What To Pack It In

Leisure Travel Bags

Casual/tourism travel typically involves more (and longer-distance) carrying of one's bag over more varied terrain, including stairs, public transportation, cobblestones (and in case you hadn't noticed, urban streets are becoming more cobblestone-like), and good old terra firma (and not so firma).

So look for a true backpack-style suspension system, one that incorporates internal stays (for vertical support) and a padded hip belt, because the weight is supposed to be on your pelvis, not on your shoulders. To get this, you will likely have to sacrifice a bit of packing ease: typically, the bag will have one large main compartment, and it may not open completely flat, though it should definitely have internal tie-down straps. External (compression) straps are a helpful feature, particularly in a larger-sized bag, both to reduce the size of the (packed) bag and to stop items from shifting about.

It should be possible to lock the bag securely (usually via one or more padlocks through the zippers, the better of which are specifically designed for this purpose). It should not have outside pockets (unless you care to provide both amusement and revenue to the folks who ride up on top of the bus with your luggage).

A variety of factors — both technical (e.g., they generally open only at the top, which makes packing difficult) and social (e.g., backpackers are perceived as undesirable in some areas) — tend to preclude the use of "real" backpacks, so you need something that can be made not to look like one! This style of bag, in which the shoulder harness and hip belt can be hidden away (typically behind a zippered panel), has come to be known as a "travel pack".

Alas, true travel packs have become something of an endangered species of late. There is no shortage of real backpacks, or of bags with hideaway shoulder straps (of varying quality), but the notion of a soft, suitcase-styled bag that incorporates a true suspension system (as outlined above) seems to have fallen from favour, at least with those companies that offer large-scale distribution. It's a shame, really, and a bit hard to explain, given that there are a lot more leisure travellers than mountain-climbers!

Recommended Leisure Bags (Travel Packs)

My clear choice in this category is the MEI "Voyageur" pack (pictured at right), which is the maximum permitted carry-on size of 22×14×9 inches (56×36×23cm), made of 1000 denier Cordura with an interior urethane coating, and incorporates parallel (removable) internal aluminum stays; it weighs 3.5 pounds (1.59kg).

The hipbelt and shoulder harness are lined with nylon knit, and padded with closed cell foam; these zip out of sight for carry-on use, and a more "luggage-like" appearance. Complete with lockable YKK zippers (with weather flaps), internal tie-downs, and both sternum and compression straps, it comes in a wide variety of colours, with a suggested retail price of USD$145. MEI products are fully warranted for the life of the purchaser. Curiously, this bag was the first of what are now called "travel packs", and is arguably still the best; it has enjoyed a variety of modest updates and improvements since its introduction in 1978, but the (clean, rectilinear) design remains fundamentally unchanged.

And that observation alone is quite a telling fact: what other luggage designs continue in production after 35+ years, and are still considered best-of-class?

Those on a more limited budget might find an appealing alternative in MEI's "Convertible" (shown below), which sells for USD$100. It's constructed using a combination of 420 denier ripstop nylon and 1000 denier Cordura, and measures very slightly smaller — 22×13×9 inches (56×33×23cm) — than the aforementioned "Voyageur" (not a bad thing, in my view), yielding a modest weight of only 2.75 pounds (1.25kg). The bag lacks the strict rectilinearity of its larger brother, along with the aluminum stays, external compression straps, and padded hipbelt, though it compensates for the latter somewhat with a decent nylon webbing waist strap, certainly a useful feature.

I am very sorry to report that Genuine Gear, Inc., manufacturer of several classic MEI bags, is apparently another victim of the pandemic. I have been unable to contact them for any clarifying details or information about future availability of their designs, but am leaving their descriptions intact for the time being, as examples of superlative products.

Leisure/adventure travellers who are willing to sacrifice some carrying comfort and capacity for improved storage organization might also consider dual-purpose travel bags.

A Bag for the Serious Minimalist

Red Oxx, a company known for superb manufacturing quality, makes a bag called the "Mini Boss" (pictured here in one of its dozen colours). Created to address a set of restrictive IATA regulations proposed in 2015, it measures 19×12×6.5" (48×30×17cm), weighs 2.5 pounds (1.13kg), and offers features similar to their legendary "Air Boss" (though with only two main compartments). As it turned out, the airlines rejected that particular IATA proposal, so the specific dimensions of this bag became a moot point. That said, it's a nice bag, irrespective of its unusual history.

With a capacity (1482 cubic inches / 24 liters) not unlike many day travel bags, and a business-like styling, this is a great-looking little piece of luggage, though really too small to serve as a useful business bag for most travellers. And at USD$265, it's pricey for its size. Those highly skilled at travelling lightly, or contemplating very short leisure trips, may well find this bag excellent for their needs. Others, not so much.

But for those seeking extreme minimalism, favouring a conventional-looking leisure travel bag (no backpack straps or hip belt here, though if you can travel this lightly, you might not miss them), and able to travel with an abundance (about a third) of leftover space in a conventional carry-on-sized bag, the Mini might well be worth a try. You will certainly impress most of your fellow travellers!