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Could you please say it when your sponsors are only available in certain countries (here Canada & the USA), filling out the quiz and making an account just to figure out when entering my address that they don't ship in Europe is just a waste of time...
Soft-lined zippered compartment for your glasses/sunglasses. Perfect for those who don’t want their lenses scratched but don’t mind if the glasses get crushed. These compartments need to be big enough to accommodate a pair of glasses in a hard case.
Not trying to be antagonistic, but why does it need to be soft-lined if the glasses are staying in a hard case? I as well appreciate the soft pocket, but I used to use it for an mp3 player mainly. Now though my phone lives in my pants pocket, and sunglasses are always in their own case, so the necessity of the lined glasses pocket is limited for my use. Actually still hunting for a purpose for the soft liner, as it just collects dirt easily and doesn’t really need to be protecting my glasses case Disclaimer: I work for an outdoor retailer, these are my opinions not those of my company.
@@SeanMather Their request was for it to be big enough to fit a case. The humor was the first part..."oft-lined zippered compartment for your glasses/sunglasses. Perfect for those who don’t want their lenses scratched but don’t mind if the glasses get crushed. "
Backpacks and crossbody bags are an unescapable addiction , right next to watches, yet I still feed them. I feel most of these comments and sadly, the only answer I have is get a different backpack for each occasion. Lighter backpacks for short trips, closer to home and outright gym bags with backpack straps for longer, multiple day/out of the country trips. The perfect backpack for all travels is a myth for me.
I hate Velcro on bags. It picks up dirt and other fibres and is fast to damage. I also don't like a ton of pockets/organisation as its a waste of space and adds unneeded weight.
I know I am in the minority, but I wish some bags came WITHOUT a laptop sleeve. I don't travel with a laptop, and I use a backpack as my personal item when I fly and I could use the extra space. This type is difficult to find.
I always travel with a laptop and I agree with you. Sometimes I take my large laptop for work and class, sometimes I only take my small Chromebook, sometimes I take my tablet as well depending on what I need. I'd much rather take those electronics in a separate laptop sleeve so if I don't need it I'm not dragging around the extra material and wasted space!
In my current bag I cut out the padded tablet sleeve, but left the separate laptop compartment, now without padding. I travel with paperwork, and it's nice to have somewhere that papers fit without folding of crumpling. Of course that's for work travel. For personal travel I don't use that pocket.
Couldn't agree more. I know a lot of people travel for work or can work remotely and travel, but I travel for vacation and work will never be a priority on this type of trip and I want the space back
YES. I really want something more than "hiking" or "tech bro" - it's a real struggle to find something that looks kind of nice, like something I can take to the office, that isn't also super boring and/or super masculine. The closest I've gotten are some diaper bags, they sometimes have decently ergonomic-ish harness systems, but I don't need an included changing pad and whatever 😅 (though maybe that could double as a sitting pad on wet park benches or something, I guess?😅)
Simple solution for dangling straps: cut them off and seal the ends in a candle flame. The excess length is there for the big guys, not for us petite ladies. So customize your backback to your own needs. No need for strap keepers.
@@GignacPL Yes, of course. Personally, I consider my backpack(s) too personal to lend out, and I plan to use them until they are fit only for the trash. But I can see why a person might want to preserve the longer straps., just in case.
Love this format of video - the chatty nature and live demo is so refreshing - your usual videos are so professional and well presented that they are almost over rehearsed (not meaning any offence!!) and I love this more natural style 😊 I'm gonna second the comment on the weight. I've got a trip coming up where I can have a single piece weighing no more than 7 kg. No way can I do 6 weeks winter in Europe packing in 7 kg, especially not when the bag is 1.5 kg of the total weight 😞 gonna have to check a bag 😬 which won't cost me any more, but I don't want it to get lost!!!
Fjällräven Kånken Was designed as a school bag. The sidepockets ISN'T waterbotle pockets. In 1978 no one thourght waterbotle pockets was a thing in school bags.
I have a 500ml Klean Kanteen bottle that fits in both of my Kånkens' pockets perfectly fine. I obviously am not going to think that my 1L Hydroflask would ever come close to fitting, which is fine, since I only use the Hydroflask if I'm going on a long car/train trip where I can just... hold it...
Clam shell backpack that don't have a mesh divider or straps. Yes, most of the time there is no need to use them, but not to have the possibility to secure everything is important. This was a criteria when I bought my bag several years ago. For daily use the divider is rolled up but always use it when I travel. I have seen enough "spill the content" accidents in airports for both in back-packs and suitcases. Equally so, seen half-closed backpacks in airports. This feature is usually available in large bags, but not so in the 25l range that is the sweet spot. Because much of my work has been a trouble shouter and fixer and "savior," not to secure something is no longer in my mind. Same goes for "every item has its place, traveling where forgot or lost an item meant "now you are in trouble." I am sure that the day a review who uses pouches has a little accident, if not even loosing something, this will become a criteria.
I don't think it's super common now, but it used to be pretty normal to find backpacks with mesh pockets on the outside. That's crazy - the mesh isn't durable enough for an outer pocket. You get it snagged on something and it just rips that the pocket and look/finish of the bag is ruined.
I pretty much agree with all of them to some degree, except the vertical zippers (never had something fall out) and the hip strap pockets (cause I never use hip straps). But strap missing strap keepers are not just an annoyance, but also a pet peeve of mine. If I would buy €50 bags, I'd get it, but not adding something that would cost a few cents during production on a €400 bag is really shltty. Especially since design choices, materials and other stuff could be justified by saying some people prefer that over this, I've never heard anyone say they don't like strap keepers; people either love them, or don't care, but nobody wants to not have them.
My Osprey Ozone Day backpack has lots of long straps - so I rolled each one up to near their buckle and used a thin (black) hair elastic to secure them. That worked perfectly!
Lay flat laptop compartment (TSA Approved - hahaha) at least in the US - I have never been through General TSA where you can keep your laptop in the bag - it always has to be taken out and put into an empty bin.
I think that whole lay-flat thing is a relic. There was a brief period about ten or so years ago when TSA would allow a laptop to go through the x-ray in a soft sleeve, so a lot of bag manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon to make bags with those lay-flat compartments, so you could send your laptop through without actually removing it from your bag. Supposedly this saved so many picoseconds that everyone wanted one... Except, that wasn't true. Not only did it not save much time at all, but very few people wanted one; they simply put their laptop into a sleeve and took the whole sleeve out for the x-ray. It was rendered moot when TSA changed the standard procedure to "all electronics larger than a phone must be removed from a bag and placed in a bin in a single layer, no sleeves or covers allowed." I imagine that the soft sleeve thing must still be a thing in other countries, otherwise bag manufacturers would have abandoned the extra feature and reduced manufacturing complexity long ago.
