topo global travel 30

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Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L Review

The Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L’s rectangular shape may look unique, but carrying comfort is largely preserved thanks to its relatively low profile.

Our Verdict

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• Low-profile design carries comfortably
• Spacious with enough built-in organization
• Abundance of loops and attachment points adds flexibility
• Somewhat scratchy shoulder straps
• Water bottle pockets lack significant stretchiness
• Some zippers are partly obstructed

Technical Details

Carry-on compliance.

View 120/145 Airlines

Disclaimer: We take the measurements of the bag provided by the manufacturer and compare them to the allowance listed on airline websites. This should be used as a guideline rather than a rule. Bags can change size as you pack them out, and every airline's interpretation of compliance is different. Just because a bag is listed as carry-on compliant here doesn't mean that the airline will interpret it that way.

Like the Look

Polled on Instagram

Weight (oz)

42 oz (1190.7 g)

Recycled ballistic nylon; 1000D recycled nylon; 400D recycled nylon; 210D recycled nylon

20 in x 12.5 in x 7 in (50.8 x 31.8 x 17.8 cm)

Notable Materials

Recycled Nylon, Ballistic Nylon, Nylon, Packcloth, YKK Zippers, Woojin Hardware, Duraflex Hardware

Manufacturing Country

Laptop Compartment Size

Warranty Information

Topo Designs Warranty & Repairs

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Full Review

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With all the bells and whistles travel bags have these days, we’ve more or less narrowed down what we look for at a baseline level. Certain aspects such as capacity, organization, and carrying comfort are important considerations. To be more precise, we’re looking for a bag that’s big on space, with just enough pockets to get a vacation packing list’s worth of gear sorted, and should be easy to carry for the duration of that trip. Sounds easy, right? If only it were.

The Global Travel Bag 30L manages to achieve all three. Its rectangular shape makes it easy to pack like a suitcase, yet also easy to carry, almost like a daypack. You get a front pocket, an admin panel, and a spacious main compartment. However, it’s in the finer details where we have a few problems with the Global Travel Bag. We’ve encountered hiccups with parts like the zippered openings and small water bottle pockets. So, let’s take a look.

Materials & Aesthetic

One look at the Global Travel Bag, and you’ll immediately recognize it as a Topo Designs, well, design. There are at least three shades of colors scattered around the exterior, and not exactly complementary ones. As disjointed as it looks, Topo Designs make the styling work. Far from the more homogenous designs of the likes of Aer , Peak Design , or even Bellroy , Topo Designs’ gear thrives with their multi-color styling, and we like it!

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: if Pixar ever needed bags, Topo Designs would be our top suggestion. Mind you, if you’re not a fan of the mixed colorways, there are more tame options. At the time of writing, there’s Navy, Clay, and Olive (the sample we have) for colorful options and Black and Charcoal for stealthier ones.

The bag’s rectangular shape deserves credit as well. Despite the apparent largeness of this 30-liter bag, it’s relatively low-profile, making it easy to stow away in overhead bins. It’s also easy to Tetris inside a packed-out car trunk alongside similarly squared-off containers.

The materials are a mishmash of different ingredients as well. For the fabric, there’s 1000-denier, 400-denier, 210-denier, and 1680-denier nylon. They’re all recycled, so you can rest assured that they’re environmentally friendly. Topo Designs doesn’t specify which denier fabric goes on which part of the bag. Judging by the thickness of the weaves of the fabric, it’s safe to say that the 210D fabric makes up the liner while the heavier deniers cover the outside. Despite the differences in denier, everything is stitched together solidly, with no loose threads in sight.

As for hardware and zippers, you have your industry-standard names, such as YKK and Woojin. YKK zippers are pretty much as good as you can get when it comes to zippers because of their reliability, and it’s no different on the Global Travel Bag. The same can be said for the Woojin buckles, adjusters, and clips. There are plenty of them around the bag, and none of them have broken over the month of testing the bag.

