Everyone needs a good weekend bag and, as a college student, the backpack is generally the preferred choice. However, a recent gift has changed my opinion: the Patagonia MLC ($160), or Maximum Legal Carry-On. This bag is a godsend. It holds a ton! Patagonia says it can hold between 3-5 days worth of clothes, so it’s perfect for traveling! The bag is so well thought out, it opens like a book and has a compression pocket that doubles as a hang-able toiletry kit. There’s also a second pocket for storing dirty clothes. I must admit that this pocket works better for me to store a few books and other travel essentials (if you don’t mind mixing clothes). There is also a padded laptop sleeve. The bag has both a padded split-shoulder strap and converts to a backpack. When in shoulder bag mode, the backpack straps are ingeniously tucked away. The bag also has a smaller pocket for things you need direct access to; mine usually holds train ticket and my iPod.
This bag is a must-have, for college students or for anyone going on a weekend trip. You name it, it holds it. The best part is that it comes with Patagonia’s guarantee and is made of recycled material, so it is good for you and for the polar bears up north. Whenever on trips, I seem to always come back with more than I started with and, with a normal backpack, I worry about fitting everything, but the Patagonia MLC seems to always have room and still have the ability to fit in overhead compartments and slide easily through security.
