I’ve been carrying the identical Patagonia Toromiro for one of the 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 worldwide journey, espresso store work periods, and numerous journeys (it nearly holds sufficient for per week away, and nonetheless suits below an airline seat). It’s easy, robust, and purposeful.
However not too long ago 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 rather a lot, and that it’d lastly be time to switch 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: one of the best place to search out recommendation wasn’t gear overview websites, it was my colleagues. Distant staff take their luggage severely, and each alternative carries a mixture of practicality, style, and classes realized the exhausting manner.
Right here’s what I realized from my teammates at Buffer about one of the best luggage for distant work.
Model vs. perform (or each?)
One massive theme that got here by clearly from my colleagues is {that a} bag must work exhausting and look good. Tami, for instance, makes use of two completely different luggage relying on the context: an Away Lively Daypack for journey, and a Manu Atelier Le Cambon when she’s “working exterior” regionally. “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. “Actually, it’s not very sensible,” he admitted, “however I simply do it as a result of I believe it’s higher trying. I’m prioritizing vogue over assured practicality.”
Suzanne, in the meantime, has discovered the candy spot. Her CALPAK Kaya offers her “fashion and performance,” carrying all the pieces 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!”
Generally one of the best bag alternative isn’t deliberate in any respect. Arek purchased a Jack Wolfskin TRT 65L mountaineering pack, which got here with a removable 10L daypack. He solely used the massive mountaineering bag a few times, however the small removable backpack turned his on a regular basis companion, touring with him all over the world. 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 hooked up to it.
Luggage with historical past
One other shock was simply how lengthy a few of these luggage 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 search 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 faculty, now 19 years outdated and nonetheless in common rotation for journey. And Eric caught along with his Moshi bag for six years, solely switching not too long ago after the zipper lastly gave out – although in a testomony to high quality, the corporate changed the entire thing below its 10-year guarantee.
Clearly, it’s not simply me who’s hanging on to a much-loved bag.
Packing habits and exhausting classes
My colleagues aren’t simply choosy about their luggage; they’re additionally stuffed 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 fanatics, additionally rapidly realized to double-check his zippers after a digicam lens virtually 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 method is to make use of the identical packing listing each journey, at all times placing a very powerful gadgets (passport, pockets, cellphone) on the prime of each the listing and her bag, a North Face Jester backpack, in order that they’re straightforward to examine off and seize rapidly.
A number of folks shared classes about packing much less. “At all times 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 items or purchases alongside the best way. Nearly everybody talked about water resistance as non-negotiable, whether or not to outlive a wet commute or simply the inevitable spilled espresso. And Eric presents essentially the most pragmatic tip of all: “At all times put a few pairs of underwear and a charger in your backpack when 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 precise bag is about greater than specs. For distant staff, a bag turns into a part of day by day rituals and large adventures, carrying not simply laptops and chargers however years of recollections.
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 a little bit battered, it does the job. When the time comes to switch it, I’ll have loads of inspiration from my teammates – right here’s my guidelines for my subsequent distant bag:
Is there capability for surprising extras (like items or gear)?Is it water resistant sufficient for rain (or spilled espresso)?Does it have compartments the place I want them, with out an excessive amount of “faff”?Does it hit the candy spot of appears to be like, practicality, and sturdiness?Will it survive years of journey, and does it have a strong 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 strong returns coverage?
