A good backpack is essential when it comes to bringing your personal belongings with you to work, school, or travel. If you like to travel with your daily accessories, this guide will guide you through the questions and solutions in order to find the best bag for your needs, and above all ask you the right questions.
All the important points will be elaborated and explained using the index below.
Index
Part 1 - What type of traveler are you?
1.1- Student
2.1- Office worker
3.1- Professional traveler
4.1- Outdoor Fanatic
Part 2 - Controversies
2.1- Less is more?
2.2- Quantity versus Quality
2.3- Find the Perfect One for You
Part3: Your AEER bags and Accessories
3.1- Animus Aeerbags
3.2- Urban Aeerbags
3.3- Luxus Aeerbags
4.4- Elementum Aeerbags
Part 4: What is a bag?
4.1- Definition and history
4.2- What you can do to optimize your organization
Part 5: Behind the bags and the AEER concept
5.1- Conception & Design
5.2- Types of Fabric
5.3- What does AEER mean?
5.4- The Origin of Latin
I- Before the Indo-Europeans
II- The Gauls
III- Roman times
IV- The barbarian invasions
V- The beginnings of French
VI- The Middle Ages: The time of dialects
VII- The affirmation of French
VIII- Classic French
IX- Modern French-the end of dialect
X- Contemporary French
Part 6: Problems related to the Wrong Choice of Backpack
6.1.1 - Posture and Back Pain
6.1.2 - Bag Weight and Adjustment
6.1.3 - Impermeability & Quality
6.1.4 - Brands & Marketing
Part 7: Frequently Asked Questions in the Backpack World
7.1- Does the weight of the bag really make a difference?
7.2- How can I be organized in a small bag for a long trip?
7.3- Are there any types of tissue to consider?
7.4- Is the price synonymous with quality?
7.5- How can we make the right choice in the long term?
7.6- Waterproof vs Water Resistant Backpacks
Part 8: Conclusion
Time to get started! Start by choosing which bag style you like best from the ones below, then keep reading the guide to learn how to achieve your dream bag!
PART 1 - WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU?
Before you buy a backpack following an advertisement on the internet, make sure you ask yourself the right questions. Are you more of an outdoor enthusiast than a city fanatic or the other way around? Are you more likely to carry your house on your back on long and short trips or are you more of a minimalist? Knowing what's important and what might be useful on your trip separates two distinct types of travelers with very different specific goals. Based on our analysis, here are the different types of professional travelers.
1.1 - STUDENT
Whether your young teen chooses his or her own bag in a store or you do it for him or her online, keep the following criteria in mind. All student bags should be practical for school, travel, and leisure. Younger teens won't care about the brand while older teens will want to quietly associate with a brand for their image to feel part of a group at school. Indeed, we've all been there, haven't we? As parents, we often have crushes and we would like our child to have the same, but this is rarely the case. You'll notice that as time goes by, your youngster needs to have a say, especially in the 21st century. Otherwise, he or she may simply not use it or use it for a very short period of time. Taking the time to let your teen choose the bag he is attracted to will save you from buying a second one! Follow our advice, you will thank us, I promise!
The size of the bag is directly related to back pain if it is overfilled. With all the school things to bring to school, it is super important not to have a bag that is too big to avoid back pain. Avoid the shriveled effect for the look and prioritize lightness. Make sure you have well-padded shoulder straps to allow maximum comfort for your teenager. Forget about the influence of popular brands that focus on look and marketing before the lumbar health of your teens by switching to backpacks with small straps, without padding, and of low quality. Rely on a company that offers backpacks that are light, comfortable, practical and above all with a look that will turn heads when opening the doors of high-school/university.
1.2 - OFFICE WORKER
Some will work part-time while studying at university while others will work full-time for an office firm. In both cases, the idea of wanting to disassociate oneself from "cool" products in order to be promoted by a group will lose its value by the end of one's school career.
Over time, it is important to have quality accessories so that you can keep them for a longer period of time and get a return on your purchase over the years. Just like school, work is also an area where one feels the need to perform and look good. Looking good means looking good, especially if you're in the world of numbers, fashion, and high-prestige companies or if you see others' eyes on your shares at significant value, directly or indirectly.
Depending on your motivations, when you decide to buy for the long term is already a form of investment while buying based on bargains results in most cases at an expense.
1.3 - PROFESSIONAL TRAVELER
The professional traveler includes both the creative freelancer and the corporate professional traveling from city to city. Design and fashion are in demand for quality and long-lasting items.
The professional traveler likes to have the choice to use what he needs when he sees fit. In the majority of cases, the nomad will have the desire to buy a unique product to fill his need over a popular product that everyone is talking about. When we talk about the professional traveler, we are also talking about multifunctional, efficient, and long-lasting accessories.
