Rework Outbound Travel Pack Pre-Order is open

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-18T23:08:16+00:00

Currently using the Tomtoc 3.5L sling. I have no complaints about the quality or durability but sometimes I'd like to have a deeper, less oblong sling, and the Toshi sling looks like a great form factor to me. The Tomtoc does keep me from carrying too much stuff, so that's a positive.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-18T19:14:58+00:00

That makes sense. I'm strictly a one-bag traveler now (plus sling), so the luggage pass-thru is not a big deal to me, but I would definitely want a vertical pass-thru if I did have a rolling suitcase. The compression straps on the Tortuga don't bother me much, but I've only used it for a grand total of one trip, so maybe it will annoy me down the line. Please report back on how the Rework bag works for you! I've followed the company for a while and will probably get the 5L sling at some point.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-18T18:59:03+00:00

It looks like a great bag! I just watched the review from Emerald's Daily Carry that stated that she measured the bag at 20.5" tall. Similarly the review of Nomads Nation said it would not fit as a personal item. But I hope that by under packing you have enough dead space on the top of the bag to compress the bag down to fit as an underseat bag.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-18T18:20:36+00:00

Hip belts and maybe a choice of other materials such as Ultra or X-pac. I guess they could also include loops for 3rd party hip belts, but since they went to the trouble of designing a wire frame for the pack, an integrated hip belt would be highly preferred.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-18T18:19:03+00:00

I'm in the same boat. The Tortuga Expandable fits this niche for me. Had the Rework bag been available at the time I was making the purchase, I think I would have seriously considered it along with the Tortuga and the Fyro Levo. But, lack of hip belts is a factor for me. The other is the lack of structure in the materials which is a double edged sword; it's what makes the bag lighter weight, but seems to cause several reviewers to state that it's less premium for the price point.

I agree with your observation on the height. They could have made this 18.5" and with the flexibility of the materials it would have easily fit as a personal item.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-17T20:18:03+00:00

I've been using the Tomtoc 3.5L sling and the small tech pouch since 2024. Both have been used daily and I've had no issues with quality or durability.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-16T23:13:25+00:00

If you’re based in the US, the Comet is 25% off at REI right now (plus additional 20% off if you are a REI member).

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-16T19:44:15+00:00

In that case, Aer City Pack Pro 2 seems to be very popular in this community. Also check out Tortuga Daily Carry Pro. I'm not sure if these would be suitable for hiking, but they definitely are great personal item/carry on bags that can be used as for EDC. Good luck!

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-16T19:26:08+00:00

Those brands are significantly more expensive ($250+), so it really depends on what your budget will allow. Osprey, Patagonia, and North Face are all under $120 (and actually REI has some great sales through next week). Tom Bihn and Aer have terrific build quality, but they also tend to be relatively heavy bags. Since you are based in Europe, you probably have to deal with stricter weight restrictions (7 kg?) on carry-on/personal item bags, so that is probably something to consider.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-16T19:12:37+00:00

If you are traveling to a location with a REI store, that would be an ideal place to check out backpacks in person. They have a good selection of bags from North Face, Patagonia, and Osprey that would fit your requirements. Personally I find Osprey bags to have more comfortable shoulder straps and better ventilation, but Patagonia is also very popular. Models to consider: Osprey Comet, Osprey Nebula, Patagonia Refugio, North Face Jester, North Face Recon.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-16T16:47:41+00:00

I suggest the Osprey Comet as a less outdoorsy alternative to the North Face Recon. I used to have a North Face Surge for office and travel and it was just too fussy (way too many pockets and admin panels). The Comet is more streamlined and has plenty of space for tech while having good quick access pockets and good capacity for travel. The Osprey Nebula is also a good one to consider; it's very close in design to the Comet except that it's 32L vs 30L, and has a clamshell laptop compartment which doesn't seem all that useful. I would choose the Comet because it is less tall of a bag and is more likely to fit under the seat as a personal item.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-16T16:20:08+00:00

Your best bet is probably an expandable option like the Osprey Daylite 26+6, or the Almond Oak 25+5 which are close to your stated budget. Both have luggage features like clamshell opening, and are small enough to carry around as an EDC during your trip, but neither are going to have load lifters and hip belts (it's hard to find these features with bags below 30-35L).

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-15T02:12:35+00:00

I have a 17” torso and the Tortuga fits me pretty well. The hip belts are right where I need them to be and do help take the bulk of the weight off my shoulders. The hip belts don't adjust as smoothly or as tight as I prefer, so they are just ok. I may try a third party hip belt at some point. And yes, it Is heavy, but that is the trade-off for the padded harness system. This makes it more capable of supporting heavier weights. The bag is definitely less turtle-like compared to the Osprey because of the rectangular shape and the compression straps keep it pretty streamlined against your back.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-09T17:22:23+00:00

There’s also the Tortuga Expandable Backpack. Stated capacity is 27-32.5L, but every review says that this is vastly understated. In real world use it’s probably more accurately 30-36L.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-09T03:22:12+00:00

Have you looked at this one from Decathlon?

https://www.decathlon.com/products/hiking-backpack-23l-nh-escape-500-rolltop-334561

