Thursday, December 10, 2009

Travel Bloggers' Caravan "Stop of the Day": JtheTravelAuthority.com

With the holidays fast approaching, I've banded together with 14 other travel bloggers to celebrate the season and give all of our readers the chance to win some fun prizes, including hotel gift cards, overnight stays, digital cameras, travel guidebooks, DVDs, luggage and camera bags. This 2009 Travel Bloggers' Caravan has been going on since December 1 and will continue through December 15. And today, the caravan stops here at J the Travel Authority.

Those of you who have been following this blog know that I'm a very big fan of Mountainsmith gear which I've been using for 15+ years. In fact, I travel with one of their small backpacks plus their fanny pack as my only two pieces of luggage -- which I carry on and bring on all my trips. Their gear has never let me down. That's why, because the Caravan stops here today, I'm giving away a Mountainsmith Tour FX Camera Bag (a $99 value).

It's made of recycled plastic bottles. And, as usual, Mountainsmith has thought of everything: there's a place for your airline ticket, a water bottle and plenty of room for additional carry-along items, including your iPod, GPS unit and so forth. The bag is a variation on the fanny pack that I have long been using and adore. This camera bag, like their classic fanny pack, can be worn around your waist or on your shoulder, thanks to a removable strap. It's got compression straps to help you carry the load better. And, you'll be able to carry plenty, thanks to the ultra-spacious interior. Plus, a real benefit is that you can open it up and remove camera gear while the pack is still fastened around your waist.



Win a Mountainsmith Tour FX Camera Bag
One lucky reader will be randomly chosen from all eligible entries to win a Mountainsmith Tour FX Camera Bag. The contest starts at midnight on December 10 and ends the same day at 11:59 pm. You must have a mailing address within the United States in order to be eligible to enter and win.

How to Enter
Comment on this post between 12:00 am (midnight) and 11:59 pm on December 10, 2009. You'll need to include your e-mail address so I can get in contact with you if you're the winner. Good luck!

Win More Prizes This Month!
Don't forget to enter the daily Travel Bloggers' Caravan & Giveaway. The Caravan stops at CruiseDiva.com tomorrow. Visit, comment on the post of the day, and win a copy of Fodor's The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises and a World Grounding Set (courtesy of Magellan's) See the entire Travel Bloggers' Caravan schedule here.

47 comments:

Stephanie Stiavetti said...

Oooh! I need a new camera pack. :)

My email address is steph at hyperreal dot org.

Kerry Dexter said...

when I was a television producer, Mountainsmith bags were top crew choices for the rugged travel conditions we often faced. be great to have one of my own!

should I win, please contact me through http://musicroad.blogspot.com

Lizzie Lou said...

Pleasure to meet you Jeanine!!! - Lizzie
elizreiss@gmail.com

wendy wallach said...

where was that picture at the top of this page taken? It is quite beautiful

madamerkf at aol dot com

Noel said...

Thanks for your recommendation. I find large waistpack/shoulder bags extremely useful for international travel.
deut1119@usfamily.net

Michael W. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michael W. said...

That bag looks great! I would love to have one for future adventures around the world!
MLW1220@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hello -- This is a great blog! Besides writing, travel is my passion. Thanks for offering this!

Ken Charvoz said...

I've got a brand new Canon, You've got a brand new bag.... sing to the tune of I've got brand new rollerskates.... kcharvoz at gmaildotcom

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Wendy, The photo was taken in Iceland, a country that's a specialty of mine.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Ken, Good luck to you. It'd be great if your new Canon had a nice new home.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Stephanie, Thanks for commenting and good luck. Should you win, I think you'll love the Mountainsmith bag.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi kerry, Yes, Mountainsmith has amazing performance qualities. I've been using my bags for years and not a problem with zippers or anything.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Lizzie Lou, Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoy reading my blog posts and hope they help you on your future travels.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Noel, I agree: waist-type bags are oh, so convenient when you're traveling.

Lisa said...

pick me pick me pick me....