I would never keep my phone, wallet, or keys in any bag. You are much more like to lose, or be robbed of, your bag than anything else. And then, you have no keys, no phone, no wallet ... no, thank you. Those stay on my person at all times. In pockets or waist bag. That's for traveling, or every day carry, too.
Hard agree. I do not understand wanting your phone in an easily accessible pocket on the outside of a pack. Makes no sense. Put it in your pocket or something.. anything other than your main pack.
That's such a male POV. Women's clothes- unless a giant winter coat or specific tactical gear-don't often have pockets or the pockets aren't big enough to be useful. Personally if I'm travelling with a bag, I guard that thing with my life...and would never store things in visible or easily accessible pockets.
@@n000dle Pockets can be just as unsecure as keeping important items in a bag. How many bags are stolen or are broken when not noticed? Common I would think. I'm sure people are doing the same, guarding them with their lives. It's even happened to me, twice. So I don't think it is necessarily a male POV. It's how much precaution you want to take when traveling. The safest way to protect important documents is on your person, with a money belt or a tucked away neck wallet.
I think more companies should make detachable water bottle pockets, so customers can get the size they need or do away with them if they don't use them.
I like the look of every bag I see in the background. Part of the reason I subscribed. None of them are tactical looking which is the problem I am having. I find affordable sling bags and backpacks when I’m out shopping every once in a while but I find myself having to find a innocent pack to stock on it to keep it from screaming gun or something so much. What sling bag would you recommend for starters? I hope to get a response from you 2 so I will tell you what I carry: -Freezer ziplock with custom stop the bleed - boo boo kit in small zip lock - chargers batteries and ear phones - flashlight - knife - multi tool - notepad - pen , sharpie - chapstick - hair tie rubber band - small deodorant spray
I agree with the admin panel 100%. With the use of sling bags and organizer kits I already have a place for my admin essentials and I'll NEVER put my credit cards or passport in a dedicated slot in the backpack. I want them on my person. I've always been a big fan of bags with a "quick grab" pocket as well for storage of travel essentials especially if they have a soft lining for putting my phone/shades/glasses in while going through TSA.
As soon as you said 'dangling straps' I was like 'where's the Osprey Fairpoint' I got some elastic and made my own damn strap management because it was my one bugbear for an otherwise great bag.
I avoid bags with a lot of specific pockets. I don’t need spots for pens! One target open story commuter bag has an open pocket that puckers out so you have to mind it every time you put something in the bag
I made a great accidental find in Aldi Süd in Germany in 2022. They have great onboard backpacks perfect for Ryanair flights. Sounds strange but for 9,99€ (now 12,99€) I got such a good quality sized backpack with thick but lightweight material, with cushioning for the back that fits Ryanair standards for onboard suitcases (55 x 40 x 20 cm). You can fully open it like a suitcase . I Supplemented it with a 11,99€ underseat bag from Amazon I was good to go for a 9 day trip. 2 years later both bags still work. It has pockets for a rainprotector/or valuables. Inbuilt document holder. Compartments on the inside. A hook and many more pockets with zippers inside. Every summer and fall they seem to get these backpacks now might be worth to pick one up if anyones passing by 👀
The 30L Decathlon is satisfyingly lightweight and well-laid out, better laid out than 3/4 of the rest of my packs. No lining, no seam tape on interior seams but holds up fine.
Heavy bags is definitely at the top of my list! I like to carry tech (laptop and chargers) and some clothes and if the bag weights a couple pounds on its own, it makes it cumbersome to get through airport security check points especially when they force you to check the weight.
Especially for an edc bag, I much prefer having an admin panel over using a pouch. It allows me to open the zipper of my bag and just get the item. With a pouch on the other hand, I need to open the bag's zipper, then I usually need to find and retrieve the pouch, hold it with one hand and open its zipper with the other and then I can get the item I was looking for. It's not only a difference in the time and amounts of hands needed, but also in the discreteness. When I'm in a conference or classroom type setting, fumbling around for a while with both hands under the table looking down is just too much of a fuzz, when reaching into your bag with one hand is much sleeker. That being said, I would much prefer if admin panels had more three-dimensional pouches on them so you can store stuff like lip balm, eye drops or meds and not just cards (which I have a wallet for anyways) and pens. Another thing (not really feature) everyone hates is straps that rip out of their upper attachment easily. If that happened on a 10$ backpack, I wouldn't be complaining,but I'm calling it out because I've seen it happen on expensive backpacks too, The North Face to be specific and that's just unacceptable. Even Decathlon manages to make more durable backpacks. My Nike SB backpack (the model with molle) that I got for 90€ has been in daily use for 6 years now and the only wear is ripped mesh on the back panel from constant rubbing and the most used zipper pull's threads becoming loose. With The North Face on the other hand, I've seen half the strap rip out after 1.5 years of daily use. I think it was a Rodey (?) in that case but people have complained about it with most of their models.
1:30 my travel backpack (North Face Surge) has elastic gusseted water bottle pockets to combat this. Even when it's fully packed out I can still fit my 24oz water bottle in easily
I cut off the excess parts of the straps on my hiking backpacks but I appreciate that people might not want to do this to an everyday or travel backpack! These videos with the two of you presenting are great by the way.
The Alpaka Metro nails the vertical Quick Access Pocket. It has some organization that really holds everything in space, when the bag stands or is carried upright.
I don't know why people don't cut off extra strap length. They're annoying and super easy to fix. Stuff your bag as full as you can, adjust the straps .Now, put it on with multiple layers of the bulkiest layers you'd wear, adjust the straps again to be as tight as you'd wear it. Then back off the straps to the most you'd loosen them before you'd put the pack on again. Mark that point with tape, go out about 4 inches and cut off the remainder of the strap. Annoying straps eliminated and extra weight (albeit small) removed. Done this to all my packs for the past 25 years.
1.After tried so many packs(bags). The weight is critical, and durability and weight is not dilemma at all, you are getting bored with one bag faster than it decays, and yeah these ridiculously heavy bags are outrageous and will easily give up after packing it. 2.Too many pockets and sometimes don’t add to the function will trick myself sometime, I am not even remember what i’ve put something in there. And some of you guys are using packing cubes ,tech/toiletry poaches anyway, why still need so many pocket fabrics to add weight. 3.Decathlon bags are reasonable choice, price/design/function/weight, after all you are paying for those fashionable branding durable/ultra light weight packs.
Storing your passport or credit card in a pocket that‘s easily accessible is a bad idea. I keep mine in a pocket that‘s against my back when I wear the backpack. Easy access implies easy access for thieves, especially when you‘re packed into the metro/subway at rush hour.
