I have the Alpaka Flight Satchel 11L and have been really happy with it.

I just saw the new Flow Satchel 10L and can’t figure out whether it would actually be an upgrade for me or more of a side-grade (or even a downgrade). On paper they seem to overlap quite a bit, but the Flow’s curved design and different organization have me wondering how it compares in real-world use. (ALPAKA)

Does anyone here own both?

I’d love to hear how they compare in terms of:
- Comfort when fully loaded
- Usable capacity (does the 10L feel smaller?)
Organization
- Laptop carry
- Overall preference, and why

If you’ve switched from the Flight Satchel to the Flow Satchel (or decided not to), I’d really appreciate your thoughts.

I've been carrying the Ciao Totes 33L Drop Bag folded inside my sling as a backup shopping bag for the last couple of months, and it's become one of my favorite pieces of packable gear.

The current 33L is completely sold out, so I emailed them asking about a restock. One of the co-founders (Étienne) replied with what sounds like a preview of their upcoming lineup.

Website: https://ciaototes.com

Product pages: https://ciaototes.com/en/collections/drop-bag

>"The Drop Bag 33L is currently out of stock, but it will be back. We are actually in the middle of redesigning the entire lineup to offer three formats: Small, Medium, and Large.
>
>The current 33L model will become our Medium format, the 61L will be our Large, and we are adding a brand new Small format for those looking for an even more compact carry."

I originally assumed the 33L was their largest option, so I thought this was an interesting direction.

For anyone who hasn't come across them before, the Drop Bag sits somewhere between the usual packable tote options. Most seem to fall into one of two camps:

• Smaller, feature-rich bags like the Peak Design Packable Tote.
• Simple open-top totes like Baggu that pack down tiny but don't offer much organization.

The current Drop Bag combines a few features I haven't found together very often:

• 33L (future Medium): Packs into its own integrated zip pocket, which becomes an internal hanging zip pocket when deployed. It also has front and rear exterior pockets for keys, phone, wallet, etc. I carry mine folded inside my sling as a "just in case" shopping bag.
• 61L (future Large): Already available in a few colours. Looks ideal for bulky gear like ski boots, wetsuits, winter jackets, camping gear, or anything else you'd normally throw in the trunk. Ordered 2 and waiting for delivery.
• Upcoming Small: This is the one I'm most interested in. If they keep the same pocket layout and integrated stash pocket in roughly the 15–20L range, I think it could be a really compelling everyday packable tote.

A couple of caveats

• Open top only. Great for groceries, gym gear, beach days, and quick gear dumps, but I wouldn't choose it for airports or crowded transit where a zipper is nice to have.
• No padded straps. The flat webbing straps are perfectly fine for everyday use, but you'll definitely notice them if you load the bag heavily.

I'm not affiliated with Ciao Totes in any way, just a customer who enjoys finding smaller Canadian gear brands that fly under the radar.

I did a pass through brand sites and retailer promo pages and tried to keep this to actual July 4 / Independence Day promos, not generic clearance or unverified coupon chatter. Mostly US-focused, so check shipping/duties if you’re outside the US.

Verified July 4 / Independence Day Promos

Other Valid Bag Promos Today, Not July 4 Specific

If I missed something, share it here to benefit the community.

GORUCK has a 30% promo on most items right now

Curious what treasures you all picked up

Looking for ideas 💡

I do not see this discussed as much, so I wanted to share a bigger guy perspective.

I am a taller, bigger-built guy, and one reason I keep coming back to GORUCK is that the bags simply fit my frame better than many other brands I have tried (AER, Tom Bihn, RedOxx, Alpha One Miner, Able Carry, Bellroy, Matador, etc). I have spent thousands over the last 24 months and have tested over 20 different bags.

A lot of backpacks are excellent on paper. Great materials, smart organization, good reviews, nice design. But once they are actually loaded and on a larger frame, the carry does not always work. The straps can feel too close together, the bag can pull away from the back, the sternum strap can land awkwardly, or the whole thing can feel like it was designed around a narrower or shorter person.

That is where GORUCK has consistently worked well for me. Across the GR line (I own Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 in different sizes and materials), the bags tend to sit flat, close, and stable. They feel like they were designed to carry weight, not just organize gear. The design is simple, but the carry works.

For bigger guys, that matters.

Then there is SCARS.

GORUCK bags are expensive. No way around that. But when you are paying this much, the warranty becomes part of the value proposition. SCARS makes the purchase feel less like buying another premium backpack and more like buying something for the long term.

I know no warranty is magic. There are always details, exclusions, shipping considerations, and edge cases. But the fact that GORUCK has a real repair path matters. If the bag wears out through real use, there is a process. If it cannot be repaired, they can replace it at their discretion. That changes how I think about the price.

