r/ManyBaggers

I've been using my Max EDC every day for over 3 months now and wanted to share how it looked after walking 20 blocks in hard pouring rain. Obviously this bag does NOT have PU coated zippers - a main factor for why I originally chose this bag, along with X-PAC material.

While you can see how much water seeped into the internal lining in the images (darker tan compared to the lighter-colored, dry tan), my items getting wet in the rain really was not a concern with this bag. I even had my 13" MacBook Air in the laptop compartment and my laptop was completely DRY!

10/10 would walk in the rain again, no concerns.

Hi all. I’ve been really wanting a new CT21 as a travel bag but I couldn’t decide between the Lite and the Plus. Ended up getting both and thought some others may enjoy the direct comparison in a few pics. I also haven’t really seen much of the orange 1000D Cordura online in irl pics, so I thought maybe others would like to see that as well.

I’ve decided to keep the CT21 Plus, the extra compartment makes sense for how much I travel, but overall I’m so impressed with this brand and both of these products.

Will be selling the Lite (CT21L-1000D-OR) on Marketplace rather than shipping back to Vietnam from the US, so if anyone’s interested feel free to DM me, I have several vetted sales of watches on here too and I am real lol. $120 including shipping to you in US, the bag has legit never left my place. [SOLD]

In any case, primarily posting for people to see the size comparison and the orange. Have a good day

Hello there! This is Alfred from Nomads Nation bringing you a review of the Elecom MNL City Pack 21L (X-PAC) after testing it for two weeks. I will get straight to the point, this is probably one of the best surprises I’ve had recently and I think this is an excellent urban EDC backpack. 

Some background
I knew about this bag more than a year ago, as I regularly watch many different bag reviewers, one of them being Ryuku, a really cool Japanese reviewer. Separately, as a gadget nerd, I was also quite aware of Elecom's presence as a brand, as I use a few of their trackballs. When I noticed that these two things were crossing paths back then resulted in a backpack, I was super intrigued. I still remember there were videos explaining the different design thinking and decisions that went into the bag’s making, which was super satisfying to watch as a bag nerd.

(I did later also see on Ryuku’s videos that he said he and Elecom are no longer working together so I thought to make that clear.)

I didn’t know why there was not much coverage on other western channels, so shortly after it fell off my radar. So imagine my surprise when Aaron mentioned he got it in the office, I had to get it to test right away. 

External features
Externally, this bag uses XPAC for most of the panels. It’s not my favorite but it does give the pack a sleek look and great water resistance. The bottom panel of the bag is ballistic nylon, and is so thick that I feel it’s borderline overkill. I do get the reassurance that its contents are well protected even when dropping the bag on the floor. That bottom panel is quite large and flat, which enables the bag to self stand easily in my testing. 

However, given the quality found on the rest of the bag, I have to dock some points on the zipper pullers. It is the “just some ropes tied together” type which feels a little cheap to me, but they are indeed very easy to grab when operating the bag. 

Looking from the front, the front XPAC panel dominates visually. Together with some kind of rigid material underneath it, I think it may come off as a little “turtle shell-y” to some people. But for me it’s only the middle part of the front so I find it acceptable, and more as a part of the bag’s visual identity. 

Front panel
The front panel uses a fairly uncommon two sided vertical zip design, which immediately reminds me of the Rework Toshi pack. Unlike the Rework, the two sides on the MNL Citypack are separate compartments overlaid on top of each other. The direct consequence is that their capacities eat into one another, and are both better used for flatter items. Had this been a shared space like on the Rework, I think it can probably fit a thin jacket. However I don't think it's a clear cut better or worse choice, personally I have a good amount of flat and small things, so I find it convenient to have extra separation between them as this bag doesn’t have a traditional admin compartment. That said, this layout does require a bit more mental power to use as you need to remember what you put on which side. During my use, sometimes I did swing the back around to open a front zip, only to realize the item I wanted is on the opposite side. 

