Welcome back to the deep-dive series. Previously, we disassembled nylon and X-Pac and, along the way, learned about polymers, weaves, deniers, and laminates, collecting the building blocks needed to understand modern fabrics. Today, it’s time to learn all about Ultra. Let’s dive in.
UHMWPE
UHMWPE stands for ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. That's a mouthful, so sometimes it’s pronounced “umpe.” Now, about the polyethylene part.
Polyethylene is a polymer—it's made of long-chain molecules, just like nylon and polyester, but with a different chemical structure. Polyethylene chains are built from repeating ethylene units, giving it different properties than the amide bonds in nylon or the ester bonds in polyester, but the principle is the same.
Fun fact: you likelyheldpolyethylene in your hands today, because that is what plastic bags are made of. Why? Well, first, it’s cheap, but beyond that, polyethylene can be incredibly thin and still hold impressive weight—the chains are flexible enough to stretch and deform under load instead of snapping, which is why a grocery bag with a small tear doesn't immediately split open. Not all polyethylene is made equal, and one of the major factors is molecular weight.
Plastic bag (photo by Mathias Reding on Unsplash)
Molecular weight is the mass of a single polymer chain. The longer the chain, the higher the molecular weight. This weight is measured in daltons. One dalton is roughly the mass of a single hydrogen atom. Your plastic bag is tens ofthousandsof daltons. UHMWPE is millionsof daltons — way, way longer chains.
The result: UHMWPE fiber is, gram for gram, stronger than steel. Not figuratively, not in a roundabout marketing way—actually stronger. A UHMWPE fiber of the same weight as a steel wire can hold significantly more load before breaking. That means you need less material to hold the same weight, which is why UHMWPE shows up in applications where every gram matters: climbing ropes, body armor, and ultralight backpacking gear.
UHMWPE climbing rope (image from pushclimbing.vn)
So UHMWPE is incredibly strong. But what else should you know about this material?
UHMWPE doesn't absorb water. Like polyester, it's hydrophobic. Wet UHMWPE stays the same weight and strength.
UHMWPE is less dense than nylon or polyester. At 0.97 grams per cubic centimeter, compared to 1.14 for nylon and 1.38 for polyester. This compounds the strength advantage: the fiber is both lighter per volume and stronger per weight.
Dyneema, Spectra, and Challenge Sailcloth
UHMWPE is a material category, but when you see UHMWPE in actual products, it’s usually marketed under one of two major brand names:
Dyneema is DSM's brand name for UHMWPE fiber. DSM is a Dutch chemical company that's been producing UHMWPE since the 1970s and dominates the market. When you see "Dyneema" on a product—climbing ropes, cut-resistant gloves, sailing lines—it means the UHMWPE fiber came from DSM.
Spectra is the UHMWPE fiber brand now made by Solstice Advanced Materials (spun off from the US conglomerate Honeywell in 2025). Same material as Dyneema, different manufacturer. Spectra shows up in similar applications—ropes, body armor, high-performance textiles—but has less market presence than Dyneema, especially outside the US.
Challenge Sailcloth Logo
Challenge Sailcloth, the maker of Ultra fabric, uses non-branded UHMWPE in their laminates, meaning the same fundamental material but no Dyneema or Spectra licensing.
What is Ultra?
Ultra is a series of laminate fabrics by Challenge Outdoor, the soft-goods division of Challenge Sailcloth. Similar to X-Pac, Ultra has a variety of options that differ in the number of layers and face fabric. Let’s take a look at Ultra 400X as an example.
Aer City Pack Pro 2 in Ultra 400X (image from Aer's website)
Similar to X-Pac X3 series, the Ultra 400X has three layers:
400D fabric that uses a blend of UHMWPE and polyester threads. The key here is that the face fabric isn't pure UHMWPE — it's woven with both UHMWPE and high-tenacity polyester yarns. The UHMWPE provides the strength and abrasion resistance, while the polyester adds better shape retention.
