Actually, your advice is perfect! I’m also 5’4” with narrow shoulders. I’m not a backpacker either. I used to enjoy short hikes (on groomed trails)but an injury earlier this year resulted in Achilles tendinitis that has also left me with mobility issues. Walking uphill is the thing that aggravates it the most. 😞 I’ve recently started physio, so hopefully that will resolve the issue. (If anyone is curious I use a (Gonex 20L Ultra lightweight for short day hikes.)
My potential use case for the Decathlon would be as a travel bag to/from the airport, on planes, trains, buses, and taxis and sometimes a bit of walking to/from accommodations. I carry a small lightweight crossbody purse as my EDC when we’re out & about exploring a city. My husband is kind enough to carry my rain jacket and water bottle in his EDC backpack.
Comfort is also crucial to me. I own a Kathmandu Litehaul 38L which I purchased while travelling in NZ. It’s a very comfortable carry but it’s a bit too tall to fit under the seat. I’ve been looking for a smaller onebag but online shopping is my only option. It’s impossible to determine comfort so I have to rely on reviews. Your feedback is much appreciated. 🙏
I live in a pretty hilly area so eBikes have helped with tackling those. With the Onyx I don't need to worry about speed, I just ride with regular traffic. I've only gotten it up to 55 MPH but that's been more than plenty for the areas I ride. I wouldn't be comfortable riding on a 65 MPH freeway.
Recently I started to wear a neon orange and yellow reflective vest because I want to be seen as much as possible when riding. It's worked out really well. The only issue I've had is limited storage so I'll probably try getting some pannier bags for the back and maybe a basket. For the time being I have a regular spare empty backpack I wear and I keep one of these folded up as an extra spare which I could wear on my front if the regular backpack doesn't suffice during a shopping trip.
I'm probably not as aggressively light as you, and this is probably too big for your needs, but I also carry one under-seat carryon and no overhead, and I use a Gonex packable backpack -- It really doesn't take up much space at all when I'm not using it, but it's bailed me out of so many situations where I end up having to carry around a little extra stuff for part of a day. Picking up some snacks or wine to bring to a friend, carrying my electronics on the plane separately from the main bag, etc. Just having that additional capacity that I can use for precisely as long as I need it in a nice light bag is really helpful.
I have the smaller Farpoint but I do bring a gonex packable daypack when I travel with it and it has served me incredibly well
It’s just a lightweight, cheap $15 backpack on Amazon. Not sure how it’ll hold up long term, but it did great on a recent month long trip around Mexico. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P8UE620?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
---|---|---|---|
Gonex Ultralight Handy Travel Backpack Packable D… | $14.98 | $14.98 | 4.5/5.0 |
^Item Info | Bot Info | Trigger
There’s a Shell gas station across from Mandalay Bay and that is a much more convenient option in relation to Luxor. Even though it’s about the same distance from the CVS next to Park MGM, the walk is much easier to the Shell gas station since you don’t have to deal with all the crowds + the annoying bridge and the escalators when crossing from Excalibur to NYNY.
Plus there’s also a liquor store next door to the McDonald’s so you might be able to find water there as well, and booze if you’re into that.
ProTip: bring a small daypack with you if possible. It beats having to carry grocery store bags all the way back to your room. I have one of these that I use specifically for my water/booze runs.
Also, you might just want to consider taking an Uber/Lyft to the gas station since it’s dirt cheap. Most drivers won’t have a problem waiting on you while you run inside to buy stuff.
OR… you can also use Instacart or Postmates to deliver water/booze/snacks directly to your hotel. It’ll cost a little extra but it’ll save you precious time and energy that you’ll want to reserve for the insane amount of walking you’ll be doing while touring the strip and the casinos. Those big lights and signs are very, very deceptive. Soon you’ll learn that everything in Vegas always looks much closer than it actually is is.
More ProTips:
Ask for a room close to the elevator. Those hallways are treacherously long after a long day of walking. Plus the ice machines tend to be close to the elevators at most hotels.
Bring plenty of cash. Especially if you’re wanting to do some gambling. But also because you’ll want to have cash for tipping service workers throughout the day. ATMs are a total rip off in the casinos.
Bring the most comfortable shoes you own. Like, seriously.
Best of luck!
Please don’t go to the Walgreens or CVS stores. The nearest one to you, as someone else mentioned, is next to Park MGM. Even with trams, that is one hell of a trek. Like, seriously. Especially if you’re planning on hauling a bunch of water bottles back Luxor. It’s not worth it.
There’s a [https://goo.gl/maps/moNjQy2qzjkNokG77) across from Mandalay Bay and that is a much more convenient option. It looks like there’s also a liquor store next door to the McDonald’s so you might be able to find water there as well.
ProTip: bring a small daypack with you if possible. It beats having to carry a grocery store bags all the way back to your room. I have one of these that I use specifically for my water/booze runs.
Also, you might want to consider using a service like Postmates or Instacart and have whatever you need delivered right to your hotel. It’ll cost a little more but well worth the convenience.
Best of luck!
I use this cheap Gonex. Works really well.