I have a strong aversion to backtracking. Give me a list of errands to run around town, and by default I’ll map out the route with the least amount of backtracking, careful to avoid any zigging and zagging along the way. Freaky, I know.
To me, carrying too much stuff is like backtracking. Instead of a waste of time, it’s a waste of space. That’s part of why I am so enamored with the Pacsafe TourSafe Sling & Backpack.
The size is the crux of this thing. It’s just perfect for certain kinds of outings — the days you want to travel light and don’t require much beyond the basics.
The little TourSafe has been perfect for me to stash away the following on some recent spring outings: a light long sleeve layer, water bottle, camera, snack, keys, sunglasses, wallet, cell phone, scarf or hat, a book to read and/or a journal to write in. It’s big enough for a 10” netbook but not a standard laptop.
Because it is so small, it is delightfully unobtrusive to carry around. It’s not the kind of bag I inadvertently swing around at a crowded market and assault people with. It doesn’t bulge off my back like a mutant turtle shell (though it does have ninja powers).
Besides being streamlined, its design is svelte. No obnoxious two-tone sporty motif. No screaming logos or ribbons of webbing. Mine is all black and subtle enough for a day in the city. It also comes in taupe and tabasco, if that’s more your style.
It’s a sling AND a backpack, (the sling strap has a zipper down the middle that zips open into two backpack straps) which is infinitely cool, because I have at times had one and wished it could be the other. While the straps admittedly are not the comfort-molded kind you’ll find on a standard backpack, they are surprisingly comfy for casual use.
The safety features on the TourSafe set it apart as a PacSafe product. This is where those ninja powers are hidden. It’s got PacSafe’s eXomesh lining and slashproof straps and zippers, which means no one is going to slash-and-grab your gear. Yet, for all of that, it doesn’t look like a mini-safe on your back and certainly doesn’t suffer for weight as a result.
Some features I also appreciate:
- the light purple interior makes it easy to find things inside
- it has a key fob, so I don’t have to worry about dropping my keys unknowingly when rummaging around
- it’s got just the right amount of simple interior pockets to stay organized (because being disorganized is like backtracking all the time), plus two hidden wallet-sized exterior ones.
I haven’t tested it in the rain yet, so I’m not sure how it will do, and it’s apparent that you don’t want to use this in cold weather anyway as your fleece jacket and rainshell are going to be too bulky to fit. That said, it’s your perfect fair-weather light-scale day-tripper.