runner.
• My journal. To remember all the great experiences we´re about to have.
• And last, a Martin backpacker guitar. Yes a real acoustic guitar, but it´s small. Really.

Wow, that was exhausting just writing all of this down. I have no idea how I fit all these things into my bag, and I had more that I left at home. I´m sure I will get rid of things along the way, but for now, this is everything I need for beaches, mountains, spring, summer, fall, and winter.