REI Grand Tour Travel Pack

REI Grand Tour Travel Pack – Extremely Affordable Travel Pack

Love them or hate them, travel packs are a well thought out piece of travel gear. However, some people just don’t like them. They would rather travel with their old backpack than a piece of gear that been specially designed for traveling and vagabonding. I kind of understand this to some degree, as some travel packs are designed as a piece of luggage first and backpack second. These sort of packs really feel like you are carrying around a suitcase on your back. If that is one of the things that has kept you from getting a travel pack for your next big trip, the you may want to look into the REI Grand Tour Travel Pack.

I will talk a little bit more about how comfortable the REI Grand Tour Travel Pack is compared t others in a moment, but first I wanted to talk about the price. Eagle Creek makes some of the best travel packs out there. the problem is, they also make some of the most expensive ones out there as well. Even their smaller ones can carry a price tag of well over $200. The REI Grand Tour Travel Pack though, has just much to offer but with a much smaller price tag.

As I said before, the fit of the REI Grand Tour Travel Pack is great. With many travel packs they are either more luggage oriented or backpack oriented. With the REI Grand Tour Travel Pack its hard to say. Which is definitely a good thing because it means they may have found the happy medium between the two. The travel pack wear like a comfortable old backpack, but opens and operates more like a piece of luggage. Im not just talking about a backpack with a front loading zipper, but a full on “front loading lid” of sorts. And on top of that lid of course is a detachable day pack.

The quick & dirty:

Where you can get one:
REI.com: $189

Why they rock:

From luggage to backpack, the zip-away suspension system features adjustable torso length and padded shoulder straps, waistbelt and backpanel
Panel-loading daypack zips on/off main pack easily; daypack’s main compartment features a hydration pocket and hose port (reservoir sold separately)
Daypack’s front panel organizer includes pockets for cards, pens, electronics and keys; vertical zippered pocket provides additional storage
Travel pack’s main compartment has a large zippered opening for easy access to the interior
Zippered bottom compartment provides extra storage for clothes and gear; adjustable divider creates a sleeping bag compartment
Locking zipper sliders on daypack and main travel pack let you secure your possessions (locks sold separately)
Exterior compression straps stabilize the load for jostle-free carrying
Side mesh pockets hold 1-liter water bottles; top organizer pocket holds a few pens, spare change and other small essentials
Shoulder harness adjusts easily to fit those with torso lengths from 17 to 20 in.; padded waistbelt adjusts securely around hips
Two aluminum stays create excellent load-bearing support
Zippered panel conceals the suspension system—great when checking the bag at the airport
Side and top foam handles; D-rings let you clip on a single shoulder strap (sold separately) for another carrying option
Daypack volume is 800 cu. in. (13 liters) and main bag volume is 3,400 cu. in. (55.5 liters,) for a total volume of 4,200 cu. in. (68.5 liters)
Constructed of 420-denier nylon twill with 630-denier ballistic nylon on bottom for added sturdiness

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 10 out of 10
The REI Grand Tour Travel Pack is a great buy for any traveler on a budget. If you have looked at other travel packs but passed on them because they were out of your budget, then the REI Grand Tour Travel Pack might be just what you need. It really is a great buy and gives you the best bang for you buck. You really can’t beat it for the price.

Looking to Buy? Check out these sites:
REI.com: $189