It’s no secret that I am a big fan of using a backpack for travel (as opposed to a roller carry-on). But not all of them are equal, which is maybe obvious to those in the know. Some are highly capable but bulky, while others sacrifice toughness for compactness.
Well, a new contender has just entered the competition. Called the Tortuga Superlite, this bag is trying to set a new standard, offering incredible strength, durability and lightness in a package that falls well within most airline carry-on standards.
Suitcase assassin
I’m not sure if you’ve been to the airport lately, but they are a nightmare. They’re overcrowded with clumsy, clunky carry-on suitcases (and boarding makes the congestion even worse). Well, the Tortuga Superlite was specifically designed to bypass much of that frustration.
As it’s a backpack, you carry it on your back, which already bypasses one of the biggest frustrations of airport travel. However, that means adding extra weight to your shoulders, right? Sort of.
The Superlite, as its name suggests, is much lighter than most other backpacks of similar size. In total, it weighs just 2.2 pounds. That’s more than a pound less than a full Stanley Quencher water bottle (and 77 percent less than similar travel bags). As such, you really only need to worry about the weight of the gear inside.
