http://spreadsheets.google.com/feeds/list/pv6W-xHCsGGGOPCCZ1EezEQ/od6/public/basic/d415a2009-11-03T07:16:52.328Zcountryonyourpassport: Australia, firstname: Fiona, yourage: 23, travelascoupleorsingle: Single, whatisthelongesttimeyouhaveevertraveledoutsideyourcountry: 1 month - soon to be six months, brandnameofbackpack: Mountain Designs & Vaude, whatdidyoupayforbaginu.s.dollars: $400 + $120, listtheitemsthathavebrokeonyourbag.: Mountain designs... I expect that clips will break - the plastic seems tough, but if stepped on, etc, may snap.zips - some are getting stiff already. They are YKK, but...still.... internal divider - the bottom pocket is stuffed tight - putting pressure on internal divider. Mesh internal pocket - mesh is too flimsy, can be ripped easily. Vaude... elastic on some parts - will stretch with age. stitching - some already unravelling. fabric is thin - maybe not good for sharp objects., whatarethebiggestproblemsyouhadwiththebag: Mountain Designs: Small useless pockets. Flat pockets that run inside the lining do not expand or get squashed when the bag is full - useless. over-the-shoulder clip (it is stored in an external pocket and can be added to give a long, over the shoulder handle). The bag is always too heavy to use. Bladder pocket between frame and internal compartment. If bag was full, bladder would explode. Must remove all contents to fill...too much effort for big bag. prefer water bottle if that thirsty. Vaude - external zippers only have 1 zipper bit per zip except for main compartment - can't lock interal compartment not square - it slopes to nothing at the bottom. Not a standard shape., whatfeaturesorbenefitsdoyouwantincluded: rain coat, good zips and lockabe zip parts regular sized compartments sturdy material simple design as light as possible (why carry heavy bag - my gear is heavy enough), howmuchweightdoyoucarryinthebag: <20kg approx 16kg total., didyoureturnwithmorethanbagsthanyouleftwith: I hope I will not. I will try very hard not to. I may post items home if needed., howoftendidyouusethewaistharness: I always use it, unless travelling a very short distance (car to bedroom, etc). My bag is too heavy not to use it. makes a big difference., wasyourobbedonthetrip: I hope not (obviously) I am extremely careful and diligent (I think more than average) and I am only traveling in USA. I always lock my bag. Thinking about getting a pacsafe mesh cover - but it's pretty expensive. I plan to stay mostly in homestay, hostels or camping. Camping is most stressful for theft., ifyeswhichcountryexplain: N/A, didyourbagfallintothewaterontrip: I doubt it - I will not be on boats, didyoucarryatent: Yes, didyoucarryasleepingbag: Yes - I plan to camp. I have a good sleeping bag, liner and bed roll. I have a small 2 person tent. It all fits in bottom pocket in backpack, minus the tent posts and tent (the tent travels broken up separately), Once I arrive, I put the tent in it's bag and strap to the top of my pack., didyoucarryacamelbackwaterpouch: Yes, I may not end up using. They are no user friendly. I also find that they drag on floor when put down (the mouthpiece gets germs) and I am always afraid they will pop., whatitemsdidyounotneed: I may not end up camping as much as I think - therefore, cooking and camping equipment. I will not ditch anything - all too expensive. I have planned my gear to last for a long time for many trips. I will have a car, so extra annoying items can be stored in there. Repair items probably not - long time travelling may make more breaks on my bag/gear. Six months only means limited problems. First aid - kind of necessary, especially when hiking. probably (hopefully) will never use it. , blogorwebsitenameifyouhaveone: Andy, This entry might not be useful for you. I am about to (2 weeks away) embark on a 6 month backpacking trip around the USA, then moving to UK to use as a base for more travel. I am pedantic about my equipment. I have researched, analysed and planned everything - starting from 3 years ago when I bought my backpack. I thought it might be interesting for you to see a "before" and "after" of my backpack. I will fill out the form now with all my expectations, and then fill it out again when I've finished, so you can see if the bag met my expectations and what I did or did not expect to happen. My blog - www.fionagalloway.blogspot.com, didyouloseawaterbottle: Yes, explainyouropinionsonwaterbottles: I would prefer to buy a plastic bottle every few days and reuse than to have an important one, then I can not worry about it, or buy a smaller one if my bag is fat, or a huge one if really hot., doyoucarryandumbrella: No, wheelsornowheelsbag: No wheels. Why waste space and engineering on something which isn't necessary for me. I am young/fit. It is a burden to wheel a bag and those wheels always look too flimsy for me. When they break it will be $$ to fix, and may even be impossible. I don't think they look useful - just a gimmick., howmanybagsdidyoucary: 3 1 big backpack, with it's little front pack attached to it. 1 25L quality (vaude) backpack for day use and carry on luggage. It will go on my front, and the little day pack will stay attached to the big one. Total size would be about 102L (a lot!!!), linktophotosofyourbag.: See blog soon. www.fionagalloway.blogspot.com Vaude splash air 20+5 http://www.ken2studio.com/pic/backpack/vaude-splash-air-20plus5-1.JPG Mountain Designs Columbus 65 (this is a new model, mine is 3 yrs old and has less "stuff" on it) http://www.mountaindesigns.com/Index.cfm?Action=Products&Subaction=productDetail&ParentCategoryID=43&CategoryID=65&ProductID=273 , doyoucarryarainponcho: I hate umbrellas. I hate poncho's. I have a waterproof jacket with hood. I have a rain coat for both my bags. My important gear (laptop, camera, video