Most women love purses. They spend thousands of dollars on various colors, sizes, and 
designers. Recently, I went into a Coach store with a friend of mine and she drooled over a purse that was $3,495! I didn’t think it looked any different from my Walmart purse and it cost more than my first car, but to her it was perfection. She explained how it was THE color of the season, the design would go universally with everything she owned, and the price was reasonable since she would no longer need any other purse. To each his, or in this case, her own but I don’t understand the infatuation. I’ve never really been one for fashion though. I shop at second-hand stores and once in a while I will go all out and buy something from Old Navy or a vintage store. What the “normal” woman spends on purses and shoes, I make up for in outdoor gear. Give me a versatile backpack over a purse any day. I’ve found my Coach purse of backpacks. The Mountainsmith Phantom 40 L panel loader is built with durable, lightweight high tenacity nylon and loads of ergonomic features ensuring years of fast, light, and comfortable use. It fits all of my travel needs and can easily act as a “purse” if need be.
The Mountainsmith Phantom 40 L Breezeway trampoline suspension backpanel sports a coated mesh sling for increased airflow, DWR coated airmesh foam for increased breathability, and innovative Illiac Crest Shelf hipbelt that transfers and locks the pack load onto the hips for increased stability. To round out the comfort and optimal load transfer, it includes a Lumbar Control Point pad on the lower backpanel to fully secure the pack load against the user’s major weight bearing point, the lumbar region. Confused about what all that means? It’s comfortable, adjustable, and lightweight; it doesn’t make me sweat; and my back doesn’t hurt after using it.
There is a Ten Essentials list for backpackers and hikers. The philosophy is, “Knowing the Ten Essentials is good. Carrying the Ten Essentials is better.”
It fits the Ten Essentials:
1. Navigation (map and compass)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter
Plus it fits my extended 5 Baby Essentials list:
1. Diapers/Wipes
2. Bottles
3. Onesies
4. Formula
5. Sophie (New parents will understand this one)
My philosophy is, “The Ten Essentials will save my life, while the 5 Baby Essentials will save everything else.”
With the exception of formal events like weddings, the Mountainsmith Phantom 40 L is quite versatile. I used it as a suitcase when traveling home to Canada to see my family. (Traveling alone with a baby takes skill. By using a backpack instead of a suitcase, I was able to free up my hands for more important things.) I used it as a backpack while hiking with Darren and Athena, and I used it as a beach bag during our week-long vacation in Virginia Beach. It’s packed, now, with a few extra clothes for both Athena and I along with receiving blankets, extra bottles, wipes, and formula, and a few toys. I leave it in the van when I’m not traveling in case of accidents or low supplies. It came in handy two days ago when, lets just say, Athena needed extra clothes because of an incident.
Comfort, style, versatility, and load capacity make the Mountainsmith Phantom 40 L the “Coach purse” of backpacks. Can you do all of that with your purse?
Priorities do change when travelling with an infant, don’t they? I love your philosophy about the Ten Essentials and the Baby Essentials. If you’ve got all that covered, you’ve got it made!
I am like you when it comes to purses!
I’ve never understood why women pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for purses that basically just…hold stuff. It’s not as if we can ride in them or sleep in them or cook our meals in them (although that would make them special and maybe worth the big bucks). All we can do is put our ‘stuff’ into them, and put other people’s (husbands, boyfriends) stuff into them because they are too smart to lug around twenty pounds of leather and belongings on their shoulders.
There, that’s my rant for today. I love the idea of using your backpack all the time. Great post!
Agree with you on purses…never could spend that much on a purse! I like the backpack idea, especially with your baby:) the “hands-free” part is very appealing. Great idea and post!
I don’t get the whole purse thing either. There’s a fancy bag store at the mall that has to hire a full time security guard to protect a bunch of purses. It’s crazy!!!
I love my bike bag!!! It carries my lunch, camera, tools and lots of junk every day.