Review: Travelon Convertible Crossbody Duffel

When I travel, it can be difficult to pack light while also bringing the right bags for my trip that can accommodate what I’m bringing with me and what I will probably be bringing back. Generally, on vacation, I like to do a bit of shopping. My souvenirs are minimal, but I find travel the perfect time to find unusual and fun gifts for birthdays and the holidays. I often bring an extra bag with me for my purchases, but the problem with that is that it takes up space in my bag that I need for clothes.

Travelon has solved my problem with the Convertible Crossbody Duffel. It comes in all the newest colors and it’s totally innovative, because it’s two bags in one. When you start your trip, you can use it as a regular crossbody bag, which is perfect, because Eric and I take two personal items on the plane with us for things we want to have convenient and which fit under the seat. The Convertible Crossbody Duffel is just the right size for your books, Kindle, iPad mini and has pockets to keep things organized. Put your card games, snacks and other items in it, then toss the stuff in your pockets into it when going through security, so you don’t have to use one of those bins for stuff like your wallet, keys and change that you probably don’t want other people to have such easy access to.

Just FYI, Eric could have made the strap longer for him and I could have made it shorter for me, but we liked to carry it different ways. 

The padded strap adjusts to anyone’s frame to make it comfortable for them to carry. I used it as a day bag on several days of the trip, because it was fun colored and lightweight, but had enough room to carry everything I needed, including a cardigan that I brought just in case it got chilly. I like that it also has swivel clips, so the strap can never get all snarled and tangled from clipping it on the wrong way.

In the small space of our Airstream camper, we used the bag as a laundry bag, because it was easy to place anywhere.

Once we started purchasing things to bring home, we employed this bag's second feature. The back of the bag unzips all the way around and folds out to a duffel size bag. Not only that, but you don’t have to take anything out of the bag in order to make it full-size. Now you have a second carry-on to bring back with you that has a fairly large capacity and can rest on the top of your wheeled bag, plus you don’t have to spend extra money to check it at the gate. As you can see, the strap clips to two new rings that are revealed when the bag is expanded to evenly distribute the weight and make it into a real duffel. Surprisingly, the lightweight fabric doesn't make the bag bulky in crossbody mode. The duffel part folds into the zipper compartment effortlessly and pretty much is undetectable. 

One of the cool things about this bag is that even though you are using the bag for a new purpose on your way back from your trip, it can still hold the original items without compromising space, because the crossbody part of the bag is still there as an extra section to your duffel. It’s also nice to be able to keep your snacks or whatever else you’ve brought separate from your dirty clothes and you don’t have to open the main bag and dig for things that would inevitably end up at the bottom.

As sturdy as this bag is, I wouldn’t suggest loading it up with heavy items, because it is nylon (though ripstop) and doesn’t have a structured bottom. Even so, we put this bag to the test and filled it with a mixture of clothing, food items and souvenirs. It was fairly weighted down on the trip back home, but I wouldn’t do this on a regular basis, nor would I check the bag, since it fits easily in the overhead. If not totally full, it would still fit under the seat.

You can feel free to take this bag with you everywhere. Though it’s nylon, it is stain and water resistant, so whether you get caught in a rainstorm or go to the beach, you don’t have to worry about your stuff getting all wet and soggy.

I’d also like to call some attention to the zippers of the Convertible Crossbody Duffel, because they have nice ergonomic zipper pulls which helps to give the bag a cute sporty look. The bag is quite good for both men and women, as it’s not girly and comes in colors that are appealing to everyone. I see us using this bag often on our future trips and even around town, simply because it's cute and versatile. Even if we decide to pack the bag to use at our destination, it doesn't take up much room. 

The only thing that would make this bag better is if it had a bottle holder, though that might compromise the structural integrity of it. Even without one, it is a fantastic bag for traveling, overnight trips and even everyday use, like going to the gym. Because it is dual-use, we ended up getting a lot more use out of it than expected. Also, the price-point makes it a wonderful gift, as it's pretty budget-friendly, and your recipient probably has never seen a bag with this kind of innovation.

