Shoe Review!

New Balance 955 Gore-Tex Country Walker Shoes - Men's

I have always been a sandal's fan. However, the New Balance 955 Gore-Tex Country Walker Shoes have reminded me of the importance of shoes! These New Balance shoes are a great way to get around. When you travel with a backpack, that's 30-50 more lbs on your feet. You make one false step - and turn an ankle - there is a day or two in pain or possibly in the hospital. These shoes guarantee that you walk light on your feet, but still have that stability for those with weak ankles (like myself!) They are comfortable, sturdy, and reliable. I have used them on many occasions to deliver Student Traveler on campuses. I pull a 400 lb dolly, and then deliver 30 lb boxes all over campuses. Not once have I had an issue while wearing these shoes! A combination of these New Balance shoes for hiking and long treks with your backpack on coupled with a good pair of sandals will make for a better trip.

Travel Gear Review on Choosing a Travel Backpack

By Eric Tiettmeyer

Choosing a backpack for your travels is like choosing where to live. This is the place you will live out of the next weeks, months, or years. The difference is every morning you are forced to clean up after yourself and pack clothes (dirty and clean), keepsakes, journals, cameras, accessories, and bathroom stuff into a space the size of a duffel bag. So choose a bag wisely. After two weeks in Europe, you don't want to toss "that zippered piece of junk" into the Rhine River and have to find another one.

Here are some helpful hints before you run off to REI and grab the cheapest bag they have.

1. Consider your own needs and interests. You don't need the biggest, bulkiest bag with 10 zipper compartments on your trip. Or maybe you do? The key is to envision what you intend to pack (a helpful hint is to take that initial packing list and cut it in half somehow. You will thank us later). Going in the winter? Sweaters and socks need room, so a bigger bag is better. Planning to take a few hikes in the Alps? Consider a bag with more exterior handles to hold all the little things for camping.

2. Know the size of your torso (a quick Google search will show you how) before you go to buy the bag. In general, less than 18 inches is a small torso, 18 to 20 inches is a medium torso, and over 20 inches is a large torso. Tell the salesperson you know your torso size. If he or she doesn't know what to do next, go somewhere else. Finding a bag that fits your body frame will make your next trip a breeze, instead of fighting a hurricane.

3. Do not take a backpack with roller wheels on it to Europe. Trust us. The cobble stone streets make it a pain to pull around any given city. Most subways have lots of stairs and dodgy escalators for a bag that size. All the pack will do is add weight with the wheels you probably won't want. So suck it up that you will need to carry a pack on your back each day (it's not that bad, really). We review a few bags we like below that will fit just about every torso frame and adventure in the world.

4. Zippers versus drawstrings. Yes, how you close everything before you trek is pretty important. My wife did a ton of research on backpacks, we went to the local Adventure 16 store, spent an hour and found what we thought was the perfect pack for her (the maker is not below for obvious reasons) for an adventure tour. We arrived to Peru to start a two week trek thru the country -- and on the second day her drawstring on the top of the bag broke -- and the bag became more complicated (and useless) as we did Mickey Mouse techniques to open and close it throughout the trip. I am not a fan of drawstrings after this experience, and bags have changed since then with more compartments to access your stuff should accidents happen. Just know that a zippers can break and draw strings get busted.

Stay on the move, Eric

If you are a light packer, taking a shorter trip, or want a good backpack that forces you to leave the hairdryer at home, the Jansport Klamath 75 is your bag. You will definitely appreciate carrying a lighter load on that 2 mile walk from the train station to your hostel while your friends lug their Hummer-sized packs. The bag has four, convenient holders on the front to tie on shoes and even a daypack. There are two pockets accessible by zipper, and a compartment down the middle of the bag accessible by a vertical zipper.

The top opens by drawstring, with a flap that snaps into place to close the top. Inside the backpack is a waterproof pocket that runs the length and width of the bag that is very good for wet/dirty clothes. Finally, there is a bottom compartment accessible by zipper for easy access to those things at the bottom. 4 lb 10 ounces, 4,600 cubic inches of room, Suggested retail $200, www.jansport.com

The impressive feature I found on the Kelty Redcloud 6650 was the sturdy, steel frame called "Cloudlock Suspension". When carrying heavy loads, this durability really comes in handy to save the back since the steel component transfers most of the weight to your hips. Couple that with a well-padded buckle strap, and you will be in travel nirvana getting around town. Kelty uses a lightweight, aluminum I-beam that makes it one of the sturdiest backpacks out there. I also like the straps on the side and snap down and keep the bag very snug. Nobody wants to wear a backpack where all your items shift around inside. These straps prevent that.

There are four side pockets -- two larger pockets that zipper and two with elastic openings designed for water bottles. A front compartment has one large interior pocket and one large handle --perfect for carrying as luggage -- and two smaller ones to tie some tennis shoes onto.

This Kelty bag opens from a drawstring at the top, with a flap you can pull over and snap in place. This works very well for those rainy days of walking and added security. There is a lower compartment accessible by drawstring for dirty clothes, or leave it open for added space for clothes. www.Kelty.com.