To be fair, GORUCK is not the only company with a serious warranty. Red Oxx also deserves respect here. Their lifetime warranty is strong, and their gear is clearly built for hard use. But for me personally, many Red Oxx designs just are not as comfortable to carry. I respect the durability, but the ergonomics do not work as well for how I use bags.

So for me, GORUCK keeps winning because of the combination: fit, carry comfort, durability, and the confidence that the company stands behind the product.

At this price point, that combination matters.

If you are heavier, more muscular, or just built with a wider chest and shoulders, you may find the same thing: GORUCK bags can feel like a stronger, more comfortable fit than many other packs. Not because they are fancy, but because the harness and bag geometry seem to work better on a larger frame.

If anthropic doesn’t want problems with its future models, it should stop giving it scary names and it should start giving it cute and cuddly names

Hey everyone,

With the pre-order window officially closing this Friday (your last chance to grab the discounted launch pricing before GORUCK takes down the page), I wanted to consolidate the complete design evolution of the M26.

Jason (u/JavaForever) really used this sub as a live R&D feedback loop, moving from raw AI concepts to physical prototypes (which is pretty amazing). For anyone finalizing their order or trying to remember what actually made it into the final spec sheet, here is the complete breakdown of every locked-in feature and direct response to our community feedback:

1. The Core Baseline & M23 Fixes

• Reworked Laptop Compartment: On the old M23, diagonal webbing awkwardly truncated the laptop sleeve into a trapezoid. Jason completely reworked the back panel to maximize space. Note on sizing: While the sleeve is substantially larger, Jason specified in the video walkthrough that if you use a 16” MacBook Pro, you should opt for the 26L version.
• Top Handle Relocation: The grab handle has been anchored directly to the main body of the ruck instead of the lid. This prevents heavy loads from sagging the top and stretching out the top pocket fabric.
• Size Options: Confirmed in both 21L and 26L volumes.

2. Fabric, Colorway, & Pocket Upgrades

• Cordura & Heritage Waxed Canvas Options: Originally planned as a Heritage-only release, community feedback successfully pushed them to offer standard 500D Cordura options as well.
• The "Side Cavern" Organization Stays: When early prototype mockups lacked clarity, the sub stressed how vital the internal pockets were. Jason explicitly confirmed that the internal stretch-mesh organizer pockets from the left side of the M23 are carrying over directly into the M26 side pocket.
• True Fabric Rain Flaps: GORUCK completely ditched AquaGuard zippers in favor of true fabric rain flaps over the two front zippers, maximizing weather resistance and preserving the classic, clean GORUCK aesthetic.
• Black Shroud for Black Cordura: On the black Cordura version especially, the expandable collar shroud will be matching black rather than Coyote, ensuring a completely blacked-out exterior profile even when fully extended. Reddit
• Pre-order Perk: All pre-orders come (maybe if they get around to it) with a surprise, one-of-a-kind commemorative patch as a thank you to the community for guiding the R&D.

3. Final "Bronze Sample" Adjustments (Post-Field Test)

Jason spent a weekend living out of the physical prototype and locked in these three final adjustments based on real-world use and user suggestions:

• Bigger QAP (+1"): The Quick Access Pocket handled EDC items well but bulged too aggressively when packed tight. GORUCK is adding an extra 1" of length to the pocket footprint so it zips cleanly when holding a phone, wallet, and keys simultaneously.
• Gravity-Proof Inner Lid Zipper: Based on a brilliant piece of user feedback, the zipper on the mesh pocket on the underside of the top flap is being moved closer to the base of the ruck. Now, when you flip the lid wide open, gravity keeps your gear and snacks safely tucked inside the pocket instead of dumping them down the zipper track.
• Sewn-Down Fidlock Cinch Straps: Jason admitted he was initially skeptical but was fully converted during testing. The bottom half of the front cinch straps are officially being box-stitched up high. This stops the heavy Fidlock buckles from ever dragging on the ground when unbuckled, while still leaving plenty of slack to comfortably wedge a jacket or shell underneath the main lid.

Jason noted that they aren’t planning to overbuy or stock an excessive amount of extra inventory for this specific drop. If you want to jump on the M26 at the discounted pre-order price (~25% off MSRP), make sure your order is in before Friday!

I don't think I missed anything but if I did, add it below to help the other community members.

Hi gents

Saw this on eBay and wanted your input

https://ebay.io/m/is6km6

The seller has good feedback but feels like there should be a catch. What do you think? The seller claims it’s a one time insider deal. Sounds “weird”.

Anyone else seeing this?

The new Twelve South Micro Tote page advertises a PowerClip battery (and a purpose built Alpaka mini case), but the product link goes to a 404 page.

Search snippets and media coverage make it look like the product exists, so I’m wondering if they unpublished it or launched the page too early.

Did anyone manage to access or order it?

https://www.twelvesouth.com/products/micro-tote