Interesting bag. I think they've made a real decent option in this category of bags, it's so evergoods. My real issue is this category of bags is the weight. It's great that it's a carry on compliant dimension, but at 35l, if you have a reasonably dense load, you'll be miles above the carry on weight limit. Like I bet you could easily pack this bag out to 16kg. If you slimmed down to the 7-10kg range (depending where you are in the world), but then just have heaps of empty space in your bag. Or of course, you're just overpacking and winging it through the airport and hope nobody calls you out - in that case I don't think this bag 'looks' light, like it's just a big ass bag, I think there's more discrete options. Chances are, you're gonna need to check this bag in. Considering that, I would've liked to see a way to stow the shoulder straps, not many airlines would let it go with them flopping around, so you'd need to wrap it or something at the airport. Unless of course your not a plane traveler. This could be the perfect bag to take on the back of a motorbike for a month long trip. I think this category of bags has this very romantic call to adventure idea associated with them. "The one bag to see the world" kinda thing. And I think that attracts more new travelers more than experienced travelers. And new travelers feel the need to bring more stuff, and I don't blame them, it's an easy way to deal with the anxieties of travel - "I'm sorted I've got what I need with me already". Fair. Here's my advice to anyone who's looking at this bag thinking "is this the one for my biggass trip" - buy a cheaper one in this category, and see if it works for you. Get a second hand osprey farpoint or something. Get started and get on the road. I think either two things will happen: 1. You'll think fuck I'm tired of carrying all this weight around, quickly slim down your load, and suddenly realise hold on, I could be using a 25L bag instead. 2. You actually do want this much gear, but you'll notice you still need to pack a daypack, and you keep needing to check in your 'carry on' bag. In that case, a good small daypack to carry on + a good duffle to check in is probably better. Two bag travel isn't as trendy, but it's a classic for a reason. Or perhaps you do actually like the 1 big bag, in which case yeah upgrade. Maybe you need one with more check-in features. I think a lot of experienced travelers quickly move away from this sizing of bag - so if this is a big purchase for you, maybe test the setup with something cheaper first.
Your review was EXTREMELY helpful…thank you ! I should have this bag by next week..bags, bags, bags, and more bags, and more gear 🤩 it never ends for us EDC Junkies… 😎
Thorough review, even at 40min, the flow, explanation and comparisons were top notch. I was doing chores and listening mostly, but could understand a huge amount about this bag on audio alone. That’s carry nutrition!
Rewatched to check out the strap design. Does the yoke system work to replace the need load lifters? With a sheet, stay and belt, seems like built for heavy-ish loads comfortably.
Hello again! I would not say that the yoke system completely substitutes for load lifters - they have slightly different functions I would say - but I do think that your conclusion - that with the stiff frame sheet, metal stay, and decent hip belt the bag is built for heavy-ish loads fairly comfortably, provided the hip belt hits your hips at the right position (as mentioned, this is one of the weaknesses/compromises of the "scaled up daypack" design - there's no adjustability on the hip belt/back length). I mention in the video that I felt this bag has a certain "sweet spot" of weight (somewhere between 12-14kg (15 with hip belt)) that I think it excels at. Lower than this loadout I think you're paying a weight penalty for overbuilt features (stay, hip belt) that probably aren't needed and higher than this I found this bag less comfortable than truly heavy duty loadout carry solutions (i.e. load lifters become more important, adjustable hip belt position/back length, better shoulder straps, etc.). Interesting, in my experience, when the bag weight got too heavy I found the shoulder straps seemed to be the thing that I felt was starting to be insufficient - like normally I love Evergoods shoulder straps but for whatever reason I found once weight started going north of 15kg I wished I had more substantial straps. Weird. (for normal cases though I would say these are awesome. Just mentioning since you were asking about truly heavy-ish loads)
Hi Mountainborn, Good to see you again in NY! I have both bags, CTB35 and the Transit 38. I use the T38 for office EDC when I need more capacity. It looks more professional and nice looking premium material and hidden water bottle pockets that again helps with being more professional. But because of it, I tend to baby it more. For the CTB35, since it is more rugged built, I took it on my recent 45day travel with my roller (where I carry the heavy camera gear). I do this because some airlines are tight on their bag regulation so if I don’t feel safe with the way they handle the luggage and require that I checked in my roller with expensive camera gear, I repack the camera gear into the CTB35 and the clothes into the roller and not have to stress out. I do want to highlight the biggest problem I had with Evergoods previous packs was the torso length. Having an almost 21” torso at 5’8”, anything shorter than 19” hangs down and looks like I’m wearing an undersized baby pack. This pack solves for it (finally!). The other thing is that I agree it followed the CPL24/28l design but added 3 things I always wanted: 1) 2 external water bottle pockets like with the CHZ22/26l); 2) hidden hip belts; and 3) front quick access pockets. I do agree that all these come at a cost of more weight than the Bellroy’s T38. But as you mentioned, it carries the weight (12-14kg) much better than the PD45 (good tech ideas but clearly not backpack guys as comfort needs to be #1, not tech features). I don’t even know where I placed that pack and I have broad shoulders and can carry like a mule but it was so damn uncomfortable and carry heavy. Thanks for always putting together comprehensive reviews of these packs! Which pack for one bag travel is your favorite at this moment?
I’m contemplating replacing my PD45 with either the Bellroy or the ctb35… I love the versatility of the PD but a full load really feels heavy and it sounds like the CTB manages it better. How does the Bellroy fare compared to the CTB? It also seems like with the Bellroy you can just dump everything into the main compartment while the CTB you have to be more deliberate… did you think one was easier to pack than the other?
@@yusux, From my experience, in terms of packability, here are my comments: T38: - laptop compartment is vertical so if you are using it in this position, then this will be no different; it also has a compartment that can fit your laptop chargers and other tech items. Fairly good size but not so quick access; - water bottle compartment hidden inside which gives it a more sleek and minimal look but eats into the inside. I can fit a 32oz water bottle which is impressive. I don’t think the 28l can do that and since I drink a lot of water this was important for me. - front compartment organization is positioned to lay horizontally like the CTB; - there is only one small quick access at the top where CBT has two good size ones, one in front and one in the back close to shoulder straps - the inside has a big clam shell opening with the other side opening from the front has two pockets, same as CTB. The big side of the compartment has two mesh pockets but I rarely use those but it’s there I would say the biggest difference between the two are: - weight, T38 is ~1lb lighter than CTB - material looks more premium for office use for T38 while the CTB seems like it can handle more abuse outdoor - water bottles implementation, T38 on inside and hidden while CTB is on outside so it won’t take space on inside - comfort, both are comfortable. As I mentioned PD45 is heavy and not comfortable. Both of these are up to 12-15kg and then you need the hip belts to get the weight to distribute more to hips - lastly, torso size. Mine is close to 21” so both are about the same so good for me. Yours might be different and impact your comfort Hope that helps! Can’t go wrong with either one but what matters is your use cases
I just ordered the 1st Gen CTB35 as it’s listed as a limited “mistake” edition for $199 instead of the $349 MSRP for their 2nd Gen version. As an owner of the GR2 34L, 40L, 30L and 45L Peak Design Travel Bags, I look forward to seeing how this packs out in person.
Same here! I wasn't sure but then I thought you get something like Osprey Farpoint 45 for around the same price, so CTB35 suddenly sounds like a steal! Pulled the trigger!
I've purchased a GORUCK Gr2 40L and a 34L and I find the bags to hurt my traps and the back feels like a soft wooden block. I really tried to give GORUCK a try because of the price and recommendation but buyers remorse kicked in within a month. I find the CTB just comfortable. It also surprises me that I don't have to fight and rethink like "Will it fit in that pocket"? it just surprises me that every pocket just works with no problem, unlike GORUCK I have to keep rearranging my stuff. Great review BTW
Hi Michael! Thank you for the kind words about my video and also about sharing your experience. I agree with you - I have quite a few GoRuck bags but I have found that while they have certain charms, for general OBT (One Bag Travel) and EDC use, there are far superior bags that have arrived on the scene over the past few years and the standard line of GoRuck bags tend to compare poorly given their more "traditional" and unchanged feature set/design. (Some of the special edition ones such as the Kaidan sometimes fare slightly better IMHO but overall still are often outclassed by other bags in many ways) The GoRuck bags still have certain areas in which they excel (general durability, well-regarded tactical aesthetic and if one really participates in rucking events, probably remain one of the best choices for that) and in their favor after *a lot* of breaking in the load carriage system becomes a bit better (I think of them as similar to really stiff leather work boots that will chew up your feet until they get worn in. That used to be the gold standard for things but in 2022 there's lots of shoes that are very comfortable straight out the box and still almost as if not more performant than traditional leather boots while offering lots of new features). But for OBT use cases, I definitely think bags like the EG CTB35 or CTB26 are a much better choice (currently in the middle of a 2 month long trip with only the CTB26 and loving every minute of it)
@@TheMountainborn I couldn't agree with you more! It truly is like a leather boot!! You see I'm currently overseas as well and I also am using the CTB 26 as my daily. I also have the CTB 35 with me in my rolling bag in case I do get sent somewhere else and need one-bagbag it or need to carry more gear. As of right now, the CTB 26 is holding up very well for the environment I'm in (Sand/dust/just plain hot). I'm never a fan of tactical backpacks when I wear civilian clothing so this is a good hybrid bag for me. I hope I get to see more of your reviews. Always looking forward to seeing that new notification.
