I’ve had the Uniqlo Multi Pocket Shoulder Bag for a while and just got the new Utility Shoulder Bag and I think I prefer it overall.

The internal organisation is more or less the same, with the new bag a touch smaller. Both fit my 14 inch MBP. The two internal slip pockets are still there.

I really like Multi Pocket bag, but a common complaint is the overall construction. It’s very thin and soft, which makes it quite comfortable, but also results in it collapsing in on itself when worn. Especially if not very full. It makes fishing out belongings while on the go a two-hand job.

The new bag has a stiffer, slightly thicker material. Something a little bit like Bellroy’s signature fabric (but not as premium). It largely prevents it from collapsing when worn. People have said it’s more padded, but I think that’s an illusion of the stiffer material. Load your laptop at your own peril. Still no false bottom.

The front pockets are the biggest change. The Porter-ish twin pouches are replaced with to slip pockets with vertical zips. These are noticeably thinner, but the construction makes access easier when it’s on your shoulder. One handed opening for these and the main compartment is less fiddly now. They’re still separate compartments, but they overlap a significantly in the middle. It seems like a way for you to load up the side that faces your front more, as unlike the previous bag, that one is now much more accessible.

There’s a new key clip in one of the slip pockets, but it feels quite flimsy.

The strap and zip hardware are identical.

Colour options are the same this one too. I would have liked a navy or grey version.

The zippered bottle compartment is now just a button snap like the second one on the original bag. This is a downgrade.

I believe the original bag has been discontinued now and this is a direct replacement. Luckily there’s not much separating them. It’s still a bargain. I prefer the easier access on the new one, though I like the look of the older bag more, because I’m a Porter tragic.

Note: I'm comparing the original Multi Pocket Shoulder bag here. I wasn't aware of this, but it seems like it got updated fabric at some point? Maybe even something like the fabric of this new bag. In which case, there's even less separating these two bags.

There are tons of water bottle pockets out there. Which ones do you like? Which ones do you not like?

I included some photos of some of the most popular backpacks out there. Which ones do you like? Which ones drive you crazy? What are some others that kick @ss?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Photo line up from left to right: Black Ember Citadel H2, CTactical CT21+, Fyro Citta 25L, ULA Cicada Bespoke, Evergoods CTB26, Mystery Ranch Front 2.0, and Aer CPP2. (Not pictured: any Go Ruck bag ever!) 😜

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I’m a big fan of Aaron and the Nomads Nation team. Their wide and deep coverage of carry gear was a big part of my backpack-fiend origin story. Like a lot of us here, I was excited when he launched his own gear brand. I gave the Levo a skip because a large travel backpack wasn’t what I was looking for, but was definitely keeping an eye on all the reviews here and on YouTube praising its weight, comfort, and organization.

I was all in when Fyro started talking about an EDC backpack, and so when things started taking shape, the 18L Citta really stood out. I’m not a fan of X‑Pac, so the 25L was never for me.

All the pre-launch marketing definitely had me hyped, and Aaron being Aaron, seemed like he knew what he was talking about with all the deep research into and final choice of material, the organizational design approach, and the crazy emphasis on comfort.

As a teacher with a longish workday, I carry a sizable EDC load - including tech, food, drink, and paperwork. The Evergoods CPL24 has been my daily driver for the past few months, handling everything comfortably and keeping it all organized. But on days when my schedule changes a little, and my EDC isn't as heavy, I was hoping for something smaller. I thought the Citta 18L would be a good idea, and might even train me to be more efficient with my daily carry. I was one of the first few to order it during the July 1 launch drop, and it reached me a couple of weeks later.

