Thule Subterra 34L Review | 1 Bag Travel Backpack (Also Works as a Daypack)
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- Want a travel bag that functions just as well as a daypack? The Thule Subterra 34L may just be the pack you’re looking for. View Our Full Review: packhacker.com/travel-gear/th...
0:00 - Intro
1:01 - Material & Aesthetic
2:11 - External Components
5:21 - Inside the Pack
8:51 - Durability & Testing
9:55 - Pros & Cons
10:23 - The Verdict
Follow along with Rebecca and Nathan on their UA-cam Channel "Always A Friday": / @alwaysafriday
Perhaps better known for their bike and roof racks, Thule has been in the bag market for quite some time now and their range is one of the most expansive we’ve seen. From crossover duffel bags and hydration packs to camera bags and, of course, travel backpacks-Thule has you covered. Or do they? Can a company that started off making roof racks transition to making great travel backpacks? We decided to investigate.
We’ll be testing the Thule Subterra Travel Backpack 34L from their Subterra range-described by Thule as “Stylish, versatile and built to last, the Thule Subterra collection offers luggage, backpacks, laptop bags and sleeves that help you put together a great look for your travels.” The Subterra 34L is a dual purpose pack that can function as a travel bag or everyday backpack. We’re curious to see if they can pull this off.
The Thule Subterra 34L is a great looking pack that works well as a daypack or travel bag. The usual pitfalls of a roll top bag are fixed by the two side access zips and the side pocket expands enough to fit a surprisingly large water bottle-and you can barely tell it’s even there when not in use! This is a pack that’ll have you covered on a weekend city break or meeting up with a business partner at a coffee house, with enough additional features to hold and organize everything you may have with you.
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SHOW NOTES:
In this video, Nathan Coverdale of Pack Hacker reviews the Thule Subterra 34l Travel Backpack-that also functions well as a daypack.
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What's your favorite One Bag Travel / Daypack combo? Do you find that it "works", or is this combo just too large for you?
I really like the Nomatic Travel Pack. But the Thule Subterra definitely looks very promising.
Nice! We've got a review on the NOMATIC in the works Weilah!
mine is Osprey Momentum 30
Thule is one of the most underrated brands. I've been using one of their camera backpacks for the past 3-4 years. Never failed and works great in all conditions.
Good to hear HE96!
wow, so much thought that goes into their bags.. !!! thule seem to be picking up and implementing solutions for all the the little things that tent to bother me on backpacks.. Love it!!
me, filled with joy at the mere sight of Belgian trains at 10:27
Bought this recently and the inner packing cube is one of my favorite features. You could get this with an extra cube but being able to isolate clothing and quickly remove them is awesome. Really like that it has a strap on top as well and it’s higher quality than other cubes on the market imo. Thanks for the review!
That's awesome it worked for you Max! Thanks for watching.
- Nathan
I bought this backpack just after watched this video a week ago. And I'm really happy with it. Thanks!
Hey HyunHo Oh- glad we could help!
Still happy with it?
Yeah, do you still like it?
Thank you for the detailed review! Really appreciate the suggestions you make (such as the zipper one) and the usage timeline which tbh all reviewers should use
Totally Hans Christian Cristobal- happy to help! 👍😄
Just purchased this bag a few weeks ago, based on you’re review. Haven’t had a chance to use it yet, looking forward to using it for an upcoming weekend trip as well as when I travel. To Europe in September. I agree, the cube is a bit too big and is easier for smaller packing cubes. Also it should have came with locks, but with you’re suggestions I can still lock it. Thanks for the helpful review
Thanks for this review and showing Thule. Liked its organization and design!
You bet oOcitizenOo!
I've finally found the perfect pack for me. Thank you, great review.
Fantastic!
-Hannah
Great review and great bag. Subbed!
Awesome Jan - glad you're into it!
This is a very useful review of the bag! I hope you can also review the Thule Paramount 27L daily backpack
Thanks for this, really helped me make a purchase decision!
You got it, Dániel Papp! 👍
- Rebecca
Thanks for the great review guys! Little bit late to the party, but how would you describe the ventilation on the back? I'm planning on using the back for my 20-minute bike ride to work 4-days a week and I don't want to arrive completely sweated. Would you say it is sufficient? Thanks!
Very nice and helpful review. Thank you.
Thanks for watching! 😃
-Eric
I've been using this for a couple years now, love it though I swapped the default cube out for two smaller ones.
That's awesome to hear MinorPlutocrat - glad you've been able to make this pack work well for you. Thanks for sharing! 😊🙌👍
- Rebecca
It looks GREAT
Indeed Rafael!
Thinking of getting this for about a 3 week trip to Europe this summer. I used a farpoint 55 with the detachable day pack five years ago and was pretty meh about it. The daypack just felt cheap and nowadays with it detached i think it'd be like a 50/50 if they stopped from taking it on carry on. My ownly concern is the size, I dont really buy souvenirs and the idea of not having a separate day pack is sweet. Just get to a hostel yank out a couple packing cubes and walk around with this. You think this is doable for 3 weeks?
