How to Choose a Backpack
How to Choose a Backpack
Planning to buy a new
backpack for backpacking? There are three main
areas where you’ll need to make choices.
Backpack capacity: The size of the pack you’ll need is tied to the length of your trip and how much weight and bulk you
want to carry.
Backpack features: These are the refinements that affect how the pack works for you.
Backpack fit: Torso length—not your height—matters most.
Frame Type
Internal-frame backpacks: The majority of packs sold at REI today are body-hugging, internal-frame packs where the
structure is hidden inside the back panel. They are designed to keep a hiker stable on uneven, off-kilter terrain and may
incorporate a variety of load-support technologies that all function to transfer the load to the wearer’s hips.
External-frame backpacks: With an external-frame pack, you can see the structure that supports the load: aluminum
(usually) hardware on the outside. Because the frame extends beyond the packbag, a backpack like this may be an appropriate
choice if you’re carrying a heavy, irregular load (like an oversize tent or inflatable kayak). External-frame packs also
offer good ventilation and lots of gear organization options.
Frameless backpacks: Ultralight devotees who like to hike fast and light might choose a frameless pack or a climbing
pack where the frame is removable for weight savings. But packs without a frame are much more uncomfortable under heavy
loads.
Ventilation
Some packs feature a suspended mesh back panel to combat the sweaty-back syndrome you tend to get with
internal-frame packs that ride against your body. Also called a “tension-mesh suspension,” this is a trampoline-like design
where the frame-supported packbag rides a few inches away from your back, which instead rests against the highly breathable
mesh. Other packs will have ventilation channels (sometimes called “chimneys”) in the back panel to solve the
same issue.
Why the Shoulder Bag Is Perfect for Post-Pandemic Life
The
shoulder bag is back. As we reemerge—whether that entails a
return to office life, resuming dinner dates with old friends, or planning travels for the summer—there’s an appetite
for the best slouchy handbags that are soft yet comfortable to carry. Recently during the resort 2022 collections, Louis
Vuitton made a case for the silhouette, as did Khaite and Balmain, which showcased their own iterations on the catwalk:
Louis Vuitton presented its signature monogrammed versions, Khaite displayed its classic minimalist take, and over
at Balmain, slouchy bags were oversized and front and center. And just last week Altuzarra released its new Duo
bag collection, which features its own unstructured shoulder bag. Altuzarra’s version, however, takes it a step
further by offering it in a reversible option—why choose just one color when you can have two?This accessories trend seems
to wink at the comfort we’ve all been seeking as of late. We need practicality in our handbags, but that doesn’t mean they
can’t be cushy and soft. Just as our wardrobes are shifting from cozy pajamas to double-duty dresses and
our winter slippers to summer shoes, we’re all looking to ease back rather than rush. Ahead, shop 24 of the best
slouchy handbags for post-pandemic life, perfect for all occasions—work, play, travel, and beyond.
What is a hobo bag?
While
hobo bag is characterized by its crescent shape, slouchy posture
and a long strap designed to be worn over the shoulder. This type of bag is typically large-size and are made from soft,
flexible material that tends to slump or slouch when it is set down.
This bag is called hobo bag since it looks the same shape with the bindle on a stick that hobos are portrayed as carrying
over their shoulder in cartoons and drawings.
But if you are getting bored with your regular totes, satchels and other purses, a Hobo bag can be an exciting
addition to your collection. Legend has it that a late fashionista took note from the cartoon characters, the hobos, and tied
her belongings in a stylish handkerchief, giving birth the hobo bag.
WHY IS IT CALLED A BUCKET BAG?
Wondering why is it called a bucket bag? Simple! The bag literally resembles a bucket with its roughly
cylindrical shape, deep interior and tall sturdy sides. Typically, the bucket bag’s wide brim is closed by a convenient
drawstring that makes it easy to use.
WHAT IS A BUCKET BAG?
The bucket bag might look as striking as any totally modern and fresh style, but actually, it’s been around
for quite a while.
