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Boring post about backpacks...
Sep. 16th, 2011 02:44 pmI took the kids out for school supplies recently - actually, the real reason was I'd told Gareth he could get a copy of a flight simulator program he'd been wanting. It was only $10, but the Staples near us was out, and they're discontinuing carrying games, so we went to the Staples near Barnes & Noble so he could dig through the bin there. They also had the PC version of Assassin's Creed for the same price - which I've been wanting to try just because it looks really beautiful (is that weird to say, for a game about a guy who sneaks up and stabs people? But it does...and seems a bit more science fictiony than I thought, too. Alas, it will only go through the introduction on a laptop and then it quits).
But we did actually get school supplies as well. While Angus and Gareth said theirs were still ok* and they didn't need new ones, Avalon did, and while looking at them, I realized I needed one too. My old lavender one was getting holes in the bottom, and I'd noticed my Federal colleagues had packs meant for carrying laptops as well. I'd been carrying both a backpack and a laptop case when traveling and frankly it gets really heavy toting both of those around. This particular Staples had a much bigger selection than the one a block from my house, not to mention them being on sale for about 1/2 price. After much unzipping and inspecting of pockets, I decided on this one, a High Sierra Swerve backpack. It actually has a well-padded, suspended pouch for your computer, to keep it from bumping on the ground when you set it down, plus media pockets, zippered pockets, pen holders, cell phone holsters, pockets galore (I think I've developed an unhealthy fascination with numbers of pockets). And it comes in purple and plaid, yay!
I had a Council meeting in San Mateo this week, so I got to put it to the test. The laptop pocket works pretty well, and there are several shallower pockets to stow cords and connectors and such. I managed to fit everything I usually put in two carry ons in it (and maybe left out a few items I seem to always carry around and don't use), and it was so nice to get on the plane, stow it under the seat and not have to worry about fitting something in the overhead compartment or wait to get it out after landing. Of course, I negated that on the way home by buying a bunch of food at the Trader Joe's (never did even go out to dinner) and bringing half of it home with me in another TJ's canvas bag.
Two things - 1) the zippers on the two biggest pockets have flaps over them to keep the rain out, however; the smaller pockets and the rear laptop zipper (which actually opens into the largest main pocket as well, just directly over the laptop pouch for easier access) doesn't have one. Doesn't it seem like you'd really want a rain flap over your very expensive electronic gear? Not that I live where it rains a lot, but I have been known to get soaked every once in while, especially if riding the bus. I noticed other models from this company actually come with a rain fly. but this one doesn't have one. Maybe a third party one would be a good idea. 2) It was highly touted on the tags when I bought it, on an obvious label on one of the straps, and even on the company website that this pack has a "suspension strap system" - without really explaining what that is (and I went to the website trying to determine that). On a little closer examination of the straps, specifically directly under the aforementioned label, I finally realized the section of the strap under the label is made of some sort of heavy duty elastic, as is the binding sewn down the strap edges. Over the elastic are loops of non-stretchy strap which I'd thought were meant to attach a carabiner or something to, but I guess it's part of that "system." While carrying it around I was unable to determine whether it really made any difference. It was kind of scratchy against my neck, but normally I would have been wearing something with more of a collar.
Anyway, it worked quite nicely and I think we'll be happy together. Oh, and I forgot, what kind did Avalon get? A pink one, of course.
________________________
* Update: after a week of school, Gareth's backpack had the side blow completely out of it after he jammed all of his take-home school books in it, and both the straps broke off Angus's. They wound up getting this same model, only in different colors. Hopefully, they'll last longer than the ones my spouse usually gets them at Big Lots.
But we did actually get school supplies as well. While Angus and Gareth said theirs were still ok* and they didn't need new ones, Avalon did, and while looking at them, I realized I needed one too. My old lavender one was getting holes in the bottom, and I'd noticed my Federal colleagues had packs meant for carrying laptops as well. I'd been carrying both a backpack and a laptop case when traveling and frankly it gets really heavy toting both of those around. This particular Staples had a much bigger selection than the one a block from my house, not to mention them being on sale for about 1/2 price. After much unzipping and inspecting of pockets, I decided on this one, a High Sierra Swerve backpack. It actually has a well-padded, suspended pouch for your computer, to keep it from bumping on the ground when you set it down, plus media pockets, zippered pockets, pen holders, cell phone holsters, pockets galore (I think I've developed an unhealthy fascination with numbers of pockets). And it comes in purple and plaid, yay!
I had a Council meeting in San Mateo this week, so I got to put it to the test. The laptop pocket works pretty well, and there are several shallower pockets to stow cords and connectors and such. I managed to fit everything I usually put in two carry ons in it (and maybe left out a few items I seem to always carry around and don't use), and it was so nice to get on the plane, stow it under the seat and not have to worry about fitting something in the overhead compartment or wait to get it out after landing. Of course, I negated that on the way home by buying a bunch of food at the Trader Joe's (never did even go out to dinner) and bringing half of it home with me in another TJ's canvas bag.
Two things - 1) the zippers on the two biggest pockets have flaps over them to keep the rain out, however; the smaller pockets and the rear laptop zipper (which actually opens into the largest main pocket as well, just directly over the laptop pouch for easier access) doesn't have one. Doesn't it seem like you'd really want a rain flap over your very expensive electronic gear? Not that I live where it rains a lot, but I have been known to get soaked every once in while, especially if riding the bus. I noticed other models from this company actually come with a rain fly. but this one doesn't have one. Maybe a third party one would be a good idea. 2) It was highly touted on the tags when I bought it, on an obvious label on one of the straps, and even on the company website that this pack has a "suspension strap system" - without really explaining what that is (and I went to the website trying to determine that). On a little closer examination of the straps, specifically directly under the aforementioned label, I finally realized the section of the strap under the label is made of some sort of heavy duty elastic, as is the binding sewn down the strap edges. Over the elastic are loops of non-stretchy strap which I'd thought were meant to attach a carabiner or something to, but I guess it's part of that "system." While carrying it around I was unable to determine whether it really made any difference. It was kind of scratchy against my neck, but normally I would have been wearing something with more of a collar.
Anyway, it worked quite nicely and I think we'll be happy together. Oh, and I forgot, what kind did Avalon get? A pink one, of course.
________________________
* Update: after a week of school, Gareth's backpack had the side blow completely out of it after he jammed all of his take-home school books in it, and both the straps broke off Angus's. They wound up getting this same model, only in different colors. Hopefully, they'll last longer than the ones my spouse usually gets them at Big Lots.
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