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Lisa, You need to leave an email so I can contact you if you win. Crossing fingers.

andrea said...

What a great bag! Fingers crossed that I win....

Also, just want to let you know that I am HUGE fan of your blog! Keep it coming!

jcreaturetravel said...

Hi Michael, Yes, the camera bag would be great on your world travels, wherever they may be. Good luck!

Erik said...

Made of recycled plastic bottles?...awesome! Love photography and videography so this great bag would come in handy!

epiro24@yahoo.com

jcreaturetravel said...

Hi Erik, Glad you visited. Wishing you good luck. I know you'll make good use of the bag.

Lisa Bergren said...

Ooo, that looks wonderful. I might have to buy one if I don't WIN yours!
Lisa@theworldiscalling.com

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Lisa, I totally love the bag, too. I'm going to buy one myself. Wishing you good luck.

Kevin said...

I don't have a camera bag, but I have a camera! I want to win!
kevinhanson@hotmail.com

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Kevin, Good luck. If you win, I hope you enjoy it and take it on bundles of trips. It'll perform well for you.

phxbne said...

Great bag - and happy to have found your blog!

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Shelly, So glad you had time to visit and comment. But do post your email so you can be eligible to win the camera bag.

Jessica said...

I love Mountainsmith too- I used to have the Tour bag and took it everywhere... until I lost it :( would love a camera bag though!

jessstuart (a) gmail.com

peg42 said...

What a great camera bag! Thanks so much for offering this giveaway and Happy Holidays!

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Jessica, That's too bad you lost the Tour bag. That's the one I tote on all my trips. But I'm hoping you win the camera bag.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi peg42, Glad you like the camera bag. Mountainsmith makes great products. Do include your email, though, so I can contact you should you win.

Paula Dodd Aiello said...

I love gadgets, too. I've been really excited about the potential for the "invention" of these new sterilizing wands, etc. Didn't know they had a small one out yet. the SteriPen sounds great. But, of course, I (like most people here today) REALLY like the prize you're offering :-) Anyway, you won a new follower.

Paula Dodd Aiello said...

I wrote the last comment - I guess I was supposed to include the email in the comment:
accad.meraviglia@gmail.com

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi nakeemca, Great to meet another gadget lover. Yes, I think the SteriPEN is a super cool product. Who knew that purifying water could be so easy. Thanks for visiting and good luck with the contest.

J. P. Feingold said...

The flexibility in the ways this camera bag can be used is wonderful.

jpfgvl at bellsouth dot net

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi luckysunset, I'm very big on flexible gear. That way I can pack effectively.

magwheels said...

LOVE the pic on your blog header. xxxo

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi magwheels, Glad you like the photo. I'm a big fan of photos of Iceland. Do leave your email, though, so I can contact you in case you wine the prize.

Unknown said...

Your Iceland photo looks just like a Mongolian highway--except that the sign isn't in Mongolian! I appreciate your recommendations about Mountainsmith and will check out their website when I finish this comment. It sounds like I could live for a month out of the camera bag. . . handy for my trips to China.
Loralee MacPike loraleemacpike@yahoo.com

Sue said...

I'd love a chance to win this fabulous bag!!

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Frugal Kiwi said...

Sounds like a perfect bag for me. When I travel, the camera bag is one of my carry-ons, but it doesn't look as nice as this one by far.

If I win, I'll get you to send it to my folks in the States...

sweepmom said...

I really like that it has the fanny pack option instead of just the shoulder strap.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi sweepmom, I love fanny packs. They make it much easier to carry heavy loads.
Also, hope you include your email so I can contact you if you win.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi FrugalKiwi, Good luck with the contest. And I use the fanny pack as one of my carry on items as well. Please leave your email here, though, so I can reach you should you win.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Loralee, I see the comparison with Mongolia, a place that's right at the top of my list of places to go.
It's always great to find a bag that serves many functions. Good luck.

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canvas print said...

Damn I missed out on this, only just found your blog but its brilliant, keep up the great work.