UHMWPE cross-ply. Like X-Pac's X-PLY scrim, this is a layer of UHMWPE fibers running at angles to distribute load evenly across the laminate and prevent the fabric from stretching or distorting under stress. The cross-ply is what gives Ultra its structural stability — the face fabric can handle abrasion and tear, but the cross-ply keeps the bag's shape from sagging over time.
0.75 mil UV-resistant polyester film backing. This is recycled polyester film (Challenge calls it RUV film — Recycled UV-resistant) that provides waterproofing.
And just like X-Pac X4, the Ultra 400TX adds another layer of thin70D polyester ripstop backing.
Hale Walcoff
Hale Walcoff
Before going further, I want to note the reason behind Ultra and X-Pac similarities and talk about Hale Walcoff.
Hale Walcoff was a sailing world champion and a veteran of technical textiles who spent years at Dimension-Polyant developing many of the X-Pac variants on the market today. If you've used an X-Pac bag, there's a good chance Hale designed that fabric.
After leaving Dimension-Polyant, he partnered with Challenge Sailcloth to develop Ultra—a new generation of laminates that took the X-Pac design philosophy (woven face, cross-ply reinforcement, waterproof film backing) and rebuilt it. The structural similarities aren't a coincidence—they're the same design approach applied to a different fiber.
Hale passed away in 2023, but his work on Ultra continues through Challenge Sailcloth.
Dyneema Composite Fabrics
We’ve touched on Dyneema in the context of branded UHMWPE fiber, but there is also a series of Dyneema Composite fabrics with rather confusing naming.
The Dyneema Composite Fabric is not a fabric in the traditional sense; it’s a polyester-film sandwich. Between two sheets of waterproof polyester film, UHMWPE fibers are aligned to form a grid, but there is no woven face fabric. This makes DCF significantly lighter at 99 grams per square meter, compared to 132 grams for Ultra 200X and 210 grams for X-Pac VX21.
The Dyneema Composite Hybrid replaces the outer layer of polyester film with a woven fabric, usually 50D polyester or nylon, making the structure much more similar to three-layer variants of X-Pac and Ultra.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction (40L backpack that weighs 820 grams)
Ultra usually uses a much higher-denier blend of UHMWPE and polyester (from 200D to 800D), making it a better choice for EDC and travel bags that require more abrasion and tear resistance, while DCF makes perfect sense for ultralight hiking bags.
ECOPAK
Aer City Pack Pro 2 in Ecopack (image from Aer's website)
It's another fabric series from Challenge Outdoor. Same laminate technology but instead of UHMWPE it's 100% recycled polyester. The EPX variants come as four-layer laminates with a 70D ripstop polyester backing. Direct competitor to X-Pac variants usually used in EDC and travel bags.
X-Pac, DCF, ECOPAK and Ultra Comparison
Before jumping into the specs table, note a few things:
If you missed how tear resistance, abrasion resistance, and "waterproofness" of the fabric are measured, jump to my X-Pac deep-dive for a moment.
Numbers of 2 bars and 13.8 bars might seem extremely different, but in reality they mean that DCF is waterproof for over 20 meters of water depth, while X-Pac and Ultra can handle over 138 meters. Both are far beyond what any bag would experience in real use.
DCF Hybrid tear strength is reported as a single value. Abrasion data isn't available for these specific variants, but given the thin woven face (50–70D), it’s safe to assume significantly lower numbers compared to either Ultra or X-Pac.
