All posts tagged: Bags

Quilts Are Better Than Sleeping Bags

Quilts Are Better Than Sleeping Bags

Published by skeptic

I used to say that all my best days started with waking up in a sleeping bag. Waking up in a sleeping bag usually means you’re out there somewhere, doing something interesting. In the past couple of years, though, I’ve found myself waking up out there to wonderful days spent doing interesting things, but without a sleeping bag in sight. Instead, I’m sleeping in what thru-hikers and ultralight redditors call a quilt. This is not a quilt like the one your grandmother gave you. Backpacking quilts are made of nylon and filled with down like a traditional sleeping bag. The difference is that they lay over you like, well, a quilt, rather than wrapping all the way around you like a sleeping bag. The benefit is twofold: A quilt is lighter, meaning less weight to carry in your pack, and, as an added bonus, I sleep better than I ever have in the backcountry. Mummified Let’s face it, there’s a reason backpackers have nicknamed sleeping bags “mummy bags.” They’re constricting at the best of times, …

Samsonite is blowing out its most popular rolling bags and luggage for up to 43% off during this summer clearance sale

Samsonite is blowing out its most popular rolling bags and luggage for up to 43% off during this summer clearance sale

Published by Jenni Sidey

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Sign Up For Goods 🛍️ Product news, reviews, and must-have deals. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Samsonite’s summer sale is live right now with discounts up to 43% off luggage, carry-ons, and sets. The deals range from single rolling bags to complete luggage kits, so there’s something to accommodate every type of traveler. The real savings happen on the clearance models, which are discounted by more than 40 percent. Save that money now and splurge on souvenirs when you get to your destination. Outline Pro Carry-On Spinner $125.99 (was $219.99) See It The Outline Pro is one of Samsonite’s most reviewed hardside carry-ons, with nearly 10,000 ratings and a 4.7-star average. At $125.99 (from $219.99), this clearance colorway is more than 43% off and comes …

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack Del Día Dark: Sustainable and Chic

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack Del Día Dark: Sustainable and Chic

Published by skeptic

As we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Boutayna Chokrane raves about her love for her Lululemon gym bag. You can also check out other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice. There’s a certain type of traveler who has spent years quietly furious at the travel-bag industry. One who has stood at luggage carousels watching identical cases circle endlessly; who has wrenched a shoulder hauling a poorly balanced pack through an airport; who has dug desperately through a seemingly bottomless compartment, searching for a specific charging cable tangled-up cord that looks like spaghetti. Thankfully, Cotopaxi’s Allpa Travel Pack Del Día Dark can help solve most of those problems while stashing an impressive amount. (You’re going to have to untangle your own cords.) It might even take the crown from my previous pick for best bag in the world. Now, it’s been eight long years since WIRED reviewed this bag. We loved it then, but in the …

The Osprey Farpoint 40 Has Been My Go-To Travel Bag for 8 Years

The Osprey Farpoint 40 Has Been My Go-To Travel Bag for 8 Years

Published by skeptic

As we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Louryn Strampe raves about her Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack. You can also read other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice. While planning our 20-day trip to Asia in 2018, my boyfriend at the time was adamant that neither of us would check any luggage. As a proud overpacker, this intention both shocked and horrified me. I love options and hate paring things down. I wanted to bring 30 pairs of shoes and 348 pairs of underwear; I certainly did not want to painstakingly build a capsule wardrobe and strategically compile packing cubes. Ultimately, though, I agreed to the single-bag trip, and the Osprey Farpoint 40 quickly converted me to legitimately loving the light-travel life. If you want the perfect backpack, or the most durable suitcase, or the best tote for toting your toteables, my colleagues have plenty of recommendations worth browsing. But if you seek a bag that …

I’ve Tested Dozens of Packing Cubes. Here’s What’s Worth Taking on Your Next Trip

I’ve Tested Dozens of Packing Cubes. Here’s What’s Worth Taking on Your Next Trip

Published by skeptic

Other Great Packing Cubes Photograph: Kat Merck Shacke Pak Packing Cubes for $30 (set of 8): These were pretty good quality for an Amazon brand; there’s a sturdy handle and the material is slightly thicker than other packing cubes at this price point. I like the mix of mesh for breathability and opaque fabric for privacy. They come in nine colors, but the colors are clownishly bright (blue pictured above), and the four-paneled mesh design reminds me of a jock strap. Shacke says it uses YKK zippers on all its packing cubes, but I peeled back the covering on the zipper and could not find a YKK insignia anywhere. Bagsmart Blast Packing Cubes for $50 (set of 5 plus a shoe bag): Bagsmart is a budget brand, but it gets the job done—I quite liked the unique Blast toiletry bag, and these packing cubes are solid as well. The compression works great, the array of sizes that come with the set is useful, and the mesh windows are great for assessing contents at a glance. …

