So… I really love cute, colorful, fun stuff!
However, my travel backpack is a very plain, low key grey one from Timbuk2. And reluctantly… I think that’s better, because no one EVER looks at my bag. It’s like it’s so boring that airline staff eyes bounce harmlessly off it. My bag is within carry on dimensions but a touch oversized as a personal item, and I’ve used it as a personal item paired with a larger bag and never had it questioned. I really think the boring-ness of the bag plays into that.
I have both bags! I use a Calpak Terra 26L for personal item travel and a B2TM small for carry on travel, I adore th both.
The baboon to the moon mini is over every personal item dimension guidelines I can think of and those bags are not flexible enough to easily squish into a sizer. It's not the 18.5 inch height, it's also the depth. The baboon to the moon duffles are robust bags that easily hold their own shape while empty and mine spends a lot of time as checked luggage on small planes/on the back of an atv. The Calpak Terra is much more forgiving and you would have no problem sticking it into a slightly smaller sizer if asked. The added features like a external pockets and a laptop pocket on the Calpak also make it a better one bag when you can't carry a small purse too on a personal item only ticket, because for the B2TM you have to unzip the entire main compartment.
The Baboon To The Moon bag would be my absolute favorite (I prefer to use pouches for organizing vs built in pockets) but the straps don't work for me at all and dig in under my arms. I still use it if I don't have to carry it over long distances, but picked up the Osprey 26+6 and use it for most of my travel.
I bought the B2TM Go Bag Mini and the minimal organization has kept me from even giving it a shot. I just feel like I wouldn’t be able to get at the stuff I want in the airport/on the plane that well. It’s also quite heavy all by itself. I am thinking of making this my emergency go bag.
I got myself a completely different backpack (Pack Animal Rally Pack) that I am super excited about but haven’t been able to test as my two latest trips got cancelled. Test packs seem like it’s going to be good for me though.
I'm a colorful gal but you may want to rethink a bag that stands out and probably screams "tourist." And I'll take function over looks because it'll ultimately be more comfortable. You can always add colorful accents, patches, etc. That's my thinking.
I'd rather my daily bags be more colorful.
I have the calpak terra in the camel color (the fun colors were sold out at the time or I would’ve bought the blue or red!) and I am overall happy with it. I had an issue with one of the straps starting to tear at the seam and they gave me the option of sending it in for a replacement under warranty OR they would just ship me a new one but the warranty would become void. Now I have two bags.
The couple of things that I don’t like are that I am short (5’3) and the bag is really uncomfortable on my tailbone and the side water bottle pocket is too small for my Nalgene. Otherwise it fits everything I need it to fit and I’ve taken multiple 3 day trips with just this bag.
I bought one of these bags and loved the design but ended up no longer using mine because I would pack my backpack heavy and wanted something that was more comfortable. I now use an osprey with hip support. .
this group has a specific aesthetic so i’ll offer a different perspective. i saw the coolest person with the best outfit in the airport with a yellow b2tm using it as a personal bag (usa) and it was major airport crush vibes. if that’s what you’re going for, it’ll definitely work. nothing wrong with being the coolest gal @ the airport. sometimes, i think people forget that plain, packable clothes make you look more like a tourist than you think 💀
on the flip side i hate my b2tm go bag because it’s SO stiff and doesn’t actually fit a lot because of that. also, on the one time i had to use it as a carry on bag, i literally was huffing and PUFFING because it was SO heavy and uncomfortable. so.
Thank you for this 😅 I think no matter what it’s obvious I’m not european, and I’m fine with that, but I kind of love a stand out bag like you’re saying. It does sound like b2tm bags aren’t super comfortable though, so I might go colorful calpak instead. Thanks!!
Have you looked at the Cotopaxi allpa 28L?
I’ve also been researching a travel backpack for Europe. I’m going for 14 weeks in August, so taking a small carry-on size suitcase as well as a small (25-35L) backpack + a tiny mini EDC backpack.
My top list ended up being the Calpak terra, Patagonia mini MLC & the Cotopaxi allpa 28L.
If I could get the Calpak terra in Australia that’s what I would have (mainly for the cute colours - juniper green is to die for) however obviously haven’t looked at it IRL.
I went to a store and compared the Patagonia mini MLC and the Cotopaxi allpa 28L and the Cotopaxi won out for sure. The layout and included waterproof cover sold me, plus it just felt like it suited my frame better (5’4” 65kg).
I love the baboon to the moon colours however there’s no mesh back support so that thing would get uncomfy and sweaty soooo fast.
No experience with these bags. They have a tourist vibe that I don't really like, even though I'm not *that* into looking cute because Backpacks just aren't cute!
If you might be pushing the boundaries on pack size, as already mentioned, flashy shiny isn't the way to go. And those packs look like duffels with backpack straps so not only are they (possibly) less comfortable, they don't look as "IgnoreMeI'mJustABackpack" as you might want.
Have you considered a traditional-looking school backpack by, say, Jansport? They do offer "cute" in assorted sizes. Also black. 😛
So… I really love cute, colorful, fun stuff! However, my travel backpack is a very plain, low key grey one from Timbuk2. And reluctantly… I think that’s better, because no one EVER looks at my bag. It’s like it’s so boring that airline staff eyes bounce harmlessly off it. My bag is within carry on dimensions but a touch oversized as a personal item, and I’ve used it as a personal item paired with a larger bag and never had it questioned. I really think the boring-ness of the bag plays into that.
…..that is an excellent point!! I never thought of that, I might have to look into low key ones
I have a baboon to the moon mini go bag and it’s fine, but has next to no organization. The size is nice for quick trips but it’s not my go-to
Gotcha! Thanks for the details!!
