I have written before about how Pacmodo is my new favorite travel system. Beyond travel, I also use my Medium PAC and Modo for regular walking commutes between home and office. This past Thursday, I discovered another brilliant use case that showcases just how versatile this system really is.
The Challenge: Business Formal in a Casual Day
When a good friend was named a Portland Business Journal "40 under 40" award winner, I was honored to receive an invitation as his guest. There was just one problem: the lunchtime downtown event required business formal attire, typically suit and tie, sandwiched between a morning of casual video calls and an afternoon that would take me to a coffee shop and an evening protest.
Google Search AI confirmed my suspicion about the dress code:
The solution seemed simple enough: change clothes at the office. The Portland Hilton Downtown, where the event was being held, is just a short walk away. But how do I efficiently transport a full suit, dress shoes, and of my regular work gear without ending up with a wrinkled mess?
Enter the Pacmodo Large PAC.
The Perfect Mobile Closet
The Large PAC proved to be the ideal solution for this wardrobe transition challenge. Here's what I packed in a single trip:
My regular sling bag (wallet, keys, phone charger, and daily essentials)
Laptop and charging cables
Dress shoes and socks (tucked neatly in the zippered compartment)
Complete suit, dress shirt, and tie
All of these items fit comfortably with room to spare.
The Secret Weapon: Trifold Garment Sleeve
The real game-changer wasn't just the backpack. It was pairing the Pacmodo backpack with a trifold garment sleeve underneath all the other gear. While this accessory didn't come with my Pacmodo, it fits inside the Large PAC perfectly, creating a portable wardrobe that keeps business attire wrinkle-free.
I'm using a legacy Eagle Creek garment sleeve that may no longer be available, but a quick search revealed similar options like this trifold garment sleeve that should work just as well. The key is finding a trifold design with the right dimensions to prevent wrinkles.
Here's how it works:
The results speak for themselves. My suit, shirt, and tie emerged with minimal wrinkles, ready for the business event.
More Than Just a Travel System
This experience reinforced something important: the Pacmodo system isn't just about avoiding baggage claims or fitting into underseat storage and overhead bins. It's about adapting to life's varied demands with style and efficiency.
The modular design of the Pacmodo system has demonstrated its worth to me through many of life’s challenges:
Transitioning between casual and formal settings
Managing multiple daily destinations with different requirements
Needing to transport delicate items alongside everyday gear
Simply wanting one versatile system that handles whatever my day throws at me
The Takeaway
Sometimes the best travel gear isn't just for traveling. The same organizational principles that make Pacmodo excellent for jet-setting, including modularity, efficient space usage, and thoughtful compartmentalization, translate well to the complexities of modern urban life.
Overall, I felt my day was a success, my friend received well-deserved recognition, and I never once worried about wrinkled clothes or forgotten essentials. That's the kind of peace of mind that makes a great product truly indispensable.