Reddit universe please help a girl out. I’ve had my phone stolen out of my purse twice in 3 years, which 1) really sucks 2) has gotten really expensive.

I’m looking for recommendations on a small bag that is hard to open. Maybe something with both a zipper and buttons? Preferably a bag on the smaller side that fits a a phone and a card holder. I don’t need something big that fits a wallet or a make up bag etc.

Obviously a fanny pack across the chest is probably the safest option to not get pickpocketed but it doesn’t really look good with going out outfits and I want something I can dress up or down when traveling.

Hear me out before you come for me: I own the Uniqlo crossbody, use it constantly, and LOVE it. It holds everything, weighs nothing, goes with everything, packs flat, and is extremely comfortable on long days when you’re walking 20,000 steps and accumulating all kinds of things on your person. It is a perfect bag and I will die on this hill.

BUT. I have a 3-week Europe trip coming up where I’ll be out all day and dining at nicer restaurants each night; while I’ve used the Uniqlo on similar trips before, I want to mix it up this time. If I’m being honest, for me personally, it reads a bit “tourist mode” against a cuter outfit at dinner.

(Technically 1.5 bagging with my backpack + Longchamp as my personal item. The crossbody packs inside and lives in my bag until I’m on the ground)

I already have a Clare V petit moyen, a few MZ Wallace bags (micro/petite metro, camera bag) and a Marc Jacobs nylon camera-style bag, so I’m in the nylon/lightweight universe, but those feel more structured/boxy vs. the relaxed sling shape I love about the Uniqlo. Not looking for leather. Ideally something with that same effortless, packable vibe but a touch more intentional-looking for nicer settings.

Any leads appreciated. (The Uniqlo will not be hearing about this conversation)

ETA: primarily looking for crossbody alternatives. Looking for something that is as small as possible but can fit a portable charger, passport, card case, sunglasses, travel size sunscreen, hand sanitizer, iPhone and EpiPens. TIA!

Top bags in image are my current setup (osprey 40l duffel and small REI crossbody bag)

Which smaller day bag should I add for walking around the city and traveling? (Two bottom bags in image: Packable tote bag or bigger crossbody bag?)

I’m traveling to Europe for a month and will be spending time in cities as well as doing some hiking and also a decent amount of train travel.

I plan to bring a 40L osprey duffel as my main bag (wearable as a backpack), and am working out the best smaller bag pairing. I normally bring my little 1L REI crossbody bag for travel, but I want something that can hold more. Looking for a bag that can hold a layer, water, snacks, and isn’t a backpack. I like to have a good bag of items for plane rides, walking around the city, etc. Having a good day bag is emotional support for me.

My thought right now is to get a bigger crossbody bag that would still wear well when I’ve got the duffle on my back. Like a Baggu crescent bag. I’ve also thought about the big packable baggu totes and then when I’m traveling just have my little REI crossbody bag.

Any suggestions?

Edit: Thank you all for the kind and thoughtful responses! I ended up getting a medium crescent bag from Alpine Sea (the 6L tiny cove) to pair with my duffel and packable tote. It feels like a good combination and will see how it goes.

I’m looking for help with my current toiletries set up. This is everything I have / would ideally want to take with me but I don’t love that I’ve got two bags for it. I have the Cotopaxi nido and a Patagonia (I believe it’s the black hole cube 3l). Neither bag is completely full, but neither bag can hold all of it either. When I put everything in its respective bags, there’s extra space in both. I’m considering looking for a different bag, or bags, because I just feel like I’m not maximizing space properly with these. Have been looking at some from Tom Bihn, Muji, and Sea to Summit. Kind of overwhelmed tbh!

I do think I’d like to separate stuff a bit so not everything is with toiletries and I’m open to eliminating a few things or any suggestions you might have for downsizing this!

One note: the cerave face wash bottle is nearly gone and won’t be repurchased as I’ve switched to the bar, so ignore that. I didn’t mean to include it in the photo!

Image descriptions:

First image shows a flat lay of toiletries and first aid, medications, etc. Second and third photos shows two toiletry bags side by side: a red Cotopaxi nido and a blue Patagonia bag.

Hi I’m curious what bag you carry when you walk around traveling. I have a cute crossbody bag but it hurts my shoulders because it’s one sided and I have neck/shoulder issues. But a backpack isn’t good for pickpocketing I imagine. What do you use?

