Author - Charles Balbuena

7 Heavy Duty Backpacks You Can Trust

April 16, 2019

Get Out And Explore With These 7 Durable Backpacks

The last time I was in Portugal, the weather couldn’t decide what it wanted to do. One minute the sun was shining, birds singing their songs, and people walking like it was Sunday. Then, in a flash, the rain would come, first dribbles, then soon a free shower for everyone. Minutes later, it would become sunny again. While I was navigating through the cobblestone streets, picking up items from shop to shop, and collecting interesting things as I went along, I stopped and realized just how important a durable, strong, and my solid backpack really is. Through the rain and sunshine, continually putting things away and taking them out again, and making sure my day was taken care of because I could carry what I needed, I found that sometimes you need more than just an average backpack. For the do’ers, the explorer’s, and the ones willing to rough it out, here are seven of the best bags that simply won’t let you down through the thick and the thin.

Durability isn’t as high as it should be when looking for a backpack. While style, comfort and a place to fit your smartphone are heavily requested criteria requests when shopping for a travel backpack, most true travelers what something that can take a beating and withstand the abuse. Heavy Duty backpacks that are suitable for long-distance hiking, military deployment, and other high-activity ventures aren’t available at Wallmart.

Hauptstadtkoffer Luggage Review

October 26, 2018

Charles Balbuena

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Hauptstadtkoffer Review

Having carried around my plain old soft-case suitcase for years, I finally had to admit defeat on a recent multi-week trip to New York. Not only was my suitcase starting to look a little rough around the edges, but the frustration of trying to drag it with its faulty wheels and hold it upright to stop it from tipping over became too much. Clearly, suitcases had come a long way since I’d purchased my first bag several years ago, and my outdated option no longer did the trick.

I accepted it was time to upgrade my luggage and set about doing some research to find the best suitcase for traveling. I wanted to invest in something that was good quality but wasn’t going to require a small personal loan to pay for. It soon became apparent that a luggage set was going to be the best value option – plus, there’s a certain appeal of having a cohesive, stylish luggage set as you make your way to your destination.

When I finally decided to trade in my old bag and upgrade, it left me wondering why I hadn’t done it so much earlier. It certainly made navigating the airport much more pleasant and I love the look of my new case! I also decided to opt for a hard-shell case, which has given me a lot of peace of mind about carrying my beloved camera equipment through the airport and leaving it in the care of the airline staff.

Gone are the days of just throwing all my belongings into my case and hoping for the best. My new suitcase is much better organized, which means everything is easier to find, and I can fit more in (perfect for when I can’t choose between two pairs of shoes). Finally, it’s great to have a suitcase that’s up to date with modern TSA standards so I no longer have to choose between leaving my bag unsecured, or risking damage if it is opened by baggage handlers or security.

So, what bag did I settle on?

Matein Backpack Review: The Perfect Travel Backpack

June 19, 2018

Charles Balbuena

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Matein Travel Backpack

I’ve needed a new backpack for a while now. After so many destinations and so many miles, my trusty pack is starting to look like Indiana Jones’ worst nightmare. It was never anything special to begin with, but it became my constant companion. I’ve been trying to ignore that widening rip on the side that I keep bandaging with safety pins. I keep ignoring the fading blue exterior that was once so vibrant in its infancy.

But I can’t have her for much longer. As much as I’ve grown attached to this hunk of fabric that has held my worldly possessions so lovingly for so long, I need to find another. And quick! Because I’m flying across the country to do a solo hike and my current backpack will simply not stand for another bout of abuse from the overstuffing and inclement weather.

My Old Backpack

Luckily, I’ve found the perfect replacement. After much research online and checking out disruptors, I’ve discovered and love the Matein Travel Backpack. This backpack is far more advanced than my current bag in every way. It’s a travel backpack, but it can be used for just about anything. After landing a new job in tourism management, my search preferences changed slightly. This new job will require me to carry a laptop from time to time, along with a camera. I wanted to find a backpack that had the security and durability as something you would need to take on the train every day to work, but also look and feel like a backpack that you could take on a hike.

My good friend good and contact who helped me land this new job recommended the Matein Backpack. She actually uses the Matein Slim Travel Laptop Backpack, but I tend to overpack, so I got the larger of the two. The larger Matein Travel Backpack also has more features, including one of my favorite design concepts with the built-in combination lock. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten to bring or lost the lock for my old pack. This feature easily allows you to lock your back with a combination code.

This backpack has a sleek design and dark color making it a stylish piece for both men and women. It’s extremely light in my hand for its size and holds all of my stuff beautifully. The main compartment is roomier than it looks on the outside and holds all of the clothing needed for a long trip.

Hølssen Men’s Leather Satchel Briefcase Review

June 1, 2018

Charles Balbuena

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The Hølssen Men’s Leather Satchel Briefcase has broken new ground in my opinion. Most men don’t carry a briefcase, but if they do they usually lack style. A briefcase can appear cold and too business-like. Other options are the backpack route. However, a business professional may view a backpack as unsophisticated, even childish. Making this middle ground of whether or not a man feels comfortable enough carrying a satchel. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that a satchel is not for you, however, the Hølssen men’s leather satchel briefcase has the look of a briefcase, but the style of a satchel.

This men’s leather satchel briefcase is sexy and stylish. It’s professional and yet practical. You’re not carrying it to make a fashion statement, you’re carrying it cause it fits your 15″ Laptop and reports and notes from the office. To be honest, this satchel briefcase even made me feel more attractive while riding the train every day. I would catch a look and then a smile here or there from a woman that I wouldn’t normally get from an over the shoulder backpack.

15 Best Travel Tips To Ensure Your Safe and Having Fun

April 19, 2018

Charles Balbuena

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Best Travel Tips

You never know what you’ll need until you need it. People who travel often usually know what to pack and what to avoid. Regular travelers also have a more calm sense of being throughout their trip, know tricks about airports or traveling in general and are even more natural when socializing and meeting new people. Practice makes perfect, and the more experience you get, the better you become. But a great tip or piece of advice can go a long way.

The following is a collection of the best travel tips I could find while searching the web. I included a link to the article and website to help you find other awesome travel sites and blogs and to get more info. I plan to update this article as time passes, so if you have suggestions to add to the article or know of a link to a great article, please leave a comment below!

1. Learn Common Phrases of the Local Language: A simple “Please,” “Thank you,” or “I’m sorry” in the local language goes a long way. I also like to learn the word for beer, but that’s just me. Read more: OrdinaryTraveler.com

2. Meet Local People: Make it a point to avoid other travelers from time to time and start conversations with local people. Basic English is spoken widely all over the world, so it’s easier to communicate than you might think, especially when you combine hand gestures and body language. Read more: ExpertVagabond.com

3. Spend More Time in Fewer Places: When you’re planning a trip, don’t try and go everywhere and do everything – that’s a recipe for burnout and blowing your budget! Instead of racing from one end of a country to another, or tearing through 6 countries in 6 weeks, get to know a region well. Read more: YTravelBlog.com

4. Protect Yourself Against Petty Crime – Petty crime is, unfortunately, rife in most large cities around the world. Many thieves target tourist attractions and hotels, as they believe vacationers are easy targets. Handy tips include leaving your passport in the hotel safe and carrying a photocopy with you. It’s also helpful to try and keep luggage out of sight in cars and not to leave any valuables behind, even in a locked vehicle. Read more: TheCultureTrip.com

5. Make Extra Copies of your Passport and Important Documents – Don’t forget to e-mail a copy to yourself so you’ll almost always have access to them, one way or another. Read more: NomadicMatt.com