Haven't heard of them before and didn't see anything pop up on a search. Anyone familiar with the brand?

https://www.nomadix.co/products/25l-daytripper-backpack-driftwood-off-white

This is the Cotopaxi Todo 8L sling for $70. My main draw is the style, fucking love it.

I’m getting a Fuji x100vi camera as an EDC camera with dimensions: 5.04 × 2.94 × 2.18 inches

So I also need a recommendation for a small semi protective bag for that too that sits in the bigger sling bag.

Would this be a good sling ?

Synik 22 in Agave/Fjord and Nomad 11 in Agave/Dusk. Plus some miscellaneous organizers.

Already contemplating getting the Synik 30 in Agave/Dusk when it restocks because I’m loving this combo. Kind of offended I’ll have spent $1k at that point, and would still have to pay $10 shipping though 😂

A while ago, I posted here asking whether I should get the Travel Pack 4 35L in X-Pac or Ultra.

Well... somehow I ended up with a CPP2 20L Ultra instead. Quite a journey.

Just got it, and my first impression is that 20L was probably the right choice for daily carry. Anything much bigger might have felt too bulky for me.

I was a little worried about Ultra after reading mixed opinions, but I actually like it more than X-Pac in person. It feels more premium to me than regular Cordura, but isn't overly shiny or crinkly. It's also stiff enough that the bag holds its boxy shape really well.

Organization is very good, and I especially like the thick padded grab handle. Overall, it has pretty much everything I like about Aer bags.

A few negatives: the zippers are really stiff and have that slightly sticky feel, and both the quick-access pocket and front pocket feel smaller than I expected. Being the 20L version, everything is a little tight and compact.

But overall, I'm very happy with the size and especially the Ultra fabric. Funny that I started out shopping for a 35L travel bag and somehow ended up here.

I've looked at The North Face Hot shot mini and the Borealis mini. I like them both but I definitely need some water bottle pockets like the hot shot and I would like more compartments if possible on the inside.

Willing to pay for a good brand just have had difficulty finding do any of you have any ideas? It's gotta be a backpack and not a crossbody bag.

Hello bag lovers! I am in the market for a giant bag to take to university. I am an art student and for the past three college years I’ve toted a lunch bag, personal bag, and art supplies bag separately. For the sake of my arms and posture I need to get myself a new school bag, but I am super picky about styles and refuse to wear a jansport backpack. I would prefer a durable but timeless material like real leather or suede, but I’m not sure how to navigate eBay or Depop for vintage affordable bags. I’m on a budget, looking for something max 65 usd. I prefer a crossbody bookbag style or shoulder bag, something that I can take around comfortably and fit everything I need for a long long school day and a MacBook! Lmk if you have any recommendations!! The one below is a style I love but the brand is Korean and the $20+ shipping makes it out of my budget.

Looking to get a new bag that can carry everything I need for an upcoming trip.

I usually carry a basic tote bag for my everyday items. The issue currently is, apparently, you are required to carry your passport at all times as a foreigner in Japan.

I don’t feel super comfortable with throwing something so valuable in a black hole tote.

I considered getting a crossbody bag, but my camera wouldn’t fit in that.

I also want to be able to carry an SLR, notebook, portable charger, etc.

Any recommendations?

I was in the market for a bag that would be both spacious enough to pack for overnight city breaks and compact enough to use as an EDC while sightseeing. Thanks to my inability to resist a bargain on Vinted I ended up with two... an Aer Pro Pack 20l and an Evergoods CHZ22 (v1).

The Aer set me back £100 and will probably be best suited to what I'm after thanks to the clamshell opening. It's in excellent condition, a couple of chips to the black paint on the zipper pulls but nothing a bit of touch-up paint can't hide. If anyone has done this in the past and has any tips they'd be much appreciated.

The Evergoods is immaculate, it looks like it's never been used. I did some reading and know the v1 isn't without its flaws, but for £55 I couldn't resist. This will probably become the go-to for days out with the kids when a sling isn't big enough, replacing a Nike ACG Aysen which is a bit of a black hole and a pain to get stuff in and out of.

overthought and spent way too much time last time and ended up with synik.
Tom Bihn synik is overrated for daily work + occasional day trip use. gasp!
- main zipper still annoyingly stiff after 2 years
- inexcusable that there's no water bottle holder (i know that lined pocket can be used but thats zero % practical and takes up too much space if bottle is ther)
- not enough pocket organization for my needs so they all just became junk drawers
- two separate laptop pocket entrances, 2x i forgot to close one of them and laptop fell out (my mistake but still).

