I'm a carry-on/personal item/one bag nerd and just picked up this bag and was test packing it for anywhere between a 2-5 day trip. A great idea I came up with - in only traveling with a tablet and not a laptop and keeping the tablet in the top tech pocket - is to flat pack shirts (button-downs, t-shirts, etc) in the laptop pocket, and pants/shorts in the "dead space" between the laptop pocket and where it closes up. This frees up loads of space in the bag's main compartment! This even allowed me to fit a pair of boots in the bag!
Haha a fellow bag nerd! I like it. Yea I love that idea, I do the same because for vacation traveling I don't bring my laptop, so I like using the laptop slope for clothes, socks, chargers, or most often, slippers and other stuff. It's quite a handy bag and probably my favorite one right now due to its versatility. Thanks for your comment, enjoy the bag.
Bought this bag after your review. I started traveling a lot more for work and I plan to use this as a carry-on and the black hole backpack as my personal item. Thought I wanted the duffel, but the strap issues and lack of organization was not my vibe. I knew at 5’5”, the regular MLC would be way too big to carry around for me. Was so happy to hear this one is bigger on the inside! Thanks for the rec!
Wow Lauren, so glad to hear I could help out! Let me know if you end up really liking it, I know I do hah. I just used it to travel to NY and back. Had to carry it for like half the day around the city waiting for my flight and it worked great! I agree, the normal MLC just looks huge in person and far too heavy. If you already have the black hole backpack, I'm sure you'll enjoy this mini MLC. Actually, there is so much functional overlap between the 2 bags that im actually considering selling my 25L backpack in favor or something smaller, and having this Mini MLC be my primary.
@@EDG Definitely sold mine after buying the larger backpack. It’s not a perfect fit for a smaller frame but I can’t handle the opening style of the smaller one. I’ve been traveling for work for two months all around the country and have a Dakine split roller and the Black Hole pack. Done me well so far but I love the idea of that trolley sleeve.
@@LaurengeCounty Ahh ok, thats a great lineup. I either use a small backpack with the MLC(duffel mode), or the MLC (backpack mode) with the black hole 40L rolling duffel haha. I agree with you about the small opening on the pack. But good to hear! I reviewed a bunch of other Patagonia bags on my channel if you're intetersted. Thanks, I love helping people spend money muahaha
Good and helpful review. The thing that bothers me the most is the giant brand name because I want it to be a versatile bag. I want to travel high end, low end and outdoors. The huge brand name screams outdoors only to me but I love a lot of the other features. Thank you for your thoughts and showing the bag.
Thank you Monica, yep I also hate the giant brand name. I made a video on the updated mini MLC if you wanted to check that out. It unfortunately still has the big brand name, but I think it's a bit less visible along with other improvements to the bag.
Excellent point about the built-in mesh pockets. I love the top pocket's organization. I've used a 45L Tortuga Setout Women's backpack, which is great for two-week adventures. I'm hoping this 26L backpack will be good for weekend getaways. Thanks for sharing your review!
Thanks Rosie! Appreciate it. I've also owned the 45L Tortuga and I loved the shape and features but my god it was too large and heavy for me haha. That was part of the reason I moved to the 35L Peak design duffel and then eventually to this 26L Mini MLC.
Great video! You did an awesome job reviewing this bag. My only problem is I can’t find one anywhere! They are sold out ever since Consumer Reports did a review and recommended this as their top pick! Thanks for a great video!
Thanks for the comment,Jim. Glad you enjoyed! And yea, its crazy. I was also looking for a 2nd one to buy for my brother and therers none! Although 1 just did pop up on eBay that I'm watching? haha
@@PackingLess You as well! Hey, do you mind if I ask, how long have you seriously dedicated to youtube? I see that you're super diligent with your uploads and I'm sure it's showing in channel growth. Just curious hah.
@@EDG I cant say for sure, but there were a few years where I posted very sporadically and thats not what youtube's algorithm likes. Its best to post a few times a week or at least one a week, or at least regularly. That helps youtube to recommend your channel. Also SEO is really important, putting keywords in the video title will go a long way to helping your videos get found through search. I have another channel "ru-vid.com" and even though its an older channel, I have less than 1000 subs on it and Ive been trying to grow it recently, its very hard to get your first 1k subs. I think that as you do grow it slowly becomes exponential.
@@PackingLess Interesting, thanks for the info! I've also heard that it goes exponential, and I've seen that myself to be true on the small subs I have. But its fun! the goal is 1K subs!
Thanks ! Is it a 16” MacBook? Also, I reviewed the newer 2022/2023 version of this MLC if you wanted to check it out. They don’t sell this version anymore.
Same, I've tried 45L bags and they are just way too huge. can't go wrong with 30L. In fact, this 26L carries more than you think, so you should try this as well before you get a 30L backpack. Thanks for the comment!
@@EDG Yeah it sure seems to fit a lot of stuff. And this bag also seem to function as a check in bag, for example when I need to carry liquids, and maybe a knife or other stuff that wont get through airport security when I travel to southeast asia.. A bigger roller suitcase would be overkill.. but this bag would be great just to pick up and hang on your shoulder and walk out of the airport.