After toning down my daily carry by about 70 % and making it as light as possible, here are the key reasons the Citta doesn’t work for me:

1. Comfort: I think this was the biggest disappointment for me after hearing so much about how good the comfort is. The straps sit too wide on my chest and need constant readjusting to feel closer - at times, it almost feels like the bag is trying to remove itself from my shoulders. The sternum strap, when used, is just too tight. To be the most comfortable, I also have to loosen the straps so the bag sits lower on my back, and that's not a feeling I enjoy (Team High and Tight). The back panel feels rigid and stiff, and doesn’t conform to the shape of my back. After a few minutes of carrying the bag, I definitely started to feel some strain between my shoulder blades and on my mid-back. The straps themselves are okay, and I didn't experience all of that "marshmallow-y" softness when worn. This lack of carrying ease and comfort is my biggest reason to turn the Citta in
2. Organization: It's heartbreaking that I didn't like a bag that has such a fantastic orange interior, but the layout appears tailored to specific use cases. I rely heavily on pouches for my EDC (an Evergoods CAP1 and CAP 0.5 mainly), and beyond the main chamber and front drop‑in pocket, I found little practical use for the remaining zippered pockets, especially the two large ones on the inside of the clamshell lid. I also didn't like how the tech pocket that's part of the laptop "TechBay" sits lumpily in the main area when it has stuff in it. Organizationally, the front admin section with the zippered pockets and the deep drop-in pocket were probably the best part of the bag for me
3. Top QAP fabric: This may be a nitpick but the thin fleece‑like material used for the top quick‑access pocket just stood out by how much I didn't like it

Highlight of the bag for me: One of the things I really miss in my CPL24 is the ability to slip it off one of my shoulders and under my arm to access stuff in the front pocket - when fully loaded out, it's almost impossible given the size and weight of the bag. Sideways quick access is where the Citta really shines. Those two pockets on the right side of the bag are a dream for stashing and grabbing things like commuter cards, work ID/access cards, and a wallet or phone when on the go.

I really wanted to love this bag and was hoping for something to become my smaller, lighter EDC backup, but this is r/manybaggers, and maybe the one for me is still out there.

Trip:

Jul 23–27: Japan (Fujikawaguchiko, Hakone, Nagoya)

Jul 27–Aug 10: Sri Lanka (Cultural Triangle, Trincomalee, Kandy, Colombo)

Planning on doing laundry once per week. This is by no means an ultralight trip and I will also not be flying budget airlines this trip.

Activities:

Landscape and travel photography
Hiking
Temples and cultural sites
Advanced PADI certification, snorkeling
Whale watching
Some remote work

Bags:

Briggs & Riley Baseline International Carry-On Spinner
Aer Travel Pack 4 X-Pac 28L
Aer Day Sling 4 X-Pac 2.5L
Osprey Daylite 13L (daypack - packed flat inside spinner)

Wearing on plane:

Smartwool 150 LS
Lululemon ABC Warpstream joggers
Icebreaker Anatomica undies
Arcteryx Nodin jacket
Nike Pegasus Trail 5
Darn Tough mighdweight socks

Packed:

Bottoms:

Lululemon ABC Warpstream trousers
Lululemon Zeroed In slim-fit pant
Arcteryx Gamma Quick Dry 11" shorts
Arcteryx Konseal 11" shorts
Jed North 4" gym shorts
Quince 5.5" swim trunks

Tops:

2x Arcteryx Cormac Crew tshirt
Lululemon Metal Vent Tech tshirt
Lululemon Metal Vent Tech sleeveless shirt
Icebreaker Marino 120 tshirt
Lululemon Metal Vent Polo
Patagonia Tropic Comfort II LS shirt
Club Monaco 100% linen LS shirt
Arcteryx Kyanite LT hoodie
Outdoor Research helium rain jacket

Socks & undies:

7x Darn Tough marino/synthetic socks
4x Icebreaker Anatomica marino 150 boxers

Footware:

Salomon relax break 5.0 sandals

Accessories:

Sunglasses
Outdoor Research swift cap
Tilley T4MO-1 hiker's hat, vintage
Arcade adventure belt a2
Buff coolnet uv+
Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 goggles

Tech:

Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Logitech G305
Sony WF1000XM5
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple Watch 11
Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charger
Avantree Relay Bluetooth 5.3 Adapter
Nitecore MT1A Pro 800 lumen flashlight
Nitecore HA15 UHE 400 lumen headlamp
Anker Nano 10k with built in USB-C - 30W powerbank
Anker GaNPrime 65W 3 port adaptor
Anker Nano Travel Plug Adapter
Mogics Super Bagel universal travel adaptor
Philips Norelco OneBlade hair trimmer
Anker MicroSD card adaptor
Airtags
Cables

Camera Gear:

Fujifilm X-T5
XF 16 - 50mm lens
XC 50 - 230mm lens
DJI Mini 5 Pro + extra battery
Manfroto pocket MP3-BK tripod
Lens cleaning pen, microfiber cloth, extra battery, rainsleeve, extra SD card

Toiletries:

Medications
PiActive DEET free insect repellent pump spray 40ml
SPF 50 sunscreen 50ml

Miscellaneous:

Zojirushi Stainless Mug 600ml SM-SF60-AD water bottle
Prescription glasses
Tide To Go stain remover
Sea to Summit Clothesline
Sea to Summit View 8L Dry Sack
Peak Design Packable Tote Bag 12L
Sea to Summit Airlite Towel - Small
Katadyn Befree 1L collapsible water bottle with filter
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight .5 first aid kit
Gearaid Heroclip (mini) carabiner
2x Briggs & Riley lightweight TSA locks
2x Nite Ize LSBM-01-2R3 S-Biner Micro Locks
Alaska Bear Sleep Mask for Side Sleepers
Loop Quiet 2 earplugs

My Visvim 20L I bought secondhand back in 2016 is still going strong. Glad I didn’t pay retail, but it’s definitely worth it (back then, not sure about their quality now). It’s also the first time I’ve actually used it in Japan outside of the airport lol.

Holidaying in Japan and I was browsing Montbell when I came across this gem. The pack is designed for cycling and I bike to work. It’s super lightweight and has a metal frame that helps put the weight on the hip belt. Double chest straps and compression straps. I love the mesh ventilation. I’m super sweaty and this lets my back breathe. I was walking around Kyoto this afternoon in 37-38 Celsius.

2 mesh water bottle holders. The backpack strap lets me put a portable fan on one side and a smart water bottle on the other. Front quick pocket. A small mesh pocket inside the main compartment and a reservoir section. Loops to strap your helmet and a loop for your rear light. A pack rain cover is included. The logo is reflective too.

Selling for 15,500 yen which I think is a pretty good deal.

I’m going to confess something-I’m a many bagger, there’s no cure. I have more bags than my wife likes, but I travel a bit for business and like rotating them around.

Col Littleton Saddlebag Briefcase
Col Littleton No 1 Grip
Goruck GR1 21L
Goruck GR2 34L
Redoxx Skytrain
Redoxx Miniboss
Eddie Bauer I think 28L backpack gifted to me
Eddie Bauer Duffel (too large for carry on) also gifted to me
And finally a Tom Bihn Synapse 25L I purchased in late 2017 which I’ll write about today.

I’m planning on writing about all the others over time, but today I was using United Airlines Basic Fare ticket to take a casual business trip running a total of 5 days and wanted to share some photos and thoughts.

Today’s flights were on a United A320 back in steerage and despite being larger than United’s personal size of 17”x10”x7” the 25L Synapse fit just fine.

In the Synapse was packed:

2xRedoxx Kingfisher Packing Cubes one for clean clothes and the other for dirty clothes
4 Polo Shirts
4 Socks
4 Underwear
1 Tumi (Delta Amenity Kit Bag) for razor. Hair Brush, Toothbrush and Nail Clippers
1 Ziplock (large I know, ran out of quart sized) with the usual toiletries
2 Black cases for cables and chargers plus an iPhone/watch/headphones recharging stand
1 set of Wireless Ear Buds (small black case)
1 Round donut phone stand my mom gifted me and has come in handy for Teams/Zoom type meetings
1 Corksicle Water Bottle

Being this trip is one the most casual, I didn’t bring any tech other than an iPhone/watch and didn’t bring my usual analog composition sized notebook.

