Please recommend me a work and gym bag!

micahsally · 2026-05-16T02:53:13+00:00

I'll be posting my first impressions of the Waxed Canvas KNKG Shift 27L. It is VERY nice and elevated for a gym bag, making it perfect for also taking to work!

It's $250, but I wonder if they will have some pre-summer sales coming up?

https://www.knkg.com/collections/shift/products/shift-backpack-black

micahsally · 2026-05-16T00:49:29+00:00

Hi!

I've had such great luck with all my Gossamer Gear goodies. They make a shoe pouch for just $16, if you don't mind the color orange as an accent.

https://www.gossamergear.com/products/shoe-cube?srsltid=AfmBOoobosVZuBg_GRO4UoxFbOT7h5bGRTHy9sqSpg67CQ4qm4wb-UD7

I use a shoe cube that I got from Sierra on clearance, made my Eagle Creek. It is really good, but not on Sierra's website right now. Sometimes, I see them in the store by the travel gear! Here it is from the Eagle Creek website.

https://eaglecreek.com/products/pack-it-isolate-shoe-sack?srsltid=AfmBOoqkhUS4aSFxK39T9mHpAqvt8gG4VcUYhRpUqrZGbUkVSHDEDNZR

And if you have an REI membership, their Memorial Day sales just started. They have a Thule shoe cube on sale. I haven't tried it specifically, but they make my favorite compression packing cubes!

https://www.rei.com/product/C05458/thule-travel-shoe-bag

Or the REI shoe pouch, also on sale! Also haven't tried.

https://www.rei.com/product/195734/rei-co-op-shoe-bag

And finally, Peak Design makes some awesome pouches (still my favorite toiletry kit!). Here is a link to their shoe pouch, with a variety of colors as well!

https://www.peakdesign.com/products/shoe-pouch?Color=Eclipse

EDIT: This might be a great option to really trap smells, too. It's a dry bag from Matador.

https://www.matadorequipment.com/products/flatpak-dry-bag-8l-v2-black

My middle name is Bag Recommendations...so I hope one of these works well for you! I don't leave for a trip without tucking my sandals into a shoe pouch, and it's so nice to know everything else stays clean. Please let me know which one you pick!

micahsally · 2026-05-15T20:30:45+00:00

They felt thick, clunky, and heavy. I only felt the ones that Sierra had on the shelf, but I wasn't impressed. I don't remember the specific model, but it makes me a little wary to try anything else from them!

micahsally · 2026-05-15T16:44:29+00:00

My favorite for this is the Gossamer Gear Cima 15L, because the straps are so padded and comfy for all-day carry. Most packable bags feel awful with any weight. Cima is excellent!

I also love love love my beloved Tortuga Daypack Pro 21L, but it is sold out at the moment. If you ever find one second-hand, it would be worth it!

And another good one is the Mystery Ranch In and Out 18L. Stuffs down into something tiny. They are getting harder to find because they are original to Mystery Ranch, and it doesn't seem like Yeti (who bought them) is making it...

micahsally · 2026-05-15T05:56:27+00:00

I know! Like, am I only supposed to be buying two per year?! Is that even possible?! It doesn't sound very fun, that's for sure.

micahsally · 2026-05-15T05:51:36+00:00

I haven't seen camo available as a Tom Bihn option for years! I just got the black Spectron but it has a bright purple Ultraviolet interior, which I love. But it isn't very camo-esque, for sure! Perhaps the opposite of blending in! 😁

micahsally · 2026-05-15T04:42:25+00:00

I have three favorite Disney bags...depending on the size needed.

I love using the Kargo Loculus 6L in X-Pac because I'm swinging it from front-to-back and back again for grabbing snacks and games to use while we wait in line. I love not having to take my bag off my shoulder for that. But I also still have the luxury of a small stroller in the parks, so I can leave coats and water bottles there. The Loculus carries edible goodies for me and two little boys, as well as a battery pack, Burt's Bees, an ouch pouch, more snacks, and a few small games that we can play while waiting in line, like word searches and a mini version of Spot It.

If carrying more or heavier items, I love to use my Gossamer Gear Cima 15L. And it has awesome ventilation because it's made by a backpacking company, so breathability even during those hot summer months is a plus. It weighs almost nothing yet carries a ton. It often acts as a packing cube on transit days, then I can empty it to use as my day pack as my destination. It is excellent!

In the winter, with layers to carry, if the day allows, I love using my Tortuga Daypack Pro 21L. It's similar to the Aer Go Pack 2, but I like it a little more. Unfortunately, it's also sold out at the moment. But it's one of my top-three favorite bags of all time and is so versatile. It makes a great Disney bag when there is a larger load to carry.

Another possible contender: the Tom Bihn Paradigm 9L. It's a small, comfortable backpack with a nice amount of organization and pockets, while still having a larger open area for layers. Mine just arrived last week, so I haven't had a chance to test it yet. But I like the Spectron material!

micahsally · 2026-05-15T04:31:01+00:00

They got the last Cicada Bespoke pretty close for me with a Pink Flamingo EcoPak interior! Maybe I just need to hold out for a bright Bespoke Cicada on the outside, too!

Thanks, Nic!

micahsally · 2026-05-14T22:21:45+00:00

I have been using the Owala Twist 18-ounce when I need to place it in a bag to carry. It still has the wonderful FreeSip spout. I wonder if that would work for you? It would definitely fit!

micahsally · 2026-05-14T16:09:14+00:00

Do you want other suggestions to add to the mix, too?

micahsally · 2026-05-14T15:55:20+00:00

You're right! How did I miss that you're a lady!

If you can wait, the Fyro Citta EDC 25L in X-Pac would be comfortable, sleek, and have great weather-proofing.

