How Did My Travel Gear Hold Up? Long-Term Review of Tropicfeel, Peak Design, Bellroy and more
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- For the past two (+) months, I've been traveling around Brazil with only a carry-on sized backpack.
If you're curious about what I packed, check out my pack with me video for this trip (link below).
After this video, I received many nice messages and fellow travelers and minimalists wanted to know what I thought of some items and if they are actually useful while traveling.
In this video, I share my experiences with you and show you how various pieces of travel gear have stood the test of time after two months of full-time travel.
I'm a big fan of minimalist travel, only taking one carry-on size bag and one personal item. So everything I take with me, I use it often.
That’s why I think I'm now in a position where I can give an honest review of their performance. ;-)
I'll also talk about what I liked, what I didn't like and what surprised me the most.
Whether you're a traveler looking to get the most out of your travels or you're just looking to upgrade your gear, this video will give you valuable insight. So check out my video to see how my travel gear has performed after two months.
++ The Gear I Reviewed: ++
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
00:00 Intro Bla bla
00:24 Tropicfeel Shoes (Dune)
I have the Tropicfeel Dune shoes
04:56 NiteIze S-Biner Microlock
I use the stainless steel version, because they are thinner and then I can use them to lock zipper pulls: amzn.to/3HzFTDP
05:47 Hydroflask Cooler Cup
amzn.to/3HVaixC
I paired it with the Wine Lid to keep my drinks colder for longer: amzn.to/3HptlOY
07:38 Sunscreens: La Roche-Posay Anthelios + Hawaiian Tropic Powder:
amzn.to/3YDZx8D
09:29 Oisle Powerbank
Not available anymore? Maybe for a reason… I can’t recommend it anyways…
10:44 Peak Design Packable Tote Bag
amzn.to/3X10IO3
12:36 Alpaka Zip Pouch Max
alpakagear.com/products/zip-p...
13:29 Sea To Summit UltraSil Drybag (2l)
amzn.to/3HxEzkx
14:48 Bellroy Desk Caddy
Awesome pouch, but my fabric (black) picks up a lot of dust. Maybe another color would be a better choice?!
amzn.to/3Ykaxrl
15:35 Wet Brush Comb + John Frieda Serum
The comb is just so cheap and useful… totally recommend: amzn.to/3RujAnk
Serum: amzn.to/3wTCPND - Don’t forget to pack a tape to secure it while traveling
16:56 Final Words
++ Videos I mention ++
Pack with me: Carry on only for five months: • Carry-on only for 5 mo...
How I do laundry while traveling: • How I do laundry while...
Bellroy Desk Caddy Review: • Bellroy Desk Caddy: My...
My Travel EDC: • Minimal Travel EDC (Al...
Subtitles and Translations, Subtítulos y Traducciones Legendas e Traduções Untertitel und Übersetzungen by (Fiverr Affiliate Link): go.fiverr.com/visit/?bta=4841...
Thanks Maggi! I love how straightforward and honest you are. It's really helpful when we can trust a reviewer.
Thanks for the nice comment, I really appreciate it. I totally agree, I always hate it when someone calls a „sales pitch“ a review. 😂
Hi Maggi! If you are interested in alternatives for the Tropicfeels: I‘m currently testing the Wool Sneakers by Giesswein, they are made out of merino wool, so they don’t smell and can be worn without socks, are very lightweight and airy and they pack down small. So far I have worn them for a couple of weeks now and hopefully they will hold up strong for a long time.
Just found your channel and let me say, you have a dedicated new follower! As someone in Europe, it's refreshing to find someone reviewing things that you can actually get here. You're also much more practical than so many other channels. Delighted to have found you! I don't know if it will work for you but Heliocare sunscreen is really good imo. They have a really nice tinted gel! Thanks again for all your excellent reviews!
"Tropicfeel and me just started on the wrong foot" is the best pun joke ever 🤣 Great feedback on the sunscreen powder, I was really curious if it was going to work or not.
I love the way your face just got lit when you pulled the Bellroy Caddy! I have the same lint, dust and overall dog fur problem with my Moment MTW pouches - they're great, but they do attract a lot of dust as if I was just cleaning the floors with them.
Many thanks for the update, as always was a pleasure hearing your feedback
Can you believe that I did not notice the pun until you pointed it out?! 😂😂
Glat to hear that you enjoyed the video. :)
Thank you for a good and honest review.I dont have a lot of money but wanted to invest in a single pair of good travel shoes and very nearly bought these even though they are expensive,thank you for saving me from nearly msking a bad and costly mistake.
