Yahoo Autos How to Pack like an Automotive Journalist
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How to Pack like an Automotive Journalist
Many of our readers may not know this, but we automotive journalists cover more miles in the air each year than we do on the road, flying from place to place to drive new cars and file reports for your reading pleasure. So, as much as we know about cars, trucks, and SUVs, we also know a lot about carry-on luggage, backpacks, photo bags, suitcases, and duffels. Our staff carries a wide variety of bags while traveling, but we've rounded up a list of what we like the best. By no means is this an all-encompassing list of the best luggage for 2019, but if you want to pack like an automotive journalist, this list is more than enough to get you started.
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Tecovas Weekender Duffel Bag
tecovas.com
$295.00
Great for quick overnight trips, this leather bag from Tecovas has gotten a lot of compliments from flight attendants, TSA agents, and other journalists when Buyer's Guide assistant editor Drew Dorian has carried it on press trips. It is lined in a durable hunter green canvas and sports two side pockets that are well sized for reporter's notebooks and boarding passes.
Michael Simari - Car and Driver - 3/10
Tenba DNA 15 Slim Messenger Bag
Tenba
amazon.com
$159.95
Staff photographer Michael Simari swears by this messenger bag from Tenba. It provides spots for all of his most prized photography essentials, including his camera and lenses. The Tenba DNA 15 also offers a zipper top for quick access to the bag's contents without having to lift the front flap.
Michael Simari - Car and Driver - 4/10
Think Tank Photo Shape Shifter Backpack
Think Tank
amazon.com
$219.99
Social media specialist Michael Aaron carries this Streetwalker backpack from Think Tank. It helps organize his photo gear, and internal foam barriers keep it safe and snug. He's been carrying this model for quite some time: It has been phased out in favor of a new model that's currently available for sale on Amazon called the Shape Shifter 15 V2.0.
Michael Simari - Car and Driver - 5/10
The Bigger Carry-On
4.9 (2815)
awaytravel.com
$195.00
Lured by the fun colors and the cutting-edge features, assistant online editor Daniel Golson pulled the trigger on this carry-on case from Away and has nothing but good things to say. He says he can pack a ton of clothes inside, which makes it perfect for longer trips, and the pop-up battery pack helps him keep his precious iPhone charged while on the go.
Brad Fick - Car and Driver - 6/10
KeySmart Urban21 Commuter Backpack
KeySmart
amazon.com
$239.99
Although it's a bit on the expensive side for a backpack, this KeySmart Urban21 Commuter bag backs up its price with tons of special features. A hard-shell top pocket protects fragile items, a custom pocket inside perfectly accommodates a Tile GPS tracking square, and there's even a spot that's designed to hold your KeySmart key organizer. The bag easily accommodates one of our 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops with room left over for peripherals, a lunch bag, and a water bottle.
Michael Simari - Car and Driver - 7/10
Bellroy Classic Backpack Plus
Bellroy
amazon.com
For carrying essential items on press trips and overnight comparison tests, we like this voluminous backpack from Bellroy. It features a separate compartment for a MacBook Pro plus a large main compartment that easily holds our other gear, such as driving shoes, snacks, a change of clothes, or photo gear.
Michael Simari - Car and Driver - 8/10
Pelican 1170 Hard Case
Pelican
amazon.com
$49.95
Michael Aaron, our intrepid social media specialist, has been using this Pelican 1170 hard case for the past two years to carry his Moment smartphone camera lenses, his microphone for recording audio, and his work phones while traveling. Its small size easily fits inside a backpack, but the fragile items inside are kept safe inside the hard case with foam holding everything tight.
Brad Fick - Car and Driver - 9/10
Bellroy Leather Travel Wallet
travel
bellroy.com
$169.00
Bellroy wallets are popular around the Car and Driver office: Michael Simari carries his passport in the company's lovely travel wallet,and Drew Dorian uses one of the brand's less expensive Note Sleeve wallets daily. Both are rendered in soft leather and fold up to a slim design that doesn't take up unnecessary room in your pocket.
Michael Simari - Car and Driver - 10/10
Zero Halliburton Zro-20 Carry-on
ZERO Halliburton
amazon.com
We originally got this classic Zero Halliburton suitcase so that our photographers would have something nice to use as a prop for trunk and cargo-area photos, but we've come to appreciate its use as a traveling companion, too. This lightweight design looks almost as fancy as the brand's more expensive aluminum-bodied cases, but at a third of the price. Plus, its TSA-friendly side lock alleviates the worry that thieves will access expensive equipment transported inside.
Chris Doane - Car and Driver
Our staff carries a wide variety of bags while traveling, but we've rounded up a list of what we like the best.
