Eating Burritos a Mile High: Denver Adventures

I did two pretty important things in Denver today:

1) I ate an outstanding burrito.

2) I finally bought a Topo Designs bag. At the flagship store. 

The burrito came from a place my coworker had heard of and really wanted to try. I consider myself something of a burrito connoisseur, so I was game to have Denver give me its best shot. The burrito in question was the Big Fish from Illegal Pete's and yes, it passed the test. We all had to spend the larger part of the day walking around the city just to work off the urge to go en masse into a giant burrito coma. To be honest I'm usually very wary of getting anything with fish in a place that's far from the water, and you really can't get much more landlocked than Denver, but for whatever reason the well-intentioned eagerness to make my burrito dreams come true of the guy behind the counter really swayed my judgment. I don't regret it.

On to the bag. I've been a Topo Designs fan for quite a while now... and when my boyfriend picked up a Mountain Briefcase in Duck Camo on his trip to Colorado last winter, I was super jealous but encouraged him to write a guest post about the experience. So after our burrito break and a leisurely stroll through some small shops in the city, I forced my accomplices to take the 20 minute walk in 95 degree heat up to the Topo flagship store. Come hell or high water... I'm in Denver, I'm getting one of these bags.

I have a monstrosity of a messenger bag that I'd bought from Incase in the beginning of graduate school. It certainly served it's purpose, and it has tons of little pockets, but it's big and structureless, and the size/weight make it extremely difficult for me to haul around as a single strap messenger bag. What I needed was a bag that can carry what I need daily for work: 15" Macbook Pro, binder, legal pads, notebook, planner, pens, measuring tape, knife, etc., be acceptable to maybe walk into a conference or something with, but also be dope, neither too feminine nor too masculine, and not boring. I recognize that this is quite a tall order, but the genuinely helpful salesman at Topo was unflagged by my request. I said that my boyfriend had the Mountain Briefcase and that I essentially wanted something to serve the same function without just copying my boyfriend. In a "I've got just the thing for you" move, he whipped out the Backpack Tote, a clever little hybrid with the right shape and shoulder straps to be a woman's tote bag, but with hidden backpack straps that can be taken out to transform the bag into a very manageable backpack. I was sold on the functionality of the bag, but neither of the two color options really leapt out at me. I asked if there were any alternatives and the Topo gods smiled down upon me when he ran to the back and brought out a one-off of the same bag, done in coyote brown and purple. The color combo was pretty solid, but the fact that it was a "one of a kind" of sorts made it extra appealing.

Front!

Back with straps out!

Back with straps hidden!

Proof that it fits lots of stuff!

Thank you, Denver, for being awesome! I'm here until Sept. 6th... and this was only Day 1. I can't wait to see what the rest of the week has in store for me. 

Guest Writer Dope Design Feature: KZ on Topo Designs

Being a full time traveler, both by nature and profession, brought me to Denver, Colorado in January. This trip gave me the opportunity to scope out a place that has been on my radar since it opened: the Topo Designs flagship store. I've always seen their bags online and been legitimately stoked about the aesthetics of their bags and the ethos of their brand, so walking in to their shop was incredibly exciting for me. Every bag is made right here in the USA in a LEED certified building that has a view of the Rockies; I got to experience the brand at its source. Their bags are simple, classic, stylish, and they provide you with exactly what you need in terms of function. No frills.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that they carried other exciting brands in their store, such as Randolph Engineering, who make my trusty aviator sunglasses, and Woolrich Woolen Mills, hailing from my beloved home state of Pennsylvania. Topo does an awesome collaboration with Woolrich, as seen in the photo I took as I stepped into their store.

Upon entering, I was greeted by a super knowledgeable guy named Josh who walked me through all of the bags that Topo Designs has to offer. I have seen similar, cheaper bags on the market in both style and function but for a few extra bucks, I think it's worthwhile to support the thoughtful design, quality, and philosophy that goes into every Topo product. Josh unknowingly led me to the one that was exactly what I needed: the Mountain Briefcase. It's available in the three colors pictured below, but I came to the conclusion that Duck Camo was the obvious choice for me.