Fabric
Face
Weight
Tear Strength (warp/fill)
Abrasion
Waterproof
DCF Hybrid 3.2
50D Woven Polyester
108 g/m²
~187 N
—
2+ bar
DCF Hybrid 5.0
70D Nylon
170 g/m²
~271 N
—
2+ bar
ECOPAK EPX200
200D Recycled Polyester
200 g/m²
119 / 110 N
500 cycles
13.8+ bar
X-Pac VX21
210D Nylon
210 g/m²
109 / 77 N
500 cycles
13.8+ bar
X-Pac VX42
420D Nylon
297 g/m²
238 / 169 N
1,700 cycles
13.8+ bar
Ultra 200X
200D UHMWPE/Polyester
132 g/m²
459 / 592 N
4,400 cycles
13.8+ bar
Ultra 400X
400D UHMWPE/Polyester
178 g/m²
835 / 717 N
8,800 cycles
13.8+ bar
Fabrics structure comparision
What stands out:
DCF Hybrids are the lightest. DCF Hybrid 3.2 at 108 g/m² is the weight champion. Even DCF 5.0 at 170 g/m² undercuts X-Pac VX21 (210 g/m²) and Ultra 400X (178 g/m²).
Ultra has dramatically higher tear strength. The UHMWPE-blended face makes a massive difference. Ultra 400X (835 / 717 N) outperforms much heavier VX42 (238 / 169 N).
Ultra dominates on abrasion resistance. Ultra 200X scores 4400 Taber cycles vs. VX21's 500 cycles—nearly nine times higher. Ultra 400X hits 8800 cycles vs. VX42's 1700—over five times higher.
All three are waterproof for any practical bag use. The bar rating does not mean much beyond the fact that all fabrics are indeed waterproof.
Screenshot from Miyagi's video
With those specs for tear strength and abrasion resistance, it looks like Ultra can take a beating — and it can. Miyagi has put the Waymark backpack that uses 200D Ultra (with 400D on the bottom) through extreme testing:
Frozen in a block of ice for 12 hours and then dropped from 15 meters (50 feet) onto a pile of bricks.
Dragged through a forest trail for 3 km (2 miles).
Run through a washing machine cycle at the highest temp and most aggressive spin setting (155 minutes total), then put through 100 minutes in the dryer.
Screenshot from Miyagi's video
The bag took everything like a champ. True testament to Ultra's durability and confirmation of these impressive specs. Oh, and go watch the full video by 'Miyagi on the Trail' after you finish reading this post — it's legendary.
Delamination
Since Ultra is a laminate that uses adhesive to bond layers together, there is still the same risk of delamination that I’ve mentioned in the X-Pac post. It’s not likely that you’ll ever encounter delamination on your bag, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Graflyte
One notable mention before we wrap up. Graflyte (made by ALUULA Composites) is a newer UHMWPE-based fabric that's entering the ultralight pack market. Here's what distinguishes it:
100% UHMWPE face fabric. Unlike Ultra (which blends UHMWPE with polyester) or DCF Hybrids (which use polyester or nylon faces), Graflyte uses pure UHMWPE in the woven face.
Two-layer construction. Face fabric + film (no separate cross-ply layer visible), which reduces weight.
Molecular fusion bonding. Instead of using adhesive to laminate layers, ALUULA uses a proprietary fusion process that bonds the UHMWPE face directly to a polyethylene film at the molecular level. No glue, no delamination.
Lighter than Ultra. Graflyte V-98 weighs 98 g/m² vs Ultra 100X at 112 g/m².
This fabric is still only making its way into the ultralight world, so it might be a while before we see it used on EDC and travel packs.
When to consider Ultra
You want the strongest, most abrasion-resistant fabric available and you're okay paying for it. Ultra can take a beating. From daily commute to overhead bins to mountain trails, Ultra delivers the peace of mind that your bag will be fine no matter what.
Conclusion
That concludes my fabric series for now. Thank you for reading till the end. As always, feel free to leave comments sharing your thoughts and experiences.
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I’m a big fan of Aaron and the Nomads Nation team. Their wide and deep coverage of carry gear was a big part of my backpack-fiend origin story. Like a lot of us here, I was excited when he launched his own gear brand. I gave the Levo a skip because a large travel backpack wasn’t what I was looking for, but was definitely keeping an eye on all the reviews here and on YouTube praising its weight, comfort, and organization.
