Thanks for the only true in-depth review of this pack on UA-cam. Waiting on my X50 to arrive. I'll be getting those FitLocks for the compressions straps. Great start to your channel!
First off great informative review. Your set looks good & you presentation is excellent. From past experiences with several high quality travel backpacks I’ve found that 35L is perfect for me. Most of the original one bag travel backpacks are more than double the weight. Nonetheless I bought the 30L, no 36L in the line at that time, because it’s one of the lightest travel backpacks available. Unfortunately, the 30L was too small for anything but a weekend trip. My next bag, though a little heavier, was the MEC Outpost 35L. It’s been working great for one week or more travel. There’s not many reviews on it so you might want to give it a try.
@@ricardomontes6309 thanks for checking out my video! I’m improving little by little and hopefully that’s noticeable in my newer videos 🤣. Yeah the 30L can be tough if your load out isn’t super dialed in, even then it’s still tough imo. I haven’t tested outpost 35L, I’ll definitely add it to the list. Appreciate the feedback and kind words for me and the channel. 🙏🏽
@ I tried my best to fit in a 30L. I like to have a additional pair of shoes along with my clothes so a 35L suits me any travel longer than a weekend. Keep up the great reviews.
Great video, really enjoyed your content and your style. I especially like how you packed into the bag rather than pulling items out. Subscribed and looking forward to future content.
I've been looking for more videos on this bag! Thanks for doing this. 🎉 Ironically, I emailed ULA about custom bags today because I want a dragonfly without a laptop compartment but they told me they were on hold and not sure when/if they would ever resume. 😢
Yes! I love the improvements to the new version but don’t know why they won’t offer a version with load lifters. The Atlas (pre cursor to the 36l dragonfly) had them. Maybe in a future update we’ll see it. 🤷🏽♂️
@@yando6089 I bought the strap from ULA, then I ordered the same style Fidlock buckle and attached it to the strap with some nylon and bad sewing 🤣. A Velcro tie probably would’ve been better.
Nice first vid! Set up reminds me of one of those old skateboard company review channels, forgot which one. Already the best review vid on this pack. My favorite bag so far. Really curious/tempted by the 36L version. Bet it could still fit into US budget airline sizers.
Thank you! #8’s do the job just fine and by no means a flaw, I just prefer #10’s when having to go around the “U” opening. It’s a smoother experience. Just a nit pick for sure.
Hi! So the dragonfly replaced my CTB26 as my go to travel bag for two main reason. Weight and being more minimalistic. The weight difference is considerably noticeable, especially on long days when I was wearing the pack like on hikes or long city exploring days. I like my pack to double as a travel bag and a day bag once I get to my destination. I can compress the bag down when not full with the compression straps. Since I like to use my own pouches and bags for organizing my things, I found the all pockets and organization of the CTB26 to go unused on multiple trips. So sacrificing the pockets for weight savings was a non issue for me. My wife still uses the CTB26 for travel, she utilizes all the pockets for her things (instead of using pouches) and packs a sling for her day bag so she doesn’t have to lug around the bag all day. So it really comes down to your personal style of packing and if the visual look of the bag doesn’t bother you. The Dragonfly definitely gives off the outdoor hiking vibe.
@@UnPackDthank you for your thoughts. Are you able to lay flat the Bullet DC 18L inside the CTB26 main compartment? I am getting the Bullet for smaller carry, either as a daypack, personal item with a duffel or on its own
@@KelvinHew7 just checked, the DC18L fits perfectly into the CTB26 but it takes up more room than you think. The padding on the DC18L back panel and straps is pretty thick.
@@UnPackD Speaking of outdoor hiking vibe. Before I went with the CTB26, I was considering the Osprey Farpoint 40. Their harness and straps are second to none imo. On the other hand, their big ass logo and pockets don't really do it for me. I tested out the CTB26 at my local EDC and after watching every video on the CTB26 I can find on UA-cam, this is my travel bag. Someone from my local EDC community is letting go his OD Green CTB26 and he sold it to me for a very good price in a very well used condition. As you probably know, the OD Green capsule was released in October 2023, so your OD Green CAP2 was part of the capsule. I did also tested out the CTB20 as well. It straps better on my back because of its smaller form factor. However, after doing my due digilence on the Goruck Bullet DC 18L, I decided to go with that as I never have a Goruck and it's pretty pricey over here. Thankfully, someone from the community is letting go his for a pretty good price as well. Will be getting that in late October.