I'm usually a pack mule for a family of four (my wife, 4yo, 1yo). Would absolutely be using this on top of a 40L MR Mission wheelie bag. Kids kill the lightweight travel game :)
Thanks for the thorough review. This bag is on my list of possibilities. $349 ($309 preorder) is quite steep though, especially given that Evergoods packs are all manufactured overseas (currently Vietnam), not Montana. Also considering offerings from Tom Bihn, GoRuck, DSPTCH, Mission Workshop & North St Bags.
Hi Cee88! My pleasure, and glad you found the video helpful! It is an expensive bag for sure - the others you listed are all great bags - I've got a review of the GoRuck GR2 (likely the Kaidan version) in the queue as well as of the Mission Workshop Khyte VX. Which bag do you recommend from Tom Bihn and North St. Bags?
@@TheMountainborn I’m looking at Tom Bihn’s Tecohnaut 45L, and for shorter trips, North Street’s 28L Weekender Backpack or Mission Workshops’s 31L Transit Duffel. So, both smaller & larger options than the CTB35.
Good review, I just received mine and haven’t had a chance to use it. I’m a big fan of GoRuck and I liked the similar design, but had that extra organization to it.
Hi Jpmartinez - I'm glad you found the review helpful! Yes I agree, the greater organization of the CTB35 is what I'd say sets it apart from the GR series of bags. Hope you enjoy yours!!
I will say - one of the reasons I started this TH-cam channel was because I really and truly enjoy the carry community - it tends to be pretty respectful, supportive and informative compared to the broader internet which is awesome :)
@@TheMountainborn I was looking for a slightly larger bag then my Able Carry Max. I found out that the Max didn’t fit me when traveling with just one backpack. It is not big enough so I can travel only with it. And it doesn’t work as well as a smaller packable bag ( mine is a wandrd veer ) at the destination. My situation is odd also. Traveling from Brazil, my travel times are usually really long, so being able to have an EDC organization along the way is very good. As you can see, I have high expectations for this bag. 🤩
Thanks for the in-depth review! Which would you recommend between the CBT 35L and Peak Design 45L for one bag travel internationally for 3 weeks? Or the Aer Travel Pack 3? Which bag do you think has more useable space with the Peak Design in the non-expanded 35L? I think I narrowed it down to one of those three. Any help or advice would be appreciated, thank you!
glad to see you again, mountain 😁as expected, another great review! Thank you for this! I hope you could review outdoor bags as well like Gregory and osprey. You are really one of the few who could showcase the full capacity and features of the bags, you are reviewing ❤️
Hi E V - thank you so much for the kind words. And yes for sure - I want to review a few different outdoor bags - ironically given how much I enjoy the outdoors I haven't really covered many outdoor bags on my channel yet. Will let you know when it goes up!!
Great video! I haven’t yet used my CTB. I’m on a trip now with my Kaidan 34L. Planning to use the CTB on a trip in a few days. So this was helpful. But I’m going to need to figure out how and when I use these plus my Peak Design 45L. I’m kinda thinking PD when I plan to do some photography. I like the side access on PD with their camera cubes.
How do you like Kaidan 34l? Are you using additional daypack? I would think Kaidan is to big to be used as EDC? Does it fit under a seat? Enjoy the trip!
@@_krakra_ oh man. I just saw this. I haven’t tried fitting the 34L under a seat. I think it would be tough if fully packed. I do use the bullet and absolutely love it. Great size and somehow holds more than you’d think.
I quite like the design of Evergoods bags but they're all *so* heavy as you pointed out that bag is 1.8g/4lbs, and shockingly even their smaller bags are not that much lighter. The 28L you mentioned is 1.6kg/3.48 lb and the 24L is 1.3kg/2.9lbs. Anything over 1kg/2.2lbs is going to weigh on you when you carry it around all day
Hi Minoru! I will have a review of the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small version (28L version) coming up soon! If you look at this video in the 37:08 mark I have a quick comparison with the v1 version of the full sized Aer Travel Pack. I imagine that most of the broad strokes of the comparison will be similar between the v1 and the v3 version of the Aer Travel Pack - for the most part, Aer version releases tend to be refinements of the same concept rather than more radical redesigns. So I think that most of what I call out between the CTB35 and the Travel Pack will still probably hold true for the v3.
@@TheMountainborn ah good point! I guess I'm just curious which bag you would prefer between the refined Aer Travel Pack vs the Evergoods & your reasoning behind it. Either way, I'm looking forward to that Travel Pack 3 Small review!! 😁
The introduction part.. that's what I exactly thought just by looking at the pictures and specs. I stick with my GR Workshop 26l Slick. It's one of the best all-rounder backpacks you can find IMO. And as always, nice review!
Hi, I’m looking for a office - gym-adventure bag. I’m stuck on which one to choose. I’m not sure how many litres I would need. I was considering the Wandrd prvke 32l, Evergoods CTB 26, Boundary supply Errant pro. I’m not sure which to go with. Something that is versatile enough that I can take on the weekend adventure (hike, visiting a city, photography). I heard the errant pro is heavy but I love the look, I don’t love the look of the Evergoods but love the side zip. Any suggestions?
Hi @michelleailan22 - sorry for my late reply! So this is a great question and touches on three interesting use cases that only partially overlap. (So exactly the kind of problems that I love it when bags solve!) First, the question of what size bags you need - whilst this depends heavily on both what you're carrying as a load out and your body type/size, I would say in common, general ranges for each of your use cases are: * EDC (Office): 20 - 26l * Gym: 24-30l * Day hikes (not staying overnight): 24 - 34l * Short Travel or Experienced extended traveler: 26 - 34l * Less experience extended traveler or extended travel with lots of gear: 30 - 45l So next, taking the three bags you mentioned, will share some thoughts Wandered Prvke * Available in a variety of different sizes/colours * Fairly heavy, IMO has a less-refined execution (seams/etc.) and more brutish design than other competitors * Personally I don't like the handfeel of the materials though they are robust and water resistant * Has a pretty good overall capacity for the rated literage due to roll top and overall simple construction * Pretty chunky/blocky which some people like, some don't (I don't) * Does do well with combined camera carry + clothing carry due to combo back panel opening + roll top. That said, i * Fairly low amount of organization / pockets - you really feel this lack of organization in the EDC/office use case * Back panel opening + side opening is good if you're carrying camera gear (one of its intended purposes) but less convenient for EDC/office/hiking access or when you're not using a camera cube Boundary Supply Errant / Errant Pro * Some similarities in terms of design to the PRVKE but a bit more usable in EDC situations and slightly less specialized for camera carry * Slightly more organization than the PRVKE * Modular so you can customize it to some extent * Depending on the variant (xpac for example) can be fairly weather resistant * Less colours/styles/sizes than the PRvke but you an choose from xpac/regular and pro/regular variants * Fairly heavy and I found it carried less than expected - lots of excess weight and capacity is spent in the various design features / nooks / crannies which takes away from overall main compartment capacity Evergood Civic Travel Bag 26 * This is one my favorite "goldilocks" bags - can comfortably cover both EDC, office, gym and One Bag Travel (OBT) use cases * Limited materials and colors (basically just black nylon unless you cop the limited edition xPac Carryology collab) * Very good amount of *usable* organization (internal/external pocketing) * Simple, straightforward design that I find works very well in EDC / office use as well as gym/outdoor/travel * Has the highest capacity to size/weight ratio of the three bags you mentioned. * Lighter than the other two options * Large main opening can carry gym/outdoor gear (for a day hike) without being too large for EDC / office use * Typically great Evergoods refinement/materials - the highest quality of the three you mentioned in my opinion though it is not as water resistant as the other two bags * In my experience though it is only rated 26L it holds more than the nominally 30-l rated Errant pack * For experienced one bag travelers this bag works great, but for less experienced one bag travelers they may find the 26L size to be too constraining. * Does not have special photographer-specific access or features unlike the other two bags * Is a very capable outdoor bag for day hikes * Though it does seem to carry more than its rated 26L size (more like a 28-30l in my experience) unlike the other two bags, has no inherent way to expand beyond its capacity (I.e. no roll top or modular attachments) As you can see from the above, I am clearly biased in favor of the Evergoods CTB26 - part of that is personal preference about the type of material (I generally dislike taurpalin/plasticy/synthetic feeling bag materials like on the errant and the prvke) and design of the bags (I like the simplicity of design of the Evergoods rather than the fussy overbuilt errant and brutish design of the prvke), but much of it is rooted in things that I think it does objectively better: superior capacity to size/weight, superior build quality and refinement, superior organization, superior flexibility of design to cover all three of the use cases you mentioned. However, you should consider your use cases and preferences as well - there may be some things that tip you one way or another, but if I had to answer the question you posed, for my money, I would hands down go with the CTB26 - I think you won't regret it.
