(
Pros: None
Cons: None
Great basic pack for a two-week trip in Europe
My wife and I decided to do what my friends did thirty years ago, take a small backpack and ride trains around Europe. They had the whole summer, but we had only two weeks. Both of us took a only a Sleeka Force 35 for the two weeks. We used ziplock bags to squeeze out the air from the clothes and were able to carry enough for the two weeks with frequent washing clothes in the sink at night. We also started the trip with a good supply of granola bars and other portable food supplies that helped us considerably along the way. In 15 days, we visited 13 cities, and took 27 train rides, 2 boat rides, 3 bike rides, numerous local bus and metro rides, and walked many miles. We saw others taking similar trips and felt sorry for them with their huge packs and/or multiple bags. We were able to be extremely agile. The backpack is sturdy and comfortable for both of us at 5'3" and 5'8" in height, respectively. I added adjustable cords to the loops on the bottom and front in order to hold flip flops and a jacket. The flip flops on the bottom also protected the pack from getting dirty when I set it down. We encountered some rain, so the built-in rain cover came in very handy. The only drawback to a top-loading pack is that one must generally empty it and repack it daily. We look forward to traveling light in the future with our his and her Sleeka Force 35s and recommend them to others with similar travel plans.