External Components

Like a lot of travel backpacks , the Global Travel Bag’s shoulder straps stow away completely into a zippered compartment behind the back panel. Thanks to the back panel’s structuredness, there’s no perceptible bulge created; thus comfort is mostly preserved. We’re happy to report that disengaging the gatekeeper clips is fairly easy. Given how there are plenty of travel backpacks whose shoulder straps detach this way (and we’ve struggled to fiddle with a lot of them), we’re more than happy to praise these ones.

The shoulder straps are, as you would expect on a travel backpack, thickly padded. If we have one complaint about them, it’s that they’re quite scratchy. Then again, even that is a fairly minor issue, all things considered.

The sternum strap is simple and straightforward. It’s mounted on a rail system (i.e., it slides along a strap), giving a very granular amount of adjustment. The buckle used is a no-nonsense side-release buckle; no fancy-schmancy magnets here, just something that’s tried and tested.

There’s a detachable hip belt along the bottom for extra stability, plus load lifters for each of the shoulder straps. These are more or less a must-have for a lot of high-capacity travel backpacks. Note that we say “high-capacity” since some travel backpacks do get away with just a pair of shoulder straps and still manage a comfortable carry. As for the Global Travel Bag, we never really find a need for the hip belt, and we mostly rely on the sternum strap and load lifters to keep the weight more centered.

If backpack-style carrying isn’t your thing, you can (alternatively) use the Global Travel Bag’s pair of D-rings to attach a shoulder strap. There’s one near the bottom right corner at the front and another on the top left at the back. A crossbody strap does come included with the bag—a nice value add if nothing else.

That said, carrying the 30-liter Global Travel Bag on one shoulder isn’t exactly a comfortable experience. Even with the well-padded strap, a ton of weight presses down on just that one shoulder while the large profile of the bag leans against your side. It’s quite a sight to behold, especially if you have a smaller body frame. We reserve this style for quick carries over short distances (to/from the car, between rooms, etc.) where messing with the backpack straps is too fussy.

Truth be told, we enjoy carrying the Global Travel Bag as a backpack. Even at its relatively large 30-liter size, the way it’s shaped means most of the weight is spread out. A lot of travel backpacks stick out the back, giving them a slightly saggy feel; not the case with the relatively low-profile Global Travel Bag. Granted, it may look overshadowing on smaller frames, but we’re generally surprised with how well it handles.

There are handles at the top and on the sides. All are thick, padded, and—most important of all—using them doesn’t deform the bag’s structure. We don’t use the top handle all that much, given the bag’s relative tallness. Instead, we prefer to use the right handle since that’s also the direction that a lot of the pockets’ openings face.

Lest we forget, apart from the shoulder straps, crossbody strap, and trio of handles, there’s technically a fourth way to carry the Global Travel Bag. Integrated into the back panel is a luggage pass-through, which sits the bag horizontally on rolling luggage.

The usual caveat of horizontal luggage pass-throughs apply here: loosely packed clothes may get disorganized if you pack them with vertical-oriented carrying in mind. That may sound nitpicky, but considering that the main compartment lacks hold-down straps, it’s worth pointing out.

At the sides, you get a water bottle pocket each. We do appreciate water bottles come as standard, but these ones are a bit too small for our liking. Our usual 18-ounce Hydro Flask fits, though just barely. We have to do a bit of wiggling to get it in there, and the problem is that the elastic doesn’t have that much stretch to it. A bigger bottle like the Owala FreeSip 24 oz , for example, can’t fit despite only being slightly wider than the Hydro Flask. The pockets are also quite shallow, meaning tall bottles that fit may still fall out if they get too top heavy (i.e., when they get tilted).

Now let’s talk about the PackFast Travel System. This is Topo Designs’ approach to modularity, and in fairness, it does work. There are two sets of daisy-chained loops at the front (six loops in total), plus gatekeeper clips at the top and at the bottom. You can use these to attach additional Topo Designs gear with corresponding PackFast loops or clips.

