TRAVEL BACKPACKS:
When traveling for the first time, some people ask friends and family all the questions. Some people don’t ask anyone because they want to just go, go how they go and figure it all out themselves. Do what works for you. I’m neither of those people. I kind of do my own research and don’t listen to all the negativity. You know when you read those Amazon reviews and the 1st 10 are horrible. But, then you ask yourself “could it all be the same idiot”. I like reviews, but then you need to understand a product or know what your intentions are using it. So ask questions, but do your own digging around.
Our trip to Italy December 2019 – We were all about saving every penny we could. We always are. We are that family. I’m not embarrassed to say that. It’s just who we are, we aren’t sitting in a bunch of every dough kinda family….we are usually stepping in a pile of dog sh*t in our new shoes kinda family. Actually, the kids all still laugh and love telling everyone our Boston to Orlando road trip rules. We would only stop (all 6 of us driving) when Mike had to fill up the gas tank. Normally every 4 hours. Everyone had to pee or poop on that stop, no exceptions lol. We would also hit Wendy’s and the kids were all allowed to get “3” items off the value menu. The girls still say Michael is mom’s favorite. That’s because Michael was allowed to order “4” items lol. He was a growing pre-teen/teenage boy and I knew he’d eat it. I think the new owners of our old Ford Expedition still find chicken nuggets in the back seat from the twins lol. Ok, back to Italy. We told the kids we were NOT paying to check bags, NOPE. Everyone had to fit 10 days of a wardrobe into your carry-ons. And we were not getting a rental car either. We would be walking the streets of Rome and Florence…..pulling these carry-on suitcases. It is completely doable for most. For us, again all of us except Mike have had major vascular surgery. So dragging carry-on luggage up hill, down hill and over the river and through the woods….not all all recommended. See photos from the 12/2019 trip. I will be honest now. One day leaving Lucca (In Tuscany) where Kailee and I had stayed for 4 nights before Mike, Ashtyn and Brett arrived…we were walking back from our Airbnb to the train station. Probably 2-3 miles maybe? I had just had my 4th surgery in October and it was now December. I should not have been carrying anything, never mind lugging a carry on suitcase. I had a full blown mental breakdown on the streets of Lucca at 5:00 am. Thank God the town was still sleeping. It was not pretty.
This trip, I did my research. I read travel blogs on the best travel backpacks out there. Kailee always does her due diligence too. What I thought was, if you can keep the luggage close to your body and not drag it all around…it should be better 🙂 The last trip we had also taken public transportation. Mainly the train. Lugging all the carry-on’s on the train plus everyone’s personal item (pocketbook or smaller backpack) was just so much to maneuver. So, I was so excited to get Mike and I our travel backpacks.
….Back it up a bit. February 2019 Kailee had gone to China with her bestie Jessica. My best friend Kim’s daughter. Kim and I and the girls drove from Sandwich, Ma. to Freeport, Me. to the LL.Bean store. We both got the girls the Osprey with a removable day backpack. We paid about $180-$200.00 I believe. The girls used these going to China and they really like them. You just have to be aware of the dimensions for domestic and international travel for carry on size. Actually on our trip in 2019, Mike used Kailee’s as his luggage and he loved it. But, you know men, they can pack 2 pairs of underwear, a pair of jeans and shirt and call it a day. I tend to bring EVERYTHING… ‘just in case” and then I wear absolutely none of it. I wear the same 3 outfits without fail. I definitely overpack. Every single flipping time!
