(Newswire.net — July 28, 2021) — It seems like everyone is traveling these days — whether it be on a cross-country adventure or a weekend getaway across town. I was really excited for an upcoming trip myself, but I had a hard time getting ready for it when I realized I didn’t have the right bag for the post-pandemic me!
Packing for a trip
One of the most underrated aspects of travel might be having everything you need within arm’s reach. Packing for a trip, you often have to scale back all the extras and take just what you need. But whether you’re traveling with only one bag or a consummate over-packer, the right gear is essential. The cheap backpack I had with a frayed strap and a hole in the bottom was about to put a stop to my long weekend vacation to Asheville, North Carolina — if I didn’t make some decisions fast. I needed to make a move and get a replacement on the way, but I was stuck endlessly searching. It was taking over my life!
Buying bags online
With so many carry-on bags and backpacks available, choosing the perfect travel bag was feeling insurmountable. Before I could take the leap of faith and click “add to cart,” I had to consider price, size, availability, and if I could believe website reviews. Plus, it’s also frustrating buying items online without the advantage of seeing them and trying them on before purchase. Maybe I was being a little picky, but nothing was speaking to me, and I was running low on time.
Stumbling upon a DJ bag
So, feeling totally overwhelmed by the possibilities, I went to catch up with some friends at a local bar. Places were just starting to open up in Miami, and I was eager to get out again. So, I got to Wood Tavern in Wynwood a little early, and I ran into my friend, DJ Ynot, a great DJ in town who also owns Lucky Records — a cool Miami record shop. It was great catching up with him while he set up. He was one of those people I was always happy to run into but not someone I knew well enough to keep up with during the pandemic. Anyway, we were just talking, and I noticed his backpack as he started to pull out his equipment for the gig.
It was a sharp-looking backpack that contained a stack of records, his laptop, headphones, a neat little pouch, and a bunch of DJ stuff. I said, “Yo, I like your bag, man. What’s up with it? I’m having a hard time finding one.” He told me it was called the Rhodes Backpack and that a DJ buddy of his made them in Nashville, TN. He said he loved it. He’d had the bag for over five years already, and it looked pretty much new to me. He let me check it out while he worked at getting the music going. I really liked its clean design, the quality of everything overall, and the bright orange interior, which he said was helpful for looking into the bag in the dark. I did some mental math, and it seemed large enough for a weekend trip. Ok, now we’re getting somewhere, I thought. I made a note before my friends came up with drinks.
Tucker & Bloom
I woke up after my late night out feeling a little rough. I started scrolling the internet as soon as I awoke, remembered the backpack chore, and had a moment of panic. Then, I thought about my talk with the DJ and checked out the site where he purchased his bag, Tucker & Bloom.
So apparently, this company has been low-key making incredible record bags that have been carried by DJs around the world for YEARS, but I’d never heard of them. The shop was owned by a father and son team. The dad had a long history in fashion design, working for top bag brands since the 1980s, and the son worked with him to develop the product line. While I was on their site, I started to look into some of their thoughts on manufacturing, and I was impressed with how they ethically sourced their materials for low environmental impact. It seems they do not like fast fashion and have some strong words about how it’s killing the planet. I also loved that they offered lifetime guarantees. That was something I didn’t see much looking at other bags online. Most importantly, their bags were designed to hold a ton of stuff: records and everything a DJ would need!
Finding the perfect backpack
I know some people prefer messenger bags, duffels, or rolling suitcases, but for short trips and everyday purposes, I’m a backpack person. They line up with and move with your body so smoothly, plus you can carry them onto a flight as a personal item. So, back at home a day later, I perused the Tucker & Bloom website and was impressed with their five backpack options, particularly the Leather Rhodes Backpack. I loved its sleek look and clean design, plus my friend’s bag looked great for its age. It had pockets in the front where I could easily access what I needed most and a large main compartment designed to fit a BUNCH of vinyls. I finally thought I might have found the bag for me.
So, I clicked “Add to Cart,” and in a week, I had my new travel bags. Besides the Leather Rhodes Backpack, I also bought a DJ cable bag and another to use as a toiletry kit. They both looked even better in person and came with a nice note from the owner. The backpack is definitely a bag you’ll want to show off, and it’s sturdy enough to carry around every day too. It would make a great work or school bag, and I really loved traveling with it.
Packing a backpack for a weekend trip
Alright, here is my list of stuff I took on the trip. My new backpack was the perfect size for a long weekend, and I was amazed at what all I could fit into it without it feeling bulky:
- My new toiletry kit
- My laptop
- My camera
- New cable bag
- My OP-1 synth
- Field recorder
- Headphones
- My sunglasses
- A phone charger/ backup battery
- A book
- 3 pairs of socks
- Flip flops
- A pair of shorts
- 3 shirts
- 3 pairs of underwear
- My AirPods
- and some travel snacks too!
Finding my travel bag soulmate
My trip to Asheville was awesome, I ate a ton, got out into nature, and saw the MOOG factory too! Just about everyone who saw me wearing my new Leather Rhodes Backpack complimented me, and I can’t lie; it felt great to have something I liked that people dug also. This bag wasn’t cheap, but with a lifetime guarantee and knowing how the company cared to source the leather ethically, I was so proud of my purchase. I will be traveling with this bag for the rest of my life, and I’m psyched about that. If you are looking for a great travel partner, I can’t recommend Tucker & Bloom bags enough.