Category Archives: Bags & Luggage

Synapse 25, Tom Bihn, Travel: Packing List, Travel: The Americas, travelbunny, USA, Wisconsin

Packing List: Green Bay, Wi

Final packing list for Green Bay ended up having 2 things I didn’t really need, but when it comes to light layers in the cold, it’s better to have them than not, and since they are light they weigh almost nothing.

It was quite warm when I got there, in the 40’s F, so my uniqlo hoodie was just fine with my merino shirt, my jeans, and my blundstones. I did bring a long packable down coat to wear most the time because the length is really a luxury to have if you insist upon wearing leggings, like I do. 😉 (Yeah I would’ve wore my jeans if it was that cold but frankly my jeans make me cranky. )

Full list:

Plane wear:

Other items:

  • Long sleeve stripey layering shirt
  • Long sleeve tunic
  • Sleep tank and shorts (which can double as layers if we got into the polar vortex situation or had to be outside for any length of time.)
  • Leggings
  • General Leia T-shirt (for theme party)
  • Bombas socks and Ex Officio undies
  • FitKicks for hanging about the hotel
  • Merino scarf
  • Gloves
  • Hat
  • Camp pillow cover (to stuff down coat in for the plane if I wanted a nap)
  • IPad and Apple Pencil

I packed all the clothes in the Tom Bihn packing cube shoulder bag and my toiletries in a #2 sized stuff sack.

Electronics baubles in a 3D clear organizer cube hanging from the rails loops on top (thanks TB forum hacks! Best. Idea. Evar!)

Organizer pouch for headphones and anything I want to carry around for the day (like my Gotcha charger or a spare iPhone cable).

My sleep system extension cord with built in USB chargers and power supply get stowed in a travel cubelet. (I like that I can make either my travel cubelet or my packing cube shoulder bag my purse while I’m there.)

I keep receipts and other flat things in a medium double organizer pouch.

Lip balm and other plane necessities went in the top small zip pocket, straw and water bottle in the deep zip pocket.

Side pocket 1: toiletries (all dry so no need to remove for TSA)

Side pocket 2: shopping bag, USB plug, pens, laundry stain stick (I’m clumsy ;). )

Bottom pocket: snacks and gifties for friends

Main pocket: clothes, down coat (with gloves and hat in the pockets), iPad and sleep system.

NightFlightTravelDuffle, Tom Bihn, Travel: The Americas, travelbunny, Wisconsin

New iPad and Night Flight Travel Duffle

I was happy to have gotten a new iPad for my birthday (and I can use the Apple Pencil now! Great for my design work!) but was bemoaning the fact that my old iPad mini fit so perfectly in my NFTD.

Lo and behold, the new larger iPad tucks in just fine on top! I can live with that 🙂

EDIT: looks like my search fu in the Tom Bihn forums let me down. This (and much more good info) was discussed.  🙂

Bags & Luggage, Synapse 25, TeamUltraviolet, Tom Bihn, Travel: Packing List, travelbunny, Wisconsin

Riding the Rails prep

I’m doing a preliminary pack for a long weekend in February (I’ll be kind of riding the rails so I wanted to be super mobile). I haven’t flown American Eagle with my Aeronaut 30 yet and I didn’t want to take the risk of it being gate checked – because O’Hare airport is consistently the airport of chaos and evil. Instead, I’ll be using my Synapse 25 and I loaded it up with just the basics to see how it feels.

So far I have socks and underwear, a merino wool shirt, pajamas, my sleep system and charging cords in the TB Packing Cube Shoulder Bag and travel cubelet (both in Island blue, either of which can be used as a purse while I’m there), flip flops in a shoe sleeve (from who knows where), my stuff pillow. Not pictured: my little kit that I never go anywhere without as well as my 3D organizer cube that I use as my purse catchall that I will clip into the top of the bag from the cache rails loops. I’ll have a long down coat that packs into its own envelope that will go in there when it arrives, a couple more T-shirts and probably a few more odds and ends or presents that I’m bringing people.

In the front side pocket, I have dry toiletries and a travel towel (see below for a list with linkies) that don’t need to be separated out for TSA.

In the other front side pocket I have a couple of shopping bags, a power plug, a couple of cables and things I might need to get to easily in the airport.

Front small pocket will have my ear buds and some batteries, bigger pocket will have a water bottle and my reusable straw.

The bottom front pocket has snacks (on the plane) and my fold up silicone mug. There will be more food in there before I leave but there’s lots of room left.

I bought the new frame sheet from Tom Bihn recently and I am excited to try it out on the Synapse 25. I already have the frame sheet for the Aeronaut 30. I used it when I went to Detroit last month and it really made a huge difference. (I carried my Aeronaut in Paris and much whining ensued about the long walk with ALL our stuff since the metro station nearest us was closed; the difference between carrying it without the panel vs. with it is incredible!)

I’ve had this backpack for several years now and while I do use it, I don’t use it as regularly as I would if I like the panel as much as I did on my Aeronaut. This might make the difference between being madly in love with it and just thinking it’s pretty cool.

I’ll definitely do a final set of pictures when I get all this packed up, for now, I’m pleased with the set up.

Dry Toiletries:

https://youtu.be/Ynedk112cAw

Eagle Creek, Luggage, reviews, travelbunny

Eagle Creek Travel Bug

I had an earlier version of the travel bug back in the 1990s, so I guess I’ve always had a soft spot for a little day bag that was low profile – and generally made by Eagle Creek 😉

Mostly I need something that I can go hands-free when I’m walking around a travel destination or shopping or just generally going through the airport.

The latest iteration of the travel bug has some great new features. Locking zippers, passport sleeve (the RFID blocking thing has been talked to death and generally proven wrong, but I don’t care, it’s a good pocket with a hook and loop closure to keep my passport from flying around in the pocket.) I’ve got room for my phone battery, a key clip, my regular sized iPad fits in there without taking up all the room, a side pocket AND a zip away water bottle pocket to help keep the profile sleek.

I can fit my day to day survival kit in the bottom of the main compartment as well as a knitting project.

Features

  • PROTECTION: Armed with two-way lockable zippers on the main compartments and two central lock points, this backpack will keep all your belongings safe and secure.
  • PERSONAL SAFETY: Reflective accents throughout the bag with a light attachment loop for nightime visibility ensuring your safety.
  • ORGANIZATION: Each bag includes smart organization features such as; mesh & slip pockets, pen loops & key fob, and a passport sized RFID blocker pocket to help [prevent] ID theft.
  • DIMENSIONS: 9.5 X 15 X 5 in. | 10.5 Liter capacity