I think it would have been better if the depth of the backpack was kept to 23 cm, like the Outbreaker 45L, with side compression straps. With 23 cm the bag would have had more volume, 45L and not 40L and with side compression straps it could have been used also for airlines with 20 cm as a depth limit for carry-on luggage. Someone could just load the bag with less stuff, keep it a bit empty and then reduce the depth with the side compression straps. So the same bag could have been used both with a 45L load and with a 40L load, both with 23 cm and 20 cm carry-on depth limit. I think this is a downgrade from the Outbreaker 45L.
Hi, Thanks for the feedback. I noticed that you left the same comment on the @dannypacks review too. Let me explain our reasoning here. We used to think that 45L was the obvious best size. But the market told us otherwise. The Outbreaker 35L outsold the 45L, so most customers are gaining, not losing, volume. Both in sales and surveys, our customers consistently tell us they want an "international max-sized carry on", regardless of the volume. People even Google "40L travel backpack" more often than "45L travel backpack," so it's everyone, not just our customers. Based on all of that, we had to sell a 40L bag. We're giving people want they want. As a company, we need to make and sell bags that fit the carry on limits, even if travelers could get away with a bigger bag than is technically allowed. Most people seem to value the certainty that something will fit over an exact number of liters. With that in mind, we updated the size to 40L to fit max international limits while also slimming down some padding and simplifying the inside of the bag. Even people who previously owned a 45L bag shouldn't notice much practical difference in packing space, even at a smaller footprint. I hope this explanation is helpful. --Fred Co-Founder, Tortuga
Hi Fred, Data driven. Gotta like that from a company. Just adding more color, I’m also in the consumer business and always make sure surveys/feedback matches the actions made. For example, you have customers saying we want 45l but then buy 35l. Like yourself, I’ll decide based on “customers voting with their feet (or action), then what they say.” When you say you want 45l and buy 35l, it just means they want more space but realize that the size, weight, and convenience to not to deal with airline hassle outweighs the extra liters, then they go with 35l to be stress free, especially when doing long travel and making a lot of flights on small airlines who are less trained and more strict, they spend time punishing the customers and focus on getting the last words. I do see that we did gain 5l (from 35 to 40l) instead of losing 5l (from 45l down to 40l). The slimmer width makes it easier to not get hassle as well. I’m curious with less organizational pockets (which I prefer as I have packs that I use to move easily from pack to pack), do you gain more space in the main compartment on the 40l than the 45l. Just want to compare main to main between both packs.
@@nomad0714 You're right that we're at the mercy of airlines' rules and enforcement. That's why we design to those limits rather than telling people, "it's bigger than they allow, but trust us it'll be fine!" To clarify, people are both telling us that they want an international max carry on bag AND buying that bag. I don't think that the people saying they want a 45L but feeling obligated to buy a 35L because of airline enforcement is a big enough group to design around. You should have more packing space in the main compartment of the 40L vs the 45L because of the slimmed down laptop compartment behind it. The 40L is split ~70/30 between the right and left sides of the main compartment.
@@TortugaBackpacks hi Fred, I’m curious as to why no compression straps or ways to secure things, such as packing cubes, inside the main compartment. It feels a bit odd that with a pack like this that has so many compartments and organizational features to not have a way to secure things in the main compartment. I don’t imagine it was an oversight issue given the amount of detail that went into this bag but I’m curious as to the reasoning behind this.
Excellent review!! This is my first experience with a backpack and I wasn't aware of all of the features that this bag had and even how to use them. I thank you very much for taking the time to make this presentation. PS - After watching this I took the plunge and purchased the bag for an upcoming trip outside the US.
@@PackHacker2 I’m interest in comparing the comfort levels of harness system and can the tortuga fit more stuff. I know it’s 35vs40Ls but stated volume by company is not standardised.
Hi Pack Hacker, Can you let me know if you can squeeze a 32oz bottle in the water bottle slot? Is the stretch material giving? I have lots of 32oz water bottles and drink extensively so this is important for me.
Get the Tortuga, I have a Setout and I don’t regret buying it on a heartbeat. I’ve had some other and the quality of interior materials is not the same.