More information

Size: 9.25 x 11 x 4 , Duffel Bag: 24 x 11 x 9.25 

Colors it comes in: black | lime | teal (shown) | pink berry

How much is it?: $45.00

Where you can buy it: Travelon website

Other specs: 190T ripstop nylon

Like Travelon? You can also find them on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Stay tuned for two other great bags from Travelon that I tested out on my trip. 

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Convertible Crossbody Duffel for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

I Stayed in an Airstream Trailer and It Was Awesome

It's true. We were on the East Coast a few weeks ago and on our Washington, DC portion of our trip, we scoured Airbnb for affordable places to stay. We found a place that offered everything we were looking for (kitchen, WiFi & TV) in Arlington, it just happened to be an Airstream Trailer in someone's backyard. Now, I have touted my love of Airbnb before, and I recommend it highly. Not only can you save quite a bit of money over traditional hotels and even vacation rentals, but you feel more like a local and you usually have a kitchen to make meals and sometimes laundry facilities.

Now, staying in a trailer in someone's backyard may not sound like much fun to you, but I thought it was awesome. I have always wanted an Airstream of my own and now I definitely do. I found it small enough to feel cozy, but large enough for the two of us to feel comfortable. The bed was surprisingly comfortable and actually better than the one we slept in when we stayed in a timeshare accommodation in Williamsburg. The shower was a bit of a squeeze, but bigger than you would think. 

If you ever feel at home in an airplane bathroom and kind of want to build a similar one at home with a bit more functionality, an Airstream has you covered. Every space is usable, with hooks, towel racks or storage everywhere. I felt right at home, and our hosts couldn't be nicer. We were in a fantastic neighborhood that was quiet and close to a ton of ethnic restaurants. 

Meaza'a Ethiopian Cuisine - totally worth a visit

On the advice of our renter, we drove up the street to an Ethiopian restaurant. I had never had Ethiopian food before, except at a food cart festival, but I was quite surprised by how good it was. It was probably a good indication of the cuisine quality that we were two of only four white diners. I feel like if an ethnic restaurant is packed with people of that ethnicity, it probably means it's pretty authentic. 

Anyway, back to our trailer and our adventure in glamping: We used the tiny, but efficient kitchen to make breakfasts (including coffee) and to store our groceries. The couch was super comfortable and a great place to use our phones while they were charging. I was amazed that even the Airstream had more outlets than a standard hotel room. There was another convenient outlet under the table, perfect for plugging in our laptop while in use, and ones next to the bed and built-in shelves to place your items while they were plugged in overnight. 

I was even able to test out the outlet in the bathroom where I used my flat iron to try to make myself look presentable for the day. While it doesn't seem like there was much counter space, it was more than enough for our toothbrushes and other necessary toiletries. Everything else stayed in our toiletry bag, which I hung on a towel bar, so it was out of the way, but also really accessible. 

So, would I do it again? I certainly would! If you would like to stay in an Airstream in Arlington, too, you can request it on our host's Airbnb page. And if you want to try Airbnb and get $25 off your stay, sign up here for free.

Have you ever stayed in on offbeat vacation rental or want to give a shout out to a great Airbnb host?

Prepare for Life's Unexpected Turns

Insurance is boring...and choosing the right benefits can be confusing. Unfortunately, this makes actually signing up and picking the right benefits for you and your family seem very daunting, so some of us just don't do it. Those of us that do may not be spending enough time and effort on it. Did you know that nearly half of millennials spent 30 minutes or less preparing for and selecting their benefits in 2013. I know we're all pressed for time, and probably planning your next vacation seems a lot more fun, but if an unexpected medical emergency happens, you aren't going to be going on that trip, because you're going to be emptying your pockets to pay for that instead. Ouch, right?