Hi James! Great question - that is the Aer Shoe Bag: www.aersf.com/shoe-bag-black It's technically a shoe bag (as you might have inferred from the name 😂) but I found it works really well to put in a folded pair of gym clothes atop the shoes as long as the shoes are a relatively low profile runner (like Nike Flyweights etc.).
hahaha nice on the intervention! families with kids might need all that stuff though. or camera kits maybe. do you film this in one go! how do you know what to talk about for 40mins!!
Hi Kang! That is true - when I was editing the video I wondered if I should keep that line in or not because I was (and am) worried that maybe it might come off a little exclusionary which I definitely was not trying to be 😅. As you rightfully point out, there are definitely legitimate cases where someone might need to carry 70-80 liters worth of stuff without checking at least some of it in! If I ever have children my goal is to get them to start carrying their one bag as soon as possible (just kidding!) (... maybe?) Regarding filming in one go - yes and no. Yes in that the entire video is filmed in a single session from start to finish, but no in the sense that I edit the video after the fact - usually the initial recording is around 45-50 minutes and I try to edit it down to under 40 minutes (ideally less than 30 minutes but some bags I just have a lot to talk about). I keep a diary of my experiences with bags over the course of time that I use them and when I am going to prepare a video I go through my diary and edit that into some rough talking points and then I use those to guide my thinking when I review bags - and after that I just turn on the camera and start talking 😂
Hi Mountain, appreciate your thoughtful explanations and offering alternatives. Enjoy your videos a lot! Any thoughts on this 35l vs the evergoods 40l?
Hi Ziklag! Thank you for the kind words! I did do a full review of the previous 40L Evergoods Travel bag back in the day on my channel which you may find useful. I see these as two very different takes in a somewhat similar but also partially slightly different space (similar space being travel bags, slightly different might be the crossover space - the CTB35 being (possibly?) more civic x travel crossover while the CTB40 being (possibly) more travel x cragpack/gear hauler pack crossover?). In no particular order: - I find the design as an object and the ideas of the CTB40 much more interesting than the CTB35. - I think more urban-oriented travelers will probably find the CTB35 more useful (which probably explains why they never made another CTB40 style bag, same for the gorgeous MQD24 - these are amazing bags as design objects in my opinion, but probably a bit too far out there for many people) - CTB40 is a "big bucket" style travel bag with some, but not a ton of organization. The CTB35 is the opposite "tons of organization divided into different spaces"). I imagine ones personal packing philosophy will play a big role in which appeals to you more - Both bags are fairly heavy for their feature set - robust construction and top notch materials contributes to this but you can definitely get superior feature/capacity to weight ratios in other bags. - If you are hauling a bunch of chunky gear the CTB40 will handle that a lot better (see my video for a sample camping gear load out) - I like that both bags have externally accessible laptop compartments - I wish there were slightly more externally accessible organization on the CTB40, I wish there were slightly better undivided capacity in the CTB35. Those are my thoughts for what it's worth :)
If you have to choose one for travel: Bellroy 38 or ctb35 or kaiden 34? Based on your preference? Sorry for annoying question but it is real for me. :)
Hello again KraKra! Oh well this is a toughie. All are great bags in their own ways and of course the usual caveats (depends on use case/travel type/personal preference/body size/etc.) apply buuuuut for me, if you asked me to rank those three bags it probably would be something like: First Choice: Bellroy 38 ⇄ CTB35 Third Choice: Kaidan 34 Deciding factor between the Bellroy and the CTB35 would be the type of travel experience I wanted to have on the trip - the Bellroy is comparatively a softer, more flexible type of bag which doesn't feel like a massive brick on your back - that is usually the travel style I prefer - however for some types of carry load outs (for example if I'm carrying a FF mirrorless camera and a couple of big lenses) then I would prefer the stability and structure of the CTB35. I think you'd need to think through that as well, in my opinion they are two very different high-quality explorations of the same general carry genre - you almost certainly will have a preference depending on which way your personal style leans.
Hi Robert - it's in the queue, I promise! But what's happened is that I recently picked up the Bedouin Foundry x Carryology Sharky and it, alongside with the Apex, are both very interesting explorations of the same general design concept so I'm planning to switch between them for a month or so to see how they compare as I suspect that people shopping for this general form factor (and price point) are going to want to know the pros/cons of each. Realistically though I'm traveling for a bit and already have the next few videos recorded in the queue so I probably won't be able to release this for another couple of months or so 😢 - I'll come back on this comment and ping you when I do drop it!
Great review as always! Would you recommend this or a GR2 34l? I’m looking for a one bag travel backpack and think 34-35 is around the best option for my height at 5’6. Thanks!
Hi 28radley! Thank you for the kind words! I do include a comparison against the GR2 34L (Kaidan carryology version however) at the end. In my honest opinion, if you're 5'6", I think that both of these bags are going to be fairly large on you (it does depend on your build a bit though - i.e. muscular vs. petite etc.). They're both fairly big and chunky (albeit in different ways - you can see the comparison at the end of this video vs. the GoRuck) and interestingly the non-Kaidan version of the GR2 34L weighs almost the same amount (1750g vs. 1800g) as the Evergoods. Have you considered any alternative One Bag Travel type bags? For example, the Bellroy Transit series of travel bags (28L and 38L for the Transit Plus) actually carry a surprising amount yet are much lighter, smaller and visually wear (and handle) in a much less chunky manner on the back (don't be fooled by the smaller capacity on the 28L - it does hold less than the EG CTB35/GoRuck GR2 34 but the difference is not as much as you might expect, depending on what you carry). In my opinion, depending on if you like the styling of the bag, you may find this to be a much better option for your height whilst still allowing plenty of capacity for one bag travel (I have traveled for weeks out of both). If you do have your heart set on either the GR2 or the CTB35, then check out the comparison at the end of this video, keep in mind that the baseline GR2 weighs more than the Kaidan version that I show in this video, and let me know if you have any additional specific questions that I didn't cover in the comparison and I can try to answer those for you. I hope this helps!
@@TheMountainborn would be dope if you can do quick comparison between packing load between Bellroys, ctb 35 and goruck 34. Using same packing cubes. I ordered kaiden 34 but i wonder if i should go bellroy transit 38 due to more “backpack” style compared to kaiden 34 as more bucket square style. For sure i do not like ctb35 weight and chunky style.
I generally think of bags as choosing the right tool for the right job (maybe why I have so many 😂) so I don't think there is one simple, single easy answer for this question since a lot of it depends on your intended use case/personal preferences/size/travel style etc. But if I had to give an answer, I would say the Evergoods CTB35 is probably the superior bag and in most cases I would choose it over the PD travel backpacks.
Hi Robert - great question. It's a little bit difficult to answer that question in a precise quantitative manner, but a qualitative answer is: the CTB35 can carry noticeably more in its main compartment than the CPL28. The CPL28 has a rather high rated litreage however I found the main compartment carried less than one might expect from the rated size when it came to travel scenarios - it is certainly possible to one bag travel with the CPL28 but due to the significant amount of space allocated away from the main compartment to the front compartment and the laptop compartment it can easily be filled up, especially if you add any kind of bulky items like shoes/camera/puffy jacket etc. The CPL28 is very much a large EDC / daypack rather than a travel bag. Conversely, the CTB35 has a much larger main compartment and as such it is very comfortably a travel bag - as I mention in the video, due to its scaled up daypack type styling it still doesn't have as large a capacity as other 35l -rated bags but it still is much larger (particularly notable in the width/depth dimension) than the CPL28. You can easily add bulky things like a camera/shoes/puffy outerwear and still have plenty of space for packing other things which is not the case with the CPL28. I hope this helps!
