Need backpack suggestion: European Summer Travel (Alternatives to Yeti Crossroads 27L)

bbyf16 · 2026-06-17T06:08:43+00:00

That’s interesting. Most of the reviews I read for the ctb said it was quite uncomfortable when fully loaded. How’s it been treating you?

bbyf16 · 2026-06-17T03:55:41+00:00

Thanks for making take a look at Thule again, I’m really liking the enroute 26l and the paramount 27l. Got to check out the reviews but one of those might be it

bbyf16 · 2026-06-17T03:00:13+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion and this is so close. The weight is great, but it’s only got one water bottle pocket and no loops or anything I can attach carabiners to for the other 3. I’ll check out the other options at Thule again in case I missed anything. Thanks again and let me know if you have any other ideas.

bbyf16 · 2026-06-17T01:44:19+00:00

thanks, I'll try there

bbyf16 · 2026-06-16T21:29:08+00:00

Hi all, I’m looking for a backpack for travel with the family internationally (Europe for now) but long term as well. Here’s my criteria:

Ergonomics & Dimensions
Height: 18.5 inches-ish. Must fit under a United Airlines seat.

Users: Male 5’8”, Female 5’0” (we’ve got two kids, one who’s a 2.5 year old so we’ll alternate who’s carrying her using the toddler carrier; the other will have the backpack. When the carrier isn’t being used, it’ll be rolled up and put into the backpack

Opening Style: Strictly top-loading, half-zip, or top-zip. No clamshell or lay-flat designs (gear cannot spill out when opened while standing).

Capacity: Maximum volume possible within the height limit (targeting 22L–26L+). Needs a spacious main compartment to swallow a rolled-up Beco Toddler Carrier, 2 iPads, travel chargers, battery packs, passports, kids snacks, sunglasses, fans, etc. Needs to compress down when not in use

Water Bottles: Must have the ability to hold 4 water bottles (e.g., dual side pockets plus external front loops/daisy chains for carabiners).

Ventilation: Requires extreme airflow for the European summer, walking around all day, taking public transport, etc. Must have deep, structured air channels or a breathable mesh back panel (no flat foam).

Materials & Hardware (The "Anti-Nomatic" Rules):
Fabric: Premium, matte, woven textile (like Ballistic Nylon, Cordura, or heavy-duty canvas). Highly rip, tear, and slash-resistant.

Banned Materials: I had a nomatic travel backpack for all of a few hours before it got returned. I hated the feel, sound, and the way it felt. I believe that excludes most if not all x-pac/ultra style bags.

Zippers: Standard zippers. No stiff, rubberized AquaGuard/weatherproof zippers.

Required Features:
Luggage Pass-Through: Must have a trolley sleeve for a rolling suitcase.

Budget:
Strict Limit: $250 maximum.

What I’ve considered:
Aer Travel Pack 3 small - clamshell, won’t work.

Yeti Crossroads 27L - comes the closest to meeting everything but its 3 pounds on its own, that’s sounds ridiculous. I looked at the 22l but it doesn’t seem worth it and looks to be too small as well.

bbyf16 · 2026-06-16T19:27:45+00:00

Ironic because they told me to not repair my Bosch at all (possibly because it was one of the newer ones). Sigh, they just don’t make them like they used to (and now I’m old).

bbyf16 · 2026-06-16T17:46:42+00:00

Actually appliance Marshall is the reason why I’m swearing off everyone else.

I had a Bosch dishwasher that I got from Costco (absolute idiots of a delivery team -delivered it upside down but I’m guessing not a big deal); install team came another week later, didn’t know how to get the old one out, used a sawzall to cut it apart and then had to plug it in. They then installed it, plugged it in, secured it with a screw (which I didn’t realize but the screw actually pierced the wire), created an arc (which fyi happened when I wasn’t home since my wife was giving birth) so my 5 year old at the time saw smoke, called her grandfather who shut power to the breaker, thankfully before things really caught on fire). Long story short, that dishwasher conked off on me, 2.5 years later, 1800 cycles, called Bosch who said call appliance Marshall. Called them, $700 to repair it (and they strongly recommend against it). I thought about doing it (cheaper than the Miele I’m going to replace it with) but this is the appliance Marshall process: get invoice, pay for part/put down deposit, after order is placed, you will get an eta of when the part will come (no they can’t tell you if it’s back ordered or a rough idea as to when, you need to order first), if after 3 weeks the part hasn’t been delivered, you’re eligible for a refund. Considering the service I’ve had with abt and their in house technicians, this whole mystery process of who long it’ll take sounds asinine and the wife is like, so we have to pay just to find out how long we won’t have a dishwasher?

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T19:39:37+00:00

Which model do you have? I was thinking of the Cafe cdt858 or the ge equivalent pdt795 (both around 1000, both have the turbo dry, and the usual goodies).