1.4 - OUTDOOR FANATIC
The outdoors is a very wide field with many possibilities in terms of sporting activities. Indeed, several sports generate specific specialties for a specific sport.
Here are a few examples of activities that require specialized outdoor accessories such as mountaineering, water sports, cycling, running, climbing, golf, and many others. As a general rule, the outdoor enthusiast likes to have all the possibilities on hand in case something happens. For example, in a forest survival trip, it is difficult to turn back if you are not properly equipped. Your laptop and camera will not help you start a fire and stay full until the next day.
The outdoor enthusiast is a nature lover who aims to enjoy the outdoors to the best of his or her ability.
PART 2 - CONTROVERSIES
That's it! That's it! The controversial debate is on. Some people say it's cheap, while others swear by quality. What is really the best solution in the short, medium and long term? Is there a winning recipe for what to save or avoid spending on? Should we put our money into this or that type of backpack? It's hard to say when we don't know the latest news or start our research. Here are the best benchmarks to support your decisions.
2.1 - QUANTITY VERSUS QUALITY
It's not always easy to distribute your money evenly. Would anyone ever have thought that people would have been willing to pay $800 for a smartphone, or even $3,500 for a new laptop in 2017 when some people don't want to pay $20 for a sweater? However, the manufacturing price is practically the same, but the interests of individuals are not there.
When it comes time to choose a good backpack, you have to take the time to choose it well. When you think about it, there are normal individuals who carry their $3,000 laptop computer for work in a $50 backpack that is not waterproof and does not protect the goods they are carrying. It's not by pure coincidence that the repair of electronic objects has been steadily increasing since 2008, apart from third-party problems. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see people in stores or other electronics services to repair their tools because of bad weather.
However, it only takes a few hours or even a few minutes more to take the time to choose the right backpack for your needs and save the time and cost of repairing your computer. At the end of the day, having chosen the right bag for your needs is more expensive on the spot, but is often parallel to a quality investment. It is not necessary to go for a $300 top bag to protect your laptop, but sometimes the right balance is ideal!
There is no right or wrong decision. However, it all depends on your interests. If you are the type of person who cannot live without a laptop for work or for yourself it is a high priority to act accordingly. On the other hand, if you carry your lunch, books, or papers from the office and you don't necessarily need a waterproof bag, but you're playing with your luck.
Let's be honest, who wants to buy a bag that is not weatherproof? We'd be remiss if we didn't tell you that it's not important.
2.2 - LESS IS MORE?
Less is more? .... Really?... Even before reading the text, many will have questions about the effectiveness of the concept. The idea is to help you understand the concept of this sentence which is often misunderstood. The advantages and disadvantages specific to each one will perhaps allow you to make a better analysis afterward.
The famous expression ''Less is More'' used by many design companies makes you think. As consumers, our first instinct is: "I'm going to get less for my money and it's going to cost me more. In that respect, you are right, since nothing makes sense. On the other hand, when we take a step back and analyze everything, it makes sense.
And if the expression "Less is More" would translate into the following sentence: "Fewer worries and more time for you"? An expression is a minimalist approach that consists of making the use fast, simple, and effective without having to tear your hair out to understand how the product works.
In other words, we live in a society where everything is based on the here and now. If it's too long or too complicated, we pick up the phone. Does this also apply to backpacks?
Yes, it doesn't just apply to backpacks, but to all consumer products on the market. Even if you want to bring more accessories with you, it's not an option that you give yourself, but a burden that you will carry on your shoulders every day. Giving yourself this mental freedom will save you a lot of headaches!
2.3 - FIND THE BACKPACK THAT SUITS YOU BEST
It is normal to have questions about the effectiveness of the Aeerbag concept. You will find out with the paragraph below whether our concept is for you or not. The idea behind the concept is to travel from city to city protecting your essentials while having your hands free. As simple as it may sound, no other company has created the concept before Marc-Antoine Rivet.
In fact, the founder designed the Animus, the first backpack with a removable, adjustable, and detachable hood, depending on your situation. Weather is a phenomenon that affects us all and is not predictable. We are all familiar with the idea of bringing an umbrella with us. Many people buy several umbrellas a year due to strong winds that damage the product and become unusable.
Of course, that is when we have it with us since most of the time we never have it at the right time. We have all experienced the surprise effect of Mother Nature or we didn't have our umbrella handy. We forget it at home, in the car, in public places and even if we have a small travel umbrella, we have to take the time to dry it before putting it in our bag for fear of getting our other personal belongings wet or storing it in a corner at the office or in the garage.
