After all that research on what backpack to bring backpacking as an adult, I went rogue and backed the Briidgs ($150) on Kickstarter (where it was $90), which arrived—as promised—one day before my trip. I love it. Here’s why I picked it:
- Size: starts at 30L, can expand to 39L
- Straps/function: can be carried as a duffel, with the backpack straps stowed; can be backpacked, with the duffel strap stowed
- Suitcase feel: the zip open-lay flat combo lets you look at
all your stuff!
What’s special about this trip is the variety of activities: I needed to be on the go for a week of solo travel including a 21km walk with the pack and other loose itineraries, then presentable for a five-day circling festival with my brother, then another few days of adventuring, THEN A WEDDING back in the states. So the bag had to be mega-functional but I did NOT want to look like a backpacker. Briidgs delivered.
As for the packing list? The full packing list is HERE. With the same challenges, everything I packed needed to be not only culled down, but good-lookin’ and multi-purpose. One of the coolest parts about the Briidgs backpack was that after the wedding, where I collected the following items, it expanded to 39L and I still made it home with all my stuff (and got to pack my sneaks and wear my flips!) Pretty damn impressive.
Wedding weekend additions:
+ gown for wedding
+ 5-inch heels for wedding
+ flats for when I tire of heels at the wedding
+ short dress for rehearsal
+ platform heels purchased at target the night before for rehearsal
+ one purse also purchased at target
+ a disco ball tiara (thanks Chiv for the happy bday)
= adding 3 pairs of shoes and 2 dresses
Briidgs backpack hack tip: it does NOT have a hip strap, but you can rig the duffel trap into a hip strap and it works pretty well!