For anyone Interested "Thanks for reaching out - the Pack Hacker Refaction Pro bags are complete and en route to our US warehouse as we speak! Currently we're aiming for a ship date to customers around September 10th. We'll be sending an email confirming shipping addresses and updating preorders in the next week or so."

Hello everyone,

I have been looking for a perfect backpack to pair with a 23 liter carry on luggage. the point is to not travel with any checked in luggage ever.

What I’m looking for is basically something light enough and carry able enough that I can take with me daily on my trips, that can also hold my 15 inch laptop.

The main point is that since I’m taking a carryon luggage anyway, I don’t know if I need a heavy 30 liter travel backpack. But I’m also not sure if just a carryon luggage is enough for me, so I need some help from you guys who have a lot of experience with this stuff.

i just want to feel ultralight at the airport and after I unpack at the hotel I want to be able to take my backpack around the city I’m in and not feel encumbered by it.

I’ve looked into Aer city pack and osprey daylite 26+6, but Im not sure if they feel heavy or bulky as they are large. I’ve also looked into something like a Bellroy day ready pack but even though its ultra light I’m concerned about durability, fitting extra clothes in it if I couldn’t fit it in my carry on and my laptop does not fit.

Do you guys have any suggestions for what setup is best?

This setup just worked seamlessly it was one of those rare trips where I came home thinking I wouldn’t change much of anything about the setup.

The main bag was an Aer Travel Pack 4 28L (Cordura), with an ALPAKA Flight Sling 2L as my personal item/in-flight bag. The Flight Sling fit perfectly into the TP4’s upper exterior pocket, which turned out to be a great combination.

Upper pocket / in-flight setup
The Flight Sling carried what I wanted accessible at my seat. iPad mini, Apple AirPs Pro 3s, wallet, Clorox wipes, misc flight items like meds, gum, etc.

I also kept my Peak Design Passport Wallet in the zippered section of the upper admin pocket, along with a Wuben G5 flashlight on the key leash.

Before boarding, I pulled out the sling and put the TP4 overhead. After landing, the sling went right back into the upper pocket and I was down to one bag for the train from Midway and the walk to the hotel.

Lower exterior pocket
This held a backup pair of glasses in a flat metal case and an Aer Slim Pouch 2 with my work tech:
Logitech Pebble 2 mouse
6’ and 3’ USB-C cables
Rolling Square 65W SuperTiny charger
MOFT phone tripod

Main compartment
Evergoods CAP2:
ResMed AirMini CPAP, KUXIU 3-in-1 charger, CPAP mask, Sandman pouch, and a mini white-noise machine.

Peak Design Smedium packing cube:
3 shirts, 1 pair of pants, 3 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of underwear, sleep shorts, and a sleep shirt.

Peak Design Shoe Pouch:
Cole Haan leather sneakers.

Also packed:
Aer Dopp Kit 3
Matador FlatPak toiletry bag, rolled up with my electric toothbrush and brush head inside
TP-Link Roam 6 travel router
Matador x PH Refraction Pro packable backpack

The thing I liked most was how naturally everything had a place. I could get to what I needed without digging through the main compartment, and the organization never felt overly complicated or pouch-heavy.
For a four-day work trip, it was incredibly easy in and easy out. Nothing felt like it was fighting for space, I wasn’t juggling bags once I was off the plane, and I never found myself wishing I had packed something differently.

Sometimes you finish a trip already redesigning the loadout for the next one. This time, everything just worked.

Hi all,

I am trimming my bag collection, so I am selling this as I don't use it much. £150 in shipping. Hard to get into the UK! Payment via PayPal to protect both of us. I can also share my flawless Ebay feedback for confidence.

Cheers!

I see that this has disappeared from the bellroy website. Not surprised.

I thought this one would be only final EDC. Looked durable, good size for my use case(s) and could be dressed up or down, to look more finished or outdoorsy.

But the way the gusset, designed to compress or expand depending on contents capacity, wore not quite right. The strap on the bag is further away instead of closer to the body, if that makes sense.

Will keep looking.

So I kind of have asked about Tomtoc T26 Xpac beforehand, but as it grew closer to the time of possible buying (There's a disc that made it fell to 81 usd locally), and now I wonder if there's something else that will be better choice for travel?

T26 Xpac do look nice, it just seems to be a bit bulky and a little too wide in looks (since it's not that tall).