Many of us aren't prepared for medical bills - and those can be super expensive - and are living on a tight budget the way it is. Aflac knows that. In fact, studies show that 35% of millennials have $500 or less to spend on emergency medical, which probably won't go that far in reality. Maybe you had that cushion and had to spend it on some other emergency, like taking the car in for that wonky noise it's been making or having to replace your broken hot water heater. Being a parent and/or homeowner is a seemingly neverending parade of bills. With Aflac, you can be more prepared for the curve balls life throws at you.

As a young person trying to get your life together, make ends meet and still be able to work some fun into your life may be difficult to figure out how to do. You're probably already spending most of your paycheck on student loans, credit cards, and other regular bills, so cramming in another large bill, like an unexpected medical bill, might be an impossibility. Paying late or not at all can negatively affect your credit score, making it really hard to get credit for things you need like a mortgage or a car loan. In fact, 15 percent of millennials said high medical bills had negatively affected their credit scores, and 16 percent said they’d been contacted by collection agencies about outstanding medical bills. Some of us are just One Emergency Away from Financial Disaster, and that's something to think about.

Life isn't always sunny and perfect.

As a freelance writer, it's clearly important to me to know what my bills will be every month, as my income can fluctuate. Having something like a large medical bill can really ruin my day, because where is the money to pay that going to come from? Luckily, my husband has a great job and we could make it work, but many people aren't in our same situation. Though a third of us feel like we're more prepared for our medical open enrollment this year than last, that still means over 65% of us are still confused by it all. Want to avoid the devastation of a hefty hospital bill on your already tight budget? Then you need to invest in your health. What can you do to be more prepared this year?

• Think of health insurance premiums as a monthly budget essential like rent, rather than a discretionary expense, like entertainment. My motto has always been to expect the best, but plan for the worst. I'd rather pay for insurance I don't have to use than need insurance and not have it. Wouldn't you?
• Educate yourself about how your insurance deductible works. Choosing a plan with a low monthly premium and a high deductible may give you more money in your paycheck, but could also result in unaffordable payments if you need medical care beyond covered preventive services. This is one of the most difficult things to figure out when you're already on a tight budget, but a lower deductible is always a good thing when an accident happens, especially when you have kids and those accidents seem to happen more often.
• If your company offers a health savings account as part of a high deductible health plan, contribute as much as the plan allows so you’ll have money set aside to help meet the deductible and other payments. These accounts are generally pre-tax, which means your contribution goes further and you might not notice the hit to your paycheck quite as much.
• Consider adding voluntary insurance products for more financial protection. Accident and Critical Illness plans work hand-in-hand with major medical plans, providing benefits to help policyholders with health-related costs their primary insurance may not cover. Those policies can also be used to help with out-of-pocket costs and other expenses that continue to roll in even if you’re too ill or injured to work.

Continue exploring new frontiers by being prepared and not dipping into your travel budget when you don't have to.

Maybe you don't feel like adding an extra insurance product to your medical package is something you can easily pay for, but with Aflac, the younger you are, the lower your premiums will be. As a freelance writer, I'm lucky to be able to work from anywhere, so if I break my leg, I can still write; however, many are not in my same position. Even stay-at-home parents don't have the same luxury, because who will take care of their little ones if they're incapacitated or have limited mobility? Having the option of getting in a little more help would be invaluable, wouldn't it? If you're auto-enrolling each year without really looking at your benefits, it's time to change that. your life doesn't stay the same year after year, which means your benefits could use a thorough once-over to make sure they are still right for where you are in life.

In 2014, Fortune magazine included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 13th time, ranking the company number one in the life and health insurance category. They have a presence in all 50 states, in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and the company is also the number one life insurance company in terms of the number of individual policies in Japan. The offer accident, dental, life, vision, cancer, hospital intensive care and more voluntary insurance policies. So, wherever you live and whatever extra coverage you need, there is a plan that'll work for you.

When's the last time you really looked at your benefits? Or when was the last time you needed coverage you didn't have?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.