Bellroy Weekender - An excellent modern travel bag with great design, organisation & functionality.
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- Review of the Bellroy Weekender 30L. A modern, alternative take on the classic weekender genre made of great materials and featuring a very high degree of organisation for this category of bag.
It's main claim is simply being an excellently executed modern take on the category with ton of organisation and surprising carrying capacity whilst maintaining compact and dense form factor. The bag can be overpacked well but doesn't ever feel unwieldy to carry nor disorganized on the inside thanks to clever design and plentiful organisation. The sleek materials and modern low-profile design make it perfect for people who want a bag perfect for 2-3 day leisure trips but are turned off by the heavy, bulky nylon and leather looks of most classic weekenders.
Bellroy Weekender 30L: bellroy.com/pro...
Note: All the products we review are purchased with our own money and all opinions expressed are our own.
A very, very, detailed review. I really appreciate the way you move the bag around and show us all the pockets, and potential uses, and also note how much you can stuff in the outside pockets without it being unaccessible.
Thanks for the detailed and honest review!
My pleasure! Your releases are really killing it in the carry game these days - keep up the great work!
Always used Bellroy products since 2013! They have come so far since producing their first wallet! Nice...
super love how elaborated the review is!
Thank you so much for the kind words Doyalin5548! I’m glad you enjoyed my video! :)
Just want to say I really appreciate your detailed responses to comments that point out the pros and cons for different use cases! I was considering this bag or the PD duffel, but will probably go for the North Face instead based on your analysis.
I really enjoyed your insightful, humble and sincere review! Added value to my decision making. Wishing your channel to continuously grow and that more success to come your way in abundance.
Thank you so much for the kind words Zaid! I'm so glad you found this useful!
Great opening note on public transport. I have a 35 litre samsonite spinner case I will use for any weekends. If it's going to weight over 5KG, it can roll
Amen my friend!! I will carry heavier loads when I have backpack straps but when it comes to a weekender or duffle.... yeah, wheels for sure if they start to get too heavy!! No fun carrying heavy loads in one hand/on one shoulder for anything other than short distances :)
This feels like the 3-row midsize SUV of bags; just because you can fully load it after finding your personal use case balance of people and cargo, doesn't mean you should. Maybe a set of clothes and toiletries, or maybe some tech and change of gym clothes and shoes, but not a mule to carry absolutely everything without sacrificing something somewhere.
Well put - and taking your metaphor a bit further, then its bigger 45L cousin the Bellroy Weekender Plus would be a full-sized SUV - probably too big and unwieldy for most daily urban use but if you sometimes need to move everything plus the kitchen sink then... 😂
I'm stuck in this weird position where the Bellroy Weekender 30L is my favorite bag that I've seen across all of my bag search, but it doesn't seem to work for the two-bag travel that I do on planes (you mention the profile being kind of absurd when you use the luggage passthrough), and it doesn't seem to work for one-bag travel or as a personal item on planes, either because it's kind of awkward to stash it in the carry on compartment or under the seat. Sigh. Maybe I'll just go for the Pakt One or the Pakt Travel Backpack. Also tempted to do a combination of the Topo Designs global briefcase and global travel roller bag or maybe a spinner from Monos or July. I love the idea of a small personal item that can pass through the handle on a rolling luggage carry-on.
Update: Bought the bag and took it on its maiden voyage over this past weekend. Flew from SLC to LA paired with a Patagonia Atom sling as a personal item. The bag is great. The shoulder strap provides a nice way to mix up the carry if your arm gets tired or you have a long walk to your terminal. Overall the bag feels very high quality and durable and holds its weight well. I also like the included laundry bags. One important thing I wanted to test over the weekend was whether the bag fit under the seat in front of me, and I was pleasantly surprised that it did. It was a Delta flight but quite a small plane and I rode in economy. It was a good thing it fit as well because a few people at the back of the plane were forced to check their bags after the overhead bin space ran out. Mountain is right that the bag looks a little hefty on top of rolling luggage, but since it fits under the seat I could make it work if I had a ton to pack. I should add that I am a fairly short person at 5'7" so I could maybe see it cutting down on your leg space if you're taller. I usually aim for a light setup and I think Mountain is very right about how well this bag will work for road-tripping. Slots perfectly into a car's seat well. Bellroy makes great gear!
