With the covered zipper, those panels that pop up inside and the only easy access pocket at the top of the bag right by your neck seems like this bag could also be marketed as an anti theft backpack. But it looks like a large pillow is strapped to your back. I love your bag reviews!!!
After introducing me to the tom bihn bags (synapse and aeronaut) I just have not looked back. These videos are entertaining and informative but, man, nothing is like the synapse25. Thanks
For what it’s worth, I don’t mind minimal external pockets, zips that require some attention to open and general barriers to easy access because it makes pickpocketing more difficult which can be an issue depending on your location.
It is worth noting that this is 1/2 to 3/4 pounds heavier than the Tortuga pack (depending on the model). For those of us concerned with international travel this can be important. My personal experience is that if I have to approach the counter for any reason they will weigh my bag and it must be under 7kg exactly. The extra 1/2 pound can make the difference between being forced to check and carrying on.
Quite frankly, I might be completely wrong, but I think the drawbacks of this bag outweigh how comfortable it might be. I traveled through Europe recently with the Peak Design 45L travel backpack, and it was a delight to use. Amazing how you can make it grow and shrink at your heart's content, lots of external access and great rain protection. I haven't found a better bag for travel yet. Not only that, I use it in the 30-Liter compressed mode as a daily carry. Is it larger than others? yes, it is, but now I can simply fit whatever I want to carry around me, and not worry about having to carry an extra duffel bag if it doesn't fit. I simply pop out the top, and voila. 5 more liters. Need more? unzip the expansion, and now you have the full 45-liter space available.
This bag is a beast! Love it. Served me well on a 2-month SE Asia adventure. As far as the water bottle issue, I just drank the sweat drops off my wife's neck. Minimal.
I’ve been rotating between the GoRuck GR1 (24L) and the Invisible Backpack 3. What I like about them is that I can carry whatever I need for my two boys, plus a change of clothes and snacks. The Invisible Backpack 3 gives me more organization with multiple external pockets, plus a bottom loading shoe pocket I use as alternate quick access pocket on the plane. My concern with this excellent looking bag is that things are hard to get to. Looks like a OneBag bag for perhaps a couple traveling together. Not for managing kids on the road/in the sky. Love the minimal look and it seems really well made.
Really? I always look for and kinda only look for backpack with water bottle holder because it’s easy to access and it doesn’t take out space and no accidental spill too in your backpack interior, so I skilled a lot good design backpack…until I saw a totepack style backpack, Peak Design totepack, has to so useful although I still need to adapt to that no water bottle holder on the outside change, my plan is to use it as daypack and a big backpack for clothes so 2 backpack travel but I not sure if I should just use my peak design sling as daypack as it’s not ideal to bring laptop if you are not travel for work
i know im randomly asking but does any of you know a trick to get back into an instagram account..? I stupidly lost my account password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me.
@Onyx Jasper Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm in the hacking process now. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later with my results.
I have the CPL24 and love it to death. I SO want this bag, but I don't need 40L as I don't travel like that anymore. But if this thing was 30L? Damn, I'd be all over it. Super excited to see what they come out with this summer.
YES! While I really don't care for this bag I absolutely love the Weekender bag. It's exactly what I've been looking for to use with my MacBook Air I just got. Perfect timing. Using your link. Thanks!
Nice bag and excellent review as always - just one remark on the minaal, which I continue to use a lot - I found the best way to fill it up is actually to first take care of the internal pockets and close it 50% on both sides and just stuff it from the top - gradually closing it further. Works like a charm...
C’mon Chase, be a dangle water bottle guy with that thing. Vapur Element 0.7L. People always give me compliments when I’m traveling. Unique cool lil product.
I love the look of this bag but I couldn't believe it when you said it's a 40L. It's so compact (altho once you opened it I could believe it). But I AM intrigued by that strap design - I feel like I'd be pulled over backwards, I'm guessing it's something you just have to try out. The LACK of ease of accessibility didn't bother me at all cos I still carry a personal item and can't really see that changing (even tho I totally get all your points about 1 bag travel). But I just don't need a laptop space AND all that lipping around the main compartment all just seems like unnecessary weight to me. I'm looking for something v lightweight but still with some organisation (tho this isn't a deal breaker, I can always do pouches and compression cubes). The search continues (cue episode ending music)
A slim bottle could be the go, for the top access pocket. A 40L is too much gear to lump about for us shorter dudes/dudettes. I've a Qwstion Weekender (29L) which works great for the slicker look and at is about enough carry on. One better is the Synapse 25L (got following your review) which still takes some beating if ye can minimise right - honking big bottle socket too.
Another awesome indepth bag review! The interior with the popup panels seems quite innovative, but the outside look of this particular bag, the form of it somehow seems slightly unresolved design-wise. It's not quite slouchier like the Aer Travel and Peak Design or boxier like Tortuga etc. It looks like it's stretched kind of super tight in a tired black-on-black aesthetic. The CPL24 shape and outside access gets it all just right with the small details, this one doesn't do it for me.
Thanks for another cool review, Dad! Any chance you'll be doing a full review on that NorthST bag and the larger version of it? -Dangle Water Bottle Guy
chase, you brought up an excellent point about smaller airplanes. what is your solution when there is no space in the cabin for a 40L bag and you have a laptop in that bag? throw it into an unpadded day pack? this is a problem I'm trying to solve before I buy in and hit the road.
You don’t have everything you need when you put the bag under the seat in front of you. Legroom. I’m 6’ 2”. Not a giant. But man I need that space for legs.
So close, but no external spot for a water bottle makes it a pass. The people who design bags evidently never fly (or walk) through Atl airport. I'll stick with my Tom Bihn Brain Bag I got after watching your video:)
I've seen this bag when it was on their "upcoming" blog, and I still have the same feeling: it's a duck. It's no quite good for travel, not quite good for mountain, not quite good for daily use. It tries too much, IMHO. I'm gonna repeat what I keep saying: for this particular category, I stick to my Thule SubTerra 40. It's more versatile to cary, has a better laptop pocket, 2 external pockets.
