Review and Giveaway: Runnur Mini Backpack

Do you ever feel weighted down with bags just about everywhere you go? You need to carry stuff with you, but purses are for girls, fanny packs are uncool and you can only put so much in your pockets before your pants start falling off. I often carry a small purse on trips - and more often larger ones - but there are so many places we go that I just wish I were hands-free, but still had my essentials. You probably go to many of these places, too: the dog park, the airport, biking, hiking, theme parks, anywhere you have a baby with you... The list goes on and on. This is why I was so thrilled to find the Runnur.  They market it as a mini backpack, but it's way more awesome than any backpack I've ever owned. It's also more comfortable and doesn't give you nasty pre-calculus flashbacks.

Testing out this fancy new gadget was a no-brainer. I like the design for both men and women, because it's so functional and has a simple look. I, personally, wouldn't try to wear it out to a 5-star restaurant, but I can see it working for some men. I chose the Runnur in medium, so Eric and I could both try it on and give thoughts. As you can see, it works much better for me than him. I was happy with the size, but certainly could have gotten a small and had it work, too. If I planned to do a lot of activities like hiking, the small would fit more snugly and been a better choice. Eric is excited to get a Runnur in large before our next trip.

Let's get to why this product is so great and what's going to make you rush to the website to get one. Obviously, the Runnur was designed for runners, right? I suppose you could use it for running, but this convenient sling that fits like a seatbelt was designed for those on-the-go. The nylon strap makes use of every inch of space, with pockets and loops and a carabiner as well as easy velcro and zipper closure. Eric says it’s effortless to wear and thinks it’s pretty cool and manly. I think the pockets are perfect for carrying everything you need, and then some. I packed mine for an on-the-go gadget geek – like with what I would want to take on a plane. Surprisingly, I would not have been able to get the same items into a similarly sized handbag.

How did I get it all in there? It was easy with all the pockets and slots and holders. The Runnur has a great ID card holder, so you don't have to fumble around for it. It also has a built-in wallet with card slots and separate sections for money and receipts, two velcro pockets for electronics, a bigger velcro pocket with a thick front to keep glasses, or any number of other things from getting crushed, a larger zipper pocket that has room for snacks, your camera, change and makeup. This pouch has a nice reflective strip on it for being seen in the dark. You also have a carabiner to hold keys, pen holders and a mesh pouch for your water bottle. Above you can see what I stuffed in there and following you can see where I put them all.

As you can see, your money and your ID are kept right next to you in highly convenient compartments. Carry all your important things in this wallet pocket, like cash, credit cards, gift cards (for anyone who saves them for vacation), your boarding pass and your passport - or you can use the secret pocket on the inside for your passport. Sneaky! Having them right there will eliminate thievery and since you are keeping everything in the Runnur, you can save time emptying your pockets at airport security and just place it right into a bin and put it right back on when you exit. Simple!

These two pockets are great sizes and can easily fit a point and shoot digital camera and my smartphone with case that makes it even fatter than usual. I didn't even have to wrestle it out when I wanted to use it - my favorite part! The nylon fabric makes sure things don't stick and will slide easily in and out.

Like to carry keys or one of those tiny flashlights or even a reusable grocery tote that packs into itself? This carabiner is pretty handy. I will admit that walking around with keys jangling can be sort of annoying, but you certainly won't lose them and will always know where they are. If you'd rather, you can put them in the zippered pouch.

Eric loves taking his DS with him everywhere he goes, and would totally use the Runnur to carry it around. He'd also be able to carry extra games and a spare stylus, but I generally have one puzzle game that I'm playing, so I filled my larger pouch with a healthy snack, pressed powder and tinted lip balm. I don't like to be shiny, hungry or chapped. I also don't like to be thirsty, so this mesh bottle holder is a perfect addition! 

Now, as convenient as I think this would be for travel, it would also be awesome for physical activities. Fill it with a bottle of sports beverage, snacks and first aid supplies. My first thought when I saw the Runnur was that it was amazing for theme park travel. Now, I didn't jump up and down and stand on my head to test out whether or not items would fall out if I did, but the closures are so well made, I wouldn't be worried that they would fail. Leave it on while on rides or put it in the pocket in front of your seat. I like to hold on to my stuff so I don't forget it, so another option is to wear it around your waist during crazy rides and then wear it normally again once you get off. You always want to keep a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated, your camera to capture memories, sunscreen to keep from getting scorched and snacks to hold you over until mealtimes. 

The Runnur is lightweight and foam-filled, to make it comfortable to wear against your body. It also features a non-slip shoulder strap that is contoured to fit your curves. Eric can't wait to get his to wear while out bike riding. I wish I had one over Memorial Weekend when we were hiking the lava cave, because it would have been so much more comfortable than my usual cross-body bag, and I would have had somewhere to put my water bottle. Have I convinced you yet? If not, maybe this video from Runnur will help:

Additional information

Where you can buy it: On the GoRunner website

How much it costs: $39 - and they ship internationally!

Colors it comes it: Canvas, Plum, Black w/ Red Stitching, Silver (the one I have on) and Solid Black.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was provided with a Runnur for the purpose of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

App-Happy Travel 6.9.12

Are you attached to your smartphone? Do you take it everywhere you go? Refer to it before committing to anything? You aren’t alone and your smartphone can only help enhance your travel experience. As long as you’re willing to put it away and actually enjoy your trip by looking around you and not staring at the screen all day, you can use some available apps to help you travel more easily and maybe not plan everything down to the minute (or at least have a back-up plan if you already do that).