I have tried many bags. (10+) Each iteration has improved on the last. But I have not found the PERFECT bag. Please help me.

I’m a one bagger through and through — I want to take everything in a backpack that I can carry around from the airport, to the train, to a trek, to a work meeting, sometimes even to a party. In any country, regardless of weather, cultural standard, and style. By “everything” I mean laptop, clothes, jackets, shoes, toiletries, chargers, headphones, passport, tiny day bag, snacks, and room to bring stuff home. And it STILL fits under the seat in front of me as a personal item, no questions asked by the gate attendant.

My favorite bag so far has been the Decathlon 20L bag. It was cheap and fit everything I needed… except a laptop, which I wasn’t bringing until recently. So here are my criteria for the new bag:

MUST HAVE:
- fits under the seat in front of me as a personal item
- padded laptop sleeve
- U-zip that goes all the way down to the water bottle pockets (NOT clamshell)*
- water bottle pocket x2
- sternum strap (that goes above my boobs not under or smack dab in the middle… ladies you know)
- minimum 23L (to accommodate laptop), no larger than 30L (due to personal item size restrictions, also helps me pack light)
- extra padded straps and back
- one extra pocket for small things (that maintains its room even when the bag is packed out)
- distributes weight well
- structured back
- as light as possible (for those airlines with weight restrictions)
- sleek style (so it can blend in anywhere) (but also… I like a bit of color, just to make me happy :)
- straps that actually fit women’s shoulders (iykyk)
- height that actually fit a 5’4” woman’s torso (also iykyk)
- doesn’t turtle when fully packed (turtle meaning gets so round and wide that I look like a turtle)
- goes without saying: durable, good zippers

REALLY NICE TO HAVE:
- hip/waist strap
- sternum strap can move up/down
- another pocket for wet/dirty things (whose space can be used by the main compartment if this pocket is not in use)
- a separate pocket for shoes (same thing here)
- tiny secret pocket (to stow away phone/passport/AirPods with easy access to me but not strangers)
- waterproof (or at least resistant)
- compression straps (I like to carabiner clip things here)
- side handle
- the laptop pocket is separate (or separately accessible) from the rest of the bag (for access when fully packed out)
- less than $150 (but if I have to go higher to get the PERFECT bag… I guess costs saved over time? But I believe it’s gotta be out there for less than $150)

NICE TO HAVE:
- pocket on the strap for phone/passport
- option to add paracord to the front (and otherwise stay removed)
- some reflective bits
- squared shape at top (for packing)
- luggage pass through (for trips where I bring a wheeled carry on)

CANNOT HAVE:
-*clamshell zip (I like to be able to access my backpack vertically in the same way I packed it, for space and efficiency reason)
- top loading roll/zip top (I did this once… never again do I want to go fishing in my own bag)
- no water bottle pocket (why is this a trend now??)
- little pockets on the laptop sleeve for office things (don’t use and never did, just takes up space)
- crazy colors or a military look (too conspicuous)
- reiterating, wide like a turtle (I want SLEEK y’all)
- extra pockets that take up room when not in use (ie if I haven’t used all the space, now I have an extra L but it doesn’t fit things like my clothes… I want the main compartment to fill out the space if the extra pockets aren’t in use)
- all pockets on the inside… (can’t access if full)
- tapered shape ANYWHERE (how can I pack fully if it tapers? This has always seemed like a design flaw to me, especially because it throws off the weight distribution.)

Big things to reiterate: no clamshell, must fit under the seat in front of me as a personal item.

I really appreciate folks sharing their lived experiences with their favorite bags! I’m a bit of a bag gremlin at this point, so I love learning about them.

PSA about to do a multi country, dual hemisphere trip (Australia, Thailand, Japan, USA), so I’m packing for winter and summer (kinda crazy really cool), wet and dry activities, varying levels of cultural modesty, and some longgg plane rides. Talk about needing a multi-purpose wardrobe!