On my trip to Iceland, I used the hip pockets on an LL Bean hydration backpack to hold my earbuds, sunscreen and my lip balm while hiking. I did appreciate not having to put those in my pockets with my phone. I ended up buying a rolltop bag while I was there, well worth the purchase. However, when I travel for work, yes, I'm very conscious of what my bag has and why. That having been said, I so rarely use pockets in the main compartment on my work backpack just because I am packing a change of clothes in a compression bag and and my toiletries. But that's a personal preference thing, I get it.
Agree with them all. Have two Nomatic. One zipper broke and I got the upgraded model with better zippers. Loved the many compartments of the other Nomatic. A pocket for every item. But it is a pain if you need to switch bags. I switched my daily to the Minaal. A huge compartment for packing cubes and some smart compartments for small things.
Funny that you called out Osprey on the strap keeping, my osprey Kestrel 32 was the first bag I'd ever had WITH strap keepers! Now I can't live without them and add them myself to bags that don't have them.
I don't like backpacks that lay flat on your back, but have some sort of arch to keep them off you so it makes you less sweaty, and if you have a map with you, you can just put it in a map board and tuck it back there, instead of having it dangle on a sling in front of you
i have buy a lowepro backpack 20 years a go , use it as travel bag , has a computer compartment , has lot of small useful pockets , loopls to atach stuff . has rain cover , wery resistant, ergonomic , use it for my camera gear , and remove the partitions when i travel ,
Tiny water bottle pockets suck, but so do too large ones!! I've lost 2-3 bottles commuting because something just fell out. Ironically on is the Fjallraven Raven. Kanken pockets do suck unless you get the bottle slide-in pouch. Just an aesthetic thing, but I can't stand roll tops. Too much of a bother. (I do get why some like them... not for me though!)
well, to the last point, about little cards pockets in big bags... well, if it is a certain big bag like gym bag, it is good for membership card and some other around, also gift cards etc. The same about travel bag - nowadays there are many bonus cards, gifts cards, some other stuff like visit cards etc. that you not necessary keep in your valet. So these pockets often get filled with such stuff, so useful.
I don’t like backpacks which have: - boxy shapes that stick out away from my body that I can hit people with. I like more egg shapes or bags I can flatten with tightening straps - only one access point to the laptop or tablet sleeve. I like having both top access and side access. -top loading bags that force me to dig to get to stuff at the bottom. Clamshell all the way. - no proper rain protection material or unsecured pockets that rain can get into. Synik 22 meets all those for me.
@@constancepullen810 actually I forgot about it immediately! I commuted this week (I walk about 2 miles total and take the bus) and I didn't even think about it 😅
Re: Peak zippers, the YKK zippers didn't hold up on the curved panels long term. So far, their new zippers on the Everyday Backpack v2 have held up well, when the YKK on the V1 started to break within 2 years.
I want a pack the style and design of Cabin Zero but less flimsy and with more load lifting. Sometimes I just need a bucket. I can add my own organization.
This was such a simple test completely enjoyable video. Great content guys. Sometimes we get so into the features of a backpack we forget to ask, do we really need that? Lol. I have a cheap sling that has multiple credit pockets and an headset cord hole.... Very outdated and useless lol
9:36 THIS. I think that admin panels on full sized travel backpacks (30-40L or max carryon) are overrated. They don’t seem like a very efficient use of space and weight given the purpose of a travel pack, which is to carry all of the stuff on your trip to/from transit and lodging. And at the airport. I imagine most people don’t carry their main pack around with them all day once they’ve arrived. They leave it in their room, and they generally need more organization on a regular basis in their daypacks. Give me a big bucket to efficiently maximize carry capacity and flexibility and just enough organization for TSA check and limited transit, and I’m good. The Tortuga Lite 40L Travel backpack is PERFECT in that regard.
The one thing that drives me nuts about the farpoint40 is the handling and I do use Velcro straps. Currently trying to figure out how to make it stand on its own.
YKK zippers are like Vibram soles. People want them but do not why, except they seem to be everywhere.? People forget that YKK and Vibram have dozens of variations. YKK came to markets just has buttons were going out of style and US service men saw them in Japan after WW2. They also do not know YKK zipped items sold in North America are from the YKK factory in Georgia. There are few better zipper companies - that very few people use- for instance Nendo designs zippers are big in south Asia.
YKK = feeling confident it will not break on you in the middle of a crisis, e.g. thunderstorm. There might be better zipper companies but YKK brand has yet to be soiled.
I want either a dedicated laptop compartment or nothing at all. A laptop sleeve in the main compartment is usually pretty useless once you start filling the backpack - it's such a hassle to get the laptop in and out of a stuffed main compartment! If I don't travel with a laptop, the compartment is just wasted weight and inefficiently shaped, overly padded compartment that's not very useful. If I do travel with a laptop, I want to be able to get it in and out of the bag without wrestling with everything else I've got in there. I can, I guess, accept a compromise of having two zippers into the main compartment with a laptop sleeve, so that one zipper gives easy access to the rest of my stuff and one zipper is just above the laptop. But mostly I'd rather just have a really good laptop compartment or none at all.
I don’t like a ton of pockets, weight, or Velcro, the clamshell works with mini tool bags for tech/battery packs and sunglasses. Keep it simple. I like the Tasmanian Tiger Urban Tac Pack 22 for the great zippers, pro duty construction, and simplicity. Get compliments from the ladies on the Coyote color. It’s different and doesn’t scream tacticool commando.
that admin panel card slot i am sure is great for back when people carried actual business cards not for credit cards. i knew some sales people who would strategically have a competitor of a customers business card on top with a logo or name shown. when they would open the filofax planner to give out or slit a business card the customer could see it granted im sure yall dont even know what a filofax is. lol
For me it's heavy backpacks designed to carry heavy items but does nothing to mitigate the weight. I love my peak design everyday bag but after more than 5 years wearing it in college with all my camera gear and laptop, my back has not aged well and I need to be more thoughtful with my load out but also consider my bag's weight as well
I like hidden pockets (pockets in my bag). I don't put my wallet, phone, and keys in the front pocket to avoid being pickpocketed. Those go in the hidden compartment. I reserve the front pocket for things like snacks, tissues, and hand sanitizer. Nobody is going to steal that.
The only problem I have with my current bag, Tropicfeel's Nest, is that they have this zipper cover at the end at the end of the zipper for the laptop compartment. Unfortunately my laptop is too big to fit in and I had to cut it to give me back that extra inch of opening.