This is a really great video! This pulled me over the edge to seriously consider the MLC line. Actually my local patagonia store is ordering one for me to try now haha. if you plan on doing a video for the refreshed version of the MLC 26L (2022), i'm sure it'll be just as helpful :)
Thanks for that! It really is a great line. And OH MYYY, I didn't even know that Patagonia released a new 2022 version. I gotta get my hands on that. Are you getting the 2022?
@@EDG Looks like the 2022 version might have addressed both of your dislikes. Velcro for the laptop and a pocket accessible from the top when carrying vertically.
@@zhixunwang4311 funny you mention that, because I just ordered the 2022 version . Looks too good to pass up, and it solved my biggest issue, it has a bottle pocket!
Great review! Do you think it can work as a personal item 'under the seat' on different airlines? I am trying to do two bags travel with 35L backpack as a carry on and this one as personal item. This backpack looks decent
Thanks! Yep it will definately work, especially in the US. That is my personal travel setup for the airlines that allow 2 carry-ons. I use this as a personal item, and a rolling 40L suitcase as my other carryon. Its worked for many flights no problem.
Thanks! Ohhhhh do I. Check out the other bag reviews on my channel, if you like my style of reviews. My recommendations are : Patagonia black hole backpack 25L ($129), Patagonia Refugio backpack ($99), Peak Design Duffel ($120 but could be found for cheaper everywhere). Or speaking to good budget brands in general: Osprey, REI branded stuff, Timbuk2, etc are all closer to your price range.
@@barms99 Thanks, more reviews to come, and not just bags. I've found that I like doing reviews more than any other type of content, because of questions like yours. Anyways, ! not sure if you were looking for a backpack or a duffel bag like this. Backpacks will obviously be less expensive, but the cheaper duffels won't have any organization and will be essentially 1 or 2 giant pockets so its kind of inconvenient for single bag travel. But, lemme know what works out for ya.
Debating if this is big enough or if I get the 45... day to day I think the 26 is fine as I primarily use my bag for gym kit including shoe carry and then laptop, but if the 45 doesn’t look to ridiculously big then the extra room for long weekend or week holidays might be worth it. Anybody had experience the 45 or does anybody have any advise to say the 26 could definitely cover say a weeks worth of clothing and the normal bits as and when needed?
I think the 45L is too big for daily carry. I've seen it in person and its pretty big! I think the 26Lcould cover a week of clothes if its summer haha so the clothes are thinner. But otherwise you will neeed the 45 for a week trip;
How does this old version hold against the new one with the new material? Found this online for 40 bucks in mint condition and considering taking the plunge.
@@Poroto2107 similar in function, just way shinier and in some cases people said it peeled. But Patagonia has their lifetime warranty. 40!? Any chance there’s another one? I kinda want to buy another
I like everything I've heard, and it's a great review. I've been looking at a lot of different bags lately, searching for something that will function mainly as a carryon "work" bag for laptop, a few papers, etc., but have been focused on backpack style for ease of carry. The Black Hole backpack seemed good, but I've learned lots of people don't like the opening. That brought me to this bag. Sounds like you think it's functional as a backpack, but better as shoulder/messenger style? Any experience with Thule bags, specifically Subterra or Paramount? Thanks!!
I think it functions well as a backpack and also good as a suitcase/shoulder carry. I think its slightly too large to be a messenger bag. But overall, really love it. Unfortunately I dont have any experience with Thule bags, but I've heard good things and they're pretty minimal. Thanks for the comment!
thanks for the question.! the sleeve is 11" x 16.5". What laptop do you have ? Im curious if it'll fit as well, as I've had other ask if large laptops will fit too.
@@EDG I have an hp z book G4 15” which should fit based on the dimensions you provided. I think it measures about 15.25” x 10.375”. Thanks for the info! Excited to get this bag!!
@@jacedispenza super excited for ya, its a great bag. The dimensions I gave you are for the laptop sleeve. Yours should fit depending how thick the laptop is. But if not, the laptop will definitely fit into the entire laptop zip compartment, no problem.
How wells does this work for EDC in backpack mode? (can you "zip away" the main pocket mesh divider?) Is it easy to access the main compartment "like a normal backpack"?
HI, It's not usable as an EDC backpack., but not it's strength. I like it because the straps are comfortable and it has more organization than traitional hybrids(also a laptop compartment). However, it's better as a duffel. You are not able to zip off the mesh divider, but you can just keep the mesh unzipped so you can access the main compartment on the fly.. It is easy to access the main ompartment because you can only zip a portion of it open in vertical carry so your things don't fall out. But all other pockets are oriented for duffel carry.
@@EDG I just ordered one today (they've been out of stock) and am excited to get it but you're about the only review I could find that shows it can be used for one bag travel. It looks like it holds a boatload of clothes but I'm hoping if I pack light I can do two weeks in Europe this spring.
@@michellerisley7701 Congrats! super excited for you to use it. Yea it can hold 6ish days of clothes if you pack light. So if you have access to a washer/dryer it can easily do 2 weeks. If not, theres always the 45L MLC (the normal sized one), but seeing that one in person , its just ridiculously huge and won't fit some of the stricter European carry on requirements.