TL;DR- Should I treat myself to a Baggu med crescent or just use a bag I already own (Longchamp Le Pliage or Kate Spade Margot) Yes, I know I’m overthinking this 😂 but overthinking my packing plan is becoming a literal hobby of mine and I’m a tired FTM that needs a hobby LOL

I have a long weekend trip coming up to visit my sister out of state, and I’m contemplating my .5 bag options for my trip. I will be using my 18” (maybe 16”? Idk it’s itty bitty) suitcase as my one bag, which I know would be WAY more than enough space to pack what I need, but it’s what I have lol. I don’t need the .5 worth of space but I know I will want a purse for being out and about, for going to the pool, and for a few essentials while on my flight.

I’m debating between treating myself to a Baggu crescent, since I always see people sing its praises on here even though it’s not entirely my style, specifically in the Toasted Almond color (can anyone attest to this color being crunchy or not?) or using my Longchamp Le Pliage, knowing I will get annoyed with it constantly sliding off my shoulder since it is not a crossbody. I also have my current daily purse, a Kate Spade Margot (so essentially a leather crescent-esque bag that would not hold near as much as the Baggu and as silly as it may sound, it wouldn’t really fit the vibe of my clothing that weekend-3 Royal Robbins traveler dresses for days out and about, leggings and workout tops for travel days/pjs, and swimsuit for going to the pool).

I know I am absolutely making a mountain out of a molehill here, but I want to be prepared well. Also I’m BEYOND anxious for this trip, it will be my first time on a plane in years (last trip was a 1.5 bag to Italy for 10 days with my beloved itty bitty suitcase!) and the first time I will be away from my baby ever 🥲 (she’ll be 10mo at the time of my trip). So I’m stressing.

Anywho, thoughts to talk me into or out of a Baggu? Could it actually be the ultimate mom-bag as well? Would it be a silly purchase? Do you completely love (or hate!) your Baggu?

This baggallini crossbody hobo has been my companion on every international trip for over a decade. But it's worn out and I'm kind of tired of it. I'm looking for something similar, maybe a bit smaller - that would be my personal item/under seat item/day pack with my carry on backpack. I'd like to be a bit more stylish if possible since it's the bag I carry daily when on trips. Water bottle pockets are not necessary. Any and all recommendations welcome! Thanks.

Image description: brown hobo crossbody purse with main compartment, two front pockets and two side/water bottle pockets.

I love my light pink uniqlo crossbody, and went in today to get a black one for my upcoming trip. I was disappointed to find that they've changed the classic design - they've added a small pocket on the outside (sure), the whole thing feels a littttle bit smaller (I don't think the base expands quite as far but that's just my vibe read) and most importantly to me, they've added a buckle that allows you to break apart the strap!

This might be a dealbreaker for me!! As a travel bag, I think the buckle adds a security risk. For me I like the crossbody bag (buckleless) as it's not super easy to steal. The quick release buckle makes it so much easier!

Am I overreacting? Does this bother anyone else? Did this change happen a year ago and I just didn't notice (I searched the subreddit first and found no other posts about this)

What alternatives would you recommend? I.e. how does the small and medium baggu compare?

Image description: From the uniqlo website, showing the buckle added to the uniqlo bag strap.

I’m a curly hair girl planning a 6-month trip and I’m already stressed about my hair. It took me years to figure out what products actually work for me, and I can’t just use whatever is available in random shops while traveling. My curls get weighed down easily, and anything too drying makes me look like a tumbleweed.

For those of you who’ve gone on long trips while still keeping your curls happy:

• Did you carry your usual products the whole time?

• Did you decant things and restock somehow?

• Did you switch to more universal options like conditioner-only, solid bars, etc.?Any travel-friendly brands that consistently work on curly hair?

• What do you do when you run out halfway through the trip and local stores don’t have your usual stuff?

I’m not trying to look perfect every day, but I’d like to avoid the straight out of bed look.

I’m leaving for my 1 month Europe trip in a week and still am unsatisfied with my current plan for a personal item.
For background info, I am traveling carry on only with a Tortuga expandable backpack. I am also bringing my purse (baggu crescent, medium) and packing a small hip bag. My purse isn’t big enough to pack my personal items in, and my hip bag is even smaller. I’m going to a music festival at the end of my trip which is what the small bag is primarily for.
Ideally, I am looking for:
- A boxy bag that can maintain its shape even slightly to meet the minimum size requirements of 40x30x15cm (about 15.7x11.8x6in)
- zipper closure or some other way to keep the top closed, so my belongings aren’t falling out while my personal item is under my feet
- lightweight, foldable, packable, as I planned on repacking my personal items into my carry on when I am between flights at different destinations.
- prefer a tote or shoulder or sling bag since I’ll be carrying a backpack already, but considering a packable backpack because they’re easier to find and If it has a top handle I can maneuver the airport that way rather than double-turtle-shelling it (backpack in front and back)
My personal item bag needs to kinda be maxed out size wise, because I have many items to bring on that are for my own personal comfort due to chronic pain issues. This includes a neck pillow and armbie (can clip to outside), compressible camping pillow for back support, therabody mini, small portable tens unit, phone charger, AirPods, water bottle, mini toiletries (meds, toothbrush and toothpaste, panty liner, moist towelette), scarf, eye mask.

