Can't stand the branding-for-branding's sake of ostensible "luxury" products (when the gucci bags that they sell *actually* targeted at the wealthy as luxury products have much subtler branding than those priced for a middle-class splurge). Still, it being black metal on black fabric makes this not the most egregious to me? It's not the dealbreaker that it could be. And overall the bag looks like it does a great job of marrying form and function, but the thing that IS a dealbreaker for me is that lack of information on materials. Won't ever drop money on something at a luxury pricepoint if I can't evaluate whether or not it uses luxury materials.
More logos inside the main compartment? Thats a lot of logo, they really thought up all the possible scenarios which to advertise from the bag! self-standing design? Put the logo on the back panel! Main compartment kind of have to be folded out with narrow opening? Put a logo inside too! This bag feels like more fashion statement than functional backpack.... for $245 on their main site, it has too many logos, one contrasting logo on the front how TNF does might have suffice.. or have a lot of symbol logos , not a whole text! The strap backpack pocket poking out seems flimsy for wear and tear for area that sees a lot of rubbing.
As an owner of another similar troubadour bag, I'd say those water bottle holders arent as useful as they seem. Within 2 weeks of owning mine, my larq bottle flew out of the side when putting it on and dinted really bad. This has happened around 5 times in the year I've had it as the elastic on the pocket sucks. The luggage passthrough design they have will really struggle when the bag is fully packed out to the max too. And when you're travelling, that's when it's most likely to be packed to it's limits. I know you called it out but it looks similar to mine and the stretch isnt nearly enough. On the pro side, the material is more waterproof than it seems. Ive been in some real bad downpours whilst wearing it and the contents have never become wet.
Even using the dimensions on their website you only get a cuboid with a volume of 32x48x15 ccm which is 23 liters. And the bag is not cuboidal (brick-shaped), so it’s way off. I don’t think that the bag can expand that much. Based on your review I get the impression that all of their measurements are wrong, that seems a little dishonest on their side.
I like using Hyperlite Mountain Gear Shoulder pocket for my phone. Sure it adds to the dangle, but the pocket is dynema, rad, and fits my phone perfect. The clips make it pretty portable between bags. I'm using it on my Rhake using Arkiv clips and gives me QA to phone and keep it out of my pockets.
looks amazing, I wasn't impressed with the execution of the cell phone pocket, but I do like the idea, maybe we can execute something better (but won't be easy)
we offer a custom water bottle holder that can detach, allowing you to have one water bottle holder, two water bottle holders, or none at all! Best of all worlds :)
The brand pop everywhere on this backpack like they need to cry out loud...even the front compactment need to have two 😂 Also, the back straps... forget this. Next one please..
Heya, looking for some good recommendations here. I use the 511 AMP backpack for loads of things, but it's not best suited for business /work. I prefer bottles carriers/cages to be internal (like the 511 amp) but not many commuting or urban packs do this design. Preferably 20 to 24 litres. I've been looking at the yeti pack, have you done a review on that one yet? Any recommendations for something that matches what I need wouod be great!
Random question/suggestion, would it be possible to add in items to your “EDC” or “Travel” load out. Particularly for travel, I usually throw a Steam Deck (or switch) and an iPad in my bag when traveling due to limitations on what I can do on a work laptop (streaming, gaming). I can’t be the only one who travels with this stuff. I understand there’s a cost associated with buying these items, but would it be possible to have maybe something that mimics the size of these items?
send me your steam deck and I'll include it in every video! no but seriously we are working on getting 3d prints of more laptops/tablets. Can't print a Steamdeck/switch tho so I'll just wait for yours to arrive 😉
the smaller version, the apex compact backpack, looks so enticing but i can’t get over the flimsy shoulder straps and dangling straps. what would you recommend as an alternative for that more compact size that could fit a 15” laptop?
you heard correctly, unfortunately sometimes we shoot reviews months before we publish them, and this was one of those times 😂 I think this was shot in early February
You know what's better useful on a shoulder strap imo instead of a phone pocket?... a key pocket. Just a little pocket, with a clip. When I get home with a loaded bag, I often find I'm swinging the bag round and rooting for my keys. If there was a little key pocket on the left shoulder strap, that would be awesome..
