Love the channel but have to admit that this was one of the more critical reviews of a brand & backpack. Though all points of course do not lack subjective validity, some of the comments seemed harsh. I get that PH is very favorable to AER, but it sometimes seems that other brands should get a little more recognition. For instance, after years of using Nomatic for extensive business travel, I personally do not feel that the ratings for that brand adequately reflect their quality & use vs AER. Nonetheless, huge fan of the channel, always appreciate to see the reviews, as well as the travel gear tips!
@@PackHacker2 That being said, I think Alpaka - not saying it made a mistake - but the bag laptop compartment is tighter compared to element pro, which was promised to fit the same sized laptop.
Hey @alpaka dont listen to him… 😂 No disrespect here… Nice review… No one is forcing you to fill the pockets, want more space for packing cubes, go ahead, they arent in the way, but at least you have the option if you need them, makes it more versatile in my opinion.
Oh no, I really love all those pockets sire. To me as a touring musician, this could be a perfect weekender where I can have all playing accessories, tech pouch, spare parts and I could fit some cables into those mesh pockets, I'm already planning haha. Just need to check the price. I'm tired of a “big grave” kind of a backpack my Nomatic Travel Bag is, totally non- functional for my needs. Why'd you buy it then in the first place? Dunno really, had half of my brain engaged, the rest was looking at that great and so durable material the bag was made of…
Came here to say this. As a live sound engineer, my EDC involves a significant amount of bulky gear (full size headphones, tablet, laptop, jacket, gloves, snacks, cables, tape) that usually overwhelms the capacity most 'Tech' and 'EDC' bags. Having a bag with this level of organization AND volume would be a godsend for those of us who need more than just a laptop and to do our work.
I think having this bag in the market does provides an option for someone that may find all these pockets for organisation useful though. There are already a few packs in the market that are similar to this pack but without as many organisation pockets. To each her/his own!
I have this bag and have to agree that it’s an amazing large EDC/weekender bag, but not really the best for longer trips. The waist belt is clutch for heavier loads, and you forgot to mention the other zippered pocket in the admin section that can hold an Apple AirTag. Additionally, their packing cube and wash pouch are pretty good, and would love to see what you think about them. Finally, I agree with your comments on the laptop compartment. I think the material they use along with the lack of a stiff back panel creates that grabbing issue. Stiffer back panel is a must for me if carrying under heavy loads!
Great review! While i can see the concern and its good you call out that detail with a laptop in a laptop sleeve inside the bag, i personally dont use a sleeve when my bag has a laptop compartment.
While it seems that the laptop sleeve is included-I was not under the impression that it is not required and the laptop and iPads could be placed inside without such. Is that incorrect?
I was a bit perplexed by that because I'm not sure I've seen them use it in other bags that have a laptop compartment. I don't think the sleeve comes with the backpack.
@@arlencarlson I don’t think the laptop sleeve is included with the bag, Tom only picked it up because it was made by them too. I thought that the soft interior of the laptop compartment on the bag was indication enough that devices are designed to go in there directly but I guess he missed that.
Hi Pack Hacker how how you compare this with the Air Pack 3 or the Thule Accent Backpack 26L ? My current Bag is the North Face Recon 2021/2022 version. I have OCD and the North Face does all that I need. The Thule Accent Backpack 26L would be a possible mew king for me. Your comments would be grate.
The moment I think something has too many pockets I find something different that needs more. Every trip can have varying needs. I'd rather have pockets and not need/use them than to wish for more.
I have this and it’s not a 35l bag. Gets heavy quickly and if you use all the sections it gets ridiculously wide and unable to get access to everything. If you put a pair of shoes in and clothes and a laptop you’re full. Wish I’d for the aer. Honestly this isn’t a 35l bag.
