I’ve been searching for the perfect backpack for well over a month now – I’ve visited countless stores all across London and been unable to find “The One” and was beginning to give up hope! This weekend I was given a recommendation from a friend about an outdoor store near me with a good selection of backpacks so off I went!
Happy Black Friday!
These are some of my favorite travel deals that are running over the weekend:
*Intrepid Travel are offering 20% off of all of their tours! I booked a day tour around Delhi through them this morning.
*My friend Kristin of Be My Travel Muse is offering a 20% discount on her Photo Muse Masterclass for the Black Friday weekend. Kristin is one of my favourite travel photographers, so if you've always dreamed of stepping up your photography game, this is the course for you!
*Booking.com are reducing hotel prices by as much as 40% over the weekend. Definitely worth taking a look if you've got a trip coming up!
*Lonely Planet are doing a buy one get one free deal on their guidebooks this weekend, so I'd recommend stocking up if you have any adventures booked!
*I'm offering a whopping 75% discount on my Overcome Travel Anxiety course for the entire month of November. $10 is an unbelievable price for the amount you get by signing up. If you want to travel but suffer from fear and anxiety, I'll help calm your nerves and ensure you get out there and see the world!
*G Adventures are running a 35% discount on more than 500 tours between now and Monday! G receive fantastic reviews for their tours, and offer a great way to make friends if you're travelling solo.
*If you're a relatively new travel blogger, Nomadic Matt is offering an incredible 66% discount on all of his blogging-focused courses. I've taken his Business of Blogging course and learned a fair bit, even though I'd already been blogging for five years by that point! His tips also helped noticeably increase my income.
*On the topic of travel blogging, take a look at my guide to starting a travel blog. Many of the companies mentioned in the post (Bluehost, Elegant Themes) are offering some serious discounts for Black Friday!
*Viator are offering up to 15% off their tours with the code VIA18. I use Viator to book 90% of the day trips I take, so I highly recommend seeing if there's anything that appeals. I've already booked three day tours this weekend with this code!
I tried on lots and lots but none of them felt right, I don’t know – they felt uncomfortable and hurt my back. That was until I tried the Osprey Exos 46l. As soon as I put it on it just felt right. It was SO comfortable and when I tried it on with weights in it was still perfectly manageable to carry. More importantly, it was an AWESOME colour and not ugly! I bought it for £120 which is similar to what I was expecting to pay and I get a full lifetime guarantee with it too. I’ve been looking at reviews online and literally have not been able to find one bad review on it, so I feel very pleased with my purchase.
I was originally hoping to buy a 40l, but I just couldn’t find any that I liked, and the 46l is small enough to keep me happy. I don’t expect to fill it completely when I leave, so I’ll still have some space in it for some souvenirs!
Once I got home I decided to try it out and carried out a “trial pack”, where I filled it up with my laptop, camera, lenses, clothes and lots of heavy books to make it weigh a lot. As soon as I put it on my back I was amazed at how lightweight it still felt. I have no upper body strength whatsoever and I’ve constantly had this vision in my head that I would put on my backpack and topple over backwards!
I’m very happy with it and can’t wait to start using it! For now, enjoy some pictures of me wearing it!
Just one more thing – I need to give it a name! Any suggestions? :)
Nice work on the purchase mate. Once you start getting all the gear it gets even more exciting I think.
Whats next on the to buy list?
Definitely, the more things I get the more real it makes it and more excited I get!
SO much! Um, I want to get a kindle, some lenses for my camera, and a P&S camera too!
We picked that one too! Love the Exos 46L because it’s one of the lightest internal frame backpacks on the market. I agree with you about the colors — I didn’t want a backpack that would make me stick out like a sore thumb.
Congrats!!
Yay!! I’m glad to hear you love it too! Any downsides to it?!
I did notice immediately how much lighter it was compared to the other packs I tried on. I hope to have a long and loving relationship with it! :)
Osprey makes good stuff, wise choice! It should last you your entire journey and beyond. I’ve never named one of my backpacks…haha, no help there!
Yeah, the guy in the shop said they were one of the best companies to go for, so hopefully it will last me a long time! :)
Lauren,
Excellent pack and at such a great price. I have searched and searched for a pack that suits my unique purpose and have yet to find a single one.
Osprey is a very popular brand here in the
States, so I’m sure you will not be disappointed.
Safe travels……
Thanks Scott!
Hopefully you will find one soon – I was beginning to give up hope! I literally started looking in February and only just managed to find one now!
