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backpack posts

Gadling Gear Review: Osprey Raptor 14

Gadling Gear Review: Osprey Raptor 14 Sep 8th, 2011 at 2:00PM: I have a bit of a fetish for daypacks and, as such, I've become quite particular about what I like and what annoys the heck out of me. That's why I was so excited to try out my new Osprey Raptor 14 on a recent trip to Zion National Park. With temperatures pushing 100°F, hikes lasting hours and the air as dry as a bone, it's incredibly important that you have the right supplies and that ...

Gadling gear review: The Osprey Stratos 24 Backpack

Gadling gear review: The Osprey Stratos 24 Backpack Jun 17th, 2011 at 8:00AM: As an active traveler, I have grown to have a certain affinity for backpacks. In fact, I have one for just about every occasion, ranging from small daypacks for short hikes on local trails to full-on expedition level packs designed for weeks, or even months, in the field. Over the years, I've come to appreciate a well designed, versatile pack that not only fits well, but also offers you plenty of ...

National Geographic reveals spring/summer gear of the year

National Geographic reveals spring/summer gear of the year May 1st, 2011 at 8:00AM: In what has become an annual rite of spring, National Geographic Adventure has released their list of picks for their Gear of the Year for the 2011 spring/summer seasons. The list arrives just ahead of the warmer months, when outdoor enthusiasts are looking for durable, dependable, yet lightweight, gear to accompany them on their summertime adventures. The Gear of the Year list is a diverse ...

Kata 3N1-33 professional camera backpack review

Kata 3N1-33 professional camera backpack review Jan 5th, 2011 at 10:00AM: Selecting a camera bag can be a daunting process. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of options, and even bags that aren't specifically designed with cameras in mind can be altered and repurposed for use with your setup. Kata is a respected name in the bag industry, offering quite a few travel packs and a handful of dedicated camera packs. Where they stand out is their rigidity and ...

My year in adventure travel: a look back and a look forward

My year in adventure travel: a look back and a look forward Dec 26th, 2010 at 10:30AM: Happy Boxing Day everybody! As I sit here stuffed with my mother-in-law's cooking after a traditional Spanish Christmas, I'm thinking back on all my travels in 2010 and looking forward to 2011. One of the best parts about my travel year has been sharing it all with you. I love the comments you've sent suggesting sites to see and trails to take, and was especially amazed by the outpouring of ...

5 reasons to be a tourist

5 reasons to be a tourist Aug 3rd, 2010 at 12:30PM: After three months living in Istanbul, I've gained a stable of a few dozen Turkish words to string into awkward sentences; learned some local intel on what soccer teams to root for, where to get the best mantı, and the best Turkish insults (maganda is the local equivalent of guido); and have come to avoid Sultanahmet with the same disdain I used to reserve for Times Square when I lived in New ...

Himalayan High: gear for the trek

Himalayan High: gear for the trek Jun 29th, 2010 at 8:00AM: In my last post on my recent trek to Everest Base Camp I wrote about ways to prepare for the trek, physically getting yourself ready to handle the demands of the hike. It is my opinion that anyone who makes this trip will have a far better experience, and can save themselves quite a bit of grief, if they are well prepared for the trail. That same philosophy carries over to the gear that you choose ...

Walk with your bags before traveling - Packing tip

Walk with your bags before traveling - Packing tip Jun 23rd, 2010 at 1:04PM: If you want to keep your bag smaller, and more travel-ready, walk with it for 30 minutes... on a hilly blacktop... on a sunny day. I admit, this exercise may not directly trim your bags. However, this should make you more able to prioritize what you need for your trip. [Photo: Flickr | .Luc.] ...

Five stylish items that save time in a security check

Five stylish items that save time in a security check Jun 11th, 2010 at 3:30PM: We've all been there. A security check procedure goes something like this - untie and remove shoes, unbuckle and remove belt, take out wallet, drop keys in the bowl, dig into your bag for your laptop, then step through the metal detector only to discover you had change in your pocket. It's an annoying process but one set in place to keep us all safe. So we deal with it. Seasoned travelers know ...

Use an old backpack - Packing tip

Use an old backpack - Packing tip Feb 16th, 2010 at 8:35AM: I spent three months living out of a small, ratty backpack in Costa Rica, and it was the best travel decision I made. When two of my travel buddies had their brand new packs stolen, mine was safe because it was old-looking and ugly. The size of my backpack forced me to pack light, and every time I used public transportation I was grateful. My friends would drag their huge packs onto crowded ...

Eco-friendly packing - and how you can do it too

Eco-friendly packing - and how you can do it too Oct 15th, 2009 at 4:30PM: I've long been a supporter of eco-tourism and have tried (and many times failed) to be a fully-aware eco-traveler myself. In this world of technology and modern equipment, it's sometimes hard to find your way back to the basics and just enjoy travel for what it is rather than enjoy it alongside all of the gadgets and gizmos that we're buried under in this 21st century. It's time to rethink how we ...