I am also still searching, so if you find something good, please let me know! Good travel shoes are hard to come by. For warmer climates, my favorite so far are the Vans Ultrarange - kind of a sneaker with a sole that‘s also okay for outdoor adventures. I also saw that ON shoes recently released a travel version of their shoes (ON Cloud 5 Coast), but I haven‘t tried them yet.
Wow thanks for the review, i was going to order the Dune Shoes but i think i will look for something else now :)
Thank you so much for the awesome content! I always look forward to seeing your videos.
So useful. Thanks for the review
I too wanted to love my tropicfeels. I just can’t. They are super expensive and the problems I’ve had has not been great (and I invested in them early on!) 😣
Great vid and very honest! Appreciated
I love your videos! You are so cheerful. I wondered about the Powder sunscreen & the Bellroy desk caddy. They both sound useful to me. That is weird about the short top zipper, on the Alpaka bag. It does look like it's been redesigned on that website. Both the top zipper & some of the zipper pulls. Thanks for the reviews! Happy Travels!
If you already walk a lot in flip flops and converse, you could consider barefoot shoes. I have the vivobarefoot primus lite FG which I also use for hiking. Takes some time getting used to :) They pack nicely and are super flexible. The cooling cup, I will consider. How sweet that it holds a can cool. Whats not to like 😃
Thank you for a your review. I love the way you reason why the products were good or bad for you based on your own needs.
Re. Your Peak Design Tote: did you score it?? You might want to take a look at the Osprey foldaway tote as an alternative. I have the Osprey tote and the foldaway rucksack and love both of them. They are both made of ripstop nylon. I have used them both for as long as I can remember and they have both held up very well. I think they will outlive me!! ❤
I listened back and you did score your Peak Design tote as a 1 out of 5…. I promise to listen more carefully in the future😢
Thank you!! :). I will have to give the powdered sunscreen a try!
Danke für den Bericht! Hat mich zum Glück grad‘ abgehalten von einem Kauf der Schuhe!
Love your energy and beautiful smile!
Thanks for your interesting, logical and honest reviews. I always enjoy your videos. One thought for smelly shoes - try putting some bicarbonate of soda (if you can get it?) in your shoes. I put a good pinch into shoes at the end of a heavy use day. For yours, perhaps pour a bit more of the powder in, roll it around in the shoe, leave it overnight, then next morning tip it out. Then just do a pinch as and when. I hope it works and saves you if you have to hold them near your face again!
Thanks for that great tip! I went to the supermarket the other day and got some bicarbonate of soda, and it‘s really much better! I will take some with me for the remainder of the trip to use it in my shoes (and maybe I get even famous starring at that airport security tv show for traveling with some „unidentified powder“…) 😂 Thanks again. :)
Good luck with airport security. So far I’ve been fine, but that was only in Europe. I always put it in a small pot in my toiletries, so that (I hope) it looks as innocent as it is!!
@@fionasykes7837 I will risk it. 💪 I hope the airport security is looking for larger amounts than I need to un-stink my shoes, so they will not even worry about me. 😂
an extremely valuable review! Muito obrigado!
De nada! :)
I LOVED THE VIDEO!
Nice reviews. I'm gonna get a small drybag myself =)
Glad you liked it! :)
Thanks Maggie! I did buy the Bellroy desk caddy. I want to by the smaller fry bag. I did but a 12L one and it is a bit large for small carry.
Thank you! I find the cross body bags from Hedgren very useful for everyday carry (the eye medium) or passport holder (Rupee or Trek)
Thanks for the tip! I don’t know them, so I will have a look. :)
Thanks for the reviews Maggi, especially about the Tropicfeels. I can't believe they're falling apart so soon. Oh well, sucks for you but good for us to know. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching! :-) I used my extended sewing skills to “professionally” sew the fraying parts together, so now I hope they hold up for the duration of the trip. 😂
@@MaggiFuchs 🤞
hi, maggi! sorry to hear about your shoes. have you tried allbirds? they are my favorite travel shoes-lightweight, super comfortable and no stink! give them a try sometime. always enjoy your videos!
