Packs & Travel

Last October I had the pleasure of visiting Osprey's Vietnam headquarters and two of their nearby factories. While I was there to learn about Osprey and their products, I was also lucky enough to immerse myself into Vietnamese culture and get a taste of life as an Osprey employee. It was delightful to meet the faces of the talented workers behind the Daylite backpack on my back, and even try my hand at cutting the pieces to a pack. My visit was insightful and fascinating. How many brands can take a product brief and create a prototype by the end

Stepping out of Ho Chi Minh airport is a shock of heat compared to autumn in Montreal. It wasn’t my first time in Asia, and the feeling of jet lag combined with a sticky hug of equatorial humidity brought back immediate memories. We were greeted warmly by the North American Osprey team who had arrived the day before, linking email personas with friendly faces. For the next few days, we’d put their bags and backpacks to the test in Vietnam and Thailand while checking out Osprey’s facilities. Sweating, I put my 46-litre Porter Pack into the hotel shuttle, placed my

Minimalist adventurer, day-tripper or insatiable globe-trotter. Whatever you fancy, your backpack is the most important piece of equipment when adventuring, even for the most bare-bones of trips. Choosing the right pack for the job is crucial. Think as light as possible, versatile, robust and ample storage capacity. The perfect backpack shouldn’t even be noticeable even after long hours in the harness. Need help? Here are our fave-5 and most popular backpacks. Shop our collection of daypacks Talon 22 - Osprey Hydration sleeve, foam back panel, helmet and walking pole holders…the Talon 22 by Osprey has near everything you’ll need in

Packing for plane travel can be stressful for some especially if they aren't flying often. For those who fly regularly for work or pleasure, you develop a routine subconsciously and packing becomes second nature. Whether you're on a long flight or a short flight, there are a few carry-on essentials which are necessary to keep in your carry-on. This particular list portrays to your personal bag carry-on and not your suitcase. Everyone's suitcase contents will vary substantially depending on the style o trip you are leaving on and the duration of the trip. For the person bag carry-on most people will

Shop Travel Tropical Vacation EssentialsFor the folks who cringe at temperatures dropping below zero in the forecast, you’re most likely looking for any opportunity to pack up your suitcase with your favourite swimsuit, sandals, sunglasses, sunscreen and of course inflatable flamingo, all ready for you to head for tropical beaches and fruity drinks at the swim-up bar. Vitamin D and vitamin sea await those who dream of a tropical getaway.To help you out, here’s our list of top 10 tropical vacation essentials – plus a couple of helpful reminders. From swimsuits to sandals to sunglasses to hats, beach essentials and

With the start of September behind us and the back to school rush slowing down, it's the perfect time to reflect on the summer and take a breath of relief knowing the first few days have been conquered. Now is also the perfect time to shop for a new school bag! Now that book costs and tuition fees have most likely been taken care of, treat yourself with the Herschel Supply Co. Little America backpack. This must-have urban bag is a hit among students young and old and is simply a great and stylish backpack. Available in a variety of

Choosing a backpack is always a bit tricky, especially when you leave for a long time and you plan to put away your whole life. Are you the kind of person to be afraid of missing something on a trip? Are you the type to repack your bag countless times in order to fit as many items as possible? However, to avoid having to take breaks at any time or to have knees that ask for grace after a few steps, you have to travel light. Before leaving, do not forget to think about comfort, weight and practicality! Discover our

While the summer heat keeps giving and weekends at the lake aren't over yet, back to school preparations are just around the corner. Whether your youngest is about to start their very first day of school or your oldest is headed for the final year down the lockered hallways, send them in style with JanSport backpacks. Shop JanSport Right Pack Expressions 31L Shop Black Label Super Break 25L Shop Madalyn 25L Shop Hatchet 28L Shop More than 40 years later since it started making backpacks and outdoor gear back in 1967, JanSport continues their expertise with their classic and innovative designs that are

A Little Fjällräven History Let me tell you a bit about the makers of the Fjällräven Kånken. Fjällräven is a brand that started making framed backpacks over 50 years ago.  Since then, they have been making clothing and equipment, often out of their waxed, and tough poly/cotton fabric. They've been a go-to for outdoor adventurers for years, and now they are the latest in hip, understated urban wear and accessories. The Kånken is a cool, minimalist backpack perfect for all sorts of people and adventures.  In 1978, this now iconic pack was designed for adorable little Swedish school children. Kånken

