When ITA announced its partnership with L.L.Bean last week, I was pumped. Not only are the two such a great fit for each other, but I've always been a huge L.L.Bean fan. Growing up in New England with two VERY outdoorsy parents, my family took a trip to the flagship store in Maine every year to stock up on all the hiking/camping/swimming/playing/traveling gear we needed. As a kid, I was always decked out in L.L.Bean stuff.
It's no surprise that after I left home and started traveling for college racing and, later, international racing, L.L.Bean bags were the ones I used. I've used my tried and true red rolling duffel to haul my stuff to every college race and training trip. It sat in the back seat of my car when I drove across the country in 2011...three times. It has come with me to every World Cup, World Championships and to the Olympic Games. By my quick count, it's been with me to about half of the states in the US and roughly ten different countries. That's one well-traveled bag...and that's just one of my bags. Turns out I have racked up a few of these things:
Four L.L.Bean bags in one picture. I was heading straight from the Collegiate National Championships to U-23 Worlds selection camp and simultaneously trying to move some stuff back to my parents' house in Boston.
Bushwhacking to the beach in Rhode Island with my striped tote
Heading to the 2009 World Championships in Poland with my L.L.Bean rolling duffel
The newest addition to my L.L.Bean bag family: the ITA tote