Hi MDC! Both are rather large (in my opinion) for an EDC bag but then again you're 6'2" so actually they might work well on you! :) In my opinion the CTB 35 has far more organization and pocketing suitable for use as an EDC bag assuming you have a fairly standard urban / commuter / school type load out (i.e. a couple of devices, notebook, pens, wallet, earphones etc....). As mentioned in this video I generally think of this as a large scaled up day bag. The only hesitations I have are the non-removable waist belt (which at least stows nicely) and the metal back stay (which is unnecessary in the EDC context in my opinion), but those are relatively minor and this bag has a myriad of advantages over the GR2 in the normal EDC use case in my opinion. The only time I'd go for the GR2 over the CTB35 for an EDC load out is if you prefer a less structured bag (to be clear, the GR2 is still structured to an extent but less so than the CTB35) / less pocketing / intentionally want a big boxy compartment style bag / need molle for whatever reason. But for most people, between those two the CTB35 is going to be the better choice for EDC IMO.
@@TheMountainborn Fantastic reply thank you! My use case is mixed. I need a full change of clothes for work or gym gear + shoes/boots, food prep and tech which can include DSLR and drone. I also need a one-bag to take me from the office to 2-3 days travel and misc. adventures. Looking for an EDC that does it all and can last years.
Thanks for another great video. I have the Bellroy T38, but have found the straps to be a bit slippery, causing the bag to slide down during use when fully packed out. Therefor I’ve been considering the CTB35 as an alternative. Have you run into this issue with the harness system on the T38, and do you have any suggestions?
Hi Christian - actually, I should totally have mentioned that in the "also consider" section when talking about the Transit Plus because that is definitely an issue I had when the bag was super heavily packed out. The good news is you definitely won't have this issue with the CTB35. For dealing with this issue on the Transit Plus pack, I think there's a few possible options. My diagnosis (at least in my case) is that this slippage is happening because of the slipperiness of the straps (as you noted) exacerbated by how easy it is for the buckle to "move" along the length of the strap when there is no tension on the strap (as might occasionally happen with the natural rhythem of the load as you walk or move with it on your back). I think that keeping the excess strap either in-line with the plane of the load bearing strap (thus preventing slippage when the load comes off temporarily) could help slippage - this could be achieved by keeping the excess strap secured to the load bearing strap via something like a "molle clip tactical strap management tool" (I'm sure there's a better name but that's what bring it up in google search). Another option could be to use something like a "web dominator" to secure the excess against the strap alternatively to wrap up all the excess into a big secured mass right up against the metal buckle to prevent any slippage (since it would push against the secured rolled up webbing). The final option might be to try an old trick that hikers use to prevent their blow up sleeping pads from slipping on the smooth floor of their tents especially when sleeping on slightly uneven ground which is to coat the strap near where it goes through the buckle with tent seam seal or seam grip - it will go on clear and should be unnoticeable in normal use but it adds a little bit of friction to strap that hopefully would prevent it from slipping. To be clear I have not done this to the strap (though I have done that (added little dabs here and there) to the bottom of my sleeping pad and it works great to prevent slipping) but it might... theoretically work? Anyway, those are my ideas off the top of my head. However in my case, I just kind of lived with it as the slippage wasn't that terrible that I found it a deal breaker, though it was an annoyance from time to time.
Thanks so much for the reply. I will try some of these suggestions on the Bellroy T38. Meanwhile, I ordered the CTB35 as well for comparison-excited to receive it in a few weeks. Keep the videos coming!
Received my CTB a week ago, and took my first trip with it to NYC today-I have to say I’m a fan. It’s my first Evergoods bag and the construction, materials and fit are top notch.
Hi Sean - thank you so much for the kind words! Sure thing - these are the "Glam Series" of packing cubes - unfortunately it looks like it's a Japan-only release, although you might be able to find them through importers if you live outside of Japan: www.goldwin.co.jp/tnf/special/urbanexploration2020fw/02/
Did you notice any issues with the bag not looking straight and vertical on your back when loaded evenly on your shoulders? I had to return my first CTB because of this (bag looked like it was pointing to 11 o'clock instead of 12) sand the replacement one I received also leans this way too.. interested to know if same for you? It's due to the back mesh panel not being square to rest of bag when being stitched
Sean, so sorry for the late reply. I saw someone else asking about this somewhere online as well. I have not personally had that issue with the bag and I also double checked and the seams/stitching are centered on mine (I double checked with a measuring tape against different points on the sides of the bag to the various seams and all of them are equidistant) At least on my copy, when I looked at it from a certain angle, due to how the yoke pocket "folded" (due to the one way zipper) it can appear like there is a slight cant to one direction, but as mentioned, when I measured along seam lines to the same points on each side, everything was appropriately centered. I also don't feel any slant when the bag is in wear. Sorry to hear about your bag though - have you measured the second one to see if it's just a visual illusion or actual defect? If it is an actual defect that's really unfortunate - hope evergoods can do right by you!
@@TheMountainborn hey Mountain, thank you for the reply. In looking at my bag again, I see that it's not as bad as I thought. If I wear the bag high up and tight ( like it's intended) then it's plumb and straight. I absolutely love the bag and need to get wearing it more. Keep the content coming please! Love your videos
Hi Muzammil! The passport holder is the Arcteryx Veilance Casing Passport Wallet. It's unfortunately no longer sold but you can often find it on ebay. Here is a carryology review of the entire series including the passport holder: www.carryology.com/wallets/arcteryx-veilance-wallets-review-drive-by/ An alternative that is quite similar and is still being produced is the Bellroy Apex Passport Cover. bellroy.com/products/apex-passport-cover The Wallet is the Aviator Wallet - I'll have a review for that coming on the channel soon. aviatorwallet.com
could you please tell me what the pouch is that you said held a deck of cards? I'm looking for something of high quality that is about that size and isn't a flat pouch that zips about half way open. Thank you
yyeeaaaaahhhh booiiiii!! The original cut was actually 45 minutes but I was like "I absolutely need to get this under 40 minutes".... a total run count of 39:58 counts right? 😂😅 (Fun fact: this is actually the second time I recorded this entire video end to end which is why I sound hoarse/out of breath in a couple of spots - I was like "I need... to get through this as fast as possible" 😂 ) (The first time the memory card ran out of space 5 minutes in... how embarrassing...)
Mountain, you have quickly become my favorite reviewer out there. So detailed, so much analysis of the bag and it’s features - impeccable. How come you don’t have hundreds of thousands subscribers? 😅 I love how you dissect the CTB35, thanks for putting so much effort in making this video, it is easily the go-to review for anyone who is still on the fence about this bag and even great for me, the ex-owner of the CTB35! Looking forward to more content from you! Dots
imagine paying 535 euros for this piece of garbage. my friend had it and regretted the buy so much. such bad quality. im glad a company are producing the same bags in the same factory and selling them for 75 dollars. your better off buying 2 able carry max or 4 north face bags for the same price. dont believe the hype.
![Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 | เพื่อจักรพรรดิ ! [ตอนเดียวจบ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4M0ckYMA4-U/mqdefault.jpg)
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
A 40 minute review on this bag oh man… didn’t expect my Saturday night to go like this
Interesting bag. I think they've made a real decent option in this category of bags, it's so evergoods.
My real issue is this category of bags is the weight. It's great that it's a carry on compliant dimension, but at 35l, if you have a reasonably dense load, you'll be miles above the carry on weight limit. Like I bet you could easily pack this bag out to 16kg. If you slimmed down to the 7-10kg range (depending where you are in the world), but then just have heaps of empty space in your bag. Or of course, you're just overpacking and winging it through the airport and hope nobody calls you out - in that case I don't think this bag 'looks' light, like it's just a big ass bag, I think there's more discrete options.
Chances are, you're gonna need to check this bag in. Considering that, I would've liked to see a way to stow the shoulder straps, not many airlines would let it go with them flopping around, so you'd need to wrap it or something at the airport. Unless of course your not a plane traveler. This could be the perfect bag to take on the back of a motorbike for a month long trip.
I think this category of bags has this very romantic call to adventure idea associated with them. "The one bag to see the world" kinda thing. And I think that attracts more new travelers more than experienced travelers. And new travelers feel the need to bring more stuff, and I don't blame them, it's an easy way to deal with the anxieties of travel - "I'm sorted I've got what I need with me already". Fair.
Here's my advice to anyone who's looking at this bag thinking "is this the one for my biggass trip" - buy a cheaper one in this category, and see if it works for you. Get a second hand osprey farpoint or something. Get started and get on the road. I think either two things will happen:
1. You'll think fuck I'm tired of carrying all this weight around, quickly slim down your load, and suddenly realise hold on, I could be using a 25L bag instead.
