Friday, August 7, 2015

Travel Series Part 3: Backpack Review: Kelty Redwing 50

Hey y'all! So today's video is all about the Kelty Redwing 50. Now, please keep in mind that I have the older version that is shown below (I believe they changed the design in 2013).

http://www.sqweeble.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Kelty_Redwing_50_Hiking_Backpack.png



Just in case you were wondering what the newer version looks like, here it is:
rei.com


So you can tell automatically that the biggest difference is the way the main compartment is designed. On the newer one, it's more rounded and you can actually fit a little bit more versus the old one.

The backpack is quite pricey, at $124.95 (price is from the Kelty website), it comes in 3 different colors (black, a forest green, and a sort of tan/green color). However, it has 5 star reviews on the website which you can look at here: https://www.kelty.com/product/redwing-50#customer-reviews

Something to also consider, this backpack is HUGE. I'm 5'7" and it goes all the way down to the bottom of my butt. You'll definitely have a ton of room to pack anything you need though. All of the straps are adjustable (shoulder and belt), they're very comfortable. I haven't been hiking in forever, but I take this backpack with me when I travel, and I never regret bringing it with me, even if I look ridiculous wearing it.

This backpack (fully stuffed) will fit in an overhead compartment on a plane, but I've also gotten it to fit underneath the seat in front of me in planes as well. Keep in mind though that part of it will be hanging out in the space meant for your feet because it is so long. The bag itself is made of polyester, but it's incredibly tough, so it's okay if you're rough with it.

They have all of the specs  (literally ALL of them) on the Kelty website, just use the link I provided up above.

All in all, if you're looking for a multi or single purpose backpack, I would definitely recommend this one. It survived my freshman year of college, going back and forth from home, and going on multiple smaller trips. ALSO, there are things that I did not mention that the new one has, you can read all about it on the Kelty website.

Do you have a favorite backpack for travel or basically anything?
Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!
-Danielle


Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Travel Prep! Travel Series Part 2

Hey y'all! So in today's video, I briefly went over how I like to prepare for traveling, whether it's going on a lengthy drive or getting on a plane.

Obviously, I pack the normal stuff (clothes, makeup, personal care items, electronics, chargers, etc.), but I would like to point out some of the things that I've learned from traveling extensively both throughout the U.S. and in other countries:

~you can never have enough underwear (I tend to bring twice as many pairs as the average person, so say I'm going to be gone for a week, I'll end up bringing around 14-16 pairs)

~a mini first-aid kit is essential (if you fall a lot, or just end up getting injured in stupid ways like running into doors like me, it's nice to have something just in case)

~bring stuff for blisters even if you don't think you'll get any (I'm pretty sure no one likes walking around in pain)

~extra hair ties are important (I use small rubberbands that you can get at Sally's, they're compact and take up virtually no room, I also shove them in every single bag that I carry, including my purse)

~keep a small tube of toothpaste in your first-aid kit (it helps if you burn your fingers on a curling iron or straightener and you'll have a back-up in case you forget yours)

~keep tissues, feminine wipes, and on-the-go wipes with you (every mom pretty much has tissues and on-the-go wipes with her 24/7, but adding the feminine wipes can prevent itching down there and helps keep you comfortable the entire time you're traveling)

~keep a back-up set of earbuds (I can't stress this one enough...mine always break when I travel, they're expensive to buy in the airport and it can be hard to find them on-the-go)

~keep a small stack of post-its, or a small note pad (you'll be able to keep track of things you want/need, I tend to use these for keeping track of music that I want to make a point of downloading later on)

~keep some extra pads/tampons with you (this one is a no-brainer...to me at least, you never know when you or someone else you might be traveling with will need one)

~keep a small pill case with you (I have one that is a keychain, I keep Aleve in there just in case I get a really bad headache)

~hand sanitizer is essential (I'm not a germophobe...but it's nice to keep some hand sanitizer with you because you don't know what kind of germs are running around)

~bring a few headbands (I use one specifically for when I wash my face at night, the others are options for the rest of the time that I'm traveling)

~drink plenty of water before hand (especially if you're flying, I find that I get serious headaches from the changes in barometric pressure and it's always because I never drink enough water, not only that, but you don't want to have to pay for water...and the cups on planes are tiny as hell)

~bring twice as many luggage locks as you think you'll need (my mom is always guilty of this, and now I am too, it comes in handy if you have multiple bags that you want to lock up, it makes it easier if you buy a new suitcase while traveling, and you don't have to hunt around and pay twice what it's worth if you need another one)

~only bring jewelry that is already on your body (if you don't wear it while you're traveling, don't bring it; my mom forgot a really expensive ring at a hotel once...and it was because she forgot about it because she brought other jewelry to wear)

~bring a neck pillow...even if you're not traveling for very long (it's a comfort from home, so you'll be more at ease, and you can get some shut-eye on the plane)

~back-up battery for your phone and other electronics (mine can charge my phone all the way...twice, it was around $50)

~keep a few back-up medications with you (for me, birth control, vitamins, and my prozac are the ones that I tend to pack a few more of just in case one of them falls out of my hand)

~don't bother keeping antacid with you (this is America...Diet Coke is everywhere, and if you go outside of the U.S., there's a magical thing called Coca-Cola Light, which is the same as Diet Coke)

~keep some beef jerky with you (it's packed with protein, so you won't be tempted to get shitty airport food and you won't have to spend the money)

~bring a few plastic bags (you can use them for garbage, dirty laundry, shoes, anything really)

~never leave without a book (your electronics can fail on you at any time...it's always nice to have something as a back-up)

~bring some sleeping pills (I tend to sleep better when I'm away from home, but it's nice to have the option of sleeping pills if I need them)

~be mindful of extraneous items (do you REALLY need that bottle of straightening serum, an entire thing of foundation, and a whole thing of body butter? no. you don't.)

~bring moisturizer! (your skin gets drier if you fly, but it can also get dry if you drive, just keep some with you, you'll never regret having it)

~bring sunscreen (yes, even if you're not going somewhere sunny, bring it. You don't want to look 400 years old by the time you're 45)

If you guys think that I missed anything, let me know!

Thanks for reading and I hope y'all have a great rest of the week!

-Danielle