The idea behind the AEER concept is to give you the option and above all the freedom of mind to carry your bag without ever worrying about protecting your personal belongings. One less expense in your diary! You just have to let it attach to the outside zip of the bag placed on the top of the shoulder straps to be able to use it when the weather is not nice. Unfortunately, we cannot control the outside temperature, however, we can give you the necessary lightness and freedom of mind to protect yourself and what you are carrying without having to look at your weather application before going on your adventure.
Of course, the material of the bag and cap is designed to dry super fast so that it doesn't harm you when you're on the move.
Finding THE perfect bag is not an easy job, but you now know that Aeerbags are very unique and stand out from the many brands that already exist.
Hopefully, the advantages will allow you to make a better analysis of your next bag purchase!
PART 3 - AEERBAGS AND ACCESSORIES
Each Aeerbag has been designed with the utmost attention to detail, from the details to delivery to your home. We think you deserve more than just a backpack. You deserve something more efficient, stylish, and lighter. You deserve an Aeerbag.
3.1 - ANIMUS AEERBAGS
We can't control our external environment, but we can equip ourselves accordingly. Rain is a thing of the past when you have your Aeerbag. Thanks to the removable, detachable and adjustable hood you can shape it to your profile to be ready to face the rain, wind and even give you a style that will set you apart from the rest. It will certainly make you unique! You don't need the hood? No problem! Aeerbags are designed to give you the option to remove it when the weather is nice outside and store it directly in your bag.
The Animus also offers you the anti-pick-pocket aspect. This Aeerbag is a bag that will protect you against criminals when you travel to less safe places such as on a trip for example. Since the main closure is at the back of the bag (in your back) it is more difficult to go unnoticed to steal your personal belongings. The Animus is our most popular backpack with this essential travel feature. It is our first all-in-one model created for travelers, cyclists and office people who travel by public transit. You'll have the peace of mind of the criminals around you!
The material is a high-performance 600-denier polyurethane that makes it harder for the thief to cut the bag with a knife. The bag is not anti-cut, however, it can have up to 6 stab wounds on the fabric before it can be opened completely. You may notice this before you can open the bag completely!
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In fact, many travelers use Aeerbags as the number one choice before the well-known brands.
3.2 - URBAN AEERBAGS
We all know someone who goes downtown to work in big buildings to work in small and large companies. The city bag is aptly named. This Aeerbag was designed for people who travel by public transport and like to go unnoticed without neglecting their style.
It allows you to differentiate yourself from other travelers with a unique and simple yet discreet style.
3.3 - LUXUS AEERBAGS
This Aeerbag is definitely for the person who loves fashion and trends. Have you ever heard that the typical backpack is not welcome in a business environment? Especially people dressed in a jacket and tie? It's time to make room for change!
Indeed, we see more and more business people with backpacks in Europe and in big cities. Why is this? The answer is quite simple. Whether cycling, walking, taking public transport or driving to work, we all want to have our hands free to hold our coffee or simply to be able to answer a phone call.
You'll also have the freedom of mind to have a quality bag that goes well with your everyday clothes in the city and your weekend plans!
3.4 - ELEMENTUM AEERBAGS
The Elementum is a generous capacity bag that might be just what you need if you often carry items "just in case" or for a three-day stay outdoors. This Aeerbag is the largest model in its class to allow you to carry everything you need for your desired activities.
As well as having a generous capacity, the Elementum is like the Urban, Luxus, and Animus weatherproof. That means you're protected from the elements wherever you are.
It's also the only bag with 5 exterior compartments. A good bag to have in town and on the road!
PART 4 - WHAT IS A BAG?
4.1 - DEFINITION
A backpack is a storage space carried on a person's back that rests the weight of the material it contains on the shoulders by means of shoulder straps and sometimes also on the hips by means of a belt while having hands free.
Source: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sac_%C3%A0_dos
Source: https://la-conjugaison.nouvelobs.com/definition/sac_a_dos.php
Source: https://www.linternaute.fr/dictionnaire/fr/definition/sac-a-dos/
As early as prehistoric times, men invented pottery and wineskins to transport food and materials. From the 11th century onwards, the wicker hood appears and is sometimes worn on the back. In the 17th century, wooden frames were built, attached to the shoulders with leather straps. Two hundred years later, a large leather bag was attached to the frames, creating the first backpack. In 1909, wood was replaced by metal, leather by canvas, and the model was registered by Ole F. Bergan, then developed in France by Millet and Lafuma. In the 1950s, the American Dick Kelly invented a lighter aluminum product with a waist strap. In the 1970s, some brands took advantage of the boom in outdoor activities to release collections for the city. The backpack enters American universities. In France, it replaced the leather schoolbag in middle and high school at the end of the 1980s.
