Traveling in Style with Topo Designs: A Giveaway!

I’m very particular when it comes to luggage. And that probably explains why I have a whole closet full of luggage in all shapes and sizes, from compact carry-ons to roller bags to snowboard carriers. Though every bag has a purpose, I usually find myself gravitating to the ones that can multitask on my travels….

Linda Ly

Written by Linda Ly

Topo Designs Klettersack

I’m very particular when it comes to luggage. And that probably explains why I have a whole closet full of luggage in all shapes and sizes, from compact carry-ons to roller bags to snowboard carriers.

Though every bag has a purpose, I usually find myself gravitating to the ones that can multitask on my travels. They’re the ones I keep at eye level, within easy reach, and usually have a pocket pre-filled with first aid, business cards, Garden Betty stickers, and other things I always like to have on hand. And one of those bags has so far been getting the most mileage this year: the Klettersack by Topo Designs.

Aside from its retro good looks, the Klettersack is a workhorse. It’s traveled thousands of miles with me since Topo Designs first sent it to me in April: first to El Salvador, where it spent a week on the black sand beach as I surfed… to Point Reyes, where I stuffed it with gadgets for a work trip… to Big Sur, where it hauled all my gear for hikes along the rugged coast… to Sequoia National Park, where it camped amid the graceful giants… and finally, to the top of a granite dome overlooking the Great Western Divide. This unassuming sack got around. It was equally comfortable as a carry-on as it was a daypack.

Gone surfin'

The Klettersack in Big Sur

Hiking with the Klettersack

The Klettersack in Sequoia National Park

The Klettersack overlooking the Great Western Divide

These days, it seems backpacks are outfitted with all kinds of gimmicks: special pockets and loops, hidden compartments and iPod holders, thises and thats. The Klettersack keeps it simple. Inside is a spacious main compartment with a laptop sleeve, and outside you get a zippered top flap and two side pockets.

The Klettersack at Dorst Creek

The Klettersack as a daypack

Klettersack by Topo Designs

Klettersack by Topo Designs

You can store (and find) everything easily with this setup, and the bag is built to last.

Where is it built? In the good old US of A — right in Colorado in fact, in a LEED-certified building with, as they say on their site, an “amazing view of the Rockies.” As an outdoor-oriented company, I like the fact they do all the things their customers do, from hiking and biking to hunting and fishing. They are their own gear testers, so they know what they want, need, and like. And that so happens to be what I want, need, and like… and maybe you, too!

Topo Designs and I are teaming up to give away an awesome Klettersack ($169 value) to one lucky Garden Betty reader. You get your choice of color (mine is silver) and the giveaway is open to US and Canadian fans!

How to enter: Leave a comment below and tell me where you’d take your new Klettersack this summer (I always love finding new destinations for my own travel list!). To receive an additional entry, follow @theGardenBetty on Twitter, and leave a second comment below indicating your Twitter username. You have two chances to win!

The giveaway will end at 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on Friday, June 20, 2014. Winner will be drawn at random and announced the following week. Good luck!

Giveaway Rules

  1. Giveaway begins June 16, 2014 and ends June 20, 2014.
  2. No purchase is necessary. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post.
  3. Only US and Canada residents ages 18 and older are eligible to enter.
  4. Two entries allowed per person.
  5. Odds of winning are based on number of entries received.
  6. Winner will be drawn at random.
  7. If winner does not respond within 48 hours after time of contact, that entry will be forfeited and a new winner will be drawn.

This post is brought to you by Topo Designs. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that support Garden Betty.

Update: A big thanks to everyone who entered!
This giveaway is now closed. The winner is Sarah from Washington.

Linda Ly

I'm a plant lover, passionate road-tripper, and cookbook author whose expert advice and bestselling books have been featured in Time, Outside, HGTV, and Food & Wine. The National Parks Cookbook is my latest book. Garden Betty is where I write about modern homesteading, farm-to-table cooking, and outdoor adventuring—all that encompass a life well-lived outdoors. After all, the secret to a good life is... Read more »

174 Comments

  2. I would take this bag to the beaches of Wellfleet MA, on a hike on portion of the North Country Trail in PA and camping on our baby moon ..yes we are going camping for a babymoon!

  4. It will also be wonderful for travel ing to Chicago this summer when I take my daughter back to college.

  5. My husband and I would like to start taking hiking trips, so this bag would find good use. Our first trip would be to Ohiopyle State Park, and I am sure this bag could hold all the essentials. Thanks for the giveaway!

  6. I will take it to Oxford, England where I will be studying for a few weeks this summer.

  8. My husband and I go on long road trips and keeping the “stuff” to a minimum is a must (exception for food). This bag looks perfect for the right amount of space that I need for belongings.

  9. I grew up in Alaska and went camping all the time, but I’ve never taken my kids. We’re rectifying that this summer, bought a tent and sleeping bags and are starting next weekend. I want to take them on a series of hikes around our area (Washington State) and this bag would be perfect. Thanks!

  11. This backpack would be ideal, if not perfect, for my upcoming honeymoon to Bali. A dear friend once explained to me the necessity of having two bathing suits per day, and I have heeded her advice (partly) and obtained one suit per day for my trip. This backpack can store my lovely suits as well as gear, passport, book and essentials. I would love this bag. thank you!

  17. My Twitter user name is @RachelMilne and I’ve been following you for a while now! 🙂

  18. I would use it as my carry-on bag to visit my parents, since the airline charges for check-on luggage.

  20. I will take it on my first ever canoe-camping trip into Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, this summer.

  21. I would love to take one for a hike to all the waterfalls near where I live, which I have yet to visit!

  22. I would use it as my carry-on bag to visit my parents, since the airline charges for check-on luggage.

  25. I would take it to the backcountry of Yosemite. My 11 year old could carry it for his first backpacking trip! It’s perfect!

  29. I would take with with me on our camping vacation in Maine. It is just the right size!

  31. My wife and I are headed to Italy and Ireland for our anniversary. This would be great fit trekking around the Italian Alps or on the Aran Islands in Ireland. Twitter @kws627

  36. Lovely giveaway! I would take my Klettersack to northern Michigan for some hiking on the dunes.

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