camera, electricals, mp3, etc)...are stored in my day (vaude) backpack in a waterproof stuff sack. I bought this specifically because I hate umbrellas, etc. I have had a problem previously where i had stuff in a plastic bag inside a backpack, and it got rained on and the phone got wet - the plastic bag was worthless. I invested in water proof stuff sack to stop this problem. No matter what, I only have to worry about me and dry-able things being wet. Important stuff will always be safe and dry., doyoucarrryacomputerexplainhowyoucarry: Yes. I have bought a 2.3kg HP laptop 14". I want to show my family my travel, I want to be mobile and connected. USA is an easy country for connection. I have car. It's a no-brainer, I don't need to worry about the effort. I think the benefits will outweigh the annoying., didyoubreakacameraorlose: My dig camera may break - it is getting old and has some "senior moments". my new very tiny video camera is cheap and plastic. (though, not THAT cheap). I have good, padded and hard cases for them. They will also be in waterproof stuff sack. I use and put away, use and put away. I never walk around with camera out. I am very concerned for my gear - always the best for my equipment. My care allows it to keep serving me. Like a good slave owner loves its slave and takes care = better slave ;), averagepriceofroomsyoulivedin: Free or <US$30 per night, whydoyouloveyourbag: comfortable, fulfill my desires for each one. sturdy enough. fits everything - I have a plan for filling and it's all like a perfect jigsaw puzzle. , howdoyourepairabagwhentraveling: I have a seweing kit wil all sizes of needles, etc and strong cotton. Should be able to repair just about anything wrong with backpack. I also have a variety of security ties, velcro, string and duct tape. I prefer to fix myself than pay for someone. Then when the fix fails, I know exactly why and how to fix again. Saves me from guessing what someone else did., doesapersonneedhikingboots: No. But I am taking some - I intend to go hiking. Although, I do not think that people need boots to hike ever, except maybe in extreme snow. I think comfortable sneakers are ok. scuffs for indoors and some outdoors. I like boots, because I can wear them daily, long lasting, waterproof, comfortable. one shoe, many uses. Can wear always (except for nice dinners)., explainhowyoumanageguidebooks: I do not like guidebooks. I would rather use my laptop. If I were going to a country with limited internet, maybe I would buy electronic guidebook. If no electricity - I would take a map and maybe highlight on the map before I go, what is good. If a difficult language, maybe take phrasebook - but still no guidebook. I think they are too expensive and I refuse their control on my trip., doyouclimbmountains: Not proper rock climbing. Hiking, yes - overnight, yes...I will use my Vaude and strap everything to the outside. 1 clothes, electrical, food and stove inside. tent, sleeping bag and bed roll on outside. only short stays. Probably 2 days max. Bag too small, otherwise., doyoulikeallthelittlepocketsinsidethebag: No and No. If I need things stored together, I will make my own small internal bag and keep in that purpose built - light material, less stitching.... Don't force me to conform with bag design. I want an empty hole, where I can choose to put my things. Not a shelf that tells me big things must go here and small things must go here., didyougetyourbagslashedwithrazor: mmountain designs is thick vaude is thin - susceptable to cuts. I must be careful., wouldalargedufflebagworkgoodenough: Maybe. It would need to be sturdy and hold its shape somewhat. a harness is good for me. A big floppy bag from a harness is bad - bag must stay firm and hug the harness. One big pocket is good. mine has an internal divide that can be removed. very handy., doyoulockyourbag: Yes, explainbagsecurity: Mountain designs bag has maybe 6 external zips. 2 in top "rucksack bit" that go into 2 separate pockets 3 into main compartment 1 into harness area. I put a key TSA lock on 1 top and 3 main compartment locks. This time I will also put one on harness, as I am storing tent in there for flying. Small Vaude is never out of my sight - it is my baby. I have a combo lock with cable attached to it for tying things together. I have a carabina which closes the main compartment of Vaude - to stop quick opportunistic theft. It's not much, but it stops a grab and run., doyouknowofanyonewhohadthebagstolenexplainwhathappened.: Yes - they were drunk and stupid. No excuse. other than that - only temporary, whatfeaturedoyoudreamofonabackpack: Less stupid little pockets. comfort - actual real comfort. Less gimmicks and just simple quality. Increased fancy-ness = increased problems and break points. Instructions on making my own inserts. I always sew my own stuff sacks. Not only is it cheaper, but it's lighter and will fit everything perfectly. I like to compartmentalise things - small bags are necessary. I like your bucket in the bag idea. I reckon a "pick'n'mix" of stuff is good. No one bag is perfect for all. I could go online, tick components...eg.. <60L, harness not wheels, one compartment that can divide, double zippers, thick zippers, this material for a stronger bag. The key is versatility without a million add-ons. the more hooks, zippers and clips, the more things that break. I have 2 carabines and 2 straps. I will tie things together and hang things off if I need them to. Multi-function things are good. 1 item many uses are my favourite. FWIW - I am buying a folding bike on my trip. I will let you know how that goes. It will fit in a suitcase. Ultimate in portability..I can travel with only a bike and a bag. My dream is to be able to go anywhere without relying on others as much as possible. www.bikefriday.com