Search for comfort, growing influence of the 1990s or return of a "1930s mountain" aesthetic, the backpack arrives in the collections of luxury houses, which free it from its "always scouting" image. The English designer Christopher Kane is inspired by vintage and proposes a model in black leather with embroidered flowers like canvas. Pierre Hardy continues to capitalize on his 3D cube motif by affixing it to a large pocket bag. In a wilder vein, Jérôme Dreyfuss has animal prints on leather or canvas.
Source: https://www.lemonde.fr/mode/article/2014/02/21/un-peu-d-histoire-le-sac-a-dos_4370250_1383317.html
4.3 - WHAT YOU CAN DO TO OPTIMIZE YOUR ORGANISATION
Is it possible to travel around the world with a twenty-thirty liter bag? Surprisingly, it is possible to travel around the world with a backpack with this bedding. How is it possible to bring everything in a simple backpack for twenty-five liters? The answer is much simpler than you might think. In fact, to get to this point, a lot of experience has been accumulated to result in traveling this way.
You must first choose the essential items to bring with you and minimize simple uses, washing, fabrics that are too hot or too cold, and focus one hundred percent on all-purpose items. In short, simple and effective. In total, you should have no more than forty items including the clothes and accessories you have with you when you leave. Here is an example:
In my backpack:
- 1 t-shirt
- 1 Energy drink
- 1 Protein bar
- 2 Underwear
- 1 Box of Mint
- 1 Pair of Shoes
- 1 Portfolio (card not accounted for)
- 1 Phone
- 1 Telephone Charger (tip and cord)
- 1 Portable computer
- 1 Computer Charger (tip and wire)
- 1 Cap
- 1 Sunglasses
- 1 Sunglasses case
- 1 Belt
- 1 Bottle of water
- 1 Coat
- 1 Toothbrush
- 1 Toothpaste
- 1 Razor
- 1 Dental floss
- 1 Watch
- 1 Passport
A total of thirty-five items are listed. Of course, this is the minimalist traveler who only wants the essentials with the least amount of fuss.
Many young independent workers and photo and video enthusiasts have adopted the Aeerbags before the world-renowned brands. These young people all have one thing in common. They are extremely alert to new products and to the efficiency of the bags available to them.
David Maman is a Montreal-born photographer who has photographed many Quebec stars and influencers such as Lysandre Nadeau, Jessika Denommee, Lucie Rhéaume, Alicia Moffet and more whose dynamism and professionalism speaks for itself in these photos. After trying the Aeerbags, he hasn't been looking for a bag since that day.
''Seriously it's become my ultimate camera/ travel bag.'' - David Maman
Here are some pictures of David with the bags.
PART 5 - THE AEER CONCEPT
5.1 - CONCEPTION & DESIGN
Many young independent workers and photo and video enthusiasts have adopted AEER bags in Quebec, California, and even in France. When we design products, we don't just design simple bags, but we design around a dynamic and current lifestyle to make them useful to the pleasant to the user.
It took nine months of design to create only the 1st bag and then it took us about one week to create the collection and three weeks to create about fifty models that. We are more excited to be able to show you on our website at https://www.aeerbags.com/ or through our customers via their online store and pops up shops.
5.2 - TYPE OF FABRIC
We design all our bags with the utmost care. All our bags without exception are made of high quality, weather-resistant fabrics.
5.3 - WHAT DOES AEER MEAN?
AEER is a Latin name meaning ''AIR'' in the French language. As French is derived from Latin, the founder wanted to go back to his origins. It also means the 4 elements, water, earth, fire, and air as well as everything related to temperature, wind, sun, and the rest of the external environment that an urban traveler might encounter on his way.
The logo simply means the urban traveler walking down the street with his gaze in the distance. The individuals are represented by the stickman walking to the top. The logo also highlights the A of the first letter of the name AEER which is shown with the man who can be seen with the two arms supporting the A. AEER is spelled like the letter ''R'' which refers to the word in French as well as the first letter of the creator's surname.
5.4 - THE ORIGIN OF LATIN
Originally from the Germanic people that were the Franks, the French language is not of Germanic origin, but of Latin origin. Later it will be influenced by the Franks. Some will be inclined to trace our language back to Gaul, a Celtic language, which is not representative of reality.
