This is the most honest, accurate and unbiased review of the Errant so far. Read on :) I'm a backer of the Errant and i cancelled my order after all the hooha. But i will leave the, "politics" out of this comment and just want to comment purely on the bag, based on my carrying experience of my friend's Errant for a month. I also love the foreword and i appreciate the "homework" you did for this review :) The bag, was to me, over-engineered. They are putting the engines of a Bugatti, the wings of an F22 fighter jet, the nuclear core of a nuclear submarine all in a scooter's chassis. The individual components (or, individual aspects such as material, build quality, concept etc) are excellent and well thought out. But put all these together and it just, doesnt have the harmony. The hypalon, which takes up the centre portion of the bag, restricts the "expandability" of the bag. What i mean is, with a Triple Aught Design Axiom 18, i can perhaps pack more than it was advertised because the material has some allowance for it to expand slightly to accommodate your load. With the Errant, the hypalon is forcing the bag to remain in shape and thus, reduces the ability to expand. When the top compartment's camera pouch is fitted, it is even harder to open/close the two round clips. @Bo, so now that the Errant is (probably) not your EDC bag, whats your most commonly used EDC bags for now? I'm asking because my daily loadout doesnt differ too much from yours and i'll like to hear what you have on your back most of the time! Cheers Bo, and thanks for this review :)
Very well said and good analysis of the bag in general. I agree to 100% about what you said. And you are right about the hypalon as well. Hypalon is a great, durable and waterproof material, but it's just too "stiff" and doesn't have much give. Which probably leads to the perceived smaller capacity of the bag. And your comparison to the fighter engine in a scooter is awesome 😂 😂 😂 And in regards to your EDC backpack question: I switch bags very often, so I rarely come back to a bag. But within the last six months I often switched back to the atd1. It's dual opening, great build quality and looks are great. Furthermore, the simplicity of the maincompartment really adapted well to all my packing needs instead of the other way around.
Excellent review for once more; big thanks Bo! I love the fact that you test the backpacks (including the Errant) under real life conditions instead of just showing us the pockets and slots of the bags (as many other reviewers do). Packing it with real EDC items and testing it under rain was great! :-)
I would sum this modular bag up as "Jack of all trades...master of none" Its give and take when it comes to the modularity of it. I actually like mine and it's also super comfortable. I've adjusted the things I carry and the port kitt has helped with tech organization to stay easily accessible on the top of the bag.
The gripes you have with the bag are the same for most people with the bag. But we kind of came up with different ways to get around some of them. For example: 1. you can fix the annoyance with the magnet in the laptop compartment if you let the bottom half snap onto the magnet below. 2. you can fix the sternum strap a little more securely if you flip the metal "hooks" over the loops 3. use the compartment on the other side of the zippered hidden compartment to stow away the magnetic "zipper arrestor" 4. don't use the top-loading zipper unless it's raining and just use the fidlocks instead. They open and close more easily. Also there's a cool community of previously frustrated backers that have now started to make use of the fidlocks and other snaps in the bags to make various DIY accessories (because Boundary's own ones tend to be overpriced).
I have the Errant and all your criticisms are very fair! Although I would say it really depends on your uses since my experience has been positive overall. I think this bag is really for minimalist. I'm a law student that has many resources online and a library, so I don't need to carry much in terms of stuff and most of my items are flat and lightweight to begin with: 1. 13 inch laptop, 2. 1 or 2 textbooks, 3. general notebook, 4. document folders, 5. tech pouch with chargers for laptop and phone, 6. power bank, 7. Small tool pouch, 8. small first aid kit, 9. light rain jacket, 10. mini Umbrella, 11. Flat water bottle, 12. keys, 13. glasses, 14. small foldable grocery bag, 15. some art supplies, 16. small wireless sony headphones, 17. portable anker bluetooth speaker. I have the external lash strap for lashing points and have been useful for stuff for quick access stuff or for groceries lashed to the outside. It is very comfortable overall! Things I don't like: It was kinda heavy initially since I moved from ultra light weight bags but I got used to it, The zip closing is horrendous but I don't usually zip the bag up unless it rains so I mainly close just the flap and it automatically closes itself, because it has a trapezium design you don't really get to maximise all litres of space so it does feel kind of small. However if most of what you carry is small and lightweight or minimal, you's get to fit a surprising amount of stuff in there. I really think it's a 20L bag than a 24 L as it feels the 4L of space is just dead space that you can't really use. But It did a great job protecting my minimal gear. So it really depends on uses. Love the videos btw Bo! you got me hooked on backpacks :)
Thanks for sharing your experience. You're correct, maybe I should switch my using habits a bit for this bag. And If you look at this bag by itself, it's great due to the build quality and price. But if you compare its usability with other bags (which is one of the negatives of being a reviewer 😂) it just got in my way unfortunately. But after getting used to it, it probably can be a very good bag for most people. And thanks for watching my videos. I'm glad that you became a bag enthusiast as well 😉✌️
@@Youknowthebo Haha I can imagine being reviewer! It is a lot of fun though! One more criticism to add to the bag is actually the hypalon lash points on the front. It sits a little too close to the flap which makes access to lash straps a little difficult sometimes. If it were situated lower it would be better. Though for anyone reading, I have dislikes and likes of the bag but my personal experience coming from really basic bags is that this errant certainly has provided me a lot more utility. It's not perfect and it's not for everyone but it certainly is not bad depending on how you use it :)
I’m a Kickstarter backer and purchased this specifically for EDC. My typical load out is about 18 liters so this bag actually meets my needs well. I don’t love every design decision, the magnet holding the laptop area is too strong. The clamshell opening is of limited use, except for quick access to laptop, papers and that top pocket. The front flap hook closures are extremely fiddly and require some manipulation to close consistently. But It holds everything I need for a day in the office or coffee shop. The organization keeps everything within easy reach and I really enjoy using it, for every day carry. I took it as my prime carry on for a trip with my kids and there were significant compromises. I’ll use my GoRuck GR1 or Minaal EDC bag for travel in the future. Overall I thought your review was spot on and well thought out for your use cases Bo 👍🏻
Was SO curious about this bag but it always looked like a photographer's bag (which I am not). Now I can happily file this bag under "nope" and move on. Great video. 👍
Hi Bo, thanks for the review. We love your honest and objective opinion - there is no need to feel guilty for not liking a bag. Your feedback is useful for us as a consumers and (if they are smart) for bag makers too. So keep up the good work!
The amount of features packed in this bag gives me anxiety. Great honest review! Was looking at this one but glad there was an unbiased review available. Thanks!
The bottom isolation compartment sounded like a good idea, but in practice, it ends up unnecessarily taking up space inside the bag. If it was an expandable pouch that extends downward, it would have made the bag that much better and make up for the small interior capacity.
Hi Bo - Nice video, as usual. We share very similar sentiments, it's a very deceptive bag. It looks like it can hold much more than it actually does. For me, the pockets didn't make sense, and it was too much work to get into your stuff. That false wall dividing the bag was not a good design choice. Quality materials, and build, but the design really held this bag back. Prima is still their best bag, I think.
Hey mate! Thanks for stopping by. I watched your video after I finished my video. I also watched a couple of Our other bag videos. You do a good job of analyzing bags. Kudos 😉👊
I have watched nearly every video that is out on this backpack. But you sir have outdone them all. The truest review to date. Personally, I like the pack and have come to terms with all the usage flaws the bag entails. Form over function to some extinct I guess.
This bag is still my favorite EDC bag yet. I don't know about any of the "hoopla" or issues with the kickstarter. I purchased mine (black) in first week of 2020 and shipping was quick. I didn't buy into the camera case or other modular aspects, just a keychain to match the fidlock attachment in the "quick access" pocket. My favorite features are the fidlock main panel, quick access pocket, security pocket, and interior mesh pouches. The fidlock main panel works well if you don't close the zipper. The zipper is great for longer journeys, bad weather, or in situations where you risk theft. With the zipper open, the pack has enough structure to remain rigid with just the magnets engaged. The main compartment is as easy to open as you'd expect, just pull down and BOOM. Clipping it can take a few tries, but its still easier than using G-clips or pinch buckles. The quick access pocket is awesome for bike commuting. It has room for your phone, keys (on the magnetic lanyard sold separately), and small items like earbuds and pens. The zipper is long and provides easy access to this surprisingly deep pocket. The security pocket in the back panel is great for travel. Good spot to keep your passport/ID and flat valuables with little risk of them getting pinched. Don't try to fit anything thicker than 1.5-2.0cm as it will bulge in the back panel and make the backpack uncomfortable to wear. Interior mesh pouches are great to keep the interior organized. They stretch to fit clothing, water bottles, computer cords and more. I use them to organize a change of clothes so I'm not digging around looking for my socks. Additionally, the interior mesh zipper pocket at the top is great for all your electronic accessories with easy access from the laptop zipper. Dislikes: size, sternum strap, shoe compartment The bag is smaller than its specs suggest. I have to agree with other reviewers who claim this feels more like a 15L bag. It will hold more, but with the laptop inside I feel like I risk bending or denting the aluminum casing due to pure pressure. I love that the bag has structure and feels solid even when empty, but the tradeoff is that it doesn't have much give when you're stuffing it full. Yes, the bag is small, but for an EDC I found it to be an enjoyable challenge to reduce the bulk of things I bring with me. The sternum strap really needs a redesign. It looks like their new sling bag has a new design that locks the sternum strap into place with a button-snap, but my sternum strap is not secure and has a tendency to fall off for no reason when left unclipped. I removed it for fear of losing it. The shoe compartment isn't really a dislike, I just don't use it. True my size US12 footwear won't fit, but I figured it would be better for gym clothes and wet items anyway. Instead I just throw those things in a nylon sack and toss it in the bag. Much easier than trying to access the bottom of my backpack, and the sack can be thrown in the wash with the gym shorts. Overall great bag. I bought it because I liked the aesthetic and many features, even if I wouldn't need ALL the features. I still keep a larger 30L bag for multi-night trips and am considering purchasing the arclite sling for minimalist days bike commuting. I like that Boundary is Bluesign approved and everything is very well-made. Looking forward to many years of use.
The Errant has been my daily carry for over a month now, and I'm surprised at how well it has worked out. The ultimate deciding point is capacity: it either holds your stuff or it doesn't. I'm enough of a minimalist that it carries everything I need with space left over, including camera gear - that's all I want in a bag, and the sleek looks, comfortable carry and durability don't hurt either. I even like the magnets ;)
Thanks for the feedback, Gary. I'm happy to hear that you enjoy the bag. As I have said in the afterword : maybe if I changed up my packing style and habits, I might have enjoyed the bag more. It's a good quality bag, but it's just not for me unfortunately
Yup, we all have our own unique needs. However, the Boundary bags are primarily designed to be modular by using their customized accessories, which you did not review. Without it's accessories, the Errant is just another bag, and I wouldn't have bothered getting one. Keep up the great work, Bo ;)
Thanks for your review Bo! I’ve had my Errant 4 days now and vigourously inline-skated to work 3 of them for 45min each way with my shoes and work clothes and pack towel ‘inside’ the bag along with my other essentials such as 15”Macbook Pro, 12.9” iPad, Sony WH3000MX over-ear headphones). I’ll admit, this is a TIGHT FIT and I’m awaiting my ext gear sleeve to probably offload some of my clothes to the outside. Ruins the sleek look though to be sure. While I do believe you’ve presented a fairly balanced view of the pros and cons I think it’s important to point out: 1. This is still an ideal bag for many people 2. Yes, you need to adjust some of your habits The bag overall should be a little bigger and live up to it’s promise of 24L (I’d prefer a 30). But not too much bigger! Shoe access especially needs to be a bit wider as I’m only fitting loafers. I would NOT move dual zippers all the way to bottom of one side. Can’t fight design of this bag and to be honest, the clamshell is one of the best features and why I choose the bag. The quick-access to my headphones in the mesh, and iPad/laptop is EXACTLY what I needed. The 2 magnetic clasps are a little overkill, but after a few days I’ve learned to squeeze from the top and bottom to open one handed, it’s definitely a finessed motion. If you treat the Clamshell (tech gear) vs. top-loading (accessory pouch, or for me just lunchbag and clothes), the design makes perfect sense. I only completely open the clamshell to get to rarer use items that might be stashed in the inside mesh pockets or my rain poncho all the way at the bottom. I put my water bottle in the side (without the lash strap), and probably since the bag is fully loaded there has been no slippage - remember this is skating on busy rough city streets at 17kph. I might put together a video of my commute and use IRL for others to see it in action. If they came out with a 30L variation I’d probably jump on it and pass this one down to one of my boys that have less bulky gear needs perhaps.