100% это не 35л сумка. я вытащил свои вещи из своего старого American Tourister (38л), и не смог уложить даже половину в Альпаку. Я сдал этот рюкзак назад в магазин. :(
The pockets on the inside wall of the main compartment dont really add that much of a bulk to the inner capacity. You can safely pack your cubes (provided you are not packing them with bricks) into the main compartment and still load those side pockets with things. One thing I don't understand is why PH is so harsh towards fantastic brands like Alpaka and Tomtoc even though they genuinely try very hard to bring something different to the market. Not if this was an AER bag....oh boy this gut would've been all over it giving it a 10/10.
More of a smaller clone of the Able Carry Max, which Alpaka seemed to have looked at while designing this backpack. The main compartment of the Alpaka is smaller than the main compartment of the Max, despite the Max's total capacity being 30L (and the compartment is 25L) vs. the Alpaka's alleged 35L. There is an obvious size discrepancy on the Alpaka
Nice review and very nice pack. But I think you're right regarding the pockets. They could've at least avoided that unnecessary "quick access pocket" on the side which they sacrificed another regular side pocket for, to pack a water bottle AND a tripod. Sadly a dealbraker for me.
Why are those hub system clips so darn big?! I like the idea but they would get in the way there for me. Regarding all the pockets, personally I wouldn’t mind so much organization if it was much more useful. But many of the pockets seem too small. And most of the pockets seem too slim - except for the stretchy ones on the inside - those look to be very useful. Overall I don’t know what I’d put in most of the outer pockets. Alpaka, are you listening? Feel free to reach out if so. I can help!
I received mine today. Idk why this review complains so much about pockets that are not in the way of your expected things/load. Better there when you need it, than not at all. Never once it mentioned too if it fits under the seat of a plane. Ease of use when you are actually traveling.
I agree, it's not quite hitting the mark as a travel backpack. I think Alpaka have fallen into the trap of rushing new products out without properly field testing them, to feed their ever growing, and mostly well deserved fan base.
100% это не 35л сумка. я вытащил свои вещи из своего старого American Tourister (38л), и не смог уложить даже половину в Альпаку. Я сдал этот рюкзак назад в магазин. :(
Jeez. Way too much complaining, over and over again, about the pockets, imo. If he doesnt like the pockets, he can choose a different bag, as there are planty of simple, minimalist, vanilla type bags on offer. I like the extra pockets, as they would be great for organizing gear and spare the user from dumping out packing cubes just to find one little item.
It's a review and all reviews are based on the personal opinion of the reviewer. Remember it's meant as a travel bag and not a daypack, edc or hiking bag. I don't like the bag, but that's for other reasons. If there's not two usable sidepockets "for bottles" it's a big no no for me.
I like the pockets. If I remove the packing cubes/clothes for the day or want to use the bag in non travel ways these are great too. I do like the pockets for travel though
Love the channel but have to admit that this was one of the more critical reviews of a brand & backpack. Though all points of course do not lack subjective validity, some of the comments seemed harsh. I get that PH is very favorable to AER, but it sometimes seems that other brands should get a little more recognition. For instance, after years of using Nomatic for extensive business travel, I personally do not feel that the ratings for that brand adequately reflect their quality & use vs AER.
Nonetheless, huge fan of the channel, always appreciate to see the reviews, as well as the travel gear tips!
Thanks for sharing your insights, Sebastian! We appreciate the constructive criticism. 🤙
-Eric
@@PackHacker2 That being said, I think Alpaka - not saying it made a mistake - but the bag laptop compartment is tighter compared to element pro, which was promised to fit the same sized laptop.
Hey @alpaka dont listen to him… 😂 No disrespect here… Nice review… No one is forcing you to fill the pockets, want more space for packing cubes, go ahead, they arent in the way, but at least you have the option if you need them, makes it more versatile in my opinion.