A. LINGUISTIC EUROPE AT THE DAWN OF HISTORY
I - Before the Indo-Europeans
The Gauls were obviously not the first inhabitants of Gaul, but little is known about the populations that preceded them, apart from a few names of peoples such as the Aquitans, the Iberians of the Ligurians. The few traces of these non-Indo-European languages are mostly found in the names of rivers (like the Loire, formerly Liger, or Seine, ... ) and places (Manosque, Tarascon, Luchon, ...), as well as some rare words that can be described as "pre-Celtic", (like avalanche, motte, jabot, ...). However, if Ligurian and Iberian remain mysterious languages, we know more about Aquitaine thanks to its distant descendants, the Basques, who have been able to resist over the centuries.
II - The Gauls
Gallic is a Celtic language, which belongs to the large family of Indo-European languages. Around 6 thousand years before our era, populations speaking so-called Indo-European languages occupied the Caucasus and the Black Sea regions: part of these populations later moved to India, while the other swept over almost the whole of Europe and gave rise to five major language streams (Hellenistic, Germanic, Slavic, Romanesque and Celtic). This is how the Celts, our Gauls, arrived in the region that was to become Gaul in the first millennium BC. The Gauls will thus from -800 onwards become involved in the local talks mentioned above. But the Gallic penetration was rather superficial and uneven and cohabited with these non-indo-European languages. In the same way, only a few dozen terms remain today from the Gallic language, generally rural, such as plow, oak, gleaner, furrow, ...).
III - Roman times
In any case, around 120 BC, the Roman conquest of Gaul had begun. In just over half a century, the whole of Gaul was in Roman orbit and the Gallo-Romans finally abandoned their Celtic language in favor of Latin. They began to speak Latin in their own way, with their own accent and pronunciation. Thus, for them, "august" for example, became Agosto, then Aosto, Aoust and finally august.
IV - The barbarian invasions
Thus, this Latin already hardly resembled that of Rome when German invaders (Burgundians, Visigoths, and of course the Franks) landed in the third century. The installation of the Franks in Gaul will leave some 400 terms in the Gallo-Roman vocabulary, in particular terms of war (harquebus, truce, arrow...) and rural vocabulary (wasp, log, reed...). But these invaders will little by little adapt the Gallo-Roman language, in particular thanks to the conversion to Catholicism of their leader Clovis, which will contribute to maintaining the practice of Latin (as a vehicle of religious life). Three centuries later, Charlemagne also encouraged the teaching of Latin. Thus, this Latin/German duplicity was to become generalized and to have an impact on the French language in the making.
NB: The Viking invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries gave an only local speech and a little marine vocabulary (cingler, hauban, wave,...).
V - The beginnings of French
It is difficult to determine the exact "date of birth" of French because early French texts are rare. The most famous is the "Serments de Strasbourg", signed in 842 by the grandsons of Charlemagne, which is considered to be the first official document of the French language; a language still far from the one we speak today!
We can also mention the "Sequence of Saint Eulalie", a suite of 29 verses that tells the exemplary life of a young girl martyred in the 4th century. In this text in Old French written in the ninth century, we already recognize better our contemporary language.
VI - The Middle Ages: The Time of Dialects
However, despite these early texts, it would be abusive to speak of THE French language at that time. The Latin spoken by different mouths had ended up taking on such different forms in each region. This fragmentation into various dialects was all the more facilitated by the feudal system and the cantonment around the lord's land. At that time there were three main dialects:
-the langue d'oc (in which yes is said "oc" ) with a speech closer to Latin.
-the langue d'oïl (where yes is said "oïl" ) influenced by the Germanic languages.
-Franco-Provençal (Occitan type of speaking which is closer to the langue d'oc)
-and many more regional talks: Basque, Catalan, Breton, Flemish, Alsatian, ...
VII - The affirmation of French
From the end of the 12th century, the "language of the king", i.e. the language of the court and of Ile de France, is better recognized, and it becomes a language of prestige, thus widening its domain.
It is from the Renaissance, four centuries later, that the question of fixing the "king's language" is strongly raised. In the field of practical life, French would henceforth replace Latin in all administrative documents, starting in 1539, when François I took the famous "Ordonnance de Villiers-Cotterêt". Henceforth, all official texts will have to be written in "French mother tongue". At the same time, literary authors also began to write in French.
VIII - Classical French
After the Renaissance boom, the 17th century was to stem the tide of innovation by fixing spelling and pronunciation. Language, an instrument of political centralization, thus became a matter of state: in 1635, Richelieu founded the Académie française, which was responsible for creating a dictionary, a grammar, and for taking care of the French language.
IX - Modern French-the end of patois
A century later, at the time of the Revolution, the Convention, infatuated with centralism, dealt the first blow to the vitality of the patois, considered harmful to the "one and indivisible" Republic; in particular by Abbé Grégoire's report on the absolute necessity of abolishing the patois.
