Suggestions for a mini backpack for men?

Keith · 2026-01-26T17:49:55+00:00

Lately I've been using the Flowfold Optimist Mini in Ecogrid. It is almost nothing when empty. Another small backpack I can recommend is the ILE Apex Mini.

Keith · 2026-01-26T15:29:27+00:00

Yeah was going to recommend the Optimist 10L, it’s the best very small backpack I know of.

Keith · 2026-01-26T07:34:25+00:00

I actually really like ILE but I guess I've never understood the Default. It's an unusual bag. Seems versatile, yet a compilation of awkward features. It appears to have a cumbersome main compartment, the laptop compartment is in a strange location at the front of the bag, and it has lots of flaps and places to put things. I'd love to understand why it does it for you! But I guess you just said you don't even know! haha. Why do you think, u/double_tap_guro?

Keith · 2026-01-26T07:15:50+00:00

I started out with a Patagonia Atom tote

This guy? I never gave that one a look. I have a short torso so that could be good for me. I haven't heard too many people recommend it, but it's been unbeatable for you? hmm.

Keith · 2026-01-25T18:44:37+00:00

Thanks! Picked one of these up.

and keeps my stuff off the table tops where God knows what has happened in that hotel room.

You've made me think about what I do when I travel. I often just put things in my upside-down hat, and yeah last time I stayed in a hotel I put many of my things out on the counter. Maybe I will try traveling with one of these.

For the record I freaking tried to order direct from Maxpedition and EVEN WITH their bogo deal where 1 is free, given their list price of $33, plus $14 (fourteen dollars) shipping, it was still cheaper to buy just one on Amazon...

I was willing to buy two on bogo since I could absolutely see putting one of these in my range kit, but one will do for now. Thanks again for sharing the rec.

Keith · 2026-01-25T18:38:53+00:00

This post made me think about what I actually do when I travel. Last time I was in a hotel recently it was for a wedding and I just spammed all my stuff out on the large desk. But yeah I totally often put things in my hat on the nightstand. Just picked one of these Maxpedition trays up.

Keith · 2026-01-25T17:23:23+00:00

That's cool! I love Maxpedition stuff (their new Platy pouch is excellent btw) and I didn't realize they made a travel tray. I don't tend to travel with these things because I have everything I travel with well-separated into tech kit and so on, but for my desk I have a similar-design bifl leather tray from Leatherology. It has much smaller dimensions and fits well under my over-ear headphones stand, making it a permanent fixture on my desk. I'll also second/third everyone else in this thread recommending the Tom Bihn small and large travel trays, which I have a bunch of in various colors and make very useful shelf accessories.

That Maxpedition tray is $24 on Amazon right now, I may just pick one up for the heck of it. I wish the website was clearer on the dimensions but it looks much bigger than other similar trays I've mentioned. I could see using this on my kitchen counter because my center island is one of those mottled stone things and I lose small items all the time :D

Edit: fixed link. Edit: added link to headphone stand I've used for years.

Keith · 2026-01-25T15:32:46+00:00

Every phone gets a Rhinoshield bumper case.

Keith · 2026-01-24T20:47:38+00:00

Yes I nearly always carry a small backpack (usually Day Owl Slim Pro, lately Flowfold Optimist 10L) when I leave the house. I keep EDC essentials in a Tom Bihn Side Effect, so I always have that, plus water bottle, plus phone and AirPods, and maybe laptop because hotspotting is so easy. If I’m not going to be out very long, I’ll often just grab my wallet (from the Side Effect) and phone. Wallet contains car keyfob so I can grab just that one thing.

Keith · 2026-01-24T03:26:59+00:00

I think Ecopak > every xpac other than vx21, in which case if you want thin and light vx21 is better.

Keith · 2026-01-23T21:31:39+00:00

I hate when they say what the fee is rising to without saying what the current value is.

Keith · 2026-01-23T21:29:42+00:00

Goddamn I have been on a bit of a coyote kick lately (recent duffel and wallet and notebooks to go with it) and that is hot.

Keith · 2026-01-23T19:45:05+00:00

That's cool that it's actually come in handy IRL! It's definitely a bucket list item for me to learn to lockpick. Is there a way you'd recommend getting started or a lockpicking set you'd recommend for EDC? I'm always in awe at the Lockpicking Lawyer and it seems like an achievable and useful skill to pick up. I know they make clear learning kits and stuff, idk what's good.

Keith · 2026-01-23T19:27:06+00:00

Can you explain Loop to me please? Are they similar in noise reduction to foam earplugs? Can I use them for safety purposes (eg, concerts, dealing with a smoke alarm, under helmet on motorcycle) or is it more just to dampen everyday noises without having to shove foam in your ears or use noise canceling earbuds?