We’ve tested this with the 40-liter version of the Global Travel Bag, attaching the Topo Designs Daypack. The result? It’s mixed, to say the least. On the one hand, it’s a neat way to add capacity and carry two bags at the same time. On the other hand, it compromises the carrying comfort way too much for our liking. We really didn’t want to spoil the Global Travel Bag 30L’s handling, so we’ll leave it to you if the feature is worthwhile using.

You may be wondering about the red loops scattered around the Global Travel Bag. They’re there for more than just the red accent they provide; they’re also a means of securing the zippers. Simply thread the corresponding red paracord zipper pulls through the loops, and you have yourself a deterrent against would-be thieves. Okay, they’re not exactly padlock-secure, but it’s at least an extra step they would have to fumble through before they reach your belongings.

Inside The Backpack

At the front is a quick-grab pocket with a side opening. This can act as your dump pocket for everyday carry accessories like a wallet, smartphone, and earphones, among other things. The space is fairly deep, spanning almost the entire front area of the bag. There are also two zippered pockets inside, so smaller gear like thumb drives have a place here. We do find that unzipping these inner pockets can be tricky since they go all the way to the sides, where it’s a bit tight.

There’s also a built-in key strap, albeit a very short one, so not designed to reach door knobs even when you swing the bag around. Instead, they’re a convenient way to keep keys in one spot for the duration of your trip.

After the front pocket, there’s a secondary compartment that holds an admin panel. It opens up fully like a clamshell, and inside you’re greeted with a bright yellow-green liner. Get used to it because this is what also awaits us in the main compartment; not that it’s a bad thing since it’s a huge boost in terms of internal visibility.

The admin panel handles organization for bulkier gear. Think laptop chargers, high-capacity power banks, tablets, travel-sized keyboards, mice, and the likes. On the other hand, the space is relatively flat, so we wouldn’t try to fit something too rounded like a packable jacket.

Next up is the main compartment. If you’ve read our review of the 40-liter version of the Global Travel Bag, you may be expecting an additional cover on top of the bucket space. Alas, there’s no such cover here, let alone the two additional pockets that came along with it. Instead, it’s just a big bucket for packing cubes and pouches.

The lack of a cover is not a huge loss since it means more of the space is available for your gear and easier access. Speaking of access, the main compartment is quite easy to pack. The sidewalls stay up thanks to the bag’s rigid structure, and it’s easy to navigate inside, again thanks to the very bright interior liner.

We recommend utilizing packing cubes because the Global Travel Bag does lack hold-down straps of any kind. There aren’t any attachment points for accessory straps either, so loose clothing inside may slosh around during transit.

Under the cover are two large zippered mesh pockets, another frequently seen feature on travel backpacks. We’re happy to have two of these since it means we can have each filled with different clothing. Other users prefer a single large mesh pocket dedicated entirely to used clothes, but we prefer the flexibility of having two.

The Global Travel Bag 30L has the ability to expand to 35 liters. However, unlike other travel bags that have bespoke expansion systems, the Global Travel Bag doesn’t have any. The way it expands is more subtle; you just pack it out to the brim, and the bag sort of bulks out automatically.

It’s not so obvious where exactly the Global Travel Bag gets its extra 5 liters of space. Looking at it closely, though, it seems to get it by simply bulging out the front, using the fabric between the main compartment and front compartment as a gusset.

The laptop compartment is largely a carry-over from the 40-liter version. This means that while a 15-inch MacBook Pro does technically fit, it’s relatively tight getting it inside. Furthermore, the zipper is obstructed near the end by the shoulder straps and hip belt’s attachment points, so you have to do some maneuvering to get it fully unzipped.

Actually getting a laptop inside is a bit awkward, too. You’d imagine that it’s as straightforward as inserting the laptop lengthwise since it’s a wide opening. In practice, even our 13-inch MacBook needs to be inserted with the short side going in first, then angling it as it goes in. This is mostly because the end of the zippered opening is blocked, so it really takes some additional maneuvering. We wish this were a smoother process, given how much surface area the Global Travel Bag has to work with on both the 30-liter and 40-liter versions.