Traveling this light has turned out to be easier than I expected. I loved just taking my time, getting on the two flights to my destination and putting the bag under the seat in front of me. No scoping out overhead space. Now if I need to bring laptop with me in the future, the game will be different.

I got my hands on one of the new T33 ripstop bags in olive green so wanted to make this quick video showcasing the differences between the original, the X-pac version as well as this new version. There's two new colors (olive and navy) which are both 400D ripstop nylon (improvement over the 70D of the original), plus a new light gray material that I think a LOT of people will prefer over the bright orange. They also have a newly designed Duraflex buckle that is now co-branded that helps eliminate the "buckle rattle" that many complained about (never bothered me, personally).

The 3.5L version of this bag has been one of my most used bags, in between reviewing others for Youtube, I often go back to the T33 because the squared off shape just make it super easy to carry a bunch of different gear. I really like the new colors, particularly the gray interior - as I've grown a little tired of bright orange interiors on bags lately.

If you have any questions about the new one or want me to test anything else that's not in the video, please let me know!

I am coming around to wanting an every day bag to hold my phone, AirPods, kindle, wallet, meds, etc.

Don’t know if I love or fit the sling up-on-the-chest look as someone born in the 1900s (though willing to be convinced) and my wife hates totes, the obvious alternative. I think a cross body that wears on the hip / back makes the most sense.

Would love to get suggestions!

I lean towards form vs purely function.

Some styles I think look interesting:
- Porter Yoshida shoulder bags (https://shop-us.doverstreetmarket.com/products/porter-yoshida-co-tanker-sling-bag-w-zip-l-navy-622-08633-ss25 ) Though reminds me a tiny bit of a lunch bag. And would rather not spend that much.
- This NN07 bag looks interesting to me too: https://www.nn07.com/en/us/shoulder-bag-9019-desert-khaki
- This leather COS bag: https://www.cos.com/en-us/men/accessories/bagswallets/bags/product/swing-crossbody-bag-textured-leather-dark-brown-1353828001

Bags I don’t like:
- Slings worn up on the chest
- Helmet bags
- Techy looking bags. Ex Arcteryx mantis.
- Aether aesthetic / most urban looking cross bodies

What up guys? I just got in the new WPT (Weather Proof Travel) bags. The shoulder tote is 20L and the duffle is 35L.

Right now, I am using the shoulder tote for all of my camera and video equipment. It fits pretty damn good and it’s actually more comfortable than using a larger backpack.

The duffle will of course be used for travel, but my son recently started catching in baseball so I put all the catching gear in there last night and it fits with plenty of room to spare.

What I really love about Black Ember is the Embertex material. If you ready or watch any of my stuff, you know I love this stuff. I posted a quick video and I will be reviewing both of these guys after I get a chance to use the sh!t out of them. Let me know your thoughts on Black Ember as a brand and products you like or dislike. Thanks for reading as always. Carry on!

https://youtu.be/FUQu8s5s7Io?is=kJiBIDfU_6Hdbu2h

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This bag is based on a rough sketch from a sub member who only wanted a 1L Sling capacity while being fully able to use the 18L backpack.

I could have reduced the size of the 4L Sling to 1L but I personally didn’t like that direction, hence I made this version which is even better owing to how flexible and practical it’s become.

Instead of 3 modes, you get a combined 5 modes.
1- 1L Sling
2- 4L Sling
3- 18L Backpack
4- 5L Sling (1L + 4L attached together)
5- 19L Backpack (1L + 18L attached together)

There are some minor cosmetic adjustments, I’ll be making in the next pc as per the sub member’s instructions.
As for now I just wanted to show this build here.