I couldn’t agree more with your review. I bought it and really wanted to love it. Look is great (in grey blue) but practicality is bad. I’m considering cutting some magnetic straps. I would simply add that price is relatively attractive. Other point, it is indeed rather small but on the other hand does not look bulky on your back.
Great review! The KS campaign was hurt by Boundary initial QC on the fidlocks and straps. The variety of international orders was also too much for their small staff to handle. However KS and FB were plagued by various instigators that continually trolled the comments section despite having bailed on the bag. Many people ordered without any previous KS experience and they didn’t expect the usual (and unusual) delays to fulfillment. Mine arrived with issues but I returned it under warranty 9 months later and the fidlocks are perfectly aligned. Not the intended customer experience but that’s the danger of being a pioneer consumer on KS. Finally keep in mind that this was (and mostly still is) marketed as a $100 bag. Basically a loss leader as the accessories are more profitable. But I find it interesting that when some ditches the Errant, the replacement is often 2-3x higher price. But no one mentions that detail. Again thanks for the thorough overview. It was spot on.
So I was a kickstarter backer for this bag. I also own and used the Prima system before this. Considering the production issues and delays during the Prima campaign I wasn't surprised when the screwed this one up to. I wasn't in a rush to receive it. That aside. I wanted the Errant to slim down from the Prima. The Prima was a little big for EDC and also kind of big for my small (5'4") body. In addition I find the Verge integration to be rather poor. I like the Fieldspace though. I've been trying out the Errant as my EDC bag and so far it's been good to okay. I can carry my work laptop (a surface), an ipad, batteries, chargers, and papers in the laptop compartment. I also throw in my lunch, water bottle, a tech pouch, sweater or extra shirt, a U lock, a pouch for small tools (biking & work), and Port Kitt to attach to the fidlocks to throw other small things into as well as the top mesh pocket. Keys, wallet, tissues, pen/pencil in the side commuter pocket. Sunglasses usually in the front compartment. I don't have camera gear so I don't use it for that. What I like: -Lighter and smaller than the Prima. I better utilize the smaller capacity for EDC -Straps and back are very comfy -Adjustable part of the straps are like a seatbelt and adjust very smoothly -It was relatively cheap as I did not get the X-Pac version -Stands up on its own! (unlike the Prima) which also makes it more comfortable to set on my lap when on the bus/train My gripes: -The secret compartment on the back is very difficult to use with the very small opening. -Quick Access Nywool pocket not as quick as I want while wearing, opening not big enough. (The small quick access zipper on the top of the Prima was something that I could reach while it was on my back to pull out my sunglasses) -Kind of diving into the politics. I expected a Nywool commuter pocket. It's what they advertised during the campaign. Not happy about being lied to. Experiences: -My sternum strap also came off the first few days wearing it but with some adjusting it doesn't anymore -You get used to the top flap fiddliness and it gets less fiddly -Pockets expand inward. If you have a big water bottle on the outside the mesh on the inside will be difficult to use -Be aware the shoe compartment expands inward and takes up the main space of the bag. Likely will not be an issue for me though -Who doesn't like magnets? Magnets are cool but the strength of the magnets are in the wrong places. The outside one preventing the zippers from opening is rather weak. The laptop buckle and tablet magnets are too strong. If the strengths were swapped it would make the bag easier to use. The sternum strap is also kind of difficult to use 1 handed. One of my favorite things about the Prima are the magnetic buckles on the back. They snapped into each other well and the pull tab made it easy to use. If Boundary made a smaller version of that as the sternum strap it would be great for 1 handed use. Would purchase as an accessory. Does the Errant deliver? Mostly. It's not a bad bag but high expectations leave me wanting more. It had potential to be my perfect bag but with some odd design choices make it feel just a little "off" I'm still going to use it as my EDC and use my Prima when traveling to carry more.
I agree with your review Bo. I unfortunately was a KS backer and even if the bag ended up being amazing I would probably never buy from Boundary Supply ever again. Their CS was so woeful and wasn't worth the energy of dealing with all their lies, broken promises and mishandling of their multiple KS campaigns. Once the bag actually arrived I was disappointed with how heavy it was empty, how little it carried (I own an LBT 8005 14L pack and it holds just as much as the Errant and is much lighter), the aux compartment kept falling off when I walked downstairs or ran, and the openings were overly complicated. I sold the bag within a week and feel glad to have rid myself of it.
@@Youknowthebo I cycle through using LBT 8005, a Vertx Gamut (most comfortable pack I've ever carried) and an AER Travel Sling for office carry. I'm seriously considering the Tad Axiom 24 or Evergoods CPL24 though. Have you tired either of those?
I bought the Errant Pack after watching your review. You always talk about the important negatives that others donˋt mention. Everything you brought up is true, the good and the bad. I use the Errant everyday for school and I love it for that. All my books fit in the laptop compartment and my IPad in the tablet pocket. All the other pockets are great for organizing smaller things. I keep my waterbottles mostly in the inside mesh pockets. But the backpack really is smaller than 24L which is for some people to small. And getting to all my things is not as complicated as you described. I just keep some zippers open and blocked some magnets so they don’t close. And yes, the main compartment is sometimes hard to open. Especially when it really empty or really full. The shoe pocket is also to small for my size 10 shoes. So that pocket is very useless for me at least. But I have used the shoe pocket for other clothes. Overall, I really like the Errant Pack. My pouches fit very well. And the build quality and comfort are great. I also heard about their Kickstarter and shipping problems. I didn‘t support their kickstarter. But my Errant Pack shipped within a week. I was also in contact with them via Instagram which was one of the reasons why mine probably shipped faster than others. Just a guess. But as always great and very honest review. Your videos really help on deciding which backpacks to buy. Would also love a fan meeting in Hamburg :D
Hey Aaron! THanks for sharing your experiences. I'm very happy to hear that you like the Errant. And thanks for watching my videos and your very kind words! If you are in Germany, then you should definitely come to a meetup. I think I will do one in the summer ;-)
I backed the prima by boundary and was totally disappointed. I'm glad I didn't fall for this one too because it seems like there were a lot of the same things I wouldn't like about the errant! The prima is such a huge heavy bag for the little space it seems to have and the effort it takes to get your items out of it. I appreciate your honesty!
Hey Kelcey. Thanks for sharing your experience with boundary supply. I'm sad to hear that you a bad experience with them. I did like the Prima, but I can see why you were disappointed by it. What bag are you using at the moment?
@@Youknowthebo 6 months later ha! I didn't see your reply, the bag I go to most is the think tank perception pro. I think its discontinued. It is so light and comfortable to carry, very adaptable with the cinch pockets. My daily camera carry is the canon M5 and a couple M mount lenses, so very compact. If I need more space or I'm taking out FF and lenses I use the think tank shape shifter 15 v2. The shape shifter is also uber comfy and lightweight!
Actually, by watching this review I went on ahead and ordered mine. I like that the front compartment will be hard to open even though they have introduced their magnetic attachment to it. Because one thing for me is that when going about in the city, especially in a crowded area, you will not fear that someone might get a hold of your valuable gears inside. I ordered mine along with the CB-1 photo insert so that the weight of the bag will be supported directly with the shoulder straps, especially when carrying it on long walks and not on the bottom (a commuter would understand and greatly appreciate this). Fiddling with opening this compartment would just need practice and in the long run, will get easier and faster to open. But the added security will be a great benefit. I'm from the Philippines and when we walk on the sidewalks we put our bags in front of us for fear of being robbed. I think it really depends on what items you carry on a daily basis.
I have the backpack and it feels much smaller than 24L. The materials do not allow for expansion of the bag. I also agree regarding the top zipper compartment when you open it up as a clamshell. That is annoying and gets in the way. I wish it was removable or on the opposite side of the bag. However, the complaints about accessing the backpack is a bit much. I tucked away the side magnetic clip and never had any issues with the clamshell opening up by itself. I also never zip it up from the top and the magnetic clips seem to hold fine. It does take some getting use to the top and could have been done better though. Overall, material quality is great, support and fit is great, I just wish it was able to fit more items in.
I realised more and more that I pack similar to you in terms of EDC. So thank you for this review of this bag. I almost bought into this bag a few times. Once definitely during the kickstarter, ask I think they did a couple of pre orders and almost bought it then too. Always felt something wasn’t right, ignoring the kickstarter fiasco that is.
Great and honest review. I won't back another Kickstarter project ever again as the brains behind these ideas always over promise and underdeliver and deliver it late too.
I’m feeling the same. I backed 2 Kickstarter projects, and 2 Indiegogo projects and have yet to receive anything. I backed a travel jacket over a year ago (still in production), backed Boundary Supply’s Chase Pants in May or June of last year, so that’s getting dangerously close to a year, and backed two electronic devices via Indiegogo, both in December just before the Coronavirus hit China hard making the production time extend until further notice. I’m fine with the electronics, but I’m getting a refund for that stupid jacket. The guy is still sourcing material over a year later. What I’m really pissed about is Boundary Supply actively and simultaneously running a second Kickstarter campaign on a new backpack while still trying to fulfill orders of their Chase Pants which was officially 100% backed as of July last year. How in the world are they gonna work on a second project and source materials and favorites and whatnot when they can’t even get their current favorites to fulfill orders on a campaign started almost a year ago? Design-wise, sure. But there’s so much more that goes into production that they need to figure out which will take attention away from fulfilling their Chase Pants campaign. Such BS honestly.
Bo, for the sternum strap issue, I find using the top slot (instead of the second top) could secure the straps without worrying about it coming loose. I'm almost the same height as you, so it could be a solution
I guess if i got this bag, i would sew the chest straps to place on one side by making the channel narrower. I like the look of the bag, and it has one of the features I really look for, it is the pocket on the back. I am still looking for an every day carry for all my tech and stationary as a student finishing their degree
I've owned the Errant for about 4 months and travel way too much for work. For airplane travel the size, design and build quality is excellent. Fits nicely under the seat in front of you, even on the Southwest isle seat. Provides easy access to your laptop plus other accessories. The shoulder straps and panel against your back are more comfortable than any other backpack I've owned (great for a haul through a long terminal). The materials and YKK zippers are rock solid.
Great review. It's amazing how so many backpack designers do no think in simple details. I have seen probably hundreds of videos and I still don't find my perfect bag. Seriously and I'm not asking much. The closest to perfect is Tom Bihns and even with their exhorbitant price don't even have a well protected laptop sleeve. I really wish I can design my own, if I could sew it.
Couldn't agree more with this review, everything so accurate. I want to love the bag but there are a quite a few oversights like you've mentioned that make it frustrating. Impressive how the creators couldn't see past these simple flaws. You missed one thing though.... it doesn't fit all 15" laptops! Mine can't fit in the pocket at the back; it does, however, fit in the bag itself. Seems like a pretty daft oversight for such an engineered bag. My laptop (a Venom BlackBook 15 ) dimensions are 385 (W) x 271 (D) x 25 (H) mm. If the bag was slightly bigger it would fit in.... zzzzzz.......
I'm really leaning towards this pack just because I live in the mountains where it rains a lot and there is a water bottle holder with reinforcement straps which is a big deal considering not many packs have this option. I even like the shoe compartment for when I can store wet bikinis in for my day adventures. I don't really need more than 22 Liters capacity and I have some tech gear as well for when I'm out and about in town. I think overall, it might be a good versatile pack for my needs. I've also wanted a travel pack that was small enough for a personal item and I can strap to my carry-on. The only concern that I have is that the harness system looks a bit stiff, and I heard from Aaron Radcliffe that the straps are also very rough to the touch.
I got the bag and yes it takes quite some time for the bag to arrive. What i feel about this bag is that it is hard to love this bag and also it is hard to hate this bag. Its a mixed feeling. Maybe gonna take me some time to get used to this bag in dealing over to its engineered design. Also i will like to add my opinion on your "negative review". The magnetic flap for me i had no problem once i get use to it. I also had no problem with the sternum strap. I find it attached to the bag perfectly even after i forced tried to pull it to see if it loose.