@@IceToTheThird I've been having the same concern and am trying to decide between the Bellroy and the Patagonia bag shown also in this review. I usually do air travel with a Samsonite overhead trolley so I'm looking for something that would take up maximum volume I can fit under seat and would also travel well on top of the trolley.
Based on your experience, would you go for one or the other?
Excellent review, thank you! I'm a nursing student and have been looking for a bag (not bookbag) with plenty of pockets to help keep my things organized when I'm traveling to different hospitals during clinicals. And one I can easily wipe clean after being thrown on hospital floors etc. It's pricey though 😬 If I didn't have to pay for books I would get it immediately 😁
Hi MunkyPawz! First of all, amazing user name 😂
While I am not a nursing student, I wonder if the Bellroy Weekender might be too big for your intended use case? If you need to carry several changes of clothes and a large volume of stuff between the hospitals then probably it's the right choice :) On the other hand if you're going home at the end of every shift etc. and don't need all that capacity then you may also wish to consider a tote solution.
Some totes to consider:
* Bellroy Tokyo Tote (they also sell Tote backpacks like Tokyo Totepack or Totepack duo)
* Aer Gym Tote
* Mission Workshop Drift Tote
* Bellroy System Messenger (a messenger but similar organisation to Weekender/Totes in a slightly different form factor)
etc.
The advantages I see for the totes are a smaller more manageable size that should be easier to haul between hospitals and easy to stash next to you on a chair/desk while you're working, easy in-and-out access due to the top loading nature, with all your stuff easily viewable/accessible from the top, and generally just better form factor for cases where you're not taking a bunch of clothes/toiletries and don't need the excess capacity.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a huge fan of the Bellroy Weekender but just wanted to suggest another potential form factor in case the size of the Weekender was something you were concerned about.
My wife bought one for me, love it!
That's excellent! What an awesome wife!!! 👍☺️
Nice review 👍! If possible please do a review on the Arc'teryx carrier duffle, thanks
Thank you so much! Sure, happy to do that - stay tuned!
Hey there! Here you go - a review of the Arcteryx Carrier Duffle just for you :)
czcams.com/video/E385BEE3gec/video.html
Wow thanks! Didn't expect it this soon
I’ve liked and am commenting because I thought this was a very informative, insightful, and well executed video and it’s criminal you’ve only received 2,000 views.
A request - I actually found myself here looking for thoughts on the Bellroy Flight Bag. Do you have any plans to review this item?
Hi Colin! Thank you so much for the very kind words and for the thumbs ups! I appreciate it!
I made a decision early on when starting this channel that I was going to treat it as a labour of love and not worry too much about engagement - you know that whole thing where creators go "WHHAAAAAT IS GOING ON IT'S YOUUUURRR BOIIIII MOUNTAIN! BEFORE WE GET STARTED REMEMBER TO THUMBS UP, LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE AND SMASH THAT BELL ICON SO YOU GET blah blah blah" (^^) (omg - and don't even get me started on the crazy thumbnail click bait - hence why every thumbnail on here is a simple shot of the bag)
So my thinking was - as a person who just really loves bags, let me make reviews for other people who love bags (or are just interested in them) and try to make it as useful, interesting and helpful for them as possible - and hope that if this is good enough content, it will find its way to others who might be considering a given bag in time to help them make a decision.
So when a viewer like you genuinely appreciates the content and genuinely comments and likes my content - that really brings a smile to my face and makes me happy I'm doing this. So thank you so much! :)
Regarding the Bellroy Flight Bag - so I do own this bag but haven't had a chance to travel with it as much as I would have liked. I'm actually running into this problem a fair bit with the whole corona situation, especially for bags that I think almost cry out for testing on trips that involve airline travel (such as the flight pack) - normally I travel so much I can thoroughly test lots of different bags, but with the curtailed schedules this year...
All of which is to say, I do plan to review the bag but just want to take a few more trips with it to solidify my options. That having been said, I've been considering doing "overview" or "preview/initial impression" type videos - less thorough than a review but still useful, especially for bags with few videos out there about them. (I was in a similar situation when I was debating the flight bag - there was the Rushfaster review I found and... not much else). Would that be something you'd be interested in?
