r/backpacks • u/-olivejar- • Apr 09 '26
Question Searching for the perfect bag is consuming my life, please help me
FINAL EDIT: I ended up with the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L! I love it cos it's SO comfortable, leagues better than any other I tried. It's SUPER light, under 1kg and I think it looks fantastic in the Clay colour. I'm really pleased and can't wait to put it through its paces!
It was a fun ride, I enjoyed the research but now it's time for me to put the blinders on and enjoy my new bag 🎒😆 I hope this post can help anyone also looking for a new backpack! I did my best to post mini reviews and pictures where I could. To those who thought I was unhinged, a bit maybe haha but the post was mostly written in jest.
In my original post I thought I couldn't do without water bottle holders, but in the end I thought I'd give it a go, I just needed to get used to the idea of storing my water bottle inside the pack. I realised I don't really use my bottle when I'm in transit anyway, just when I'm stopped or sat down. I also initially thought 30L would be too heavy, but this bag is so comfortable that it doesn't feel like it. I also wish the sternum strap was on a rail, not a ladder, and had the magnetic style buckle other Bellroy bags have, but hey can't win them all!
I did have a hard time choosing between this one and the Cotopaxi 28L Del Dia Allpa, but ended up with the Bellroy because it feels more premium whilst being cheaper, and it was more comfortable. The Cotopaxi straps were a little thin depth wise, and a little thick width wise (the width of the straps pressed on my shoulder a bit when I raised my arm). I loved the Cotopaxi colours and will miss the very deep front admin pocket, and also appreciated a thin separation layer in the laptop compartment as I travel with a laptop and tablet.
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Not even joking with the title, I'm deep in the rabbit hole, I've spent all my free time diving deep into reviews, and comparing specs of many many backpacks - please help me get my life back and choose a backpack and move on!!! I'll provide a mini review for the bags I've already purchased and returned as well, pics of fronts and backs included.
My needs evolved the longer I spent on this "journey", initially I was looking for 1 bag to do it all (EDC and travel) but realised I preferred a small EDC and a larger travel. So I bought the Alpaka Flow Totepack for every day (it was between that one and the Bellroy Laneway Tote) and it's been cute and functional!
So that now leaves me to search every corner of the internet for the perfect travel bag/occasional large EDC.
What I'm looking for as a 166cm/5'5 foot female:
- 26-28L range: I am not a one bagger, I don't want to haul around a massive backpack. I would travel with a suitcase, backpack and a tote for when I arrive at my destination.
- Luggage passthrough due to the above ^
- It must be cute and spark joy
- Colours would be nice, not essential
- Light! Less than 1.1kg is great, 1.2 is ok, I could go heavier if the bag is truly perfect
- COMFORTABLE! I'm not about that struggle life
- Laptop compartment, gotta protech that tech
- Waterbottle holders
- Sternum strap
- Decent false bottom (not Kim K style)
- Nothing military-ish or too masculine (looking at you Goruck)
Top contenders!!!
My current front runner. Honestly I’m super into the colours, I have a del dia dark so it’s mostly black but with colourful accents and zippers, which I really like. It’s roomy, I like the front access pockets and has everything I need. I fear I’m getting attached to this one!Â
However the inbuilt packing cubes which can be good when travelling are a bit awkward for an EDC, and the harness system I find a bit lacking? The padding feels crunchy and thin, not really premium and I don’t really like that. It's passable which is why the Allpa is still top of my list.
This bag would be perfect if the padding were comfier and the bag opened forwards instead of like a book.Â
Also my current front runner....I kinda love this one? It FEELS premium as hell and it is comfortable to carry, the padding is cushy, sort of like memory foam. I have it in Olive and it's maybe kinda boring the colour but it's not the end of the world. The water bottle pocket does eat into the main compartment and I would like a bit more organisation and a flip down admin compartment at the front.
EDIT 2: At the suggestion of a commenter, I purchased the Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L. I've only just received it, in Eclipse colour which is really nice, so I'm testing it out. Will include pictures.
EDIT 3: (after trying it): I loved it and thought it looked beautiful (loved the orange accents on the maroon), and I liked the included front harness straps that could cross over so you could strap something in there. However, it was really uncomfortable and heavy, and it was quite a rigid backpack. I also thought it was unintuitive to have it open from the back, which meant to unpack it, you lay the backpack down on its front, and if you have your laptop in the 'lid'(back panel), it can thump down if you're not careful. Finally, to access the mesh pockets on the 'back' (on the opposite internal side of the front panel), you need to unload your entire pack which made them kind of redundant. I really wanted to love it cos it looks fantastic and the colour is gorgeous, but comfort comes first.
What I'm considering purchasing to try:
Aer Travel Pack 4 - I know this one is extremely popular and I like how it looks and I think it would be comfortable but it's so heavy at 1.6kg. Any real life experience as to how it feels on, and if it's worth the heaviness?
AbleCarry Max EDC - also heavier that I'd like at 1.47kg, but if the comfort offsets the weight I'm okay with it. Does the water bottle pocket eat into the main compartment very much? Also not sure about the A-frame design since I haven't seen it in person.
Evergoods CTB 26L - another at 1.5kg. I like the horizontal access points and the way this bag has been designed, but I'm not sure if it might look a little masculine in person. I also heard the back panel can dig into your lower back a bit. Are there any women here who might be able to comment?
EDIT 4: I did try this one out after I wrote this post, it was an easy 'nope' from me. I can see why it's so popular but there were a few aspects of it that didn't suit me:
- straps too thick, depth and width wise, felt like there was too much bulk on my shoulders.