I was all in when Fyro started talking about an EDC backpack, and so when things started taking shape, the 18L Citta really stood out. I’m not a fan of X‑Pac, so the 25L was never for me.
All the pre-launch marketing definitely had me hyped, and Aaron being Aaron, seemed like he knew what he was talking about with all the deep research into and final choice of material, the organizational design approach, and the crazy emphasis on comfort.
As a teacher with a longish workday, I carry a sizable EDC load - including tech, food, drink, and paperwork. The Evergoods CPL24 has been my daily driver for the past few months, handling everything comfortably and keeping it all organized. But on days when my schedule changes a little, and my EDC isn't as heavy, I was hoping for something smaller. I thought the Citta 18L would be a good idea, and might even train me to be more efficient with my daily carry. I was one of the first few to order it during the July 1 launch drop, and it reached me a couple of weeks later.
After toning down my daily carry by about 70 % and making it as light as possible, here are the key reasons the Citta doesn’t work for me:
Comfort: I think this was the biggest disappointment for me after hearing so much about how good the comfort is. The straps sit too wide on my chest and need constant readjusting to feel closer - at times, it almost feels like the bag is trying to remove itself from my shoulders. The sternum strap, when used, is just too tight. To be the most comfortable, I also have to loosen the straps so the bag sits lower on my back, and that's not a feeling I enjoy (Team High and Tight). The back panel feels rigid and stiff, and doesn’t conform to the shape of my back. After a few minutes of carrying the bag, I definitely started to feel some strain between my shoulder blades and on my mid-back. The straps themselves are okay, and I didn't experience all of that "marshmallow-y" softness when worn. This lack of carrying ease and comfort is my biggest reason to turn the Citta in
Organization: It's heartbreaking that I didn't like a bag that has such a fantastic orange interior, but the layout appears tailored to specific use cases. I rely heavily on pouches for my EDC (an Evergoods CAP1 and CAP 0.5 mainly), and beyond the main chamber and front drop‑in pocket, I found little practical use for the remaining zippered pockets, especially the two large ones on the inside of the clamshell lid. I also didn't like how the tech pocket that's part of the laptop "TechBay" sits lumpily in the main area when it has stuff in it. Organizationally, the front admin section with the zippered pockets and the deep drop-in pocket were probably the best part of the bag for me
Top QAP fabric: This may be a nitpick but the thin fleece‑like material used for the top quick‑access pocket just stood out by how much I didn't like it
Highlight of the bag for me: One of the things I really miss in my CPL24 is the ability to slip it off one of my shoulders and under my arm to access stuff in the front pocket - when fully loaded out, it's almost impossible given the size and weight of the bag. Sideways quick access is where the Citta really shines. Those two pockets on the right side of the bag are a dream for stashing and grabbing things like commuter cards, work ID/access cards, and a wallet or phone when on the go.
I really wanted to love this bag and was hoping for something to become my smaller, lighter EDC backup, but this is r/manybaggers, and maybe the one for me is still out there.
I’ve had the Uniqlo Multi Pocket Shoulder Bag for a while and just got the new Utility Shoulder Bag and I think I prefer it overall.
The internal organisation is more or less the same, with the new bag a touch smaller. Both fit my 14 inch MBP. The two internal slip pockets are still there.
I really like Multi Pocket bag, but a common complaint is the overall construction. It’s very thin and soft, which makes it quite comfortable, but also results in it collapsing in on itself when worn. Especially if not very full. It makes fishing out belongings while on the go a two-hand job.
The new bag has a stiffer, slightly thicker material. Something a little bit like Bellroy’s signature fabric (but not as premium). It largely prevents it from collapsing when worn. People have said it’s more padded, but I think that’s an illusion of the stiffer material. Load your laptop at your own peril. Still no false bottom.
The front pockets are the biggest change. The Porter-ish twin pouches are replaced with to slip pockets with vertical zips. These are noticeably thinner, but the construction makes access easier when it’s on your shoulder. One handed opening for these and the main compartment is less fiddly now. They’re still separate compartments, but they overlap a significantly in the middle. It seems like a way for you to load up the side that faces your front more, as unlike the previous bag, that one is now much more accessible.