So, there you have it, the Global Travel Bag 30L. As far as travel backpacks come and go, this one does a good job of balancing its capacity with its carrying comfort by maintaining a low profile. Unlike the Global Travel Bag 40L , we have fewer complaints about its harness system, let alone how it carries. Absolute carrying capacity aside, this is the ideal Global Travel Bag for us.

Usage Timeline

Condition: Excellent

• Structured sides for easier packing of the bucket-style main compartment
• Removable hip belt is a nice addition for this smaller capacity
• Water bottle pockets are fairly small
• Materials in great shape—no blemishes or loose threads anywhere
• Water bottle pockets are pretty tight for bottles larger than 18 ounces
• Decent amount of internal storage in addition to bucket style main compartment
• Comfortable fit that’s low-profile considering its size
• Materials still in great shape
• Some zippered pockets are difficult to open—they bump into the edge of the pack instead of opening fully

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Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L Review: My Experience Using It

Written by Dan

Updated on April 30th, 2024

I’ve used the Topo Global Travel Bag in the 30L size for weekend trips, getaways and hiking. Check out what I like, and what I like less, in this honest review.

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Table of contents

• What I like best
• Things I don’t like (or won’t use)
• How did it go?
• Where to get yours
• More Topo items to check out

Topo Designs is a brand I came to trust early on, and when I tried the Global Travel Bag in 30L, I was pretty sold. I’ve used this backpack on weekend trips and as a hiking daypack. Within days of opening it from the mail, it was on my back going through a leafy state forest (where I got a ton of mosquito bites).

In this review, I’m going through the features I think are the most noteworthy, along with what could be improved. You can use my experience points below to see if it’s your next medium-sized travel backpack.

Key takeaways from this review

• I’m a fan of the design of this backpack, although some people might find it boxy.
• My favorite features are the zippers and the pockets, and I’ll go more into that below.
• There are a lot of backpacks in the $200 range, so competition among trusted brands is fierce, but see why I think this backpack is worthwhile.

What I like best

There’s a lot I like about the Global Travel Bag 30L , if I can be honest. I definitely like more about this backpack than what I don’t like. I’ve recommended it wholeheartedly to friends and family through the years.

Tons of pockets and sleeves

I’ve used mostly every pocket this backpack offers, especially when we’re on a one-bag type of trip. In the past, Becca and I have packed this backpack with a packing cube inside and clothes for both of us. We use the front panel with its interior organizer full of pockets and sleeves for smaller stuff, like toiletries and tech.

Given how much we both drink and always have a water bottle at hand, we’ve used the convenient water bottle pocket, as well as the mesh organizer pockets, and vertical exterior pocket for odds and ends.

It’s unisex

The photos here show me using the backpack, and it looks natural on my back. I’m a regular-sized guy, yet Becca is a petite woman who’s only 5’2”. Nevertheless, Becca likes to wear this backpack, and she often does, because it doesn’t feel overbearing on her narrow shoulders.

On the product page for this backpack on the Topo Designs website, they show both men and women modeling this backpack. It helps that it’s timeless and neither masculine nor feminine in its appearance.

Becca recommends the Global Travel Bag in the 30L size at her list of the best travel backpacks for women .

The quality of the zippers

My and Becca’s favorite thing to talk about when it comes to Topo Designs products are the big fat “heavy duty” zippers. Maybe it’s because we’ve dealt with bags in the past that have had disappointing zippers that snag and break.

Either way, the zippers on all Topo products are kind of the signature style, and they’re not different in the Global Travel Bag : they’re oversized, strong, sturdy and never snag on fabrics. There are also unique “loops” to keep the zippers from opening, so my stuff inside stays secure in transit.

It’s great to see these exact same zippers on more Topo products, like the Topo Mountain duffel we recommend in the best travel duffels to know about.