Also - if you have a few specific questions about the bag I am happy to answer those here in this comment!!
@@TheMountainborn
Hello again,
I apologize for the delay however I wanted to wait until I had a few minutes to sit-down to compose a proper reply.
Yes - I couldn’t agree more the about the obnoxious CZcamsr stereotype, but I do want to be quick to point-out there are successful channels which break that mould entirely. As someone who operates more in the outdoors space, Shawn Jame’s ‘My Self Reliance’ channel comes to mind. It has 1.53M subscribers as of today and most of his content does not even include him speaking directly to the camera. Quoting Casey Neistat to summarize my point - ‘create the content you want to watch’.
I also want to take a moment to highlight how well your knowledge and passion does come through the video. I watched this 38min video on a bag I had no intent to purchase and now I’m envisioning different use-case scenarios for myself. Lol
I’d also like to throw out a bit of a self-interested consideration - collaboration with other CZcamsrs which compliment your content and may introduce new viewership to your channel. I’ve seen the London, UK-based SORTEDfood (2.42M subscribers) do it with other American CZcamsrs and even myself who intends to start an outdoors channel. I have a few outdoors bags we could review, both for legitimate informational purposes as well as a bit of a laugh. Continue to do it as ‘a labour of love’, but stay open to new opportunities which can help you succeed in your own space.
Re: the flight bag, some points of consideration I have are whether there are any structural reinforcements to prevent the bag from becoming ‘over stuffed’ and looses its shape (important for air travel to be compliance with dimensional restrictions), materials and craftsmanship, features and benefits, etc. I honestly watch reviews not so much to confirm my own suspicions, but to weigh someone else’s feedback against my own needs and learn of things which I had not previously considered.
All the best,
- Colin
Bellroy have the funds to research into a better way of opening that bag - it’s looks such a faff to get into - I’m glad you highlighted this in your review as it’s the reason I didn’t buy it (I went with a Nappa Dori herringbone) - good review thanks
My pleasure Marc! Glad you enjoyed the video and found it useful! I do like this bag overall but agree that the opening probably could have been done better - interested to see what/how they approach it if they ever do a v2.
Great review! Has me wondering if an apex and weekender could be enough for a longer trip. Whenever we’re able to go on those again. Haha
Thank you - glad it was useful! So I took a stab at answering your questions below:
So firstly, regarding longer trips - all things being equal (meaning identical climate conditions, urban vs. outdoors, etc.) I - and I think a lot of single bag travelers - tend to pack the same whether for a short 2 day trip or a longer 30 day trip. So in my opinion, almost any bag that will suffice for a trip of say 2-3 nights, can, at least in terms of capacity, almost certainly suffice for a longer trip. The devil however is in the details - things such as friction of access or suboptimal pocketing might be tolerable for a short time, but over longer trips the aggregate net negative impact can become substantial.
**Regarding one bag travel (OBT) with the Apex**
I have very mixed feelings about the Apex and have not yet tried to OBT with it. However, I have used it a fair bit and can make some educated guesses based on that plus my experience traveling in general.
First in terms of capacity, I just tried putting in mostly the same load out as from this Weekender video (packing cube with clothing, dopp kit, electronics kit, camera (minus the PD sling), running shoes + workout clothes and computer) and everything sort of fit. It carried so-so (personally I don't think the Apex does that well under heavy load but it is certainly passable) and the top flap had to be let out a couple more "rungs" on the ladder than usual.
Thus, I think one could certainly OBT with the Apex but it probably wouldn't be my first choice due to a couple of factors:
1. Friction with accessing the internal contents quickly. Yes you can fillet the bag open (great) but this takes time and space. Great for a hotel bed, terrible for when you're on the move/outside. When you need to access things quickly the Apex falls down in typical OBT scenarios: specifically, the computer is hard to quickly get in and out when the bag is packed up with everything above without spilling out everything, external pockets are very hard to use when bag is packed out, and the top lid + L-hook closure system is not nearly as fast or convenient as high quality zippers, especially when you just need to unzip say a top zipper just a bit to grab something (passport, etc.) from inside an internal pocket and then return it quickly. No such thing is possible with the flap closure.