Fjallraven Kanken pcoket was designed for an umbrella, not a water bottle! Peak Design zippers... I've had two that failed. It's probably fair to say they're above average, not exceptional, and should be better at that price. Asian and Australian low cost carriers definitely weigh bags and make few exceptions.
Seriously, it’s gotta fit a big Nalgene or Yeti bottle or what are you even doing? Disclaimer: I work for an outdoor retailer, these are my opinions and do not reflect those of my company.
Waist Belts positioned so much above your waist that they support nothing and don't spread the weight (Just look at that flimsy Tortuga waist belt. It does nothing!)
Anything velcro. It's like announcing to everyone around you that YOU ARE ABOUT TO OPEN SOMETHING UP NOW EVERYONE PAY ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY YOU SLEEPING TODDLER!
Bottle-holders: ‚Water-bottle-mania‘ is such an US thing… Only Americans lug around gallons of water inside a city, full of points where potable water can be had for free. Even climbing backbacks often come without such a feature which is rarely missed.
Didn’t make the post but my #1 is when a zipper only has a single zipper pull. I won’t buy a bag of any sort with only a single zipper pull; it must have two per zipper, per opening
Backpacks with only one main compartment and nothing else. I don't like my laptop destroyed or scratched by various items. Backpacks without side pockets or only one side pocket. Two side pockets are needed - one for water bottle, the other for a wet umbrella Thin or no cushion backpack handle. Those are nasty on your hands if your bag is kinda heavy. Backpacks with one zipper the major compartments. If the zip is spoilt, you have to throw away the whole bag, whereas with double zippers, you can zip it the other way around and still use the bag. Backpacks with shoes compartment that eats into the space of the main compartment...
I'd rather companies use that admin space to design a spot to carry a dopp kit. As a male, I travel with a slim dopp kit and a purpose built spot where the admin panel usually goes would be great....or my preferred location would be below the admin panel location with some volume of its own so it doesn't eat into the interior space and then the quick access pocket on top of that also with its own volume. The rest of my personal stuff usually sits in my sling which I wear in front.
All of them are things to avoid, but bags that do not stand upright on their own, too many dangling straps (Osprey) and loud zippers are the most annoying.
This is an adjacent complaint about bag companies: I hate when a brand has a successful bag and they don't update it. I know it's still relatively early days for some businesses, but I feel like 4ish years is a decent point to make at least an iterative update for successful bags, and I think it's a little rude when a company won't make a real improvement at the five year mark. I can't recommend someone buy a bag that hasn't budged in half a decade but still markets itself as "innovative".
unnecessary multiple compartments. max you need is 2. 1 for the bulky stuff, 1 for secure stuff like wallet, passport. make laptop compartment optional. you can buy a separate laptop sleeve to pack on. too many compartments equal excess weight and space, and hard to find where you kept the item. i was considering between the different osprey and patagonia options. in the end i went with patagonia black hole tote because it didnt have obsessive compartments or laptop compartment. was lightweight and not structured. hence when i check in, it looks like a flat lightweight bag.
I hate a needlessly heavy bag as much as the next guy but the Goruck is a terrible example, it's not a "travel bag". It was designed to be heavy by shoving sand/water/steel plates into it. It's a rucking/military bag made for carrying ("needlessly") heavy loads and being thrown out of vehicles into sand and rock.
Kankens side pockets are prefect for foldable umbrellas, large mobile phones and low profile glass cases. Dumb „water-bottle-carry-mania” undermines well-thought product concept, that had proved itself on the market decades ago.
One day, someone will start a company that will allow you to design and build your backpack on their website to meet your wants - size, pockets, zippers, materials, etc. I look forward to that day (and I'm willing to pay).
My main complaint with the more "trendy" backpacks is the lack of outside water bottle holders. I don't get it. Is it not "cool" to drink water?? lol. Also, I don't want to put it inside my backpack for many reasons, including the fact that I don't want to unzip my backpack to take a drink, and I don't want to chance it leaking if I forget to screw it on tightly or something.
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Could you please say it when your sponsors are only available in certain countries (here Canada & the USA), filling out the quiz and making an account just to figure out when entering my address that they don't ship in Europe is just a waste of time...
Soft-lined zippered compartment for your glasses/sunglasses. Perfect for those who don’t want their lenses scratched but don’t mind if the glasses get crushed. These compartments need to be big enough to accommodate a pair of glasses in a hard case.
Not trying to be antagonistic, but why does it need to be soft-lined if the glasses are staying in a hard case? I as well appreciate the soft pocket, but I used to use it for an mp3 player mainly. Now though my phone lives in my pants pocket, and sunglasses are always in their own case, so the necessity of the lined glasses pocket is limited for my use. Actually still hunting for a purpose for the soft liner, as it just collects dirt easily and doesn’t really need to be protecting my glasses case
Disclaimer: I work for an outdoor retailer, these are my opinions not those of my company.
@@SeanMatherread the comment again and if you don't get it... read it again 😂
@@SeanMather Their request was for it to be big enough to fit a case. The humor was the first part..."oft-lined zippered compartment for your glasses/sunglasses. Perfect for those who don’t want their lenses scratched but don’t mind if the glasses get crushed. "
Backpacks and crossbody bags are an unescapable addiction , right next to watches, yet I still feed them. I feel most of these comments and sadly, the only answer I have is get a different backpack for each occasion. Lighter backpacks for short trips, closer to home and outright gym bags with backpack straps for longer, multiple day/out of the country trips. The perfect backpack for all travels is a myth for me.
I agree, no backpack is perfect…
Totally agree! I can't stop watching these reviews and dreaming about the next great thing 😂
You've convinced me! I need MORE BAGS!! haha. In all seriousness you're spot on. I do have multiple bags and use them each for their own purpose.
I hate Velcro on bags. It picks up dirt and other fibres and is fast to damage. I also don't like a ton of pockets/organisation as its a waste of space and adds unneeded weight.
I am digging these videos where two of you are on camera
Thanks for the feedback! 😃
You can also use a hair elastic for a strap keeper.
I know I am in the minority, but I wish some bags came WITHOUT a laptop sleeve. I don't travel with a laptop, and I use a backpack as my personal item when I fly and I could use the extra space. This type is difficult to find.
I always travel with a laptop and I agree with you. Sometimes I take my large laptop for work and class, sometimes I only take my small Chromebook, sometimes I take my tablet as well depending on what I need. I'd much rather take those electronics in a separate laptop sleeve so if I don't need it I'm not dragging around the extra material and wasted space!
In my current bag I cut out the padded tablet sleeve, but left the separate laptop compartment, now without padding. I travel with paperwork, and it's nice to have somewhere that papers fit without folding of crumpling. Of course that's for work travel. For personal travel I don't use that pocket.
