Sky Travel Luggage Review is an honest, personal (yes, not a sponsored post) review. 

I know how important a good bag is for month-long trips. I know I could not use my old and well-used Jester for this trip. So I kept on checking the outdoor shops to look for that perfect love. I intended to buy a backpack, because you know, I consider myself a backpacker. But a high-quality backpack ironically is not cheap; it can cost P8, 000 or more. Another thing to consider is my problematic lower back, which refrains me from carrying heavy load for long. I have no plans of checking any luggage in either, for several reasons: my luggage might get lost; I have no patience locating the luggage ramp (we’re talking about international airports here) and waiting for my own luggage, and I can save some pesos.

These are the factors to consider in finding my perfect match. Just like any affairs, our meeting was serendipitous  ;-). I was grocery-shopping then when I passed by the luggage section of the department store. The salesman eagerly demonstrated the function of the luggage to his customer with the enthusiasm of a person who trusts the product he is selling. And there, I found my backpack that functions and looks like a luggage.

I find the luggage function rather helpful especially in walking the city streets in Bangkok (Thailand), Danang (Vietnam), and Luang Prabang (Laos) while looking for an affordable accommodation. The backpack straps are sturdy enough when I had to sprint to secure seats for Tobi and me.

I do not want to be that traveler in Bangkok who had a hard time lugging her huge luggage to our bus to Chiang Mai with regret and embarrassment in her face. 

My usual getup everyday. With me was a foldable tote.

BAG FEATURES I LOVE

1. 1.Two front pockets

I used the smaller pocket for my slippers, raincoats, and wet face towel secured in a plastic, the bigger for my bras and chargers, and poetry book and diary.

2. Main house
There is an appropriate pouch for my netbook and tablet. With the “systematic” packing I come up with, it was easier to compartmentalize my clothes, camera, and pouches in the main room. During my six-day trip to Japan earlier this month, I still had a lot of space, which allowed me to bring a big bag of mitan (seedless relatively small oranges), the produce Onomichi, Hiroshima is known for.

3. Handle

The handle can be hidden and zipped in if I use it as a backpack. Here is one of the minor flaws I have noticed in the bag: the handle’s head is sometimes stuck under the zipper area. I sometimes worry that I might damage the zipper. But aside from that, it was easy to wheel the luggage around with the single handle.

4. Wheels

My luggage can weigh up to 13kg, but fortunately, the wheels could handle it wheel, I mean, well. The downside is that sometimes, the bottom cannot handle the burgeoning body of the bag that it sometimes topple over if I do not hold the bag.

5. Fabric

The bag is made of supertough nylon and waterproof material. But I do not really trust its waterproof capability, I still brought a drybag for my cameras and laptops in case I get caught in the rain while looking for a cheap accommodation.

My bag was like a pregnant woman about to labor!

6. Size

This is a big factor for me. As I mentioned earlier, I do not want to check in my bag, so I need a bag that does not violate the cabin baggage allowance. The ideal bag’s dimension for a handcarry is 56cm X 36cm X 23cm, and fortunately this is the exact size of my bag.  In Yangon International Airport, the baggage boy noticed the size of my bag and insisted I should have it measured. Of course, after five-weeks of traveling, I had two things added to my luggage: Doi Chang coffee beans and tea from Inle market. And my bag was like a pregnant woman about to labor! I insisted that it fits in the cabin, it has so for the past four weeks. I must look tired—I would like to believe,charming—that he allowed me to hand-carry my bag.

7. Price

It was way cheaper than a backpack! I alloted P6,000 (US135), but I only shelled out P3000 (US$70). Steal!

VERDICT:

The bag suits my needs. I dabble in big cities and quaint countryside. I had no major misadventures with my backpack/luggage. I like its looks. With my luggage, I did not look like a smelly backpacker who has not seen a shower for a week.

But if you intend to trek with your bag, this is not the right bag for that. In my case, I brought a foldable dry bag which I used for day treks in Luang Prabang, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai.

Jona of Backpacking with a Book

Hi there, I’m Jona, originally from Cebu, Philippines, had live in Hanoi, Vietnam, and now currently based in Munich, Germany. This blog used to house thoughts on life and books, but eventually it morphed into a travel blog. For collaborations, projects, and other things, please email me at backpackingwithabook@gmail.com. For essays, creative nonfiction, and others, find me elsewhere.

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