As a frequent, frugal traveler who packs efficiently and never checks a bag, making the best use of my personal item is critical. I’ll even take multiday trips with only a personal item, packing work gear, shoes, and multiple days’ worth of clothing into one day pack.
For the past two years, that pack has been the Gregory Rhune 25. I initially used this as a commuter pack and my go bag for movie sets, but the organization, wide-mouth opening, and deceptively large capacity make it my preferred personal item for air travel as well.
I used this pack as my only luggage item for a four-day trip to the East Coast last fall, and while I was there it pulled triple duty as my luggage, a commuter bag, and a hiking pack in the White Mountains. I packed my laptop, notebook, sandals, running shoes, rain jacket, jumpsuit, two pairs of leggings, two pairs of shorts, several shirts, toiletries, socks, undergarments, five pairs of headphones (over-ear, noise-canceling earbuds, white-noise only, corded for the plane, and AirPods for Zoom calls), and snacks, then stashed my water bottle in the stretchy side pocket.
The pack fits under the seat of every airline I’ve flown (even Spirit!), and the round top lid unzips to the main compartment, which means I can access everything without dragging it out from under the seat. It has a dedicated laptop sleeve, multiple hidden zippered pockets for securing items while traveling, interior mesh pockets for small items (I use them for cards and my passport), and the top lid has its own zippered pocket where I keep sunglasses, charging cables, and a handful of small items.
The Rhune’s structured base combined with a rounded body are what make it feel so roomy — there is no wasted space. The base lets the pack stand up on its own, and I can tuck small articles of clothing or other squishy items into the bottom edges. The rounded body maximizes capacity better than packs with narrower designs or angled edges, allowing me to put bulkier items into the main compartment without wasted space at the corners.
Gregory specializes in outdoor-oriented day packs and backpacking packs, so the Rhune 25 is designed to carry weight comfortably, and I’ve carried it for 15-mile hikes and plenty of bike-commuting around town. It’s also extremely durable — I’ve used this pack pretty much every day for two years, and the outer fabric shows almost no sign of wear. The zippers are easy to slide, and the shoulder straps are ergonomic and well padded. Despite having tested dozens of packs in my decade as a gear-tester, I can’t imagine a pack taking the place of this one for my everyday bag and go-to personal item.
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