ABOUT THIS SERIES: At Remote Equipment, we make gear that enables people to unplug from a hardwired world. In this series, we look deeper at those creatively redefining what it means to work remotely.

One of the perks that Sam M. and Aaron D. enjoy with their jobs is travel. Sort of.

Sam and Aaron are members of an Army National Guard unit; the unit is responsible for opening the lines of communication with other countries and helping foreign militaries with processes and logistics planning.

As part of that unit, Sam and Aaron have been employed to Central and South America locations, working alongside military units in countries like the Dominican Republic, Barbados, and Guyana.

"We don't do desk stuff," said Sam. "Our remote office is the most remote you can be. We constantly bounce around to different locations. We will move into a partner force's living quarters for weeks or months and then go on to another place where we're needed. It's a lot of moving around."

As you might expect that kind of travel requires suitable backpacks and bags. Luckily, the two soldiers found Remote Equipment.

UTILITY MATTERS

As National Guard members, Sam and Aaron have some leeway regarding what they can carry clothes and daily essentials in. The biggest feature that Sam looks for in a backpack is versatility.

"The most important thing is its utility," he said. "I'm carrying clothing, maps, laptops, radio systems, and liquid IV pouches to stay hydrated."

For a recent employment in Honduras, Sam took an ALPHA 31 and one of our ORG KITS, and it worked well.

"I used them for any kind of to-and-from the office travel I had to do. It was my daily travel kit."

He carried USB hubs and chargers in the ORG KIT. The ALPHA, he said, provided all the weather protection he needed in the mountainous jungle.

A GO-TO GO BAG

Aaron's daily carry needs were slightly different from Sam's. In his civilian life, he is a photographer and a rock climber—two activities where backpacks play key roles. Given what he likes to do when not traveling for the National Guard, he took one of our CHARLIE 25s to Honduras.

"Coming from a world of pretty standard Army bags, I could not believe how lightweight, durable, and weather-resistant that bag is," Aaron said. "It held up really well."

Aaron stuffed his CHARLIE as his personal go-bag, but he also used it as a climbing bag, creatively using the internal organization features.

COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS

After they returned stateside, we talked with Sam and Aaron about how the bags worked for them while they traveled on Uncle Sam's dime for eight months in Honduras.

"For a two or three-day trip, the CHARLIE 25 is great," said Aaron. "It makes for a perfect go-bag, too. It's small and lightweight."

Sam continues to use his ALPHA as his daily bag.

"It covers pretty much everything I need," he said.

The two soldiers might not know where their unit goes next – or they might and didn't tell us – but they know their Remote Equipment bags are going with them wherever that is.

DISCLAIMER: REQ bags are not endorsed or issued by the military; the individuals above used the bags as additional gear for both personal and professional use.


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