Great review! Been looking for a thorough review for weeks. Thanks for this. Just ordered it and looking forward to using it for my travels / daily use. Just a tip: maybe include some close up shots of the product so we can get a better look? Other than that, so helpful!
Thank you! For a smaller bag, I'm impressed by all the features the bag offers. If you get a chance, I would love to hear what you think when the bag arrives. Also, thanks for the tip! Something I've really not thought about. Take care!
Good organization and lots of space. I'm not a fan of rummaging around to pull out something on the bottom. Maybe if they had a side access pocket for the interior...?? Price is a bit high.. I'm thinking no more than $49 and $39 would be a steal. Good review!
Hootymae, nice point! When I found the pocket on the side that's kind of hidden, my first thought was that it was a pass through. It would make sense and I can see were that would be helpful. I agree on the price! A little steep. Overall though, I do really like the bag. And even though it's small at 18 liters, it doesn't "feel" small : ) Thanks!
I know I’m late to the party, but the bag routinely goes on sale for $48-49. If you wait for colors to discontinue you can get it even cheaper. REI has some great items, but with their bags in particular they’re a better value at the clearance prices. Own multiple Flash 22s that are GREAT bags for $30, but I wouldn’t be happy with had I paid the full $50 retail.
Excellent review and pack. Bought one to carry gear for four days of hiking in the southwest. It was perfect and qualifies as a personal item on a flight.
Hey Christopher! Thanks! So far I've been really impressed with the bag. Awesome to hear you like the bag! I love hearing real world experience, thanks for sharing. Take care!
Hey HotSizzleTV! I can't say for sure, as I only have a 2 liter water bladder. I would "assume" it would fit, but it would only be my best guess. Take care!
Chris U thank you for the response. It doesn’t fit in my Ruckpack 28 and 18 I bought a 2.5L bladder and bought the flash22 rei backpack both 3L and 2.5L fit perfect I had to switch over to an actual hiking backpack hiking with the Ruckpack is a no go I did it with the 28 for a day hike wasn’t the best for it I now know these are for travel more vs hiking.
Hey Miamis4me! Great to hear from you! My daughter has the 9.7 inch iPad and for some reason I can't find it at the moment. I'm 99.9% confident it will fit. I actually slide a 13 MacBook Air in the sleeve, had about an inch and a half or so outside the sleeve, and it fit very nice. I would feel more comfortable with the iPad though, since it's not a true dedicated laptop pocket. The bag has some nice padding on the back of the pocket that should offer some protection. With any type of case on the iPad I would have no worries. Thanks!
Thanks Chris...much appreciated. Just bought a Swiss Gear (which I can't find anything about on line lol) but looks similar to REI rucksack 28..great deal at 40.00! Will be testing out on a four day trip to Disney in two weeks. This 18 looks great but may be a bit too small.
You're welcome! Wow, sounds like a nice deal on the Swiss Gear! Let me know what you think, may be interested in taking a look. You're right, this bag may be on the small size for Disney, especially if you'll have some long days. I used the Pacsafe Venturesafe 25 Gll last time we went and I felt it was a good size at 25 liters, but wrong bag : ) Have fun at Disney!
Hi Chris, thanks for posting this very detailed video. I'm looking for a lighter backpack as i'm using the Professional Slim Junior Laptop Backpack at the moment and it weighs in at 3.5lbs so 1.3lbs is notably more appealing. My main concern is do you think the height of the bag will obstruct the back of my head when i'm seated leaning forward on the bike?
Hey Arctic84! Thank you! The Ruckpack 18 is one of my favorite smaller packs. I can't say for sure, but I don't think the bag would obstruct the back of your head when seated on a bike. If your interested, I showed the bag on my back in this video, ruclips.net/video/P-NiGd97iuc/видео.html comparing the Ruckpack 28 and the Ruckpack 18, around the 1:20 mark. This may give you a better idea of how high the bag sits on your back. Hope this helps : ) Take care!
So glad I watched this video. I've had this bag for months but there were a few hidden features I didn't know about.
Hey Nancy! That's awesome, glad to hear it helped! Take care!
Take a shot every time he says “bag”
"baaag"
Great review! Been looking for a thorough review for weeks. Thanks for this. Just ordered it and looking forward to using it for my travels / daily use.
Just a tip: maybe include some close up shots of the product so we can get a better look? Other than that, so helpful!
Thank you! For a smaller bag, I'm impressed by all the features the bag offers. If you get a chance, I would love to hear what you think when the bag arrives. Also, thanks for the tip! Something I've really not thought about. Take care!