In nineteenth-century France, the French language was gaining ground, but 80% of people still spoke patois in most circumstances of daily life. From 1880 onwards, Jules Ferry established the free and compulsory secular school, in which teaching was naturally in French. This is how the use of patois began to become rare.
X - Contemporary French
In the twentieth century, it is still French, the common language, which will benefit from new techniques, allowing a wider diffusion, (T.S.F., radio, television,). This has clearly contributed to the standardization of the language, both in terms of vocabulary and pronunciation, which tends to become more neutral, and gradually abandoning regional speech. Can we go so far as to say that French is slowly losing its richness?
In conclusion, we can say that French is the most Germanic of the Romance languages. Its history is that of the evolution of Latin spoken in Gaul and its constant enrichment, brought over time in contact with neighboring languages.
Ref :
https://fr.babbel.com/fr/magazine/histoire-du-francais
http://thaloe.free.fr/francais/historic1.html
http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/francophonie/HIST_FR_s3_Ancien-francais.htm
PART 6 - PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE WRONG CHOICE OF BACKPACK
6.1 - POSTURE AND BACK PAIN
The wrong choice of a backpack can be summed up in several problems. Back pain is the number one problem found daily among urban travelers and hikers. It is very important to minimize the accessories that we carry for long walks and to organize our bag for city walks. Why do we need to do this? Simply to avoid back pain during the trip, whether it is small or large. In terms of organization, it's simply to allow you not to take everything out of your bag to get a piece at the bottom of the bag.
Let's imagine that you bring your everyday accessories to work, that you are well organized in your everyday life. Is it still possible to have back pain even if you pay attention regularly? Unfortunately yes, since some bags are not well designed for your silhouette or are simply poorly designed.
As far as comfort is concerned, you should always be careful whether it is a shoulder bag, a backpack, or even a beach bag or any other type of bag. It is very important to try the item with items inside for a certain period of time before making the purchase. If you are more of an online shopper, most merchants will give you a minimum of 15 days to return the product if it doesn't suit you. It is your duty to test it beforehand so you don't get a bag that destroys your back and shoulders.
It's better to have one good bag than four bags based on the items you need to carry. Here are a few tips that will help you reduce pain and maybe even find a permanent way to get rid of your back pain.
6.1.3 - BAG WEIGHT AND ADJUSTMENT
''I bought an 80 liters bag so I don't have to break my head, it'll be my everyday bag.''
Look out! Even though large bags are known for their lumbar support, they may not be suitable for you on a daily basis, let alone your physiognomy.
Instead, think about buying a bag that is smaller to go to work and more stylish than a 60-80 liters camping bag and opt for a simple and effective bag. When hiking or on an expedition, you can always ask your friends or relatives if they can't lend you theirs. This will save you from having to pick up a hiking bag in the closet 2 years later with the dust on top of it. Conversely, if you are outdoors every day, the same principle applies to city bags.
Yes! It's as simple as it sounds. ''I hate to adjust my bag, it's useless!''
It may just be a poor shoulder strap adjustment that doesn't fit your lifestyle. For example, if you're used to carrying everything with you and your bag reaches down to your buttocks, it could be that a simple straightening of the straps will take all the burden off your shoulders.
''I've already adjusted my shoulder straps and it's absolutely useless.'' So it's possible that it's the overloading of the items you have on the inside that's higher than normal.
Indeed, if the overload of your bag is more than 10% of your total weight, you may have problems related to your spine in 95% of cases.
6.1.4 - IMPERMEABILITY AND QUALITY
Waterproofing a prerequisite or an option? Many multi-national companies rely on branding instead of efficiency. In fact, many bags are impractical and above all are not waterproof, water-resistant, or even worse have no weather resistance.
When you think about it, a bag sheltered from water is not always necessary especially when the weather is nice, but when it rains you quickly regret your choice. Why buy a bag that is not designed for bad weather? I don't know about you, but I think it's funny that companies don't think about it and sad that consumers are fooled in such circumstances.
However, just because the materials are of high quality does not necessarily mean that they are weatherproof. Take leather, for example. A high-quality material that is resistant over time, but not water-resistant. You may be the one who takes the time to sprinkle the leather product with a protective layer, usually in a metal cane that you have to buy separately. Do you see my point? Why have all this trouble when you can just buy the right product? It's up to you!
6.1.5 - BRANDS AND MARKETING
Since we're talking about quality, have you noticed that it's all about branding more than real quality? Yes, yes, yes! Let's take a look at some bag brands like Jansport. This company is well known for its low price and its beautiful colors that attract young people, but they are probably the cheapest backpacks on the market considering that they have no lumbar support, no efficient storage space, not to mention that they are not waterproof. Yes, you'll pay $45, but ask yourself the real questions.
