“Long live the king of the long weekend!” I say this to myself at the end of a very fun, but busy year of – you guessed it – long weekends. I love to travel and I’m a sucker for those last minute deals and those forgotten future plans that sneak up on you.
Lots of getaways does mean lots of practice at the most humbling of tasks – packing. A friend once said to me “it’s just chucking stuff in a bag”, and he’s not wrong, but I’ve come to learn there are levels to it. It was during this busy year I discovered packing cubes, a small pack within my packing to keep me organised. Innovation is often quite simple. Now, how do I combine the magic of a packing cube with the efficiency and mobility of a backpack? Enter Bellroy and their Lite Travel Pack 30L. Let’s see if this travel bag can handle my packing.
Build and design
Sporting 3 colours: Ash, Black and Clay and 2 sizes: 30L and 38L, the Lite Travel Pack is made with a durable Dura Lite Nylon, which in essence means it’s tough (and water resistant) but without the weight. The 30L weighs only 950g! Bellroy wants you carrying luggage not your bag. Care and craft have gone into its construction, keeping the dimensions in check with a structured shape so that it holds form when not fully packed; and when it is, it’ll snug perfectly under a seat or in the overhead. A carry-on backpack by design and execution. The final sweetener? It is made from eco-friendly materials, such as upcycled plastic bottles, nylon offcuts and is completely leather free. So, if you’re into sustainable travel gear, you’re in luck.
Features
How much thought goes into making a functional travel bag? When it comes to the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack – it turns out a lot. Bells and whistles, you can pack them all.
I’ll start on the outside and work my way in. On the back: Comfy – all-day bearable – shoulder straps that can be tucked away for tangle free storage (or if you want a sort of briefcase backpack hybrid). Luggage pass-through so you can hook the bag over the handle of any wheel-based suitcases. Discreet 16 inch laptop pocket separate from the main storage.
On the front: A quick-access top pocket, the brain of the bag. Great for anything you need in a pinch, passport, tissues, keys (included is a key tether to keep them accounted for), small headphones etc. Below the brain is the belly. Another external pocket for a lite jacket, sweater, book and tablet; your more medium sized possessions you want to grab on the go. Finally, a few attachment loops you can use to add any Bellroy accessories you might have or anything else you want on the outside.
Now heading inside. The backpage opens suitcase-style so it can be laid flat for easy and organised packing.
On the left: The space is divided into a lower mesh covered packing cube, about 2/3rds the size of the main compartment and an upper pocket perfect for your socks, undies or toiletries.
On the right: The headline act, your main compartment with a mesh cover so it also acts as a giant packing cube. Depending on how much stuff you’re bringing, this leaves room for things to sit between the two halves when it’s zipped up, such as a water bottle.
Real-life use
After all my bragging I don’t really have anywhere to go in these cold dark months, so I’ve been putting the Lite Travel 30L through its paces in my day-to-day routine.
First up I chucked a couple of fictitious holidays at it – packing up for a long weekend across various seasons. Shoes were a consideration; I have some size 11 flippers and the end of my legs so bringing an extra pair is always a faff for me. Not for Bellroy, I comfortably filled it with some trainers, a pair of jeans, a couple of T-shirts, a hoodie and a shirt all in the main compartment. Enough (and an extra pair) pants and socks for 4ish days and lounging/sleeping shorts in the front packing cube. This left toiletries for the top inner compartment, they were loose in there, which was fine for me, but a toiletries bag might have pushed it. So, what’s left? Chargers, books and miscellaneous items all within easy access on the two front pouches. You can’t help but be organised due to the design of this eco-friendly bag, big win there.
If you’re looking for a commuter-esq work backpack, perhaps the Lite Travel Pack is not for you, but the clue is in the name. The organised structure and sheer volume of the bag might be a little overkill for a laptop, packed lunch and a Kindle. However, when I head into the office I like to bring some workout gear with me, so I’m forced to go to the gym. The packing cubes approach comes back into play and lets me separate the shorts from the spreadsheets. Top tip that’ll make your mum proud – keep a couple of tumble dryer sheets in the compartments to keep everything smelling fresh.
To round off my experience of using this bag over the last few weeks, a stranger said out loud “that’s a very organised bag”, while observing me sorting out all my stuff. Kind of all you need to hear.
The brand
Bellroy is an Australian brand started back in 2010 focusing on the intersection of the 3-way Venn diagram that is functionality, style and sustainability. They’re design-driven, but ethically responsible backed up by their certification as a B Corp company. Bellroy offers a range of products for your on-the-go lifestyle, including wallets, bags and accessories, designed to streamline daily essentials and enhance travel experiences.
If you’re planning your next adventure or looking for the perfect gift for that loved one with itchy feet, you’d do well to check out the Lite Travel Pack starting from £185. You can find it along with the entire Bellroy range at: www.bellroy.com.
Author Bio:
Sam Brady is a London based freelance writer and photographer covering travel and lifestyle.
Photographs courtesy of Bellroy
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