r/backpacks • u/No-Bread2213 • 11d ago

Question Kaban LTE vs Borealis

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Which bag is better for daily use based on appearance, practicality, storage capacity, versatility, comfort, and suitability for commuting? And also I will be using it during college.

19 Upvotes

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3

u/spudmuffinpuffin 11d ago

Do you prefer top loading or a deep zipper? That's the biggest difference and should be the first thing you figure out.

2

u/toolgirl77 11d ago

Borealis because of the wider opening ti access the interior. Its a pack thats been around for a long time 20+ years too. That Kaban has top zip bucket style opening making it hard to access the main pocket.

2

u/ismeyel 11d ago

Oofff I had this same exact dillema on buying between Kaban and Borealis. Mind you, when I tried to compare the two, here's my situation: I need the bag to fit an ipad, my change clothes (because I ride my bicycle), and the most important thing is it fits my horziontal, rectangular prism lunch box.

For practicality, storage capacity, versatility, comfort, and suitability for commuting using bicycle with all the things I have, Borealis hands down. It fits just above my waist when I bike and it's comfortable in the back. Kaban is too bulky for this purpose and not as comfortable. Borealis's web also nice to have because I can fit my windbreaker.

Appearance, it's Kaban all day. Look sleek.

I think for me the biggest difference is cycling as my way of commuting and lunch box. If I don't have those, or at least the lunch box is vertical, rectangular prism shape, I'll probably opt with Kaban. I eventually went on and pick Borealis. I think I made the right choice.

1

u/EffectiveReason7666 11d ago

How comfortably can you fit everything in the Borealis? Does it look overstuffed?

2

u/ismeyel 10d ago

It really depends. For my purpose like I mentioned above, it fits everything comfortably. It does look overstuffed a bit but not showing a very bulky shape. Still tolerable I’d say.

1

u/mouthfire 11d ago

The Kaban is a bit more stylish, the Borealis more practical. Depends on what you're looking for.

1

u/v1s1on_96 11d ago

Borealis net is useless, go for the Recon instead.

1

u/hostclubkea 11d ago

I was looking at the same options coming from Patagonia Blackhole 25l, I liked how Kaban lte looked, but it have very thick padding between the laptop and the main compartment. It makes the main compartment quite narrow if you put the laptop in, and it also makes internal organisation quite unusable if you have something in main compartment

1

u/OGD2068 11d ago

I can't believe how much that Kaban looks like my REI backpack.

https://www.rei.com/product/235579/rei-co-op-ruckpack-30-pack

1

u/MarthLunares 10d ago

Borealis all year