I will shed some light for the underexposed Kickstarter issue that Bo mentioned. The biggest issue is the 17" laptop. In the campaign, and you can still see now at KS page, they claim this to fit 17" laptop, but in actual even some 15" laptop did not fit. Boundarys response was "when we say 17" it means the diagonal size of the laptop, not the monitor". Well go figure. Next is the SmoothSailingGuarantee, where they guarantee whatever you pledge at KS is the cost, and whatever extra cost you can reimburse. And after the campaign closed they changed the rule and add exceptions country. For Canadas case they blame the labor strike, no idea how is that related. Then the delay itself. It's just 3 months delay for me (but still on going for lots of people), but the problem is they kept promising next week from Nov until now, you can see in KS page how often they say "next week". This raises questions what are they doing in the fulfillment center. To add salt on the wound, non-backer who ordered the bag in Dec or Jan received the bag in 2 weeks. To say the campaign have issue is an understatement, the company ethic and policy have issue! Oh btw if you buy this because it is bluesign certified, do note you will not find any logo or certification in the bag. Their responsd is "while we do not have certification on the bag, we did produce this from a certified factory". How do we prove that? No idea. As for the bag itself I've been using it for for a bit over one month. Bo's issue is true, however it is not a deal breaker for me. Maybe I just haven't tried as many bag as he did. My complaint would be on the material is overengineered. Shoulder strap, back panel, and in general could be thinner and lighter. And pockets competing for space is very true. Closing/opening top flap is not so easy, especially because the zipper and magnet does not work well together. If you zippered it, it will be so difficult to open the magnetic fidlock. But all in all I'm satisfied with the product (because I'm coming from a cheap $50 bag). However the same could not be said for the company.
I agree with all your points, but this is the closest bag to the perfect bag for me that I've used so far. I really wanted a bag like this, but maybe with one more organizational pocket and without a bunch of the "features" on the outside, which I find get in my way
I totally agree Bo. I had this bag for two weeks and it annoyed me for all the reasons you said and I ended up selling it. This bag may be well made but I just didn’t enjoy using it.
Nice review Bo. It’s great to have your thoughts about it. As you said, there are so many reviews, but hearing your point of view is important to me before buying or not a bag.
My issues have been with the company itself. I still haven’t received my bag even though it supposedly shipped several times over the last 4 months. Customer service takes forever to answer emails, and when they do, they don’t really care about building customer relationships or reputation. I have been asking for a refund for weeks now and its like pulling teeth. I don’t even want to open the box if it ever arrives, just return it. I have supported several startups on kickstarter, but this one, Definitely didn’t have a clue what they were doing.
Yeah pretty much the worst customer service. I'm still waiting for my order from 1st of September and now they have customer service rep emailing me every week for last two week just to say "hi your order is prioritised and will be shipped as soon as possible"! People who ordering new already got the item delivered! Then they try to feed you bullshit like oh we literary just found out there was delay to shipment due to storm or crazy pigeons or some shit!
I’m a bit surprised that so many people have a gripe with this bag.. it’s only the size that may be an issue. The magnets can be put aside, the straps can be put away. It’s quality of build is great, just don’t over pack. I don’t have any problems with it. I used another top storage from another rucksack for quick access to my camera and drone on top. Headphones in the half moon zip pouch, I use the bottom show section for my cable pouch and lays flat so doesn’t protrude into the main compartment. You just have to find a way that suits you and if it means you reduce what you carry with you that can only be a good thing. For me personally it’s a great bag, waterproof , roomy enough (for me) , lots of useful pockets so I can find everything and extremely comfortable. I personally from my experience would highly recommended it.
Hey. I'm happy to hear that you enjoy the bag. For me the problem also lies in what you described : I need to adapt to the bag's packing style. And if this would be my only bag and my packing needs a bit more standard (I assume that not many people carry a full metal keyboard 😂) then I would probably grow to like or at least get used to it. But that's the bottom line. Imho a bag should adapt to my packing style and not the other way around. That being said, this is just my personal preference, and I am very happy that you are satisfied with the bag 😉 ✌️ thanks for watching
its been 4 months and i still haven't received the bag. ordered it when it was available on the website and i got an email a month later saying they dont have stock and ill be part of the next batch in may. messaged them late may and they tell me there was a color issue and it wont be shipping early june. messaged them again and got an email saying they dont have black or tan but they have blue, if i want black i need to wait until july 15 ???? beginning to lose all patience for this considering i first ordered it in mid march when it said it was available on their website.
Hey Bo! Great review, I’m so glad I didn’t get this bag for myself to review, it’s way overhyped and the user experience does seem to underperform as I thought it would. Great job!!
@@Youknowthebo Hey dude no worries at all, I know your're a busy guy! I've been struggling to pump out content myself so I'm focusing on that right now as well xD BTW! I actually won the minimal kit from Black Ember on carryology!! Excited to review that xD
I really wanted to love this bag. Great design, sturdiness, and meticulous details. And the overall size was great too (I'm 5'4 tall). I'm not a photographer or carry a drone. I don't carry that much. I have a 15 inch Windows laptop (which by the way doesn't fit, but I was just going to put it outside the laptop compartment), 1 wallet, 1 glasses case, 2 small pouches, pens, a notebook, and I may carry a book or two. The issue for me is various compartments built into the bag aren't as useful. I just need a big completely separated compartment where I can put all my small things that's not going to interfere with my notebook and a book. I tried to put some of them in the mesh pockets, but that eats space for books. All the pockets and compartments take up space inwardly since this bag cannot expand outwardly. So I practically can't easily put books. Anyway, I love that it has a water bottle holder though unlike a lot of other EDC bags. I use it for umbrella, water bottle, or quickly putting away my keys, phone, or small things if I need to empty my hands. Also the delivery was fast for me. I decided to return the bag. Update: I'm keeping the bag. I figured the "shoe compartment" could be utilized. I put my 2 pouches (nothing breakable) there so they are out of the way. That still gave enough space for a notebook and a textbook sized book. I thought about buying the Aux Compartment bag because that's about amount of additional space and separation I wish this bag came with, but the attachment ruins the aesthetics.
Hi, I want to buy this bag and I have problems with dimensions of mi laptop. Which laptop do you have? My is 36,5 x 25,1 (ASUS UX550VD) and maximal dimensions given by compary are 36 x 26. Do you think it is possible to fit my laptop into laptot compartment? Thank you very much!
There’s a mini lunch box attachment that can go into the shoe compartment that can hold up to a six pack and will keep it cool for hours. That was one of the biggest attractions for me.
Dude, kinda late to the video, but the sternum strap stays in place like a beast as long as you fold the metal hook on top of the latch that it passes through. Props for the video tho!
I dd the bag from their kickstarter. I ordered their 17in model which as it turns out was a design oversight which ended up the bag not able to hold a 17in laptop. So the 24L part i think ended up the bag was actually smaller.
Nice review. For me the user experience is more important, build quality follows. Thank you Bo. Im keeping my 30l peak design backpack. The ease of access and the organization is perfect for me.
i also was a kick starter, the original add stated it would fit most 17" laptops, and i was in the process of laptop shopping, i need a large screen for my work, but i decided to down size for this bag, I bought a Asus Zephryus, a 15.6" *THIN* laptop. After getting my Bag, the 15.6" laptop wont fit, i went out of my way to downgrade my laptop experience for work, for this bag. and still got screwed. They told me to send the bag back in and spend extra money and buy there big bag
Thanks for sharing your experience, Robert. I've read a couple of comments regarding the laptop compartment. I'm sad to hear that you had this kind of experience with your purchase.
Thank you very much, Tim. I'm happy to hear that you enjoy my videos. I keep all the bags in my storage room. Here is a video about it ua-cam.com/video/Z8F153GZ3p4/v-deo.html
Please review the updated recycled firefighter 24 hr battalion! Some reviewers seem to prefer it over goruck and cpl24, but some reddit comments are against the brand because of the return policy a few years back. Time has passed and I feel that the politics is getting in the way of any future reviews. Would love to hear your take on it.
All those steps, at least it is secured. Makes me appreciate my Dakine Campus backpack, not high tech at all but it serves its purpose to carry stuff from home to work. Now high tech camera bags, well, I will leave that topic alone for now. Its good to be honest, since you got so much experience with various backpacks the bag makers should be listening to you. For me a product either works or doesn't work and I go from there.
Agreed. It is more secure, but if it is more of a hassle like on the top flap, the risk is that you just get too bothered to close it at all and then it doesn't really matter anymore 😂
This sums up the bag for me as well. The KS and policy changes for Canadians were a huge hassle and quite disappointing. However, I agree with your pros and cons 100%! I felt like there were too many compartments that do not have it's own volume, thus it will dig into the main 24L volume of the bag. You use the outer water bottle pocket, the top wall pocket, the ny-wool pocket, or you use two charger pockets on the laptop wall, you will lose a ton of room on the inside. That may be the reason why it felt like a 19L bag and cause an awkward space for items. I also hate the laptop magnetic flap and it gets in the way 😡
Well said. In addition to your point: the hypalon is a great, durable and waterproof material, but doesn't have much give and expandability. So that adds to the limiting space. For instance the oppose this invisible backpack (which I really love) has lots of compartments that also expand into the main compartment, but the whole bag uses a very flexible and expanding material, so the main compartment doesn't feel that small or limited at all
Hi Bo, could you do a review for the Cote & Ciel Nile and the Arcteryx GRANVILLE ZIP 16 BACKPACK. I use both of them and they are aswome. Minimalistic, finest materials and nice compartments...
I agreed the negative points u mentioned. But I still think that the bag is a very good design, just something imperfect. If u are looking for the bag with simple access, may be a Jansport would suit u most.
I bought the Errant, but ended up returning it. The biggest issues I had was about 1) the CB-1 made the top lid hard to close 2) capacity too small 3) annoying magnetic clips 4) stupid lid zipper
Thank you for that precise analysis of the bag. There's one more point I'd like to know about: Is the bag able to stand upright on its own? Thanks in advance and best wishes
Hey Bo, I recently stumbled upon the Thule Accent 28L at a store. I didn't even know Thule made bags, but I was really surprised at how nice the bag was. It has pretty much every feature that I think would make an awesome daily carry. Material felt good, organization was awesome, very well thought out layout. The only thing that held me back from it was exterior design(bulkyness) wasn't my cup of tea. They also have a 23l on their website but it wasn't in store. I think it would be a good bag to review.
I have both the Prima and the Errant and have returned to the Prima again as I find it easier to use for EDC commuting to and from work. My regret about both systems is that Boundary seem to design some great features but I truly wonder if they test their prototypes packed with the kind of stuff we carry. Once you start loading either of the bags you find - as mentioned in the review and many of the comments - that using one feature prevents using anotherr as the compete for limited space. Sometimes simpler is better. My main reason for going back to the Prima is, though, the non-functioning magnetic locks on the flap. If bag is filled the flap is hard to close. If only half-filled the bag is difficult to open. WTF? Did Boundary actually test this properly??
Hi Bo, kinda late to the band wagon, only just knew of this bag last week. It's a great review! I can understand the disappointment, advertised as 24L but in reality only 20L or so. I've been looking to get a good bag for some time. So I just wanted to ask you, when this bag is completely empty, how thick is the bag (like does it squash into a thin item)? I want something that's thin enough so it doesn't take up too much space when I pack it inside my suitcase. I have the Incase City Backpack, it's thick foam paddings takes up too much room inside a suitcase. Cheers!
I managed to get the Errant in December so I've put a few miles on it. I feel that this bag is mediocre without the use of its accessories. I have the camera insert and while it does make the top closure harder to access, it worked well on a snowshoe trip where I took my camera. Like the Prima I think the Errants specialty is in the greater system.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Donnie. That's a good point. But unlike the errant the prima feels not that limited in practice without the extras. But using the bag with all the extras is a good point I might need to look into. Although those don't eliviate my issues with all the magnetic flaps and straps unfortunately
Hi, Bo! Thank for great review! Can you recommend 25L or less EDC backpack with "quickacces side compartment" like on the Errant which can be accessable on-the-go. Thanks a lot.
Ah, this video is very helpful and I think I definitely would have ran into the same pain points as you. Is there another back pack you would recommend that's similar in style / design without these pain points? Thanks!
the title sums it all... you were probably overhyped by all the comments and recommendations. I'm still looking forward to receiving mine to test it out because i dont think i'll be too affected by the negatives you have pointed out.
Yeah, I was probably too hyped about it. And as I said in the afterword in the end: great quality bag, but just not for me. Your mileage might vary. Please let me know how you like the bag once you have received it 😉
I’m still waiting for my Boundary Supply Chase Pants that I backed on Kickstarter. While I do understand delays in production, especially now that the Coronavirus has slowed production in China..I’m just really upset with them because they started another Kickstarter campaign for a backpack while simultaneously still trying to fulfill orders on their pants, which is getting dangerously close to 1 year in the making now. They reiterated to us that the second Kickstarter campaign will not affect the production of the pants but I find that to be complete BS. I don’t think a small business with a small team that is used to slow production cycles due to crowd funding, cannot work on multiple major projects like this efficiently and optimally. And, I’m extremely bothered by this. I’ve only ever backed 2 projects on Kickstarter and 2 projects on Indiegogo and I have yet to receive ANYTHING despite being promised delivery a while again for each item with one travel jacket now taking over a year for production. Boundary Supply’s Chase Pants are getting close to a year. And I’m waiting on two different electronics on Indiegogo that I backed a few months ago but are hit hard by China’s production issues with the virus.