Couldn't agree more. I know a lot of people travel for work or can work remotely and travel, but I travel for vacation and work will never be a priority on this type of trip and I want the space back
I have a backpack that I always take for travel, same issue. I'm gonna cut out the sleeve and padding for laptop to basically make more room
I keep considering cutting out the laptop storage from my pack. Maybe I should just do it.@@Green__one
i wish bag makers would offer colors other than black. the color itself is the feature i hate the most - i am so tired of black bags. its so boring.
I am tired of black because I like to find or see my bag easily and black just blends in to everything - I need brighter in order to see it better
YES. I really want something more than "hiking" or "tech bro" - it's a real struggle to find something that looks kind of nice, like something I can take to the office, that isn't also super boring and/or super masculine. The closest I've gotten are some diaper bags, they sometimes have decently ergonomic-ish harness systems, but I don't need an included changing pad and whatever 😅 (though maybe that could double as a sitting pad on wet park benches or something, I guess?😅)
Backpacks that have a main compartment with only one zipper instead of two.
😳😳😳
100%
Holy shit that sounds absolutely horrifying
Simple solution for dangling straps: cut them off and seal the ends in a candle flame. The excess length is there for the big guys, not for us petite ladies. So customize your backback to your own needs. No need for strap keepers.
I just fold mine up and secure them with rubber bands.
It becomes a problem when you want to sell the backpack or lend it to someone
@@GignacPL Yes, of course. Personally, I consider my backpack(s) too personal to lend out, and I plan to use them until they are fit only for the trash. But I can see why a person might want to preserve the longer straps., just in case.
@@CaliforniaSunshineGirl Makes sense :))
Love this format of video - the chatty nature and live demo is so refreshing - your usual videos are so professional and well presented that they are almost over rehearsed (not meaning any offence!!) and I love this more natural style 😊
I'm gonna second the comment on the weight. I've got a trip coming up where I can have a single piece weighing no more than 7 kg. No way can I do 6 weeks winter in Europe packing in 7 kg, especially not when the bag is 1.5 kg of the total weight 😞 gonna have to check a bag 😬 which won't cost me any more, but I don't want it to get lost!!!
Thanks for watching! 😃
Fjällräven Kånken Was designed as a school bag. The sidepockets ISN'T waterbotle pockets. In 1978 no one thourght waterbotle pockets was a thing in school bags.
I think the side pockets were for an umbrella.
The product listing on Fjallraven's own website shows multiple pictures with water bottles in those pockets.
@@mattsheets, yes but for BOTTLES, not for Water barrels
I have a 500ml Klean Kanteen bottle that fits in both of my Kånkens' pockets perfectly fine. I obviously am not going to think that my 1L Hydroflask would ever come close to fitting, which is fine, since I only use the Hydroflask if I'm going on a long car/train trip where I can just... hold it...
It's 2024. Talk about moving with the times eh
Clam shell backpack that don't have a mesh divider or straps. Yes, most of the time there is no need to use them, but not to have the possibility to secure everything is important. This was a criteria when I bought my bag several years ago. For daily use the divider is rolled up but always use it when I travel. I have seen enough "spill the content" accidents in airports for both in back-packs and suitcases. Equally so, seen half-closed backpacks in airports.
This feature is usually available in large bags, but not so in the 25l range that is the sweet spot.
Because much of my work has been a trouble shouter and fixer and "savior," not to secure something is no longer in my mind. Same goes for "every item has its place, traveling where forgot or lost an item meant "now you are in trouble." I am sure that the day a review who uses pouches has a little accident, if not even loosing something, this will become a criteria.
I don't think it's super common now, but it used to be pretty normal to find backpacks with mesh pockets on the outside. That's crazy - the mesh isn't durable enough for an outer pocket. You get it snagged on something and it just rips that the pocket and look/finish of the bag is ruined.
I pretty much agree with all of them to some degree, except the vertical zippers (never had something fall out) and the hip strap pockets (cause I never use hip straps).
But strap missing strap keepers are not just an annoyance, but also a pet peeve of mine. If I would buy €50 bags, I'd get it, but not adding something that would cost a few cents during production on a €400 bag is really shltty. Especially since design choices, materials and other stuff could be justified by saying some people prefer that over this, I've never heard anyone say they don't like strap keepers; people either love them, or don't care, but nobody wants to not have them.
My Osprey Ozone Day backpack has lots of long straps - so I rolled each one up to near their buckle and used a thin (black) hair elastic to secure them. That worked perfectly!
Lay flat laptop compartment (TSA Approved - hahaha) at least in the US - I have never been through General TSA where you can keep your laptop in the bag - it always has to be taken out and put into an empty bin.
Gotta say, that’s one advantage of Pre-Check
I think that whole lay-flat thing is a relic. There was a brief period about ten or so years ago when TSA would allow a laptop to go through the x-ray in a soft sleeve, so a lot of bag manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon to make bags with those lay-flat compartments, so you could send your laptop through without actually removing it from your bag. Supposedly this saved so many picoseconds that everyone wanted one...
Except, that wasn't true. Not only did it not save much time at all, but very few people wanted one; they simply put their laptop into a sleeve and took the whole sleeve out for the x-ray.
It was rendered moot when TSA changed the standard procedure to "all electronics larger than a phone must be removed from a bag and placed in a bin in a single layer, no sleeves or covers allowed."
I imagine that the soft sleeve thing must still be a thing in other countries, otherwise bag manufacturers would have abandoned the extra feature and reduced manufacturing complexity long ago.
I would never keep my phone, wallet, or keys in any bag. You are much more like to lose, or be robbed of, your bag than anything else. And then, you have no keys, no phone, no wallet ... no, thank you. Those stay on my person at all times. In pockets or waist bag. That's for traveling, or every day carry, too.
#1 of rule of travel.
Hard agree. I do not understand wanting your phone in an easily accessible pocket on the outside of a pack. Makes no sense. Put it in your pocket or something.. anything other than your main pack.
That's such a male POV. Women's clothes- unless a giant winter coat or specific tactical gear-don't often have pockets or the pockets aren't big enough to be useful.
Personally if I'm travelling with a bag, I guard that thing with my life...and would never store things in visible or easily accessible pockets.
@@n000dle Pockets can be just as unsecure as keeping important items in a bag. How many bags are stolen or are broken when not noticed? Common I would think. I'm sure people are doing the same, guarding them with their lives. It's even happened to me, twice. So I don't think it is necessarily a male POV. It's how much precaution you want to take when traveling. The safest way to protect important documents is on your person, with a money belt or a tucked away neck wallet.