There are millions of apps in the world and there are a good percentage of them that are completely useless or, at the very least, not all that all that helpful at even keeping you occupied for more than a few minutes. (Anyone else have that bubble-wrap app?) So, how can you weed out the gazillion travel apps and only download the ones that are useful to you? How about I start you with a list of awesome ones and you can decide if you might need others to supplement? Okay!

One of my favorite apps is ArounderTouch. You can sightsee from your couch! Okay, don’t do that, but it can help you see if an attraction will be something you like and would actually pay money for. It sucks when you get all excited about something and then waste time going there and find out it is really uncool or boring. You can add to the app with your own video taken with your phone or just enjoy the 360 degree interactive views that have already been uploaded.

Do you ever lose someone in a crowd and need to call them to figure out where to meet up? Save your minutes – and roaming fees – with Voxer. It’s not a phone call and it’s not a text. It’s a walkie-talkie app for your phone! Make sure your travel companion(s) downloads it, too, so you can use it and keep track of where everyone is. Perfect for theme parks, cruise ships and even the grocery store.

Going green or want to eat more veggies and healthier? With InBloom find all the nearby restaurants and stores that are vegan, vegetarian, eco-friendly, local food only, raw, gluten-free and more. Yes, you can lower your carbon footprint by visiting earth-friendly establishments, not to mention eat better, too! The app covers New York, Austin, LA, San Francisco and Chicago, with more planned to be added as quickly as possible.

Get healthy! Want to keep up a fitness routine or at least make sure you are expending more energy than you’re putting in your body at all those delicious restaurants and food carts? Don’t get off-track with your diet, just because you’re on vacation. Download MyFitnessPal. Use the app to monitor your progress and make your goal by adding in your current weight, your goal weight and logging your workouts and meals. Perfect for those of us that totally give up regular exercise and food rules when we travel.

Find food you love wherever you are. Use Ness to find nearby eateries based on the cuisine and what you’ve rated before. Sometimes a plan just doesn’t come together and you find yourself nowhere near where you thought and are hungry. Need suggestions for wherever you are? Then this handy app will steer you toward a restaurant that will suit your appetite. The more you use it, the more intuitive it becomes. It syncs with Facebook and Foursquare to give you friend recommendations, too!

Looking for more unique apps to help you travel better? Check out the five I wrote about in my FareCompare post for making your travel time more efficient and less stressful.

Do you have a favorite – or several – travel app? Please share!

Guest Post: How to Have a Great Time in Edinburgh on a Budget

If you're on a budget and want to visit Edinburgh and think it might be an expensive UK city to visit, don't fret, as it is actually an extremely tourist-friendly place with lots and lots of free and cheap things to see and do, which means you can get the full experience of this beautiful city without shelling out too much! If you have never been before and want some tips on what is free to see in the city then the following will be useful to you.

Art

Get your culture fix by visiting one of the many free art galleries throughout Edinburgh. If you enjoy early Renaissance to early 19th century art, then you should visit the Scottish National Gallery. 

If you prefer modern art, then head on over to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Across the road from the Modern Art Gallery you will find the Dean gallery which has a free section to visit too. 

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery has now reopended too and is free to visit and finally the Fruitmarket Gallery beside the train station is free to enter and has a rotating selection of contemporary installations and well worth a visit.

History

Edinburgh is home to many many historic churches and cathedrals and architectural wonders that you can explore for free. Many are centuries old where you can step back in time as you view the splendor of ancient murals and stained glass windows. Head to St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile it is the Mother Church of Presbyterianism and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle. It is free to enter, but a donation is asked if you want to take pictures inside the cathedral. 

If you are a bookworm then the National Library of Scotland just around the corner is a fascinating place to spend a few hours and with free exhibitions too it is well worth a visit.

If writing is your thing, then the Writers Museum on the Royal Mile offers an insight into some of Scotland's best knows authors including Robbie Burns and Robert Louis Stephenson.

And finally, one of my favourite buildings and not mentioned in the guide books are the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland on Charlotte square - possibly one of the most amazing banking halls in the country - just look up to the dome in the ceiling and you will see what I mean!

For the Kids

If you're bringing the kids, the the following is well worth visiting. Want to see a million pounds... Yes? Well the Museum on the Mound is all about the history of money and banking in Scotland and they do have a million pounds that you can see and all this for free! 

If you want an afternoon of history and also lots of cool stuff for the kids to see then head to the Museum of Scotland. Having undergone a recent renovation not only will you be blown away by the inside of the building but the exhibitions are fantastic, too!

Back on the mound, no trip to Edinburgh would be complete without a trip to the Museum of Childhood. Take a trip through the ages and see the evolution of toys and games and is fascinating for adults and kids too!

And finally, if you have had enough of being indoors head to Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens this is a fantastic place for a walk and they have exhibitions for children about plants at the John Hope garden entrance. 

And there we have it, a big selection of free things to visit when you are in Edinburgh!

So, for those of you who like to hang on to your money, there are plenty of things to do in Edinburgh on the cheap. You'll have a rich experience without going broke in the process. 

This article was written by Ross who runs edinburghguide.org.uk and lives in Edinburgh.