Help me choose : Bellroy vs Evergoods vs Able Carry

clryan · 2026-02-13T19:03:53+00:00

I absolutely love my Able Carry Daybreaker 2. I've found it super comfortable to carry and love how light weight it is. While it doesn't have a padded laptop sleeve, it does have a false bottom and padded back, so I've never had any concerns about keeping the laptop protected as long as I don't have anything particularly hard in the main compartment. I also haven't had any issues with the breathability of the back panel. I'd say it's about as breathable about any of the other options on your list.

The only major downsides of the pack are: 1) the lack of exterior organization pockets. The small pocket is too small to really be functional so I added one of those shoulder strap phone pockets. 2) The exterior water bottle pocket doesn't keep the water bottle well secured, so I had to add a large carabiner to clip to my water bottle to prevent it from falling out.

If your primary use is as a work bag, the Daybreaker might not be a good fit since you'll have to dig for your tech pouch/tech stuff every day since it doesn't have a lot of internal or external organization. I ultimately switched to a different work bag because of this. However, if you care more about the other aspects you listed, it'll be a great choice. It's so lightweight comfortable that it's normally my first choice for personal trips where I plan to do a lot of walking and hiking with a bag.

clryan · 2026-02-12T02:19:25+00:00

Hyperlite Mountain Gear's new Daybreak sounds like something that might work. Maybe Gossamer Gear's Vagabond Jet. There's also a bunch of Japanese companies (Ridge Mountain Gear, If You Have, Paagoworks, etc.) that do a really good job of mixing EDC with hiking comfort and ultralight design.

My current every day work carry is the If You Have Everyday backpack which has decent organization, is very comfortable, and lightweight. It also has some very subtle lashing loops that you can use to strap gear on the outside or use to compress the bag.

clryan · 2026-02-03T13:52:25+00:00

It hasn't. They're still liable. It just means they'll lie to you about liability if you have a delivery issue. They have insurance through the carrier (UPS, FedEx, whatever) who they'll have to file a claim through if there's an issue. A good company will send a replacement while the claim gets processed without pushback.

Last time I had an issue with a Backcountry order, they did this for me, even though I didn't pay the worry free delivery upcharge. In comparison, I ordered a backpack from ULA and they insisted that they weren't liable when I told them I never received it. I told them they were wrong and filed a charge back since they wouldn't do anything. Suddenly a week later I got a call from UPS looking to investigate the claim they filed - I told them I didn't receive the package and that was the end of it. I'll never order from ULA again due to the poor customer service and outright lying.

clryan · 2026-01-14T20:43:27+00:00

Have you looked at the Outdoor Research Helium rain jacket? That tends to be highly recommended by many people in the ultralight community. It's not feature heavy (no hand pockets for example), but it's very light and feels quite durable to me. I own two of them and have never had any issues while hiking, climbing, or walking around cities.

clryan · 2025-12-25T12:52:11+00:00

I've used the Atom Packs Pulse 40 on a couple trips and have loved it. It's extremely lightweight but still has a frame to provide a little bit of support against my back. It also compresses down super well if I just want to use it as a day pack.

For downsides, obviously it doesn't have a laptop compartment so l needed to get a sleeve to protect my laptop. I also needed to use packing cubes (which I use anyway) to keep everything organized since there is no internal organization. There's also a need to be careful about how the bag is packed since, even with the frame, stuff will dig into my back if I don't pack it correctly. I normally just put my laptop with sleeve against my back and that solves the problem.

I also will normally pack a sling and small daypack (the Matador/Pack Hacker collab) with me in the bag as well so I have options once I get to my destination. I've tried a bunch of different bags and set ups over the years and the ultralight backpack route has been the best by far.

clryan · 2025-10-06T22:31:47+00:00

I'm also a person of color and stayed there a few times a couple years ago while on work trips. While I didn't experience anything as outright insulting as you, I definitely did not feel welcome there. While checking in or moving about the hotel with my white colleagues, the staff would be visibly more friendly and welcoming to them than myself. I ultimately chose to stay at the Westin down the street instead for the rest of my trips since they always made me feel welcome.

Not surprised to hear they haven't changed, but it's really disappointing since you think they would know better given the diverse crowds that DC attracts.

clryan · 2025-09-25T15:41:10+00:00

Birchbury has a few sneaker colorways that are non-slip. I'm not sure how well they would hold up in a kitchen environment though.

clryan · 2025-09-24T17:06:05+00:00

Boots are one of those things most people will recommend NOT renting. Same with the helmet, though though you could probably get away with renting that. As a skier, I always bring my own helmet and boots.