@@n000dle Doing it because you have no other option, is different than choosing to do it, when you do have a better option.
I think more companies should make detachable water bottle pockets, so customers can get the size they need or do away with them if they don't use them.
I like the look of every bag I see in the background. Part of the reason I subscribed. None of them are tactical looking which is the problem I am having. I find affordable sling bags and backpacks when I’m out shopping every once in a while but I find myself having to find a innocent pack to stock on it to keep it from screaming gun or something so much. What sling bag would you recommend for starters? I hope to get a response from you 2 so I will tell you what I carry:
-Freezer ziplock with custom stop the bleed
- boo boo kit in small zip lock
- chargers batteries and ear phones
- flashlight
- knife
- multi tool
- notepad
- pen , sharpie
- chapstick
- hair tie rubber band
- small deodorant spray
I agree with the admin panel 100%. With the use of sling bags and organizer kits I already have a place for my admin essentials and I'll NEVER put my credit cards or passport in a dedicated slot in the backpack. I want them on my person. I've always been a big fan of bags with a "quick grab" pocket as well for storage of travel essentials especially if they have a soft lining for putting my phone/shades/glasses in while going through TSA.
🤙🤙🤙
Ditto. I use admin panels for non-critical stuff like lens cloths and pens and Fresnel lenses, but never for money, credit cards, or ID.
As soon as you said 'dangling straps' I was like 'where's the Osprey Fairpoint' I got some elastic and made my own damn strap management because it was my one bugbear for an otherwise great bag.
Well, that and no compartmentalizations
I love this video format! You guys covered so much so quickly and it was awesome to see all the bags that had these different features firsthand
Thanks for watching! 😃
6:00 Or put heat-shrink tubing tube over hose and that should help
I avoid bags with a lot of specific pockets. I don’t need spots for pens! One target open story commuter bag has an open pocket that puckers out so you have to mind it every time you put something in the bag
I made a great accidental find in Aldi Süd in Germany in 2022. They have great onboard backpacks perfect for Ryanair flights. Sounds strange but for 9,99€ (now 12,99€) I got such a good quality sized backpack with thick but lightweight material, with cushioning for the back that fits Ryanair standards for onboard suitcases (55 x 40 x 20 cm). You can fully open it like a suitcase . I Supplemented it with a 11,99€ underseat bag from Amazon I was good to go for a 9 day trip. 2 years later both bags still work. It has pockets for a rainprotector/or valuables. Inbuilt document holder. Compartments on the inside. A hook and many more pockets with zippers inside. Every summer and fall they seem to get these backpacks now might be worth to pick one up if anyones passing by 👀
The 30L Decathlon is satisfyingly lightweight and well-laid out, better laid out than 3/4 of the rest of my packs. No lining, no seam tape on interior seams but holds up fine.
Heavy bags is definitely at the top of my list! I like to carry tech (laptop and chargers) and some clothes and if the bag weights a couple pounds on its own, it makes it cumbersome to get through airport security check points especially when they force you to check the weight.
Especially for an edc bag, I much prefer having an admin panel over using a pouch. It allows me to open the zipper of my bag and just get the item. With a pouch on the other hand, I need to open the bag's zipper, then I usually need to find and retrieve the pouch, hold it with one hand and open its zipper with the other and then I can get the item I was looking for. It's not only a difference in the time and amounts of hands needed, but also in the discreteness. When I'm in a conference or classroom type setting, fumbling around for a while with both hands under the table looking down is just too much of a fuzz, when reaching into your bag with one hand is much sleeker.
That being said, I would much prefer if admin panels had more three-dimensional pouches on them so you can store stuff like lip balm, eye drops or meds and not just cards (which I have a wallet for anyways) and pens.
Another thing (not really feature) everyone hates is straps that rip out of their upper attachment easily. If that happened on a 10$ backpack, I wouldn't be complaining,but I'm calling it out because I've seen it happen on expensive backpacks too, The North Face to be specific and that's just unacceptable. Even Decathlon manages to make more durable backpacks. My Nike SB backpack (the model with molle) that I got for 90€ has been in daily use for 6 years now and the only wear is ripped mesh on the back panel from constant rubbing and the most used zipper pull's threads becoming loose. With The North Face on the other hand, I've seen half the strap rip out after 1.5 years of daily use. I think it was a Rodey (?) in that case but people have complained about it with most of their models.
Thanks for sharing your insights! 🤙
Appreciate all the knowledge you guys share. Just invaluable.
Thanks for watching! 😃
For the vertical zipper pocket, I put those essential items in a pouch which I can then easily slide in and out of the pocket
1:30 my travel backpack (North Face Surge) has elastic gusseted water bottle pockets to combat this. Even when it's fully packed out I can still fit my 24oz water bottle in easily
I cut off the excess parts of the straps on my hiking backpacks but I appreciate that people might not want to do this to an everyday or travel backpack! These videos with the two of you presenting are great by the way.
Thanks for watching! 😃
The Alpaka Metro nails the vertical Quick Access Pocket. It has some organization that really holds everything in space, when the bag stands or is carried upright.
Thanks for sharing your insights! 🤙
I don't know why people don't cut off extra strap length. They're annoying and super easy to fix. Stuff your bag as full as you can, adjust the straps .Now, put it on with multiple layers of the bulkiest layers you'd wear, adjust the straps again to be as tight as you'd wear it. Then back off the straps to the most you'd loosen them before you'd put the pack on again. Mark that point with tape, go out about 4 inches and cut off the remainder of the strap. Annoying straps eliminated and extra weight (albeit small) removed. Done this to all my packs for the past 25 years.
1.After tried so many packs(bags). The weight is critical, and durability and weight is not dilemma at all, you are getting bored with one bag faster than it decays, and yeah these ridiculously heavy bags are outrageous and will easily give up after packing it.
2.Too many pockets and sometimes don’t add to the function will trick myself sometime, I am not even remember what i’ve put something in there. And some of you guys are using packing cubes ,tech/toiletry poaches anyway, why still need so many pocket fabrics to add weight.
3.Decathlon bags are reasonable choice, price/design/function/weight, after all you are paying for those fashionable branding durable/ultra light weight packs.
I think most these days are either a laptop OR a hydration pack. Assumption being if you're not using one you're using the other
I like the handheld camera look. You should bring more of that to your videos. 🤙🏻
Thanks for the feedback! 😃
Storing your passport or credit card in a pocket that‘s easily accessible is a bad idea. I keep mine in a pocket that‘s against my back when I wear the backpack. Easy access implies easy access for thieves, especially when you‘re packed into the metro/subway at rush hour.