The Mountainsmith Circuit 3.0 Recycled offers a ton of space that should fit just about anything for an extended trip. What I really like about the bag are the numerous, large zip-up compartments.

If you plan to carry a lot of little things with you that you want to get to quickly, there is no better bag. There is one compartment on each side able to hold at least the equivalent of liter of bottled water each with additional "holster pockets" on each side below that able to hold a liter sized item each. In the front is a convenient, large compartment with two velcro-organizer pockets and a waterproof, zippered pocket inside. And there is a vertical zipper outside the compartment that holds other small items. Access to the main part of the bag is a draw-string at the top secured by a flap that snaps the top shut -- very nice for rainy days and added security. The main compartment has a draw string tie at the bottom that can be opened for more room at the bottom of the bag. Or you can throw some dirty clothes or shoes at the bottom of the bag accessible by a zipper.

The hip straps give a bit more leeway than other backpacks. If you have a larger frame, you won't be gasping air every time you buckle up in front! And the makers of this bag use PET recycled fabric that is woven from threads produced from 100% recycled plastic bottles to make it eco-friendly purchase also. http://www.mountainsmith.com/

Eagle Creek has a variety of quality backpacks, but we picked the Thrive 90L for two main reasons.

First, and most important, is the daypack that comes with the bag. It's almost like buying a backpack and getting one for free! Once you get on the road, you will see many backpackers strapped with a bag to their back, and another in front.

If you are a light packer, the daypack easily snaps onto the backpack, which leaves a mesh pocket that can easily carry items you may want to get to easily.

If you plan to fill both bags from the get go, the daypack can snap onto the backpack and transfers weight evenly. So while you may have a 20lb bag on your chest it doesn't feel like a 20 lb beer belly.

The Eagle Creek Thrive 90L also offers a Full front panel load. This makes it much easier to get to items easier, especially when you are searching for that last clean pair of underwear in a pitch black dorm room. And if you have a lot of stuff, I mean a lot of stuff, a zipper at the bottom can open up to even more space, or left as a separate compartment for dirty clothes and an extra pair of shoes. Finally, there are two exterior pockets convenient for bottled water and quick snacks.

One last great feature of this pack is the "Pack-It" flap at the bottom that folds out, zips up, and converts the backpack into luggage. This is convenient when going on any transportation to prevent your straps getting caught up and destroyed by baggage handlers and machines.

http://www.eaglecreek.com.

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Whether you’re camping for the weekend in the Rockies or studying for a semester in Spain, having the proper gear is essential. If you’ve ever camped without a sleeping bag or spent 12 hours on a plane in jeans and boots, you can probably testify to this.

Everything you could possibly need for your next getaway can be found on these sites.

Protravel Gear is an established site that provides an assortment of items for all travelers. If you’re in the market for travel luggage, this might not be the right place because they have only a small selection of high-priced bags. Protravel Gear does, however, promise to beat the competitor's listed prices by 10 percent. They also have a few useful items for traveling pets and pet owners.

Magellans.com offers all the travel gear that you never even know you needed. This site literally offers everything you need for a worry free vacation. They offer travel gear from wrinkle-free clothes to travel games to phone and electrical connectivity. If seeing all these items on Magellan.com is overwhelming, you can request a catalog instead. Be sure to check out Magellan’s travel tip database for plenty of advice. They offer tips for pet travel, disabled travel, shopping and family travel. This site is very thorough when it comes to travel needs.

Award winning Walk About Travel Gear has been selling their products online for eleven years. The owners of Walk About Travel Gear are a couple of world travelers who only offer products they’ve used and tested. They offer basic travel tools such as safety products, health, water purification and electrical gadgets. The webiste could use some work, but when you’re a short or long term traveler looking for basic no-fuss products use this reliable travel gear site.

BeltOutlet is a Chicago based company that is entirely Internet based. Whatever you need for your next trip, you will find it at BeltOutlet.com. Choose from a large selection of money belts, back packs, passport holders, waist packs, luggage and more. Their rock-bottom prices are guaranteed - meaning if you find a lower price, BeltOutlet will refund the difference plus 10%!! What a deal!

Backcountry.com is the department store for travel gear. Backcountry’s online store is huge and their online selection is enormous. Backcountry has all the name-brand items for all your outdoor recreational needs. I enjoy the way the online store categorizes its inventory -- you can find gear by activity labels, like snowboard, hike, camp and paddle. This makes browsing this huge site easier and more efficient. One great perk with Backcountry is that they do not charge sales tax unless you live in Utah, but even then Backcountry will reimburse your tax!

Have you ever wondered if there is an easier way to pack underwear while you travel? Short of going commando, there is. Onederwear is a Los Angeles based company that sells one-wear disposable underwear for men and women. By using disposable underwear you don’t have to worry about washing their undies, because you just toss them after one use. Onederwear also promotes the underwear’s minimal space requirement and its cotton comfort. And ladies, they sell Onederwear in 3 different styles, but only in one color.