Clamshell opening

Topo calls the opening style a “U-shape,” but I call it clamshell. This is one of my preferred features of a travel backpack, so that I can see everything inside. With the U-shape zipper opening to the main cavity, I can put in a few packing cubes, or a shoe packing cube, and see how much space I have left.

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30L

The Global Travel Bag 30L is a quality and functional backpack with cool travel features.

Things I don’t like (or won’t use)

While I think this backpack is overall great quality and the features are useful, here are some things to know.

Back straps

The back straps work fine; they’re just not overly padded. They work well for the fact that they can be tucked into the backpack and dismantled, if you’d like to stow them away and turn the backpack into a duffel. They’re mesh, so they’re lightweight, just not the strongest if you’d like to be hiking uphill for a few hours with this backpack as your daypack.

Pass-through panels for luggage

In all honesty, I didn’t know about this feature when I got the bag, and I didn’t really plan to use it as such. This feature isn’t as obvious as the luggage trolley pass-through panels or handles I’ve seen on other backpacks.

Bag attachment clips

In all honesty, I probably will not be using these bag attachment clips, and I haven’t made use of them to date. The attachment clips are from Topo’s ecosystem of making their products interlock with each other, and what you can do is attach a smaller Topo bag onto your Global Travel Bag , all on the front of a suitcase.

This seems cumbersome to me, and I’d rather just carry my backpacks, if I’m in the airport, which seems to be the use case for this. Plus, the Global Travel Bag in the 30L size is already carry-on compliant.

How did it go?

Like I mentioned above, Becca and I have actually shared the Global Travel Bag (in 30L, not 40L ) as a weekender when traveling with just a change of clothes, laptops and a few toiletries for a one-night stay somewhere. We haven’t taken any extra shoes, which is what made this backpack work for us both. For all minimalist trips, it worked out just fine, and we put small items and essentials in all of the zippered pockets, slits and sleeves.

Of course, you could use the entire bag for yourself, and pack for one person. That way, you’ll have much more space.

I also have taken this bag as a daypack (that Becca and I have shared… do you see a theme here?) on hikes. In these photos, I was in the Hudson Valley on a hot July day with my 30L Topo backpack. I was able to fit everything for a day out exploring the forest, plus essentials we wanted to have at our fingertips while visiting nearby small towns in Upstate New York.

With tons of high ratings, including mine here, this best-selling travel backpack from Topo Designs is worth your time to check out, even if you won’t be buying it.

Topo Designs is continually making awesome products, like the Topo packing cubes (” Pack Bags ”) that I listed in my roundup of the best travel packing cubes .

At its current price point, I feel like the cost of this travel- and adventure-savvy backpack is worthwhile, especially if you plan to make use of the three ways to wear it (backpack, duffel, shoulder bag with one strap).

Where to get yours

Getting the Global Travel Bag in 30L or 40L at its price will qualify your purchase for free shipping and exchanges on the Topo Designs website . You’ll also get the MAP Guarantee , which is a “reasonable lifetime warranty.” Take them up on it!

If you’re the Amazon Prime type of consumer, check out the Global Travel Bag (30L at Amazon , where it comes in a few colors. The only thing is, getting name-brand bags on Amazon might yield discontinued or outdated colors. This is what I’m currently seeing.

You can also easily buy it at REI.com . Note, though, that REI will usually stock just a few color choices, not all of the ones you’ll find on the Topo Designs site. If you are lucky, they may be the current ones.

More Topo items to check out

I already mentioned the affordable Topo Mountain Duffel as well as the helpful Pack Bags , so head onward to check out the nice-looking Topo Mountain Waist Pack and our best travel fanny packs and belt bags.

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Topo Designs

Global travel bag 30l.

• Dark Denim/Burgundy

The Topo Designs Global Travel Bag is your one bag travel companion.

Topo Design's carry-on compliant Global Travel Bag 30L (made with recycled materials) offers 3-way carry options, plenty of internal organization, expandable side water bottle pockets, and an external laptop sleeve for easy access. The size is perfect for a long weekend getaway.