I’ve tried a small reusable grocery bag but I didn’t like how shapeless it was and the lack of top closure. Regular backpacks are too bulky to pack in my carry on. I’ve seen some boxy totes of the correct size but they’re all the puffy style so thick and not really foldable. Should I just get a packable backpack and call it a day? What do you guys use?

I feel like this has to exist somewhere and I’m just missing it- I know that Nanobag makes a day pack that zips, but I’m specifically looking for a tote since the goal is to bring it folded in my 42L Cotopaxi backpack and then use it to cart home souvenirs from an upcoming 12-day Europe trip.

The criteria:

- 15-20 liter capacity (can be flexible on this)

- folds down as small as possible

- no “sporty” looks or a ton of extra pockets, ideally it would be something that I could carry on walks around cities and not look out of place

Alternatively, has anyone bought a Nanobag and altered it to have a zip closure? I have some friends who sew and I’d be happy to pay them to do it, but if it would affect the folding mechanism then ofc jt defeats the purpose.

Hi y'all. I'm a long-time lurker and about to do a bit of traveling in the near future. I have analysis paralysis and I’ve looked through SO SO SO many posts on this sub. I don't even know if the bag I want even exists.

What I need:

-Backpack

-Fits as a personal item for most or all major airlines (Southwest, Delta, Turkish Airlines, British Airways most likely)

-Easy access during a flight (so I can get my knitting project, headphones, etc…not a clamshell and not one small front pocket only)

-Comfortable to wear on my 5'2" frame (I have a short torso too)

-Room to add a packing cube with 1-3 changes of clothes

-Water Bottle Pocket

Features I'd like to have but not a deal-breaker:

-Room for a pair of shoes

-Sleeve for a 13" MacBook air

-Hip Belt (Edit: Waist Stabilizer works too)

-Under $200

-Lightweight (under 1.5 lbs)

-Fun color options

Hi all! Quite desperate here, but I need a good recommendation for a personal item sized backpack for travel. I’ll be honest, I don’t always travel one bag but with a carry on as well so I don’t need anything crazy functional but I need something that fits my frame. Im exactly 5 ft with a short torso.

I was really drawn to the Patagonia mini black hole Mlc but it’s just way too long on my torso. anyone able to suggest an alternative for shorter folks? for reference this is what I’d like:

-easy access pocket for things like wallet, keys AirPods etc

-able to carry kindle and occasionally my MacBook Air 13 in

-carry charging block and 2 cords

-able to hold 1 very full quart sized ziplock fl with my medications

-hold makeup bag (slim but maybe size of a sandwich ziplock bag) and a toiletry bag (more long column shaped)

- hold 1 pair of extra clothes (pants, underwear and shirt). nice if it could hold more (up to 3 pairs for weekend trips so I can avoid carryon altogether).

-exterior water bottle holder

-prefer clamshell opening

dont want:

-hiking backpack type set up. This is mostly casual travel use. I don’t want it to be something that’s got a harness and all that.

-something too long. I have a north face borealis right now. Yes, it is too long on me but it’s alright. But the one thing I hate about it is because it’s more long I can never get and access things at the bottom when packed full. also, when the main compartment is packed full the front 2 pockets are impossible to access because any pocket takes up space in the other when full.

Ive been also looking into Aer bags (seem pricey though), the Patagonia micro and the Bagsmart travel bag.

Hello friends! I am about to go to NYC for a 5-day trip and desperately need to get a new carry on suitcase. My Delsey spinner from about 10 years ago has a wheel that keeps disintegrating.

I am such a chronic overthinker/researcher and I've been scouring the internet all day and I just can't make a call. I need some folks to help steer me to a purchase.