Oh no, I really love all those pockets sire. To me as a touring musician, this could be a perfect weekender where I can have all playing accessories, tech pouch, spare parts and I could fit some cables into those mesh pockets, I'm already planning haha. Just need to check the price. I'm tired of a “big grave” kind of a backpack my Nomatic Travel Bag is, totally non- functional for my needs. Why'd you buy it then in the first place? Dunno really, had half of my brain engaged, the rest was looking at that great and so durable material the bag was made of…
Came here to say this. As a live sound engineer, my EDC involves a significant amount of bulky gear (full size headphones, tablet, laptop, jacket, gloves, snacks, cables, tape) that usually overwhelms the capacity most 'Tech' and 'EDC' bags. Having a bag with this level of organization AND volume would be a godsend for those of us who need more than just a laptop and to do our work.
I think having this bag in the market does provides an option for someone that may find all these pockets for organisation useful though. There are already a few packs in the market that are similar to this pack but without as many organisation pockets. To each her/his own!
Thanks for sharing your insights! 🤙
-Eric
Such an underrated RUclips channel
I have this bag and have to agree that it’s an amazing large EDC/weekender bag, but not really the best for longer trips. The waist belt is clutch for heavier loads, and you forgot to mention the other zippered pocket in the admin section that can hold an Apple AirTag. Additionally, their packing cube and wash pouch are pretty good, and would love to see what you think about them. Finally, I agree with your comments on the laptop compartment. I think the material they use along with the lack of a stiff back panel creates that grabbing issue. Stiffer back panel is a must for me if carrying under heavy loads!
Thanks for sharing your insights! 🤙
-Eric
You guys so fast at providing reviews so glad and great work
Thanks for watching! 😃
-Eric
Great review! While i can see the concern and its good you call out that detail with a laptop in a laptop sleeve inside the bag, i personally dont use a sleeve when my bag has a laptop compartment.
While it seems that the laptop sleeve is included-I was not under the impression that it is not required and the laptop and iPads could be placed inside without such. Is that incorrect?
I was a bit perplexed by that because I'm not sure I've seen them use it in other bags that have a laptop compartment. I don't think the sleeve comes with the backpack.
@@arlencarlson I don’t think the laptop sleeve is included with the bag, Tom only picked it up because it was made by them too. I thought that the soft interior of the laptop compartment on the bag was indication enough that devices are designed to go in there directly but I guess he missed that.
Thanks Tom! I was just looking at this one this morning, so your great review is perfectly timed.
Thanks for watching! 😃
Really appreciate the water bottle for check. That’s critical!
🤙🤙🤙
Do you plan on reviewing the new shift pack 2?
Appreciate the candid commentary here. Helpful review. Thank you. What's your travel backpack of choice?
Hi Pack Hacker how how you compare this with the Air Pack 3 or the Thule Accent Backpack 26L ? My current Bag is the North Face Recon 2021/2022 version. I have OCD and the North Face does all that I need. The Thule Accent Backpack 26L would be a possible mew king for me. Your comments would be grate.
The moment I think something has too many pockets I find something different that needs more. Every trip can have varying needs. I'd rather have pockets and not need/use them than to wish for more.
Same. I prefer pockets over all these pouches people want to use. 😢
Tom, Thanks for the amazing review! Did you say that it fits under the airplane seat?
Would love to see a comparison video of this pack vs the AER travel pack 3
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll pass it along.
-Eric
Agreed! I was about to pull the trigger on the AER Travel Pack, and then this hit.
Can you review the Mous backpack it’s quite nice with 72 pockets i think
You missed a pocket in the admin section
Thinking about getting this bag for a trip to Europe. Any reason not to get it and what other bags should I consider?
I have this and it’s not a 35l bag. Gets heavy quickly and if you use all the sections it gets ridiculously wide and unable to get access to everything. If you put a pair of shoes in and clothes and a laptop you’re full. Wish I’d for the aer. Honestly this isn’t a 35l bag.
100% это не 35л сумка. я вытащил свои вещи из своего старого American Tourister (38л), и не смог уложить даже половину в Альпаку. Я сдал этот рюкзак назад в магазин. :(
got any video on the Alpaka shift pack v2?
Well smacking a 16" in a bulky sleeve into a 16" Laptop Sleeve... was not surprising for me, that its a bit loaded then.