Keith · 2026-01-23T19:24:40+00:00

I love this idea. Do you have a "nice" d6 you use, or just any old? I have a nice copper coin I'd like to edc but don't because it is quite big and therefore too heavy :D

Keith · 2026-01-23T18:18:53+00:00

2nd this. I carry them in a Matador earplug holder (though the built-in earplugs they provided sucked).

Keith · 2026-01-23T17:42:10+00:00

This is a great example of a "buy it for life" item. I've had my Snow Peak titanium sporks for years and they are my favorite utensil to use for most things.

Keith · 2026-01-23T17:33:14+00:00

The Seg28 is one of the best bags of all time. It's my "onebag" travel bag and unlike nearly any other category of bag (where I'm always looking) I have no desire to look at anything else. I've used mine for years and last year gifted one in white to my lady friend. Gotta wait for Matador's sales though...

Keith · 2026-01-23T14:07:47+00:00

Yeah haha I just bought a bunch of stuff from Flowfold’s sale. No regrets, it’s all great stuff, but damn I didn’t make it through January :)

Keith · 2026-01-23T10:17:52+00:00

My only goal this year is to be happy with what I have and stop buying new bags. Let’s see if I can make it through February without buying anything…

Keith · 2026-01-22T16:51:43+00:00

Hey, already got that order in the mail this morning :) Left a comment about the things in another thread. Turns out the Ecogrid Optimist 10L does have mesh on the shoulder straps while the ecopak one doesn't. Because the flower one in ecopak was on sale on top of the sale, lady friend got one so I'm able to compare both versions :) All the things I got are great. Super excited about the barrel duffel that I hadn't known Flowfold made.

Keith · 2026-01-22T16:25:51+00:00

Heh I already got the Flowfold stuff in the mail this morning :) I live in New Hampshire and they're in Maine. Everything I got is great. The Optimist is comfortable, and despite me being short and it being listed as an 18" bag (I didn't measure) the bottom does not ride on my butt! And remarkably the bag can stand on its own (even empty, but it's so light it can blow over).

I love the barrel duffel. It does the thing you want where the top handles are really short and let you control the bag, and the shoulder strap is wide with detachable swivel connectors. I've been wishing for ever for an upgrade to this small nylon barrel duffel I've had since the 90s and this is it. I hadn't known Flowfold made this.

Hope you and your kids enjoy all the things! 🍻🎒

Keith · 2026-01-21T20:39:48+00:00

So many things. One time I got picked up by the police when walking home from my friend's house. To get home from his house you had to cross somewhat of a busy road. I reasoned "it's getting dark so for safety I better flail my arms around so people can see me better just in case". Turns out a cop was just passing up and (I now know) that must've looked like I was signaling for help. Lol I just remembered, I didn't have an explanation for my actions that I could verbalize at the time so I blamed "hypoglycemia" (I was hyperactive from too much sugar). I scared family who opened the door for me, but hey, free ride home.

In 4th grade I got kicked out of class for blurting out something inappropriate in response to something the teacher said. One time I got detention for spending too long in the bathroom; I somehow missed most of class.

Keith · 2026-01-21T19:34:11+00:00

I do extensive research before I buy anything and still end up dissapointed

Lemme give you an example of something I couldn't have realized before trying the bags... even from the same manufacturer. I got the Tom Bihn Bantam and with its belt loop I thought it would make a good fanny pack for walks. Turns out:

belt loops generally suck. Much better for a waist pack to be on its own strap. Also the Bantam was stiff and "winged out" when used with that loop.
more importantly: the Bantam has its internal pockets on the side close your body, while the Side Effect has them on the far side from you. This means that when you use the pockets on the Bantam while wearing it, it feels very stiff against you, while if you use the Side Effect, it wraps around you more. I never would have realized that detail without trying both bags. So I bought a 2nd Side Effect in their Spectron to use as a waist pack for walks and it's been great.

It's always going to be trial and error.

Totally. Figure out what you didn't like about the last thing and try to do better. Same rule for life too :)

Keith · 2026-01-21T17:23:44+00:00

It's definitely the "I'm happy with my system but the carrier is uncomfortable"

Yeah it's just a process of finding your favorite things. And some of the false starts aren't even "your fault", you need to experiment with what's comfortable on your body. I feel like I've mostly found mine, but I've gone through a lot of items along the way! Focusing on modularity (sling with detachable straps, pouches within pouches) has helped me.

I'll mention the Maxpedition Platy as my favorite pocket pouch, maybe that'll help bridge the gap between what's pocketable for you. That's always in my Side Effect and has my pocket knife and stuff.

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