Dangit! I have this bag in a cart, ready to hit “Place Order” but now I wait. For a bag that does so much at a premium price, it’s really retrograde that there are no compression straps, or a way to lash anything to the bag. And that the water bottle pocket has to stretch to limits to carry common water bottle sizes. It’s much sleeker, yes., and those looks do appeal to an urbane Wirecutter reader. But is it practical in country to be so sleek and strapless? Not so much. But I suppose the google search data are telling Tortuga that those features don’t sell travel backpacks. Fact is I can buy those same poor compromises with a great harness for a much lower price.
Hi, could you suggest me other backpacks with a GOOD load bearing harness system, adjustable torso length (or bag that comes in different sizes) and with a dimension NOT more than 22" 14" 9"?
Yeah I also think it’s unusual that there are no compression straps. If you don’t pack the bag out, it seems like you’re going to have a lot of stuff shifting and moving around while moving. I’m not a fan of that
I'll second that! Another lack of feature that surprises me is that this bag is designed to be a cabin bag with no way of tucking away those massive shoulder straps. This is no hiking backpack, you want this to be nice and neat.
@@stiletas we don't like hiding away shoulder straps. We want adjustable torso length and load transfer to the hip belt. There are a lot of other companies making travel backpacks without prioritizing carry comfort. Do you know that to properly transfer load to the hip belt a backpack has to have an internal frame and an adjustable torso length? If you want to carry all your weight on your shoulder go on.
Amen to this response. My shoulders ache when they carry a load. No other suitcase has a decent hip suspension system. If you don't want suspension there are tons of choices and you'll save weight too, but your shoulders... In terms of stowing the straps...you will never have to. I have older larger 45L version and have never once checked this bag. That is the point. Also to those who want to latch stuff on the outside, the point of a one-bag is to travel light. If you carry a bunch of crap then get a bigger bag rather than have it bounce around on the outside and be harder to carry.@@anon003
Man no luggage slip through, not having one is really annoying. Almost perfect for me, but I need it, I like one check in and one max carry on, but this just misses. Leaning to the osprey daylite 46 which is cheaper, bigger, lighter and has stuff I need.
@@jeffreybrune8982 it's a little big for "one bag" ain't it? Don't one baggers usually want their stuff under the seat? One bag should also fill an EDC bag at the destination right? This is a travel backpack, people got different expectations of what they need a bag to do.
Do the shoulder harness hide away. Is there a way to connect a over shoulder strap carry. Is there handles for briefcase carry. Is there a slip over for the handle on roller luggage. Also the bag is too darn heavy at 4.5 lbs. For price it is totally ridiculous. Many airlines have a weight limit of 7 kg/15 lbs. Or does Tortuga just ignore that, mostly foreign airlines which I use Asian airlines. I avoid the US domestic airlines with the disruptions from drunken anti-Trump rabid mad dogs.
Thanks for the awesome review! Question about your zipper concern. It looks like there are two zippers on that inside pocket. It looks like if you move them both you can have the opening at top too. Or is that second zipper stuck? Thanks for the thorough review! Looking forward to getting and trying mine out!
@Vincent Tandaw, Yeah that’s abt right, 4.5lbs or 2.045kg standalone. The key is the hip belts, load lifters, and harness system. I’ve got over 50+ backpacks of the top brands and Tortuga harness system is top 3. So although the weight is higher than others, they have a much better load balance harness system. The box look and feel of the Outbreaker v3 didn’t do it for me but they fixed all the issues I had with that version without compromising the strengths of that pack. And this pack, looks better in my opinion. Another thing that you need to pay attention too that a lot of reviewers miss, is the torso length. It doesn’t matter about height and weight but rather your torso length. For example, I am 5’8” or 173cm but I have a ~21” or ~53cm torso length and any pack less than 19” or 48cm looks like I’m wearing a kids backpack and rides high. Therefore rubbing on my lower back. So for long haul, it’s super uncomfortable.
@@nomad0714 no amount of padding or hipstraps reduces load - only reducing weight reduces weight, and thereby increasing carry comfort. Of course, a harness system is still necessary, so I scrutinize every ounce after the first two pounds for bloat. This pack is too heavy that it is not worth the "comfort" more padding brings. (For reference, I am about your build. I hike, play volleyball, hit the gym and am generally fit. It's not about whether I can haul the weight, but rather should I haul an empty bag that itself already weighs two pounds).