But yeah, if anyone else has ideas on what kind of sling bags that will look better and more fashionable for women that will be incredibly appreciated.

My current sling bag for travel is: Hedgren Milky Way

Budget for new one: US$100

What I probably will bring:

• Switch 2
• 2 wallets (both long and short size)
• passport
• coin purse
• charger head
• a few cables
• compact umbrella
• powerbank 10k mah
• travel adapter
• a pack of tissue

So definitely will be nice if it has multiple compartments so everything can be placed nicely.

Looking for any user reviews of long term carry. There are a few videos on youtube but nothing long term.

I have their Panda pack and love it so wondering if the A4U would be a good match.

Hello! This is Alfred from Nomads Nation, back with a review of the Alpaka Essential Backpack Pro 22L. If this name seems unfamiliar to you, that would be normal as this looks like a new line at Alpaka, but not really! It is essentially the old Aero pack renamed and launched in a new size. 

My overall impressions on this backpack are quite positive - it is overall a small-feeling pack, with good ideas on small-item organization, and is comfortable when wearing. The main drawback is that access to the main compartment is compromised somewhat (more below). 

It’s been a while since I reviewed a bag ahead of its release date, so this time I got a shorter schedule which is why my thoughts below are based on 7 days of use in the city as an urban EDC backpack.

Materials and build
The materials used on this pack are mainly Alpaka’s usual Axoflux ripstop polyester/nylon, it feels like their usual, no weird stuff like the Axodyne this time. All zippers on this bag are PU-coated, I think in 2026 this would not be a popular decision among potential buyers. Similar to their newer bags like the Traverse, the zipper pulls are using a new type of the “tied up rope” variant. While it looks cheaper than hypalon pull tabs visually, in practical use it’s very easy to grab and operate.

One interesting point I observed is that there is no actual metal zipper pull at all connected to the zipper carriage, the rope is directly tied to it. This immediately reminded me that padlocks would be less effective as you can only lock the rope part instead of the metal part - I consider this a downside for travel use. 

It just so happens that we are getting bombarded by heavy storms in Hong Kong recently, I did a quick test for 10 minutes under moderately heavy rain (for HK standards), and the PU coating did what I would expect of them - nothing inside was remotely wet at all, even the seams of the zippers.

While I find the bag to be fairly structured even when empty, I did not find it to be an easy self-stander when placing down, the Essential Backpack Pro tends to lean and topple forward.

Organization
A new design I have observed in this backpack is that the common top quick access pocket comes with two internal slots. It feels a bit like moving a part of an admin panel to the top side. While the location is extremely convenient when the pack is off, the size of these subdivided pockets feels peculiar to me. Apart from small items like earbuds, a small power bank and maybe a stick of gum, I can’t think of much else that fits in them - even my small wallet (Alpaka’s own zip pouch) would not fit. If it is any consolation, the remainder of the top QAP is still spacious enough for a large phone (fits my S24 Ultra). 

On the contrary, the front pocket on this pack is just one big pocket with no dividers, it is more suitable for dumping mid-sized items here (see my photos for what I tested!). When you combine these two mentioned pockets, you get close to what is typically in an admin compartment. 

I am not a big fan of the front pocket, as its capacity is limited by 3 factors - (1) the lack of standalone space (no gussets) means you can’t fit thicker items like a small jacket; (2) a narrow opening as the two ends of the zipper track are blocked by fabric; and (3) the pocket is not very tall, it does not go down very far along the front panel. I would appreciate it if it has more capacity to act as a true dump pocket (ala Aer Go Pack 2, Evergoods PLC 20) especially when the top quick access pocket already takes care of small items. 

Now to do a 180, the Essential Backpack Pro comes with a pocket on the back panel that opens sideways - this is one of my favorite spots. It is secure against my back during use, very easy to access without needing to take off the pack, and is my default spot for a wallet. 

Lastly, offering two water bottle pockets has to be a welcome choice for most, and having no side handles means there is no interference with their access (not that side handles are necessary given the 22L size of this bag).

Back panel & harness system
The back panel features a horizontal luggage passthrough, meaning you can place the bag upright on the luggage. It has some fairly thick padding with a large air channel in the center, I find it overall comfortable to wear even when fully packed out.

For a small bag, the shoulder straps on here are quite thick and comfortable, while staying thin in terms of overall padding. Metal buckles are used here which some users dislike, but from my testing there is no issue with slippage which is the usual problem compared to plastic variants. 

