While travelling, do you realise everything you need in life can actually fit in one backpack?
That is incredibly true for me, especially on trips where I want to save on baggage fees and channel all my travel funds to gastronomical experiences instead! Who’s with me?
Even though I try to be as pragmatic as possible when I travel, form is still as important as function to me. But when it comes to backpacks, these two seem to be mutually exclusive.
Well, that was until I was e-introduced to Swedish backpack extraordinaire, Gaston Luga! Delighted to make your acquaintance!
A quick glance at their page and I was immediately falling head over heels with their classy Scandinavian minimalist style. Finally, a backpack company that cares about their products’ look and purpose.
The birth of the brand was spurred by their founder, Carl Sundqvist’s meeting with an interesting Frenchman who exuded both elegance and effortless style. Carl’s new friend told him that he believed a backpack is the optimal companion when discovering the world so he’d modified his own Louis Vuitton bag to make it more personal, functional and unique.
This certainly inspired Carl a great deal and he decided to create his own backpack brand that embodies all these qualities that his friend, Gaston deemed important. He ditched the big fluffy shoulder pads, plastic materials and thin fabric and replaced them with classy yet strong sleek shoulder straps and canvas, embellished with tasteful metal details.
And aptly named it after Gaston Luga, his muse for the brand.
Carl’s vision was to make a line with Scandinavian minimalism and elegance to suit all different occasions. To be honest, I thought he did a very good job as my freshly delivered Gaston Luga bag looks even better in real life! Scroll down to check out my new go-to companion for work and play.
CLÄSSY – BLACK
There were four collections namely the Clässic, Clässy, Pråper and Mästaren. I was immediately drawn to their Clässy collection as they look very stylish and sophisticated, exemplifying all the qualities Mr Gaston Luga himself was going for. I thought the sleek leather straps and minimalist look would totally complement all my outfits.
My only concern was the thin straps. I wasn’t sure if they could hold the weight of my essentials as I usually pack like I’m ready for the end of the world. Haha! Think laptop, lunch box, water bottle, planners, my big bag of meds (enough to open a mini pharmacy) and makeup. Haha!
You’ll be happy to know that this concern was totally unfounded as I’ve been using it for a few days and the straps haven’t given way. They are still as firmly attached as ever. Phew!
The fact that they are adjustable just makes it even better! On days where I’m carrying a heavier load, I can adjust it higher to distribute the weight more evenly and ultimately, reduce body strain.
You’ll also be happy to know that all Gaston Luga bags are made with vegan leather for better durability and their water resistant properties. They are also lined with a soft luxurious cotton fabric that totally ups the glam factor tenfold.
Look inside and you’ll see a 13″ laptop compartment and two smaller pockets for your smaller belongings. I use the pockets for my mouse and earphones. I reserve the rest of the space for my everyday kits and essentials.
Shh…
You know what they say – the greatest secrets are always hidden in the mostly unlikely places.
On the back of the backpack, you’ll find an obscured compartment that’s perfect for holding your passport, travel documents or other small belongings that need to be kept safe yet easily accessible.
All in all, I’m very happy with my Gaston Luga bag. Even though the backpack is a little north of my price range (it is priced at SGD249), every feature on the bag is both fancy and functional. Many times I thought the magnetic strap closure was going to snap open as I was carrying so much stuff. Of course, just as many times, it didn’t fail to impress me with its durability.
Do you know that backpacks are actually friendlier for our backs? This is because the weight is more evenly distributed across the body when worn properly using both shoulder straps. So these days, I’ve also been using my backpack more than my usual sling bags and purses.
I can definitely picture myself adding to my Gaston Luga backpack collection in future. These backpacks will also be timely for my husband who will be embarking on his medical house call business venture soon. More about that in future! Haha!
Finally, thank you Gaston Luga for your generous sponsorship!
I’ll be back!
Psst!
Fancy my little travel companion by Gaston Luga too? Quote “ilovebunny15” for a whopping 15% off when you purchase from gastonluga.com. 😉
The code also entitles you to free shipping and 20% off as tax rebate (from a non-EU country).
I hope you find my review useful. What do you look for in a backpack? Let me know by commenting below!
Your friend, Juliana
Disclaimer: Please rest assured that even though this post was created in partnership
with Gaston Luga, it does not have any bearing on the content of this post.
Opinions stated are objective and genuine. Also note that all sources, information,
content, links are valid to change at any time.
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