Road Test: The Wanderer Bag
If you follow me on Instagram you may have realized by now that I just got back from the most amazing trip to Mexico with Las Olas Surf Safaris. It was a wonderful week filled with sun, good food, better friends and lots and lots of surfing. I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. They truly take care of you at Las Olas from beginning to end. I was still ‘hard’ at work though! (Ok not even close!) I had been wanting to make the perfect carry on/travel bag. You know the one: it carries all the essentials for travel: tickets, wallet, sunnies, a book to read, headphones, phones, chapstick, lotion..... the list goes on. And then it transitions easily into your go-to vacation purse, coming with you to the beach, out shopping and then out to dinner. That is a lot to ask of one bag, right? Well I was inspired to make such a bag and this trip gave me the extra push to get it done. I had come up with the dimensions months ago when the idea had first popped into my head and so I got to work. I wanted to also try out making my own print on the bag to see if it would be feasible going forward (I love it!). I printed on all the pieces I cut out and started sewing it together. I got the bag put together and it was looking pretty sweet, except I realized it was a beast! If I filled this thing up it would weigh a ton! And would be super awkward in the airport. So instead of starting over I got out my trusty seam ripper (you know I never complete a project without some quality time with my ripper) and took an inch off each side and the bottom. I stitched it back together and it was a much better size. I packed her up with all my travel essentials and headed off to Mexico! After using her for a week here’s somethings I’ve learned that you all will benefit from once I start cranking these babies out!
1. thicker straps, after a while the narrow webbing I chose started to cut in.
2. narrower top, wider bottom. I made the top of the bag as wide as the bottom but due to the way it sits the top gets really wide not having the same structure as the bottom. A wider bottom will also make it stand up easier.
3. It could even be smaller. I tend to get really excited about big bags but sometimes small and smart is the ticket. Not to worry my big bag enthusiasts, the Wanderer is going to come in two sizes! The size I road tested and new, more petite incarnation. I hope you like this bag as much as I do. It was so much fun to make and then test it out. If you’ve ever wanted to learn to surf, or wanted to take a surf trip I would highly recommend Las Olas.