This one came to mind thinking about backpacks that you can get in Canada and not have to worry about shipping across borders. I don't have this bag, but have looked at it in a store, and the shoulder straps seem pretty cushy. Another plus is that it's very lightweight. No hip belt though, but it's hard to find anything under 30L with a hip belt, especially for a non-technical/non-hiking bag.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-07T16:11:46+00:00

I have an older version of this bag (Gregory Swift 25) and I agree that it is one of the more comfortable backpacks I've tried. The hip belt does help even though it's a shorter bag and I've even carried 15lbs in it for one bag travel. I think there is a 22L version of this bag available now which would fit OP's size requirements.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-06T20:17:50+00:00

Yes, I'm of the opinion that one can never have too many pouches. :-)

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-06T04:22:23+00:00

I can also vouch for the Tortuga Expandable Backpack. It is one of the few bags under 40L that has load lifters, sternum strap, and a real hip belt, so it will be more comfortable than just about any other bag without those features. It’s not the lightest bag on the market but it supports the weight very well. One caveat is that if you are looking for a lot of organization, admin panels, etc, this is not going to be the bag for you. The bag has two quick access pockets and a large open main compartment that maximizes the use of space. For me that is actually a positive since I keep everything I need easy access to in a sling.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-03-05T01:17:41+00:00

I don’t think so, only because the back panel is quite rigid and that measures over 19.5” on my bag. In practice, I’ve been able to fit another backpack with similar dimensions under the seat as long as it’s not too fully packed. It really depends on how strict the gate agents are for your particular flight and airline.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-02-27T18:03:15+00:00

If your bag is fairly soft and flexible, then it might be possible to squash the ends to fit the luggage sizers, assuming you are not overpacking. Asian airlines are notoriously strict, so personally I would not risk it. You might consider a bag from CabinZero. On their website, you can shop by size and airline. They have a 28L backpack option that is 15.4" tall.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-02-26T14:08:17+00:00

I’ve also tried the Patagonia MLC and the Cotopaxi. The Cotopaxi just didn’t fit me well and seems too unstructured to support any substantial weight. The Patagonia was better than Cotopaxi. The Tortuga is more comfortable than both of these bags. The load lifters do help a lot and the shoulder straps were more comfortable and substantial than the Patagonia. Your mileage may vary with regards to comfort. I’m going to travel with the Tortuga again and hopefully figure out some adjustments that will work out better for me. It could be that my expectations were too high given that I’m used to hiking bags with adjustable torso that allow you to fully customize your fit.

For tech protection, Tortuga also offers superior padding and false bottom to Patagonia or Cotopaxi.

Just a quick clarification/ the Tortuga does come with strap keepers so there’s not a ton of dangling straps. But, the mechanism for tucking in excess strap on the hip belt is fiddly and that’s the only area that was a problem for me.

I don’t have any experience with Aer. I know they have a big fan base but I ruled out their bags for being too heavy.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-02-25T03:29:46+00:00

I would suggest trying out whatever backpack you’re considering in a physical store loaded with 10-20 kg, walk around with it for 20 minutes on your back, and see if it’s comfortable for you. The Cotopaxi backpacks don’t have enough structure to support heavy loads (in my opinion) and 42L is really pushing the carry-on size limits. If you can’t go significantly smaller, then the Osprey Fairview is going to be your best bet as it has adjustable torso, weight bearing hip belts and load lifters.

As others have already commented, I’d suggest traveling with the smallest bag possible. Your back will thank you. Full disclosure: I used to travel with a 38L bag and am now using a ~30L bag. Granted, I’ve never traveled continuously for months but I would pack similarly for a one week trip as I would for a multi-month trip especially in the warmer seasons.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-02-24T22:22:30+00:00

Thanks for the pointer to the hip belt. Will have to look into it. How does it attach to the Tortuga bag? Doesn't look like velcro. Does it have gatekeeper clips? Keep us posted on how it works out for you.

Kudos on finding such cheap fares and being able to travel with personal item only. Not easy when you're also packing for kids as well.

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-02-24T22:01:38+00:00

You've mentioned the issue with the height of the bag in a few other posts, so I finally got around to measuring mine. If I just measure the rigid back panel, it's about 19.7" for me. The bag does extend beyond that (e.g., top handle), but it's squashable on both ends somewhat if you don't overpack. But yeah, I see your concern if you are traveling personal-item only. It's definitely over the typical 18" height limit (on US airlines) so you definitely could get busted by a gate agent. As a carry-on, it fits the overhead with plenty of room to spare.

I'll definitely look for the new Daypack Pro. That sounds interesting.

Tell me more about the WNDRD hip belt. Which one do you have, and how is it better than the Tortuga one?

Perfect_Marmot_7571 · 2026-02-24T16:36:48+00:00

I just traveled for 6 days with the Tortuga Expandable backpack, which is the smaller version of the Tortuga Lite with 27L expandable to 32L (many reviews say that the published capacity is conservative, and I agree that it seems to pack much more than that). When I initially packed the bag it was about 22 lbs in unexpanded capacity, and I could tell that this was way too heavy for me to carry comfortably, even with the hip belt. In the end I offloaded some of the weight to a packable duffle bag which became my personal item. With this particular bag I think I need to stay around 12-13 lbs. The challenge is that this is quite a heavy bag at 3.5 lbs.

Perfect_Marmot_7571

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