I’ve only heard good things about Osprey.. :)
Awesome, we’re headed to Saskatoon (3 hr drive) to look at packs this Thursday. Like you, we are looking at technical hiking backpacks, Osprey’s are top on our list.
I could really tell the difference in quality for Osprey as soon as I put it on! The fact that they have a lifetime guarantee on their packs really puts your mind at ease too.
Nice choice! I got the Osprey Talon 44 a few months ago and couldn’t be happier. Pick a waterproof p&s. Gives you more options in shooting. :)
That’s funny! My final choice was between the one I got and the Talon 44!
Waterproof P&S – Good idea! I’ll start looking for one.
WOOO! You look so pretty! So exciting. If I had a backpack, I’d have to name is some ridiculous drag queen name, like Paige Turner or Blanche or something like that LOL!
Thanks Sheryll! Haha I’m going to have to name it something obscure! :D Blanche – LOL!
Great buy… looks like its the perfect size for you. Mine is 40L but extend to 50L if needed. Plus I love the color…lol that has a lot to do with it too.
I know, I’ve gotta look good with it haha! Most important! It does feel like the perfect size – we were meant to be hahahaha.
Hey, make sure you look after your new friend. I wrote a post recently about how upset I was after throwing a rucksack away, after all your backpack is your most loyal travelling companion!
if it was my backpack i would call is Ossie :)
Hey, make sure you look after your new friend. I wrote a post recently about how upset I was after throwing a rucksack away, after all your backpack is your most loyal travelling companion!
if it was my backpack i would call is Ossie
That’s true, it’s gonna have to take me all around the world! I shall take good care of it hahaha.
Ossie – I like that! :)
Awesome pick! It’s just the right size…
Thanks Micah, I’m really happy with it!
That backpack is PERFECT! It seems really sturdy…even though its so small! Congrats on it! :D
Yes it is, it’s really well made! I love it! :D
if you think you love your pack now… check back in 6-9 months after lugging it around. It will be like a member of your family. Of all my earthly possessions (pretty small club of items now), it is only behind my passport as the “I’d be SO pissed if it was stolen” item.
It’s my baby! I sleep with it in my bed every night.
I have an Osprey too (a Talon) so far I love that backpack. Good choice.
Awesome! Cheers Jill :)
Brian has the man-version of that pack and he LOVES it. It is a great pack and has held up to much wear and tear. Good choice! I can’t help you with the name, but feel free to call it Kim. No, really, I’m okay with it. ;)
Hahahaha, that would be a bit creepy, no? :) Glad to hear that he loves it!
I definitely think that choosing the right backpack is harder than choosing where to travel, lol. I always feel like I never pack enough, and then I wind up packing too much, so I never know if I have the right backpack or not. One day, I’m just going to pack two pairs of pants, two t-shorts, shorts, and sneakers and set off.
Arghhh, definitely – I’m dreading deciding what to pack, and I know for sure I’ll take way more than I need!
good choice. I love the Osprey backpacks. My boyfriend bought a similar one and I was very jealous!
Here was my experience of buying a backpack:
Tough times!
So glad to hear that so many people like them! Love your post on it – so funny!
Never heard about Osprey, but will check it next time I’ll need backpack.
Yeah definitely do – I’ve heard they’re one of the best!
So, now that you’ve had quite a time with your Osprey, are you still loving it?
I just began looking at these and am loving the Osprey but there’s a Gregory I also have my eye on. A pound heavier but more pockets / separation of space.
So, do you know how to sew? If yes, you could have made your own backpack!
I did and it was amazingly easy. Even to do it by hand. It just happened to take a bit longer by using a needle and thread, though :(
I have to ask what do backpackers generally look for in packs? I’m hoping to start up a small business making/designing/selling backpacks and other various things pertaining to ‘adventuring.’
I got a D in textiles at school so it would be a terrible idea for me to sew a backpack!
I wanted a pack that was around 40-45 litres, that was quite skinny (a personal preference, because I am…), front loading or top loading didn’t bother me too much, and a lifetime guarantee… Basically anything that looked super durable because I would be using it almost daily for years and years… Mine has lasted 18 months from being chucked all over the place and is still in great condition, so I’d probably always buy an Osprey in the future…
And yep, my pack has sternum straps. Not that I ever run with my backpack… or use them ever.
Another thing, does your pack not have sternum straps? I’m not quite sure how they work out for females… but I do know that they help with men. When I run with my pack it stays tight against my back due to them.