Review of the perfect vacation bag
My family just returned from a beautiful week in Mexico.
My family was loaded down with Sseko bags so I could test them on our various outings. Well, that AND so the rest of my family could look trendy and fabulous with gorgeous Sseko leather bags. My husband carried the Eden backpack, each of my girls carried the Convertible Tote and I brought along the brand new Olive Canvas Travel bag. Here’s my review of each, and why the Canvas Travel bag was the best, hands down!
Mom’s across the world know that they tend to end up carrying everyone’s random stuff. I carefully packed my bag for the plane with LOTS of room in order to allow for the accumulation. I didn’t want to hunt down the 7 passports and boarding passes that I had to carry through 3 airports and customs. It was excellent through my travels on Day 1, including the first trip to the resort pool near our condo.
It was weighed down with about 8 large water bottles, 3 blankets, 6 cell phones and various clothing items during our boat ride to a secluded beach. Unlike the leather bags, I wasn’t too concerned about it getting wet or sandy. The shoulder straps or cross body straps were wide enough to be very comfortable and it kept everything contained.
I was accompanied on our parasailing adventures and shopping by the beautiful leather Eden backpack. It’s definitely envy-worthy, but crazy inconvenient when you have to get in and out of it every 60 seconds. Can you hold my wallet? I need my wallet. Can you hold my sunglasses? Oh it’s too bright not to wear my sunglasses. Being the group photographer … It started making me grumpy having to get in and out of it constantly. I was missing my crossbody bag …
Every time we went to town, I had to carry too many things to use the Convertible Tote, so I left those for the girls to use during our trip. I did purchase the caramel one shortly before the trip, whereas I had only a black one before. It’s REALLY pretty and while I love using it at home, and the luggage strap allowing it to attach to a rolling suitcase is pretty awesome (especially when you’ve got 8 bags and 7 backpacks in your group) it wasn’t big enough for this mom.
So hand’s down, my vote for a travel bag goes to the Olive Canvas Travel Tote! It’s totally worth the $175 price tag, especially since it would go from vacation to highschool football game, dance recital, holiday festival shopping. day trip to Leavenworth, weekender with your hunny, Puyallup Fair day and so many other occasions. The lower zipper compartment allows you to carry those things you don’t want to get in the way of the things you need most. I throw my sweater and small blanket in there for my music in the park evenings, my jean shorts and flip flops for after work errands or maybe diapers and a change of clothes if you’re in that mom-phase of life. Having this stuff out of the way leaves room up top to easily find my Sseko zippered wallet, reading glasses, cell phone and my leather catchall for all my other purse necessities.
It’s pretty awesome! Keep on the lookout for mine - or pick up one for yourself for fall! Olive is a beautiful neutral option …
By the way, our Mexican vacation was epic this year! Practically perfect in every way.