On my trip to Iceland, I used the hip pockets on an LL Bean hydration backpack to hold my earbuds, sunscreen and my lip balm while hiking. I did appreciate not having to put those in my pockets with my phone. I ended up buying a rolltop bag while I was there, well worth the purchase. However, when I travel for work, yes, I'm very conscious of what my bag has and why. That having been said, I so rarely use pockets in the main compartment on my work backpack just because I am packing a change of clothes in a compression bag and and my toiletries. But that's a personal preference thing, I get it.
Agree with them all.
Have two Nomatic. One zipper broke and I got the upgraded model with better zippers.
Loved the many compartments of the other Nomatic. A pocket for every item. But it is a pain if you need to switch bags.
I switched my daily to the Minaal. A huge compartment for packing cubes and some smart compartments for small things.
Funny that you called out Osprey on the strap keeping, my osprey Kestrel 32 was the first bag I'd ever had WITH strap keepers! Now I can't live without them and add them myself to bags that don't have them.
I don't like backpacks that lay flat on your back, but have some sort of arch to keep them off you so it makes you less sweaty, and if you have a map with you, you can just put it in a map board and tuck it back there, instead of having it dangle on a sling in front of you
I like this chatty format!
Thanks for the feedback! 😃
i have buy a lowepro backpack 20 years a go , use it as travel bag , has a computer compartment , has lot of small useful pockets , loopls to atach stuff . has rain cover , wery resistant, ergonomic , use it for my camera gear , and remove the partitions when i travel ,
Tiny water bottle pockets suck, but so do too large ones!! I've lost 2-3 bottles commuting because something just fell out. Ironically on is the Fjallraven Raven.
Kanken pockets do suck unless you get the bottle slide-in pouch.
Just an aesthetic thing, but I can't stand roll tops. Too much of a bother. (I do get why some like them... not for me though!)
Loving this new format with the off the cuff, back and forth between you two.
Also Lauren is glam as f**k in this episode, stunning!
Thanks for watching! 😃
well, to the last point, about little cards pockets in big bags... well, if it is a certain big bag like gym bag, it is good for membership card and some other around, also gift cards etc. The same about travel bag - nowadays there are many bonus cards, gifts cards, some other stuff like visit cards etc. that you not necessary keep in your valet. So these pockets often get filled with such stuff, so useful.
I don’t like backpacks which have:
- boxy shapes that stick out away from my body that I can hit people with. I like more egg shapes or bags I can flatten with tightening straps
- only one access point to the laptop or tablet sleeve. I like having both top access and side access.
-top loading bags that force me to dig to get to stuff at the bottom. Clamshell all the way.
- no proper rain protection material or unsecured pockets that rain can get into.
Synik 22 meets all those for me.
I liked this style of video. A good deviation from your normal content! How often do normal people replace their backpacks?
Such a good video! I loved these points and discussion …thank you
Thanks for watching! 😃
I've never even thought about zippers jingling, I've used a TB Synik as my EDC for work for almost 5 years and it's never crossed my mind.
And now you'll hear it all the time 😅
@@constancepullen810 actually I forgot about it immediately! I commuted this week (I walk about 2 miles total and take the bus) and I didn't even think about it 😅
Re: Peak zippers, the YKK zippers didn't hold up on the curved panels long term. So far, their new zippers on the Everyday Backpack v2 have held up well, when the YKK on the V1 started to break within 2 years.
I want a pack the style and design of Cabin Zero but less flimsy and with more load lifting. Sometimes I just need a bucket. I can add my own organization.
Dangling loose straps are my dealbreaker. This would be most backpacks. I love what Aer does with their loose straps.
Thank you for addressing dangling straps! We hates them forever! Even with keepers. Adjust it to field use variables, cut and burn precious!
😂😂😂
Shimoda...has a cell phone-sized pocket built into the shoulder straps. Much better than on the hip belt.
This was such a simple test completely enjoyable video. Great content guys. Sometimes we get so into the features of a backpack we forget to ask, do we really need that? Lol. I have a cheap sling that has multiple credit pockets and an headset cord hole.... Very outdated and useless lol
Thanks for watching! 😃
9:36 THIS. I think that admin panels on full sized travel backpacks (30-40L or max carryon) are overrated. They don’t seem like a very efficient use of space and weight given the purpose of a travel pack, which is to carry all of the stuff on your trip to/from transit and lodging. And at the airport.
I imagine most people don’t carry their main pack around with them all day once they’ve arrived. They leave it in their room, and they generally need more organization on a regular basis in their daypacks.
Give me a big bucket to efficiently maximize carry capacity and flexibility and just enough organization for TSA check and limited transit, and I’m good. The Tortuga Lite 40L Travel backpack is PERFECT in that regard.
You can also just heatshrink the zipper pulls if you want an reversible jingle solution that doesn't involve tape. Be careful not to melt the bag.
The one thing that drives me nuts about the farpoint40 is the handling and I do use Velcro straps. Currently trying to figure out how to make it stand on its own.
YKK zippers are like Vibram soles. People want them but do not why, except they seem to be everywhere.? People forget that YKK and Vibram have dozens of variations. YKK came to markets just has buttons were going out of style and US service men saw them in Japan after WW2. They also do not know YKK zipped items sold in North America are from the YKK factory in Georgia. There are few better zipper companies - that very few people use- for instance Nendo designs zippers are big in south Asia.
YKK = feeling confident it will not break on you in the middle of a crisis, e.g. thunderstorm. There might be better zipper companies but YKK brand has yet to be soiled.
I used Velcro cable ties to attach mouse ears to my Disney bag. 😁 Like an S-biner but tighter
I want either a dedicated laptop compartment or nothing at all. A laptop sleeve in the main compartment is usually pretty useless once you start filling the backpack - it's such a hassle to get the laptop in and out of a stuffed main compartment!
If I don't travel with a laptop, the compartment is just wasted weight and inefficiently shaped, overly padded compartment that's not very useful.
If I do travel with a laptop, I want to be able to get it in and out of the bag without wrestling with everything else I've got in there.
I can, I guess, accept a compromise of having two zippers into the main compartment with a laptop sleeve, so that one zipper gives easy access to the rest of my stuff and one zipper is just above the laptop. But mostly I'd rather just have a really good laptop compartment or none at all.
Yes to compression straps.
I would prefer a mobile phone pouch which can be mounted on the shoulder strap
I don’t like a ton of pockets, weight, or Velcro, the clamshell works with mini tool bags for tech/battery packs and sunglasses. Keep it simple. I like the Tasmanian Tiger Urban Tac Pack 22 for the great zippers, pro duty construction, and simplicity. Get compliments from the ladies on the Coyote color. It’s different and doesn’t scream tacticool commando.