I Never Liked a Laptop Sleeve Until I Tried the Bellroy Laptop Caddy

I Never Liked a Laptop Sleeve Until I Tried the Bellroy Laptop Caddy

Published by skeptic

As we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Luke Larsen raves about his love for his Bellroy Laptop Caddy. You can also check out other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice. I’ve never been someone who uses a laptop sleeve. I’ve tried many of them over the years, but the laptop compartment inside my backpack has always felt secure enough—especially considering I don’t commute or travel much for work. But then, I tested a laptop sleeve that somehow also functioned as a full bag, and it quickly became my daily carry. The sleeve in question is the 16-inch Bellroy Laptop Caddy. Unlike most laptop sleeves, this doesn’t just have a single compartment with a couple of little pockets here and there. The main pocket is quite large and can handle just about any laptop you can imagine, including the chunkiest 16-inch gaming laptops. For a petite computer, like a 13-inch MacBook Air, there’s lots of extra …

In Defense of My Attachment to This Lululemon Duffel Bag (2026)

In Defense of My Attachment to This Lululemon Duffel Bag (2026)

Published by skeptic

As we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Boutayna Chokrane raves about her love for her Lululemon gym bag. You can also check out other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice. I have long had a soft spot for messenger bags. There’s a retro Silicon Valley vibe to the crossbody that I respect: It implies you move fast, travel light, and keep your world compartmentalized. The unfortunate practical reality of many a messenger bag, though, is chronic neck and shoulder pain. With all of its weight relying on one strap, a single shoulder is left to bear all the burden. After a few blocks adorned with a messenger, you may feel that your style choice has transformed into a full-on punishment. After years of testing various incarnations of messenger bag—including micro slings and cavernous totes—I’d made peace with this trade-off. Beauty is pain, after all. Then I met the comfort-forward, durable, and compact-yet-cavernous Lululemon 3-in-1 Duffle. …

Topo Designs Rover Trail Pack Is the Best Backpack I’ve Ever Used

Topo Designs Rover Trail Pack Is the Best Backpack I’ve Ever Used

Published by skeptic

As we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Martin Cizmar raves about his Topo Designs backpack. You can also check out other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice. Topo Designs may just make the best bags in the world. The Denver-based gorpcore brand sells gear that looks cool, lasts forever, and has every feature a sensible person desires in a bag without making the product feel overbuilt. If I ever win the lottery, I won’t tell anyone, but there will be signs—like me hauling groceries from Trader Joe’s in two Mountain Gear bags. (I currently use blue polypropylene Ikea bags and shop at Aldi.) In March, I took a spring break trip to Ireland and Scotland with a carry-on-sized roller bag and the Topo Designs Rover Trail pack as my personal item. I am frequently testing new bags, and I didn’t think much about the decision to commit to the Rover for a week. I quickly …

20+ Best Deals from REI’s Massive Anniversary Sale 2026

20+ Best Deals from REI’s Massive Anniversary Sale 2026

Published by Jenni Sidey

For more scorching deals over the long weekend, head to our complete guide to the best Memorial Day clothing sales. Aside from the savings, one of the nice things about Memorial Day sales is that there really is something for everyone. It’s not all suits, and other classic menswear offerings. Lets say the general outdoors is calling your name like the howl of a siren’s song, well you’re in luck, because REI’s legendary, El Cap-sized Anniversary Sale is underway, and it’s a boomin’. Like, peak California gold rush boomin’. No need for a pickaxe, though, we’ve already surveyed the land and found the standout deals. The outerwear tab, for instance, is over 450 jackets deep, and it’s stocked with all-time hits and sleepers alike. The same goes for the apparel, gear, and shoe sections, which are filled with nuggets of gold. Lucky for you, we’ve sifted through all the sections of the REI sale so you can scroll on down to see what we’ve got our eye on. The Best REI Memorial Day Sales, According …

L.L.Bean’s Zip Hunter’s Tote Is the Only Carryall You Need

L.L.Bean’s Zip Hunter’s Tote Is the Only Carryall You Need

Published by skeptic

Photograph: Michael Calore The walls of the bag are tough enough, made from 1,200-denier polyester, which is heavy-duty and water-resistant, not to mention so rugged that it’s nearly indestructible. I’ve checked it as luggage on a dozen or so flights, and it doesn’t show any scuffs or tears. The zipper at the top isn’t sealed, but it’s heavier than it needs to be and works just fine in the rain. What truly sets the bag apart, though, is its lining. The whole interior of the tote is coated with a thin layer of thermoplastic, further increasing its imperviousness to moisture. Photograph: Michael Calore Photograph: Michael Calore Now, of course, the purpose of this kind of lining is to keep the contents dry when you use the bag in a wet environment, like on a canoe trip, on a rainy bike ride, or on a duck hunt in the Maine wilderness. And surely, I have used the bag in a canoe and on many a rainy bike ride (I’ve never been on a duck hunt), and …