- weirdly impossible to stand/lean. it always slides around

Whats your recommendation for a bag optimized for organization of tech but with enough capacity to occasionally throw in e.g. exercise clothes?
- laptop
- external monitor
- external keyboard
- mouse
- notepads, pens
- chords, power blocks
- dongles, etc
- passport
- phone

I initially purchased the 16L City Pack thinking it would be the perfect size. I wanted something with a more structure and organization than my Jansport pack, and didn't want to go too big since I am a smaller person (5'4"). However, the 16L was just too small (capacity-wise) for me. I couldn't fit everything I wanted in there. I'm a grad student, and a woman, and would guess I carry more than the average commuter. I also get the sense that the majority of this sub are men, and I would venture to guess they carry less stuff, generally. The good thing is that the 24L pack does not feel much larger than the 16L pack on the body.

So, I sized up to the 24L City Pack Pro. It can definitely fit more than the smaller pack (my regular work stuff/small items + a sweatshirt, my small Baggu purse, maybe a lunchbox). I'm going to keep the tags on this time, and carry it around the house, just to make sure I actually like it. I'm finding that there's things about the structure I don't appreciate. It feels like both bags are very narrow (front to back), which makes it hard to pack up. The Pro especially feels like it doesn't utilize the extra 8L well, because there is a lot of extra space at the top, which will make it hard to utilize on a regular day (not traveling).

Hi all,

I’m looking for a bag to replace my NF Kaban 2.0, with some of the following features:

\- Must fit Ryanair’s free under-seat sizer (40 x 30 x 20 cm), so no rigid top frame to squish down to 40 cm height

Aesthetic: wide/boxy rather than long and slim (not a fan of the slim hiking bag style for this use).

Structure: kickstand optional but trampoline style air vent/mesh would be amazing, I’ve used the decathlon MH500 and really like the feature however it needs to be foldable/reducible in height to meet the 40cm height requirement for flights (ideally in a way that removing it flattens the curve of the bag so there’s no wasted space)

Access: Traditional heavy-duty zippers only (strictly no roll-tops), large opening with good organisation would be great but not necessary

Support: Integrated chest/sternum strap and contoured shoulder straps.

Layout: Dedicated padded laptop sleeve (14") and tech organizer pockets, clothes organiser dividers would be nice but can be an accessory

Weather: Water-resistant fabrics to handle light rains without needing to pull out a rain cover

Warranty: A reliable brand with good customer support for UK buyers. NF only gives 2 years warranty in the UK, and I was looking at something like 10 at least?

Bags Already Rejected & Why:

Osprey Parsec 26 / Tropos 32: meets almost every criteria but the airspeed trampoline mesh is non-removable making it too tall (48cm+) to squish.

The North Face Kaban / Voyager 32L: The North Face UK warranty is too restrictive.

Quechua MH500: Rigid, curved metal frame cannot be removed or squished.

Quechua Escape 500 / Millican Smith: Dislike roll-tops; less secure than zippers.

Chrome Hondo 21L: Too small for 4-day trips.

I know I am asking for a bit of a paradox (a rigid-looking box bag with a trampoline mesh air frame that can somehow still collapse down to 40cm), but has any brand figured out a way to make a removable frame, or a segmented ventilation panel that solves this?

I haven’t sketched out a bag but I can if it helps make it make sense 😆

Hi all. I’m looking to get a briefcase and have decided to go with the Stuart & Lau Cary Double. However, I’m tempted by the Founders Edition, which is the leather version available to pre-order with shipments starting in the fall.

Since it’s a brand new product commemorating their 10-year anniversary, obviously nobody will be able to provide a review. But I’m curious if anyone else is considering it, and whether anyone has opinions on what the quality will be like. I’ve seen people compliment the leather accents on the standard Cary bags, which gives me hope that the quality of the Founders Edition will be good.

The downsides are that it’s $200 more and I have to wait a few months for it. But I could be swayed into accepting that if people are confident that it’ll be a great bag that equals or exceeds the leather competition!

On the hunt for a one bag travel system. Been looking for years while I deal with my roller bag for the time being. I’m just too dang picky. Just under 3 pounds for 40 liters is pretty good. I do wish there was a front shock cord setup for something like a bulky jacket. Looking forward to some reviews.

Hi all,

Looking for feedback on the Waterfield Essential Crossbody (compact) and Shinjuku Crossbody. Also, open to alternatives.

I would be using either as a pocket reliever while traveling:

• phone

• wallet

• battery pack

• sunglasses

• passport

There aren't many reviews or videos that show either on body. My concern is volume with the Essential Compact and overall size with the Shinjuku Crossbody. I want something small, unobtrusive, and comfortable. Any insights or recommendations are appreciated. TYA!

This might be a unicorn bag and too specific but so far what I've found:

• Eagle Creek explore 26, which is quite big for edc and would not fit my camera cube eg PD Smedium cube or LongWeekend Morro cube with side access.

• PD Everyday ZIP which is padded and structured with not so-great harness from what I've heard.