The same goes for cheaper online products such as those on Amazon for example.
Some bags are not even recognized as a brand but as a pricing point. The famous Amazon platform will allow you to have a multitude of choices in one place, but you will, of course, have to order several to be able to see their real quality.
Part 7: Frequently Asked Questions in the Backpack World
7.1 - Does the weight of the bag really make a difference?
Of course! This is probably the only thing that causes you to have back problems when traveling by subway, bus, or waiting for a taxi.
7.2- How can I be organized in a small bag for a long trip?
It may be difficult for some travelers to differentiate between what we can bring and what we will actually use. You can check out our blog posts to learn more in the tips and tricks section.
7.3- Are there any types of tissue to consider?
There is a lot of tissue on the market and the technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, you can find out by looking at the product label and it will indicate whether the product is waterproof or not. Otherwise, you can always test it within the accepted return period to be able to make your point.
7.4- Is the price synonymous with quality?
Many believe that price is synonymous with quality for many types of products. However, this theory is false. Although you want a high-quality product, it is always important to find out where it comes from and whether it is the real thing and not a copy made with inferior materials.
7.5- How can we make the right choice in the long term?
Backpacks have become ubiquitous for day-to-day use. And it’s no wonder: if you’re carrying around laptops, tablets, phones, water bottles, and all of the other stuff that you need when you travel to the office, cafe, or local park, a backpack is the best way to go.
Choosing the best backpack for your needs can be a bit bewildering, however. There are so many different brands out there and so many different factors to take into consideration, including look, usefulness, comfort, and price. What and how much will you be carrying? Do you need extra protection for rain or an accidental tumble? Do you want a separate place for each of your devices, or do you hate searching through dozens of separate pockets for your EarPods?
Instead of telling you the best backpack to buy, we’re going to walk you through the important things to look for and take note of when you’re picking out your next pack. All of these guidelines and suggestions apply, no matter what your needs are in terms of capacity and budget or your preferences for style.
The best way to shop for a backpack is, of course, in person. Like a pair of shoes, you never really know whether a backpack is right for you unless you try it on. However, if you don’t have the time to go shopping or if you prefer to shop online, then the three things you want to keep in mind are comfort, material, and design.
(In this piece, we are mainly describing daypacks that are best suited for work, school, touristing, or urban wandering.)
Comfort
Comfort should be number one on your list. Even if you don’t usually carry around a heavy load, there may come a time when you will need to really load up that pack, and you won’t want your back to be screaming at you by the end of the day.
If you think you’re going to carry a lot of weight on a regular basis, a chest, waist, or hip belt can make a big difference in relieving the stress on your back.
It’s a good idea to look for a pack that’s appropriate for your build. For example, in a good-quality women’s pack, the straps will be designed for narrower shoulders and the hip belt will be designed for riding on wider hips.
Your comfort with a backpack can also vary depending on the size of the backpack and your own height. If you’re shopping online and aren’t sure what size will suit, look for photos of the pack being worn by a model. You can usually estimate how tall you are compared to the model, and that should give you some idea of how the pack will fit.
You can also go to a store and try on some backpacks to figure out what size you’re most comfortable with. Backpack capacity is traditionally measured in liters. Slimline bags that you can only fit your laptop and a few books into are between 10L and 16L, the most versatile packs are around 20L to 25L, and the professional camera gear and weekender bags go up to 30L and beyond.
Materials
Of course, if you’re looking for something classy, there is nothing like leather, which is strong, can be made water-resistant, and looks great. However, leather is also going to be a lot heavier, and a reasonably-sized computer backpack made of leather is going to eat a nice hole in your bank account. (You can compromise by getting one with leather highlights.)
Luckily, the Aeerbags look like leatherette, but completely vegan. We do not support or encourage animal cruelty and it may be a better investment if your wallet is less generous.
Don’t underestimate the importance of the zippers: a misbehaving zipper can destroy the usefulness of any pack. If you’re shopping in a store, be sure to test every single zipper to see how smoothly they operate. Whether in person or online, look for zippers that include rain protection (which is costlier, but worth it). In addition, be aware of 90-degree corners on bags since it can be difficult or nearly impossible to make the zipper turn that corner. And get a bag with metal zippers; plastic zippers won’t last long under daily use.
Some bags come with magnetic latches and clasps. While these can be fast and convenient, they can also be annoying if they constantly miss their mark.
Design
Some people will complain because their bag has so many pockets that they forget which pocket they’ve put each device in. Others don’t think that there can ever be too many pockets.
