This ended up being my top choice
For reference: I compared this to the Maelstrom 40l, and a similar bag to the Maelstrom we had at home. I have traveled a lot and have more bags and rollers than I care to admit. After a recent trip to Europe where my US regulation carry on wouldn’t fit European airplane overheads, and cobblestone streets and sidewalks made my wheeled luggage more like wrestling with a bull, I decided to rethink how to pack for my next trip abroad. PROS and what stood out AND the trick I learned: The Diamond Candy is sewn with smaller stitches, which will hold up better. It has the largest storage pockets on the waist band and holds my iPhone 12 easily. The water bottle holders are larger. The padded tablet pocket floats and keeps my iPad from touching the ground. A huge plus for protecting it. Bright colored rain cover. Multiple attachment points. Multiple, easily accessible pockets. Fabric zipper pulls that are NOT finger-sized loops (which would be easy for pick pockets to unzip.) The liner fabric and pocket fabric inside the back is higher quality. Ideally I wanted to use the Doughnut Colorado that I already have. What changed my mind? the comfortable shoulder pads, waist band with storage pockets, and outside pockets that come in handy when at the airport, on a train or walking. The trick I learned will help me board the plane and not have to fuss with accessing what I need once I sit down. HERE’S THE TRICK. Get an airplane seat storage pocket to hold ehat you need when you’re flying (tablet, book, power bank, eye mask, ear plugs, glasses.) Lay this backpack on the bed, place the seat storage pocket on the backpack. Unclip the sleeping back straps. Use them to make an X across the storage pocket. Clip them into the trek pole clips. This means you now have loose trek straps. Easy peasy. Cross them in an X across the front. Clip them into the (now unused) sleeping bag clips. This workaround actually provides more attachments in front. I travel a lot, and I can’t express how much easier this is going to make going through security, waiting in lines (wearing the pack. No luggage to wheel), and transitioning from putting my things in the overhead, wishing I had taken out this or that. I have tried wearing travel jackets with pockets so I have much of what I need. THIS seat pocket solution and strapping it to the back of the backpack is the easiest solution of all. Read more
