I own a xpac black errant , maybe it's just my cat but the xpac really likes to attract cat fur . I use the bag as my go to camera bag since I don't have the camera accessories for it so I make use of the shoe compartment putting a camera cube in it .it holds all my gear so I don't have too much to complains about it (can't say the same about the company itself). (My gear usually consists of a a7iii , a6000 , tripod , weebill lab(I use the laptop compartment for this) , as well as two prime lenses and a tamron 28-75)
Dear Bo. Highly enticipated video - thanks. Do you think the X-pac version would have the same downsides as well? Having said so, currently own a relatively cheap Targus 15.6" CitySmart Advanced backpack which definity fulfill my backpack carry need as of right now. Will definitely move to something more "exclusive" in the future. Perhaps have heard anythings about Targus stuff so you could say a few words about their products? :-) thank you.
I agree, if only the mesh division could collapse when not in use. The bag requires that you use the top loading and the clam shell in tandem and not just pick one. I'd like to be able to access my laptop on the top loading too, but there is that nasty pocket/divider. Good design, but just bad interior space.
Hi Bo, loved the review! Is there a chance you could take a look at the BlackPack Franken bag? It's a bit pricey, but I've only seen one other reviewer cover the bag and would love a second opinion.
My curiosity is with the jacket your wearing in the video. The black one when you finally wear it to show it off based on your size and frame. What the brand or link to that jacket.
Same feeling of your review ,i am highly expectation of this bag and after watching your verdict that i am almost agreed with you ,thank you bo . By the way ,is that backpack heavy when it is empty ? So many traps and other button in this bag
Can you so a review on north face fuse box 2? It’s not a new bag but I can’t find much reviews about it. Also do you have a recommendation for college backpacks? Some stuff that I wish to carry are 3-4 note pads, thick folder for notes, laptop & accessories, water bottle, jacket, pencil case and some miscellaneous items. Thank you :)
I love your videos and reveiws and usually i agree with many of them, but this one feels a bit off to me. Kinda makes me feel you tried to use the bag your way too much or idk cause a lot of negatives you have mentioned in my experience aren't that dramatic or aren't a real problem at all. I agree with the capacity problems, that is something one has to be aware of. Also all the compartments cut into the main capacity of the bag so while it is versatile, one cannot expect to use all the pockets at once. However for the other problems idk, it's important to realise that the backpack is intended as a top loading bag and the clamshell opening is there mostly just for the airport laptop guidelines and maybe for easier access to the mash compartments on the main panel or to something stuck at the bottom of the bag, it is not really meant as a replacement for the top loading opening. When it comes to the fidlock magnets, in my experience they work great, always close perfectly on their own and its not hard to open them even when the bag is empty. Its just a matter of using one finger to kind of anchor your hand on the body of the bag and rest of your fingers to lift up the lid. Also the magnet in the laptop compartment can be attached to the magnet for the tablet compartment so it's out of the way if you don't want to use it and it's also simple to open one handed once you get used to it. As for the zippers and magnetic strap for the clamshell opening, if you are affraid that the zipper could open by itself, it's already good enough security to have the zippers on the side, resting right above the magnetic security strap so that you can still open the laptop compartment easily. The strap will make sure it won't open clamshell all the way anyway and the zippers are off centre enough when it's closed so that it can't open on it's own. The strap is for this purpose on the opposite side than the secondary handle is. That handle is btw more like meant as a hanger loop rather than a real handle.
All very valid points. And I really appreciate the constructive feedback and sharing your experience with the bag. Again everything you mentioned is very valid, but as you mentioned "I might have used it for my usecase". And that is a very important destination. We all have different usecases and ways how we use products. And that's what makes bags so interesting. They highly underline how we are different (eg. Body shapes, usecases, preferences). Therefore what works for you might not work for someone else. That is basically why I prefer to be overly critical in my reviews. That way you as a viewer can evaluate if those points would actually apply to your usecase or not. Or if you can work around those downsides. All of the positives are usually already mentioned in the feature list of a product page. Therfore I believe my work as a reviewer is too nitpick at every single negative that you need to know to make an educated buying decision. At least that is the way I like to watch reviews of items that I might want to buy. I hope that is understandable. The errant is still a great bag. Very well build and great Design. Just not 100% for me. And I am reviewing the errant pro at the moment 😉 Thanks again for the great comment
I was laughing already from the title.... Like I said before, I think this bag has great concept but execution was less than desirable. I think if they did a revision of this backpack it can be so much better.
Thanks for the honest feedback. I get your point. I like to color grade all my videos. It just makes the whole film making process much more enjoyable for me. And since UA-cam is a passion project for me on which I don't earn that much money (what I earn is basically covering the production costs), I believe it's also important for me to have as much fun creating these videos as possible. And one part is color grading. Hopefully that makes sense.
I had the errant for more than a month now, and yeah.. I am disappointed because it really had the potential to be perfect. While I love the mesh pocket as a "put whatever in this" pocket, it does indeed cripples the possibility of packing. Overall it feels too overengineered. Switched to a CPL and damn, it feels like night and day.
hey man! first of all: thx a lot for this nice and honest review. i‘ve been using this bag now for a couple of weeks and i feel the urge to share my opinion with this bag. i didn‘t get the bag from the kickstarter campaign but bought it from their website. when i see your review i have the feeling that we have completely different bags. it feels like i got a version 2 or so. first of all: the service on their website was great and i didn‘t have any problems at all. i ordered my bag in february and though it said that it’s supposed to be shipped in the middle of march, i was really surprised when i suddenly got the bag in the first week of march. i was really surprised and it seems that they‘ve really improved their shipping and that they‘ve learned from their mistakes on kickstarter. now to the bag itself: i can‘t relate to some of the problems you have. like the magnetic strap which protects the laptop. yes, it is a bit overengineered, but you can just flap the strap down and it stays on the magnet of the ipad compartment so it doesn‘t get in the way. if it’s still annoying you, you can actually go all the way and just cut the thing off. also i didn’t have the same problems when using the clampshell. this little wall that holds the camera cube is quite flexible and you can easily reach under it to load the bag. of course it’s not as 100% convenient as with a bag without this wall but in my opinion just a really tiny compromise which i could get used to very quickly. the side strap to protect the zippers from going all the way open: i think it’s such a good idea. at work i usually put the bag on the ground in upright position, i keep both zippers next to the strap and then i just open one zipper. this way it‘s so easy to get my laptop and all the stuff in the top pocket out and the bag doesn’t open accidentally. for me this is like super handy. some things you didn’t cover in your video at all: the modularity. this is where the bag becomes really really cool. i also bought the two camera cubes and the waist straps. so i load up the cubes with all my camera stuff. depending on what i want to use the bag for, i just can throw these cubes in or take them out. in my opinion this is a super easy and very quick way to switch between a photo-bag to every day backpack. there’s no taking out of velcro parts when you want to use it for the gym and then putting them in when you use it for a photo job. just take out the cubes or throw them back in. so easy and very quick. i was really surprised how well the additional waist straps work. they are actually able to hold the whole bags weight and put it comfortably on your hips like you would expect it from a proper hiking backpack. but yeah, capacity is a minus. it feels a bit smaller than i would have expected it. but to be honest it’s still enough to hold clothes including a pair of shoes for a weekend trip. so for me this is just enough. and again: you have the option to buy the aux compartment to enlarge the bag if you still need some more space. (which i also bought). to be honest, i have one big minus: the price. with all the cool additions which are actually necessary to make use of the well designed features, the price raises up to about 450$. this is quite a lot, but in my eyes still worth it. still, you can see that this is where they make the money. the additions are very overprized compared to the bag itself. oh, one thing to add. my sternum straps are really really tight and it’s actually crazy difficult to remove them. maybe they’ve stiffened up the strap holders on my bag. so that was just my personal experience but i hope it helps to get a transparent view to others so that they can decide if the bag will be useful to them. as always it just comes down to personal preferences and what you’re used to. but i love this bag and the fact that everything‘s so well organized and that i can easily switch between different fields of use.
good for you if you're happy with the service. go to their kickstarter page NOW. as of TODAY hundreds of backer still have trouble with their bag being fulfilled.
You got your bag so quick not because of luck, because they sent you the stuff which is supposed to be sent to kickstarter buyers. They forgot what is FIRST IN FIRST OUT. However, I agreed your comment. It is a wonderful bag with the accessories.
I found it interesting that so many people have been waiting for Bo's review to confirm their hate for the bag that they have already bought and tested lol. The Errant is a bit of disappointment for my expectation honestly, because I prefer the simplicity design of the prototype (without all that added attachment points for accessaries on the top flap and bottom), and all that bullshit promise for using nywool material for the commuting pocket. But life is simple, guys. If the bag suits you, it is a good product...FOR YOU, but may be not for someone else. If the bag doesnt suit you, it is not a good product...FOR YOU, but may be good for someone else. So, if you don't like the bag, return it. Buy something else that makes you happy.
@WeiKiat: This is AND was the only accurate and objective review of this bag! The most reviewers just get excited of the look and design^^ The legendary Bo did it again; well done 💯 Errant bag: 2/10 Points
Definitely the Able Carry. It's a well build bag that is also great in practice. It's also small as the errant, but it also claims to be 20l, further the material has more give and flex to expand a bit
![Is the Boundary Supply Prima System worth it? [HONEST REVIEW]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/h-mG4oLNWPM/mqdefault.jpg)
This is the most honest, accurate and unbiased review of the Errant so far. Read on :)
I'm a backer of the Errant and i cancelled my order after all the hooha. But i will leave the, "politics" out of this comment and just want to comment purely on the bag, based on my carrying experience of my friend's Errant for a month. I also love the foreword and i appreciate the "homework" you did for this review :)
The bag, was to me, over-engineered. They are putting the engines of a Bugatti, the wings of an F22 fighter jet, the nuclear core of a nuclear submarine all in a scooter's chassis. The individual components (or, individual aspects such as material, build quality, concept etc) are excellent and well thought out. But put all these together and it just, doesnt have the harmony.
The hypalon, which takes up the centre portion of the bag, restricts the "expandability" of the bag. What i mean is, with a Triple Aught Design Axiom 18, i can perhaps pack more than it was advertised because the material has some allowance for it to expand slightly to accommodate your load. With the Errant, the hypalon is forcing the bag to remain in shape and thus, reduces the ability to expand.
When the top compartment's camera pouch is fitted, it is even harder to open/close the two round clips.
@Bo, so now that the Errant is (probably) not your EDC bag, whats your most commonly used EDC bags for now? I'm asking because my daily loadout doesnt differ too much from yours and i'll like to hear what you have on your back most of the time!
Cheers Bo, and thanks for this review :)
Very well said and good analysis of the bag in general. I agree to 100% about what you said. And you are right about the hypalon as well. Hypalon is a great, durable and waterproof material, but it's just too "stiff" and doesn't have much give. Which probably leads to the perceived smaller capacity of the bag.
And your comparison to the fighter engine in a scooter is awesome 😂 😂 😂
And in regards to your EDC backpack question: I switch bags very often, so I rarely come back to a bag. But within the last six months I often switched back to the atd1. It's dual opening, great build quality and looks are great. Furthermore, the simplicity of the maincompartment really adapted well to all my packing needs instead of the other way around.
Ok boomer
Excellent review for once more; big thanks Bo! I love the fact that you test the backpacks (including the Errant) under real life conditions instead of just showing us the pockets and slots of the bags (as many other reviewers do). Packing it with real EDC items and testing it under rain was great! :-)
I would sum this modular bag up as "Jack of all trades...master of none"
Its give and take when it comes to the modularity of it.
I actually like mine and it's also super comfortable.
I've adjusted the things I carry and the port kitt has helped with tech organization to stay easily accessible on the top of the bag.
The gripes you have with the bag are the same for most people with the bag. But we kind of came up with different ways to get around some of them. For example:
1. you can fix the annoyance with the magnet in the laptop compartment if you let the bottom half snap onto the magnet below.
2. you can fix the sternum strap a little more securely if you flip the metal "hooks" over the loops
3. use the compartment on the other side of the zippered hidden compartment to stow away the magnetic "zipper arrestor"
4. don't use the top-loading zipper unless it's raining and just use the fidlocks instead. They open and close more easily.