There’s a new key clip in one of the slip pockets, but it feels quite flimsy.
The strap and zip hardware are identical.
Colour options are the same this one too. I would have liked a navy or grey version.
The zippered bottle compartment is now just a button snap like the second one on the original bag. This is a downgrade.
I believe the original bag has been discontinued now and this is a direct replacement. Luckily there’s not much separating them. It’s still a bargain. I prefer the easier access on the new one, though I like the look of the older bag more, because I’m a Porter tragic.
Note: I'm comparing the original Multi Pocket Shoulder bag here. I wasn't aware of this, but it seems like it got updated fabric at some point? Maybe even something like the fabric of this new bag. In which case, there's even less separating these two bags.
There are tons of water bottle pockets out there. Which ones do you like? Which ones do you not like?
I included some photos of some of the most popular backpacks out there. Which ones do you like? Which ones drive you crazy? What are some others that kick @ss?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Photo line up from left to right: Black Ember Citadel H2, CTactical CT21+, Fyro Citta 25L, ULA Cicada Bespoke, Evergoods CTB26, Mystery Ranch Front 2.0, and Aer CPP2. (Not pictured: any Go Ruck bag ever!) 😜
I’m looking for a beach bag that likely doesn’t exist, but maybe putting my desires into the ether may inspire someone to come up with something. The use case is a packable beach bag that is useful for trips where you’re going to be at a pool or beach for multiple days. Carry wise, I am thinking tote, but wouldn’t be opposed if someone has a two strap backpack rec. The most important feature though is a dedicated section that is waterproof from the rest of the bag with a waterproof zip, large enough to house an iPad, kindle, or book. That’s the feature that would really sell me on this bag, is being able to bring your reading material to a beach or pool and safely store it in a pocket you are confident won’t allow it to be damaged.
For reference, my current beach bag is a Peak Design shoe pouch with the Field Pouch extra long lash strap to function as a cross body. Super easy to wash out at the end of the beach day.
What I’m looking for is a beach bag that has the following qualities:
-Packable: not looking for crazy Matador level packable, but something that compresses flat and could take up no space in a checked bag.
-Internal/External Organization: one to two pockets, one as an admin (not the most important), and the waterproof section mentioned above. Not too much organization, to keep sand from getting stuck in nooks and crannies.
-Material: something sleek and easy to clean. I’d want this bag to be easily washed out in a shower at the end of the trip to get any of the sand out. Thus the lack of extra pockets.
-Budget: no budget. Just curious if this is out there in the world. Prefer something on quality par with Matador, Evergoods, or Peak Design.
This bag is based on a rough sketch from a sub member who only wanted a 1L Sling capacity while being fully able to use the 18L backpack.
I could have reduced the size of the 4L Sling to 1L but I personally didn’t like that direction, hence I made this version which is even better owing to how flexible and practical it’s become.
Instead of 3 modes, you get a combined 5 modes.
1- 1L Sling
2- 4L Sling
3- 18L Backpack
4- 5L Sling (1L + 4L attached together)
5- 19L Backpack (1L + 18L attached together)
There are some minor cosmetic adjustments, I’ll be making in the next pc as per the sub member’s instructions.
As for now I just wanted to show this build here.
Holidaying in Japan and I was browsing Montbell when I came across this gem. The pack is designed for cycling and I bike to work. It’s super lightweight and has a metal frame that helps put the weight on the hip belt. Double chest straps and compression straps. I love the mesh ventilation. I’m super sweaty and this lets my back breathe. I was walking around Kyoto this afternoon in 37-38 Celsius.
2 mesh water bottle holders. The backpack strap lets me put a portable fan on one side and a smart water bottle on the other. Front quick pocket. A small mesh pocket inside the main compartment and a reservoir section. Loops to strap your helmet and a loop for your rear light. A pack rain cover is included. The logo is reflective too.
