Gadling Gear: Deuter Futura 28 Backpack (Warning: Not for Heavy Packers)

by Tynan on

In the (very near) future I’m going to write a comprehensive article about why and how to pack light, so make sure you’re RSSed up and ready for that in the next week or two.

Consider this the prequel. The most important part of packing light is the bag, and I’m proud to say that I’ve found the ultimate bag for packing light, the Deuter Futura 28.

I found the Deuter Futura 28 by accident. I was at Whole Earth Provisions in Austin, Texas, getting ready for my 10 month trip around the world. I needed a bag.

I looked at the North Face bags, the Osprey bags, the Arcteryx bags, and all of the other usual suspects. None of them stood out.

As I was about to leave I saw a bag tucked away in the far corner. It was pushed back into the rack so that only someone obsessively evaluating every single bag would find it. That’s me.

I had never heard of Deuter, so I assumed they must be some no name budget brand. After just a few minutes of examination, though, I realized just how wrong I was. This was the ultimate bag for the light packer.

What makes the Deuter so unique?

First, and most striking, the Deuter has an “AirComfort” suspension system. In a nutshell this is a lightweight steel spring frame that pushes the bag off of the back and creates an airspace between the wearer and the bag. Sweaty back? Not anymore.

Besides keeping you cool, the AirComfort system also makes the bag more comfortable to wear by creating a bit of a suspension system. It’s not bulky and heavy like a camping backpack, but it serves much of the same function.

An unadvertised benefit that you only discover through real world use is that you can put the bag straps-down in a puddle or wet surface and it won’t seep into the bag and drench everything.

The Deuter has two openings, one at the top and one at the bottom. That means that your days of digging way deep into the bag trying to find something at the bottom are over. There’s also a divider in the middle that, once zipped, separates the bag into two compartments, one on top of the other.

I leave my bag in this configuration most of the time. It makes it easy to use one compartment as a stuff sack for stuff you won’t use often (rain gear, cot, etc), while leaving the other compartment nice and easy to work with.

A rain cover is built into the bottom of the pack in it’s own little pocket, ready to be used as soon as you need it. Unzip and pull it over the bag. There is a tether so that you can’t lose it.

The mesh pockets on the sides are excellent. This is a good example of the thought that was put into this thing. They stretch way far out so that you can put big things in them (a small sleeping bag in one case), but have good elastics and nylon straps to hold in even a very small water bottle.

There is a sleeve for a hydration pouch in the main compartment. I hate those things, but the sleeve is perfect for keeping a 12″ laptop in. The laptop ends up well protected between the stuff you’ve packed and the AirComfort suspension.

All of these features are enough to make the Deuter the perfect bag, but what really pushes it over the edge is the quality, both in design and build.

The bag is tiny by most standards, smaller than the iconic LL Bean or Jansport school backpack, but is so well laid out and so devoid of useless space wasters that I am able to pack for 10 months in it and still have enough room to hold four apples and some nuts for snacks.

The materials are all very durable. I’ve put my bag through a pretty thorough thrashing and it still looks brand new.

The bottom line is that Deuter 28 is the perfect bag for any serious traveler who wants a solid balance between capacity and mobility.

If you really can’t fit everything in there, they make much larger versions as well.

Deuter is a German brand that seems a lot more popular outside the US. It can be bought at some outdoor stores as well as Amazon. A hint if you find it at a local store – if you ask they will give you weighted bean bags to try the bag out with some weight in it.

Traveling Tips from a Backpacking Geek

by Dave Luna on

Thomas Beagle is a shining example of why we love geeks here at Gadling. Thomas and his partner Kim planned a backpacking trip around Central America and southern Mexico, but they did more than just thumb through a Let’s Go guidebook. The duo took a very careful and considered approach to packing for their long journey, and Thomas shares the technological aspect of the trip planning on his blog:

  • Carrying Important Documents: Thomas and Kim scanned their passports, civil union certificate, and other important documents. Then, they encrypted the files, and saved them to USB flash drives. Each person held onto a flash drive during the trip. This is a twist on the traditional approach of carrying all of your important documents on you in case of an emergency. It might be difficult to access the files while you’re away with nature, but it’s good to be prepared.
  • Securing Bank Accounts: They chose a bank that offers an extra layer of security when accessing your accounts over the Internet. HSBC Bank New Zealand offers a keychain-sized device that displays a rotating code for the bank’s website. A thief would need to know your secret login information and would need to steal the device to get access to your account. That’s not impossible, but it’s safer than only using an online password that someone could catch by looking over your shoulder.
  • Protecting Digital Photos: The pair knew they were going to snap a lot of digital pictures on the road, but they did more than sign up for a Flickr account. They also burned CDs of their photos and mailed copies home. That’s a great way to backup those priceless memories in case something happens to your camera’s memory cards before you return home.

Thomas lists a few more tricks and tips he used while abroad on his blog which is aptly titled The Compleat Thomas Beagle.

Europe From A Backpack

by Willy Volk on

Have you visited a foreign destination, had a frightening, enlightening, or just plain-old-fun time, and then — later — wished you could share your experience with others? That’s how Europe From A Backpack started. While backpacking through Europe, the founder thrilled at the experience and decided to collect other backpackers’ stories about the place.

The books in the Europe From a Backpack series are not quite guidebooks. Rather, they’re first-person accounts of travelers’ experiences in Europe. In other words, they’re more like a collection of short fiction. Since its inception, the series has expanded to include Italy From a Backpack and Spain From a Backpack.

Publishing travel writing for the “Budget, Independent, and Youth Travel” market, ..From A Backpack books are for people who want to backpack in Europe but don’t know what to expect; for people who want to re-live their backpacking adventures; and for people who just love travel writing. Want to see what the books are like? Check out some of the sample stories they have featured online.

[Via Backpackers]

Is it Possible to Overplan A Trip? Mistakes of the Novice Traveler.

by Willy Volk on

When planning a trip — even a weekend trip! — I tend to do a lot of reading and thinking about what I want to experience. Sometimes I go as far as drawing up an hour-by-hour itinerary of all the things I want to do. Yes, I schedule time for relaxing and getting distracted by interesting things I see along the way. However, I believe that a little time spent preparing for a trip will provide big rewards during a trip. But that’s me: guess I’m anal.

Travel Monkey (a.k.a., Paul) has a slightly different take on trip planning. In his 12 Stupid Mistakes Of The First Time Traveler, the Monkey specifically warns against planning too much and booking too many tours, claiming both stifle flexibility.

I’m on board with that assertion. However, inadequate planning might mean you miss out on an activity you really would’ve enjoyed. Moreover, I think pre-planning increases my excitement for a trip and gives me a better understanding of what I’m looking at while I’m away. Consequently, I find it’s best for me in the long run to plan things very carefully in advance.

Sometimes I wonder, though, if I’ve lost my mind — and the point of a vacation.

[Photo: jurvestson]

The Packa

by Erik Olsen on

Leave it to human ingenuity to come up with a product for something that you weren’t sure you needed. I know, backpackers out there will say “what a fine idea!”…or perhaps some will say, “how stupid” but either way, the Packa seems like one of those things you’d buy for someone who liked to hike, but who already has everything. The packa appears to be a plastic jacket not just for you, but for your pack as well. It slips over your entire self while you are wearing you massive hiking backpack. Never mind that you look like some freak of nature wearing the thing. It keeps you AND your pack dry. And perhaps the best part: according to the wonderfully designed packa site, it also serves as a pillow when it’s folded up. And if you dip it in molten lead and let it dry and cool, it also makes a superb weapon.