The Meridian is a hybrid of wheeled luggage and a backpack, easily pulled behind you by its retractable ergonomic handle. The bag has extra-large polyurethane wheels designed with a high clearance, so the wheels won’t annoyingly get stuck on curbs.
Once you’ve pulled the Meridian bag through an airport or hotel lobby and prefer to wear it on your back, it conveniently converts into the kind of backpack that Opsrey is famous for by simply unzipping the padded shoulder straps and hipbelt that are tucked away in the back of the pack.
With most airlines now charging fees to check even one bag, savvy travelers are packing lighter and only taking a carry-on bag.Personally? I can go 5 weeks with a 22″ carry-on. You, however, are likely traveling for a shorter period of time and need only to bring enough for a week max. You’ve got lots of choices these days and one you might consider is the Osprey Meridian Convertible Pack.
Convertible packs are those in which you can swap from roll-aboard to backpack relatively easily – usually by unzipping a pouch in the back, pulling out the arm and waist straps (also known as harness straps) and hoisting it onto your back – like a daybag. While these aren’t for everyone, they definitely have their time and place such as when traveling through a region with lots of stairs (think: Europe) or when you’re having to walk down dirt roads/paths (think: India). Places where you can’t simply pull your bag behind you.
What it is: A 22-inch-long roll-aboard suitcase that doubles as a backpack. It also features a detachable smaller backpack. With that removed, the main bag fits in an overhead airline bin.
How it works: The Meridian is yet another version of an increasingly popular bag: the suitcase that doubles as a backpack. You can roll it through the airport or unzip the back, pull out the straps and wear it on your back through Paris.
The good: Sturdy construction and a solid frame, which includes the large, gripping wheels and a secure, extendable handle. It is comfortable on the back for short periods, even if it initially rode high for me and I had to adjust it into a more agreeable shape. The backpack straps zip up tightly to make this a compact and easy-traveling bag. The detachable day pack includes a padded slot for a laptop. I recently stayed at a remote lodge that required a half-mile hike to the front door. This would have been perfect.
The Osprey Meridian 75 convertible wheeled system is designed for today’s adventurous flashpacker. Sometimes you need both luxury and gritty necessity on your travels and the Meridian gives you these and so much more. Its travel durable fabrics, smooth wheels, and lightweight construction lend you a certain amount of freedom, while you easily glide in and out of the crowds with your wheeled luggage and then promptly switch it to your back to get to your off-the-beaten-path destination.
The Osprey Meridian is built for active travelers who hit the trails instead of the hotel treadmill. Large, smooth-rolling wheels handle bumps easily and negotiate curbs well, while the chassis is strong, light, and rugged while sitting higher off the ground than normal to clear obstacles. The retractable handle is comfortable and locks securely.
A blogger on TravelDealsReview.net raved about the Meridian and Sojourn series, describing them as “fabulous”, “stylish”, and “durable”. To see more, click here.