Laptop compartment 
As for the laptop compartment, it is super well padded, with microfiber material all around. There is an extra space at the top (like the Able Carry Max EDC) to hold extra tech items like chargers, this could work as a makeshift tech pouch for some people who have just a few gadgets to carry. 

It’s worth noting that when opening the laptop compartment only at the top, the laptop pocket feels very snug and protective. But the zippers of this section actually open up to reveal a three quarters opening, the zipper track goes all the way to the bottom on one side. When fully open, the laptop is then less snugly held because the panel hugging the laptop actually isn’t secured on the side where the zippers open (see my picture).

Back panel
The back panel uses a relatively less squishy type of foam that reduces sweat build-up on hotter days, which is my preferred type of structure. 
This may be a hot take, but I actually think a luggage passthrough that places the bag horizontally is a better choice than the one implemented (the current passthrough places the bag vertically) - hear me out. The MNL City Pack is a relatively tall backpack, and one issue depending on suitcase size is that sometimes placing a backpack vertically on the handles leaves the top of the bag actually higher than where the suitcase handle is. Another reason is that this bag has a one-side flat design with the side quick access pocket, which makes it more suitable for horizontal placement than bags with two water bottle pockets on the side. 

Harness system
The shoulder straps on this bag are not that thick, but they use a nice squishy type of foam that makes carrying it very comfortable. What stands out in particular though, is the sternum strap. The strap itself is quite standard, but the position adjustment hardware? Wow. I have not seen this Woojin hardware used on other bags’ sternum straps before - it combines the benefits of the sliding rail design and the fixed point design without compromising usability. I would say this is for sure the best implementation so far and I look forward to more future backpacks adopting it!
Check out my attached photo for that. 

The next unique point is regarding the strap management system on this backpack. This is what I would call the far opposite extreme on the spectrum of “too much dangle, no strap keepers”. This bag’s shoulder straps, each has a two-buckle design that makes it physically impossible to have any dangle, yet they STILL include an elastic strap keeper per side. I know. Crazy dedication to our eternal fight against dangling straps. For once, I would say this might be too much dangle management. Due to the tight two strap design, I found it very difficult to do any adjustment on the fly when wearing the bag out and about. If you are a “set the straps length once and never touch it again” type of user, this is PERFECT. You set it once, you never ever have any dangle. But if you like to fidget and adjust the length from time to time, this design would surely introduce too much friction for you. 

Sides
The MNL City Pack only has a water bottle pocket on one side, which may not be enough for everyone; but the good news is that the other side houses one of my favorite features on EDC backpacks - the small side quick access zipper pocket. Also featured on the Fyro Citta and Aer City Pack Pro 2 20L, this pocket is just extremely convenient in day to day use. I put my wallet and keys in here normally for easy access, and it is plenty big enough for other flat and bigger items like a passport or a large phone. 

The side handles on the back are just the right slack for me, I like it better than the implementation on the Rework Toshi pack. They are great to use when handling the bag. 

Organization
Factoring in the two front panels, makeshift tech pouch in the laptop compartment, side access pocket on one side, this pack already has organization for small items for DAYS. And that’s not even it, the MNL city pack comes with the popular wide-mouthed quick access pocket on the top of the bag, with its internal lined with microfiber material. Perfect for sunglasses or my most common use - temporarily stashing my phone when I placed the bag down the top pocket is the easiest accessed location. 

Final thoughts
I am really glad this fantastic pack finally got released in a larger market and I got a chance to try it. It certainly checks almost all my personal boxes for an excellent EDC pack, and given its lower price point compared to some popular options, I think it is a very strong choice for a versatile all-purpose backpack especially for an urban lifestyle. 

As always, if you have any thoughts or questions, let me know in the comments. I would love to hear your thoughts or experience with this bag. 
For another perspective on this bag, check out Aaron's video review here!

Vintage 21 inch non-expandable leather Briggs & Riley Baseline. She's built like a tank and buttery smooth.