What a yummy bag. I'm sold!. . 😍
Awesome to hear! 👌
-Hannah
Hey. Just found your channel. Going 2 weeks to Ecuador. Varied temps obviously so maybe more stuff than usual. Without looking at all 1 bag travel reviews do you have a top5? Favorite? I think Tortuga Setout looks like it would fit bill as it is max airplane liter.
Hey Butler - you can see our ratings of the different backpacks on our website: packhacker.com/travel-gear/category/backpacks/ - if you're looking for max carry-on size, we'd recommend taking a look at the GORUCK GR3 and Peak Design Travel Backpack (both come in at 45L like the Tortuga Setout). Let us know what you decide! 👍
GORUCK GR3 - packhacker.com/travel-gear/goruck/gr3/
Peak Design Travel Backpack - packhacker.com/travel-gear/peak-design/travel-backpack/
- Rebecca
Thanks for great Vids -) Would it be possible for you to review the "Eagle Creek Global Companion 40L" and "Thule Subterra Carry-On 40L"? Two different styles of bags that seem to have good features and looks.
Thanks jema gbj! We have a lot of reviews in the works- both of those bags are on our list! Stay tuned 😀
can i use it to go to the gym after work? will it fit shoes inside?
Ive been travelling around the US with this bad and i dont see how you could use it as a travelling bag. I needed a duffell to put my clothes in. Unless you plan to wear one pair of shoes and a couple outfits it might fit, but the front pocket fills fast with all your necessarh hygiene products which makes the "bucket" less useful. It still fits a good amount of stuff but I dont see how you could fit clothes plus necessary items in here. Comfortable pack to carry around though especially with the chest strap.
I like this bag a lot but I don't think it will work for my trip coming up. I have been on the hunt for a bag that will fit in United Airlines personal item bag size restrictions. A lot harder than you think to find a bag that works. Any suggestions?
We feel you Jason - this is a tough one. We haven't done many reviews on smaller packs, but you may be able to squeeze by with the Aer Flight Pack: packhacker.com/travel-gear/aer/flight-pack/ - it is a couple inches over in the width and height though.
Good luck! We may focus on smaller packs that fit this criteria in future reviews.
Try Wandrd Prvke 21L. It has worked for me
I was a bit unclear about the rolltop functionality, it doesn't seem to have a range of expansion/compression like you'd expect from most rolltops?
Hey Anil! It depends on whether you want access to the handle. If you do, you'll only want to roll it down twice, anything else and the handle won't be visible on top of the bag. However, if you're not worried about the handle, it is possible to roll the top down further and compress it more. 😊
- Rebecca
@@PackHacker what a strange design choice.
Thule! 🙌
👍😄
The question is, deos it count as hand bag to go with you inside the airplane?
Ok maybe should have watched whole video before asking, but anyway question still stands since they change size all the time...
Hey AndyPandy33 - great question! 👍 Yes, the Thule Subterra 34L is carry on compliant with most airlines. Check out our written review for more information:
packhacker.com/travel-gear/thule/subterra-34l/
- Rebecca
I think the question is about a personal item?
How water resistant is it? Will it keep your laptop safe if cycling in the rain?
Hey jimcabtv - while this pack will give you some water resistance, if you're cycling in the rain we recommend picking up a rain cover. 😊
- Rebecca
@@PackHacker Thanks alot Rebecca, much appreciated. Do you recommend any one in particular?
Hey jimcabtv - we currently haven't reviewed any rain covers for backpacks yet, but we are testing the Unigear Backpack Rain Cover at the moment packhacker.com/travel-gear/unigear/backpack-rain-cover/ - we'll keep you updated. 👍
- Rebecca
@@PackHacker Wicked thanks alot 🙏
👍👍👍
- Rebecca
More handles means more weight, im always fighting to stay under 15 lbs, I like it.
This looks like a winner. I only with the backpack straps could be stowed, but I guess that’s just nitpicking.
Hey Jon, this is a solid pack, but we get what you're saying, it's important to find a pack that works for you and has all of the features you need to suit your travel style. What's your current go-to pack? We'd love to hear what works for you! 😊
- Rebecca
Pack Hacker Hi, Rebecca. I’m in the market for a one-bag solution for 10 days in Europe this December, so I was very happy to find your great site. I’m really liking this pack, and upon watching the review a second time, it looks like the luggage pass-through might work to “stow” the backpack straps when not in use. This and other reviews have been very helpful as I do my extensive (obsessive?) research. Thank you!
That's awesome to hear Jon, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! Let us know which pack you decide on. 👍🙌
- Rebecca
@@jonmnelson I have this bag and I can confirm your idea. You can't unattach the straps, but it is possible to tuck them under the luggage pass-through.