Built for breezing through the concourse, our Global Travel Bag 30L performs perfectly as an agile, durable pack for shorter trips. Compact enough to pass as a carry-on, it's equipped with a sleeve to allow for easy attachment to a roller suitcase handle. For maximum flexibility, the Global Travel Bag works with many of our other packs and bags as a modular carry system, streamlining cumbersome travel.

Description Built with recycled nylons Carry-on compliant 3-way carry (backpack straps, shoulder strap and grab handles) Designed for organized one bag travel

Features Foam structure with padded recycled ballistic nylon back panel U-shape entry to large main compartment Internal mesh organization pockets U-shape entry to secondary organization compartment Larger zippered security pocket and dual slip pockets Vertical exterior zippered pocket with dual security pockets Easy access to back panel laptop compartment, fits most 15” laptops Stowable contoured padded spacer mesh shoulder straps Load-lifter straps and sternum strap Removable waist belt Pass-through panel secures bag to rolling luggage handle Top and side carry handles Removable adjustable padded shoulder strap Expandable side water bottle pockets Vertical daisy chain webbing Heavy-duty YKK zippers with security loop on main compartment PackFast™ Attachment Clips Meets most airline carry-on requirements

Materials:  1000D recycled nylon, 400D recycled nylon, 210D recycled nylon, 1680D recycled ballistic nylon Dimensions:  31.75w x 51h x 17.8d (cm)

Volume:  1831 cu. in. / 30 L (*can expand to 35 L when fully packed)

Weight:  42oz / 1.2kg

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Global Travel Bag 30L Black/Black

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Features & Specs

Materials:  1000D recycled nylon, 400D recycled nylon, 210D recycled nylon, 1680D recycled ballistic nylon

Dimensions (cm):   31.8  w x 51 h x 18 d

Volume:  1831 cu. in. / 30 L (*can expand to 35 L when fully packed).

Weight:  1.2 kg.  Made in Vietnam Sustainability  • Fair Wear certified production, meeting fair labor standards for the safety, health, and wellness of employees. • 100% recycled nylon with high abrasion resistance, equating to a longer product lifespan. • Fabrics from certified dye mills, ensuring the chemical composition of textile products consists of healthy and safe materials. • YKK heavy-duty zippers for durability. • MAP Guarantee™ Repairs Program.

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

• Belgorod Region

Stary Oskol is the Belgorod Region’s second city by population and today consists of two main parts: the historical centre on the hill and the new centre made up of blocks of housing estates (mikroraiony). It is named after the river on which it stands on; the word stary (old) was added to distinguish it from the new settlement of Novy Oskol (New Oskol). Just outside the city is an impressive cave-monastery complex.

Top recommendations in Stary Oskol

Kholkovsky Monastery

Travel outside the city to the nearby settlement of Kholki to visit the Kholkovsky Monastery - an impressive cave monastery.

Historical Centre

Walk around the historical part of the city, located where once a wooden fortress stood to protect Russia’s southern borders, and visit the museum here.

War Memorials

Have a look at all the war memorial in the city - in recognition of Stary Oskol’s status as a City of Military Glory.

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Stary Oskol city, Russia

The city of Belgorod oblast .

Stary Oskol - Overview

Stary Oskol is a city in Russia located in the Belgorod region, standing on the banks of the Oskol River, about 142 km northeast of Belgorod, 632 km south of Moscow.

The population of Stary Oskol is about 222,600 (2022), the area - 134 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 4725, the postal codes - 309500-309518.

Stary Oskol city flag

Stary oskol city coat of arms.

Stary Oskol city map, Russia

History of stary oskol.

In 1300, there was a village called Ugly on the the territory of the present city. Today, it is one of the districts of Stary Oskol. At that time, the village was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and was a border crossing point on the border with the Golden Horde.

The settlement of Oskol was founded by Russian Tsar Fyodor Ioanovich’s order (Ivan’s the Terrible son) to protect the southern borders of the Russian kingdom in 1593. The bulk of the population were peasants and the military.