The number and types of pockets, loops, and other storage options in packs today can vary widely, and it’s a very personal choice as to how many you’re comfortable with. You could, if you wanted, go for simplicity: the main compartment, a padded sleeve for your computer, and maybe two or three small pockets for other stuff. Or you could get a bag with places for dozens of specific uses. Some bags even include removable folders, computer bags, dividers, and other modules. (Although modularity can be a polarizing issue for backpack enthusiasts, for smaller items, you can buy a camera bag where all the compartments are user-adjustable.)
7.6- Waterproof vs Water Resistant Backpacks, what's the true difference?
If you're headed to a rainy city, that means you should buy a waterproof backpack, right?
Not necessarily.
Waterproof is about submersion
If a backpack is labeled waterproof, that means you can completely submerge the bag in a body of water without letting moisture inside. It goes beyond a rainstorm and optimizes for more extreme conditions.
You can walk through a waterfall or white water raft down a river with a waterproof backpack, and your stuff will stay dry.
To clarify, backpacks made with waterproof materials are not necessarily waterproof backpacks. A fabric can be waterproof. A zipper can be waterproof. And yet, a backpack made with waterproof fabrics and waterproof zippers may be classified as "water-resistant" - not fully waterproof.
Few travel situations require a truly waterproof backpack. Extreme water resistance, like what you'll find in the next collection of Aeerbags will excel for most trips. Especially city adventures.
Waterproof's downside
Creating a waterproof bag, one that keeps your stuff dry when you submerge the bag in water is a huge endeavor.
Designers have narrow options and have to make sacrifices in the pursuit of waterproof. Every material needs to pass a submersion test, and the components must be assembled in a way that doesn't create holes. If you sew two pieces of fabric together, you create a hole for water to seep through with every stitch. Those holes are too minuscule to impact a bag's performance in a rainstorm, but matter a lot when you submerge a bag in a lake.
Most companies approach waterproof assembly by welding thermoplastics - essentially melting two pieces of fabric together using ultrasonic sound waves.
Welding is an expensive way to make a backpack, and it requires very particular fabrics. Not every fabric can be welded. For that matter, many waterproof fabrics cannot be welded and therefore cannot be made into a truly waterproof bag. To top it off, waterproof bags also must be simpler designs than sewn bags due to the limitations of welding. That's why most are designed as a bucket-like main compartment with one or two flat pockets. Your choices in aesthetics and functionality are limited with a waterproof bag.
Waterproof backpacks are great at keeping water out when you're kayaking down a river, but the strict limitations in materials and assembly make them unideal for other circumstances.
Water-resistant can mean different things
So, what makes a backpack water-resistant vs waterproof?
The short answer: it depends. Unlike "waterproof," which has a clear definition for bags, water-resistant is a little vague.
A water-resistant backpack might only keep your stuff dry in a drizzle, or it might perform well in a downpour. To understand where a backpack falls in that spectrum, check for two main factors: zippers and fabric.
If you see coated zippers on a backpack, that's a clue your bag will perform well in heavy rain. Coated zippers keep water out of the bag in one of the most vulnerable places, since zippers are full of holes.
Fabric is a little more complicated. Some "waterproof" fabrics are simply tightly-woven nylons with a durable water-resistant coating applied to the back. No matter how tightly you weave a fabric, there will always be holes. Holes mean water gets through. Cheaper fabrics combat this issue with a coating to repel moisture. That coating works for a while... but it's infamous for rubbing away over time.
Higher quality waterproof fabrics, like Animus, have multiple layers to trap moisture and keep coatings from wearing off. It'll keep your stuff dry, even if you're stuck in a downpour.
As its name implies, sailcloth was originally used for the sails of racing boats and is made to stand up to extreme conditions. Sailcloth is an expensive, premium fabric choice for maximum performance and durability. If you see "sailcloth" or multiple waterproof layers in a backpack's fabric, that's a clue that your stuff will stay dry in heavier rain.
When in doubt, check with your backpack's manufacturer.
A high-quality, water-resistant backpack will keep your stuff safe and dry in a rainstorm. If you throw a water-resistant backpack into a lake, however, your laptop may not fare as well. If you're kayaking, bring a truly waterproof dry bag.
The next generation of Aeerbags will be truly made for that. You can learn more about the advantages of waterproof fabrics and all the other travel-friendly features we will build into the next generation of Aeerbags.
Part 8: Conclusion
You will have noticed that our blog is generally very neutral, which allows us to have good information to inform you instead of misleading you.
It is true that a bag that suits you will most likely be the best for you until proven otherwise. That being said, no bag company has innovated as much as we have, putting all of our energy, passion, and dedication into giving you the best version of ourselves for your daily activities. Hope this guide was helpful!