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You''re probably asking yourself these same questions right now. Buying luggage is a big decision. Especially when you''re buying online.

We want you to be 100% certain?that a Tortuga is the right bag for you. So we created the Tortuga?Home Try-On Program.?

Here''s how it works.

1. Try it at home. Trying on a backpack at home is better than at a store. You can take your time and won't be rushed by a store employee hanging around waiting for you to make a decision.
2. Do a test pack. Load up your bag?with your own stuff?that you''d bring on a trip. Walk around your house to see how comfortable it feels.
3. Get the perfect fit. Adjust your bag for the right fit. You''ll know you''ve got it when you don''t feel the bag''s weight on your shoulders. Your backpack''s hip belt will shift 80% of your pack''s weight from your shoulders to your hips. This reduces the burden on your shoulders and lets your stronger leg muscles do the work.

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Tortuga is a small business.?We live and die by our reputation.

If your Tortuga isn't?more comfortable?and?more organized?than your old luggage, send it back.

Return your bag-unused-within 30 days of your purchase for a full refund.

• Full refund.
• Free return shipping.
• No restocking or handling fees.

That's our?30-Day, Risk-Free, Home Try-On Program.

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Most travelers start out with the wrong luggage.

But why??

Suitcases are the default. People assume they should bring a suitcase, regardless of where they're going.

Young travelers and adventurers see themselves as "backpackers," so they carry. backpacks.?

But those are hiking backpacks, not travel backpacks. They're a disorganized mess. I know-that''s?what I carried on my first trip outside of North America in 2009.

Suitcases and hiking backpacks are both wrong.

The ideal luggage for city travel is a travel backpack.

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A travel backpack has three key features:

1. Carry-on-sized. Traveling with just a carry-on and no checked luggage will make your travels easier.?You don't need the cost or hassle of checking a bag.
2. Opens from the front, like a suitcase. Keep your stuff organized and within reach. Your bag should open to the side-like a book-not downward, so that it's easy to pack on a bed or a luggage rack.
3. Comfortable to carry like a hiking backpack. A good suspension system with a hip belt will transfer 80% of your bag's weight from your shoulders to your hips. That way you can carry your bag with your stronger leg muscles, not your weaker shoulders.

We started Tortuga in 2010 to create the ultimate travel backpack. You can learn more about our bags, see photos, and watch videos for each product on our website.

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A good capsule wardrobe will form the core of your packing list no matter where you're going or when. Add or subtract clothes from your capsule wardrobe for specific trips.

Many of our customers buy a Tortuga backpack before a big trip. That trip might be weeks or even months long and cross multiple countries and climates.

Long trips can be the most difficult to pack for. How do you fit your winter clothes, summer clothes, and everything in between into one carry on? We''re here to help.?

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Start here?==>?How to Pack for a Trip to Everywhere and Anywhere

Then read the individual packing lists for?cold weather,?warm weather, or?rain.?

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Different destinations will require different items too. Our customers' favorite region is Europe. Start with our?Europe packing list?and?style guide. Their favorite destination within Europe is?Italy. Outside of Europe, it's?Thailand.

To find a packing list for your next destination,?search our site?or reply to this email.

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Happy travels,

Fred and the Tortuga Team

Welcome to Team Tortuga.

Our story started on a backpacking trip to Europe in 2009. We-Fred and Jeremy, the co-founders of Tortuga-learned what a hassle it was to travel with the wrong gear.

I (Fred) had that big, cylindrical bag that every "backpacker" carries. But those are hiking bags. They don't work for travel. Every time I needed something from my bag, I had to dump everything out and repack the bag.?

On the first day of our trip, the shoulder strap ripped off of Jeremy's bag. He had to carry it-painfully-on one shoulder for the next two weeks.

The trip was a blast, but our luggage was a disaster. Despite weeks of research, we couldn't find the perfect travel backpack.

So we made it.

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Our goal was to make travel easier.? We needed the right gear for city travel.

My hiking bag?was big, disorganized, and hard to pack.

A suitcase wasn't right either. Suitcases can't handle cobblestone streets, dirt roads, or flights of stairs. They aren't built for the kinds of trips we were taking.

In 2010, we started Tortuga to solve this problem. We created the travel backpack: a carry-on-sized backpack designed for city travel.?

A travel backpack is as organized as a suitcase and as comfortable as a hiking backpack.?

For the past decade, we've been designing gear for travelers like you.?

Today, Tortuga is a small team of 12 who work remotely and live all over the world.?

Our products are designed for travelers, by travelers.

If you've experienced the shortcomings of suitcases or hiking packs on your city travels, check out our travel backpacks for a better solution on your next trip.

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Happy travels,

Fred and the Tortuga Team

By now, you know the ideas behind packing light.?

In this email, we'll share the airlines' rules and how to pack to take advantage of those rules. We'll even tell you if you should roll or fold your clothes.

Let''s get started.