Looks like a business type bag, but not really suited for anything else. Let's see if you can fit a packing cube of clothes for 3-4 days and a toiletry kit on top of your edc to determine if it can be a minimal travel bag, or a larger EDC.
Something is not adding up. Aer lists the dimensions of the 14L City Pack as 12x18x5. Troubadour is claiming to have squeezed an extra 11 liters of capacity in a bag that is the same length and width and 1" less deep? I know it's a highly inaccurate measurement. For example, I can always fit more in an Aer pack of a guven capacity than a Bellroy of the same capacity. But Troubadour seems to be pushing it.
@@Nomads.NationAnd you can always estimate an upper limit based on the dimensions in centimeters. Cubic centimeters are equal to milliliters, see my comment on the dimensions of this bag.
Hello Aaron, I have a couple of questions, in the review by pack hacker they contradicted you about a couple of things: 1- the laptop compartment, you said it fits a 17 inch, they said 15 inch, nothing mentioned in the company's website. 2- more importantly, they said the tech compartment has a good false bottom, you said it doesn't have one. This is a major point of conflict, as it influences my buying decision A LOT Other than that, good review. This bag seems great for my needs, self standing, slim, almost hard shell, all the compartments I need, just need to confirm the false bottom thing to justify the price to myself.
1. I just read that off their website "Separate zipped and padded section for work essentials, including 17-inch laptop" - but I did NOT check myself (working on making 3d prints of popular laptops for future videos) 2. I'm in Vietnam so can't check now, but I'll (fairly confidently) stick to what I said, but I also have higher standards for my laptop protection, so maybe to Pack Hacker it's up to their standards and I'm just being a stickler
@@Nomads.Nation the 3D printed laptop is such a good idea! Can you also in the next video show us where the false bottom ends? Maybe using 2 magnets, one inside the compartment and one outside on the back of the bag, it will allow us to see EXACTLY where it stops
Before it was accepted as a "water bottle holder" was it ever called something else.? Like a "squirrel holder"..! Have ever review a backpack that has a Water Bottle Holder on the lower front side? Cowabunga.!!
Maybe the shoulder straps habe been designed that way because they are meant to be worn on a suit, and having a more rigid/heavy structure may ruin the padding for the suit? (especially if the bag if fully loaded)
I’m looking for a backpack in this size, what would you consider the best commuter backpack bar none that also has comfortable straps for walking around the city streets?
![Peak Design Everyday Backpack Review [For NON photographers]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jYU9Qm_zVOY/mqdefault.jpg)
Do you want to help me build a game-changing backpack 👉 nomadsnation.com/building-a-backpack
Excellent review... reviewing as a true end user. one of the best channels i've visited.
Thanks so much! Shoutout to our amazing team for their hard work
Can't stand the branding-for-branding's sake of ostensible "luxury" products (when the gucci bags that they sell *actually* targeted at the wealthy as luxury products have much subtler branding than those priced for a middle-class splurge). Still, it being black metal on black fabric makes this not the most egregious to me? It's not the dealbreaker that it could be. And overall the bag looks like it does a great job of marrying form and function, but the thing that IS a dealbreaker for me is that lack of information on materials. Won't ever drop money on something at a luxury pricepoint if I can't evaluate whether or not it uses luxury materials.
can't argue with that
Personally, I am a fan of the color on color logo, I like it on the Aer Pro series. However it only needs to be in there once.
More logos inside the main compartment? Thats a lot of logo, they really thought up all the possible scenarios which to advertise from the bag!
self-standing design? Put the logo on the back panel!
Main compartment kind of have to be folded out with narrow opening? Put a logo inside too!
This bag feels like more fashion statement than functional backpack.... for $245 on their main site, it has too many logos, one contrasting logo on the front how TNF does might have suffice.. or have a lot of symbol logos , not a whole text!
The strap backpack pocket poking out seems flimsy for wear and tear for area that sees a lot of rubbing.
yea they didn't hold back on the branding, two inside the main compartment seemed a bit excessive
As an owner of another similar troubadour bag, I'd say those water bottle holders arent as useful as they seem.
Within 2 weeks of owning mine, my larq bottle flew out of the side when putting it on and dinted really bad. This has happened around 5 times in the year I've had it as the elastic on the pocket sucks.
The luggage passthrough design they have will really struggle when the bag is fully packed out to the max too. And when you're travelling, that's when it's most likely to be packed to it's limits. I know you called it out but it looks similar to mine and the stretch isnt nearly enough.