2. You actually do want this much gear, but you'll notice you still need to pack a daypack, and you keep needing to check in your 'carry on' bag. In that case, a good small daypack to carry on + a good duffle to check in is probably better. Two bag travel isn't as trendy, but it's a classic for a reason. Or perhaps you do actually like the 1 big bag, in which case yeah upgrade. Maybe you need one with more check-in features.
I think a lot of experienced travelers quickly move away from this sizing of bag - so if this is a big purchase for you, maybe test the setup with something cheaper first.
Could not agree more what you said. It happened to me as well. ;) I think one bag travel sweet spot is 25-30l (max)
wise words
Your review was EXTREMELY helpful…thank you ! I should have this bag by next week..bags, bags, bags, and more bags, and more gear 🤩 it never ends for us EDC Junkies… 😎
hahahahahhahaha I feel you my friend! It never ends for us!
I'm so glad you found this review useful!
Thorough review, even at 40min, the flow, explanation and comparisons were top notch. I was doing chores and listening mostly, but could understand a huge amount about this bag on audio alone. That’s carry nutrition!
Rewatched to check out the strap design. Does the yoke system work to replace the need load lifters? With a sheet, stay and belt, seems like built for heavy-ish loads comfortably.
Hi W Lee!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm so happy you liked the video and found it useful!
Hello again!
I would not say that the yoke system completely substitutes for load lifters - they have slightly different functions I would say - but I do think that your conclusion - that with the stiff frame sheet, metal stay, and decent hip belt the bag is built for heavy-ish loads fairly comfortably, provided the hip belt hits your hips at the right position (as mentioned, this is one of the weaknesses/compromises of the "scaled up daypack" design - there's no adjustability on the hip belt/back length).
I mention in the video that I felt this bag has a certain "sweet spot" of weight (somewhere between 12-14kg (15 with hip belt)) that I think it excels at. Lower than this loadout I think you're paying a weight penalty for overbuilt features (stay, hip belt) that probably aren't needed and higher than this I found this bag less comfortable than truly heavy duty loadout carry solutions (i.e. load lifters become more important, adjustable hip belt position/back length, better shoulder straps, etc.).
Interesting, in my experience, when the bag weight got too heavy I found the shoulder straps seemed to be the thing that I felt was starting to be insufficient - like normally I love Evergoods shoulder straps but for whatever reason I found once weight started going north of 15kg I wished I had more substantial straps. Weird.
(for normal cases though I would say these are awesome. Just mentioning since you were asking about truly heavy-ish loads)
Hi Mountainborn,
Good to see you again in NY!
I have both bags, CTB35 and the Transit 38.
I use the T38 for office EDC when I need more capacity. It looks more professional and nice looking premium material and hidden water bottle pockets that again helps with being more professional. But because of it, I tend to baby it more.
For the CTB35, since it is more rugged built, I took it on my recent 45day travel with my roller (where I carry the heavy camera gear). I do this because some airlines are tight on their bag regulation so if I don’t feel safe with the way they handle the luggage and require that I checked in my roller with expensive camera gear, I repack the camera gear into the CTB35 and the clothes into the roller and not have to stress out.
I do want to highlight the biggest problem I had with Evergoods previous packs was the torso length. Having an almost 21” torso at 5’8”, anything shorter than 19” hangs down and looks like I’m wearing an undersized baby pack. This pack solves for it (finally!). The other thing is that I agree it followed the CPL24/28l design but added 3 things I always wanted: 1) 2 external water bottle pockets like with the CHZ22/26l); 2) hidden hip belts; and 3) front quick access pockets.
I do agree that all these come at a cost of more weight than the Bellroy’s T38. But as you mentioned, it carries the weight (12-14kg) much better than the PD45 (good tech ideas but clearly not backpack guys as comfort needs to be #1, not tech features). I don’t even know where I placed that pack and I have broad shoulders and can carry like a mule but it was so damn uncomfortable and carry heavy.
Thanks for always putting together comprehensive reviews of these packs!
Which pack for one bag travel is your favorite at this moment?
I’m contemplating replacing my PD45 with either the Bellroy or the ctb35… I love the versatility of the PD but a full load really feels heavy and it sounds like the CTB manages it better. How does the Bellroy fare compared to the CTB? It also seems like with the Bellroy you can just dump everything into the main compartment while the CTB you have to be more deliberate… did you think one was easier to pack than the other?
@@yusux,
From my experience, in terms of packability, here are my comments:
T38:
- laptop compartment is vertical so if you are using it in this position, then this will be no different; it also has a compartment that can fit your laptop chargers and other tech items. Fairly good size but not so quick access;
- water bottle compartment hidden inside which gives it a more sleek and minimal look but eats into the inside. I can fit a 32oz water bottle which is impressive. I don’t think the 28l can do that and since I drink a lot of water this was important for me.
- front compartment organization is positioned to lay horizontally like the CTB;
- there is only one small quick access at the top where CBT has two good size ones, one in front and one in the back close to shoulder straps
- the inside has a big clam shell opening with the other side opening from the front has two pockets, same as CTB. The big side of the compartment has two mesh pockets but I rarely use those but it’s there
I would say the biggest difference between the two are:
- weight, T38 is ~1lb lighter than CTB
- material looks more premium for office use for T38 while the CTB seems like it can handle more abuse outdoor
- water bottles implementation, T38 on inside and hidden while CTB is on outside so it won’t take space on inside
- comfort, both are comfortable. As I mentioned PD45 is heavy and not comfortable. Both of these are up to 12-15kg and then you need the hip belts to get the weight to distribute more to hips
- lastly, torso size. Mine is close to 21” so both are about the same so good for me. Yours might be different and impact your comfort
Hope that helps! Can’t go wrong with either one but what matters is your use cases
I just ordered the 1st Gen CTB35 as it’s listed as a limited “mistake” edition for $199 instead of the $349 MSRP for their 2nd Gen version.
As an owner of the GR2 34L, 40L, 30L and 45L Peak Design Travel Bags, I look forward to seeing how this packs out in person.
Same here! I wasn't sure but then I thought you get something like Osprey Farpoint 45 for around the same price, so CTB35 suddenly sounds like a steal! Pulled the trigger!
Woah, nice savings there!! I'd love to hear about your experience with the bag once you get it!!
That's great!!! Let me know your thoughts once you get the bag!
I've purchased a GORUCK Gr2 40L and a 34L and I find the bags to hurt my traps and the back feels like a soft wooden block. I really tried to give GORUCK a try because of the price and recommendation but buyers remorse kicked in within a month. I find the CTB just comfortable. It also surprises me that I don't have to fight and rethink like "Will it fit in that pocket"? it just surprises me that every pocket just works with no problem, unlike GORUCK I have to keep rearranging my stuff. Great review BTW
Hi Michael! Thank you for the kind words about my video and also about sharing your experience.
I agree with you - I have quite a few GoRuck bags but I have found that while they have certain charms, for general OBT (One Bag Travel) and EDC use, there are far superior bags that have arrived on the scene over the past few years and the standard line of GoRuck bags tend to compare poorly given their more "traditional" and unchanged feature set/design. (Some of the special edition ones such as the Kaidan sometimes fare slightly better IMHO but overall still are often outclassed by other bags in many ways)
The GoRuck bags still have certain areas in which they excel (general durability, well-regarded tactical aesthetic and if one really participates in rucking events, probably remain one of the best choices for that) and in their favor after *a lot* of breaking in the load carriage system becomes a bit better (I think of them as similar to really stiff leather work boots that will chew up your feet until they get worn in. That used to be the gold standard for things but in 2022 there's lots of shoes that are very comfortable straight out the box and still almost as if not more performant than traditional leather boots while offering lots of new features). But for OBT use cases, I definitely think bags like the EG CTB35 or CTB26 are a much better choice (currently in the middle of a 2 month long trip with only the CTB26 and loving every minute of it)
@@TheMountainborn I couldn't agree with you more! It truly is like a leather boot!! You see I'm currently overseas as well and I also am using the CTB 26 as my daily. I also have the CTB 35 with me in my rolling bag in case I do get sent somewhere else and need one-bagbag it or need to carry more gear. As of right now, the CTB 26 is holding up very well for the environment I'm in (Sand/dust/just plain hot). I'm never a fan of tactical backpacks when I wear civilian clothing so this is a good hybrid bag for me. I hope I get to see more of your reviews. Always looking forward to seeing that new notification.
Evergoods has the best stretch flesh pockets in the game 😄
😂 busted!!!