I’m looking for a beach bag that likely doesn’t exist, but maybe putting my desires into the ether may inspire someone to come up with something. The use case is a packable beach bag that is useful for trips where you’re going to be at a pool or beach for multiple days. Carry wise, I am thinking tote, but wouldn’t be opposed if someone has a two strap backpack rec. The most important feature though is a dedicated section that is waterproof from the rest of the bag with a waterproof zip, large enough to house an iPad, kindle, or book. That’s the feature that would really sell me on this bag, is being able to bring your reading material to a beach or pool and safely store it in a pocket you are confident won’t allow it to be damaged.

For reference, my current beach bag is a Peak Design shoe pouch with the Field Pouch extra long lash strap to function as a cross body. Super easy to wash out at the end of the beach day.

What I’m looking for is a beach bag that has the following qualities:

-Packable: not looking for crazy Matador level packable, but something that compresses flat and could take up no space in a checked bag.

-Internal/External Organization: one to two pockets, one as an admin (not the most important), and the waterproof section mentioned above. Not too much organization, to keep sand from getting stuck in nooks and crannies.

-Material: something sleek and easy to clean. I’d want this bag to be easily washed out in a shower at the end of the trip to get any of the sand out. Thus the lack of extra pockets.

-Budget: no budget. Just curious if this is out there in the world. Prefer something on quality par with Matador, Evergoods, or Peak Design.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a small EDC that I can use on days out. I have multiple slings for lightweight carry, but found that bringing a water bottle makes things painful and uncomfortable rather quickly.

I have a 30L Bellroy transit workpack but feel it is too large and bulky, especially when summer rolls around here in Australia.

What I’m looking for in a bag is:
- Comfort: padded straps and good ventilation. I want to strike a balance between being lightweight and having enough structure for a full day out.

- Aesthetic: i want it to look good, yet, not stick out like a camera bag. black is the colour i want.

- Capacity: I don’t need a large bag, however, would like it to accommodate up to a mirrorless camera with 3 lenses (via camera insert), a jacket, a water bottle, tripod, 14’ macbook pro, keys, wallet, sunscreen

Any recommendations are really appreciated.

My budget is ideally under $200 AUD (approx $140), however, I will gladly listen to more expensive options if they will solve my problem.

I’ve considered things like the Bellroy lite ready pack(18L), Bellroy cinch backpack (20L), Alpaka Aero pack (16L), Aero metro backpack (12L) and North face borealis convertible pack (17L).

Hi everyone, to keep this short, I’ll be traveling to Korea in October and I don’t really plan on packing too much, since my wife and I have agreed to each buy a bag there for anything we buy (we have included checked bags so this isn’t an issue).

I wanted to see if there are any relatively well known local bag shops where I should be looking for some new stuff like a large sling bag/backpack for EDC, and a carryon luggage.

Would like to support the local small businesses in Korea, so just wanted to see where I should start. I’ll be there for around 3 weeks, going around everywhere, so doesn’t have to be restricted to Seoul or anything.

Appreciate the help!

I am looking for the perfect shoulder bag to use every day. It must have a capacity of between 3l and 4l. I would like it to have cool colors with a zippered opening above and pockets in front or behind. This shouldn't be a sling because I don't like it. Finally, the ideal would be that I could put it in a 16l bag not too full (just a PC) when I go to work

Thank you for your ideas

Hey everyone,

I’ve done a my research to find my ideal EDC/travel crossover bag and managed to narrow it down to two final contenders:

* Evergoods CTB26

* Able Carry Max EDC

The Dilemma

I honestly love the aesthetics and sleek look of the Able Carry Max EDC more than the CTB26. However, the CTB26 seems like it handles a dual-laptop carry much better out of the box.

I carry a 16" MacBook Pro and a 14" Lenovo. I do have a dedicated protective sleeve/case for the 14" Lenovo, so I could potentially make the Max EDC work by slipping the Lenovo into the main compartment inside its sleeve.

My Setup & Needs

* Budget: Up to $400 USD

* Primary Use: Daily work commute (mix of cycling and driving) + carry-on for occasional 1–2 night trips.