Also there's a cool community of previously frustrated backers that have now started to make use of the fidlocks and other snaps in the bags to make various DIY accessories (because Boundary's own ones tend to be overpriced).
can you share that community you're referring to? I'd like to see what 'hacks' to do with the existing connectors in place..nice tips by the way!
@@rompo it's the Boundary Errant (Backers group)
@@insolidusyt thanks sir!
I have the Errant and all your criticisms are very fair! Although I would say it really depends on your uses since my experience has been positive overall. I think this bag is really for minimalist.
I'm a law student that has many resources online and a library, so I don't need to carry much in terms of stuff and most of my items are flat and lightweight to begin with:
1. 13 inch laptop, 2. 1 or 2 textbooks, 3. general notebook, 4. document folders, 5. tech pouch with chargers for laptop and phone, 6. power bank, 7. Small tool pouch, 8. small first aid kit, 9. light rain jacket, 10. mini Umbrella, 11. Flat water bottle, 12. keys, 13. glasses, 14. small foldable grocery bag, 15. some art supplies, 16. small wireless sony headphones, 17. portable anker bluetooth speaker.
I have the external lash strap for lashing points and have been useful for stuff for quick access stuff or for groceries lashed to the outside. It is very comfortable overall!
Things I don't like: It was kinda heavy initially since I moved from ultra light weight bags but I got used to it, The zip closing is horrendous but I don't usually zip the bag up unless it rains so I mainly close just the flap and it automatically closes itself, because it has a trapezium design you don't really get to maximise all litres of space so it does feel kind of small.
However if most of what you carry is small and lightweight or minimal, you's get to fit a surprising amount of stuff in there. I really think it's a 20L bag than a 24 L as it feels the 4L of space is just dead space that you can't really use. But It did a great job protecting my minimal gear.
So it really depends on uses. Love the videos btw Bo! you got me hooked on backpacks :)
Thanks for sharing your experience. You're correct, maybe I should switch my using habits a bit for this bag. And If you look at this bag by itself, it's great due to the build quality and price. But if you compare its usability with other bags (which is one of the negatives of being a reviewer 😂) it just got in my way unfortunately.
But after getting used to it, it probably can be a very good bag for most people.
And thanks for watching my videos. I'm glad that you became a bag enthusiast as well 😉✌️
@@Youknowthebo Haha I can imagine being reviewer! It is a lot of fun though!
One more criticism to add to the bag is actually the hypalon lash points on the front. It sits a little too close to the flap which makes access to lash straps a little difficult sometimes. If it were situated lower it would be better.
Though for anyone reading, I have dislikes and likes of the bag but my personal experience coming from really basic bags is that this errant certainly has provided me a lot more utility. It's not perfect and it's not for everyone but it certainly is not bad depending on how you use it :)
I’m a Kickstarter backer and purchased this specifically for EDC.
My typical load out is about 18 liters so this bag actually meets my needs well.
I don’t love every design decision, the magnet holding the laptop area is too strong. The clamshell opening is of limited use, except for quick access to laptop, papers and that top pocket.
The front flap hook closures are extremely fiddly and require some manipulation to close consistently.
But
It holds everything I need for a day in the office or coffee shop. The organization keeps everything within easy reach and I really enjoy using it, for every day carry.
I took it as my prime carry on for a trip with my kids and there were significant compromises. I’ll use my GoRuck GR1 or Minaal EDC bag for travel in the future.
Overall I thought your review was spot on and well thought out for your use cases Bo
👍🏻
Was SO curious about this bag but it always looked like a photographer's bag (which I am not). Now I can happily file this bag under "nope" and move on. Great video. 👍
Thanks, Andrew 😉 ✌️
Hi Bo, thanks for the review. We love your honest and objective opinion - there is no need to feel guilty for not liking a bag. Your feedback is useful for us as a consumers and (if they are smart) for bag makers too. So keep up the good work!
The amount of features packed in this bag gives me anxiety. Great honest review! Was looking at this one but glad there was an unbiased review available.
Thanks!
The bottom isolation compartment sounded like a good idea, but in practice, it ends up unnecessarily taking up space inside the bag. If it was an expandable pouch that extends downward, it would have made the bag that much better and make up for the small interior capacity.
Hi Bo - Nice video, as usual. We share very similar sentiments, it's a very deceptive bag. It looks like it can hold much more than it actually does.
For me, the pockets didn't make sense, and it was too much work to get into your stuff. That false wall dividing the bag was not a good design choice. Quality materials, and build, but the design really held this bag back. Prima is still their best bag, I think.
Hey mate! Thanks for stopping by. I watched your video after I finished my video. I also watched a couple of Our other bag videos. You do a good job of analyzing bags. Kudos 😉👊
So true once you put the camera bucket up top and cube at bottom the pack.is pretty much useless
I have watched nearly every video that is out on this backpack. But you sir have outdone them all. The truest review to date. Personally, I like the pack and have come to terms with all the usage flaws the bag entails. Form over function to some extinct I guess.
Thank you very much, Fredrik 😉✌️
This bag is still my favorite EDC bag yet.
I don't know about any of the "hoopla" or issues with the kickstarter. I purchased mine (black) in first week of 2020 and shipping was quick. I didn't buy into the camera case or other modular aspects, just a keychain to match the fidlock attachment in the "quick access" pocket.
My favorite features are the fidlock main panel, quick access pocket, security pocket, and interior mesh pouches.
The fidlock main panel works well if you don't close the zipper. The zipper is great for longer journeys, bad weather, or in situations where you risk theft. With the zipper open, the pack has enough structure to remain rigid with just the magnets engaged. The main compartment is as easy to open as you'd expect, just pull down and BOOM. Clipping it can take a few tries, but its still easier than using G-clips or pinch buckles.
The quick access pocket is awesome for bike commuting. It has room for your phone, keys (on the magnetic lanyard sold separately), and small items like earbuds and pens. The zipper is long and provides easy access to this surprisingly deep pocket.
The security pocket in the back panel is great for travel. Good spot to keep your passport/ID and flat valuables with little risk of them getting pinched. Don't try to fit anything thicker than 1.5-2.0cm as it will bulge in the back panel and make the backpack uncomfortable to wear.
Interior mesh pouches are great to keep the interior organized. They stretch to fit clothing, water bottles, computer cords and more. I use them to organize a change of clothes so I'm not digging around looking for my socks. Additionally, the interior mesh zipper pocket at the top is great for all your electronic accessories with easy access from the laptop zipper.
Dislikes: size, sternum strap, shoe compartment
The bag is smaller than its specs suggest. I have to agree with other reviewers who claim this feels more like a 15L bag. It will hold more, but with the laptop inside I feel like I risk bending or denting the aluminum casing due to pure pressure. I love that the bag has structure and feels solid even when empty, but the tradeoff is that it doesn't have much give when you're stuffing it full. Yes, the bag is small, but for an EDC I found it to be an enjoyable challenge to reduce the bulk of things I bring with me.
The sternum strap really needs a redesign. It looks like their new sling bag has a new design that locks the sternum strap into place with a button-snap, but my sternum strap is not secure and has a tendency to fall off for no reason when left unclipped. I removed it for fear of losing it.
The shoe compartment isn't really a dislike, I just don't use it. True my size US12 footwear won't fit, but I figured it would be better for gym clothes and wet items anyway. Instead I just throw those things in a nylon sack and toss it in the bag. Much easier than trying to access the bottom of my backpack, and the sack can be thrown in the wash with the gym shorts.
Overall great bag. I bought it because I liked the aesthetic and many features, even if I wouldn't need ALL the features. I still keep a larger 30L bag for multi-night trips and am considering purchasing the arclite sling for minimalist days bike commuting. I like that Boundary is Bluesign approved and everything is very well-made. Looking forward to many years of use.
The Errant has been my daily carry for over a month now, and I'm surprised at how well it has worked out. The ultimate deciding point is capacity: it either holds your stuff or it doesn't. I'm enough of a minimalist that it carries everything I need with space left over, including camera gear - that's all I want in a bag, and the sleek looks, comfortable carry and durability don't hurt either. I even like the magnets ;)
Thanks for the feedback, Gary. I'm happy to hear that you enjoy the bag. As I have said in the afterword : maybe if I changed up my packing style and habits, I might have enjoyed the bag more. It's a good quality bag, but it's just not for me unfortunately
Yup, we all have our own unique needs. However, the Boundary bags are primarily designed to be modular by using their customized accessories, which you did not review. Without it's accessories, the Errant is just another bag, and I wouldn't have bothered getting one. Keep up the great work, Bo ;)
I really like your reviews of bags. They're to the point and your positives and negatives are clear and practical.
That’s an awesome review! It clarified everything I needed to know before buying this bag (I ended up not buying it). Good job man!
Thank you very much, Pedro 😉✌️
Thanks for your review Bo! I’ve had my Errant 4 days now and vigourously inline-skated to work 3 of them for 45min each way with my shoes and work clothes and pack towel ‘inside’ the bag along with my other essentials such as 15”Macbook Pro, 12.9” iPad, Sony WH3000MX over-ear headphones). I’ll admit, this is a TIGHT FIT and I’m awaiting my ext gear sleeve to probably offload some of my clothes to the outside. Ruins the sleek look though to be sure.
While I do believe you’ve presented a fairly balanced view of the pros and cons I think it’s important to point out:
1. This is still an ideal bag for many people
2. Yes, you need to adjust some of your habits
The bag overall should be a little bigger and live up to it’s promise of 24L (I’d prefer a 30). But not too much bigger! Shoe access especially needs to be a bit wider as I’m only fitting loafers.
I would NOT move dual zippers all the way to bottom of one side. Can’t fight design of this bag and to be honest, the clamshell is one of the best features and why I choose the bag. The quick-access to my headphones in the mesh, and iPad/laptop is EXACTLY what I needed. The 2 magnetic clasps are a little overkill, but after a few days I’ve learned to squeeze from the top and bottom to open one handed, it’s definitely a finessed motion.
If you treat the Clamshell (tech gear) vs. top-loading (accessory pouch, or for me just lunchbag and clothes), the design makes perfect sense. I only completely open the clamshell to get to rarer use items that might be stashed in the inside mesh pockets or my rain poncho all the way at the bottom.
I put my water bottle in the side (without the lash strap), and probably since the bag is fully loaded there has been no slippage - remember this is skating on busy rough city streets at 17kph.
I might put together a video of my commute and use IRL for others to see it in action.
If they came out with a 30L variation I’d probably jump on it and pass this one down to one of my boys that have less bulky gear needs perhaps.
I couldn’t agree more with your review. I bought it and really wanted to love it. Look is great (in grey blue) but practicality is bad. I’m considering cutting some magnetic straps.
I would simply add that price is relatively attractive.
Other point, it is indeed rather small but on the other hand does not look bulky on your back.
Great review!
The KS campaign was hurt by Boundary initial QC on the fidlocks and straps. The variety of international orders was also too much for their small staff to handle. However KS and FB were plagued by various instigators that continually trolled the comments section despite having bailed on the bag. Many people ordered without any previous KS experience and they didn’t expect the usual (and unusual) delays to fulfillment. Mine arrived with issues but I returned it under warranty 9 months later and the fidlocks are perfectly aligned. Not the intended customer experience but that’s the danger of being a pioneer consumer on KS.
Finally keep in mind that this was (and mostly still is) marketed as a $100 bag. Basically a loss leader as the accessories are more profitable. But I find it interesting that when some ditches the Errant, the replacement is often 2-3x higher price. But no one mentions that detail.
Again thanks for the thorough overview. It was spot on.
So I was a kickstarter backer for this bag. I also own and used the Prima system before this. Considering the production issues and delays during the Prima campaign I wasn't surprised when the screwed this one up to. I wasn't in a rush to receive it.
That aside.
I wanted the Errant to slim down from the Prima. The Prima was a little big for EDC and also kind of big for my small (5'4") body. In addition I find the Verge integration to be rather poor. I like the Fieldspace though.
I've been trying out the Errant as my EDC bag and so far it's been good to okay.
I can carry my work laptop (a surface), an ipad, batteries, chargers, and papers in the laptop compartment. I also throw in my lunch, water bottle, a tech pouch, sweater or extra shirt, a U lock, a pouch for small tools (biking & work), and Port Kitt to attach to the fidlocks to throw other small things into as well as the top mesh pocket. Keys, wallet, tissues, pen/pencil in the side commuter pocket. Sunglasses usually in the front compartment.
I don't have camera gear so I don't use it for that.
