Half marathon #2 is done! I ran it way faster than I expected. I need to learn how to not race every race LOL.
This was my first “away” race in my 13 in 79 days. It wasn’t far and we only went up for a night, but it did mean I had to pack a ton of running stuff, plus I had some work I wanted to get done in the car.
Luckily, I was recently approached by Apera Bags to review one of their bags. I tend not to do fitness activities that require a duffle or other type of gym bag, so I chose their Tech backpack. As I head out on my adventures over the next few months, I need to have my shoes and my computer with me wherever I go.
Short story: I LOVE this bag.
I put so much stuff in it this weekend.
There was a section for my laptop and my iPad, as well as a file for work, a section for my running clothes, pockets for shoes, a small top pocket for my cell and other small things (yay! I’m always losing my phone in my bag), and a few other random pockets. I even fit my foam roller in with my running clothes (and I had various options, so it was more than one outfit LOL) and I think I could have still fit in more stuff. Unbelievable!
Besides the sheer amount of well-organized space, I loved how well this bag fit me. I have narrow shoulders and often find backpacks to be too wide for me. This fit me really well, but also seems adjustable enough for a larger person to use. Great design!
Sadly, I can’t giveaway one of the Tech bags, but I can do the next best thing.
You can win their Sprint Pack bag AND a 25% off code for one of their other bags!!!
In addition to my giveaway, Apera holds their own giveaway each month. They will be giving away one free Apera bag to one winner. All you have to do is sign up for their email newsletter by providing your email address at the bottom of their website. (Even better, you can get an entry in my giveaway for doing that! See Rafflecopter for details.) At the conclusion of each month, they’ll randomly draw a name from those subscribers in their email newsletter database to select the winner. The bag for March is the Sling Tote. Each month you’ll have the chance to win a different bag!
Here are some reviews of their other bags:
Yoga Tote review by This Mama Runs for Cupcakes
Sling Tote review by Jill Conyers
Performance Duffel bag review by My Dirt Road Anthem
Active Pack review by Fine Fit Day
Can’t wait to win something? They currently have 40% off of all Blue bags as well as off of their Duffel Packs. (Yes, I am considering buying more bags…)
Want a cool new bag?? Then get busy entering my giveaway!
Disclaimer: Apera Bags sent me the Tech bag to review and is providing the Sprint Pack for this giveaway. All opinions are my own.
I could use that bag when I haul all my stuff to the gym during lunch hour!
Extra layers…I’m paranoid about getting cold.
I don’t think it’s all that odd, but I always keep gum in my bag. Can’t exercise without it.
Probably the weirdest thing I keep in my bag is a pair of lucky socks — never know when I’m going to need them
Great bag! I’m still looking for my go-to bag.
No gym membership and no bag. The ones I take to races, I swap out all the time so nothing stays in my bag.
There’s no such thing as having too many bags.
The oddest thing – toothbrush. When my teeth feel dirty, so do I 😉
The sprint pack looks awesome for the gym or race day. I love that it’s expandable and that the inside can be wiped out easily.
I’m sure it’s not odd but I always have to have Chapstick of some sort.
Well,i put in my sport bag stuff like hand sanitizer,my deodorant.Makeup.Brush.I want to have sometimes sunblock lotion.
Hmmmm…. not sure if I carry anything odd. But then again, it is my stuff so naturally I think it is all normal. 😉
I always keep chapstick, extra socks and a spare pair of headphones in my gym bag.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve packed my bag and forgotten to put in socks or headphones. Now I know I’m covered.
Nothing odd in my bag… but this bag looks great for taking my stuff to work since I go directly from work to work out. Thanks for having a great giveaway!
I always keep some chocolate in my sports bag… I always crave chocolate after my long runs!
I am a weirdo and like to keep multiple small bags in one giant bag; talk about organization, right?
Kleenex! Can’t leave home without it!
This bag looks awesome! My only concern would be that my shoes would not fit since I have such big feet!
I always have headphones and also extra socks and hairbands!
I keep a phone charger in mine. You never know! 🙂
Feminine products because you never know when you or a friend will need one.
quarters? still there even though most parking meters take credit cards
I’d love a new race bag–I always carry facial wipes–I just can’t stand feeling salt encrusted after a race.
I don’t carry a bag when running but my workout bag has gum, phone charger, and lipstick!!
what kind of foam roller do you have that you can pack away? i need that! Good luck with your races!
I am interested in the kind of foam roller myself. Please let us know! 🙂
There are quite a few of these short ones out there currently (e.g. The Grid mini) and I’m building a site reviewing a lot of them.
Always great to hear what people are actually using.
Thanks
Daniel
I keep my stuff in tons of little bags and put them in my sports bag lol
I keep Pepto-Bismol in my bag in case my stomach acts up.
Right now I have all kinds of things in my bag that would’ve seemed weird pre-kids. But I always have extra things for them in there, just in case.
I want an apera bag!!! I love the look and the antimicrobial factor! Perfect for a gym bag AND a baby bag! 🙂
I have my toothbrush in my bag 🙂
My bags (all of them) usually end up full of crap I don’t need. I really need something with organised space so looked at Apera at the RnR expo. Think the yoga tote might work for me. Think I’ll add it to my Mother’s Day wish list maybe…, and then when I don’t get it because I get chocolate every year- I’ll buy it for myself!! LOL!
I have an “emergency” toy for my daughter.
I always keep a backup battery charger thing for my phone.
flashlight
Does it count if my answer is nothing weird in my gym bag 🙂
I always keep an extra lip balm in my bag. Somehow I always forget that I have one there and add another and another. Then once I realize I have none handy I finally clean out all the lip balms and then start all over again.
Great giveaway. Visiting from SITS sharefest.
It’s not too odd, but I always have trail mix.
grocery bag