@@justinn4787 hey! I crudely made this one by sewing some nylon in a loop around the webbing but I can put you in contact with someone who can make a real clean one, as seen in my GORUCK M23 video. Shoot me a email and I can get you the info. unpackdwithjohn@gmail.com
@@mat8650 compression straps are the same, I changed the buckles to Fidlocks so I could open and close them, easy mod no sewing required. The oem buckles only allow you to adjust the straps tighter or to loosen.
Thanks for the only true in-depth review of this pack on UA-cam. Waiting on my X50 to arrive. I'll be getting those FitLocks for the compressions straps. Great start to your channel!
Thanks for the kind words! The Fidlock definitely make the compression straps very useful.
Impressive first video. I like the mods you did on it. Keep up the good work!
@@obchristo thank you so much!
First off great informative review. Your set looks good & you presentation is excellent. From past experiences with several high quality travel backpacks I’ve found that 35L is perfect for me. Most of the original one bag travel backpacks are more than double the weight. Nonetheless I bought the 30L, no 36L in the line at that time, because it’s one of the lightest travel backpacks available. Unfortunately, the 30L was too small for anything but a weekend trip. My next bag, though a little heavier, was the MEC Outpost 35L. It’s been working great for one week or more travel. There’s not many reviews on it so you might want to give it a try.
@@ricardomontes6309 thanks for checking out my video! I’m improving little by little and hopefully that’s noticeable in my newer videos 🤣.
Yeah the 30L can be tough if your load out isn’t super dialed in, even then it’s still tough imo. I haven’t tested outpost 35L, I’ll definitely add it to the list. Appreciate the feedback and kind words for me and the channel. 🙏🏽
@ I tried my best to fit in a 30L. I like to have a additional pair of shoes along with my clothes so a 35L suits me any travel longer than a weekend. Keep up the great reviews.
Great video, really enjoyed your content and your style. I especially like how you packed into the bag rather than pulling items out. Subscribed and looking forward to future content.
Thank you for the kind words and I appreciate you subscribing!
Great first video! This bag was on my shortlist when I was looking but I could never find a good overview like this.
Thank you! And yes when I was researching this bag it was hard to find a true in depth walk through, also partly why I wanted this as my first video.
I've been looking for more videos on this bag! Thanks for doing this. 🎉
Ironically, I emailed ULA about custom bags today because I want a dragonfly without a laptop compartment but they told me they were on hold and not sure when/if they would ever resume. 😢
It’s a really great bag! If you have any questions about, just let me know. Thanks for watching 🙏🏽
And yeah they stopped doing custom dragonfly a while back. They can barely keep up with demand so I get it but man I would love a custom one.
Thanks for doing this. Great review.
Thank you!
Love this bag, I've got this one but considering getting the new bigger 36L but for it to not have load lifter feels like a big omission 🙁
Yes! I love the improvements to the new version but don’t know why they won’t offer a version with load lifters. The Atlas (pre cursor to the 36l dragonfly) had them. Maybe in a future update we’ll see it. 🤷🏽♂️
Great video. Looking forward to the packing cube video
Thank you! I’m looking forward to getting that packing cube video out too, they’re so good for the price.
Excellent job for your first video!
Thank you! I have the new updated 36L version coming in and I’m hoping to redeem myself with that review 🤣.
Neat solution, having the the fidlock sternum strap stashed when not in use. Did you buy 2x magnetic sternum straps from ULA?
@@yando6089 I bought the strap from ULA, then I ordered the same style Fidlock buckle and attached it to the strap with some nylon and bad sewing 🤣. A Velcro tie probably would’ve been better.