What I like:
-Lighter and smaller than the Prima. I better utilize the smaller capacity for EDC
-Straps and back are very comfy
-Adjustable part of the straps are like a seatbelt and adjust very smoothly
-It was relatively cheap as I did not get the X-Pac version
-Stands up on its own! (unlike the Prima) which also makes it more comfortable to set on my lap when on the bus/train
My gripes:
-The secret compartment on the back is very difficult to use with the very small opening.
-Quick Access Nywool pocket not as quick as I want while wearing, opening not big enough. (The small quick access zipper on the top of the Prima was something that I could reach while it was on my back to pull out my sunglasses)
-Kind of diving into the politics. I expected a Nywool commuter pocket. It's what they advertised during the campaign. Not happy about being lied to.
Experiences:
-My sternum strap also came off the first few days wearing it but with some adjusting it doesn't anymore
-You get used to the top flap fiddliness and it gets less fiddly
-Pockets expand inward. If you have a big water bottle on the outside the mesh on the inside will be difficult to use
-Be aware the shoe compartment expands inward and takes up the main space of the bag. Likely will not be an issue for me though
-Who doesn't like magnets? Magnets are cool but the strength of the magnets are in the wrong places. The outside one preventing the zippers from opening is rather weak. The laptop buckle and tablet magnets are too strong. If the strengths were swapped it would make the bag easier to use. The sternum strap is also kind of difficult to use 1 handed.
One of my favorite things about the Prima are the magnetic buckles on the back. They snapped into each other well and the pull tab made it easy to use. If Boundary made a smaller version of that as the sternum strap it would be great for 1 handed use. Would purchase as an accessory.
Does the Errant deliver? Mostly.
It's not a bad bag but high expectations leave me wanting more. It had potential to be my perfect bag but with some odd design choices make it feel just a little "off"
I'm still going to use it as my EDC and use my Prima when traveling to carry more.
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences, Nate! Your very thorough will help potential buyers of the Errant.
I agree with your review Bo. I unfortunately was a KS backer and even if the bag ended up being amazing I would probably never buy from Boundary Supply ever again. Their CS was so woeful and wasn't worth the energy of dealing with all their lies, broken promises and mishandling of their multiple KS campaigns. Once the bag actually arrived I was disappointed with how heavy it was empty, how little it carried (I own an LBT 8005 14L pack and it holds just as much as the Errant and is much lighter), the aux compartment kept falling off when I walked downstairs or ran, and the openings were overly complicated. I sold the bag within a week and feel glad to have rid myself of it.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Patrick. So what bag are you thinking of getting instead?
@@Youknowthebo I cycle through using LBT 8005, a Vertx Gamut (most comfortable pack I've ever carried) and an AER Travel Sling for office carry. I'm seriously considering the Tad Axiom 24 or Evergoods CPL24 though. Have you tired either of those?
I bought the Errant Pack after watching your review. You always talk about the important negatives that others donˋt mention.
Everything you brought up is true, the good and the bad.
I use the Errant everyday for school and I love it for that. All my books fit in the laptop compartment and my IPad in the tablet pocket. All the other pockets are great for organizing smaller things. I keep my waterbottles mostly in the inside mesh pockets.
But the backpack really is smaller than 24L which is for some people to small. And getting to all my things is not as complicated as you described. I just keep some zippers open and blocked some magnets so they don’t close. And yes, the main compartment is sometimes hard to open. Especially when it really empty or really full. The shoe pocket is also to small for my size 10 shoes. So that pocket is very useless for me at least. But I have used the shoe pocket for other clothes.
Overall, I really like the Errant Pack. My pouches fit very well. And the build quality and comfort are great.
I also heard about their Kickstarter and shipping problems. I didn‘t support their kickstarter. But my Errant Pack shipped within a week. I was also in contact with them via Instagram which was one of the reasons why mine probably shipped faster than others. Just a guess.
But as always great and very honest review. Your videos really help on deciding which backpacks to buy. Would also love a fan meeting in Hamburg :D
Hey Aaron!
THanks for sharing your experiences. I'm very happy to hear that you like the Errant. And thanks for watching my videos and your very kind words!
If you are in Germany, then you should definitely come to a meetup. I think I will do one in the summer ;-)
@@Youknowthebo A meetup would be awesome.
I backed the prima by boundary and was totally disappointed. I'm glad I didn't fall for this one too because it seems like there were a lot of the same things I wouldn't like about the errant! The prima is such a huge heavy bag for the little space it seems to have and the effort it takes to get your items out of it. I appreciate your honesty!
Hey Kelcey.
Thanks for sharing your experience with boundary supply. I'm sad to hear that you a bad experience with them. I did like the Prima, but I can see why you were disappointed by it. What bag are you using at the moment?
@@Youknowthebo 6 months later ha! I didn't see your reply, the bag I go to most is the think tank perception pro. I think its discontinued. It is so light and comfortable to carry, very adaptable with the cinch pockets. My daily camera carry is the canon M5 and a couple M mount lenses, so very compact. If I need more space or I'm taking out FF and lenses I use the think tank shape shifter 15 v2. The shape shifter is also uber comfy and lightweight!
Cool. I have been using the think-tank streetwalker HD for many years. Thinktank makes some high quality camera bags
Actually, by watching this review I went on ahead and ordered mine.
I like that the front compartment will be hard to open even though they have introduced their magnetic attachment to it. Because one thing for me is that when going about in the city, especially in a crowded area, you will not fear that someone might get a hold of your valuable gears inside. I ordered mine along with the CB-1 photo insert so that the weight of the bag will be supported directly with the shoulder straps, especially when carrying it on long walks and not on the bottom (a commuter would understand and greatly appreciate this). Fiddling with opening this compartment would just need practice and in the long run, will get easier and faster to open. But the added security will be a great benefit. I'm from the Philippines and when we walk on the sidewalks we put our bags in front of us for fear of being robbed.
I think it really depends on what items you carry on a daily basis.
I have the backpack and it feels much smaller than 24L. The materials do not allow for expansion of the bag. I also agree regarding the top zipper compartment when you open it up as a clamshell. That is annoying and gets in the way. I wish it was removable or on the opposite side of the bag. However, the complaints about accessing the backpack is a bit much. I tucked away the side magnetic clip and never had any issues with the clamshell opening up by itself. I also never zip it up from the top and the magnetic clips seem to hold fine. It does take some getting use to the top and could have been done better though. Overall, material quality is great, support and fit is great, I just wish it was able to fit more items in.
I realised more and more that I pack similar to you in terms of EDC. So thank you for this review of this bag. I almost bought into this bag a few times. Once definitely during the kickstarter, ask I think they did a couple of pre orders and almost bought it then too. Always felt something wasn’t right, ignoring the kickstarter fiasco that is.
Great and honest review. I won't back another Kickstarter project ever again as the brains behind these ideas always over promise and underdeliver and deliver it late too.
I’m feeling the same. I backed 2 Kickstarter projects, and 2 Indiegogo projects and have yet to receive anything. I backed a travel jacket over a year ago (still in production), backed Boundary Supply’s Chase Pants in May or June of last year, so that’s getting dangerously close to a year, and backed two electronic devices via Indiegogo, both in December just before the Coronavirus hit China hard making the production time extend until further notice. I’m fine with the electronics, but I’m getting a refund for that stupid jacket. The guy is still sourcing material over a year later.
What I’m really pissed about is Boundary Supply actively and simultaneously running a second Kickstarter campaign on a new backpack while still trying to fulfill orders of their Chase Pants which was officially 100% backed as of July last year. How in the world are they gonna work on a second project and source materials and favorites and whatnot when they can’t even get their current favorites to fulfill orders on a campaign started almost a year ago? Design-wise, sure. But there’s so much more that goes into production that they need to figure out which will take attention away from fulfilling their Chase Pants campaign. Such BS honestly.
Bo, for the sternum strap issue, I find using the top slot (instead of the second top) could secure the straps without worrying about it coming loose. I'm almost the same height as you, so it could be a solution
That's a good tip, Eric. I will try it out. Thanks
I guess if i got this bag, i would sew the chest straps to place on one side by making the channel narrower. I like the look of the bag, and it has one of the features I really look for, it is the pocket on the back. I am still looking for an every day carry for all my tech and stationary as a student finishing their degree
I've owned the Errant for about 4 months and travel way too much for work. For airplane travel the size, design and build quality is excellent. Fits nicely under the seat in front of you, even on the Southwest isle seat. Provides easy access to your laptop plus other accessories. The shoulder straps and panel against your back are more comfortable than any other backpack I've owned (great for a haul through a long terminal). The materials and YKK zippers are rock solid.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Bradley!
Great review. It's amazing how so many backpack designers do no think in simple details. I have seen probably hundreds of videos and I still don't find my perfect bag. Seriously and I'm not asking much. The closest to perfect is Tom Bihns and even with their exhorbitant price don't even have a well protected laptop sleeve. I really wish I can design my own, if I could sew it.
Couldn't agree more with this review, everything so accurate. I want to love the bag but there are a quite a few oversights like you've mentioned that make it frustrating. Impressive how the creators couldn't see past these simple flaws.
You missed one thing though.... it doesn't fit all 15" laptops! Mine can't fit in the pocket at the back; it does, however, fit in the bag itself. Seems like a pretty daft oversight for such an engineered bag. My laptop (a Venom BlackBook 15 ) dimensions are 385 (W) x 271 (D) x 25 (H) mm. If the bag was slightly bigger it would fit in.... zzzzzz.......
Hi, mine is 365 x 251 x 18,9, do you think its possible to fit in to laptop compartment? Thank you very much.
I'm really leaning towards this pack just because I live in the mountains where it rains a lot and there is a water bottle holder with reinforcement straps which is a big deal considering not many packs have this option. I even like the shoe compartment for when I can store wet bikinis in for my day adventures. I don't really need more than 22 Liters capacity and I have some tech gear as well for when I'm out and about in town. I think overall, it might be a good versatile pack for my needs. I've also wanted a travel pack that was small enough for a personal item and I can strap to my carry-on. The only concern that I have is that the harness system looks a bit stiff, and I heard from Aaron Radcliffe that the straps are also very rough to the touch.
Thanks for the great review! You said it, the pack gets in the way. And that defeats the entire purpose of a day-pack.
Thanks for watching, mate.
I got the bag and yes it takes quite some time for the bag to arrive. What i feel about this bag is that it is hard to love this bag and also it is hard to hate this bag. Its a mixed feeling. Maybe gonna take me some time to get used to this bag in dealing over to its engineered design. Also i will like to add my opinion on your "negative review". The magnetic flap for me i had no problem once i get use to it. I also had no problem with the sternum strap. I find it attached to the bag perfectly even after i forced tried to pull it to see if it loose.
I will shed some light for the underexposed Kickstarter issue that Bo mentioned. The biggest issue is the 17" laptop. In the campaign, and you can still see now at KS page, they claim this to fit 17" laptop, but in actual even some 15" laptop did not fit. Boundarys response was "when we say 17" it means the diagonal size of the laptop, not the monitor". Well go figure. Next is the SmoothSailingGuarantee, where they guarantee whatever you pledge at KS is the cost, and whatever extra cost you can reimburse. And after the campaign closed they changed the rule and add exceptions country. For Canadas case they blame the labor strike, no idea how is that related. Then the delay itself. It's just 3 months delay for me (but still on going for lots of people), but the problem is they kept promising next week from Nov until now, you can see in KS page how often they say "next week". This raises questions what are they doing in the fulfillment center. To add salt on the wound, non-backer who ordered the bag in Dec or Jan received the bag in 2 weeks. To say the campaign have issue is an understatement, the company ethic and policy have issue! Oh btw if you buy this because it is bluesign certified, do note you will not find any logo or certification in the bag. Their responsd is "while we do not have certification on the bag, we did produce this from a certified factory". How do we prove that? No idea.
As for the bag itself I've been using it for for a bit over one month. Bo's issue is true, however it is not a deal breaker for me. Maybe I just haven't tried as many bag as he did. My complaint would be on the material is overengineered. Shoulder strap, back panel, and in general could be thinner and lighter. And pockets competing for space is very true. Closing/opening top flap is not so easy, especially because the zipper and magnet does not work well together. If you zippered it, it will be so difficult to open the magnetic fidlock. But all in all I'm satisfied with the product (because I'm coming from a cheap $50 bag). However the same could not be said for the company.
Thank you very much for the thorough response, Vincent. Really appreciate all the information.
I agree with all your points, but this is the closest bag to the perfect bag for me that I've used so far. I really wanted a bag like this, but maybe with one more organizational pocket and without a bunch of the "features" on the outside, which I find get in my way
I totally agree Bo. I had this bag for two weeks and it annoyed me for all the reasons you said and I ended up selling it. This bag may be well made but I just didn’t enjoy using it.