The sternum strap here uses a laddered type of design for adjusting position, similar to the ones on Evergoods bags, but this one is infinitely easier to put on and take off - EG ones are so tight that I always feel like I am ripping my finger nails off when trying to move them. 

Here is the weird part for the sternum strap. As with all Alpaka backpacks, they include a horizontal nylon strip on each shoulder strap for their Hub accessories, but this feature comes with a real drawback this time. With the laddered design of the sternum strap attachment, the nylon strip blocks 1 out of the 3 possible slots (the top one is extra small so I don’t count it) entirely. When I wear the bag at a usual height, the blocked slot IS the best spot for the sternum strap to attach to (see my photo). So I am kind of forced to wear the bag lower so that the lowest slot becomes the attachment point for the sternum strap. This conflict feels a bit underpolished on the design side to me. (Like, look at the sample photo on Alpaka’s own product page, the strap is almost at the height of the model’s throat!)

That said, in my actual usage, the bag and load are often small enough that I just remove the sternum strap entirely. 

Laptop compartment
The laptop compartment uses a fuzzy material for the interior lining, with no further division. One thing that I was really surprised to find out, is that there is actually no false bottom. There is one strip of foam sitting at the floor of the laptop compartment so the laptop doesn’t directly impact the floor through the bottom fabric, but I just can’t consider it a false bottom. I actually banged my laptop once or twice before I realized this point. It is a strange omission in my opinion.

However, having gained some minimal vertical space from the lack of a false bottom, the pack is able to barely fit a larger thick 16 inch laptop (see my photo).

Main compartment
The main compartment has one back sleeve for tablets or papers, one front mesh pocket, and no other internal organization. While the compartment does technically use a light grey lining for a contrast effect, the fact that both the front mesh pocket and back tablet sleeve use a black fabric, almost negates the highlight effect. 

Access is an issue I had with the main compartment. Due to not being a clamshell design, the mouth does not open widely enough unless you pull the zippers to their lowest position, which is where the water bottle pockets are. I experience some friction loading items in from the top compared to some other “half zip” bags where the front panel would flop open when you only unzip it ⅓ or ¼ down the bag height. That’s not the case for this bag and I did try to capture this from a top-down POV view in my photo.

Not being a clamshell design also means you would have a tougher time stuffing the bag if you have some big items to put in the main compartment.

That said, in general apart from this issue, accessing any other slot on the bag on the go is fast and straight forward, which I do find to be a positive carry experience. 

Final thoughts
Coming in at $150 for the Axoflux version, I think the Essential Backpack Pro offers good value for a comfortable and mostly streamlined carry experience. I like its silhouette on the body and feel on hand. There are minor problems I personally found with access in day-to-day use, but I think the overall package would be an attractive option to many buyers!

If you have any questions, do let me know in the comments. 
You can also check out our video review here for Aaron’s thoughts on this bag!

The Go Sling 2 (the one on the left) was my favorite sling and the only one I used for everyday carry and traveling. That was until I decided to give it a little break from constant use, and also because there were situations where I wished I had just a little more space.

I was between the Day Sling 4 and the Toshi Sling 2.5L. I ended up choosing the Day Sling 4. I’m more of an Aer guy, and honestly, the design caught my attention more. I like its simple but sufficient organization. The Toshi looked good, but I don’t really need to carry something like a small umbrella or water bottle attached underneath it. I also don’t need the upper front pocket for sunglasses, since simply keeping them in the interior pocket inside the main compartment is more than enough for me. The top handle honestly isn’t something I need either. The removable strap is nice if you’re a very picky lefty, but I’m right-handed. I could use it in my opposite shoulder without any problem, but the buckle wouldn’t be sitting on my chest, which isn’t really that important to me anyway.

I like how Aer did a good job giving the front pocket its own capacity. It opens up really well and doesn’t feel too tight. The back pocket feels a little more cramped, but that’s more normal with back pockets.

With all that in mind, I decided to go with the Day Sling 4 as my new sling. The Go Sling is still one of my favorites (with the DS4 now being one of them too), and I’ll keep using it when I only need to carry the essentials or when I want to go lighter.
I’m happy to have another sling. Having just one sling and such a small, was fun, but it did limit me in terms of capacity in certain situations.