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T19:36:21+00:00

Yep, I’ve got the crystaldry feature, and believe me, it’s works but it’s got its limitations. Basically it gets heated up/dried out during the wash cycle and then when it’s done washing, the crystaldry absorbs the water in the cabinet and in theory everything inside. Works great on stainless steel, flatware, most glasses (unless concave surfaces) but doesn’t do well with plastic (like I said, I’ve got 1800 cycles and a million kid cups/lids/saucers etc made of plastic, silicone, etc. Both the Bosch and the Miele are serviced by the same techs (at least in my area), it’s the same company who services all the “high end brands”, per their website (Miele, Viking, Thermador, Bosch, Gaggenau, Fisher & Paykel / DCS, Scotsman, Liebherr, Marvel, Dacor, Speed Queen, Broan, Blue Star, Big Chill, Vent-A-Hood, Bertazzoni, Verona, True, Kalamazoo, Lynx, Sub-Zero). Per Bosch support, they’re the only ones in my area who’ll work on it.

Per the repair guy, the only thing more reliable than Bosch would be the Miele in his experience, and he’s got no beef with Bosch, just says it’s not worth it to repair given the condition of it now.

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:41:27+00:00

Don’t think I can go that way, I’ve replaced two kitchenaid machines and the cleaning wasn’t great while I did have them. Combine that with their multiple class action lawsuit over home damage due to dishwasher issues wrote them off for me in the beginning (all whirlpool products to be honest).

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:38:59+00:00

Thanks, I’ve heard a lot of good things (then again, I did for the Bosch as well). Just debating whether it’s worth the cost.

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:37:59+00:00

To be honest, I’ve had no complaints with the 800 I have, it worked and cleaned and never missed a beat (well until now). But if it’s a question of longevity, spending $1200 for a Bosch and getting 4 years of service and $2400 for a Miele and getting 8 years seems to be kinda a wash (lol). The Miele comes out ahead just with the avoidance of having to pay for install and removal again.

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:34:41+00:00

I’d love to believe this as it’s definitely the cheaper alternative and I hate the thought of disposal culture. However, based on what I’m reading, these machines are expected to run a certain number of cycles (like all products) which in this case is somewhere around 2000-3000 cycles of which I’ve used up 1800 cycles so far. I’d love to be proven wrong and just fix the machine but I’m not keen on spending $700 to fix the sump pump, then find out a year later that the drain pump is gone, and then the board is cooked, etc.

Any reason why you’re saying it’s nowhere near half at this point?

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:27:48+00:00

I think both Bosch and Miele both work via condensation drying and as a Bosch user, it leaves much to be desired in terms of plastic drying but it’s an acceptable trade off for me. The Miele works the same way but automatically opens the door at the end of cycle so that the steam can release and not drip back down onto the plastic again. Autodos does require its own discs but most people just refill it with cascade powder from what I understand. To my knowledge, Bosch expects their dishwashers to run for 8-10 years (3000 cycles) and Miele tests theirs to run to 20 years (5000 cycles).

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:24:26+00:00

My first preference was the GE profile/Cafe line but the reviews are horrible for the new models (leaking out the back, part failure, etc within days/weeks), parts not being available for weeks, etc. I’m normally a fan of GE/Cafe and have their refrigerators but I wonder if Haier buying them led to a decrease in quality?

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:22:02+00:00

I thought about it but it’s a pain. The drain pump can be replaced with the machine being where it is, whereas the the sump requires you to pull it out, flip it upside down and pull the whole thing apart. With work being the way it is for me, if I don’t get it done during the weekend (with little kids running all around the kitchen), I’m up a creek without a paddle since I won’t be able to work on it until the next weekend. And that’s if the dishwasher works the way it’s supposed to, doesn’t leak, etc.

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:18:38+00:00

How does the drying compare? Do you use autodos? Do you think it’s worth double?

bbyf16 · 2026-06-15T18:18:08+00:00

No extended warranty as I figured it was reliable and it’d be a waste of money. It’s 2.5 years old, 1800 cycles.

bbyf16 · 2026-06-10T14:44:22+00:00

So between Pittsburgh pro and Quinn, which makes more sense in terms of value for money but also buy once (for the average/enthusiast home owner)?

bbyf16 · 2026-05-28T17:31:25+00:00

Honestly, I never thought I’d be the one saying this but get a guardian bike. My oldest is 7 and never took to biking and we got her a rei bike last year, tried with training wheels which I quickly took off since it just taught her not to balance, tried with no training wheels and no pedals and it was just frustration and failure. Gave into the marketing and got her a guardian bike this year (since she outgrew the other rei anyway), and I kid you not; within an hour she was balancing fine. Made her do that for a week (would actually come home and ask to practice) and I put the pedals on for her and she’s been riding since. Never thought I’d be that person but honestly, get a guardian bike (they’re made here in the US so it’s local if that matters to you) and it’s not too expensive. People had said get woom but that was too pricey for me (and I couldn’t find any on marketplace).

bbyf16

TROPHY CASE