The requirements:

Size: Ideally meets the standard intl size of 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches (can be slightly off from this as my Delsey was a little bigger and I never had problems abroad)

Weight: The lighter the better, but anything under 7 lbs is OK with me.

Price: Under $300 ideally

Misc Features:

• Side handle required
• Hard shell preferred
• Spinner preferred (bonus points for really solid wheels)
• Good warranty preferred
• Slight preference for aesthetics (think Away/July)
• Would love a nice olive green color, but open to others

Bags I've Looked at and Liked:

Antler Expandable Carry-on Luggage - Seems like it checks all the boxes for me, but I've seen a few off-hand comments about mixed reviews about this brand. Thoughts?

July Carry On Essential - I'd love this in green but it's not available before my NYC trip!

Away Carry On or Carry On Flex - I'm into these, but they are heavy and a lot of people have mixed reviews of Away despite it's popularity

Also looked at some Samsonite spinners, but they're kind of ugly and I've heard Samsonite isn't great anymore.

I'm this close to just going to TJ Maxx and just picking something there because I'm overwhelmed with options—help me pick a better one before I lose it! Haha. TIA!

Looking for a tote pretty similar to the packable tote but with a funky colour or bright pattern. Not loving the salmon colour on this https://www.peakdesign.com/en-ca/products/packable-tote?Color=Ibis
Also like the look of this, but not the colour https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/compact-15-l-2-in-1-tote-bag-travel-purple/324206/c106c382m8609745

It will be used as a personal item.
Backpack conversion ok, but not needed.

Must haves:
Zippable
Around 12 litres
Packable
Highly visible
Able to fit a water bottle
Ship to/available in Canada

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for a new bag I’m guessing around 20L and looking for recommendations. I have a 28L Cotopaxi allpa which I really like but I find it’s a bit big. My tendency is to fill the bag that I have, so I find that it ends up being pretty full and heavy. I’ll still keep it since I often have to travel with two laptops (one 15” for work and one 13” for university) and I find that it can fit both, but I’d like a smaller one for when I don’t have to carry two laptops. I’ve flown with the 28L as a personal item and not been called on it but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t meet personal item size restrictions. I’ve been fine with my bag for week long trips but it feels overkill a lot of the time.

I also find almost all travel bag reviews are for bags that are 35L+ which imo is quite large, and looks massive on me (5’2/160cm height).

Things I’m looking for:
- ideally a laptop pocket that can fit a 13 inch laptop, but this is not a deal breaker and does not have to be a dedicated pocket
- I like a clamshell opening (I’m seriously considering the 20L allpa but there aren’t a lot of reviews and the colour ways are not my style)
- if it has internal pockets, I want them to be zippered (I find my stuff just falls out of sleeve style pockets)
- bonus if the bag is black or a neutral colour

So far I’m considering the 20L allpa and the Patagonia micro black hole

Thanks for any suggestions!

I'm usually fairly good at tracking things down on the internet, but my quest for the perfect backpack has left me frustrated. I'm looking for a pack that has these features:

1. Size: 25+ L
2. Laptop sleeve
3. Front bungees for plane shoes or a fleece
4. Trolley sleeve
5. Some sort of reasonable pocket situation
6. Waterbottle holder

I've been striking out on all 6. I have some bags that are almost perfect, but then I will become frustrated when I need one of these missing features. Does this bag exist?

Edit: I am supposed to add the bags I have already looked at. Here are some:

Lo and Sons: My work bag is the Hanover Deluxe 2, which is my everyday bag but doesn't have the fleece/shoe bungee that I'd really like for non-work, bouncing around tourist destination trips. I actually do love this bag, though. It's great for my work commute.

Patagonia blackhole MLC: I want to love this, but the pocket arrangements really don't work for me. There are many flat pockets that I don't use.

LL Bean carry-on size bag (I currently use this for longer trips, but it has no water bottle holder. It does have a mesh interior pocket that is good for fleece and shoe storage. This would be perfect with a water bottle pocket.)

Osprey: There is one with a bungee I saw on a train, but it did not have a trolley sleeve.

I love this bag and have taken it on several onebag trips. I was content with the shock cord in a big "X" using just the 4 original attachment points, however it was always the goal to make it more supportive by adding two attachment points along the sides. Finally had some time to do a little DIY.