Thanks for sharing your insights! 🤙
that admin panel card slot i am sure is great for back when people carried actual business cards not for credit cards. i knew some sales people who would strategically have a competitor of a customers business card on top with a logo or name shown. when they would open the filofax planner to give out or slit a business card the customer could see it granted im sure yall dont even know what a filofax is. lol
For me it's heavy backpacks designed to carry heavy items but does nothing to mitigate the weight. I love my peak design everyday bag but after more than 5 years wearing it in college with all my camera gear and laptop, my back has not aged well and I need to be more thoughtful with my load out but also consider my bag's weight as well
Thanks for sharing your insights! 🤙
I like hidden pockets (pockets in my bag). I don't put my wallet, phone, and keys in the front pocket to avoid being pickpocketed. Those go in the hidden compartment. I reserve the front pocket for things like snacks, tissues, and hand sanitizer. Nobody is going to steal that.
The only problem I have with my current bag, Tropicfeel's Nest, is that they have this zipper cover at the end at the end of the zipper for the laptop compartment. Unfortunately my laptop is too big to fit in and I had to cut it to give me back that extra inch of opening.
tom bihn sends the paracord zipper pulls with the bag.
Fjallraven Kanken pcoket was designed for an umbrella, not a water bottle!
Peak Design zippers... I've had two that failed. It's probably fair to say they're above average, not exceptional, and should be better at that price.
Asian and Australian low cost carriers definitely weigh bags and make few exceptions.
Check out the Outdoor Vitals KOTA UL travel pack. Light and versatile. Comfortable.
First thing I did with my Trakke was cut off those obnoxious zipper pulls. Probably the worst design choice in backpack zipper history.
Water bottle pockets that won’t hold a decent water bottle or are hard to get the bottle in and out
Seriously, it’s gotta fit a big Nalgene or Yeti bottle or what are you even doing?
Disclaimer: I work for an outdoor retailer, these are my opinions and do not reflect those of my company.
Waist Belts positioned so much above your waist that they support nothing and don't spread the weight (Just look at that flimsy Tortuga waist belt. It does nothing!)
instead of using paracord zipper pulls. Vanquest makes a product called Spartan zipper pulls.
Review the ULA Dragonfly 36L 🙏🏻
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll pass it along.
Anything velcro. It's like announcing to everyone around you that YOU ARE ABOUT TO OPEN SOMETHING UP NOW EVERYONE PAY ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY YOU SLEEPING TODDLER!
😂😂😂
Bottle-holders: ‚Water-bottle-mania‘ is such an US thing… Only Americans lug around gallons of water inside a city, full of points where potable water can be had for free. Even climbing backbacks often come without such a feature which is rarely missed.
Come to Asia, you will regret without water bottle.
Black interiors (Wandrd).
Didn’t make the post but my #1 is when a zipper only has a single zipper pull. I won’t buy a bag of any sort with only a single zipper pull; it must have two per zipper, per opening
Backpacks with only one main compartment and nothing else. I don't like my laptop destroyed or scratched by various items.
Backpacks without side pockets or only one side pocket. Two side pockets are needed - one for water bottle, the other for a wet umbrella
Thin or no cushion backpack handle. Those are nasty on your hands if your bag is kinda heavy.
Backpacks with one zipper the major compartments. If the zip is spoilt, you have to throw away the whole bag, whereas with double zippers, you can zip it the other way around and still use the bag.
Backpacks with shoes compartment that eats into the space of the main compartment...
I'd rather companies use that admin space to design a spot to carry a dopp kit. As a male, I travel with a slim dopp kit and a purpose built spot where the admin panel usually goes would be great....or my preferred location would be below the admin panel location with some volume of its own so it doesn't eat into the interior space and then the quick access pocket on top of that also with its own volume. The rest of my personal stuff usually sits in my sling which I wear in front.
Evergoods CTB or CPL series should serve your purpose well.
All of them are things to avoid, but bags that do not stand upright on their own, too many dangling straps (Osprey) and loud zippers are the most annoying.
This is an adjacent complaint about bag companies: I hate when a brand has a successful bag and they don't update it. I know it's still relatively early days for some businesses, but I feel like 4ish years is a decent point to make at least an iterative update for successful bags, and I think it's a little rude when a company won't make a real improvement at the five year mark. I can't recommend someone buy a bag that hasn't budged in half a decade but still markets itself as "innovative".
I prefer a tote bag, but i agree with most of these would give me the Ickes if i used them
The Fjällräven sells attachable pockets for large water bottles.
PD zippers on the packing cubes are YKK. In fact all the small zippers are YKK and the large ones not.
unnecessary multiple compartments. max you need is 2. 1 for the bulky stuff, 1 for secure stuff like wallet, passport. make laptop compartment optional. you can buy a separate laptop sleeve to pack on. too many compartments equal excess weight and space, and hard to find where you kept the item. i was considering between the different osprey and patagonia options. in the end i went with patagonia black hole tote because it didnt have obsessive compartments or laptop compartment. was lightweight and not structured. hence when i check in, it looks like a flat lightweight bag.
What bag is used in the thumbnail
I hate a needlessly heavy bag as much as the next guy but the Goruck is a terrible example, it's not a "travel bag". It was designed to be heavy by shoving sand/water/steel plates into it. It's a rucking/military bag made for carrying ("needlessly") heavy loads and being thrown out of vehicles into sand and rock.
Aren't the Kankens side pockets for an umbrella?
The listing on their website just calls them "side pockets" but there are multiple pictures of them holding water bottles. No mention of umbrellas.
Kankens side pockets are prefect for foldable umbrellas, large mobile phones and low profile glass cases. Dumb „water-bottle-carry-mania” undermines well-thought product concept, that had proved itself on the market decades ago.
I hate when bags don't have some easily accessible grab handle on at least each side of the bag
One day, someone will start a company that will allow you to design and build your backpack on their website to meet your wants - size, pockets, zippers, materials, etc. I look forward to that day (and I'm willing to pay).
👀👀👀
@@PackHacker I'm not sure what that means.
My main complaint with the more "trendy" backpacks is the lack of outside water bottle holders. I don't get it. Is it not "cool" to drink water?? lol. Also, I don't want to put it inside my backpack for many reasons, including the fact that I don't want to unzip my backpack to take a drink, and I don't want to chance it leaking if I forget to screw it on tightly or something.
Nomatic has known zipper issues, so yeah YKK is a selling point
I’ve yet to find a water bottle pocket that is big enough and tall enough!
I recently changed to the Farpoint 40
How are you liking it so far?
@@PackHacker ok, my comment didn't show up now... Hmmm, maybe it got lost or you have it to review for waiting!
Side pockets for water bottles.