Thanks for sharing, Paul. Which bag did you end up getting instead?
Nice job Bo! Now... tell me... what black jacket are you wearing? With a hoody
Thanks, william. That's the Alchemy Equipment AEM105 raincoat. I'm currently testing that jacket
Nice review Bo. It’s great to have your thoughts about it. As you said, there are so many reviews, but hearing your point of view is important to me before buying or not a bag.
Thanks, David. Really appreciate your trust in my reviews.
My issues have been with the company itself. I still haven’t received my bag even though it supposedly shipped several times over the last 4 months.
Customer service takes forever to answer emails, and when they do, they don’t really care about building customer relationships or reputation.
I have been asking for a refund for weeks now and its like pulling teeth. I don’t even want to open the box if it ever arrives, just return it. I have supported several startups on kickstarter, but this one, Definitely didn’t have a clue what they were doing.
Same here, horrible company
Hey Ben, hey Piotr.
I'm really sad to hear that you both have such bad experiences with your purchase. I'm honestly speachless 😢
Yeah pretty much the worst customer service.
I'm still waiting for my order from 1st of September and now they have customer service rep emailing me every week for last two week just to say "hi your order is prioritised and will be shipped as soon as possible"!
People who ordering new already got the item delivered!
Then they try to feed you bullshit like oh we literary just found out there was delay to shipment due to storm or crazy pigeons or some shit!
thank you for your review.... this saves me money.
Always happy to help. What exactly was the deciding factor in this review for you? If I may ask
@@Youknowthebo the accessibility of the main compartment and the difficulty in opening the bag and locks.
I’m a bit surprised that so many people have a gripe with this bag.. it’s only the size that may be an issue. The magnets can be put aside, the straps can be put away. It’s quality of build is great, just don’t over pack. I don’t have any problems with it. I used another top storage from another rucksack for quick access to my camera and drone on top. Headphones in the half moon zip pouch, I use the bottom show section for my cable pouch and lays flat so doesn’t protrude into the main compartment. You just have to find a way that suits you and if it means you reduce what you carry with you that can only be a good thing. For me personally it’s a great bag, waterproof , roomy enough (for me) , lots of useful pockets so I can find everything and extremely comfortable. I personally from my experience would highly recommended it.
Hey.
I'm happy to hear that you enjoy the bag. For me the problem also lies in what you described : I need to adapt to the bag's packing style. And if this would be my only bag and my packing needs a bit more standard (I assume that not many people carry a full metal keyboard 😂) then I would probably grow to like or at least get used to it.
But that's the bottom line. Imho a bag should adapt to my packing style and not the other way around. That being said, this is just my personal preference, and I am very happy that you are satisfied with the bag 😉 ✌️ thanks for watching
its been 4 months and i still haven't received the bag. ordered it when it was available on the website and i got an email a month later saying they dont have stock and ill be part of the next batch in may. messaged them late may and they tell me there was a color issue and it wont be shipping early june. messaged them again and got an email saying they dont have black or tan but they have blue, if i want black i need to wait until july 15 ???? beginning to lose all patience for this considering i first ordered it in mid march when it said it was available on their website.
Wow. That's terrible. Really hope that you get your bag soon. Thanks for sharing your experience
Hey Bo! Great review, I’m so glad I didn’t get this bag for myself to review, it’s way overhyped and the user experience does seem to underperform as I thought it would. Great job!!
Thanks, Mike. I haven't forgotten about our talk. Just had a hard time squeezing UA-cam work in between my regular work schedule. Hope you are well
@@Youknowthebo Hey dude no worries at all, I know your're a busy guy! I've been struggling to pump out content myself so I'm focusing on that right now as well xD BTW! I actually won the minimal kit from Black Ember on carryology!! Excited to review that xD
That's awesome! Congratulations. Looking forward to hear your thoughts about that bag!
I really wanted to love this bag. Great design, sturdiness, and meticulous details. And the overall size was great too (I'm 5'4 tall). I'm not a photographer or carry a drone. I don't carry that much. I have a 15 inch Windows laptop (which by the way doesn't fit, but I was just going to put it outside the laptop compartment), 1 wallet, 1 glasses case, 2 small pouches, pens, a notebook, and I may carry a book or two. The issue for me is various compartments built into the bag aren't as useful. I just need a big completely separated compartment where I can put all my small things that's not going to interfere with my notebook and a book. I tried to put some of them in the mesh pockets, but that eats space for books. All the pockets and compartments take up space inwardly since this bag cannot expand outwardly. So I practically can't easily put books.
Anyway, I love that it has a water bottle holder though unlike a lot of other EDC bags. I use it for umbrella, water bottle, or quickly putting away my keys, phone, or small things if I need to empty my hands. Also the delivery was fast for me.
I decided to return the bag.
Update: I'm keeping the bag. I figured the "shoe compartment" could be utilized. I put my 2 pouches (nothing breakable) there so they are out of the way. That still gave enough space for a notebook and a textbook sized book. I thought about buying the Aux Compartment bag because that's about amount of additional space and separation I wish this bag came with, but the attachment ruins the aesthetics.
Hi, I want to buy this bag and I have problems with dimensions of mi laptop.
Which laptop do you have? My is 36,5 x 25,1 (ASUS UX550VD) and maximal dimensions given by compary are 36 x 26. Do you think it is possible to fit my laptop into laptot compartment? Thank you very much!
Tadeáš Bartoš if it’s a 15” laptop it fits. It won’t fit a 17” laptop though.
There’s a mini lunch box attachment that can go into the shoe compartment that can hold up to a six pack and will keep it cool for hours. That was one of the biggest attractions for me.
nice review bo, that one thing that i ilke to u bo you are very honest for all the review and it will big help to the people tnx.
Thank you very much, Loyd
Dude, kinda late to the video, but the sternum strap stays in place like a beast as long as you fold the metal hook on top of the latch that it passes through. Props for the video tho!
I dd the bag from their kickstarter. I ordered their 17in model which as it turns out was a design oversight which ended up the bag not able to hold a 17in laptop. So the 24L part i think ended up the bag was actually smaller.
Review on point. Every problem I could think of.
Thanks, mate 😉 ✌️
Nice review. For me the user experience is more important, build quality follows. Thank you Bo. Im keeping my 30l peak design backpack. The ease of access and the organization is perfect for me.
Thanks, Karl. I really need to review a peak design bag in the future
@@Youknowthebo you should. Ill be waiting. Keep up the good content
i also was a kick starter, the original add stated it would fit most 17" laptops, and i was in the process of laptop shopping, i need a large screen for my work, but i decided to down size for this bag, I bought a Asus Zephryus, a 15.6" *THIN* laptop. After getting my Bag, the 15.6" laptop wont fit, i went out of my way to downgrade my laptop experience for work, for this bag. and still got screwed. They told me to send the bag back in and spend extra money and buy there big bag
Thanks for sharing your experience, Robert. I've read a couple of comments regarding the laptop compartment. I'm sad to hear that you had this kind of experience with your purchase.
I love your channel, I have been binge-watching all of your reviews. I am curious though, what do you do with all of the products you have?
Thank you very much, Tim. I'm happy to hear that you enjoy my videos. I keep all the bags in my storage room. Here is a video about it ua-cam.com/video/Z8F153GZ3p4/v-deo.html
Please review the updated recycled firefighter 24 hr battalion! Some reviewers seem to prefer it over goruck and cpl24, but some reddit comments are against the brand because of the return policy a few years back. Time has passed and I feel that the politics is getting in the way of any future reviews. Would love to hear your take on it.
They have been on my wishlist for a while. I hope I can review one in the future
All those steps, at least it is secured.
Makes me appreciate my Dakine Campus backpack, not high tech at all but it serves its purpose to carry stuff from home to work.
Now high tech camera bags, well, I will leave that topic alone for now.
Its good to be honest, since you got so much experience with various backpacks the bag makers should be listening to you.
For me a product either works or doesn't work and I go from there.
Agreed. It is more secure, but if it is more of a hassle like on the top flap, the risk is that you just get too bothered to close it at all and then it doesn't really matter anymore 😂
Great video, thank you. I am considering purchasing this for school and this video helps me out a lot.
Thank you very much, Tim. Let me know if you have any more questions 😉 ✌️
This sums up the bag for me as well. The KS and policy changes for Canadians were a huge hassle and quite disappointing. However, I agree with your pros and cons 100%!
I felt like there were too many compartments that do not have it's own volume, thus it will dig into the main 24L volume of the bag. You use the outer water bottle pocket, the top wall pocket, the ny-wool pocket, or you use two charger pockets on the laptop wall, you will lose a ton of room on the inside. That may be the reason why it felt like a 19L bag and cause an awkward space for items. I also hate the laptop magnetic flap and it gets in the way 😡
Well said. In addition to your point: the hypalon is a great, durable and waterproof material, but doesn't have much give and expandability. So that adds to the limiting space.
For instance the oppose this invisible backpack (which I really love) has lots of compartments that also expand into the main compartment, but the whole bag uses a very flexible and expanding material, so the main compartment doesn't feel that small or limited at all
Hi Bo, could you do a review for the Cote & Ciel Nile and the Arcteryx GRANVILLE ZIP 16 BACKPACK. I use both of them and they are aswome. Minimalistic, finest materials and nice compartments...
I agreed the negative points u mentioned. But I still think that the bag is a very good design, just something imperfect.
If u are looking for the bag with simple access, may be a Jansport would suit u most.
Agreed. As I said: Quality and looks are awesome, but from a practical standpoint the bag is not for me.
I bought the Errant, but ended up returning it. The biggest issues I had was about 1) the CB-1 made the top lid hard to close 2) capacity too small 3) annoying magnetic clips 4) stupid lid zipper
Thanks for sharing your experience with the Errant, Yunlu
Thank you for that precise analysis of the bag. There's one more point I'd like to know about: Is the bag able to stand upright on its own? Thanks in advance and best wishes
Hey Bo, I recently stumbled upon the Thule Accent 28L at a store. I didn't even know Thule made bags, but I was really surprised at how nice the bag was. It has pretty much every feature that I think would make an awesome daily carry. Material felt good, organization was awesome, very well thought out layout. The only thing that held me back from it was exterior design(bulkyness) wasn't my cup of tea. They also have a 23l on their website but it wasn't in store. I think it would be a good bag to review.
Thule makes some high quality stuff. I tested one of their rolling bags in the past.
I have both the Prima and the Errant and have returned to the Prima again as I find it easier to use for EDC commuting to and from work. My regret about both systems is that Boundary seem to design some great features but I truly wonder if they test their prototypes packed with the kind of stuff we carry. Once you start loading either of the bags you find - as mentioned in the review and many of the comments - that using one feature prevents using anotherr as the compete for limited space. Sometimes simpler is better. My main reason for going back to the Prima is, though, the non-functioning magnetic locks on the flap. If bag is filled the flap is hard to close. If only half-filled the bag is difficult to open. WTF? Did Boundary actually test this properly??
Hi Bo, kinda late to the band wagon, only just knew of this bag last week.
It's a great review! I can understand the disappointment, advertised as 24L but in reality only 20L or so. I've been looking to get a good bag for some time. So I just wanted to ask you, when this bag is completely empty, how thick is the bag (like does it squash into a thin item)? I want something that's thin enough so it doesn't take up too much space when I pack it inside my suitcase. I have the Incase City Backpack, it's thick foam paddings takes up too much room inside a suitcase. Cheers!
Great review, what is the coat you are wearing?
I managed to get the Errant in December so I've put a few miles on it. I feel that this bag is mediocre without the use of its accessories. I have the camera insert and while it does make the top closure harder to access, it worked well on a snowshoe trip where I took my camera. Like the Prima I think the Errants specialty is in the greater system.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Donnie. That's a good point. But unlike the errant the prima feels not that limited in practice without the extras. But using the bag with all the extras is a good point I might need to look into. Although those don't eliviate my issues with all the magnetic flaps and straps unfortunately
Hi, Bo! Thank for great review! Can you recommend 25L or less EDC backpack with "quickacces side compartment" like on the Errant which can be accessable on-the-go. Thanks a lot.
Ah, this video is very helpful and I think I definitely would have ran into the same pain points as you. Is there another back pack you would recommend that's similar in style / design without these pain points? Thanks!
So true! I like the bag but once I realize how much I paid for it, I do not think it was worth it.
honest review
It looks way too complicated... Great to see your channel is doing so well!