Good organization and lots of space. I'm not a fan of rummaging around to pull out something on the bottom. Maybe if they had a side access pocket for the interior...?? Price is a bit high.. I'm thinking no more than $49 and $39 would be a steal. Good review!
Hootymae, nice point! When I found the pocket on the side that's kind of hidden, my first thought was that it was a pass through. It would make sense and I can see were that would be helpful. I agree on the price! A little steep. Overall though, I do really like the bag. And even though it's small at 18 liters, it doesn't "feel" small : ) Thanks!
its $49 right now through July 4th
Thanks Carlos!
I know I’m late to the party, but the bag routinely goes on sale for $48-49. If you wait for colors to discontinue you can get it even cheaper.
REI has some great items, but with their bags in particular they’re a better value at the clearance prices. Own multiple Flash 22s that are GREAT bags for $30, but I wouldn’t be happy with had I paid the full $50 retail.
Excellent review and pack. Bought one to carry gear for four days of hiking in the southwest. It was perfect and qualifies as a personal item on a flight.
Hey Christopher! Thanks! So far I've been really impressed with the bag. Awesome to hear you like the bag! I love hearing real world experience, thanks for sharing. Take care!
thank you for this awesome review! i didn't realize there were so many zippers and pockets. great job!
Hey Dayna! Thank you! Ha, you're right. Take care!
Great review, very informative!
Thank you bandyqoop1!
Exactly what I was looking for in a review. Thanks brother!
I didn’t realize you made a full review of this bag! Thank you I just bought it for a friend!
Thanks for the review!
This will be a great pack for my wife who doesn't always go hiking.
Hey Midwest Louis! I agree, great smaller day pack for hiking or travel. I’m my opinion it holds a lot for an 18 liter bag. Take care!
Can you put 2.5L wetter bladder in this ?
Hey HotSizzleTV! I can't say for sure, as I only have a 2 liter water bladder. I would "assume" it would fit, but it would only be my best guess. Take care!
Chris U thank you for the response. It doesn’t fit in my Ruckpack 28 and 18 I bought a 2.5L bladder and bought the flash22 rei backpack both 3L and 2.5L fit perfect I had to switch over to an actual hiking backpack hiking with the Ruckpack is a no go I did it with the 28 for a day hike wasn’t the best for it I now know these are for travel more vs hiking.
YOU REVIEWED IT! 🙌🏻 thank you
Hey Cynthia! Lol, you're welcome! I hope to have a side by side with the 28 on Thursday. Stay tuned : )
Hi Chris once again well done. This is super cute. Question, it appears that it can hold a iPad inside that big pocket? Can it and is it padded?
Hey Miamis4me! Great to hear from you! My daughter has the 9.7 inch iPad and for some reason I can't find it at the moment. I'm 99.9% confident it will fit. I actually slide a 13 MacBook Air in the sleeve, had about an inch and a half or so outside the sleeve, and it fit very nice. I would feel more comfortable with the iPad though, since it's not a true dedicated laptop pocket. The bag has some nice padding on the back of the pocket that should offer some protection. With any type of case on the iPad I would have no worries. Thanks!
Thanks Chris...much appreciated. Just bought a Swiss Gear (which I can't find anything about on line lol) but looks similar to REI rucksack 28..great deal at 40.00! Will be testing out on a four day trip to Disney in two weeks. This 18 looks great but may be a bit too small.
You're welcome! Wow, sounds like a nice deal on the Swiss Gear! Let me know what you think, may be interested in taking a look. You're right, this bag may be on the small size for Disney, especially if you'll have some long days. I used the Pacsafe Venturesafe 25 Gll last time we went and I felt it was a good size at 25 liters, but wrong bag : ) Have fun at Disney!
Hi Chris, thanks for posting this very detailed video. I'm looking for a lighter backpack as i'm using the Professional Slim Junior Laptop Backpack at the moment and it weighs in at 3.5lbs so 1.3lbs is notably more appealing. My main concern is do you think the height of the bag will obstruct the back of my head when i'm seated leaning forward on the bike?
Hey Arctic84! Thank you! The Ruckpack 18 is one of my favorite smaller packs. I can't say for sure, but I don't think the bag would obstruct the back of your head when seated on a bike. If your interested, I showed the bag on my back in this video, ruclips.net/video/P-NiGd97iuc/видео.html comparing the Ruckpack 28 and the Ruckpack 18, around the 1:20 mark. This may give you a better idea of how high the bag sits on your back. Hope this helps : ) Take care!