Major names in fashion have been playing around with versions of the bucket bag since the 1940s. One of the first
bucket bags to popularize the style, from Hermès, took the name quite literally. They removed the bag’s typical
drawstring and used stiff material to design a look essentially indistinguishable from a bucket tooled out of leather.
With contemporary brands always looking to re-image dazzling silhouettes, the bucket bag has undergone many
transformations. It came back onto the radar of fashionistas in a big way when Mansur Gavriel, a New York City brand founded
in 2012, introduced their own take on the bucket bag. Their take on the bag was refined, but still glittering with
personality—a perfect companion to anyone who dresses with intention.
HOW TO WEAR A BUCKET BAG?
This quirky but somehow still oh-so elegant bag has quickly made its name as a cult favorite. Since the fashion world
fell back in love with bucket bags,
designers have been putting their own twist on the
look, softening the shape to create a more elegant look or applying minimalism to create a more stripped-down statement
piece.
There is really no wrong way to wear a
bucket bag. You have to love its
versatility. Because it is the bag’s shape, not material or print that defines what is a bucket bag, there is endless
room for brands to bring their own take to the design.
Some bucket bags, like Hozen’s mini bucket bag come with two straps so that the silhouette can be adjusted to
different lengths to make it a perfect partner for a variety of styles. Whether you want to wear it as a chic
shoulder bag, or as a longer across the body bag, the bucket shape can fill out any outfit perfectly. Plus, the utility
of the design has been modernized with super user-friendly features like drawstrings and weather-proof materials.
Bucket bags are a great choice for a weekend get-away because their functional size can easily fit everything you need in
the interior’s ample storage space. The wide and round top also makes it a great beach-side companion because it’s easy to
access your phone or lipstick without having to dig around and risk dragging in dreaded sand.
ARE BUCKET BAGS IN STYLE?
Even though the
design-new PU bucket bag has a
rather minimal shape, it can be endlessly customized to suit any style. From bright and bold patterns to vegan eco-friendly
leathers, to canvas and woven raffias, there’s a bucket bag out there for every look.
The bucket bag is the perfect solution for girls who prefer bold individual looks but cannot afford the high price tags
of adventurous bags that might quickly go out of style. The timeless quality is essential to what is a bucket bag.
Because the bucket bag can so easily be re-imagined by fashion brands, it’s an amazing opportunity for eco-conscious
designers to introduce looks that are just as ethical as they are cute. At Hozen, their delightful stripe bucket
bags are made of pi?atex, a leather look-a-like that’s made from recycled pineapple crop. As times change, innovative
future-thinking designers will keep bucket bags in style.
ARE BUCKET BAGS MORE OF A SPRING OR A WINTER ACCESSORY?
The minimal look can be dressed down or dressed up—and shines in every season. In dark winter colors or light flirty
spring patterns, this classic look seems to radiate style.
Something to love about bucket bags is that most have minimal logos and do without signature patterns that would detract
from the individuality of the person who is wearing it. Just another reason the bucket bag is oh so desirable.
So rain or shine, snow or sun, these sleek, utilitarian bags won’t be going out of style anytime
soon. They may have been a hit on spring runways last year, but their timeless shape can be worn effortlessly even in
the dead of winter.
CONVINCED YET
Bucket bags aren’t exactly new, despite what trend-setters might have you think. They are one of those classic shapes
that will always appeal to lovers of beauty. So, when the twenty-first century fell back in love with the bucket
bag, we fell hard.
These days, it’s almost impossible to walk into a top fashion brand’s store without seeing one. The
classic drawstring PU bucket bag is undeniably a
solid choice investment for the new decade, as one of spring’s most coveted trends.
Whether you like to keep things classic, experiment with bold prints and patterns, or if you are the kind of person who
goes for an elegant formal look, then our vegan leather bucket bags are an excellent choice. From high couture to
lifestyle wear: the bucket bag has a place in every closet! Curious about vegan leather? Then head this way
to learn more about vegan leather and the benefits.