I'm usually a pack mule for a family of four (my wife, 4yo, 1yo). Would absolutely be using this on top of a 40L MR Mission wheelie bag. Kids kill the lightweight travel game :)
😂 True, true!! Someone else below also brought up the traveling with kids scenario, which fair enough!
the travel mule role is also my use case. I love the two water bottle pouches and plenty of space for easy access to some extra layers of cloth
Thanks for the thorough review. This bag is on my list of possibilities. $349 ($309 preorder) is quite steep though, especially given that Evergoods packs are all manufactured overseas (currently Vietnam), not Montana. Also considering offerings from Tom Bihn, GoRuck, DSPTCH, Mission Workshop & North St Bags.
Hi Cee88! My pleasure, and glad you found the video helpful!
It is an expensive bag for sure - the others you listed are all great bags - I've got a review of the GoRuck GR2 (likely the Kaidan version) in the queue as well as of the Mission Workshop Khyte VX. Which bag do you recommend from Tom Bihn and North St. Bags?
@@TheMountainborn I’m looking at Tom Bihn’s Tecohnaut 45L, and for shorter trips, North Street’s 28L Weekender Backpack or Mission Workshops’s 31L Transit Duffel. So, both smaller & larger options than the CTB35.
Thank you for the suggestions! Will let you know if/when I get a review up!
Good review, I just received mine and haven’t had a chance to use it. I’m a big fan of GoRuck and I liked the similar design, but had that extra organization to it.
Hi Jpmartinez - I'm glad you found the review helpful!
Yes I agree, the greater organization of the CTB35 is what I'd say sets it apart from the GR series of bags.
Hope you enjoy yours!!
I come for the videos, I stay for the comments!
I will say - one of the reasons I started this TH-cam channel was because I really and truly enjoy the carry community - it tends to be pretty respectful, supportive and informative compared to the broader internet which is awesome :)
Yessss! Mine is arriving this week in Brazil. Thanks for the awesome review.
YAY!!! Let me know how you like it my friend!
@@TheMountainborn I was looking for a slightly larger bag then my Able Carry Max. I found out that the Max didn’t fit me when traveling with just one backpack. It is not big enough so I can travel only with it. And it doesn’t work as well as a smaller packable bag ( mine is a wandrd veer ) at the destination. My situation is odd also. Traveling from Brazil, my travel times are usually really long, so being able to have an EDC organization along the way is very good. As you can see, I have high expectations for this bag. 🤩
So good! Keep going! One of the best reviewers atm imo! 🖤
Awww thank you for the kind words my friend!
Love Evergoods reviews
Thanks for the in-depth review! Which would you recommend between the CBT 35L and Peak Design 45L for one bag travel internationally for 3 weeks? Or the Aer Travel Pack 3? Which bag do you think has more useable space with the Peak Design in the non-expanded 35L? I think I narrowed it down to one of those three.
Any help or advice would be appreciated, thank you!
glad to see you again, mountain 😁as expected, another great review! Thank you for this! I hope you could review outdoor bags as well like Gregory and osprey. You are really one of the few who could showcase the full capacity and features of the bags, you are reviewing ❤️
Hi E V - thank you so much for the kind words.
And yes for sure - I want to review a few different outdoor bags - ironically given how much I enjoy the outdoors I haven't really covered many outdoor bags on my channel yet. Will let you know when it goes up!!
@@TheMountainborn love it! Thank you, Mountain!
Great review, particularly the comparisons
Thank you Adrian! I'm glad this video and the comparisons were useful for you!
you are the best mountain!!
Awww thank you for the kind words my friend!
Great video! I haven’t yet used my CTB. I’m on a trip now with my Kaidan 34L. Planning to use the CTB on a trip in a few days. So this was helpful. But I’m going to need to figure out how and when I use these plus my Peak Design 45L. I’m kinda thinking PD when I plan to do some photography. I like the side access on PD with their camera cubes.
How do you like Kaidan 34l? Are you using additional daypack? I would think Kaidan is to big to be used as EDC? Does it fit under a seat? Enjoy the trip!
@@_krakra_ oh man. I just saw this. I haven’t tried fitting the 34L under a seat. I think it would be tough if fully packed. I do use the bullet and absolutely love it. Great size and somehow holds more than you’d think.
Would you consider doing a pack out to show what's in your clothing packing cube? Also your other cubes...
I quite like the design of Evergoods bags but they're all *so* heavy as you pointed out that bag is 1.8g/4lbs, and shockingly even their smaller bags are not that much lighter. The 28L you mentioned is 1.6kg/3.48 lb and the 24L is 1.3kg/2.9lbs. Anything over 1kg/2.2lbs is going to weigh on you when you carry it around all day
Do you plan on reviewing the Aer Travel Pack 3 btw? Would love to see a comparison between the two :D
Hi Minoru!
I will have a review of the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small version (28L version) coming up soon!
If you look at this video in the 37:08 mark I have a quick comparison with the v1 version of the full sized Aer Travel Pack. I imagine that most of the broad strokes of the comparison will be similar between the v1 and the v3 version of the Aer Travel Pack - for the most part, Aer version releases tend to be refinements of the same concept rather than more radical redesigns. So I think that most of what I call out between the CTB35 and the Travel Pack will still probably hold true for the v3.
@@TheMountainborn ah good point! I guess I'm just curious which bag you would prefer between the refined Aer Travel Pack vs the Evergoods & your reasoning behind it. Either way, I'm looking forward to that Travel Pack 3 Small review!! 😁
The introduction part.. that's what I exactly thought just by looking at the pictures and specs. I stick with my GR Workshop 26l Slick. It's one of the best all-rounder backpacks you can find IMO. And as always, nice review!
Hi, I’m looking for a office - gym-adventure bag. I’m stuck on which one to choose. I’m not sure how many litres I would need. I was considering the Wandrd prvke 32l, Evergoods CTB 26, Boundary supply Errant pro. I’m not sure which to go with. Something that is versatile enough that I can take on the weekend adventure (hike, visiting a city, photography). I heard the errant pro is heavy but I love the look, I don’t love the look of the Evergoods but love the side zip. Any suggestions?
Hi @michelleailan22 - sorry for my late reply!
So this is a great question and touches on three interesting use cases that only partially overlap. (So exactly the kind of problems that I love it when bags solve!)
First, the question of what size bags you need - whilst this depends heavily on both what you're carrying as a load out and your body type/size, I would say in common, general ranges for each of your use cases are:
* EDC (Office): 20 - 26l
* Gym: 24-30l
* Day hikes (not staying overnight): 24 - 34l
* Short Travel or Experienced extended traveler: 26 - 34l
* Less experience extended traveler or extended travel with lots of gear: 30 - 45l
So next, taking the three bags you mentioned, will share some thoughts
Wandered Prvke
* Available in a variety of different sizes/colours
* Fairly heavy, IMO has a less-refined execution (seams/etc.) and more brutish design than other competitors
* Personally I don't like the handfeel of the materials though they are robust and water resistant
* Has a pretty good overall capacity for the rated literage due to roll top and overall simple construction
* Pretty chunky/blocky which some people like, some don't (I don't)
* Does do well with combined camera carry + clothing carry due to combo back panel opening + roll top. That said, i
* Fairly low amount of organization / pockets - you really feel this lack of organization in the EDC/office use case
* Back panel opening + side opening is good if you're carrying camera gear (one of its intended purposes) but less convenient for EDC/office/hiking access or when you're not using a camera cube
Boundary Supply Errant / Errant Pro
* Some similarities in terms of design to the PRVKE but a bit more usable in EDC situations and slightly less specialized for camera carry
* Slightly more organization than the PRVKE
* Modular so you can customize it to some extent
* Depending on the variant (xpac for example) can be fairly weather resistant
* Less colours/styles/sizes than the PRvke but you an choose from xpac/regular and pro/regular variants
* Fairly heavy and I found it carried less than expected - lots of excess weight and capacity is spent in the various design features / nooks / crannies which takes away from overall main compartment capacity
Evergood Civic Travel Bag 26
* This is one my favorite "goldilocks" bags - can comfortably cover both EDC, office, gym and One Bag Travel (OBT) use cases
* Limited materials and colors (basically just black nylon unless you cop the limited edition xPac Carryology collab)
* Very good amount of *usable* organization (internal/external pocketing)
* Simple, straightforward design that I find works very well in EDC / office use as well as gym/outdoor/travel
* Has the highest capacity to size/weight ratio of the three bags you mentioned.
* Lighter than the other two options
* Large main opening can carry gym/outdoor gear (for a day hike) without being too large for EDC / office use
* Typically great Evergoods refinement/materials - the highest quality of the three you mentioned in my opinion though it is not as water resistant as the other two bags
* In my experience though it is only rated 26L it holds more than the nominally 30-l rated Errant pack
* For experienced one bag travelers this bag works great, but for less experienced one bag travelers they may find the 26L size to be too constraining.