Moriluggage has a huge mixture of travel luggage, but their prices are high. Travelers can find rolling luggage, backpacks, duffel bags and garment bags at Moriluggage. As a high-end treat, Moriluggage offers free monogramming on luggage, briefcases and leather goods. So if you’re going to splurge on luggage this is a great way to personalize your travel bags. If you’re not too much of an Internet shopper, Moriluggage offers a list of store locations where you can check out their products.

Luggageman offers a huge assortment of name-brand luggage such as Eagle Creek, Samsonite, Jansport and Victorinox. But the great part of Luggageman are its "durability ratings." They rate each line by Luggageman’s durability scale which takes into account material, structure, design, warranty and damage records. The site offers other perks like free shipping and 24-hour customer service. And if you still need help choosing what luggage to purchase, check out Luggageman’s “buying tips” because it tells you what to features look for in your gear.

Le Travel Store is a San Diego based travel company that provides all its products on the Internet. Le Travel Store provides luggage, day packs, travel accessories and security accessories, among other products. Le Travel Store offers all the brand names such as Eagle Creek and Victorinox, but the highlight of this site is their “guide to travel outfitting.” Under this link the well-traveled owners of Le Travel Store diagram what they pack on vacations and offer shoppers a handful of travel and packing tips.

TravelSmith.com is a vibrant and colorful site. Out of all the travel gear sites Travel Smith offers the widest array of travel fashion. They offer Cool Max wear, which is a breathable airy material great for summer vacationing. Travel Smith accommodates all body types by offering petite and plus size outfits. Before you check out of TravelSmith.com stop by the "overstock" department for great discounts and sales. Additionally, their Packing Lists offer great help in preparing travelers for what they’ll need while away.

Minimus is your one-stop-shop for travel-sized products. It gives you a large selection of products ranging from shampoos, soaps, allergy and cold medicine, to laundry detergents and softeners and even your favorite snacks, most of which are not even available in retail stores. From your potential allergy in Holland to your craving for Smuckers Peanut Butter while backpacking through Tibet, they’ve got you covered. And they all come in convenient mini sizes, leaving you room in your pack for that wooden bowl your mother insists you bring back from Kenya.

Budget Bags is a great site for those who love road trips. Besides the usual selection of travel packs and toiletry kits, they offer a wide range of car accessories. A leak-resistant litter bag keeps all your trash in one place and conveniently holds a tissue box as well. A map organizer makes it easy to find your maps in a clear tri-fold case, and a map light that plugs into your cigarette case provides you with the illumination to read your maps. Budget Bags also offers a large selection of food and wine coolers. The coolers come in many different styles, tote-style for hikes and rolling coolers for picnics. Think Jack Kerouac refined.

Travel Products seems to be the most comprehensive of travel accessories providers. Along with flight, car and beach accessories, they’ve also got you covered for bike and walking tours. They have a selection of fast-drying socks and underwear that are stain and bacteria resistant to protect our most important places from foreign invaders. Travel Products also has some smart accessories for your laptop like a modem adapter for travel abroad, a high-speed cable that comes in a retractable spool and in-flight adaptor cables, so you can utilize the plane’s electrical outlets for those long flights. Travel Products doesn’t only think of the traveler, they also think about what the traveler leaves behind. They’ve got a selection of plant waterers that automatically dispense water to your plants while you are away. Sorry, they don’t talk to petunia and palm though.

World Traveler deals in popular, reliable brands like Eagle Creek, Victorinox and Lowerpro, to name a few. Due to this, some of their items can get pretty pricey, especially ones from the higher-end brand names. World Traveler has quality goods but a smaller selection of accessories compared to other sites like travelproducts.com and they carry no specialty items for adventure or off-road travel.

Kayaking? Camping? Then you should check out this site. The Travel Oasis outdoor section has convenient kayaking accessories such as a selection of dry bags to keep your gear dry, bilge pumps, and paddle leashes and floats, so you never lose a paddle again. They also have self-inflating kayak seats, because roughing it doesn’t necessarily have to mean discomfort. Travel Oasis provides a selection of “Clipmates” – useful tools like a compass, knife, LED light that you can anchor to your gear with a carabineer. Love hot showers? Travel Oasis has a solar camp shower that dispenses water heated by the sun. And for those who always wished they could pack the kitchen sink, Travel Oasis has a pack sink that holds up to 3.5 gallons of water.

Going in Style is definitely more on the luxury side as some of their products, like the toiletry kits, can be purchased cheaper elsewhere. But some of Going in Style’s items are definitely worth looking in to. “Buzz Off” is a line of travel clothing that is breathable, wrinkle-free and insect repellent. They also have a selection of portable air purifiers and fans for those who really like their comfort. Their selection of portable hair curlers and cordless curling irons powered by energy cells ensure that ladies don’t have to worry about what their hair is going to look like while clubbing in Barcelona. Going in Style also has “Safe Cans”, cans that look just like shaving cream or hairspray but have a false bottom so you can stow your valuables, money or personal documents inside.