Probably about 25 years old, but she doesn't show her age.

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share this awesome anniversary gift my girlfriend made for me! It is a handcrafted Minecraft raw salmon bag and she spent around 15 hours trying to get it as close to the actual in game model as possible.

She even made it out of heavy duty canvas fabric, the type used for awnings, so it is super durable and holds up well for everyday use.

I was super blown away by how it turned out and thought you guys might appreciate it.

What do you think? Which Minecraft item or fish should she try crafting next?

Long story short: got a satchel 13 last year, loved it, wanted to get the 11 as well (for those days I don’t carry my iPad), but I simply couldn’t justify the costs. I also wasn’t sure if the size difference was significant enough to warrant owning both. As of today I own both and I couldn’t be happier!

Longer story, especially for those in the EU that have been on the fence about this brand: early 2026 buying the 11 and having it shipped to EU cost around 320€. Early August I was checking the website again (looking at the bag online is still free) and by some miracle they managed to slash shipping to EU (Belgium) to just 30€, taxes and import included. Their 10% still worked too, so I ended up paying 214€, all in. If you’ve looking at any their bags but were put off by shipping/taxes… Go have another look.

Had an idea to use some comically large binder clips at the office. How do you store your slings with non removable straps?

Short version: we're a nonprofit (Aruna Project). The bags are sewn in India by women coming out of trafficking situations. Actual employment, career wages, health insurance, retirement. Not a charity workshop thing. The detail that got me when I first started working with them is that every bag design is named after one of the women who sews it. There is a real Geeta.

The bag itself: 13L everyday pack, $139. Water repellent recycled nylon, padded sleeve that fits a 13" laptop, two main compartments, bottle pockets both sides, trolley sleeve, seven colors. Honestly it's a commuter bag. If you're looking for a hip belt and 35L for one bagging, this isn't it.

https://arunaproject.com/collections/backpacks/products/geeta-everyday-backpack

I've been using the Peak Design City Backpack 22L since last Thursday, and it has quickly become my go-to backpack for EDC (and a bit of travel). For context, I'm a tech journalist, so my EDC changes often but includes multiple laptops, phones, a mirrorless camera, accessories, and any other gear I'm testing. Here's everything I fit into the City Backpack 22L, to help you get a feel for how you can use yours.

Main compartment: Way roomier than you'd expect. Not only does everything below fit, it fits with plenty of room to spare. The bag doesn't look or feel overstuffed.

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (in laptop pocket)
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition (in tablet/notebook pocket)
• Motorola Razr Fold
• iPhone Air
• Pen and Notsu notecard holder
• XS Camera Cube and Sony a6400 with 18-135mm lens
• Bose QuietComfort 2 headphones
• Powerbeats Pro 2 (in zippered pocket)

Quick-access top pocket: I thought this pocket, which expands into the main compartment when filled, would be a problem. It might be with larger laptops, but didn't cause any issues with my 14-inch MacBook Pro in the main compartment. It expands a lot to fit what you need.

• Ridge wallet knockoff (sorry Ridge)
• Orbitkey
• Smallrig dual a6400 battery charger
• Chapstick
• Extra gum
• Satechi right-angle USB-C cable
• Peak Design mobile tripod
• Caseology MagSafe wallet

Side water bottle pockets: It's true, these don't really protrude much into the main compartment. There's an elastic band that allows them to stretch outward rather than inward. These pockets are the key to "side access" on the City Backpack 22L, as you can use them for things other than water bottles.

• Oakley sunglasses case (left pocket)
• 16oz plastic water bottle (left pocket)
• Ugreen 25,000mAh power bank (right pocket)
• Anker 65W GaNPrime 733 Power Bank (right pocket)

Front pocket: I originally bought the 22L because I thought I needed this. Turns out, it's not that useful. Placement is really low on the front, so it's not easy to access without taking the bag off. It also seems easy for a pickpocket to grab something out of, so I don't keep valuables there.