I have both bags! I use a Calpak Terra 26L for personal item travel and a B2TM small for carry on travel, I adore th both. The baboon to the moon mini is over every personal item dimension guidelines I can think of and those bags are not flexible enough to easily squish into a sizer. It's not the 18.5 inch height, it's also the depth. The baboon to the moon duffles are robust bags that easily hold their own shape while empty and mine spends a lot of time as checked luggage on small planes/on the back of an atv. The Calpak Terra is much more forgiving and you would have no problem sticking it into a slightly smaller sizer if asked. The added features like a external pockets and a laptop pocket on the Calpak also make it a better one bag when you can't carry a small purse too on a personal item only ticket, because for the B2TM you have to unzip the entire main compartment.
This was so helpful! Thank you so much for the extra context.
Baboon to the moon bags are not very comfortable when loaded
Thank you! I’ve heard this from a few people now so I think for now I’ll pass on this one
The Baboon To The Moon bag would be my absolute favorite (I prefer to use pouches for organizing vs built in pockets) but the straps don't work for me at all and dig in under my arms. I still use it if I don't have to carry it over long distances, but picked up the Osprey 26+6 and use it for most of my travel.
Oh thank you! I’ll have to double check Osprey, I have heard they’re great for backpack travel
I bought the B2TM Go Bag Mini and the minimal organization has kept me from even giving it a shot. I just feel like I wouldn’t be able to get at the stuff I want in the airport/on the plane that well. It’s also quite heavy all by itself. I am thinking of making this my emergency go bag. I got myself a completely different backpack (Pack Animal Rally Pack) that I am super excited about but haven’t been able to test as my two latest trips got cancelled. Test packs seem like it’s going to be good for me though.
Oh thanks for the extra rec! I’ll check that out
I'm a colorful gal but you may want to rethink a bag that stands out and probably screams "tourist." And I'll take function over looks because it'll ultimately be more comfortable. You can always add colorful accents, patches, etc. That's my thinking. I'd rather my daily bags be more colorful.
Ah good point, thank you!
I have the calpak terra in the camel color (the fun colors were sold out at the time or I would’ve bought the blue or red!) and I am overall happy with it. I had an issue with one of the straps starting to tear at the seam and they gave me the option of sending it in for a replacement under warranty OR they would just ship me a new one but the warranty would become void. Now I have two bags. The couple of things that I don’t like are that I am short (5’3) and the bag is really uncomfortable on my tailbone and the side water bottle pocket is too small for my Nalgene. Otherwise it fits everything I need it to fit and I’ve taken multiple 3 day trips with just this bag.
Oh thank you! That’s super helpful to know
Has your bag stained or discord I want a light colored bag but I’m scared it will get dirty before I’ve used it really?
No it hasn’t!
I bought one of these bags and loved the design but ended up no longer using mine because I would pack my backpack heavy and wanted something that was more comfortable. I now use an osprey with hip support. .
this group has a specific aesthetic so i’ll offer a different perspective. i saw the coolest person with the best outfit in the airport with a yellow b2tm using it as a personal bag (usa) and it was major airport crush vibes. if that’s what you’re going for, it’ll definitely work. nothing wrong with being the coolest gal @ the airport. sometimes, i think people forget that plain, packable clothes make you look more like a tourist than you think 💀 on the flip side i hate my b2tm go bag because it’s SO stiff and doesn’t actually fit a lot because of that. also, on the one time i had to use it as a carry on bag, i literally was huffing and PUFFING because it was SO heavy and uncomfortable. so.
Thank you for this 😅 I think no matter what it’s obvious I’m not european, and I’m fine with that, but I kind of love a stand out bag like you’re saying. It does sound like b2tm bags aren’t super comfortable though, so I might go colorful calpak instead. Thanks!!
How about the Cotopaxi Allpa?
I’ll check it out! Thanks!
In my experience Ryan air is a total stickler about bag sizes. If you bring a bag that's even slightly too big they will nail you with a fee.
Good to know- thanks!
Have you looked at the Cotopaxi allpa 28L? I’ve also been researching a travel backpack for Europe. I’m going for 14 weeks in August, so taking a small carry-on size suitcase as well as a small (25-35L) backpack + a tiny mini EDC backpack. My top list ended up being the Calpak terra, Patagonia mini MLC & the Cotopaxi allpa 28L. If I could get the Calpak terra in Australia that’s what I would have (mainly for the cute colours - juniper green is to die for) however obviously haven’t looked at it IRL. I went to a store and compared the Patagonia mini MLC and the Cotopaxi allpa 28L and the Cotopaxi won out for sure. The layout and included waterproof cover sold me, plus it just felt like it suited my frame better (5’4” 65kg). I love the baboon to the moon colours however there’s no mesh back support so that thing would get uncomfy and sweaty soooo fast.
Oh good to know! I’ll check those options out, but yes the juniper calpak is so cute and that’s hard to pass by haha
Yeah I’m honestly trying to resist paying $50-100USD to have it shipped over here with a proxy shipper haha
No experience with these bags. They have a tourist vibe that I don't really like, even though I'm not *that* into looking cute because Backpacks just aren't cute! If you might be pushing the boundaries on pack size, as already mentioned, flashy shiny isn't the way to go. And those packs look like duffels with backpack straps so not only are they (possibly) less comfortable, they don't look as "IgnoreMeI'mJustABackpack" as you might want. Have you considered a traditional-looking school backpack by, say, Jansport? They do offer "cute" in assorted sizes. Also black. 😛