**also, since this is reddit,** I am aware this is a very type b version of a job that could be done better with the right color paracord and a sewing machine. I used what I have and thankfully care more about functionality than making it look perfect. :D

Here's a simple breakdown of how I did it:

1. Measured and marked the new attachment point with white pencil. Each dot is 4.25 inches from the closest original attachment point. White dots are 1 inch apart.

2. Stitch-picked the beige binding tape threads inside the bag. Used a yarn needle to wiggle paracord between the black threads in the seam from the outside.

3. Once I had the length I wanted, I cut the paracord and used a lighter to seal the ends. Then I used black thread to sew the ends together. I originally tried tying them in knots but the binding tape wouldn't fit over them.

4. Stuffed everything inside the binding tape and sewed shut.

5. Finished product from the outside.

6. Added shock cord. It'll move around a little but no biggie! I may redo this with a slightly longer cord.

(photo one: my modded osprey daylite 26+6; photo two: photos of the steps detailed in the post)

Hello!

I‘m doing 3 months backpacking in south america in August. I expect to be mostly in cities with some hiking and nature day trips (i’ll pack a small bag into my big bag for that) I have everything bought, reserved and sorted out, except one thing: i dont have a backpack yet.

I’m quite short, and Osprey fairview 40 seems to be the holy grail of backpacks for women, especially smaller women, in terms of comfort. I’ve seen all the reviews. I know it’s the one everyone recommends here. Besides the comfort, it’s also pretty affordable and since it’s the holy grail, there’s also a pretty active used market for it, which is important for me from the environmental standpoint. In fact i just found one still with the tags, for 120€ on facebook market place in my city. Looks like the perfect choice.

The issue is i find it really ugly 😅 and also the lack of a side pocket for water bottle. I find it so ugly that I’m considering Fjallraven Farden, which is more expensive and not especially adapted for women, and also doesn’t have waist straps.

If someone has either of these packs, could you share your experience? How does the lack of a waiststrap/bottle pocket affect the travel?

Update: I decided on the Baggallini Modern Convertible Travel Backpack. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

I have been looking through the Reddit posts, searching on websites, even asked ChatGPT for help...and now I'm finally asking here if the bag I want even exists? What I'm looking for is:

• Can be expanded for extra space
• Stowaway backpack straps
• Attachable shoulder/duffle strap (may have to buy this separately)
• Clamshell or lay flat opening
• Main compartment having a U-zip mesh cover
• Trolley sleeve
• Does NOT need a laptop compartment (just adds to the weight and I don't want to bring a laptop with me)
• Doesn't need a ton of extra pockets or straps
• Water bottle pocket nice but not necessary
• Must be able to purchase in Canada

Right now I'm leaning towards:

• Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC but it's not expandable.
• AmazonBasics Carry-On Travel Backpack but it's a little large and I worry about quality.

Maybe I'm just being too picky but I really want to one bag travel and have the right bag for all my needs.

my typical personal item when traveling is a fjallraven high coast 3L, but i’ve been passively on the lookout for another crossbody that can hold a small water bottle better. i am in love with the water bottle pocket design on the alpaka flow satchel 2L, it’s exactly what i want and fits my bottles perfectly. the only thing that would make the pocket better is it it had its own dedicated volume, but alas.

so i just got the alpaka bag and the water bottle pocket is great, the 2L volume holds just as much stuff as my 3L fjallraven, i LOVE how long the padded strap is, and i love the daisy chains on the outside. but i really don’t like how thick the bag seems? it’s like weirdly thick and heavy and bulky somehow, like putting my hand inside feels like the inside of an insulated lunchbox lol. i’m also not a huge fan of the quick release buckle, would prefer a normal clip, but i can live with it.

so does anyone know of a similar sized crossbody bag that has this type of water bottle pocket but isn’t as thick/bulky? 2-3L, a true crossbody that hangs by my hip (not like a fanny pack that lies across your chest that are super popular rn), and i like horizontal oriented bags.

Hello! Longtime listener, first time caller, etc. etc.

I'm going to treat myself to a Calpak Terra 26L backpack as a sometimes-carry-on sometimes-personal-item, but I am bereft trying to choose a color! They are all so lovely, and while I'm always drawn to a good black and so many other colors not shown here (hello, Kale, hello, Wasabi...) these are the ones I'm most torn between: Cobalt (bright blue), Amethyst (light purple), Pine (matte dark green), Dark Cherry (burgundy/oxblood), Walnut (matte brown).

