Gear: Good for a year—or a day

Product name: Eagle Creek Grand Voyage 90L

Made by: Eagle Creek

Web Site: www.eaglecreek.com

My trip to Latin America posed a thorny luggage dilemma. The trip was due to last a year, but would alternate between weeks on the road and prolonged periods in one place. I knew I wanted an all-in-one package, yet I would also often need a day pack and, occasionally, a less-than-the-full-enchilada option for weekend getaways. Luckily, I stumbled across Eagle Creek’s Grand Voyage 90L.
Whether you’re traveling for six months or a couple of weeks, the Grand Voyage 90L may well be your best option. After finding your room for the night, you can zip-away the day pack for a lightweight carry-along. And fear not, it is hardly a designer’s afterthought: the padded straps are comfortable, the main pouch is deceivingly roomy, a hidden pouch offers a bit of security for your passport and other valuables, and the dual side pockets can hold all the water you need on hot days.
The backpack’s main compartment can fit a king’s wardrobe or travel gifts for the whole family, whichever you please, though a keen packing sense will help as interior compartments are limited. A separate, reinforced shoe sack is a nice touch for muddy days, side straps allow you to compress either pack to the size you want, and the narrow but competent front pocket can hold the small stuff, especially when you choose to leave the day pack at home. Finally, in a wonderful touch for those hoping on and off planes, one long zip can hide the straps from stringent airline rules and hungry baggage carousels.