Review: The TraveLite Convertible Backpack/Carry On
Before we get into the review, let’s be honest, no, you don’t need the GoLite TraveLite bag. In fact, the old backpack gathering dust in your closet will do just fine. Buy less stuff, travel more.
Now that that’s out of way, GoLite’s TraveLite convertible bag is actually a pretty nice pack for those that want to, well, travel light.
The secret to traveling light is physics — bring a smaller bag. If there’s no room in your bag, you won’t be able to bring too much stuff. In that sense the TraveLite is ideal, it holds about 2200 cu in of gear, enough for a round the world trip, but not enough to tempt you into bringing too much stuff.
My only gripe about the size of the TraveLite is that the pack becomes somewhat awkward to carry if you really max it out. Any sharp corners or lumpy objects tend to dig into your back if you’re carrying it as a backpack.
Also, bear in mind that the TraveLite is technically a carry-on bag. It does have padded shoulder straps (which tuck away when you don’t need them), but it definitely isn’t as comfortable as a traditional backpack.
That said, in my experience, barring real backpacking and trekking, most of us don’t really lug our packs around all that much; between taxis, tuktuks, subways and porters you never really need to carry your pack for long. That said, if you are planning to strike out in the wilds or want a pack that’s comfortable on your back for days on end, look elsewhere.
The TraveLite is made of 50 percent recycled ripstop nylon and seems reasonably tough. However I didn’t have the opportunity to fully test it in the real world where bus drivers sometimes secure your bag by throwing a rope over it and then hang their entire body weight to cinch it down, effectively turning the rope into a cheese cutter that does your pack no favors.
Of course because the TraveLite is small, you can probably avoid that all-too-common scenario by just keeping it by your side you when you’re traveling.
The TraveLite's shoulder straps
One potential problem with the TraveLite is the D-ring system which holds the bottom of the shoulder straps to the bag — the D-rings are stitched into the pack, which means if you break the pastic d-ring you’re going to need a seamstress to fix it. It would be nice if the D-Ring threaded into the strap so you could easily slide on another if it breaks.
Where the TraveLite excels is organizing and accessing your stuff. The full zip-around design means you can open the bag and lay it flat — nothing is buried at the bottom because there effectively is no bottom.
The inside is divided into a number of compartments so you can organize your gear and even, if you’re into such things, keep your clothes flat and relatively wrinkle free.
The inside of the TraveLite
There are also three quick-access front pockets for smaller items like passports, small water bottles or even a pair of sandals.
To be fair to GoLite, the TraveLite is not specifically intended for the use case I’ve outlined — your only pack on a round the world trip — it’s really intended to be a carry-on bag. However, it can certainly work as your main bag.
The biggest problem with the TraveLite is the price. At $125 it’s too expensive to be a second, around-town bag and there are other options for a main bag within that price range that offer a lot more than the TraveLite (like a real suspension system with hip belts).
However, if price is the only thing holding you back, I have good news for one lucky soul among you — we’re giving away our testing TraveLite.
Just leave a comment below telling us a little bit about your travel plans and I will randomly pick a winner. [note: this review was written some time ago, I’m currently on the road. I will contact the winner, but I won’t be able to send it to you until mid-August, so keep that in mind if you’re leaving soon.]
July 13th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Sounds like a great little bag–it’s a tiny bit smaller than the one I used on my RTW, but I have a feeling that the organization and full zipper would make it just as, if not more, useful. My upcoming travels are all domestic and will be of the spontaneous, “Where do you want to go this week?” type travel, so a small, very organized bag would be a dream!
July 13th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Now that I have a young family, taking shorter trips seems to have become the norm – for the time being. I used to also always go for the muted earth tone colors when I traveled solo.
Nowadays I’m always keeping my eyes open for inexpensive, smaller ‘three day packs’ that have easy access to contents for those little emergencies that seem to pop up with little kids. And I’ve also discovered that bright colors make your bag easier to find when you need it! (Plus its far easier for a little kid to run and get the ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ bag than the ‘black’ one.)
The size, design and quick-access front pockets look perfect – the cost is a bit steep. Good review!
July 13th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I am in the market for a bag this size that I can use as my only travel bag for a RTW trip. I am leaving for Colombia in September and plan on continuing my ultra-budget trip to Brazil, Argentina, Thailand and Eastern Europe or until I run out of money. If I don’t win this, could you recommend a similar, quality carry-on/backpack that I could use as my only bag with a slightly lower price tag?
July 13th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
This looks super handy. Compartments are so essential! Very good design. I wonder if it might be available at a discount retailer. Let’s hope.
July 13th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Just what I’ve been looking for! I’m traveling to Turkey in October and plan just to use a carry-on. I’d love to win this one….
Great review.
July 13th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
[…] ยป Review: The TraveLite Convertible Backpack/Carry On … […]
July 13th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
I am going to Thailand in August for three weeks and want a carry-on only bag. I also dream of RTW trip when I have a little more money saved.
July 15th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I just spent the last three years traveling through the Middle East. Now I’m back working again and saving up for my next trip. I guess you could say I’m between sabbaticals. I’ve been looking at this pack and was excited to find your review. I think it just might be exactly what I need for this next trip. Thanks!
July 15th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Ralph, your book,”vagabonding” was a great read on my last trip. It inspired me to start my own writing career. This has allowed me to go virtual. The company I used to work for I now write for from home (advertising, scripts, etc). Ideally I’d like this to spawn into travel writing since traveling is the purpose of my going virtual. Anyways, that bag would be awesome for my upcoming extended stay in Italy. I will live there and work for my first overseas sabbatical experiment (4 hour workweek and all that). Hook me up!
July 30th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
I travel constantly and have been looking for a new bag (my 10 year old North Face just isn’t cutting it anymore.) My next trip is to Hawaii and then on to Thailand I would love to have something like this and I really think for my style of travel ie. board shorts slippahs and t-shirts i could make this work as my primary bag.
August 19th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Seems like a decent bag for a weekend trip. Thanks for the pictures as I was curious how it would look when opened.
August 23rd, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Thank you for this review. I find it very useful and very convenient but only if you will carry with you a few things. If not, you will not be able to bring in some of the most important possessions you would like to bring.
August 24th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Backpacks are a just when you go camping, trekking or just planning for adventure. Of course you cannot just pick any kind of backpack, you need something really good that can pack all the things you will need in the mountains.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Yes, 125 is a tad much. But when the big boys at RO and TB get about 250 for their convertible bags, this one is a deal. I’d love to own this. My wife and I are going to Austria and Hungary this winter and I’m in the market for a one-bag solution.
September 12th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Okay, I threw all of your names in a hat (actually an empty plastic flower pot if you must know) and Bryce comes up the winner, so this one is gone…
July 20th, 2012 at 6:36 am
Nice review. However, I just wanted to highlight how apt: “buy less stuff, travel more” is. That’s as good a line I’ve come across from any review!
Cheers