These bags protect your laptop and offer a comfortable way to carry it, saving your back and shoulders while looking sleek. We spoke with experts on what makes the best laptop bags and rounded up 10 laptop backpacks you can add to your cart right now. The 4-pound, steel-construction REI chair has an attached carry strap, rather than a carry bag like the other chairs. After a couple of camping trips, we concluded that a strap is more convenient than a bag—quicker and easier for a kid to grab the chair and go, without parental help. The REI chair is rated to hold up to 150 pounds, the same as the L.L.Bean and Walmart chairs.
At a fireworks show and at the beach, we appreciated a chair that was ready to go without even 30 seconds of hassle. The Everywhere Chair closes like a book—simply lift the padded strap and go. Overwhelmingly, the Coleman came out on top, with campers praising its comfort and stability. These dry bag coolers did great in our submersion tests, and they float, making these a great option to take along on the kayak.
This same toe was a problem earlier on the Ouachita Trail, but I tolerated the discomfort on both trips. For me, planning campsites involves guesswork and looking at topographical maps. I cut post-it notes into strips and stick them to the map where I think we might camp.
Together, this team searched far and wide to find the best soft coolers available on the market. The AO loses some points since its exterior and zipper are not waterproof, though the regular zipper is much easier to use than waterproof ones, which typically require a lot more tugging. And though its hull isn’t as stiff and impenetrable as some of the others we tested, it’s still pretty strong and well-constructed.
From the summit to the streets, the versatile Front Utility Pack Accessory provides quick and easy access to all your essentials. With plenty of space for your phone, a camera, a jacket or snacks, the ultralight F.U.P.A. can be worn as a stand-alone item while bagging a peak or for a night out on the town. Leave the webbing belt at home and connect the F.U.P.A. directly to one of our backpacks for the ultimate pack accessory. For our trip I decided to carry about 25 litters that included 3 liters of water, camera gear, and other hiking gear we may need on the trail. It was completely full and with it properly fitted to my back it worked great and feels good on my back.
Just peel off the brown paper backing from the included flat clips and attach the pouch inside your backpack where you want it. We usually stick it towards the top of the backpack right behind the shoulder straps so that it is easy to get to. The adhesive bonds well and will also work on any urethane coated backpack material. Spare Stick on Flat Clips are available if you want to clip this pouch to a second location.
On top of that, this is one of the largest coolers we tested, fitting an impressive 48 cans, making it a solid contender to guard your food and drink for a long weekend of camping. Despite its bulky size, the Engel is more portable than we expected, featuring an easy two-person carry using the end handles. After many years, its durable construction has proven worth the investment, with consistent performance, unchanged over time, and even looking like we bought it last week. The Helinox Chair ozark trail canopy One weighs about 2 pounds, compresses smaller than a 2-liter bottle of soda, and is the most comfortable and easy to stow of the three top backpacking chairs we tested. Like competing chairs, the Chair One has a nylon and mesh seat and aluminum legs, which are linked with shock cord (the chair legs are made out of the same material as high-end tent poles). With a lightly padded back panel, breathable mesh, and a more flexible structure, we had no trouble transporting this cooler around.
Despite not being airtight or leakproof, it managed to hold ice for 40 hours during our testing. Other coolers have more traditional zippers that aren’t watertight yet still provide effective insulation, like the RTIC Backpack, REI Pack Away, and AO 24 Pack. Our expert panel consists of Maggie Nichols, Genaveve Bradshaw, and Becca Glades. Whether it be setting off on a trip in her van or hanging out by the crag, she always has a cooler full of goodies to keep her company. Rebecca’s STEM background helps her bring an analytical mindset to the table, along with a passion for finding the best gear out there.
If you’re looking for a daypack, or a carry-on that fits everywhere, this is the deal. My shoulders did not chafe nor rub or irritate while walking and I did not get any bruising on my hips. I only walked about a mile away on a dirt trail to the showers but it was not a flat surface and the equiptment on my back was stable. Fast and easy to adjust and all buckles and webbing are in good quality. While this pack may not be big enough to carry all the gear you need for longer treks, it offers many of the features you would want at a good price.
I also liked how my head wasn’t directly beside the door, which often occurs for an end-door tent. If something crawled through the zipper door it wouldn’t immediately be inches from my face but instead would have to work its way a few more feet to my head. At the same time, my head wasn’t zero or six feet from the door, but about two or three feet at all times. Wetlands give way to ridgelines at the start of the Blair Creek section.