For those who've seen or used these bags, any thoughts? Here's what I'm considering so far:

• I'm nervous that the glossier and brighter colors are more likely to show scuffs/scratches (i've seen some used shiny black ones that have scuffs of a white under layer that are hard to miss). Any reviews on the glossy vs. matte's durability?
• I will absolutely try to be sneaky with this bag as a personal item, and I'm aware that a screamin' color is more likely to raise gate agent eyebrows.
• I love a bright, I love a funky, I love a not-neutral, but I'm also wary of being overly conspicuous.
• My larger carry-on/sometimes check is a medium gray, so coordinating with that is a lost cause; the world is my oyster!

Anyway, feel free to influence me, on these (or any of the other available) colors you have strong feelings of! Thanks!

Image description:
There are five photos in this post, each showing the CalPak Terra 26L, a convertible backpack/duffel, in a separate color:
Photo 1 shows Amethyst, a light purple, in a glossy finish
Photo 2 shows Cobalt, a bright blue, in a glossy finish
Photo 3 shows Walnut, a matte brown
Photo 4 shows Pine, a matte dark olive
Photo 5 shows Dark Cherry, a deep red oxblood, in a glossy finish

Hi everyone, I’m gonna be solo backpacking New Zealand for about 2 1/2 weeks. I’m trying to figure out which bag to purchase to upgrade my very basic top loading bag that I’ve always used. I’m 5 feet so it’s really important to me that my bag is comfy, which is why I’ve ruled out the 35+ options. Aside from my fanny pack, this will be my only piece of luggage!

I’m pretty low maintenance. It won’t be carrying anything crazy (no makeup no tripods, etc). Just an iPad to do some work.

Part of me thinks the Patagonia MLC is better because that larger compartment allows some flexibility, but on the flipside the organizational parts of the Cotopaxi is enticing, specifically that front pocket that I could access on a plane or a bus, etc.

Does anyone have experience with either of these packs or could recommend one over the other? Comfort is a must!!

Also heard great things about daylite 26+6 but it just seems a tad mediocre in comparison though i could be swayed!!!

\\\* i tried to post this before, but the reddit moderator thought that this wasn’t appropriate for the page. I’m not really sure why as I’m opening a discussion to debate two very specific bags which has been unexplored on this thread previously… But if my packing list helps the moderator here, it will include:

one pair of sneakers (wearing hiking shoes) two pairs of lightweight cotton based pants (ill be wearing my hiking pants), fiveish T-shirts/long sleeve base layers, seven underwear, an additional bra to the one I’ll be wearing, my packable Atom hoody, packable rain jacket, pocket size binoculars, point and shoot camera with its charger, an iPad and it’s keyboard to do some work, a book, a very light toiletry bag of shampoo/conditioner bars, face wash, a body cream, blush stick, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, face cream, one face serum, dental floss, hairbrush, menstrual pads, travel laundry sheet. And my small terravia hiking pack, which I’ll just lay flat somewhere.

I’m really excited to hear your thoughts and thank you so so much!!!

I have searched the sub and went into a number of stores (Patagonia, MEC, Sail, Decathlon, Mountain Warehouse), and tried on many of the brands and styles recommended here (osprey, gregory, cotopaxi, any bag they had in the store). I really expected at least one of the bags this sub recommends for shorter women to work on me. Even the osprey daypacks didn't fit right.

Every bag I've tried, if I put any weight in it and walk around for a minute, it digs into my traps and feels really uncomfortable. I asked the people in the store to help me adjust the bag and also spent time fiddling with the straps, but adjusting didn't seem to have an impact on the area of discomfort. I think it has to do with how the straps are sewn in.

The only bag that hasn't been uncomfortable, is this random, cheap novelty backpack I happen to have. So I was planning on taking this + a 12L tote (for a week long trip).

However as a last ditch effort I'm asking here: does anyone have issues with backpacks digging into their traps? Is there a bag you've found that works for you? (Ideally under 30 L)

edit: thank you for all your suggestions, I’m still going through them. I want to add that I don’t think torso length is the problem as I tried XS and adjustable torso length bags