Can you also review alpaka shift pack v2 and if it's suitable as a travel backpack?
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll pass it along.
-Eric
Does it fit the peak cubes tho
I tend to like a fairly good number of pockets for tech that I have while travelling. So I disagree with your mention on that.
The pockets on the inside wall of the main compartment dont really add that much of a bulk to the inner capacity. You can safely pack your cubes (provided you are not packing them with bricks) into the main compartment and still load those side pockets with things. One thing I don't understand is why PH is so harsh towards fantastic brands like Alpaka and Tomtoc even though they genuinely try very hard to bring something different to the market. Not if this was an AER bag....oh boy this gut would've been all over it giving it a 10/10.
If you don't need the extra pockets you can just....not use them?
Anyone knows what keyboard was shown here? Thanks😅
It'll be the Apple Magic Keyboard - found in lots of their videos like the Digital Nomad packing list where you see it in the Roost sleeve it was in.
so a rebranded aer travelpack 3? got it
More of a smaller clone of the Able Carry Max, which Alpaka seemed to have looked at while designing this backpack. The main compartment of the Alpaka is smaller than the main compartment of the Max, despite the Max's total capacity being 30L (and the compartment is 25L) vs. the Alpaka's alleged 35L. There is an obvious size discrepancy on the Alpaka
Heavily considering this bag, the price is too expensive so I really need to think heavily think about it -_-
🤙🤙🤙
Ooh! Good stuff.
Thanks for watching! 😃
-Eric
Nice review and very nice pack. But I think you're right regarding the pockets. They could've at least avoided that unnecessary "quick access pocket" on the side which they sacrificed another regular side pocket for, to pack a water bottle AND a tripod. Sadly a dealbraker for me.
Thanks for sharing your insights! 🤙
-Eric
Why are those hub system clips so darn big?! I like the idea but they would get in the way there for me. Regarding all the pockets, personally I wouldn’t mind so much organization if it was much more useful. But many of the pockets seem too small. And most of the pockets seem too slim - except for the stretchy ones on the inside - those look to be very useful. Overall I don’t know what I’d put in most of the outer pockets. Alpaka, are you listening? Feel free to reach out if so. I can help!
I received mine today. Idk why this review complains so much about pockets that are not in the way of your expected things/load. Better there when you need it, than not at all. Never once it mentioned too if it fits under the seat of a plane. Ease of use when you are actually traveling.
I agree, it's not quite hitting the mark as a travel backpack. I think Alpaka have fallen into the trap of rushing new products out without properly field testing them, to feed their ever growing, and mostly well deserved fan base.
100%
This been realeased just today I think 🤔
Yeah but it's not uncommon for review channels to get things before release to be able to do reviews when an item is released
Yeah released site wide but they had a kickstarter before this at the end of last year.
I agree, some of those pockets definitely felt excessive
You didn't even show the "pockets" you mentioned. Weird.
100% это не 35л сумка. я вытащил свои вещи из своего старого American Tourister (38л), и не смог уложить даже половину в Альпаку. Я сдал этот рюкзак назад в магазин. :(
Jeez. Way too much complaining, over and over again, about the pockets, imo. If he doesnt like the pockets, he can choose a different bag, as there are planty of simple, minimalist, vanilla type bags on offer. I like the extra pockets, as they would be great for organizing gear and spare the user from dumping out packing cubes just to find one little item.
Same, i wanna buy this because of all the pockets!
I actually eliminated this one from condensation because it didn’t have enough pockets
It's a review and all reviews are based on the personal opinion of the reviewer. Remember it's meant as a travel bag and not a daypack, edc or hiking bag. I don't like the bag, but that's for other reasons. If there's not two usable sidepockets "for bottles" it's a big no no for me.
@Jesper-bl2ns sure it's review. And there are plenty of other reviewers who manage to do the job without coming across like petulant toddlers.
I like the pockets. If I remove the packing cubes/clothes for the day or want to use the bag in non travel ways these are great too. I do like the pockets for travel though
too much criticism for a nice backpack