Back in 2004 Timbuk2 started their mass produced bags in China and then Indonesia. They claimed that the could get the same quality cheaper (they could not). The saving grace for the company is that their custom messengers were sewn in San Francisco still and they were still phenomenal bags. The one I received in the mail today is made in Mexico and has messed up stitching all over. I.e look just above the tag here. Time to put the final nail in the coffin for timbuk2. I will not be ordering from them again.
I own an osprey clamshell whatever (fair point 40l i think?), a few nomatic bags including the $300+ peter mckinnon camera pack (my favorite maximum 40-45L carryon bag) and have always packed them to the max. After each trip, i get home and unpack and realize many of my “just in case” items were never used.
In Lima last month, I realized last minute that our flights to Buenos Aires Argentina didn’t include a carry-on, but just a “personal item”. Instead of paying another $60+, i asked local family if I could borrow a smaller bag and leave my larger bag with some items for safe keeping until I returned. They showed up with a magnificent 18L watermelon backpack with pink straps thay my 12 year old niece would usually take to school. I took only the essentials: Phone, Toothbrush, deodorant, daypack sling (so i could leave the other bag in the hotel), clothes, chargers)adapters, battery pack, passport, anc headphones, wallet, super light jacket, carribeaner …
I see a lot of expensive things here that I can’t really afford, I thought it might be a good idea to showcase the best “cheap” onebag items (I know $50 is still quite a lot of money). Might also be useful for Christmas presents.
This is my first ever Reddit post 😅 Curious whether anyone has done this as well…. And also hoping to give inspiration that cutting small amounts here & there can add up.
Traveling to Portland OR to visit family soon for 5 days & looking to resharpen my one bag travel skills. Carrying only a Tom Bihn Synapse 19 (19liters capacity). Need to bring my MacBook Pro 14” for work, which weighs 3.5lbs alone not counting the TB padded sleeve, and also wanted to fit both my thin puffer Mountain Hardwear hooded jacket & lightweight Arc’teryx rain jacket inside bag if I got hot running around airport or room for food or whatever I might buy. I tend to get back/shoulder pain easily if bag is uncomfortable or heavy (I am 5’3” female w/ a small upper body frame), so decided to go hard on cutting weight. See below for what I did to cut 1173g/2.586lbs from my original packing list.
Weight cut:
24g - TB purple small electronics stuff sack - now everything just in right backpack pocket …
A highly breathable midweight insulated track jacket with three full length two-way zippers for precise temperature calibration. 17.5 micron nylon-core merino against the skin, super-breathable 120gsm non-migrating insulation and a tough yet lightweight F.Cloth face fabric combine for warmth, dry performance and excellent breathability.
Experiment 339 - Ultra Ultra 3Bar Cap
A lightweight, stretchy and lightly water resistant cap experiment with a 3Bar adjustment. UPF 50+ as well. Made from Schoeller’s lightest four-way stretch doubleweave fabric, the dense nylon face and soft textured interior provide a well balanced combination of comfort and protection.
The Nexhigh Rolltop is a piece I’m surprised I own because the price is so steep and the rolltop style is slower than a zipper, driving some people mad. However, I find the closure click satisfying and actually have used the extra volume when unrolled. I use it for my laptop everyday, and this month accidentally got caught in the rain with it. I do think a regular backpack would have done well enough in the rain to protect my laptop, but I was totally soaked through and the peace of mind was nice. I also discovered that it seals in odors too, which is nice if you don’t want your office to smell like food. There are a lot of great backpacks, but I don’t know of any others that are fold-up waterproof tough as nails and tactile. Plus a few hidden features.
Experiment 359 - Ultracore Warmface
An experiment in-between mask and scarf. An adjustable mag/mech Fidlock closure holds it tight to the face, a removable metal nosebridge helps keep glasses from fogging up, while the three-layer Ultracore insulation system provides breathable warmth and lightweight wind and water resistance.
Now available in Paradise Black, Unred Sage, Triple Black and Black Sage
Experiment 358 - Magflap Runner
A magnetic pocket experiment. Designed for running, but it works well for adding an extra pocket to many bags as well. The Systemmag + Armordon + Nexhigh flap feature 32 magnetic pairs in alternating north + south polarity to form a very strong and stable connection you can go far with. Large enough to fit a large phone, with an internal divider for organization.