No, I have not hear of them. Thanks for the tip, I will check them out. :)
Five out of five stars for the reviews! Honest and straightforward. I am curious how your green rectangular toiletry kit is working out? I bought one and it feels very heavy to me. So, I am thinking of using it with our car camping gear. I was looking for that sunscreen power, but that may have to be something I look for next visit to the US. (The Cincinnati trip did not happen because I hurt my back, but I think it will be ok with some physical therapy, and my mom and I are planning a trip together this summer. That will be carry on only for me as I want to make it thru customs fast so that I can meet her plane! I hope!! I have not had luck with trips this year, but I am hoping... Mom is not getting any younger and this would be a wonderful trip together. Happy travels!! And hope your feet are soon happy again.... Lynne
Oh no, I hope you get better soon and you get to enjoy an awesome trip with your mom. :)
I did not bring this toiletry kit with me on this trip - I reduced the toiletries to a minimum and for that, it was bigger than I needed. :) But I really loved using it during our trip this summer to Spain and Portugal. But I was traveling with a car, so maybe there is a pattern there… 😂
@@MaggiFuchs Thank you! Gear for the car and gear for plane travel... why not?! 😂😁
Thanks for the reviews, it's really interesting to get the perspective after several months of use. Have you tried putting the trainers in the washing machine? Feels like it would be worth a try to make them less hideous to have around.
Or they might fall apart entirely. Better to leave that till the end of the trip
This. Seeing how animals are REALLY treated is what turned me vegan. I'm trying to reduce my fault on the mistreating of animals as much as possible and eating my oats with plant milk instead of cows milk doesn't hurt at all.
It even increased my health (no acne anymore)!
Oh those sneaky jokes! 🤣
A solution to your Alpaka day big noisy zips is buy replacement cord zippers
Thanks for the tip, I will have a look! :)
Or black tape
Can you recommend an all purpose travel shoes for minimalists instead of the tropic feels? I don't like the comments against them but i love the idea of not packing different shoes
I need something orthopedic and prefer with no socks
@@irisharel8226 My favorites (for warmer climates) so far are the Vans Ultrarange Exo. I have an all-black model and they are nice enough to wear them daily but also have a good enough grip to hold up during my hikes when traveling. I am not sure how suitable they are as orthopedic shoes.. 🤔 hope that helps! 🤗
@@MaggiFuchs thanks Maggie, ill check them out. Great content!
I wonder if Xeroshoes would be a good brand. Their stuff looks very packable.
I used to have a pair of their sandals and I loved how packable they are. However, I feel like barefoot shoes are not for me. I have the elegance of a duck in them… 😂 I really enjoyed wearing them on trails and for hiking, but when I wore them on asphalt, I felt like a 🦆.
@@MaggiFuchs Ah. I've been considering their flats, but I can understand where the duck feel would come from.
I have 4 pairs of Xero Shoes including the Jesse sandal. The shoes are great if you like the feel of walking on the ground. I really like their hiking shoes for on and off road. I removed their insert and use one with a little padding for an issue with one of my feet. They are very light weight and can even roll up (secure with a rubber band) for packing. Xero Shoes website has a lot of information supporting the use of barefoot shoes. I had used and abused my feet wearing pointed toe heels for work for many years and had resulting issues and I saw improvement very quickly after transitioning to barefoot shoes. It takes time depending how much you actually go barefoot before you try them. Earth Runners are a great sandal and nice looking too. I also have a pair of leather Groundies (made in Germany) and they are my favorite everyday shoes. Again I use an insert. For a true barefoot shoe choose their wide option so your toes can spread out. Their other option is a more rounded toe, which are still comfortable but not as. I literally wear these everyday at home in Honk Kong where there is nothing but concrete and wore them for two weeks straight in Viet Nam city walking and some easy off trail trekking. Happy trails!
I love the xero trail sandals. I don’t wear them on the trail but like them for everyday walking and they are very packable. What shoes are you now taking? And I agree with the others-I love your honest reviews! They are useful and make me smile, Keep up the good work
@@randompizza220 And I guess it didn‘t help the 🦆that I purchased their mens version. I have very wide feet, and I was worried that the female ones would be too narrow… 😂
Maybe normal shoes will be better than traveller shoes. Traveller shoes probably designed for week traveller. Not everyday use. So you might want everyday use shoes... And soles moving around so true...
If they smell that bad, it's probably a sign of lots of bacteria embedded in the shoe.
Could be… but nothing I did helped with the smell. In the end, I threw them away during my trip and went with my flipflops only. I never had that problem with any shoe, not even with my hiking shoes. And I never wore them barefoot, only with socks… 😅