For my useage, I would say that the included packing cube can hold a week's worth of clothes (without washing them). It doesn't fill out the main compartment of the bag when it is full. It leaves around 5 cm of space on the front and some space on the top (depending on how high you want to extend the rolltop). I think I could stretch it to 10 days by putting the packing cube in a space saver bag, but it would be a tight fit. If you're planning to travel with European budget airlines, you need to take the carry-on luggage requirements into account, which do vary slightly. This bag fits the most common requirements for height and width and weight when it is full, but it is 23 cm thick when it is filled to capacity and that is a few cm over the limit for some airlines. This is usually not a problem when the bag is not totally full, because it is soft and it will slim down to the required size. But for a 10 day trip in the winter, I expect that it would be full. Considering that and your preference for stowable back straps, I think that the Thule Subterra 40 L might be a better choice for you.
Heiko Ebeling Thank you for the great comments and suggestion. Much appreciated.
Was considering a purchase, but not anymore. The rolloff access to the main compartment is a "no no" to me.
please give me link on this lock, thank you
Here ya go! amzn.to/2X1fiau
- Tom
@@PackHacker thank you so much!
+Pack Hacker Is this water or splash resistant?
Hey sanysmail! It's held up in some light rain showers for us-we'd be pretty confident in anything other than a torrential downpour 👍
Good
***
Put packing cubes in the packing cube...
Is that an XPS 15?
It is indeed, good spot.
- Nathan
Pack Hacker I have one too, and as you know they are smaller than a traditional 15 incher. It seemed a little snug when you guys put it in there. Just making sure other people aren't disappointed if their 15 inch laptops hardly fit in there. Thanks for your quick response, this was really helpful. Now, I will need to find where I can find this in Turkey :s
Thanks for the input, and best of luck!
@@PackHacker How wide is the side opening for the laptop? I need to be certain that my 15 inch laptop can fit through the side opening before making a decision. My laptop is 14 inches wide.
Goos BackPack
Boom!
Hahaha I strongly agree that whenever you wear this bag, you won't look like a fleabag. Especially in the airport.
Glad you agree, otto! 👍
What is your height?
Hey Albert - Nathan is 6'4, you can find out more info on heights and torso sizes of the team here packhacker.com/about/team/ 😊👍
- Rebecca
@@PackHacker Thank you for the replied.
You got it, Albert!
- Rebecca
The lock method doesn't sound convincing, if the buckle is detached the zips will be able to unzip.
Hey Nicholas, while this is true, the zips would be stopped from going lower than the side handle because the padlock wouldn't go over it. However, it's still not fool-proof, and is simply a deterrent as opposed to a super secure lockable backpack.
Thanks,
- Nathan
I found a solution for this. I use a lock that is smaller than the one in the video, I think it is a 20 mm lock. I can put it through the eye of the closed clip of the rolltop, which locks the clip. The lock is just big enough that I can also lock in the zippers. When I attach the lock to the backside eye of the clip, I can also hide the lock under the fold of the rolltop.
this is the second time i heard that google joke on this channel
🤭
A thorough and no pissing about review. I just want a decent lap top bag, not watch some idiot telling me whether he likes the colour or it matches his/hers underpants. Thank you.
You got it, stay tuned for more! 👍
- Rebecca
Am I crazy or is that interior yellow not green?
Hmmm, it is a neon green, but could like a yellow in some lighting conditions.
- Nathan
But no hip belt 😢
I this the biggest one of the subterra series???
Thule offers a 40L as well poorpolarbear
No hard shell sunglasses
Hey Aman - if you're looking for sunglasses for travel we're big fans of the ROAV Eyewear Franklin Sunglasses packhacker.com/travel-gear/roav/franklin-sunglasses/ 🙌😊
- Rebecca
@@PackHacker No it's okay. I stick with Maui Jim. They make the best sunglasses on the market, hands down.
I love my hard shell sunglass keeper on my smaller Thule Daypack. But honestly. It's a waste of space. Better to pack them in your own case if you want to save space.
No sunglasses compartment
Good callout katasiapa!
- Tom
TEFL cert on the wall. OK.
Only one side pocket!? Ugh! Why do manufactures make such odd asymmetrical design choices?
🙈
i feel like the laptop zip is gonna be easily accessible from a thief
We felt the same, but it sits so close to your back it's not really a worry. And you can lock the two side access zips together if needs be.
- Nathan
The bag has a design flaw. The designers decided it was a good idea to laser etch the company name into the stress bearing handle of the zipper. It does not take a structural engineer to see the risk in that decision. The manufacturer will not honor the warranty.
Losing $100 on the bag is one thing, but I would never buy a more substantial product from a company who can engineer a zipper. More than that, would you trust your $2,000 carbon fiber bicycle or child in a carrier made by a company who takes design risks?
Buyer beware!