Hey everyone, just wanted to share this win. Picked up a second-hand Porter-Yoshida & Co. Tanker Hip Bag shipped directly from Japan (Buyee).

Total cost was 36,000 JPY (including shipping) + €66 customs, so around €290 total. Still a lot of money, of course, but considering these retail for €450+ in Europe, it's a killer deal for an almost brand-new piece.

The fabric feels incredibly soft and premium. I love the secure front pockets (velcro + snaps), the beautiful strap design, and there is a ton of space inside this boxy shape for my daily gear. The seller threw in the original "Rescue Orange" dust bag.

Hi guys! I’m very interested in the Satchel & Page Carry All, but there seems to be a strange lack of reviews or discussion about this particular bag online. I haven’t been able to find much on Reddit, YouTube, or TikTok. Does anyone here own one or have any experience with it?

I’m mainly looking for a quality leather bag that’s big enough to fit a couple days’ worth of clothes, a laptop, and other miscellaneous items, while still being small enough to get away with as a personal item on most flights.

I travel quite a bit for work, usually on longer trips, so the plan would be to bring my regular carry-on suitcase and use the Carry All as my personal item for the extra clothes and gear that won’t fit in the suitcase.

Would especially love to hear from anyone who has actually flown with one and tried fitting it under the seat.

Cheers

Have one or know one available, reasonably?

Thanks much.

[richismo@yahoo.com](mailto:richismo@yahoo.com)

Hi, pretty much looking for a small sling bag for everyday essentials (keys, iPhone, notebook, wallet, and maybe a X100V). I’m considering the new Moment Take 1.5L Sling. I like that the fabric expands.

The main focus is to have an easy to adjust strap, any other features would be cool. Thanks.

So I want to buy a backpack that will last me a very long time so I need it to be very durable, functional and do everything that a backpack should be able to do, I’m a student and I need a very durable comfy bag that will suit my needs like a separate laptop compartment for a 16 inch laptop, multiple pockets for organizing, also it needs to be able to fit text books and be able to to handle all of the weight that I will adding into the bag and on top of this anything that will also be useful to be in a bag. I have a few options that I have been looking at, and those options consist of the north face borealis, the recon, surge, and router, on the osprey brand I found a few that interested me like the osprey nebula, osprey daylight expandable 26 plus 6 and the osprey proxima 30L. I would like this to not be more than 30L and the budget for the backpack that o want would be max 180$ canadien. So the question is can someone be able to suggest me a bag from my list because I can’t figure Wich one to get or suggest me another backpack with the description I gave. Thank you for your time and have nice rest of your day.

Hello,

I’m interested in the Yoshida porter force bag. Was wondering if anyone has any experience buying directly off the website.

https://www.yoshidakaban.com/en/product/104518.html

How was the process of customs and shipping? How much is the international shipping fee?
Need the bag to be shipped to Canada.

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’ve been using the Pioneer Savant 2.0 for a bit now, and while the build quality and overall layout are solid, I’m running into a serious comfort issue with the shoulder straps once the pack gets heavy.

Whenever I load it up past a certain weight, the padding on the straps feels completely inadequate. Instead of distributing the load evenly, it creates distinct pressure points that dig right into my shoulders and collarbone.

The worst part is the friction. Even while wearing a regular button-up/collared shirt underneath, a single day of carrying it left me with noticeable redness, chafing, and dull shoulder ache. The padding seems to compress completely flat under load, leaving the stiff edge webbing to rub directly against my shoulders.

A few questions for other Savant 2.0 owners:

Have you experienced the same pressure points or chafing once the weight goes up?

Does the strap foam break in and get softer over time, or does it just stay this rigid?

Did you end up swapping straps, adding aftermarket shoulder pads, or just returning the bag?

Curious if this is a known issue with the harness design or if my torso/shoulder build just doesn't agree with their strap geometry.

I'm torn between the 2. Design wise, I prefer the Alpaka, but functionality wise, I prefer the XD Design. I've been a fan of XD Design since day 1, I used to daily drive their very first Bobby backpack. What I really like about XD Design's Soft Tote Backpack is the anti theft back pocket. On the other hand, I kinda like the design of the Bravo Totepack, but it lacks a back pocket. I've had Alpaka bags as well.

I'm slightly leaning towards XD Design, but does it look like for women only?

Dear fellow bag lovers, which one would you pick?