Travel Carry On Backpack

lovedisney123

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Jun 22, 2013
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We are taking our daughter's boyfriend with us for his first trip to Disney on spring break from college. He has never traveled, so I am guessing he doesn't have luggage. We are going to loan him a suitcase, but I wanted to get him a nice backpack for Christmas to use as a carry on for the plane and the Disney cruise (we are doing both).

Any recommendations? And if on Amazon that's even better! THANKS! :)
 
We are huge fans of the Osprey Porter 46. https://www.amazon.com/Osprey-Porte...d=1477782914&sr=8-3&keywords=osprey+porter+46

You can read the reviews on Amazon for a lot more pretty solid feedback.

My wife and I both have one and it has been our go to carry on bag for years and usually allows us to go carry on only. The new design is even better for travel. We were checking it out in the store the other day, and talked about giving our bags to the kids and buying the new one. We've done Disney, cruises and Europe with it. We just came back in September from 17 days in France with just that bag each. Nothing else.

It's incredibly durable. We've checked it as a checked bag from time to time with no issue. It has external straps to cinch it down. And it meets most airline's carry on measurement.

Despite years of miles on it, they both look nearly new. The zippers in particular are great. Not cheap at all. The straps will also zip away if you want to carry by the handle or check it. The only real downside is that it isn't a great backpack if you are going to be carrying it for more than a couple hours with any great weight. It has a waist belt instead of a true hip belt so the bag won't transfer weight to your hips like a hiking backpack will. But, for us, who mostly just carry it to, from and around the airport and hotel, that's not an issue.
 


I can't say enough about Ebags as a company. Absolutely the very best in customer service, and I LOVE their products. I have the matching suitcase, to this backpack (its identical to backpack, just in suitcase size) and love the organization it provides. I also use their packing cubes too, which helps keep everything separate and easy to grab. I highly recommend this backpack!
 
I second eBags and their products. They just got a very high rating in Consumer Reports latest issue as one of the very top places to buy luggage. (I also can't travel without their packing cubes - they're amazing.)
 
I second eBags and their products. They just got a very high rating in Consumer Reports latest issue as one of the very top places to buy luggage. (I also can't travel without their packing cubes - they're amazing.)
Are the packing cubes small? I am worried about how much I can fit in there.
 
As a mom to college students, once I found something I thought would be great, I would also show my kids for their opinion. Ive learned that my idea of style sometimes do not mesh with what a college boy may think. I think though your getting him a carryon is a fantastic Christmas gift.
 
I second eBags and their products. They just got a very high rating in Consumer Reports latest issue as one of the very top places to buy luggage. (I also can't travel without their packing cubes - they're amazing.)

They are amazing, I can attest to that, especially if you have a crazy obsession with organization. And packing cubes are absolutely a life saver.
 
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Are the packing cubes small? I am worried about how much I can fit in there.

Sorry to the OP, I know this is veering off topic, last time I promise. So Ebag packing cubes are small, medium, large and slim. My favorite are the slim ones, but I use all of them. When you get them, you'll be like whaaat, how am I going to fit anything in this? But the main idea is to "roll" your clothes nice and tight into them, and you'll be amazed at what you'll fit. I use them for everything, your "pharmacy" all your meds in one, underwear in another, and so on. Different colors to keep them apart. Its a brilliant concept. When you get to your destination, just put them into a drawer with top unzipped, and voila, you're unpacked.
 
We have a couple of the Ebags motherload weekender convertible jr backpacks. The Jr. version are slightly smaller and work great as a carryon for us. Fantastic bags if you are doing carryon only. By watching sales, I got my last one for $70 (actually $63 when i added on a ebags bonus cash discount I'd earned). i recommend watching the video on their website about the bag. However, if you are wanting something that just stuffs under the seat for his "stuff to do on the plane", snacks, and essentials, you may want something smaller with less structure than these bags. We also have the medium rolling duffle version of this bag and it is also awesome as a checked bag. So durable.
 
Are the packing cubes small? I am worried about how much I can fit in there.

As Jillpie said they come in all shapes & sizes and the best way to use them is to learn how to roll your clothes to maximize the space. We have several sets - we each have a set (or 2) of the sm, med & lg. then I supplemented with more mediums & larges. We each have our own color too so we know immediately who's stuff is what. When we stay at Disney I just take the cubes out of the suitcases or duffles & put them directly into the drawers & I tell DH & DS which drawers are theirs. Depending on the length of the trip I usually pack 1 large with tops & 1 large with bottoms or a combo of a large & a medium then I use a small for PJs & undies & a medium for bathing suits & coverups or whatever else didn't fit into the other cubes (if we go for 8 or 9 nights I pack at least 3 swimsuits each). If you roll tightly you can even get 2 layers into a cube (we're talking with lighter summer tops). I can pack for a week in a carry-on with these things or I can put all 3 of us into 1 large checked size duffle (supplemented with carry-ons). If I was trying to pack in a backpack I would probably try to just use smalls & mediums.

http://www.ebags.com/category/trave...ds/packing-cubes?lastsearchterm=packing+cubes
 
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We're an eBags family too. Love our Motherload weekender. We bought them when we were going to China and now use them for every trip. Awesome bags that hold a ton of stuff.
 
We're an eBags family too. Love our Motherload weekender. We bought them when we were going to China and now use them for every trip. Awesome bags that hold a ton of stuff.

Did they work well for China? This is exactly the trip we were going to buy them for. I thought it would be easier to travel on trains and subways and such with a backpack rather than a roller bag.
 
The lightening deal is over now. It was marked down to $75.99, so if you are interested you may want to watch to see if they repeat the deal in the future.
 











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