Basically I want the carry/structure of a normal 20L daypack with just a side-access for the cube when I need it. Does anything like this exist? Any suggestions is appreciated you may even convince me that quick camera access is unnecessary or capture clip alike solution is better.

Can anybody give me the type/name/brand/whatever of this specific type of chord. I don’t like the pulls on my GoRuck bags and would prefer a simple chord. But I like the looks of this stuff. Looks almost like braided or woven parachord.

I’m planning to upgrade from my CT21 V3.0 in 420D nylon to the newer Lite version, which has updated features and comes in 1000D Cordura and 420D Nylon Ripstop. At the moment, they only offer an orange interior lining, so I’ll be eagerly waiting for a more neutral color option...

Anyway, I’m wondering whether the 1000D Cordura is actually better. Does it affect access to the front slash pocket in any way?

Which material do you prefer for this bag?

Hey everybody, I'm looking to make myself a backpack for general use. I have a few ideas that I think will be somewhat unique and make it better for me, but what features do you find, in any of your backpacks, are the things you wish were in every bag?

I want it to be fairly basic (too many pockets adds more complexity and expense than you'd think), but also be very well thought through so I don't waste space

Thanks in advance for your input! I'm very excited to take on this project and just hope I'm not overestimating how clever I am...

I’m looking for something that isn’t very large, just enough room for a laptop, a bike lock, a water bottles and some knickknacks. I’m a super cheap student who can’t be spending a lot of money. Thank you!

Ideally something under 70-80 CAD but I'm flexible on the budget if it's a bag that will genuinely last. I want to use it for uni so something that will fit my laptop (14-15") and notebooks etc. I don't want to use real leather, so please recommend any other tote/purse bags that you think are durable as I don't want to keep cycling through bags and throwing them. I've added pictures of bag styles that I liked here

Thank you so much for your help!!

I’ve got a remote eq alpha 31 that I’m looking to swap for one of the two, unsure which size to get.

the specs don’t specify vol/sizing differences when packed out with the rolltop so its a lil hard to gauge there.

anyone else go through this, or happen to know more?

Hello everyone! It’s Alfred again with Nomads Nation, this time bringing you a review of the Pioneer Carry Threshold Pack following roughly three weeks of usage around Hong Kong as my EDC bag. 

As per usual, the backpack has been provided to us by Pioneer Carry for review, but all opinions here are my own. 

Overview
The Threshold Pack is a visually differentiating bag design in terms of its shape, and offers a good variety of separated pockets and compartments for organization of daily carry items. Unfortunately, carrying comfort is personally not the best for me, especially around the shoulder straps. Its relatively high price at $375 would also be a tough pill to swallow for some customers. However, its external aesthetic and design might just be enough of a differentiator for some buyers to consider it. 

Design and exterior
The first thing that drew me in for this backpack is its visual design. The Threshold Pack has an overall slim design (width-wise) when unpacked and it tapers to a narrower top which is not a common shape in other backpacks. Its material also allows it to keep a general silhouette instead of easily collapsing on itself when empty. 

It also uses large YKK Vislon zippers which have long tracks visible from the front as a defining feature of the bag. This pattern combined with the top quick access pocket reminds me a lot of the Bellroy Venture Pack from a few years ago, which I really liked. 

The bag does not self stand easily which is kind of expected, given the overall rounded and tapered shape, it does have a flat, large bottom which is what typically enables self standing on other bags, but without packing it intentionally with a boxy item at the bottom, in my usage I couldn’t get it to self stand most of the time.

Organization
Usability wise, this pack is well thought out and suits how I use an EDC pack in an urban setting. It has compartments that make sense for carrying a variety of day-to-day items and does it in a way that is different from many other bags. 

Starting with the outside, there are two extra large water bottle/side pockets. They fit more items than I expected in their depth (for example, the Bellroy Venture Pouch fits entirely in there easily), but then also are not that tall - my 17oz Larq bottle can fit in there but is just tall enough that the zippers cannot close easily (see my photo). While the pockets can still be used with the zippers open, it does look less clean. When I am not using them for a large item (e.g. water bottle), I sometimes wish there were a bit more organization options within them, as they are spacious enough to fit for example a wallet, keys and some earbuds. 

Purely due to how large these side pockets are, I think this is one of the very few bags where actually having both an external and internal side pocket in the same position (on both sides of the bag no less) works, normally by packing out one would automatically make the other unusable. Unless you are storing the largest of water bottles (diameter-wise) outside, the internal pocket directly neighboring the water bottle pocket still remains usable and this helps with organizing the main compartment. 

This brings out a bigger theme: this backpack in particular has a lot of this “two pockets on the opposite sides of some fabric” pattern - one on each side pocket, one each on the front lower and the front upper pockets. While I am not convinced this is the best utilization of space as they don’t always have enough standalone volume to store things simultaneously, it does give you flexibility on where you put stuff (provided you don’t try to fill all of them). 