* Does not have special photographer-specific access or features unlike the other two bags
* Is a very capable outdoor bag for day hikes
* Though it does seem to carry more than its rated 26L size (more like a 28-30l in my experience) unlike the other two bags, has no inherent way to expand beyond its capacity (I.e. no roll top or modular attachments)
As you can see from the above, I am clearly biased in favor of the Evergoods CTB26 - part of that is personal preference about the type of material (I generally dislike taurpalin/plasticy/synthetic feeling bag materials like on the errant and the prvke) and design of the bags (I like the simplicity of design of the Evergoods rather than the fussy overbuilt errant and brutish design of the prvke), but much of it is rooted in things that I think it does objectively better: superior capacity to size/weight, superior build quality and refinement, superior organization, superior flexibility of design to cover all three of the use cases you mentioned.
However, you should consider your use cases and preferences as well - there may be some things that tip you one way or another, but if I had to answer the question you posed, for my money, I would hands down go with the CTB26 - I think you won't regret it.
Hey mate, on your Bellroy Workpack Transit review you pack a shoe pouch / gym gear organiser, what is that?
Hi James!
Great question - that is the Aer Shoe Bag:
www.aersf.com/shoe-bag-black
It's technically a shoe bag (as you might have inferred from the name 😂) but I found it works really well to put in a folded pair of gym clothes atop the shoes as long as the shoes are a relatively low profile runner (like Nike Flyweights etc.).
hahaha nice on the intervention! families with kids might need all that stuff though. or camera kits maybe. do you film this in one go! how do you know what to talk about for 40mins!!
Hi Kang!
That is true - when I was editing the video I wondered if I should keep that line in or not because I was (and am) worried that maybe it might come off a little exclusionary which I definitely was not trying to be 😅.
As you rightfully point out, there are definitely legitimate cases where someone might need to carry 70-80 liters worth of stuff without checking at least some of it in! If I ever have children my goal is to get them to start carrying their one bag as soon as possible (just kidding!) (... maybe?)
Regarding filming in one go - yes and no. Yes in that the entire video is filmed in a single session from start to finish, but no in the sense that I edit the video after the fact - usually the initial recording is around 45-50 minutes and I try to edit it down to under 40 minutes (ideally less than 30 minutes but some bags I just have a lot to talk about).
I keep a diary of my experiences with bags over the course of time that I use them and when I am going to prepare a video I go through my diary and edit that into some rough talking points and then I use those to guide my thinking when I review bags - and after that I just turn on the camera and start talking 😂
Hi Mountain, appreciate your thoughtful explanations and offering alternatives. Enjoy your videos a lot! Any thoughts on this 35l vs the evergoods 40l?
Hi Ziklag! Thank you for the kind words!
I did do a full review of the previous 40L Evergoods Travel bag back in the day on my channel which you may find useful.
I see these as two very different takes in a somewhat similar but also partially slightly different space (similar space being travel bags, slightly different might be the crossover space - the CTB35 being (possibly?) more civic x travel crossover while the CTB40 being (possibly) more travel x cragpack/gear hauler pack crossover?).
In no particular order:
- I find the design as an object and the ideas of the CTB40 much more interesting than the CTB35.
- I think more urban-oriented travelers will probably find the CTB35 more useful (which probably explains why they never made another CTB40 style bag, same for the gorgeous MQD24 - these are amazing bags as design objects in my opinion, but probably a bit too far out there for many people)
- CTB40 is a "big bucket" style travel bag with some, but not a ton of organization. The CTB35 is the opposite "tons of organization divided into different spaces"). I imagine ones personal packing philosophy will play a big role in which appeals to you more
- Both bags are fairly heavy for their feature set - robust construction and top notch materials contributes to this but you can definitely get superior feature/capacity to weight ratios in other bags.
- If you are hauling a bunch of chunky gear the CTB40 will handle that a lot better (see my video for a sample camping gear load out)
- I like that both bags have externally accessible laptop compartments
- I wish there were slightly more externally accessible organization on the CTB40, I wish there were slightly better undivided capacity in the CTB35.
Those are my thoughts for what it's worth :)
If you have to choose one for travel: Bellroy 38 or ctb35 or kaiden 34? Based on your preference? Sorry for annoying question but it is real for me. :)
Hello again KraKra!
Oh well this is a toughie. All are great bags in their own ways and of course the usual caveats (depends on use case/travel type/personal preference/body size/etc.) apply buuuuut for me, if you asked me to rank those three bags it probably would be something like:
First Choice: Bellroy 38 ⇄ CTB35
Third Choice: Kaidan 34
Deciding factor between the Bellroy and the CTB35 would be the type of travel experience I wanted to have on the trip - the Bellroy is comparatively a softer, more flexible type of bag which doesn't feel like a massive brick on your back - that is usually the travel style I prefer - however for some types of carry load outs (for example if I'm carrying a FF mirrorless camera and a couple of big lenses) then I would prefer the stability and structure of the CTB35.
I think you'd need to think through that as well, in my opinion they are two very different high-quality explorations of the same general carry genre - you almost certainly will have a preference depending on which way your personal style leans.
@@TheMountainborn waiting for bellroy 28 and 38 review ;)
Hey nice thorough review, may I ask what is the small pouch at 22:00? Looks real slick! Thank you
Still really curious on your thoughts about the apex
Hi Robert - it's in the queue, I promise! But what's happened is that I recently picked up the Bedouin Foundry x Carryology Sharky and it, alongside with the Apex, are both very interesting explorations of the same general design concept so I'm planning to switch between them for a month or so to see how they compare as I suspect that people shopping for this general form factor (and price point) are going to want to know the pros/cons of each.
Realistically though I'm traveling for a bit and already have the next few videos recorded in the queue so I probably won't be able to release this for another couple of months or so 😢 - I'll come back on this comment and ping you when I do drop it!
Great review as always! Would you recommend this or a GR2 34l? I’m looking for a one bag travel backpack and think 34-35 is around the best option for my height at 5’6. Thanks!
Hi 28radley! Thank you for the kind words! I do include a comparison against the GR2 34L (Kaidan carryology version however) at the end.
In my honest opinion, if you're 5'6", I think that both of these bags are going to be fairly large on you (it does depend on your build a bit though - i.e. muscular vs. petite etc.). They're both fairly big and chunky (albeit in different ways - you can see the comparison at the end of this video vs. the GoRuck) and interestingly the non-Kaidan version of the GR2 34L weighs almost the same amount (1750g vs. 1800g) as the Evergoods.
Have you considered any alternative One Bag Travel type bags? For example, the Bellroy Transit series of travel bags (28L and 38L for the Transit Plus) actually carry a surprising amount yet are much lighter, smaller and visually wear (and handle) in a much less chunky manner on the back (don't be fooled by the smaller capacity on the 28L - it does hold less than the EG CTB35/GoRuck GR2 34 but the difference is not as much as you might expect, depending on what you carry). In my opinion, depending on if you like the styling of the bag, you may find this to be a much better option for your height whilst still allowing plenty of capacity for one bag travel (I have traveled for weeks out of both).
If you do have your heart set on either the GR2 or the CTB35, then check out the comparison at the end of this video, keep in mind that the baseline GR2 weighs more than the Kaidan version that I show in this video, and let me know if you have any additional specific questions that I didn't cover in the comparison and I can try to answer those for you.
I hope this helps!
@@TheMountainborn would be dope if you can do quick comparison between packing load between Bellroys, ctb 35 and goruck 34. Using same packing cubes. I ordered kaiden 34 but i wonder if i should go bellroy transit 38 due to more “backpack” style compared to kaiden 34 as more bucket square style. For sure i do not like ctb35 weight and chunky style.
This backpack or the peak design?
I generally think of bags as choosing the right tool for the right job (maybe why I have so many 😂) so I don't think there is one simple, single easy answer for this question since a lot of it depends on your intended use case/personal preferences/size/travel style etc.
But if I had to give an answer, I would say the Evergoods CTB35 is probably the superior bag and in most cases I would choose it over the PD travel backpacks.
Hey, Mountain! Could you tell me what the name of those North Face pouches are? I can't seem to find them anywhere
Should have seen your video sooner!! Was a miss for me, which bag do you suggest for one bag travel?
How much more can the CTB35 carries in the main compartment vs the CPL28 v2? Thank you!