Since I am writing this after having used the bag for nearly two months, I can tell you with certainty that this has been the ultimate bag for all of my needs. It can be used like a traditional two-handle briefcase that comes with a removable shoulder strap, but it also has stowaway backpack straps that allow you to carry it from inside the office straight to the mountaintop. Within a week of buying my bag I took it to ski slopes, mountain trails, the airport, and the workplace. I could comfortably fit my snacks, water bottle, and extra clothing layers for being on the mountain, which I then switched out to fit two laptops, some documents, and notebooks for the workplace. I decided to pick up the accessory straps which can be attached to the leather lash tabs on the outside of the bag. This comes in handy if you need to carry more than you can stow away inside your bag. There are also some cinch straps on the base of the bag. These cinches were useful for strapping down my jacket when I had to take it off as I began to overheat on my hike.

It goes without saying that I am now officially a Topo Designs fan for life. If you need a bag, check them out. I know Anne has been coveting some gear from Topo for over two years now and, after allowing me to blog about them, she'll probably order something very soon.

TopoDesigns.com

Dreams of Camping

While I do understand the appeal of using rugged products for urban life, (via Range Rover commercials where the safari SUV is navigating Manhattan), nothing compares to going off the pavement and using products with utility to reconnect with the natural world. I've never been camping for real, and every fall I get the urge to try it. I love hiking and being in the woods, and I generally prefer being as far away from large crowds of people as possible, so camping is extremely appealing to me. This year I've vowed to finally get out in the woods, pitch a tent, and warm myself by a campfire. In my dream camping universe, these are a few things I would have.

Montana Canvas, based just north of Yellowstone National Park, makes all of their camping products right here in the USA. They also have all sorts of camping stoves, bedrolls, saddle packs, and whatever else you could imagine needing out in the grand old wilderness. I'd have no problem cozying up in their Wedge Tent after an evening of drinking cocoa by the campfire in my trusty Stanley thermos.

For just about a hundred years Stanley has been making super durable and functional thermalware. Because let's be honest... nobody wants lukewarm coffee or cocoa on a chilly night. Or cold feet.

Keeping warm while camping is a preoccupation of mine, and I'm pretty passionate about socks. I think it goes along with being passionate about good boots, but the right socks for the job can make life a thousand times easier. I have a pair of these Fox River Mills Outdoorsox, and they are absolutely brilliant. The company started in Wisconsin in 1900 making socks for lumberjacks, whom I'd imagine have pretty high standards. Their wool wicks away perspiration and moisture to keep your feet dry, so you never get clammy feet. They are extra cushiony as well, perfect for keeping your feet comfortable on a long day of hiking in the woods, or chopping down trees, (your choice). 

Campfire time in your warm socks with your awesome thermos seems a little lacking without being wrapped up in a blanket. Pendleton's National Parks collection of blankets are perfect for this task. The Yosemite and Glacier Park editions are my favorites, but they all have amazing, retro stripes and prints in each park's official colors. For the times at home in between camping adventures, this blanket would look beautiful on a bed as well. 

No camping supply list is complete without a sleeping bag. The Sportsman's XL Camp Sleeping Bag from LL Bean is big and roomy -- great for someone like me with a dog who likes to snuggle up under the covers, or just someone really tall.

This is all really great, but it definitely seems like a lot to carry. Enter Topo Designs, whose clutch collaboration we explored previously. Topo was started by a couple of dudes in Colorado who love doing things outside and wanted to make quality gear that could keep up to their standards. All of their bags are both rugged and multifunctional, but for my camping-fantasy purposes, the Klettersack would likely serve me best. You can fit plenty of stuff inside, and it has leather lash tabs on the exterior to hook on extra gear if necessary. It has a laptop sleeve inside as well, for keeping it rugged once you return to your more urban pursuits.

Mark my words, my camping fantasy will come true this fall. When it does, photos and anecdotes will surely follow. In the meantime, I will continue to dream about all of these goodies and try to hide my credit cards from myself. 

As always, I'd appreciate any input or suggestions on camping supplies, as I am clearly a camping fangirl/newbie.

Montana Canvas

Stanley

Fox River Mills

Pendleton

LL Bean

Topo Designs