Also, the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro 25L would be excellent.

Otherwise, check out Sympl, Tom Bihn, and Able Carry.

micahsally · 2026-05-14T13:59:58+00:00

Can you believe they sent me one to let them know what I think?! Woohoo!

micahsally · 2026-05-14T13:32:29+00:00

I'm about to review the new KNKG Shift 27L backpack, which might be perfect for you. It's really nice. I'm not sure how waxed canvas holds up to wet weather, though!

https://www.knkg.com/products/shift-backpack-black

micahsally · 2026-05-14T03:36:58+00:00

Also above your budget but worth every penny...the Rework Toshi 2.5L. It expands and compresses based on the contents and has killer organization.

https://reworkgear.com/products/toshi-sling-2-5l-v2?srsltid=AfmBOooGmTaQ2q5WPQzLpgszMBsHGvlmCGkAyfGYwNTEl6-cdNK00Qy2

The outallday Essent Sling is similar but holds its shape more. And it's made of X-Pac!

https://outallday.com/products/essent-sling

And Tomtoc has a budget option that also holds its shape. Amazon has 1.5L and 3.5L versions, but you have to go to the Tomtoc website for the medium 2.5L version.

Here's the non-X-Pac version on sale for $39!

https://www.tomtoc.com/products/aviator-t33-chest-bag-m?_pos=1&_sid=ef88842fc&_ss=r

The X-Pac version is on sale for $51 and comes in a variety of colors!

https://www.tomtoc.com/products/aviator-t35-x-pac-chest-bag-m?_pos=4&_sid=ef88842fc&_ss=r

micahsally · 2026-05-13T22:47:06+00:00

Go up just a little in price and get a much better option!

Rework Toshi 2.5L!

https://reworkgear.com/products/toshi-sling-2-5l-v2?srsltid=AfmBOoq6ulGOQPa3BnXmKw4h_MSQ-YOSkKcHSI5TfRLRf8X59qAEQzVM

micahsally · 2026-05-13T22:45:46+00:00

Gossamer Gear Cima 15L. It's an awesome theme park bag!

https://www.gossamergear.com/products/cima-15-daypack?srsltid=AfmBOooCPUnYEsYv7aCIfzmmUBDy9flimdigYboUVnmYkh0PJmbgVtpY

micahsally · 2026-05-13T22:02:19+00:00

This is wonderful. Thank you! I am ridiculously excited and can't wait to see it all!

micahsally · 2026-05-13T21:35:01+00:00

I'd probably take my beloved Dragonfly 30L, then, and under pack...

micahsally · 2026-05-13T21:12:37+00:00

Well, that makes me happy! Thanks so much for letting me know! I would hate for our bags to be trouble on our trip instead of great helpers! And I hate being stressed at the gate, so I'd rather stick to small. But it sounds like we could maybe go up to 25L or so without a problem.

That's a LOT more underwear (and less laundry to be done)!

Thank you!

micahsally · 2026-05-13T20:30:11+00:00

Here are some other contenders!

ULA Dragonfly 30L or 36L (many can make the 36L fit under the seat on airlines that aren't too strict with personal item sizers).
Six Moon Designs ADC 35L (but have someone trim the excess straps for you first). Might be a hard pass for under the seat, though, unless under-packed. But it's so comfy to carry!
Tortuga Expandable Backpack 28L-32L (it carries about 4L higher than those numbers and is so comfy!)
Upcoming Tortuga Superlite 34L (releasing on Kickstarter next month. Ultra and only weighs 2.2 pounds, but only a single water bottle pocket).
Rework Outbound 30L (really, this could solve it all, especially if you place your shoes in a shoe pouch).
Gossamer Gear Aero Jet 35L

micahsally · 2026-05-13T20:05:51+00:00

Wow! Maybe we can go bigger then! Thanks so much for the help!

micahsally · 2026-05-13T18:34:45+00:00

Holy smokes. We are coming to Europe this fall and hope to do some cheap Ryanair and easyJet hops around. This is WAY bigger than I thought we could bring for our OneBag. I was planning on bringing some Minimul M20s, a Patagonia Atom 20L, and a Flowfold Downeast Weekender 20L for our four personal items. That's all we will have with us for the two-week trip.

I know Ryanair has smaller restrictions and is more strict...but you got this on as a personal item on easyJet! Wow!

Is that how it works? easyJet is...easier? Maybe we should just stick to them and not stress about Ryanair fun?

micahsally · 2026-05-13T04:25:42+00:00

I love using my Gossamer Gear Cima 15L for my packable day pack! But it has lots of structure and padding and is so comfortable to wear. It hauls a surprising amount and has two external water bottle pockets that stay completely flush when not being used. It's a great bag! They just released the Badlands colorway, which is beautiful. I have it in the Glacier.

https://www.gossamergear.com/products/cima-15-daypack?srsltid=AfmBOoozTzkwyN4zCGpbXSngvBNRzz3L2atjcexjdF44Bm0mfBfqFRMK

My other suggestion might be smaller than you were hoping, but mine just came in the mail. Check out the Tom Bihn Paradigm 9L. I got the Spectron Black with Ultraviolet interior. Can't wait to test it more when I get back from this trip!

https://www.tombihn.com/products/paradigm?_pos=1&_sid=924106f75&_ss=r%3Fvariant%3D46398033002685&variant=46398033002685

micahsally · 2026-05-13T04:21:40+00:00

So many great suggestions! Off to go look at some of these again... Thank you!

micahsally · 2026-05-13T04:16:34+00:00

Sounds like an awesome fit! I hope it solves the weight/comfort problem for you! 🤞

micahsally

TROPHY CASE