If only packing for vacation was as easy as purchasing the plane ticket. It's hard to know what to pack and what to leave behind and once you've decided on your favourite clothes, you've got to somehow make it all fit into your suitcase or duffel. It's true that finding the perfect balance between style and comfort can be a real headache especially when space is limited. Fortunately, FIG Clothing decided to take up the challenge by developing basic clothing perfectly suited to adventure travel. This spring, the Montreal brand launches a new fabric, aptly named "Flex" because of its

When you’re choosing a backpack, you want to ensure you choose wisely so that it’s practical for what you need it for. There are unlimited options for backpacks so to get you started on your hunt, we’ve compared our two most popular backpacks, Herschel Supply Co.’s Little America and Fjällräven’s Kånken. Shop Packs & Bags Herschel Supply Co. Little AmericaPadded back panelPadded shoulder strapsAccommodates a 15 “laptopFjällräven KånkenMade of  resistant materialsSmaller sizeRemovable seat pad in the back pocket Herschel Supply Co. Product Name LEARN MORE Product Name LEARN MORE Product Name LEARN MORE Product Name LEARN MORE {"title":"Herschel Supply Co.","type":"default","products":[{"product_id":"","product_link":"https://www.altitude-sports.com/products/herschel-supply-co-little-america-backpack-llll-her-10014","product_feature":"","_id":"d2559e4"},{"product_id":"","product_link":"https://www.altitude-sports.com/products/herschel-supply-co-little-america-backpack-mid-volume-llll-her-10020","product_feature":"","_id":"8da8669"}],"single_product_link":null,"cta_1_text":null,"cta_2_text":null,"pros":null,"cons":null,"collection":null,"single_product_id":null,"cta_1_url":null,"cta_2_url":null,"image":null,"credit":null,"collection_id":null,"limit":null} Notebook, a bottle

Osprey has been in the backpack business since 1974.  It’s all they do – so it isn’t surprising that they do it very well.  The Ozone 46L Travel Pack is no exception. This bag provides ample, well-organized storage, and comfortable ventilated straps all in an extremely light weight package. Shop Osprey Backpacks Our review of this product 8.5 / 10 The pros are: Lightweight & well ventilated Multiple pockets for versatile packing options Easy access to contents even with compression straps fastened Comfortable straps, harness & hip belt can all be tucked away Large enough for travelling but the light

When it comes to vacation, the first decision to make (and this is often the most difficult of all) is where to go. Will you be flying to the other side of the world to discover the Australian Outback or do you prefer to explore the steep streets lined with colorful houses in San Francisco? The possibilities are almost infinite! However, the next choice you will have to make will be just as delicate: what do you pack? When you have limited space and a weight limit, finding the right suitcase if a must. If you're bound for a more

Arc'teryx is continuously setting the stakes high for the outdoor industry and blowing our minds with innovative designs and technology. They do not settle for mediocre and will constantly strive to improve and better their products which is exactly what has happened with the Bora Ar backpack. Our review of this product 9.75 / 10 The pros are: Made of waterproof materials RotoGlide™ hipbelt = no uncomfortable rubbing Hydration compatible Side access zippers The cons are: It would be nice to have zippered pockets on the hip belt Arc'teryx's Bora pack was first introduced in 1994 and revolutionized the backpack

For more than 50 years, Fjällräven has been crafting technical gear and clothing. The Swedish brand quickly became one of my favourites thanks to their rustic yet urban styles. It’s not rare to meet people who have been using their Fjällräven packs for more than 40 years. I’ve been using the Kånken original pack for a while, and when I decided to start shopping for a new travel/hiking bag, I thought ‘why not just update what I had?’ The Kånken is a Scandinavian classic – and is quickly becoming a favourite in North America. There’s more than one reason why it’s been

So you’ve just spontaneously booked your flight to Southeast Asia leaving in three months and you’re planning what you’re going to bring and how it will all fit in your backpack because you don't feel like rolling luggage between a billion small cities. Sure enough after crawling around the basement at your parent’s house for hours, you’ve found everything but your trusty old travel backpack, what now? There are so many backpacks on the market these days it’s hard to know which one is perfect for you and your trip. To lighten your post departure stress and the load on