I’ve been carrying the identical Patagonia Toromiro for the very best a part of a decade.
I purchased it forward of our firm retreat in Madrid greater than eight years in the past, and since then it’s been a devoted companion by means of worldwide journey, espresso store work periods, and numerous journeys (it nearly holds sufficient for every week away, and nonetheless suits beneath an airline seat). It’s easy, robust, and practical.
However lately it’s began to indicate its age, helped alongside by my canine, who chewed on the straps throughout his teething part. These little scars make me smile now, however they’re additionally a reminder that this bag has been by means of quite a bit, and that it would lastly be time to exchange it.
My first thought was to purchase the identical bag once more. However after I found Patagonia had discontinued the Toromiro, I began trying to find another.
Forward of our most up-to-date firm retreat, it hit me: the very best place to seek out recommendation wasn’t gear evaluation websites, it was my colleagues. Distant staff take their baggage severely, and each selection carries a mixture of practicality, style, and classes realized the arduous means.
Right here’s what I realized from my teammates at Buffer about the very best baggage for distant work.
Type vs. operate (or each?)
One huge theme that got here by means of clearly from my colleagues is {that a} bag must work arduous and look good. Tami, for instance, makes use of two completely different baggage relying on the context: an Away Lively Daypack for journey, and a Manu Atelier Le Cambon when she’s “working outdoors” domestically. “Backpacks are too ‘highschool’ for me,” she joked, although she admits the consolation trade-off is value it when touring.
Diego additionally prioritizes aesthetics. He carries a Coach purse for day-to-day use, pairing it with a Muji carry-on when touring. “Truthfully, it’s not very sensible,” he admitted, “however I simply do it as a result of I feel it’s higher wanting. I’m prioritizing style over assured practicality.”
Suzanne, in the meantime, has discovered the candy spot. Her CALPAK Kaya offers her “model and performance,” carrying the whole lot she wants however nothing extra, retaining it light-weight and simple to make use of. As she places it: “I get a great deal of compliments on it!”
Typically the very best bag selection isn’t deliberate in any respect. Arek purchased a Jack Wolfskin TRT 65L climbing pack, which got here with a removable 10L daypack. He solely used the massive climbing bag a couple of times, however the small removable backpack turned his on a regular basis companion, touring with him world wide. It suits his laptop computer, works nice for metropolis life and hikes, and even has enjoyable extras like a built-in bottle opener. His associates say he’s completely connected to it.
Baggage with historical past
One other shock was simply how lengthy a few of these baggage have lasted. Octa has been utilizing the identical Incase shoulder bag for 11 years. It’s compact, sturdy, and nonetheless protects his laptop computer—he as soon as noticed it fall from an airplane overhead bin, solely to seek out the laptop computer unhurt.
Hailley has carried her Knomo Beauchamp Backpack 14 for practically a decade and nonetheless loves its timeless design and practicality. Suzanne nonetheless owns her North Face backpack from school, now 19 years previous and nonetheless in common rotation for journey. And Eric caught together with his Moshi bag for six years, solely switching lately after the zipper lastly gave out – although in a testomony to high quality, the corporate changed the entire thing beneath its 10-year guarantee.
Clearly, it’s not simply me who’s hanging on to a much-loved bag.
Packing habits and arduous classes
My colleagues aren’t simply choosy about their baggage; they’re additionally filled with intelligent ideas and tales, which turned out to be the insightful a part of our conversations. Amanda realised that her new Stubble & Co bag had a facet zip to the laptop computer compartment when her laptop computer practically slipped out of it. A fast catch saved it from teammates who noticed it about to fall. Andy, one in all Buffer’s many images fans, additionally rapidly realized to double-check his zippers after a digital camera lens nearly fell out of his Peak Design backpack mid-trip.
Daisy swears by compartments: her Blast Fast Entry backpack has made her, in her phrases, “a company nerd,” retaining necessities like chargers, passport, and headphones precisely the place she wants them. Kelly’s strategy is to make use of the identical packing listing each journey, at all times placing crucial objects (passport, pockets, telephone) on the high of each the listing and her bag, a North Face Jester backpack, in order that they’re simple to examine off and seize rapidly.
A number of individuals shared classes about packing much less. “All the time pack lower than you assume you want,” says Hailley. Tami echoed this: “I’ve slowly been unlearning overpacking.” Diego takes this additional, suggesting leaving as much as 1 / 4 of your bag empty to create space for presents or purchases alongside the best way. Virtually everybody talked about water resistance as non-negotiable, whether or not to outlive a wet commute or simply the inevitable spilled espresso. And Eric gives essentially the most pragmatic tip of all: “All the time put a few pairs of underwear and a charger in your backpack should you’re flying – you by no means know in case your suitcase will go lacking.”
My takeaway
Speaking to my colleagues jogged my memory that the fitting bag is about greater than specs. For distant staff, a bag turns into a part of every day rituals and massive adventures, carrying not simply laptops and chargers however years of reminiscences.
For now, my Toromiro is sticking with me. It’s had a little bit of a clean up within the washer, and though it’s nonetheless slightly battered, it does the job. When the time comes to exchange it, I’ll have loads of inspiration from my teammates – right here’s my guidelines for my subsequent distant bag:
- Is there capability for sudden extras (like presents or gear)?
- Is it waterproof sufficient for rain (or spilled espresso)?
- Does it have compartments the place I would like them, with out an excessive amount of “faff”?
- Does it hit the candy spot of appears, practicality, and sturdiness?
- Will it survive years of journey, and does it have a stable guarantee?
- Do zippers, straps, and closures really feel dependable?
- If I can’t test it out in actual life earlier than buying, is there a stable returns coverage?