Hi Robert - great question. It's a little bit difficult to answer that question in a precise quantitative manner, but a qualitative answer is: the CTB35 can carry noticeably more in its main compartment than the CPL28. The CPL28 has a rather high rated litreage however I found the main compartment carried less than one might expect from the rated size when it came to travel scenarios - it is certainly possible to one bag travel with the CPL28 but due to the significant amount of space allocated away from the main compartment to the front compartment and the laptop compartment it can easily be filled up, especially if you add any kind of bulky items like shoes/camera/puffy jacket etc. The CPL28 is very much a large EDC / daypack rather than a travel bag.
Conversely, the CTB35 has a much larger main compartment and as such it is very comfortably a travel bag - as I mention in the video, due to its scaled up daypack type styling it still doesn't have as large a capacity as other 35l -rated bags but it still is much larger (particularly notable in the width/depth dimension) than the CPL28. You can easily add bulky things like a camera/shoes/puffy outerwear and still have plenty of space for packing other things which is not the case with the CPL28.
I hope this helps!
@@TheMountainborn very helpful, thanks!
This or GR2 for EDC? - mixed use, gym, work, travel etc. I'm 6"2 and around 240lbs.
Hi MDC!
Both are rather large (in my opinion) for an EDC bag but then again you're 6'2" so actually they might work well on you! :)
In my opinion the CTB 35 has far more organization and pocketing suitable for use as an EDC bag assuming you have a fairly standard urban / commuter / school type load out (i.e. a couple of devices, notebook, pens, wallet, earphones etc....). As mentioned in this video I generally think of this as a large scaled up day bag. The only hesitations I have are the non-removable waist belt (which at least stows nicely) and the metal back stay (which is unnecessary in the EDC context in my opinion), but those are relatively minor and this bag has a myriad of advantages over the GR2 in the normal EDC use case in my opinion.
The only time I'd go for the GR2 over the CTB35 for an EDC load out is if you prefer a less structured bag (to be clear, the GR2 is still structured to an extent but less so than the CTB35) / less pocketing / intentionally want a big boxy compartment style bag / need molle for whatever reason.
But for most people, between those two the CTB35 is going to be the better choice for EDC IMO.
@@TheMountainborn Fantastic reply thank you! My use case is mixed. I need a full change of clothes for work or gym gear + shoes/boots, food prep and tech which can include DSLR and drone. I also need a one-bag to take me from the office to 2-3 days travel and misc. adventures. Looking for an EDC that does it all and can last years.
Thanks for another great video. I have the Bellroy T38, but have found the straps to be a bit slippery, causing the bag to slide down during use when fully packed out. Therefor I’ve been considering the CTB35 as an alternative.
Have you run into this issue with the harness system on the T38, and do you have any suggestions?
Hi Christian - actually, I should totally have mentioned that in the "also consider" section when talking about the Transit Plus because that is definitely an issue I had when the bag was super heavily packed out. The good news is you definitely won't have this issue with the CTB35.
For dealing with this issue on the Transit Plus pack, I think there's a few possible options. My diagnosis (at least in my case) is that this slippage is happening because of the slipperiness of the straps (as you noted) exacerbated by how easy it is for the buckle to "move" along the length of the strap when there is no tension on the strap (as might occasionally happen with the natural rhythem of the load as you walk or move with it on your back).
I think that keeping the excess strap either in-line with the plane of the load bearing strap (thus preventing slippage when the load comes off temporarily) could help slippage - this could be achieved by keeping the excess strap secured to the load bearing strap via something like a "molle clip tactical strap management tool" (I'm sure there's a better name but that's what bring it up in google search).
Another option could be to use something like a "web dominator" to secure the excess against the strap alternatively to wrap up all the excess into a big secured mass right up against the metal buckle to prevent any slippage (since it would push against the secured rolled up webbing).
The final option might be to try an old trick that hikers use to prevent their blow up sleeping pads from slipping on the smooth floor of their tents especially when sleeping on slightly uneven ground which is to coat the strap near where it goes through the buckle with tent seam seal or seam grip - it will go on clear and should be unnoticeable in normal use but it adds a little bit of friction to strap that hopefully would prevent it from slipping. To be clear I have not done this to the strap (though I have done that (added little dabs here and there) to the bottom of my sleeping pad and it works great to prevent slipping) but it might... theoretically work?
Anyway, those are my ideas off the top of my head. However in my case, I just kind of lived with it as the slippage wasn't that terrible that I found it a deal breaker, though it was an annoyance from time to time.
Thanks so much for the reply. I will try some of these suggestions on the Bellroy T38. Meanwhile, I ordered the CTB35 as well for comparison-excited to receive it in a few weeks. Keep the videos coming!
No problem Christian - good luck!! Let me know how you like the CTB35 when you get it!
Received my CTB a week ago, and took my first trip with it to NYC today-I have to say I’m a fan. It’s my first Evergoods bag and the construction, materials and fit are top notch.
@@christianmarcschmidtwelp - 1 year later how’s it stacking up to the Bellroy?!
Hi Mountain, great review! I have this bag also and love it. Can I ask what North Face packing cubes you are using?
Hi Sean - thank you so much for the kind words!
Sure thing - these are the "Glam Series" of packing cubes - unfortunately it looks like it's a Japan-only release, although you might be able to find them through importers if you live outside of Japan:
www.goldwin.co.jp/tnf/special/urbanexploration2020fw/02/
@@TheMountainborn Awesome! Thanks
Did you notice any issues with the bag not looking straight and vertical on your back when loaded evenly on your shoulders? I had to return my first CTB because of this (bag looked like it was pointing to 11 o'clock instead of 12) sand the replacement one I received also leans this way too.. interested to know if same for you?
It's due to the back mesh panel not being square to rest of bag when being stitched
Sean, so sorry for the late reply. I saw someone else asking about this somewhere online as well.
I have not personally had that issue with the bag and I also double checked and the seams/stitching are centered on mine (I double checked with a measuring tape against different points on the sides of the bag to the various seams and all of them are equidistant)
At least on my copy, when I looked at it from a certain angle, due to how the yoke pocket "folded" (due to the one way zipper) it can appear like there is a slight cant to one direction, but as mentioned, when I measured along seam lines to the same points on each side, everything was appropriately centered. I also don't feel any slant when the bag is in wear.
Sorry to hear about your bag though - have you measured the second one to see if it's just a visual illusion or actual defect? If it is an actual defect that's really unfortunate - hope evergoods can do right by you!
@@TheMountainborn hey Mountain, thank you for the reply. In looking at my bag again, I see that it's not as bad as I thought. If I wear the bag high up and tight ( like it's intended) then it's plumb and straight. I absolutely love the bag and need to get wearing it more.
Keep the content coming please! Love your videos
Hi, which wallet and passport holder is it? Can you please share links? Thanks!
Hi Muzammil!
The passport holder is the Arcteryx Veilance Casing Passport Wallet. It's unfortunately no longer sold but you can often find it on ebay. Here is a carryology review of the entire series including the passport holder:
www.carryology.com/wallets/arcteryx-veilance-wallets-review-drive-by/
An alternative that is quite similar and is still being produced is the Bellroy Apex Passport Cover.
bellroy.com/products/apex-passport-cover
The Wallet is the Aviator Wallet - I'll have a review for that coming on the channel soon.
aviatorwallet.com
could you please tell me what the pouch is that you said held a deck of cards? I'm looking for something of high quality that is about that size and isn't a flat pouch that zips about half way open. Thank you
Hi Jaysen! Sure - can you tell me the time stamp (in the video) of the pouch you are referring to?
@@TheMountainborn 29:47. I greatly appreciate it.
40 min of bag breakdown fucking keeeeeeeeeen
yyeeaaaaahhhh booiiiii!!
The original cut was actually 45 minutes but I was like "I absolutely need to get this under 40 minutes".... a total run count of 39:58 counts right? 😂😅
(Fun fact: this is actually the second time I recorded this entire video end to end which is why I sound hoarse/out of breath in a couple of spots - I was like "I need... to get through this as fast as possible" 😂 )
(The first time the memory card ran out of space 5 minutes in... how embarrassing...)
Mountain, you have quickly become my favorite reviewer out there. So detailed, so much analysis of the bag and it’s features - impeccable. How come you don’t have hundreds of thousands subscribers? 😅
I love how you dissect the CTB35, thanks for putting so much effort in making this video, it is easily the go-to review for anyone who is still on the fence about this bag and even great for me, the ex-owner of the CTB35!
Looking forward to more content from you!
Dots
imagine paying 535 euros for this piece of garbage. my friend had it and regretted the buy so much. such bad quality. im glad a company are producing the same bags in the same factory and selling them for 75 dollars. your better off buying 2 able carry max or 4 north face bags for the same price. dont believe the hype.