On the pro side, the material is more waterproof than it seems. Ive been in some real bad downpours whilst wearing it and the contents have never become wet.
Hello, Overall do you recommend this bag or there are better alternatives?
thanks for your feedback!!
Nice Video Aaron - nice to see an English Brand on the Channel representing my side of the pond! Love the content as usual.
stoked to get Troubadour on - they are doing cool work!
Even using the dimensions on their website you only get a cuboid with a volume of 32x48x15 ccm which is 23 liters. And the bag is not cuboidal (brick-shaped), so it’s way off. I don’t think that the bag can expand that much. Based on your review I get the impression that all of their measurements are wrong, that seems a little dishonest on their side.
agreed it's a bit fishy
Litres is actually ambiguous for all bags tbh.
the logos are nicely done!
glad you like!
I like using Hyperlite Mountain Gear Shoulder pocket for my phone. Sure it adds to the dangle, but the pocket is dynema, rad, and fits my phone perfect. The clips make it pretty portable between bags. I'm using it on my Rhake using Arkiv clips and gives me QA to phone and keep it out of my pockets.
i'll check it out!
Great run down! Great look bag and I really love that cell phone pocket. Would you consider anything like that for the Fyro?
looks amazing, I wasn't impressed with the execution of the cell phone pocket, but I do like the idea, maybe we can execute something better (but won't be easy)
Could you offer the fyro bag with the water bottle on the right side when you are facing it ?
we offer a custom water bottle holder that can detach, allowing you to have one water bottle holder, two water bottle holders, or none at all! Best of all worlds :)
That word is pronounced TROO-ba-dor. 👍🏻
tomato tomato ;)
Aaron: Branding is a little loud
Me: I don't see anything
lol I meant as a whole, throughout the entire bag there are 3 TROUBADOUR metal plates... kinda screams at me a bit
The brand pop everywhere on this backpack like they need to cry out loud...even the front compactment need to have two 😂 Also, the back straps... forget this. Next one please..
It is a bit aggressive
Heya, looking for some good recommendations here. I use the 511 AMP backpack for loads of things, but it's not best suited for business /work. I prefer bottles carriers/cages to be internal (like the 511 amp) but not many commuting or urban packs do this design. Preferably 20 to 24 litres. I've been looking at the yeti pack, have you done a review on that one yet? Any recommendations for something that matches what I need wouod be great!
Black Ember Citadel R3 and Knack Pack Backpack both have internal water bottle holders me thinks
Damn only £300? what happened to quality products, wish they were a bit expensive.
true dat
Random question/suggestion, would it be possible to add in items to your “EDC” or “Travel” load out. Particularly for travel, I usually throw a Steam Deck (or switch) and an iPad in my bag when traveling due to limitations on what I can do on a work laptop (streaming, gaming). I can’t be the only one who travels with this stuff.
I understand there’s a cost associated with buying these items, but would it be possible to have maybe something that mimics the size of these items?
send me your steam deck and I'll include it in every video!
no but seriously we are working on getting 3d prints of more laptops/tablets. Can't print a Steamdeck/switch tho so I'll just wait for yours to arrive 😉
the smaller version, the apex compact backpack, looks so enticing but i can’t get over the flimsy shoulder straps and dangling straps. what would you recommend as an alternative for that more compact size that could fit a 15” laptop?
I’m not sure about the laptop specifications, but Aer City Pack and Aer Day Pack 2 come to mind
Very business like. I prefer Bellroy for similar vibe, at least the price tag convinces me so. 😆
loll
Thanks for the review! I wish it was a little bigger. I think i would put my airpods in the little strap storage.
Good call, although I’m not sure how comfortable that would feel
re: alternatives - Didn't someone in the last aer v bellroy podcast say that the Bellroy Apex was being discontinued? Or maybe I misheard...
you heard correctly, unfortunately sometimes we shoot reviews months before we publish them, and this was one of those times 😂 I think this was shot in early February
@@Nomads.Nation ah, gotcha!
You know what's better useful on a shoulder strap imo instead of a phone pocket?... a key pocket. Just a little pocket, with a clip.
When I get home with a loaded bag, I often find I'm swinging the bag round and rooting for my keys.
