Apr
08

My new day pack & hiking shoes.

I was recently contacted by Blacks and Millets both outdoor adventure/travel stores in the UK to see if I’d like to receive any of their products in exchange for a review on my blog. I thought well why not since I was in need of some travel gear for my next trip around the world. I was shocked at the wide selection of just about everything you can imagine these stores have. They have you covered for all your travel needs. Knowing I needed a new day pack and new hiking shoes I started searching for those items. After a lot of research I found the two that would suit my needs.

DAY PACK:  PACSAFE – Venturesafe™ 15L GII Anti-Theft Daypack

PACSAFE Venturesafe™ 15L GII Anti-Theft Daypack

If y’all have read any of my previous packing list post y’all know I love to travel light as possible. I was previously using the LA besace Messenger Bag for Mac Book 13 and it was perfect for me. I knew this time that wouldn’t be good for me because this time around I would be traveling with a DSLR as well along with my laptop. For my day pack I went with the PACSAFE – Venturesafe™ 15L GII Anti-Theft Daypack and love it. I have been using it now for a few months as my daily backpack to and from work and it’s great.

I was looking for a small backpack that would fit my 13 inch Mac Book PRO, my Canon T3i with a 10-22 lens all cables for those, a journal, small notebook, my passport and credit cards. This bag does just that and the best part of it all is that it’s made for the road and comes with many extra safety features like:

  • eXomesh® slashguards – internal wiring blocks bag slashers.
  • Slashproof backpack Carrysafe® strap – internal wiring blocks strap slashers.
  • Smart zipper security – allows you to attach purses or wallets within the bag to stop opportunist pickpockets.
  • Dual release security buckle – turn and lock hook prevents your bag being whipped away.
  • RFIDsafe blocking pocket – blocks out frequencies from devices that scan contactless credit cards to steal sensitive info.
  • Adjustable strap – allows for a comfortable fit to keep your valuables close.
  • Internal padded 13″ MacBook compatible sleeve

It’s the perfect fit and perfect size and can only think of two things I wish I could change. I wish it had one more compartment to have an extra place to keep things separated from everything else. I also wish I could zip it up using just one hand. I know you may be thinking “what?”, but seriously when you are on the road you need to be able to get in and out of your day pack with one hand. This is the backpack that I will have on me just about at all times so I won’t have to worry about any of my valuable belongings.

HIKING SHOES:  SCARPA – Men’s Mojito GORE-TEX® Shoe

SCARPA - Men's Mojito GORE-TEX® Shoe

Like I mentioned above I love traveling light and because of that I only travel with one pair of shoes. When I am picking shoes for the road my main priority is making sure I find a pair of shoes that will match with everything I will be taking with me on the road.  I know that may not be the smartest thing to look for in shoes first, but because I have a limited wardrobe I want to make sure I can mix and match as much as I can. Then I look for the obvious shoes of good quality that will do the job of walking a million miles and hiking volcanoes and mountains fine and last well over a year with out needing to replace. After doing some research I went with  SCARPA – Men’s Mojito GORE-TEX® Shoe and you guessed it love them. The shoes have the following features:

  • Lifestyle shoe built for the rigours of the trail
  • GORE-TEX® extended comfort lining – provides full water protection and breathability to keep your feet dry inside and out.
  • Vibram® Spyder sole – Scarpa’s custom design provides incredible grip and traction on rock and mud.
  • Suede upper and rubber toe rand – comfort and style with added protection.
  • EVA heel wedge – shock absorbing rubber increases comfort and grip.
  • Braking zones and heel and centre – fantastic grip on loose rock and dirt.

I have only worn the shoes a handful of times, but the few times I have worn them I must tell you these shoes are so comfortable. The reason I don’t wear them more often is because I don’t want to wear and tear them while I am home. I want them to be like new when I am on the road and hopefully last me the year or longer that I am out there. One of the things that shocked me was that since I have warn them I have not once got a single blister. That was my main concern and told my self I would break them in while I am than on the road. Of course the other thing I love about them is that they are black and grey and well those two colors will go with just about anything I wear on the road. So I will be able to mix and match like crazy with out worrying if my shoes will match.

