I frequently travel internationally. Before year 2000 or so, I used a soft-sided briefcase for travel as my personal item, camera bag, and around town bag. I then switched to 15-20 liter daypacks. On my recent, three-week trip to Portugal, Azores, and Madeira, I tried out the Mountain Cross and found it the most convenient and functional of the ma
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Perhaps its best attribute is organization. It has four zippered outside pockets of varying capacities. I used the back one (next to padded panel) for passports, documents, money, and other important items. I used the largest one for a change of clothes, rain gear, small umbrella, binocs, etc. I used the one with an internal zippered pocket for electronics, pill bottle, basic toiletries, and small items that might easily get misplaced. I used the front one for snacks. The bright yellow interiors helped a lot for visibility.
The outside of the bag has a narrow, mostly open pocket, loops, and adjustable bottom straps for a rolled jacket or small tripod. The outside pocket was handy for stuffing my iPhone, receipts, and AirPods on the go. (The bottom straps tend to dangle a bit so when not in use I buckled them cross-wise, which kept them tight to the bottom. See photos. )
The bag is thicker than a typical messenger bag, but smaller in height and width. It's best used crossbody, which makes it easy to swing it from back to side to front for access. It did not work well for me on the shoulder because it tended to slip off. The strap is adjustable, so I was able to have it fit in the small of my back for most carrying. Except for a little weight on my neck and shoulder, I hardly noticed it even when full of gear as my personal airline item or around town on a day that required carrying an extra warm layer, rain gear, and maybe that fifth of white Port I bought for night caps at the hotel.
The construction quality is excellent. It also resists dirt remarkably. I set the bag down on may streets, floors, overhead bins, boat decks, etc. and it never looked dirty (see photos). I am about to wash it anyway, and I have no worries about it not surviving a washing machine (shoulder strap removes and secures easily).
The grab handles, and side loops (I added carabiners), and pull cords on zippers add function and convenience. The zippers are excellent and easy to operate one-handed.
This bag is a masterpiece of thoughtful design. I bought mine on sale for about $100, a fantastic deal. It's worth more than full price. Read LessRead less about I frequently travel internationally.