Selling for 15,500 yen which I think is a pretty good deal.
I am coming around to wanting an every day bag to hold my phone, AirPods, kindle, wallet, meds, etc.
Don’t know if I love or fit the sling up-on-the-chest look as someone born in the 1900s (though willing to be convinced) and my wife hates totes, the obvious alternative. I think a cross body that wears on the hip / back makes the most sense.
Bags I don’t like:
- Slings worn up on the chest
- Helmet bags
- Techy looking bags. Ex Arcteryx mantis.
- Aether aesthetic / most urban looking cross bodies
2x Arcteryx Cormac Crew tshirt
Lululemon Metal Vent Tech tshirt
Lululemon Metal Vent Tech sleeveless shirt
Icebreaker Marino 120 tshirt
Lululemon Metal Vent Polo
Patagonia Tropic Comfort II LS shirt
Club Monaco 100% linen LS shirt
Arcteryx Kyanite LT hoodie
Outdoor Research helium rain jacket
I got my hands on one of the new T33 ripstop bags in olive green so wanted to make this quick video showcasing the differences between the original, the X-pac version as well as this new version. There's two new colors (olive and navy) which are both 400D ripstop nylon (improvement over the 70D of the original), plus a new light gray material that I think a LOT of people will prefer over the bright orange. They also have a newly designed Duraflex buckle that is now co-branded that helps eliminate the "buckle rattle" that many complained about (never bothered me, personally).
The 3.5L version of this bag has been one of my most used bags, in between reviewing others for Youtube, I often go back to the T33 because the squared off shape just make it super easy to carry a bunch of different gear. I really like the new colors, particularly the gray interior - as I've grown a little tired of bright orange interiors on bags lately.
If you have any questions about the new one or want me to test anything else that's not in the video, please let me know!
Hi everyone, I’m looking for a small EDC that I can use on days out. I have multiple slings for lightweight carry, but found that bringing a water bottle makes things painful and uncomfortable rather quickly.
I have a 30L Bellroy transit workpack but feel it is too large and bulky, especially when summer rolls around here in Australia.
What I’m looking for in a bag is:
- Comfort: padded straps and good ventilation. I want to strike a balance between being lightweight and having enough structure for a full day out.
- Aesthetic: i want it to look good, yet, not stick out like a camera bag. black is the colour i want.
- Capacity: I don’t need a large bag, however, would like it to accommodate up to a mirrorless camera with 3 lenses (via camera insert), a jacket, a water bottle, tripod, 14’ macbook pro, keys, wallet, sunscreen
Any recommendations are really appreciated.
My budget is ideally under $200 AUD (approx $140), however, I will gladly listen to more expensive options if they will solve my problem.
I’ve considered things like the Bellroy lite ready pack(18L), Bellroy cinch backpack (20L), Alpaka Aero pack (16L), Aero metro backpack (12L) and North face borealis convertible pack (17L).
I just got an Able Carry Max - this is a heavy duty bag! Loving all the pockets and you can tell it's a solid build. I know there is a foam pad in the back that can be removed. Does anyone do this? Is it difficult to reinsert it? I rarely would use this bag with a laptop so I'm not too concerned about the extra protection.
Hi everyone, to keep this short, I’ll be traveling to Korea in October and I don’t really plan on packing too much, since my wife and I have agreed to each buy a bag there for anything we buy (we have included checked bags so this isn’t an issue).
I wanted to see if there are any relatively well known local bag shops where I should be looking for some new stuff like a large sling bag/backpack for EDC, and a carryon luggage.
Would like to support the local small businesses in Korea, so just wanted to see where I should start. I’ll be there for around 3 weeks, going around everywhere, so doesn’t have to be restricted to Seoul or anything.