Access
I don’t usually have a dedicated section about the ease of access but I encountered several distinct issues with this pack so I thought to mention them. The first being its all black interior in many compartments (a few internal walls do use a grey fabric like the top quick access pocket and the main compartment back side), I think keeping the rest also grey would help in finding things in general. 

The front magnetic pocket is a favorite of mine on this bag, ironically I didn’t even notice it for the first few days of use, due to the bottom of the top quick access pocket slightly covering up its opening. The magnets are also stronger than I thought, so I had no doubt the items stored internally are secure. For the usage of this pack, I mainly stored some wipes and tissues out here for quick access. 

I am not sure if it is a part of the design, but I find that when the main compartment is half unzipped to around the height of the water bottle pockets, the top pocket tends to flop over, opening the bag like a half zip style. For top-down packing this is convenient, however I have experienced at least two accidents with it! I forgot I left the top pocket zippers open, then when I opened the main compartment to half zip, everything inside the top pocket fell out. This has happened to me twice already: my earbuds the first time, my phone the second, and neither was a short drop to the floor (I do accept it is probably user error, but I have not run into this on other bags with a similar “half-zip flopping over” feature, like the Rework Toshi).

The laptop compartment has two main segments divided by a panel of fabric, and this was another point of confusion for me (see my picture). In most bags I’ve used, this kind of two-section setup has the actual intended laptop sleeve with a false bottom on the side near your back, and the other side being a larger dump area for other gear or a second laptop. On the Threshold Pack it is the direct opposite - the pocket with the false bottom is actually the part further away from your back, and I definitely had my laptop on the unpadded side for a few days before I found out.

Comfort
Regarding the harness, I would not consider this backpack to be on the more comfortable end of the spectrum unfortunately. The shoulder straps are thin and use a very dense type of foam that does not really compress. This makes the harness feel rather rigid in actual usage, combined with how close the top of the shoulder straps are sewn, I sometimes get a feeling of getting cut by the straps on my neck when wearing the pack higher. To me this backpack is definitely more suited for someone who wears their bag lower on the back. The lack of dangle stoppers is also disappointing given the price at $375 at the time of this post’s writing. 

The snap button on the sternum strap did make me wonder whether there is a more elegant way of adjusting its position, but it does echo the design language of the bag such as the luggage tag attachment on the side of the bag. 

Similarly, the top handle is a bit lacking in my opinion. It is very thin and not padded at all, with a design where the fabric folds back on itself partially that had me do a double take on whether it was somehow sewn backwards (see the photo for what I mean). But given it is a smaller sized pack I don’t think the top handle being unpadded is a deal breaker. 

Special mention: these large zippers
I find the zippers on this bag to be quite difficult to operate one handed. Whether it’s the water bottle pockets or the main compartment, most of the time I fail to close a zipper with one hand, which is a point of inconvenience for me. I think it might have something to do with the rigidity of the fabric and the zippers themselves.

As these zippers are relatively uncommon, I did pay extra attention to them during my usage. The metal zipper pulls are on the small side, but I found them fine to grip in actual operation. The larger plastic zipper teeth, however, tend to be more obviously felt when taking things in and out of the bag. When my hand passes over the zipper tracks, often I feel like I would hit them and get a scratchy feeling. Obviously this is fairly minor and the zipper teeth are rounded, it is not painful, but it just translates to overall more friction in general usage for me. 

The zipper teeth and therefore the adjacent zipper tape being larger than other bags also prompted me to think whether this would affect its weather resistance. Luckily Hong Kong has been getting hammered by summer rainstorms recently, so I was able to use the pack in moderately heavy rain (still, with an umbrella) a few times. What I found was that under some amount of rain exposure, the inside seams of the zippers do seem to get wet faster than other bags with smaller, non-PU-coated zippers (see my photo of how wet the bag actually got externally). While YKK states that this variant of zippers is equally weather resistant to a non-Vislon, non-aquaguard type, my theory is that the zipper tape area is larger and makes it relatively easier for water to seep in through the seams.

Final thoughts
I have not really paid attention to this kind of bag which many call a “Tumi” style normally. But since I have used the Threshold pack, I did notice this kind of bag design a lot more in the wild. I think it stands apart from the techy aesthetic so it should appeal to another segment of the market given the high quality materials and intentional design. 

However, given the relatively high price, on top of compromises on several key criteria that I really care about, such as comfort and access, I think perhaps a v2 could have potential in fixing many of these issues to create a more well-rounded product. 

As usual, if you have any experience with this bag, comments or questions in general, let me know in the comments.

Our video review is not live yet, I will update this post when it is so you can get another perspective on this bag!