Outlander Packable Handy Lightweight Travel Hiking Backpack Daypack

I bought this backpack about 5 months ago and wanted to use it a few times before writing a review. I love this thing! It compacts so small. It’s perfect for travel when you need a nice quality day pack. I also used it for a 20 mile hike/race. It was super light, comfortable, breathable, carried all my rain gear, snacks, waterbottle, wallet, hat. Walking sticks were a little hard to carry in there.. it wasn’t tall enough for some foldable walking sticks. The material and zippers are quality and seem to still be holding up to the abuse I put it through. I definitely would gift this to someone that likes to travel or go on spontaneous adventures!

Very light, and rolls up very small for travel or when not in use. Material is thin but strong. No rigid panels, frame, or padding - great for fitting in one more thing, but if you’re carrying something hard or pointy you may want something soft behind it.Great for anything - you can fill it up with books, take it traveling, or take it in your pocket to hold your winter jacket while you shop.

2024 Review(my original 2014 review is below)Over time I have bought 4 of these , the first in 2014 , for their clever design and lightness: one for the wife, one for a go-bag, one for the car. The latest one I bought in July 2024 for a 3 month trip to Italy (to look fresh) and the new one suffered problems that the earlier versions never had:○ zipper sticking out from pouch○ ripping material around zipper (see picture, from about 6 weeks into the trip)○ peeling of plastic inner layer (sort of like you see old GoreTex do after a few years)I now use the Yelp rating system and only rate the product (not the packaging, delivery or price etc) :1 star = Methinks not2 = I've experienced better3 = A-OK4 = I'm a fan5 stars = As good as it getsThe design behind this product remains excellent, slightly improved even, but the material / construction problems drop the score down to a 3. That is still a respectable score , and I will probably purchase this again , but it no longer is the 5 it once was. So this fan allows it a 4.2014 ReviewMy uses: travel bag (great), backpacking wander pack (good), bicycle bag (not for me).4.5 stars. Well made, nice features. Here is how I am using mine: it easily slips in and out of my travel luggage and contains the things I need when I in my seat on the plane. It has just enough pockets and compartments. Also, it is a good light bag to stuff into your backpack for day hikes from your base camp. I suppose it could be used as a minimalist summit sack if the conditions are not extreme. I have used it for general bus commuting. I haven't used it for bicycle commuting though because panniers are better for grocery loads in the wet Pacific Northwest. I wish the outside compartment zipped straight across instead of an angle. The angle looks stylish but my Surface doesn't quite fit in it because of the angle so I have to use the bigger inner compartment instead which is okay with me also. I have been recommending this bag to my regular friends and those into ultralight.

I bought several nylon backpacks on Amazon prior to my trip last month, to determine which size or brand that I would like. A few will be returned.The 22L Outlander backpack in purple felt the best and I now use it most days as my purse. I am 5'4" and a bit short-waisted, so standard backpacks are all too long on me. This one is quite comfortable and a good length. The side pockets easily hold my either or both a 12oz or 16oz stainless steel water bottle, or my sunglasses. This pack nicely survived a two-week trip to Europe last month as my purse and daypack, as we traveled by bus and train. It seems quite well-made with perfectly functioning zippers and no fraying on seams. It carried all of my usual "purse" items as well as an extra shirt, socks, snacks, pill organizer, with room to add a few souvenirs. Even though I weighed it down pretty well the straps were still comfortable on my shoulders.The other brand of similar backpacks were not as comfortable on me, and one had annoyingly loud material (I think that was the MCIRCO 20L). The Outlander (22L purple) and Hexin (33L purple) seemed to both be made by the same company since they fit similarly and had the same style and print on the fabric. So, I am keeping them both! When I had more things to carry, I would put the smaller pack inside the larger one. I used the larger one as my carry-on for my flights, and the smaller one as my purse. Both sizes fold back neatly into a little pouch, but frankly, I can't see me ever putting them away. They are so lightweight that they take up practically no space. I did fold the big one a few times and carried it inside the smaller one (so that I would have an extra shopping bag with me), but after a few times I just rolled the extra pack and placed it at the bottom of the pack in use.I also bought an Outlander (33L) in Black for my husband to carry, but he didn't mind the dark purple color. He may have objected if I had wanted him to carry a pink or red one, but the purple is pretty subtle. Both of the larger packs came in handy for sorting our clothes during the trip. One day we even loaded both 33L backpacks with stuff we should not have brought with us (can you say "overpacked"?) and walked to the Amsterdam Post Office to mail home a box of our "stuff" (yeah, we'll just call it stuff, to be nice here). These packs are SO SO handy. I got the impression, at the PO, that mailing home dirty clothes was not uncommon. Doh.Yes this nylon pack is a bit flimsy, but it's so strong and holds so much! For the price, I totally recommend the Outlander (or the Hexin). Buy one in each size. Keep both, or give one away to a friend! Can't go wrong with this product.Disclaimer: I was not given anything free to try. I paid for this product. I like this product and recommend it. (No one ever sends me anything for free. Boo hoo)