In 1617, the town was burned by the Poles. In 1625, 1642 and 1677, the Crimean Tatars approached Stary Oskol, but could not capture it. The town was renamed Stary Oskol (meaning Old Oskol) in 1655, when the town of Tsaryov-Alexeyev, located down the river, was renamed Novy Oskol (New Oskol). Fortifications of the town existed until the 18th century.

More Historical Facts…

Gradually, Stary Oskol turned into peaceful, commercial and merchant town - the center of an agricultural district. Industrial production was represented mainly by enterprises on processing agricultural products.

In 1780, the town got its coat of arms. In 1784, Stary Oskol like most Russian towns of that time was rebuilt according to a new plan signed by Empress Catherine II. A large number of brick houses were built, mostly two-story buildings. The historic center of Stary Oskol has been preserved to our time.

In the second half of the 19th century, the town had a wide network of schools, libraries, reading rooms, printing, secondary schools. In 1894, construction of the railway began, trade and industry began to develop rapidly.

Until the 1930s, there were eleven Orthodox churches in Stary Oskol. During the Second World War, Stary Oskol was occupied by the Germans from July 2, 1942 to February 5, 1943. In 1954, the city became part of the newly formed Belgorod region.

In the late 1960s - early 1970s, in connection with the active development of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (the most powerful iron ore basin in the world), Stary Oskol became a major center of iron and steel industry.

Stary Oskol was declared a city of three top-priority Komsomol construction projects. The largest enterprises: Lebedinsky Mining and Processing Plant, Stoilensky Mining and Processing Plant, Oskolsky Electrometallurgical Plant became not only the city-forming enterprises, but also the largest industrial enterprises of the country. Stary Oskol experienced a new birth.

Today, Stary Oskol is a rapidly developing city, one of the leading mining and metallurgical centers of Russia.

Stary Oskol views

Stary Oskol cityscape

Author: Nikolai Ivanov

The fountain on Friendship Boulevard in Stary Oskol

October movie theater in Stary Oskol

Author: Roman Riapolov

Stary Oskol - Features

The coat of arms of Stary Oskol is a shield divided in half diagonally, in the red field there is a rifle, in the green field - a golden plow. It reflects both military and agricultural importance of the town.

Stary Oskol is among Russian cities with the youngest population. The average age of its citizens is about 35 years. The main reason lies in the history of the city. In the second half of the 20th century, a large number of members of the Young Communist League came to Stary Oskol to participate in the construction of large industrial enterprises.

Unique reserves of iron ore, developed industry and infrastructure, high scientific, technical and industrial potential, fertile land form the basis of Stary Oskol economy.

The main branches of local industry are mining, ferrous metallurgy, machine building and metalworking, building materials, food industry. There are more than 140 large and medium industrial enterprises, which employ more than 80 thousand people.

Attractions of Stary Oskol

The city has more than a dozen Orthodox churches and chapels. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Tokareva Street, 4/1) is the main church of Stary Oskol. St. Trinity Church (Bolshevistskaya Street, 17/15), built in 1730, is the oldest church in the city.

The Zoo was opened in Stary Oskol in 2008. Bears, lions, tigers, monkeys, wolves, camels, ostriches, and other species of birds and animals live there.

Museum of Local Lore (Lenina Street, 50). The museums, founded in 1923, has exhibitions about the history of Stary Oskol. It is located in a building which is a monument of history and culture of the 19th century once owned by the merchants and brothers Likhutins.

The museum organizes tours of the city and the area including visits to an ancient Russian settlement of Kholki, an underground monastery in Melovy mountains, and a biosphere reserve “Yamskaya steppe”.

Art Museum (Lenina Street, 57). The collection of local masters of folk clay toys (O.M.Goncharova and N.M.Goncharova) is a real pearl of the museum. Stary Oskol folk clay toys production was known from the end of the 18th century.

