Today, we have a story from a teenage guest blogger, Meghan Barrett, sharing a SailorBags story:

            I got my first SailorBags backpack in the spring of 2010, before I went on a three week trip to Spain, France, Monaco, and Italy with the organization People to People. It was to be my strong, durable carry-on bag for the trip. I remember beginning to pack my bag – I knew I had a twenty pound limit for my carry on but I assumed that the bag probably wouldn’t hold that much anyway. The bag easily held eighteen pounds of clothing, books (I am always reading), speakers, and other ‘necessities’ for my trip. To my absolute amazement, there was still room in my bag after I’d gotten to the weight limit – the bag didn’t look that big, but it sure held a lot of stuff!!!

            The bag kept up great throughout my entire trip – it didn’t rip or tear, and at one point when we accidentally left our bags in a dip in the ground and it rained, creating a puddle, my stuff was the only stuff that didn’t get completely soaked. I was very grateful I picked a SailorBag, whose wide, cushioned straps made it comfortable to carry for long periods of time (we walked a lot). My SailorBags backpack also made for a very handy pillow during some of our lengthy bus rides.

            When I came home from my trip, I had enough extra room to pack all of my souvenirs in my backpack, too. I unpacked my bag, and it returned to its normal size – flat enough to be easily stored in the back of my rather full closet. As summer came to an end and school started I began looking for a new backpack - I went back to my closet for my SailorBag. Comfortable, even when carrying heavy things (like textbooks), with a lot of space and easy-to-access mesh side pockets to carry pens, keys, lip gloss, and a water bottle… I couldn’t really think of a better choice. And, being white, it was truly a standout backpack.

            I am now a senior in high school, using my SailorBags backpack for my second year in a row. It’s perfectly sized to fit all of my larger textbooks, which I put in the huge back pocket, my papers and folders which I put in the middle pocket, and all of my smaller items – pens, pencils, erasers, wallet, etc in the front pocket. It’s comfortable, despite years of wear, and unlike the one-shoulder bags I used to carry, doesn’t strain one side of my body because the weight is evenly distributed. I don’t have to worry about setting my backpack on the ground when the floor is wet if it’s been raining or snowing because I know my reliable SailorBag will keep all my important school stuff dry. It’s held up well for the past two years despite all the rough use, and its unusual material makes for a great conversation starter – especially among those who love to sail!

            My backpack and I are going to college together in the fall –  of the different styles of bags I own, it is by far my favorite. I’m really in love with it, if you can’t tell, and have recommended SailorBags to my friends – even those who don’t sail!