@@v4714v, yeah each use case is different. For me, if I take on a heavy pack, like the PD travel pack, the harness system is bad and it sits in my closet somewhere. Other harness systems, I don’t feel the weight like Tortuga ones. Sure 2lbs is 2lbs but with the right harness system, you don’t feel it. Conversely, 2lbs less with a crappy harness system, you still feel it on shoulders and back. Ideally, you want just right weight and harness system. That would be the Heimplanet Transit Pack 34l. Feels good, looks professional to bring to office, lighter weight and not over engineered, and organization pockets has dimensions. The harness system is not over done. Picked up on BF for $225 and my favorite EDC at the moment. But for long travel, I might check out this one, either 30 or 40l. Hope Pack Hacker can do a side by side comparison. Good luck finding the one that works for you
@@nomad0714 30L version is really heavy at 1.8kg. Pretty sub par volume to weight ratio. Comparing to Heimplanet Transit 34 which is 1,66 kg, PD 27-33L V2 weighs 560g less than Tortuga 30L and both have more capacity. I'd also consider Bellroy Transit 28L. Feels bigger than the literage says.
@@xfani, yeah if we compare weight only, you’re spot on. But from my experience, weight is only one component as mentioned all above. PD has bad harness system. Heimplanet is much better in weight, harness system, and capacity. And look and feel is professional. But if your use cases is travel and you need more capacity, Tortuga is better than PD in terms of comfort albeit heavier, but their harness system cancels it out. Another heavy and over engineered pack that just released and also on heavy side is the Boundary Supply Errant Pro but the harness system is well done like Tortuga. So if weight is your only consideration then yeah, Tortuga is not an option. My top considerations: #1: comfort with good harness system. Allows to look at over engineered packs like Boundary Supply and Tortuga; #2: design and quality materials for different use cases. Mine are mostly EDC, travel, and outdoor in that order; #3: well thought out capacity and organization that doesn’t eat into each allocated compartments; #4: look and feel #5: good value for money
Thanks for a thorough review. I wonder if it would fit a short torso for petite women. Do you have any recommendations of travel backpacks for petite women for international travel for 2 weeks? I saw your review of the 30L and wonder if I can use for two weeks?
Truly fanstastic review. Rare to one so thorough. As an outbreaker loyalist (whose zipper is now broken), I feel like watching the video told me everything. Well, there is one thing: is the suspension as solid as the outbreaker and can it extend to the same torso length? That suspension is what differentiates tortuga. I hate carrying a pack on my shoulders and no other suitcase pack comes close to the Tortuga suspension.
How easy is it to wash down? For the 4 Totugas I've had the advise is to just wipe down with a damp cloth, not to get soaking as it will affect the glues holding it together. That said they are not particularly weather proof if caught in the rain and there's no cover so there's always a risk of being soaked. After years of continuous travel soaking the bag in back sweat and dust i'd like to literally put a garden hose on it and hang it up to dry in the sun but have avoided doing so. Thus new bag seems to be made of a more tolerant material. Can it take an all areas rinse out?
Thanks for the video, probably better feedback to be given to Tortuga than here but the white interior concerns me as far as stain visibility. Say I have it open and I'm packing it and spill coffee onto it, will I have a big brown stain forever or can it be easily scrubbed back to white? If it were a darker color like gray or navy blue it wouldn't be as much of a concern.
Hi, The light color of the interior is to making seeing inside and finding your stuff easier. That does come with tradeoffs, but we think the Cool Grey color strikes a good balance.
I have an earlier bag and the white interior is great because it makes the contents visible. Now I can't stand using a bag with dark interior bc it is harder to see contents. Never spilled coffee into my suitcase and it never got dirty, but if it did I don't think I would care. Btw, how often do you spill coffee into your suitcase? How would you even do that?
Hi Marc, Let me explain the zipper layout. We originally started with the zipper on the opposite side of that pocket. However, when you opened the pocket, the mesh lid would cover your stuff on the other side of the bag. We found that made packing both sections annoying. So we reversed the zipper. It's a double zipper, so you can open it from the top or the bottom of that side to access anything you need in that pocket. --Fred, Co-Founder of Tortuga
Hi Fred, Make sense. Put another way, if you have the pack on the side (width-wise or horizontal) like a suitcase then this zipping is spot on. It’s only a little awkward when you pack it height-wise (or vertical), then you need to slide your clothes/gear from side.