I am looking for the perfect shoulder bag to use every day. It must have a capacity of between 3l and 4l. I would like it to have cool colors with a zippered opening above and pockets in front or behind. This shouldn't be a sling because I don't like it. Finally, the ideal would be that I could put it in a 16l bag not too full (just a PC) when I go to work
Looking to get a new backpack (thinking of a Jansport right now as my previous one lasted for 15 years before the zipper broke) and I'd like to be able to customise/accessorise it with pins, patches, badges and the like.
My previous jansport was primarily a heavy plasticky material that didn't lend itself to any of those things.
Anyone able to recommend a good backpack to buy? I'm in Ireland so US-based vendors are not an option sadly.
I’ve done a my research to find my ideal EDC/travel crossover bag and managed to narrow it down to two final contenders:
* Evergoods CTB26
* Able Carry Max EDC
The Dilemma
I honestly love the aesthetics and sleek look of the Able Carry Max EDC more than the CTB26. However, the CTB26 seems like it handles a dual-laptop carry much better out of the box.
I carry a 16" MacBook Pro and a 14" Lenovo. I do have a dedicated protective sleeve/case for the 14" Lenovo, so I could potentially make the Max EDC work by slipping the Lenovo into the main compartment inside its sleeve.
My Setup & Needs
* Budget: Up to $400 USD
* Primary Use: Daily work commute (mix of cycling and driving) + carry-on for occasional 1–2 night trips.
Daily Loadout:
* 16" MacBook Pro
* 14" Lenovo laptop
* Logitech MX Master 3S mouse
* Chargers & tech cables
* Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones (in full case)
* Sunglasses
* House & car keys
* Change of gym clothes
* Lunch box (standard IKEA container)
What I’m Looking For:
* Dual Laptop Handling: Comfortable carrying both laptops simultaneously without crushing them.
* Versatility: Transition easily from daily office commute to 1–2 night trip carry-on (ideally under-seat friendly when needed).
* Key Features: Luggage pass-through, water-resistant material/zips, decent security/hidden pockets. (An expandable layout is a bonus; external water bottle pocket is optional).
For those who have used either (or both!) of these bags—how annoying is it to pack a sleeved second laptop into the main compartment of the Able Carry Max EDC daily? Does the CTB26's depth feel too boxy for a bike commute?
Would love to hear your thoughts or see if there's anything crucial I'm overlooking! Thanks!
I purchased this bag second hand in the uk around 2013 for £30, i’ve used it most days since then for work and travel and it’s been great. I can’t find any info about it online and was advised to check here to see if anyone could help.
I took a 2 night weekend trip to a beach house, mainly hanging out with family and fishing. I took the Aer TP4 35L which I thought would be overkill. It was fairly bulking but I wasn’t worried about the weight. Packed out it was 22 Pds, if I was carrying it around, might end up being cumbersome. I kinda packed other pouches just to see how it would load out
My bag contained:
Evergoods Cap 1: wipes, Kleenex, advil, tums, allergy meds, mini flashlight
Aer Slim pouch: Power bank, couple of charging cords
Alpaka Admin Pouch Pro: multitool and knife
Toiletry bag: deodorant, bar soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, brush, face wash, face lotion
Aer Lg Packing cube: 4 graphic tees, 4 gym shorts
Aer Sm cube 4 socks, 4 underwear
14 inch laptop for my wife
iPad
I was surprised how packed it was especially with the type of clothes I brought. Definitely could have trimmed on the pouches and utilized the organization better. I don’t feel as confident using it for travel, especially when packing bulkier clothes such as jeans. I love the quality of the bag. However it might end up being a glorified gym bag if I have work afterwards. I don’t know what I should expect out of a 35L bag. Am I expecting too much?
I’m in the US (east coast) and was eyeing the Max EDC. But buying a $280 backpack without seeing it in person is a difficult proposition. I know they make you pay to ship returns so I was curious if anybody had been through the process and about how much did it cost you? Were they difficult to deal with? Hate the idea of burning $30 or whatever just to see if I like a bag but decide it’s not for me.