Daily Loadout:

* 16" MacBook Pro

* 14" Lenovo laptop

* Logitech MX Master 3S mouse

* Chargers & tech cables

* Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones (in full case)

* Sunglasses

* House & car keys

* Change of gym clothes

* Lunch box (standard IKEA container)

What I’m Looking For:

* Dual Laptop Handling: Comfortable carrying both laptops simultaneously without crushing them.

* Versatility: Transition easily from daily office commute to 1–2 night trip carry-on (ideally under-seat friendly when needed).

* Key Features: Luggage pass-through, water-resistant material/zips, decent security/hidden pockets. (An expandable layout is a bonus; external water bottle pocket is optional).

For those who have used either (or both!) of these bags—how annoying is it to pack a sleeved second laptop into the main compartment of the Able Carry Max EDC daily? Does the CTB26's depth feel too boxy for a bike commute?

Would love to hear your thoughts or see if there's anything crucial I'm overlooking! Thanks!

I usually take carry-on (TP3 or the Away Carry On roller) but picked up an Away Medium for longer trips (10+ days).

I figured that it's a good time to replace my mediocre Amazon packing cubes.

The compression (non-zip) side of the Away bag is about 23"x17"x5.5"h

So, I'm thinking of the best configuration to use there. I don't need to fill that whole side with cubes - but probably would use a couple there.

The popular choice is Peak Design, of course. I'm wondering whether 2 of the SMedium might be a good choice - side by side vertically they could probably squeeze (17.8"w x 11.8" tall). Or just a large, which is basically the same size as 2 SMedium. And could add a Small on top of either of those setups.

Or, are there better options to align to the Away Medium configuration? Any benefits to using one Large vs two SMedium?

for context - clothing-wise, it's generally more casual - think Western Rise pants, polos or t-shirts, socks and underwear. If I add a dress shirt or two, I'd likely pack those separately in an Eagle Creek folder or similar. So, everything else can basically be rolled up inside the cubes.

I just got an Able Carry Max - this is a heavy duty bag! Loving all the pockets and you can tell it's a solid build. I know there is a foam pad in the back that can be removed. Does anyone do this? Is it difficult to reinsert it? I rarely would use this bag with a laptop so I'm not too concerned about the extra protection.

Hi guys!! I’m hoping someone can connect me to the best commute bag you’ve ever had or seen.

I’m wiling to make a large investment since this is something I’d use everyday

I have two jobs in the same building that require a clothes change (and shoes) so needs to be fairly roomy

I live in Chicago, so looking for something that’s easy to carry and easy to clean (probably the most important part)

And I’d love for it to be cute… I’m a girly girl and I’d like even my work bag to show that lol

Thank you for any recs. Happy Wednesday 🩷✨✨

Looking to get a new backpack (thinking of a Jansport right now as my previous one lasted for 15 years before the zipper broke) and I'd like to be able to customise/accessorise it with pins, patches, badges and the like.

My previous jansport was primarily a heavy plasticky material that didn't lend itself to any of those things.

Anyone able to recommend a good backpack to buy? I'm in Ireland so US-based vendors are not an option sadly.

Hey all, I’ve got my mind set on purchasing the able carry daily plus to use as my new EDC, but I’m stuck on whether I should order it in cordura or x-pac.

I much prefer the look and thickness of cordura, and I’m not a huge fan of how thin and unpadded x-pac seems to be, however I live in Boston, so it does rain fairly frequently and snow moderately in the winter months. Although I usually carry an umbrella, x-pac does seem like a better choice for the water resistance and to have the peace of mind of not getting my stuff wet. Also, does anyone have any photos or videos of the x-42 x-pac compared to the x-21?

I purchased this bag second hand in the uk around 2013 for £30, i’ve used it most days since then for work and travel and it’s been great. I can’t find any info about it online and was advised to check here to see if anyone could help.

I'm about to pull the trigger on this, but before I do, do any of you have pics with an 11-inch iPad in it? I think there might be a difference between the leather and canvas since the canvas comes with the iPad divider.