Just wanted to let you know that I’ve added a bunch of photos of my suitcase from one of my last tours down to LA and back with my friend Steph MacPherson. You’ll notice that there isn’t much change in the look of the pack because I’m only moving the position of one item each day… well three including my underwear and socks that live in the mesh pocket above. And in general, a reminder, when you take a shirt out to wear, place the other one up on top of the stack as its easier to place it back in from there. This is also assuming you haven’t sweat through it and it doesn’t stink and you are ok with putting it back with the other ‘actually clean’ clothes!

Anyway, have a look at the different days, become mesmerized by all the different and revolving bedsheets or duvets colors from city to city, hotel to hotel.

Side note. You know you’ve been touring too long when you can recognize which hotel it is by the color or pattern of it’s bedcovers…

PPS. I’ve add all the photos to the ‘sent in’ section of the site, check them out here and let me know what you think! Email me your pictures too!

Shaun
howtopack@gmail.com

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I spoke a little about it earlier but I’ve been spending the last few months with a couple of brand new Arc’teryx travel bags. I was given the opportunity to test them out and I’m thankful for that as I’m a big fan of demoing and testing anything, but especially suitcases, tennis racquets and ice cream! Actually I’m kind of lactose intolerant so let’s sub out video games for ice cream, my apologies Ben and Jerry… sorry, back to talking suitcases and Arc’teryx bags!

Ok so the first trip was a 5 week tour with my band Rococode. Now since I don’t like bringing too much on tour I opted for the smaller ‘carry-on’ sized bag, the Arc’teryx Covert CO. The following trip, a vacation family to Hawaii, I thought I’d pull out the big guns and use the larger sized, Arc’teryx Covert CI. Two different excursions, two different needs.

On a side note, after spending the past few years only touring with a carry-on sized bag for whatever length of trip, I’m still trying to figure out how I filled the larger one up on only a two week vacation?! For the sake of my reputation, let’s just call it thorough testing…

Let’s get straight into it and talk about their features…

Aside from the size and color, the features and designs to these bags are the same, both feature very sturdy zippers, super high strength fabric, plenty of gripping handles, and then straps for converting into a backpack. They don’t have wheels, but they also don’t have an inner spine so in return it keeps the weight to the bare minimum. After filling up the larger bag with all my entire closet, I’ll admit, it was a little heavy for those straps, especially if you were hoping to walk comfortably across an airport such as Heathrow or O’Hare, but then I’m talking about the Covert CI, and the CI stands for ‘Check In’ for a reason! The plus to having a spineless bag that converts into a backpack is that heavy or not, it feels comfortable against your back. It’s build-in inner compression straps keep everything inside tight and together, helping it conform to your back. It made me feel ‘one with my bag’. You do start to feel the weight on your shoulders over a longer haul due to the thinner shoulder straps. But it seems as though nothing was done without a reason, and the reason behind the thin shoulder straps is because they can be removed and slid away into a sly pocket near the top handle. I like this feature and it makes the bags look so slick. Clean lines. I’d take a slimmer shoulder strap that tucks away from a larger clunky strap any day. Maybe it’s just my love for suitcases but the word sexy comes to mind when I think about this feature.

A slight personal beef with these bags are that when the shoulder straps are out and being used there is almost 2 feet of extra strapping just dangling around on each strap and they don’t really stay in the pocket that is meant for the full strap when in hiding. BUT once again, there is a reason for this too! If you only pull out one strap, zip the other one away, then you can use the extra strapping and convert it into a shoulder strap like a satchel or in my case a large murse, or ‘man purse’ . I like the idea, great versatility… but the straps still annoy me when I use it as a backpack. Nothing a simple elastic can’t solve though, ha.

One of the other features that I noticed right away was the tiny little zipper pulls. I wasn’t too sure how I felt about them at first. They felt sturdy and of good quality but I wondered if people with larger ‘mitt’ hands might find them too small? By the end of the trip I knew I liked them, the look, design and feel of them won me over.

“The logo side goes against my back?” I pondered to myself upon first putting to my back.

“Aren’t I supposed to be a walking billboard and display the bag logo to the people behind me?”

Nope. Not on these bags. The logos are small and subtle, a classy move in my opinion, and on the front of the straps, not the back. My theory is this: When you remove it as a backpack, it falls off your back and onto it’s back, straps (and logo) facing up towards the sky… so logo remains upright and more importantly I feel, cleaner as it’s furthest from the ground. Maybe I think too much about this things, but with a company like Arc’teryx, I’m willing to bet they have more reasons that that for it.

My Summary:
These bags are ideal for anyone wanting a little more get up and go options while still maintaining the true shape of a suitcase. Ideal for anyone hoping to trade a little suitcase weight in for a few more clothes. Ideal for anyone who wants a sleek looking bag and cares about its longevity. All in all, there’s an exceptional level of craftsmanship that has gone into these bags and if you don’t mind loosing the wheels to your carry-on or check-in then I know these will be right up your ally. I’m sold.

Thank you Arc’teryx for this opportunity.

Shaun Huberts
howtopack@gmail.com

OH and don’t forget to check them out here as well as my video I made for them show some of those feature i spoke about earlier.

The Covert CI in the Rocky Mountains and Hawaii

my first pack in the Covert CO

and don’t forget that the best book ever, award winning even, also fits quite well in these bags. To get your own personalized copy, go here!

How flip flop sandals can save your life, a short essay assignment by Shaun Huberts.

I’ll make this as simple as possible…

Public showers (but also including hotel pool areas, rock star arena change-rooms, guest rooms and green rooms) are gross. Sometimes even filthy.

Do not enter these places on a regular basis without expectations for developing some sort of foot rot. That is unless you wear protection. That’s correct, this is a safety message brought to you by your local podiatrist and me! WEAR FLIP FLOPS! They are so easy to travel with, they are light, they dry quickly and they’re cheap! They will protect your feet from the grime that may sleeping on the floor of that old venue shower just waiting to climb aboard your foot, dig deep into your skin or toe nails and infect the shizz outta ya! Ok sorry, now I’m going for the shock value message, but it’s only because I care. Oh and did I mention sandals were cheap?! As in even cheap enough for musicians. Yes, that cheap.

So no excuses, pick up a cheap pair for your next trip, vacation or tour, and at least save yourself from contracting swine flu? This lesson was also brought to you by the letter ‘W’… as in warts. I’ve said enough.

for more thoughts and advice, you can always browse through my book?! Until next time,

Happy travels!