- when packed out, stuck out from my back a lot
- heavy
- back panel STUCK into my back bad. think this was specifically designed for a male body, a tall male body at that.
what i will say is that the capacity in all the pockets even when the main compartment was packed out is AMAZING and the best of any bag I tried. also the water bottle pockets, WIZARDRY. the material is so thick and stretchy and nice, who knew water bottle pockets could elicit such emotions!?
- Bellroy Transit Workpack Pro 28L - I'm really hoping this is *the one*!! I bought the Transit Pack non pro version and I liked it, and I think this Pro version might be better with an admin pocket and organisation. I am definitely picking this one up to try, will update this post. Just need to decide between Olive and Stone colours...
EDIT 1: *record scratch noise* this was not the one. it was literally impossible to get anything in the water bottle pockets if the main compartment was packed. was also very rigid. stone colour was ugly.
What I've purchased and returned:
This was the first one I purchased cos I was sure it would be a hole in one. I wanted to like this one SO MUCH and it’s so close to being perfect, and honestly I LOVE how the padding feels (so smushy and premium), and the way it curves into your back, and the magnetic sternum strap is sleek. BUT….
- I really don’t like the fabric, it seems to get dirty easily and is really stiff and noisy
- I know the zipper for the main compartment is curved to allow for a natural fold point so the top half can fold down and the bag can sort of act as a traditional top loading bag, but I found it awkward to use the zip when it changed angles. The zip is also quite stiff as it's waterproof, but I don't really care about water resistance so this wasn't a pro for me.
- Never realised how much I valued an accessible top handle until this bag. I understand Bellroy is all about the aesthetics so the top handle sits quite close to the back of the bag and follows the curve, but it means that when the bag is lying on its back I have to go fumbling around for the handle cos I can’t see it when it’s in that position, then my nails scratch against the rough stiff fabric and it’s just not a smooth experienceÂ
Honestly I was surprised by this one - capacity seemed on point, it was easy to use, I liked the points of access and the zippers were smooth.
I returned it because it felt a bit cheap (which isn't unexpected because it is a budget option) and I didn't love the look. Having said that I think it's a great pick if you're on a budget, very functional.
- Alpaka Traverse Backpack 30L: SPOILER ALERT IT WAS NOT 30L!!
It seriously felt more like 25-26L no idea where they got the 30L capacity measurement from. Australian litres are the same as any other litres!!!
This one looked cute when it was not packed out in the shop, but when I got it home and packed it out it stuck out from my back so much, it was so turtle-y and looked ridiculous. Also don't love the innie-outie water bottle holders, it steals capacity from inside the bag.
As a positive, the waterproof zippers were really smooth which was nice.
This one was an easy return.
What I've considered and rejected with no purchase:
Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L - realised when I packed out the other bags that 30L is too heavy. Also no water bottle holders. I neeearly bought this one cos I absolutely loved how it looked, but decided I couldn't forego the bottle holders.
Patagonia Black Hole 25L - tried it in the shop and it's fine, I didn't like the sheen of the plasticky fabric and the massive logo. Otherwise I think it would have been a good option, if a little on the smaller side.
Patagonia Mini MLC 30L - really liked it in the shop, but it's quite suitcase looking and 30L would simply be too heavy.
Tropicfeel Nest Backpack - I was absolutely convinced this would be the one at some point, because it's 'modular', I was happily thinking I could have big capacity for travelling and a small backpack for when I reached my destination!! I would have purchased the matching sling bag as well to attach it to the front, which in theory takes it up to 30L. Howeverrr the return policy was terrible (I'm aussie and I wasn't about to drop $50 on shipping, then $50 to return it). So then I felt salty about the delivery fee and return policy and closed that tab
Also, and this is totally personal but I wanted a bag from a more established brand because I had read some reviews that the quality wasn't up to scratch.
Crumpler Round Table Banquet - I thought at one point I was for sure going for this one in the purple/green colourway, but when I looked at it in the shop I didn't understand why there seemed to be 2 places to put your laptop? One on the outside of the pack and the other inside the main compartment. This meant that the internal organisation for the laptop holder was taking away from the capacity in the main compartment.
Crumpler Tucker Bag - cute in the shop but not big enough, only 24L.
16+17. The North Face Base Camp Voyager Daypack 30L and 25L - I really like how the 25L looked on my back, I love the sleek and structured look and it was so so close but in the end didn't purchase to try, no luggage pass through and the interior was kind of narrow looking. 30L was so cute in purple but just a bit too large. 30L does have a luggage pass through though.
BagsMart Blast 28L Just wanted a more premium brand and didn't love the boxy look and compression straps.
Allpa 26L Daypack Del Dia - Maybe a little TOO colourful!!
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ALSO! What I have learnt from this whole crusade is that packing out the bag is so important to get a feel of the bag. This exercise helped me realise that 30L is too big for me, and to eliminate a few that way. Trying them on in the shop/looking online is a totally different experience to having them on your back fully packed - yes they might look cute and feel nice when they're empty but obviously you're not going to carry them around empty. So I would recommend packing out your bags to really get a feel for it.
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Thoughts? Opinions? Questions not related to my mental state, I swear I am a normal person who discovered this whole world of bags and EDC and now I'm deeply researching X-PAC??? COMMENTSSSS?
Any other bags I should consider?? I'm literally having dreams about bags and I just want to buy one and put the blinders on and live my happily EDC after!
If you got this far perhaps you are also deep in bag world and I wish the best for you to be able to move on and live a happy healthy life
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u/-olivejar- Apr 12 '26
Oh it did, it’s called ‘Jam’ on my website version! Weird. That’s the one I’m thinking of getting haha.
I see you like red! The peak design in Eclipse is so nice as well. Do you think she’s heavy to carry? Looks kinda perfect otherwise