Before you can perfect your packing, you have to know the rules. Airlines are getting stricter with their rules and charging you more money for breaking those rules.?

Learn?the rules for carry on luggage and personal items.

One of the most common questions travelers ask us is: Is a backpack a personal item??

European airlines?often allow smaller luggage?than American airlines. Always check your airline's rules before traveling.

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We started Tortuga to make travel easier. We believe that a backpack is the ideal luggage for city travel.

Because you wear a backpack, it must be comfortable. A comfortable backpack should have a hip belt to make carrying easier.

Once you have the right bag, you have to pack it correctly.

Yes, there is a right way to pack.

You have to pack your heaviest stuff-like a computer or shoes-in the right spot. Learn how to pack a backpack for travel and check out our visual guide to packing for more detailed instructions.

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Finally, we'll address the age old debate:?Should you fold or roll your clothes?

I hope this email is helpful in getting you ready to travel in just a carry on.

In the next email, we'll share with you the best clothes for travel. Plus, you'll find out why travelers are obsessed with merino wool.

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Happy travels,

Fred and the Tortuga Team

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If you''re a subscriber but don''t own a Tortuga backpack, we need your help...

Tortuga''s mission is to make travel easier and more enjoyable. As part of that mission, we''ve created the?Bag Finder Quiz?to help travelers find their perfect pack.

Here''s how it works:?you answer four simple questions then?we suggest the right bag for your future travels.

Will you be a beta tester? It only takes a minute.

Take the short, four-question quiz at the link below. Then reply to this email with your feedback.?

https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/pages/quiz

We''d love to hear your input on:

1. What''s confusing or unclear?
2. Do the results seem right for your answers?
3. How else might we improve the quiz?

Reply directly to this email. I''ll read all of the feedback then use it to improve the quiz.?

Click the question below to get started.

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Happy travels,

Fred and the Tortuga Team

Travel clothing has come a long way.

Thankfully, we've all moved on from the head-to-toe all-khaki safari wear with way too many pockets. You don't dress like that at home so why would you dress like that to travel?

It doesn''t have to be that way.

Your?clothes can look good and travel well.

You shouldn't have to buy a?new wardrobe just for travel. That's a waste of money. Instead, pack your regular clothes that are best suited to the road.

To travel well, clothes should be versatile, durable, and easy to clean (or able to be reworn).

If you wouldn''t wear something at home, don't wear it for travel. You should be comfortable in your clothes. You shouldn't feel like you're wearing a costume.?

We recommend versatility and value, not wasting money. Spend your money on experiences, not more stuff.

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Start with the?travel clothing roundup?and learn how to build a small-but versatile-capsule wardrobe.

One of our favorite tricks for packing less is to?do laundry when you're traveling.

If you're traveling for two weeks or more, you can do laundry (or pay for wash-and-fold) during your trip. Doing laundry means you can bring half as many clothes-or less. As a bonus, one load of laundry is?way?cheaper than checking another bag to hold that second week of clothes.?

We love merino wool clothes for traveling because?wool is naturally odor resistant. You can re-wear merino wool clothing between washes without smelling bad. Check out some of our favorite?merino wool brands.?

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Finally, we have detailed buyer's guides for every piece of clothing you might need.

Here''s a list of the most popular guides:

• Pants
• T-shirts
• Shoes
• Underwear
• Blazers

For anything else that you're looking for,?search on our site?or reply to this email.

In the next email, we'll send you packing lists for our customers' favorite destinations.

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Happy travels,?

Fred and the Tortuga Team

In the last email, we told you about how we started Tortuga. Once the company launched, travelers started asking us for packing help.

How do I pack in just a carry on?

Is a backpack a personal item?

What do I need to bring for my trip to Italy??

So we?wrote down the answers to help people take better trips. We hired experienced travelers to write about their favorite destinations and to test travel gear on the road.

Our packing lists are written by travelers who have been there-often multiple times.?

Our gear recommendations come from rigorous testing in places that demand performance. We''ve tested water filters in rural Guatemala and base layers in northern Sweden.

Everything on our site is written by someone who has "been there, done that" because in travel-like in life-experience matters.

Experience has taught us that packing light is the best way to travel. At Tortuga, we believe in carry-on-only travel. We don't check bags. We only make carry on luggage.

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If you're new to packing light, start with our?Step Down to Carry On?series. Once you're down to carry-on-size, you can choose to travel with?two bags?(a carry on and a personal item) or with just one.

Next, learn the?7 Secrets to Packing Light. Once you understand the basics, you'll know how to travel light with what you already own.

For anything else packing related,?start here?==>?

https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/packing-tips/

Over the next few emails you'll learn more packing tricks, which are the best clothes for travel, and what to pack for popular destinations like Italy and Thailand.

Keep an eye on your inbox for our next email. If you have any packing questions before then, reply to this email.

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Happy travels,

Fred and the Tortuga Team

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If you have any questions, reply to this email. Our Concierge team is here to help.

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Happy travels,

Fred and the Tortuga Team