Originally Posted by
Hoyaheel
I will not be hiking or doing one-bag travel at this point, so this travel backpack does not have to do or be everything. That said, I do want more of the technical components (comfortable straps! water bottle pocket!) and full openings, no top loading, which I think it reflected in my current list. My recent trips (past few years) have been tote (personal item) + small rolling carry-on + larger checked rolling bag (all 2 wheels - we don't do spinners as we're almost always out and about on rough surfaces where tiny wheels are a non-starter. Literally) We're going to Africa next summer and I want to bring just 1 rolling bag (tote + backpack for carry-ons and then the smaller rolling bag checked - well, probably 22" checked, not the 20") so I'm going to test that packing modality for other trips between now and then. So a luggage pass-through strap is important (and knocks the cotopaxi down on my priority ranking - I really like the bag but it lacks this basic feature :-( )
Since you often use a tote, I'd probably consider if I'd want access to the backpack contents.
1. Backpack instead of tote - would need good item accessibility while traveling.
2. Backpack in addition to tote with clothes in backpack - OK to have certain spaces kept in place with 3 sided zip mesh panels as this configuration really lends itself to "one-bag" style with clothing from shifting about. I prefer a big cavern like the Osprey Porter over the clamshell split zip shut.
3. Backpack in addition to tote with assorted items in the backpack, checked wheeled bags - Carry comfort becomes almost top consideration which unfortunately means trying them on with sample loads and test packing them. Some will pinch the chest area for women or rub at the neck. Some shapes might work better than others depending on what you want to carry.
4. Backpack in addition to tote with 1 wheeled carry-on bag airside - I'd probably put the bag with the heavy/expensive stuff on top and add-a-bag strap the top/side handle of the other bag to the front, like pilots do with their two wheelers. Then it's a bit more important to pick a bag which isn't too long so it doesn't drag and not oddly shaped so it doesn't swing out to the side when you round a corner. Alternatively I'd wear one of the bags and piggyback the other on the wheeled bag.
Of the bags and excluding the Synik, I like the Evergood CPL but I admit I tend to favor technical bag fabrics with high end zippers + pulls after taking into account accessibility, usability, & total bag weight. The Porter 30 looks good if I want a large unstructured space & panel access. I usually like Eagle Creek gear but the Explore bag's bottom looks angled and narrow so it might be prone to tilting forward when set on a flat surface. I also wouldn't prefer a backpack with such a small top handle in case I need to take it off and hold it in crowded areas such as an unavoidable bus gate. Plus they might not be tacked in well and prone to failing before other parts of the bag.