Day pack & hiking shoes for a trip around the world.

Shared this on my Instagram account @BreakawayBackpacker when I received them.

As you know I recently revealed my plans for my second trip around the world. I honestly can’t wait to take these along with me on my adventure through out Latin America. These are both exactly what I needed for this trip and am sure they will work out just fine on the road. I’m curious to know what kind of day pack you use on the road when you travel? I’d also like to know if you too make sure your shoes will be able to mix and match with everything?

If you would like to purchase any of the two products I mentioned above you can do so by visiting any of these two websites: Blacks or Millets. They also have a wide variety of travel gear if you are planning a trip of your own. As always if you have any questions or need help with anything please feel free to contact me.

I was sent the backpack and hiking shoes in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Comments

  1. I love both the pack and the shoes! I’ve been trying to find some nice looking hiking shoes. I’m going to check this company out!

  2. Oooh, I have heard of PACSAFE bags but have never read a review! I’ll definitely keep them in mind when I’m looking for a bag for travels! Thanks! 🙂

    • Jaime Davila says:

      Erika, they are great… I honestly love that I can close the zippers when I zip it up. That makes me feel so much better when I am walking around. Check them out and hope you find one that fits your needs.

  3. Wow, that bag is full of security features! Have not started looking at equipment for my travels yet and to be honest I would probably have forgotten all about security, but it’s really interesting to know how many security features it’s possible to get!
    Catherine recently posted..A Day At The Farm

    • Jaime Davila says:

      Yes I think Security is important especially in your day pack because that is where you will be putting your important stuff. You are also going to be on busy streets and pick pocketing is very common in tourist areas.

  4. I’m already researching gear for my RTW. Some things I have figured out and others, not so much. My daypack is something I’m still undecided on. I’m wavering between using my current daypack (a black Samsonite Tectonic Medium pack) or going with a generic daypack that’s cheaper with limited or no branding. I’m aware of the awesome security features in a Pacsafe, but it’s the price that kinda makes me hesitate as it would cost just as much (if not more) than the backpack I plan to buy. However, the one thing I always think about is that I want my gear to be safe. I will be working on the road with a laptop and traveling with a micro four-thirds camera. This is why I haven’t completely eliminated the possibility of a Pacsafe either.

    I like the hiking shoes. They remind me of rock climbing shoes. I also like that they’re not so gigantic either where you feel like you’re stomping around in combat boots.

    • Jaime Davila says:

      Hi Summar, yeah I think it’s smart to research gear early on and start buying little by little. I understand what you mean about the price… trust me that is a huge deciding factor for me too when I buy anything. My thoughts are if you know you are going to use it for a a year or two and even when you are done then it will be worth it in the end. When you are on the road you are going to put lots of miles on these bags and they go through so much. It also depends on what all you are going to be traveling with. I travel with a laptop and DSLR and see you have some gear too… I want to make sure I keep them as safe as possible. As for the shoes I forgot to mention that is one of the things I love about them they are actually not big at all. They are like regular shoes and just the right size and perfect for lots of activities.

  5. I love my PacSafe!

  6. Mohamed Y. El-gendy says:

    <3

  7. I especially like the shoes! Nice nice 🙂
    Giulia recently posted..When you live in Roatan…

  8. Those PacSafe features sound pretty handy … do they make bigger sizes? I’m more of a maximalist when I travel!
    James recently posted..Top Things To Know About Visiting the Bahamas

  9. Great information. I love all the posts, I really enjoyed, I would like more information about this, because it is very nice, Thanks for sharing. I like the site best. Men’s Hiking shoes
    Men’s Hiking shoes recently posted..Hiking Sandals for Women

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