B-man and Tobi in good hands!
So before I had left on my travels, I thought I would buy a new backpack, a little larger than my other one to accommodate the longer travel, and one with an attached day pack. This all seemed very logical. How could you go wrong with a backpack and detachable day pack? Or so I thought.
So I went to the trusted Canadian outdoor iconic store, Mountain Equipment Co-op, and assessed their various options. I found one, good in price and what seemed to have a good day pack with lots of pockets and places for my computer etc. The main pack was simple with two main compartments and an additional mesh zip element to the main compartment.
The main pack full of my stuff.
For the most part it has been pretty good and mostly comfortable to have on your back fully loaded although I have yet to have to walk and significant distance with it. Europe will be the true test for that I believe. But the day pack. Well it sucks. I don’t care what kind of pack you have, whatever the size, it should always have a waist strap and a chest clip to transfer the weight. Not only that, will a full main pack, the day pack doesn’t zip on anyway and besides, most of my more important items are in the day pack. Since I have heard that throughout the world in most places you have to watch for theives that use knives to quickly slice your straps to purses or smaller packs. So you can bet your bottom dollar that I will have that pack on me backwards so I can hug it against my chest as I have always done.
Old Cromwell from afar - mountains surround and are in every direction. So are mountains in every direction like no mountain at all?
But now I am heading off on about a week long journey in New Zealand and have left my back pack at Linda’s and am just travelling with my day pack. Packed full it is quite heavy with my electronics as well and all I have are the shoulder straps. Needless to say it is uncomfortable to wear. So the conclusion? If you are going on a trip and thinking of buying a backpack with a detachable day pack, don’t do it. Buy a good back pack and then a good separate day pack that is ergonomically correct. This will save you a lot of discomfort and frustration. Also, the only time you will attach it to the main pack is for storage anyway!
Lessons learned the hard way!
Sorry you made a mistake with your back pack and day pack – one lives and learns and think how much helpful information you will have to pass on. Hope that makes you feel better!!! Love Mum
Well I wasn’t feeling badly, just noting the learning curve and notes to myself and others … in Dunedin now. You would love it. It is like a little Edinburgh which is what Dunedin is in Gaelic – well just Edinburgh, not little. Stay tuned for photos and such.