Thank you very much for always watching my videos 😉 ✌️
the title sums it all... you were probably overhyped by all the comments and recommendations. I'm still looking forward to receiving mine to test it out because i dont think i'll be too affected by the negatives you have pointed out.
Yeah, I was probably too hyped about it. And as I said in the afterword in the end: great quality bag, but just not for me. Your mileage might vary. Please let me know how you like the bag once you have received it 😉
I’m still waiting for my Boundary Supply Chase Pants that I backed on Kickstarter. While I do understand delays in production, especially now that the Coronavirus has slowed production in China..I’m just really upset with them because they started another Kickstarter campaign for a backpack while simultaneously still trying to fulfill orders on their pants, which is getting dangerously close to 1 year in the making now. They reiterated to us that the second Kickstarter campaign will not affect the production of the pants but I find that to be complete BS. I don’t think a small business with a small team that is used to slow production cycles due to crowd funding, cannot work on multiple major projects like this efficiently and optimally. And, I’m extremely bothered by this.
I’ve only ever backed 2 projects on Kickstarter and 2 projects on Indiegogo and I have yet to receive ANYTHING despite being promised delivery a while again for each item with one travel jacket now taking over a year for production. Boundary Supply’s Chase Pants are getting close to a year. And I’m waiting on two different electronics on Indiegogo that I backed a few months ago but are hit hard by China’s production issues with the virus.
I own a xpac black errant , maybe it's just my cat but the xpac really likes to attract cat fur .
I use the bag as my go to camera bag since I don't have the camera accessories for it so I make use of the shoe compartment putting a camera cube in it .it holds all my gear so I don't have too much to complains about it (can't say the same about the company itself).
(My gear usually consists of a a7iii , a6000 , tripod , weebill lab(I use the laptop compartment for this) , as well as two prime lenses and a tamron 28-75)
That's a pretty interesting idea to put the camera cube in the shoe compartment. Definitely makes getting to it faster 👍
Its not just you or the xpack. The regular errant collects a golden retrievers worth of hair every couple of days.
Dear Bo. Highly enticipated video - thanks. Do you think the X-pac version would have the same downsides as well? Having said so, currently own a relatively cheap Targus 15.6" CitySmart Advanced backpack which definity fulfill my backpack carry need as of right now. Will definitely move to something more "exclusive" in the future. Perhaps have heard anythings about Targus stuff so you could say a few words about their products? :-) thank you.
I have the X-PAC version, and there is no difference outside of the base material being more durable. All the points he brought up are 100% accurate.
@@greysplash Thank you :)
Thanks, Greysplash for sharing your experience.
This review was really useful! Thnx!
I agree, if only the mesh division could collapse when not in use. The bag requires that you use the top loading and the clam shell in tandem and not just pick one. I'd like to be able to access my laptop on the top loading too, but there is that nasty pocket/divider. Good design, but just bad interior space.
Well you are wearing Revit so you have good taste.
Hi Bo, loved the review!
Is there a chance you could take a look at the BlackPack Franken bag? It's a bit pricey, but I've only seen one other reviewer cover the bag and would love a second opinion.
Thanks, Stork. I haven't heard of the bag before. I'll Google it 😉 ✌️
My curiosity is with the jacket your wearing in the video. The black one when you finally wear it to show it off based on your size and frame. What the brand or link to that jacket.
Hey Juan. That's the Alchemy Equipment AEM105 raincoat. I'm currently testing it.
Same feeling of your review ,i am highly expectation of this bag and after watching your verdict that i am almost agreed with you ,thank you bo .
By the way ,is that backpack heavy when it is empty ? So many traps and other button in this bag
Thanks, Chu. To me it doesn't feel heavy. Especially compared to other bags.
Great review! Thank you very much!
EXCELLENT review!!!!
Thank you very much 😉 ✌️
Can you so a review on north face fuse box 2? It’s not a new bag but I can’t find much reviews about it. Also do you have a recommendation for college backpacks?
Some stuff that I wish to carry are 3-4 note pads, thick folder for notes, laptop & accessories, water bottle, jacket, pencil case and some miscellaneous items. Thank you :)
Honest review. Good stuff
Thanks, mate 😉 ✌️
I love your videos and reveiws and usually i agree with many of them, but this one feels a bit off to me. Kinda makes me feel you tried to use the bag your way too much or idk cause a lot of negatives you have mentioned in my experience aren't that dramatic or aren't a real problem at all. I agree with the capacity problems, that is something one has to be aware of. Also all the compartments cut into the main capacity of the bag so while it is versatile, one cannot expect to use all the pockets at once. However for the other problems idk, it's important to realise that the backpack is intended as a top loading bag and the clamshell opening is there mostly just for the airport laptop guidelines and maybe for easier access to the mash compartments on the main panel or to something stuck at the bottom of the bag, it is not really meant as a replacement for the top loading opening. When it comes to the fidlock magnets, in my experience they work great, always close perfectly on their own and its not hard to open them even when the bag is empty. Its just a matter of using one finger to kind of anchor your hand on the body of the bag and rest of your fingers to lift up the lid. Also the magnet in the laptop compartment can be attached to the magnet for the tablet compartment so it's out of the way if you don't want to use it and it's also simple to open one handed once you get used to it. As for the zippers and magnetic strap for the clamshell opening, if you are affraid that the zipper could open by itself, it's already good enough security to have the zippers on the side, resting right above the magnetic security strap so that you can still open the laptop compartment easily. The strap will make sure it won't open clamshell all the way anyway and the zippers are off centre enough when it's closed so that it can't open on it's own. The strap is for this purpose on the opposite side than the secondary handle is. That handle is btw more like meant as a hanger loop rather than a real handle.
All very valid points. And I really appreciate the constructive feedback and sharing your experience with the bag. Again everything you mentioned is very valid, but as you mentioned "I might have used it for my usecase". And that is a very important destination. We all have different usecases and ways how we use products. And that's what makes bags so interesting. They highly underline how we are different (eg. Body shapes, usecases, preferences). Therefore what works for you might not work for someone else.
That is basically why I prefer to be overly critical in my reviews. That way you as a viewer can evaluate if those points would actually apply to your usecase or not. Or if you can work around those downsides. All of the positives are usually already mentioned in the feature list of a product page. Therfore I believe my work as a reviewer is too nitpick at every single negative that you need to know to make an educated buying decision.
At least that is the way I like to watch reviews of items that I might want to buy. I hope that is understandable. The errant is still a great bag. Very well build and great Design. Just not 100% for me. And I am reviewing the errant pro at the moment 😉
Thanks again for the great comment
I was laughing already from the title.... Like I said before, I think this bag has great concept but execution was less than desirable. I think if they did a revision of this backpack it can be so much better.
I agree: the bag's quality is great, and a version 2 definitely has good potential to be great in practice as well
Kinda honest review, thx
Thanks, Maxim. 😉 ✌️
Dayfarer or this boundary Errant? Which one do u choose and why?
I can easily load my doctor marten shoes at the lower compartment by just turn the bag upside down. And you might find the other lost three liter.
What shoe size do you have? And are those high top or low tops?
Bo Ismono They’re US8 with low tops.
It’s a design flaw whenever you put metal anywhere near the laptop compartment.
rydmerlin you mean the magnets?
Good review but the filter you use is annoying. Some people watch reviews to get an idea on the true color of products.
Thanks for the honest feedback. I get your point. I like to color grade all my videos. It just makes the whole film making process much more enjoyable for me. And since UA-cam is a passion project for me on which I don't earn that much money (what I earn is basically covering the production costs), I believe it's also important for me to have as much fun creating these videos as possible. And one part is color grading. Hopefully that makes sense.
I had the errant for more than a month now, and yeah.. I am disappointed because it really had the potential to be perfect. While I love the mesh pocket as a "put whatever in this" pocket, it does indeed cripples the possibility of packing. Overall it feels too overengineered. Switched to a CPL and damn, it feels like night and day.
You should review one of the bags from Velo Transit!
hey man!
first of all: thx a lot for this nice and honest review. i‘ve been using this bag now for a couple of weeks and i feel the urge to share my opinion with this bag.
i didn‘t get the bag from the kickstarter campaign but bought it from their website. when i see your review i have the feeling that we have completely different bags. it feels like i got a version 2 or so.
first of all: the service on their website was great and i didn‘t have any problems at all. i ordered my bag in february and though it said that it’s supposed to be shipped in the middle of march, i was really surprised when i suddenly got the bag in the first week of march. i was really surprised and it seems that they‘ve really improved their shipping and that they‘ve learned from their mistakes on kickstarter.
now to the bag itself: i can‘t relate to some of the problems you have. like the magnetic strap which protects the laptop. yes, it is a bit overengineered, but you can just flap the strap down and it stays on the magnet of the ipad compartment so it doesn‘t get in the way. if it’s still annoying you, you can actually go all the way and just cut the thing off.
also i didn’t have the same problems when using the clampshell. this little wall that holds the camera cube is quite flexible and you can easily reach under it to load the bag. of course it’s not as 100% convenient as with a bag without this wall but in my opinion just a really tiny compromise which i could get used to very quickly.
the side strap to protect the zippers from going all the way open: i think it’s such a good idea. at work i usually put the bag on the ground in upright position, i keep both zippers next to the strap and then i just open one zipper. this way it‘s so easy to get my laptop and all the stuff in the top pocket out and the bag doesn’t open accidentally. for me this is like super handy.
some things you didn’t cover in your video at all: the modularity.
this is where the bag becomes really really cool. i also bought the two camera cubes and the waist straps. so i load up the cubes with all my camera stuff. depending on what i want to use the bag for, i just can throw these cubes in or take them out. in my opinion this is a super easy and very quick way to switch between a photo-bag to every day backpack. there’s no taking out of velcro parts when you want to use it for the gym and then putting them in when you use it for a photo job. just take out the cubes or throw them back in. so easy and very quick.
i was really surprised how well the additional waist straps work. they are actually able to hold the whole bags weight and put it comfortably on your hips like you would expect it from a proper hiking backpack.
but yeah, capacity is a minus. it feels a bit smaller than i would have expected it. but to be honest it’s still enough to hold clothes including a pair of shoes for a weekend trip. so for me this is just enough.
and again: you have the option to buy the aux compartment to enlarge the bag if you still need some more space. (which i also bought).
to be honest, i have one big minus: the price. with all the cool additions which are actually necessary to make use of the well designed features, the price raises up to about 450$. this is quite a lot, but in my eyes still worth it. still, you can see that this is where they make the money. the additions are very overprized compared to the bag itself.
oh, one thing to add. my sternum straps are really really tight and it’s actually crazy difficult to remove them. maybe they’ve stiffened up the strap holders on my bag.
so that was just my personal experience but i hope it helps to get a transparent view to others so that they can decide if the bag will be useful to them. as always it just comes down to personal preferences and what you’re used to. but i love this bag and the fact that everything‘s so well organized and that i can easily switch between different fields of use.
good for you if you're happy with the service. go to their kickstarter page NOW. as of TODAY hundreds of backer still have trouble with their bag being fulfilled.
ok that’s really bad. guess i was just lucky then. but as i said, this was just my personal experience
It's no fault of yours, but you got your bag so quickly because they shipped you a bag that was meant for a Kickstarter backer.
You got your bag so quick not because of luck, because they sent you the stuff which is supposed to be sent to kickstarter buyers. They forgot what is FIRST IN FIRST OUT.
However, I agreed your comment. It is a wonderful bag with the accessories.
I found it interesting that so many people have been waiting for Bo's review to confirm their hate for the bag that they have already bought and tested lol.
The Errant is a bit of disappointment for my expectation honestly, because I prefer the simplicity design of the prototype (without all that added attachment points for accessaries on the top flap and bottom), and all that bullshit promise for using nywool material for the commuting pocket.
But life is simple, guys. If the bag suits you, it is a good product...FOR YOU, but may be not for someone else. If the bag doesnt suit you, it is not a good product...FOR YOU, but may be good for someone else. So, if you don't like the bag, return it. Buy something else that makes you happy.
Thanks, Khoa. Very well said ;-)
which colour is your errant ? Blue or black ?
@WeiKiat:
This is AND was the only accurate and objective review of this bag!
The most reviewers just get excited of the look and design^^
The legendary Bo did it again; well done 💯
Errant bag: 2/10 Points
KICK STARTERT did not deliver my order I am so disappointed
Bo as an EDC which do you prefer this or the Able Carry? I know we both have the same X-PAC one lol
Definitely the Able Carry. It's a well build bag that is also great in practice. It's also small as the errant, but it also claims to be 20l, further the material has more give and flex to expand a bit