If there was a little key pocket on the left shoulder strap, that would be awesome..
super prescriptive pocket, but a unique idea for sure
@@Nomads.Nation it'd only need like a little pouch and ring on some webbing. Like the front of a Chums wallet.. 👍
Looks like a business type bag, but not really suited for anything else.
Let's see if you can fit a packing cube of clothes for 3-4 days and a toiletry kit on top of your edc to determine if it can be a minimal travel bag, or a larger EDC.
Pack Hacker showed you can fit your EDC and a packing cube to use it as a minimal travel bag.
def a business bag first
Well at least they are the only apex backpack left in the market.
for now 😏
Something is not adding up. Aer lists the dimensions of the 14L City Pack as 12x18x5. Troubadour is claiming to have squeezed an extra 11 liters of capacity in a bag that is the same length and width and 1" less deep?
I know it's a highly inaccurate measurement. For example, I can always fit more in an Aer pack of a guven capacity than a Bellroy of the same capacity. But Troubadour seems to be pushing it.
Litres have known to be pretty arbitrary unfortunately
I need to start measuring the liters, we have the system it's just really hard/annoying to do
@@Nomads.NationAnd you can always estimate an upper limit based on the dimensions in centimeters. Cubic centimeters are equal to milliliters, see my comment on the dimensions of this bag.
Hello Aaron, I have a couple of questions, in the review by pack hacker they contradicted you about a couple of things:
1- the laptop compartment, you said it fits a 17 inch, they said 15 inch, nothing mentioned in the company's website.
2- more importantly, they said the tech compartment has a good false bottom, you said it doesn't have one. This is a major point of conflict, as it influences my buying decision A LOT
Other than that, good review. This bag seems great for my needs, self standing, slim, almost hard shell, all the compartments I need, just need to confirm the false bottom thing to justify the price to myself.
1. I just read that off their website "Separate zipped and padded section for work essentials, including 17-inch laptop" - but I did NOT check myself (working on making 3d prints of popular laptops for future videos)
2. I'm in Vietnam so can't check now, but I'll (fairly confidently) stick to what I said, but I also have higher standards for my laptop protection, so maybe to Pack Hacker it's up to their standards and I'm just being a stickler
@@Nomads.Nation the 3D printed laptop is such a good idea!
Can you also in the next video show us where the false bottom ends? Maybe using 2 magnets, one inside the compartment and one outside on the back of the bag, it will allow us to see EXACTLY where it stops
@@houssamalucad753 that magnet idea is legit awesome, stealing that fo sho
Have you done a review on the Ridge Commuter. Or do you have any plans on doing one.
no and no, but would love to if they send me one!
If only it wouldnt lose its shape so severely when fully packed/when the top pocket and mesh are filled.
Main reason I sold it
maybe they'll do an XPAC version next
@@Nomads.Nation Please, Troubadour, don’t😶
Before it was accepted as a "water bottle holder" was it ever called something else.? Like a "squirrel holder"..! Have ever review a backpack that has a Water Bottle Holder on the lower front side? Cowabunga.!!
🐿️ 🤠
I call them bottle holders. The water is extraneous, what if my bottle is filled with booze?
@@jonuiuc can't argue with that
@@jonuiuc Then it's a Flask Holder..!
Maybe the shoulder straps habe been designed that way because they are meant to be worn on a suit, and having a more rigid/heavy structure may ruin the padding for the suit? (especially if the bag if fully loaded)
solid theory!
@@Nomads.Nation If they are meant to be worn on a suit, I wonder if the metal branding on the spine might cause more damage...
@@lgsoltek it's possible, but I didn't notice a lot of contact with the metal plate and my clothes
Why not AER as one of the recomendation ?
could be another great rec for sure
Trim means the edges are vegan leather
cheers!
I’m looking for a backpack in this size, what would you consider the best commuter backpack bar none that also has comfortable straps for walking around the city streets?
Aer City Pack Pro, Evergoods CPL24, or Fyro T22 (which for full disclosure is my backpack that I made)
@@Nomads.Nation Do you like the nomatic travel backpack?
@@raghuramesh319 solid bag, not my personal favorite, Aer and Evergoods are more comfortable imo
@@Nomads.Nation What about the troubadour apex 3.0?
@@raghuramesh319 it's solid, but not my personal favorite, you can watch this review to get an idea of what I mean