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The Khao San

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The Khao San Sep 10th, 2009 at 9:00AM: All this month, Dim Sum Dialogues will be bringing you stories from the road. The first destination: Thailand - from Bangkok to Ko Phan Ngan...to discover the hype behind the legendary Full Moon Parties. It's approaching midnight fast, and the immigration lines in Suvarnabhumi Airport are long. Walking through the modern, sprawling airport, I remind myself not to touch anything in the Duty ...

Fake Canadians go home

Fake Canadians go home Aug 30th, 2009 at 4:30PM: tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/30/fake-canadians-go-home/'; tweetmeme_source = 'Gadling'; I'm as mad as a polar bear reading about global warming. Everywhere I look I see Canadian flags on backpacks. A maple leaf seems to be as important an item of budget travel gear as daddy's credit card, but there's one problem--many of the people flashing the good old red, white, and red ...

Daily gear deals - $49.99 GPS unit, noise canceling headphones and more

Daily gear deals - $49.99 GPS unit, noise canceling headphones and more Jun 6th, 2009 at 10:30AM: Add some peace and quiet to your next car/bus/train/plane ride with these Altec Lansing BackBeat 106 noise isolating headphones for $17.77 (shipping included) Looking for a budget GPS unit? Check out this large lineup of refurbished TomTom units. In it, you'll find a basic GPS unit for as little as $49.99 (after a $20 rebate), and even a wide screen unit for $89.99 (after a $20 rebate). Click ...

Daily gear deal - big Swiss Gear luggage clearance

Daily gear deal - big Swiss Gear luggage clearance Apr 24th, 2009 at 11:30AM: Today's daily deal is for a spring cleaning sale of Swiss Gear bags over at Amazon. The lineup includes a bunch of backpacks, some rolling luggage, messenger bags and laptop bags. The bags start just under $20, and the discounts range from a measly $10 all the way up to well over $250 on the more advanced bags. All orders over $25 will ship for free. When you find a bag you like, be sure to check ...

Ultralight Backpacking

Ultralight Backpacking Mar 9th, 2009 at 12:00PM: Now I don't claim to be the biggest expert on ultralight backpacking, but I must say I've gotten better with backpacking light in the last few years. I'm heading to Nicaragua and Cuba for a month on Tuesday and thought it might be helpful to share a few tips on what to bring if you're traveling ultralight. I think ultralight backpacking distinguishes itself from regular backpacking because it ...

5 days 5 bags - day 4: ZUCA Business Backpack

5 days 5 bags - day 4:  ZUCA Business Backpack Mar 5th, 2009 at 2:30PM: Welcome to day 4 of our "5 days 5 bags" luggage lineup. Today's spotlight is going to shine on the ZÜCA business backpack. Last week I introduced you to what I described as "the best damn bag I have ever seen". The ZÜCA Pro rolling case really did impress me that much. Of course, the ZÜCA Pro is designed as a bag for your clothes and other travel items - not as a rolling case ...

5 days 5 bags - day 3: ARC'TERYX Blade 30

5 days 5 bags - day 3: ARC'TERYX Blade 30 Mar 4th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Welcome to day 3 of our "5 days 5 bags" luggage lineup. The Arc'teryx Blade 30 (cool name!) is a travel backpack designed as part overnight bag/part laptop bag. The Blade 30 features 2 main compartments - one portion is designed for your clothes and other items, and has an integrated fold-out suiter, the other has a laptop sling designed for most 15" machines. ...

5 days 5 bags - day 1: Timbuk2 Patrol ballistic fabric

5 days 5 bags - day 1: Timbuk2 Patrol ballistic fabric Mar 2nd, 2009 at 2:00PM: For the next 5 days, I'll be reviewing one piece of luggage a day. Today's bag is the Timbuk2 Patrol ballistic fabric. The Patrol is a nifty multifunctional bag which can be converted from a regular bag to a backpack in about 20 seconds. The bag features 2 main compartments - one for your clothes and other items, and one internal padded compartment for your laptop. The design is quite brilliant ...

Daily deal - Swiss Gear computer backpack for $30

Daily deal - Swiss Gear computer backpack for $30 Feb 25th, 2009 at 3:00PM: Today's deal of the day is for the highly rated Swiss Gear computer backpack. This stylish travel rated backpack features padded shoulder straps, an MP3 player pocket, a laptop pocket and even special opening in the top to route your headphones inside the bag to your iPod or other player. You'll find the deal at Amazon.com for just $29.99, and since it is over $25, you even get free (saver) ...

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