Nice first vid! Set up reminds me of one of those old skateboard company review channels, forgot which one. Already the best review vid on this pack. My favorite bag so far. Really curious/tempted by the 36L version. Bet it could still fit into US budget airline sizers.
@@ZUCChinishrIMP hey! Thanks for the kind words! Soon we’ll find out if the 36L version can fit into a typical sizer box, stay tuned!
Good job on this video! This bag is intentionally designed to be ultralight, which is why the zips are #8 instead of #10. It’s a feature, not a flaw.
Thank you! #8’s do the job just fine and by no means a flaw, I just prefer #10’s when having to go around the “U” opening. It’s a smoother experience. Just a nit pick for sure.
is it still #8 on the 36L? i think that might an issue...
Yes still using #8 zipps on the main opening. It’s works just fine but 10’s so much smother on that long run
Hello my friend if you can only choose either the CTB26 or the Dragonfly 30L, which would it be and why?
Hi! So the dragonfly replaced my CTB26 as my go to travel bag for two main reason. Weight and being more minimalistic. The weight difference is considerably noticeable, especially on long days when I was wearing the pack like on hikes or long city exploring days. I like my pack to double as a travel bag and a day bag once I get to my destination. I can compress the bag down when not full with the compression straps. Since I like to use my own pouches and bags for organizing my things, I found the all pockets and organization of the CTB26 to go unused on multiple trips. So sacrificing the pockets for weight savings was a non issue for me. My wife still uses the CTB26 for travel, she utilizes all the pockets for her things (instead of using pouches) and packs a sling for her day bag so she doesn’t have to lug around the bag all day.
So it really comes down to your personal style of packing and if the visual look of the bag doesn’t bother you. The Dragonfly definitely gives off the outdoor hiking vibe.
@@UnPackDthank you for your thoughts. Are you able to lay flat the Bullet DC 18L inside the CTB26 main compartment? I am getting the Bullet for smaller carry, either as a daypack, personal item with a duffel or on its own
@@KelvinHew7 just checked, the DC18L fits perfectly into the CTB26 but it takes up more room than you think. The padding on the DC18L back panel and straps is pretty thick.
@@UnPackD Speaking of outdoor hiking vibe. Before I went with the CTB26, I was considering the Osprey Farpoint 40. Their harness and straps are second to none imo. On the other hand, their big ass logo and pockets don't really do it for me. I tested out the CTB26 at my local EDC and after watching every video on the CTB26 I can find on UA-cam, this is my travel bag. Someone from my local EDC community is letting go his OD Green CTB26 and he sold it to me for a very good price in a very well used condition. As you probably know, the OD Green capsule was released in October 2023, so your OD Green CAP2 was part of the capsule. I did also tested out the CTB20 as well. It straps better on my back because of its smaller form factor. However, after doing my due digilence on the Goruck Bullet DC 18L, I decided to go with that as I never have a Goruck and it's pretty pricey over here. Thankfully, someone from the community is letting go his for a pretty good price as well. Will be getting that in late October.
Osprey has a really good warranty and customer service too! Too bad about the logo though.
where did you get the sternum strap holder so its not dangling when not in use?? awesome vid btw
@@justinn4787 hey! I crudely made this one by sewing some nylon in a loop around the webbing but I can put you in contact with someone who can make a real clean one, as seen in my GORUCK M23 video. Shoot me a email and I can get you the info. unpackdwithjohn@gmail.com
The compression straps look different?
@@mat8650 compression straps are the same, I changed the buckles to Fidlocks so I could open and close them, easy mod no sewing required. The oem buckles only allow you to adjust the straps tighter or to loosen.
@@UnPackD cool, great idea. Might do this with DF as well)
@@mat8650 highly recommend, if you need any advice or tips on how I did it, feel free to reach out.
@@UnPackD thanks! 🙏🏻
@@UnPackD thanks for the great review. I have this bag and would love to know how you made the compression strap change without sewing.
This is not the place for one who has a dislike of tattos.
@@I82much2day-soudonthave2 understood. If you change your mind, you’re welcome here.
@l82much2day-soudonthave2 Could have just saved this for your inner monologue....
lol get bent.