Transpack Sidekick Pro

 I have been using a Transpack TRV Pro for the past couple of years and have been very satisfied with the versatility and flexibility of the pack. Over the past few years I have been seeing a lot of backpack boot carriers with the boots exposed on the outside and they have intrigued me. 

This brings me to the Transpack Sidekick Pro. The first thing I noticed in the design was the amount of pockets and how well designed and placed they were. There is a fleece line pocket for goggles that is easily accessed from the top, a side pocket that is perfect for keeping a wallet and keys and also a slot to keep a laptop. What really surprised me is that I took everything from my "packed to the gills" TRV and put it on the Sidekick Pro and I still have space for more stuff!!! Having the helmet on the outside really makes the difference. 

 

I will also add, that the design, compared to the traditional Transpack can be summed up simply.. The Transpack is a bootbag that is you wear on your back, the Sidekick is a backpack that carries your boots. When you put the Sidekick on, you immediately notice the contouring of the bag and how much better it fits your body and how well the weight of bag (even loaded) is distributed on your back. The Adjustable belt and chest strap just add to the comfort of this well designed pack. 

 

External boot and helmet backpack features:

 

• Super Tough 1680 Denier Ballistic Nylon
• Padded Side Ski Boots Holders with Drainage Grommets
• Zippered Helmet Pocket with Expandable Mesh Gusset
• Water Resistant Tarpaulin Bottom
• Closed Cell Foam Padded Back with Wallet Pocket
• Contoured Adjustable Neoprene Shoulder Straps
• Adjustable Waist Belt and Sternum Strap
• 2-Way Zippered Main Compartment with Internal Zippered Pocket
• Padded Laptop Sleeve
• Hydration Compatible
• Mesh Goggle Pocket
• 23L Volume
• Colors: Black (BLK), Navy (NVY) or Red (RED)

 

 

too bad I couldn't get one of those fro this weeks trip. i could combine that and my laptop case into one bag for sure

Phil

 

Have you used this as a carry-on? Or put another way, does it fit in the overhead?

 

Thanks. 

 

That is another one of the reasons I got the pack, it actually is more compact and will fit better in the overhead compared to the original Transpack. 

Phil

 

One more question, then I'm sold. Does the pack do solid job of securing the boots? This may be the one reason I've never tried a pack with the boots exposed. Most seem to do a sloppy job securing the boots. 

I was pretty impressed on how secure the boots stay in, plus they are easy to get in and out. 

Thanks for the info. I'm going to order one and give it a try. 

That looks like a good way to handle boots and other accessories when flying. I need to do something different. US Air last year ripped the wheels off a really nice Atomic bag I use. I pack this bag to about 47-48 lbs. when travelling and its heavy lugging it without wheels, a ski tube, and a back pack. Plus you have your boots when carrying on eliminating the anxiety at the baggage carousel hoping your bag made it.

 

Out at SLC a couple of weeks ago renting at Budget, it seemed like a qt. mile before we got to the cars!

 

I need to save some energy for the skiing and not be wasted by the time I get to the rental car!

I;ve been using the trans pro for about 4 years now and find it great for overhead space but when yuo have to get on the small Embraire or CRJ's, you have to take the boots out to fit. No big deal but with this model I should be able to leave the computer bag at home. That's huge.

I want one :D It looks compact enough & has the features that I want.

 

Now, the tough quesiton - any idea where in Ontario Canada I can get one of these?

 

thanks!

Looks like it might be easier to rig up a way to carry skis on this than to take a skiing pack and rig up a way to carry boots.  (Thinking in case I ever do get around to doing Tuckerman.)

 

Thanks for the info Phil, I just popped for one.
 

 We have these in stock if anyone wants one. 

I got one from Phil, I find the Sidekick to be even better than the tradtional design. My netbook fits perfectly alog with boots and geart. No need for computer bag and without the boots attached, it makes a nice general use packpack good for travel in general. when traveling to Chile, I had boots,goggles, shell, rpk pants and my netbook all in the sidekick. It fit in the overhead just fine.. You just have to ut it in the overhead top/front first so the soles are facing you.

 Finn;

Could you use it as a ski pack as well? Do the boot pockets tuck inn?

Any room for a hydration bladder?

Hmmm... looks like wet liners if it's snowing hard when you walk to the lodge!  Or if you get some slough off the roofs...

Agreed, when I looked at it I thought it should have been designed so that it carries the boots up side down with the soles facing up.

 It also seems like the dork factor is 2x the regular Transpack.

I've had one for a year and still have not tried it yet. It is in plastic in my garage.

My reg Transpack seems hard to beat.
(Old habits are hard to break)

Great idea!

For me with my Dobies, I need the Hot Gear bag, anyway, but I just couldn't see using this for those reasons.

 I pretty sensitive to the dork factor and don't see this being particularly geekish. I mean its not like its a neon orange "ski tote" or supertight stretch pants  That is dorkish.  Guess its all subjective any way.

 I still have my TVR Pro and that will probably be my bag of choice during my Northeast adventures where I want to keep my boots away from the elements. I like this back for my log distance travel, it is more comfortable for wearing for extended times and fits in the overhead compartment much better than the TP Pro along with protecting my Macbook better. As far as snow getting in the liners, there is a model above this one that has booties to go over the liners, but I just stuff my extra gloves in them. 

yeah, i dont use the trans sidekick for anything but when i'm travelng on planes. dork factor? never thought it looked dorky at all, it works who cares? I dont use it as a backpack but you could. yes, it has hydration ad pc sleeve with padding. the pc sleeve is what i like about it.

Forgot to add. I hate fiddling with the tvr pro to make it fit in the overhead.  Not to mention I sometimes get nasty looks from the waitresses with the everlooming threat that they will coop it b/c its too big and must be checked.  Its great otherwise for dumping all my kids stuff for day trips.  Pick your preference. Like skis, guess you cant have it all

i have never had an issue and I fly with them a lot. just put the pack in top first with the soles facing you, toes up. You just splay the toes out. On small jets like embrares or CRJ's, I take the boots out, put them in first, them stuff the pack in on top of the boots. This is a safe, proven system, last year I was no less than 12 flights and never had an issue.  As a note I pack my helmet in my duffle.

Gotcha. That seems a good plan and it makes sense to use this for travel rather than day skiing.

SSH,  does the hot gear bag make much difference?. Do you keep the liners in or out of the shell in the bag?   I usually leave mine in the passenger footwell under the heater or put the 12 volt heaters in. (I am only a 10-15 min drive to the hill)  This worked great with my old dobies because I didn't take the liners out to put them on but with the aggressors I need to put the liner on first then put into the shell so may need to rethink my approach. 

WAITRESSES???? Wow, that'd go over big if someone actually called 'em that.

yeah, they love that! 

Paul Westerberg of the Replacements wrote a great song called "waitress in the sky" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjXQ0tpBp2g&feature=related
he obviously had a bad in-flight experience.....

LOL- was just about to post the exact same response.  You beat me to it finndog. If you dont own this  and like music go out and buy it....great stuff.

T'was in retrospect a bit harsh to use that term as i generally think that most airline employees, including the pilots, are overworked underpaid, have to deal with aggressive customers and are at the mercy of having thier employer go bankrupt (again) and or losing their benefits.

but when i get that scowl with the overhead.....

One the most under-rated bands ever!  I have all the replacement and most of Paul Westerbergs stuff