Christmas 2020 I decided to take advantage of the close out sales and started looking for our travel backpacks. What I found to be the best reviews were from TORTUGA. What I loved about them in reading the product; it had extra thick padded shoulder straps and it buckles at the waist. This design is suppose to offload the pressure from your shoulders, and divert it to your waist. For me personally, a 47 year old who has had 4 major vascular surgeries I feel I can review this product now. I had mine packed to the gills. Like busting out packed. I believe the international carry-on limit is 23 pounds. Mine was 22.99999999. When I wore it walking through JFK for 20 minutes from gate to gate, it was hurting my scapula on my left side. When I was not briskly walking like I was in the Boston Marathon….and just standing still, it wasn’t heavy at all. It fit everything very nice and organized. This particular backpack zips open like a suitcase. It has a padded compartment for your laptop as well. A great design feature it has a water bottle holder on the outside. Remember, you can bring your favorite empty water bottle and fill it at the filling station at your gate. Most airports have this. Don’t spend $5.00 on a bottle of water. Bring your own bottle. This backpack is called their “Setout”. And we purposely bought the international travel one. It was a little smaller dimensions, but we didn’t want to ever have to check a bag again for $100.00. I didn’t find this backpack to be anymore than the L.L. Bean one, and I thought the features were better. It also has on either hip a zipped pocket to hold your phone or passport for easy reach going through security etc. I really have no complaints with it. I ordered mine in black and I ordered Mike’s in blue. The blue was discounted to $99. What did he care what color his backpack was, he didn’t and it save me $100!!
I overall would give this backpack 1-10…… for me a 10.
TRAVEL SANDALS/SHOES
Ok, who has ever bought a new pair of something….boots, shoes, sneakers or sandals for your trip and BAM you get the worst blisters. This girl!! Kailee had bought London Fog rain boots, the low ones. I had tried them on and they were so comfortable. I ordered a pair to wear for our trip in 2019. I met Kailee in London for 4 days and then we flew together back to Venice, Italy. One day in London we actually walked 15+ miles. My dogs were BARKING. Like blown out busting blisters. My feet hurt so bad. And I had only brought those rainboots with me and a pair of flats. Big mistake. So this trip I did my research again. I found these Merrell “Women’s Around Town Backstrap Sandal”. Let me tell you how amazing they were. I have a pretty big foot, I’m a 10 wide. I was hesitant on getting these because of the width only coming in a regular size. I got them right before we left and they fit like I had already broken them in. I even think they are stylish too!! Again, I’m not 25…but I’m not 85 either. Always choose comfort first, then style. There is nothing and I repeat nothing worse than being away and having foot problems. I also had just been recovering from a torn ankle ligament. I fell down 2 stairs back in November and literally blew my ankle out. I couldn’t walk on it at all. I was on a scooter thing for what, 4-6 weeks followed by a boot and then brace. I was still in a brace leaving for Italy. I was actually so worried about my ankle on the trip. I didn’t wear the brace going through security because I knew it would set everything off from past experience with my wrist brace. So, I took it off and actually wearing these sandals it didn’t fit. So I kept it off….the whole trip. Honest to God, my ankle held up and felt absolutely great! These sandals were fantastic!!!
I overall would give these sandals 1-10 for me…. a 10.
EXTRA LUGGAGE
Mike and I decided to check 2 bags on our departing flight with Delta. We both had a 1st checked bag fee of $60.00. Not so bad to bring all the extra things along. We had no idea where we would find anything. Mike checked some tools from home, incase he couldn’t find something when we arrived. I checked curtains, bedding etc., clothes I was going to keep there. We brought a large suitcase to leave in Italy. We didn’t want to pay the $60.00 to bring it back, so that was staying. Then we decided why not bring a duffle bag for the other checked bag. You know how suitcases weigh 5-10 pounds themselves. When you’re going International every pound matters. So we got a very cheap but very durable duffle bag from Walmart. I believe it was $15.00 and I was able to jam it full and it still only weighed 20 pounds I believe. I highly recommend if you are considering checking a bag, and you can maneuver a duffle bag…it’s a great option. We were able to stuff it in Mike’s backpack on our return. So, now we have it here at home for the next trip. Remember whatever you bring there, you have to bring home. Unless you plan to leave luggage at your new home in Italy!! This worked for us!!
Duffle bag ….1 to 10….for me 10.
HEADPHONES
We are not “Beats” kinda people. We don’t have an extra few hundred for headphones. I found these on Amazon as well. Cowin E7 noise cancelling headphones. They are excellent. Very easy to connect to bluetooth. Have a soft padded earpad. Very comfortable and worked excellent. Charge was great for our long haul. We never had any issues with these. I paid $49.99 and had absolutely no complaints.
Headphones 1 to 10…for us 10.