• Deodorant
• Cough drops/misc essentials
• iPod Classic
• PGYTECH SD card holder/reader

Straps: Took me a bit to work the Capture Clip onto a strap, but it's on there, and it works great.

• Capture Clip

And there you have it. Surprisingly, there's still a lot of room in the main compartment for anything I might add or pick up along the way. That's exactly what you want from a "city bag." I've used this in NYC and Phoenix, and took it on a cross-country flight already, so I'm happy to answer any specific questions you might have!

So I'm looking to move on from the traditional backpack that I've carried to work over the past decade. I really would like to start carrying a briefcase as I'm trying to 'elevate' my style a bit and I think the idea of carrying a backpack is something I've moved on from for now.

I work in a high-tech office which is very, very casual and bringing in a leather briefcase seems like it would make me really stand out and not for the right reasons.

I've somewhat landed on this concept of canvas or twill or whatever its called (I'm new to this world, sorry if I am not using the right terminology here), and have narrowed my choices down to this Blue de Chauffe Ledger or the Tin Cloth Compact from Filson. I thought about the original briefcase from Filson, but I just don't think I'll use that extra space; I'm really just carrying in my laptop, charger, a notebook and thats about it. At $500, the bigger 256 Filson seems overkill hence landing on this more compact version at $299.

The BdC comes in at around $480 when its all said and done with shipping and customs so I'm not opposed to dropping that much, assuming its worth it. The question is, is this bag worth that much? I haven't seen any real world examples of somebody owning this bag, but I do like the idea that it's handmade by one person in a small factory in the countryside of France.

I also looked at Bradley Mountain (seems too big still), Billy Kirk (too simple for me) and one or two options from Japanese manufacturers. Looked at the Cravar 13 in Waxed Twill Olive, but with the shipping and customs cost it really drives the price of the bag up, and even the owner felt like it didn't justify the cost(>$150 just for shipping before duties!).

Any and all advice / tips / other alternatives would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Brought the CT21+ in grey waxed canvas, came home with a CT10 in white X-Pac with Dyneema lining and a Dragon.

I am an elevator technician and typically travel with an Alpaka Elements Tech Brief Pro, and 15" Milwaukee Tool Tote, but over the last few months I consolidated my paperwork into a single Samsung tablet, and Ive come to realize that 70% of the time when surveying or troubleshooting an elevator the Milwaukee Tool Tote is either overkill for my needs, or isn't enough and I need to go back to my work truck for more gear.

So what I'd like to do is consolidate down to the essentials that can fit into a single bag for the purposes of getting onto the job and diagnosing the problem. I need this bag to be able to hold my thermos, tablet, multimeter bag, a few pliers and wrenches, and headphones.

I looked at the most popular "work" bags (Veto Pro Pac, Klein) but realized they are overbuilt, too heavy, and dont have space for stuff like my headphones, and thermos. So I then purchased the Tom Bihn Medium Cafe Bag, but it isn't large enough to hold my multimeter bag, and isnt stiff enough to hold hand tools or stand itself upright.

Finally I looked at totes, and camera bags and came up with the following list:

thinktank presspass 20 (might not fit tablet)

aer gym tote (not a fan of the stretchy pockets, except for the water bottle pocket)

moment everything travel tote

tom bihn makers bag

adventure tool company medium gear bag (very little info available)

peak design everyday sling 10L

That list might seem funny to you because there are arguably some fashion choices in what is typically marketed as "TOUGH TACTICOOL MODULAR CONCEALED CARRY MANGEAR" but honestly I dont throw my tool bags around, and most travel gear fabric is tough enough; I don't need ballistic nylon.

For reference my multimeter bag which I love is the size of a kids shoe box, so whichever bag I use will need to be wide enough to hold it ~ 9"x5"x4.5". I would prefer a sling, or crossbody with easy access to the compartments. Even better if it's stiff enough to stand up on its own.