In travel, especially in the backpacker style of travel, it’s so important to outfit yourself with gear that will not only make your life easier, but that will keep your things safe while also keeping you comfortable. Few things are worse than leaving on a trip, especially a long one, and not being properly prepared and outfitted. Backpacking consists of you lugging your pack everywhere with you, typically, and having everything you need in it, and while this brings a sense of nomadic freedom, it can be quite a burden. Comfort and ergonomic design matter, as does weight and space, for with one wrong choice, you may end up regretting your choice. It’s happened to me…
Some years ago, I worked my ass off to get overseas for a long period of time; I saved as much money as I could and planned what I would take with me, and I slowly accumulated the gear I needed, only to finally arrive in Barcelona and realize that I made a slew of mistakes. Not only did I pick the wrong pack, but I stuffed it full of non-absolute-necessities and suffered for it. Within the first hour of roaming around the city, I had serious chaffing happening to my arms, my back was killing me from the lack of proper weight distribution and I was filled with remorse and regret. I knew I needed to watch my spending, but I also knew I couldn’t go on like this. So, I bought a new backpack on the fly, cut out half of my gear, sending most of it back home the first day, and then once that was done, I felt free and comfortable again. All in all, the trip turned out to be the best of my life; nine long months touring Europe and Northern Africa, but if it weren’t for that secondary pack, I may not have lasted.
Next time I do another major backpacker trip like this, I know exactly what I’m going to do, what I’ll pack, and in what. Beyond the sizable rucksacks that are best for this style of travel, having a proper daypack can save a whole lot of headaches, backaches and safety issues. It’s no fun lugging that massive pack around each and everyday, so having a smaller backpack that can be stored inside the rucksack and taken out on days of lighter travel is a great approach to take. You need something that can fold up small, and not add a ton of extra weight. So, for me, I like to find versatile day packs that can carry an outfit or two, a camera, and some other personal effects, so when I want to goto a museum or simply wander about town, I can go without issue, and without the burden of lugging around everything.
One of my favorite styles is by the Colorado-based company of Black Rock Originals, who specialize in smell-roof, charcoal filter installed bags. Sure, they can be used for transporting legal medicinals, but where I see the most interesting fit is with using it as a travel bag or a gym bag, because it works really well at keeping scents within the backpack. So, when you’re heading back and forth between home, work and the gym, you can carry their Smell-Proof Backpack and silence the odors within. I tested it with candles, and dirty clothes, among other stinky things and this discreet bag worked out as advertised.
How? You might ask… Well, the backpack is lined with 100% carbon, with a fully activated charcoal tiler that absorbs strong smells. It has a large open compartment that grows larger by way of the extended top that folds and clips down, and there’s also a small zipper pocket in front. Black Rock Originals’ backpack comes with a combination lock as well, so as to provide additional security. Seeing as how I’ve been robbed a couple of times abroad, I know how imperative that feature is, because you never know when there are prying eyes interested in what you’ve got on you; but at least they won’t be prying noses, right?
If you would like to learn more about Black Rock Originals, click here.
Next time I do another major backpacker trip like this, I know exactly what I’m going to do, what I’ll pack, and in what. Beyond the sizable rucksacks that are best for this style of travel, having a proper daypack can save a whole lot of headaches, backaches and safety issues. It’s no fun lugging that massive pack around each and everyday, so having a smaller backpack that can be stored inside the rucksack and taken out on days of lighter travel is a great approach to take. You need something that can fold up small, and not add a ton of extra weight. So, for me, I like to find versatile day packs that can carry an outfit or two, a camera, and some other personal effects, so when I want to goto a museum or simply wander about town, I can go without issue, and without the burden of lugging around everything.
One of my favorite styles is by the Colorado-based company of Black Rock Originals, who specialize in smell-roof, charcoal filter installed bags. Sure, they can be used for transporting legal medicinals, but where I see the most interesting fit is with using it as a travel bag or a gym bag, because it works really well at keeping scents within the backpack. So, when you’re heading back and forth between home, work and the gym, you can carry their Smell-Proof Backpack and silence the odors within. I tested it with candles, and dirty clothes, among other stinky things and this discreet bag worked out as advertised.
How? You might ask… Well, the backpack is lined with 100% carbon, with a fully activated charcoal tiler that absorbs strong smells. It has a large open compartment that grows larger by way of the extended top that folds and clips down, and there’s also a small zipper pocket in front. Black Rock Originals’ backpack comes with a combination lock as well, so as to provide additional security. Seeing as how I’ve been robbed a couple of times abroad, I know how imperative that feature is, because you never know when there are prying eyes interested in what you’ve got on you; but at least they won’t be prying noses, right?
If you would like to learn more about Black Rock Originals, click here.
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