GoLite Travel Bags

I do a fair amount of travelling. Which means I’ve had my fair share of schlepping through airports and train stations, toting around heavy luggage. I’m sure you have too, and we all know it stinks. Especially when you have to wait in that enormous line at airport security. With a couple heavy bags, this can turn into a slow torture.

This is why I was really excited to try the new GoLite travel bags.

The first bag I tried was their TraveLite Convertible Carry-On. This bag weighs only 2 lbs., and it meets all the carry-on standards for US and international travel. Translation? With this bag you won’t have to keep paying that lousy $30-each-way bag fees that most airlines stick with you these days. After just a few trips, this bag pays for itself because you don’t have to check your luggage.

The thing I liked best about this bag was how easy it is to get to everything. Thanks to the two outside zippered pockets, getting essentials (like iPod, snacks, and a book) are effortless mid-flight.

The TraveLite carry on is also pretty big, especially for its minimal weight. I can easily fit a week’s worth of clothing in here (rolled tightly).

The TraveLite also offers different ways to tote it around. My favorite is to just wear it as a backpack. But you can also attach the shoulder strap and use it as a messenger bag.

The other bag I tested is the Vo24 backpack. If you do ANY hiking, mountain biking or adventure racing, or you regularly haul books around campus, then you’ll want to try this bag. I was completely impressed with how well this pack performed.

The Vo24 is GoLite’s largest daypack. It can hold a mountain of stuff, and yet it weighs a measly 1 lb. 5 oz.

I normally use an Arc’Teryx daypack when I go out hiking, and this bag weighs more than twice the amount of the Vo24. The difference when I went out hiking was noticeable. The GoLite bag was easier on my shoulders, and is more form-fitting than my Arc-Teryx bag.

The Vo24 has a pocket for a bladder, so if you’re out on a longer hike or ride this is a great feature to have. It does have a waist support system, but the cool thing is that you can take these pads off if you don’t need them.

The most amazing thing about these GoLite bags is that they’re both made from recycled plastics. GoLite is committed to sustainability, and right now over 50% of their packs are made from environmentally friendly recycled plastics. Their goal is to get that number up to 100% by 2015.

I was completely impressed with these two packs. I initially thought that, due to their lightweight nature, I wouldn’t get the same support I have with my heavier packs. But I’m happy to say I was dead wrong. These packs were comfortable and offered an amazing amount of room for a minimal amount of weight. And I love that they’re made from recycled materials.