I’ve always had an obsession with bags, in part because I needed something to transport all my stuff, obviously, but also because carrying a bag is an opportunity to express yourself—and to nerd out over aesthetics, form, and function. At some point during college, I said goodbye to my backpack and opted for a tote bag as my daily driver. It was a bid to seem more mature, and look more like a Real Adult heading to important, big-city destinations than a college kid trudging to class.
For years, that daily driver has been the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote. (Size large, long handles, zip top, Natural colorway—but who’s asking?) It served me well, accumulating what we’ll call a “tasteful” patina and some light fraying as I schlepped it through the streets of New York City, on international flights, and to the beach. It’s the quintessential tote bag, and for sure a cherished possession, but its single open compartment, propensity to get dirty, and lack of a shoulder strap sometimes left me wanting more. Then, I discovered the Topo Designs Mountain Gear Bag: an absolute workhorse of a tote that has everything I want and more.
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Although it also comes in a variety of fun, multicolor options, I opted for the all-black colorway, which feels streamlined, gorped up (rage, rage against the dying of the gorp) and perhaps even tactical. I brought it with me on a trip to Florida for Thanksgiving, and it did not disappoint.
First of all, the bag is a great size, significantly larger than your average tote bag, but not so big to be unwieldy or too heavy. At 48L in capacity, it falls between the large and extra-large Boat and Tote—this means it’s big enough to comfortably carry my gym gear, water bottle, and laptop around the city, but still small enough to bring on the subway during rush hour without getting any dirty looks. It’s also made from strong yet lightweight recycled nylon, which makes the bag very durable. Finally, the daisy chain webbing on the front could probably be used to attach all manner of extremely necessary accessories, but most of all, it just looks cool.
The first test I put the Mountain Gear Bag through was using it as my carry-on while moving through the airport. I liked that the handles are short enough to prevent it from touching the ground, and long enough to fit over my shoulder—even while wearing a jacket. There’s also a removable shoulder strap if you want a bit more mobility or to wear the bag cross-body. Next, I brought the bag to jiu-jitsu and it had more than enough space for all my gear; I also made use of the two expandable exterior pockets to hold a couple of water bottles. (You really can’t be too hydrated, and the folks at Topo Designs know it.)
On the beach, this bag fared equally well. Again, the large main compartment served as a great catch-all for a towel, book, and a bottle of sunscreen. The exterior zip pocket was great for stashing my wallet and keys, and the zip-top closure kept the sand on the beach and off my stuff. To top it off, the inside of the bag has a 10-ounce waterproof liner—perfect for tossing in my wetsuit after an afternoon catching waves, stashing a sweaty gi after BJJ, or filling with ice and a 12-pack.
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