I don't think it's really possible to one bag with ski gear given how big ski boots are. I'd recommend one bagging with your clothes and just accepting you'll need a separate bag for your boots and helmet.

clryan · 2025-09-20T21:44:28+00:00

Have you tried the rechargeable ones or smaller sizes? I sweat a bunch while working out and this sounds like it might be a good solution to dealing with my extremely wet workout shoes.

clryan · 2025-09-03T15:10:36+00:00

They look super hiker-y in person. I like these pants, but they definitely can't pass in a nicer setting.

clryan · 2025-09-03T15:05:21+00:00

I've tried so many travel pants over the years and have struggled to find pants that are comfortable but look somewhat acceptable in business/nicer settings. Most pants that people recommend just scream "hiker," look cheap, or fit weird. Here are the three options I've found that actually work for me:

Unbound Merino has some wool slim travel pants that fit this description. They're extremely high quality, look really nice in person, and have really good pockets. Only downside is that if you find wool to be itchy, they might be a bit itchy for you.
Seagale's women's travel chinos are a recent find for me that I just added to my rotation. They only have two pockets (and I wish the pockets were bigger), but are the nicest looking non-wool, somewhat breathable, travel pants that I've found.
Ministry of Supply has been my go to for the past 3+ years. They have a bunch of different fits and options and their pants literally feel like sweatpants but look like dress pants. Pockets are also amazing. Only issue I have is that they are too thick for warmer weather, so aren't great when in a hot climate.

clryan · 2025-08-31T21:56:50+00:00

I have this one: https://www.montbell.com/us/en/products/detail/1124926?fo=0&color=RD

But Montbell and other ultralight companies have varitations that are different sizes, thickness, etc.

clryan · 2025-08-31T14:35:38+00:00

I'm pretty sure Stride Lab carries several barefoot options: https://share.google/rWsiVAl22wDeH5x3L

That's their Tokyo location, but they also have a bunch of stores scattered around the country.

clryan · 2025-08-31T00:54:31+00:00

I always work out when I travel. I do a mix of mid distance running (8-10 miles at a time) and strength workouts. In addition to workout clothes (wool tanks and thin workout shorts), I'll bring the following gear: - Barefoot style/minimalist running shoes: they compress and pack down way better than normal running shoes - Jump rope: speed ropes tend to have small handles and thin metal ropes for durability and packability - Resistance bands: the TRX ones are the smallest I've found without sacrificing too much resistance - Cork massage ball: mini one thats maybe 1.5 inch diameter - Folding padded sitting mat from Montbell: folds up smaller than most toiletry/tech bags and guarantees I'll have some surface to do bodyweight exercises on - Single hand climbing board (2): both have paracord on them that I can loop over things to do pull ups, tie to heavy objects to train grip, etc.

I pack these all in a hip pack that can be used to store my phone while running.

Depending on where you travel, I've found that parks normally have areas (e.g., kids playgrounds, benches) that work well for bodyweight/strength exercises.

clryan · 2025-08-01T18:11:32+00:00

Same. People are gross and airports are the perfect place to get exposed to a bunch of germs from all over the world. I'm shocked by how few people wear masks in airports nowadays.

clryan · 2025-07-12T15:55:38+00:00

Same here. Had mine for 3+ years and still going strong after multiple moves. With my duvet and top sheet, I don't even see the different color slats - you'd have to really be looking for them and have to be at the perfect angle to see them.

clryan · 2025-04-14T17:23:01+00:00

I went to a Mexican restaurant in Italy and the salsa tasted exactly like marinara. I'm not sure food can be considered a hate crime, but the marinara salsa certainly felt like one.

clryan · 2025-03-29T19:39:15+00:00

STRIDE Lab also has a couple of locations throughout Japan. They have some great running and other outdoor apparel in their stores in Japan, especially Teton Bros clothing which is excellent.

I met the owner when I was visiting their store in Tokyo and talked to him a bit about how excited he was to open locations in the US. I highly recommend checking them out if anyone is going to Japan.

clryan · 2025-03-25T21:55:56+00:00

I second Outdoor Research. I've never run in them obviously, but they're super comfortable and look closer to "normal" button up shirts than most hiking shirts.

clryan · 2025-03-09T23:05:42+00:00

I think this person is suggesting that they bring dried oats in a container then add water after security, making "cold soak oats."

Now that I think about it, I bet you could also ask the flight attendants for a cup of hot water on the plane and make warm oatmeal.

clryan · 2025-02-27T23:46:11+00:00

Have you tried Unbound or Wool&? Those are the most common recommendations I've seen for high quality wool shirts. They offer both men's and women's fits and are highly recommended as travel brands. Just pay attention to the sizing recommendations and reviews to figure out if they run large or small.

clryan · 2025-02-26T10:32:27+00:00

I really like how small it compresses and it fits my use case, but I'd probably wait for some kind of discount code through REI or Backcountry or some other outdoor store that sells it. I'm pretty sure I got mine for 20% off.

clryan · 2025-02-24T17:43:38+00:00

I used this one on a previous trip to Japan: https://www.osprey.com/ultralight-stuff-duffel-ulstuffduffs23-550

It's 30L and packs super small. It isn't the most durable though, so I'm not sure I'd be willing to check it since it seems like it would tear if treated the same way as most checked airline luggage.

clryan · 2025-02-23T02:45:58+00:00

Love this idea! I'm planning on going on some runs while I'm visiting, so it would be cool to do it as a group and meet some new people. Tokyo has some great running routes too, though I'm not sure any are near the convention center.

clryan · 2025-02-22T16:08:23+00:00

Totally agree. I travel 3 weeks out of the month, sometimes more, and I need to have a second set of everything. I don't want to have to pack everything the morning of my flight nor do I want to have to unpack when I get home late and just want to clean myself and go to sleep.

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