Official Thread: The Hero's Journey

[weirdguy]

Big thanks you to you, @moriond. And also, the tips with 13" MB Cache.

Now, I am set to get one. Just have to wait until end November.
I hope the price of the bag alone (exclude optional accessories) wouldn't exceed Tri-Star price tag!
About 36hours more to debut.

[gochicken]

Although I'd love to be able to say I'm going on a long hiking trip, that isn't going to happen anytime soon. Instead, I've got a couple of quick trips coming up that require plane travel. I've always used my WF and either Pilot or Co-Pilot for these 1-3 day types of trips, so I wasn't sure how the HJ would compare. Here are a few comparison shots that I hope will be helpful.

From top to bottom Steel/UV Pilot, Steel/Solar Halcyon Co-Pilot, Hero’s Journey Top Pocket:





My Aubergine/Steel WF fits inside the HJ with room to spare:

[gochicken]

The Top Pocket is similarly sized to the Pilot, Co-Pilot, Maker's Bag, and DLBC, but is not exactly the same as any of them.

Clockwise from top:
Black Halcyon/UV Maker’s Bag
Steel Halcyon/Solar Co-Pilot
Steel/UV Pilot
Plum DLBC
HJ Top Pocket



Here they are side by side:



Bottoms of HJ Top Pocket on top of Plum DLBC... next to Steel/Solar CP and Plum FJN:

[gochicken]

Here are some photos with a UV Packing Cube Shoulder Bag, another bag that I often carry as an EDC on trips

Black Halcyon Packing Cube Backpack, inside out HJ Top Pocket (in backpack mode), and UV PCSB in front:



Side by side:



With HJ Top Pocket right side out (spiral notebook just barely fits):



With Black Halcyon/UV MB and Steel Pilot:

[fernando]

What time do we order these tomorrow? [emoji7]

[operator]

I need this now.


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[Darcy]

What time do we order these tomorrow? [emoji7]

The debut will be at 10:00am Pacific Time tomorrow.

[fernando]

The debut will be at 10:00am Pacific Time tomorrow.

Magically, my schedule at that time is clear

[mrbrown]

Hi, fellow TB fanz. I have come bearing photos. @Darcy kindly sent me a Hero’s Journey to field test on my upcoming journeys, and so here are some initial photos and initial thoughts after unboxing.



I've test-packed The Hero's Journey to see if it will work for my next trip to Japan next week. I'm on a photography assignment for 11 days.

It requires some planning to pack correctly as Halcyon is softer than Ballistic Nylon.

Weight distribution is key. For example, one has to ensure the top pocket isn't too heavy if the main bag is not full.

The Main Bag is a lot roomier than I am used to (I have pared my packing list to A30 standards lately) but it's nice to have the extra space.

The padded waist belt is a welcome addition. When I carried a fully-loaded A30 on my back for prolonged spells, I found that my shoulders sometimes hurt. So this padded waist support will be handy to have on The Hero's Journey. Also useful converting the Top Pack into a waist bag!



The Top Pack is roomier than it looks. It swallowed my camera gear and iPad Pro 9.7-inch, as well as my MacBook 12-inch Retina. Amazing. I used to pack a folded DLBP for my secondary day pack but I think I won't need to anymore.

And the versatile Top Pack looks like it will solve my dilemma of needing a sling bag for some days (like when I need easy access to my lenses) and a backpack for other days during the trip (like when I am day-hiking).



I'm attempting to One-Bag it this next trip and using the Top Bag as my EDC, to carry my camera gear I am testing. I want to see if it works out.



Let me just say how well-engineered this bag is. I think it's a marvel of sewing and pattern making. I say this as the husband of a Tailor's Daughter. (That sounds like a new Damien Rice song.)

Stay tuned for updates once I've taken the Hero's Journey out for a spin or three on my travels.

[Pokilani]

No way! After reading all the amazing reviews thus far, I thought to myself, "It would be so cool if @mrbrown reviewed the HsJ too." Well played, @Darcy!


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[bwidjaja]

@gochicken, will a ballistic Co-Pilot fit inside the Top Pocket?

[Ilkyway]

@bwidjaja this is, what I found out:





Here is the CP inside the Top Pack, nearly zipped up


And here zipped up:

BUT if the CP was stuffed to its brim in hights (width or length would not be a problem) than zipping the Top Pack would not be possible.

Hope this helps
Ilkyway


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[moriond]

Another comment on the Co-Pilot vs the Top Pack (to use the final, official name). The Top Pack in vertical (backpack) mode and the Co-Pilot have the same volume (10 liters), but in horizontal mode, the Top Pack's volume is 15 liters. You can see from @Ilkyway's pictures, and also from those of @gochicken, that the Co-Pilot is taller than the Top Pack.

Needless to say, if you try to put a Co-Pilot in the Top Pocket, there are certain rigid items that you cannot insert -- like a water bottle sized to go to the top of the Co-Pilot water bottle pocket. Smaller sized ones (0.6 l, or the Zojurushi ones) are OK.

HTH

moriond

[gochicken]

Bwidjaja, Ilkyway has great photos. I agree... it will fit, but it depends on how full the CP is packed. The CP is a bit taller, just as wide, but less deep, so if it is not fully packed, the top can be squished down and it will fit nicely.

Here is a picture of my Black/UV CP inside the Top Pack:

[Pokilani]

Official Thread: The Hero's Journey

I gotta say that while the HsJ may not be in my future, I have really enjoyed this debut! The hints have been fun, the hidden pictures, then so many reviews even before it goes on sale. Just a bunch of awesome.


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