House Museum of Vasily Yeroshenko (Yeroshenko Street, 15). Yeroshenko’s life is a living legend for blind people not only in Russia but also abroad. He encourages disabled people, supports them with his talent, helps them on their ways to improve techniques. Yeroshenko spoke 12 foreign languages and was the professor of universities in Tokyo and Beijing, he became a classic of Japan literature for children.

Stary Oskol city of Russia photos

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Byl movie theater in Stary Oskol

Friendship Boulevard in Stary Oskol

The Monument to Soviet-Bulgarian friendship in Stary Oskol

Sights of Stary Oskol

The memorial complex Ataman Forest in Stary Oskol

Cannon monument in Stary Oskol

Church of the Nativity in Stary Oskol

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Topo Designs Global Travel Bag 30 Liter - Carry-on Compliant Versatile Pack, 3 Carry Options, External Laptop Sleeve, Recycled Nylon Construction, Designed in Sunny Colorado, 2024 Model (Palm)

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• ATTACHMENTS AND ADD ONS WITH EASE: 3-way carry (backpack straps, shoulder strap and grab handles), Internal mesh organization pockets, Larger zippered security pocket and dual slip pockets, PackFast attachment clips
• RECYCLED NYLON CONSTRUCTION: Signature high visibility recycled yellow pack cloth interior, recycled black pack cloth interior on black color only
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Amex Global Business Travel Sees Big Gains From Tech Customers

Dennis Schaal , Skift

May 7th, 2024 at 4:52 PM EDT

Big companies are on the move again, but the business travel growth engine — small- to medium-sized businesses — took a step back because of high interest rates and inflation.

Dennis Schaal

Much of the discussion about business travel revolves around large corporations that have strict managed-travel policies. They require employees to book trips through sanctioned tools and at hotels and airlines that give corporations volume discounts.

In the first quarter, those corporations delivered significant gains for American Express Global Business Travel, the world’s largest travel-management company.

AmexGBT saw strength in transactions from global multinational corporations — tech companies in particular, with 30% growth. Other sectors turned in double-digit growth too, including pharmaceuticals, mining, energy and utilities.

But there was a downside: Small- to medium-sized businesses offer the largest opportunity in winning new business and they showed a decline in transaction growth of 3 percentage points in the fourth and first quarters.

These smaller businesses spend $30 million or less on travel annually and mostly let their employees book wherever they want.

They may not need a travel management company like Amex GBT. What’s more, they’ve been hit hard in recent months by higher inflation and interest costs, leading to tighter travel budgets.

Amex GBT CEO Paul Abbott told analysts during the earnings call Tuesday that of the $900 billion in total transaction value in play in business travel annually, “$300 billion sits with, if you like, professional managed-travel programs, and $600 billion in unmanaged.”

The entire business travel market is worth $1.4 trillion, he said, and “SME is the biggest opportunity within that.”

Amex GBT Is Poised to Acquire CWT in the Second Half of 2024

The earnings call took place with some unfinished business on the agenda — the $570 million acquisition of CWT , which officials said is poised to close in the second half of 2024.

Abbott said the companies’ integration teams are “established.”

He said the acquisition would increase company revenue by one-third and it would have the potential to be a “significant” contributor to earnings in the long run. There would be $155 million in “annual run rate cost synergies,” Abbott said. Meaning layoffs and trimming other redundant operations.

American Express Global Business Travel stated that a recent survey of its top 100 customers found they expect their travel spend to rise 8% in 2024.

Net Loss Narrowed, Positive Free Cash Flow

In the first quarter, the company narrowed its net loss to $19 million from a loss of $27 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 6% in the first quarter to $610 million.

One of the brighter metrics was that free cash flow hit $24 million in the first quarter, up from minus $109 million a year earlier.

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Tags: AmexGBT , business travel , corporate travel , cwt , earnings , hotels , mergers , mergers and acquisitions , Travel Trends

Photo credit: A business traveler about to catch a flight. Pxfuel