2. A slightly odd shape - the Apex is tapered and angled all around while I have found squarish type OBT bags to be the best in terms of volume to weight/size ratio + ease of packing
3. suboptimal pocketing - there's a lot of pockets on the Apex, but I find it lacks ones that I find useful during travel - specifically large flat internal/external pockets on the front lid that are easily accessible even when the bag is loaded; the Apex places the inner large flat pocket on the back against the laptop compartment which makes it essentially unusable without taking out all the contents if the bag is fully packed out as it would be in OBT. There is a small inner top flap lid but one of them is insecure so not useful for anything you don't want to risk losing, especially when you fillet out the front lid and the second one is zippered but due to material construction and deep placement is very hard to access quickly when bag is packed out.
4. Doesn't stand up well on its own or when leaned against a surface - I find myself setting down OBT bags all the time during travel and again, having a boxy shape helps them either self-stand or else stand when leaned against something. The Apex's angled shape means this won't work - it slides down all the time and requires constant attention, or else has to be set down on its front/back
5. Shoulder straps / sternum strap / back sheet aren't my preference - I say preference here because I don't necessarily think they're bad (except the sternum strap which I will take the slightly more aggressive stance of saying it's terrible and tragically so. Steadfastly disagree with whatever design thinking lead to this) but just don't necessarily appeal to me.
So those are my initial thoughts on the Apex + OBT, though again, I haven't actually tried it. I did do a review on the Heimplanet Monolith Daypack which is my current "always packed" OBT bag so that may also provide some insight into my personal preferences/packing styles for OBT for additional context about my comments above (since packing style is very much a personal preference and affects how anyone reviews a bag and how viewers should regard (or disregard!) said reviews :) )
**Regarding the Weekender for OBT**
I just did a review on this above so I won't repeat those bits :) however the tl;dr is:
1. Yes, you could certainly OBT for a longer amount of time with the weekender especially capacity wise, however depending on the details of your longer trip, it would not be ideal in my opinion for multiple reasons.
2. Biggest concern - insufficient load carriage over anything other than short distances (see my comments in the video) this will add up and become miserable quickly unless you're going from car to hotel, hotel to car, car to next hotel, hotel to car, etc.
3. In the video above, I mentioned I carried a sling with the weekender which works great for short leisure trips. But for a longer trip - and here is where the details start to matter - you almost certainly will find yourself needing a backpack in addition (i.e. to carry your laptop places, or if you go shopping during the day, etc.) - and that means now you need to pack an additional backpack into this bag. There's a few options that will work but all but the most packable (and hence less useful in practice) ones will take up a lot of space from the weekender. They will fit, but it's not as nice.
4. The Weekender is (in my opinion, as mentioned in the video) oriented towards moving from point A to point B, then taking out all your stuff and putting it in a dresser etc. It's a little less useful if you're constantly loading into/out of the bag due to the opening as mentioned. So depending on the details of your longer trip (i.e. if you're just staying in the same hotel for 20 days, then this is fine, but if you're constantly moving from one place to the other and staying in different accommodations, then this quickly becomes painful) this may not be the best choice.
5. Similarly to the above, access to the contents is not as easy as a bag that opens up completely like a clamshell/fillet. Can be an issue if you're constantly loading/unloading.
Just curious...does the stitching of the bellroy weekender leather handle strap comes loose with heavy load/ usage over time?
Hi B - it hasn't for me yet, and I've been using it for a couple of years by this point I believe. That said, it's a travel weekender so I tend to use it in more urban / civilized travel type scenarios and I tend to be a fairly well-traveled minimalist traveler so the loads aren't that supremely heavy. In general I haven't had any Bellroy bags (of any type) fall apart on me over the many years I've used them, but if you are hauling cement bricks this weekender and throwing it into the back of a pickup truck on a daily basis I can't speak to how it will hold up in that case 😂
i bought one for myself, but my wife took it and used it as a baby bag.....
hahaha awwwww....!
Thank you for the insightful and thorough review. One question I had was how well the Bellroy weekender folds up. I have a tendency to pack a folded duffle that sits inside the compression sleeve of my carry-on for on trips in case I end up having to use it and am curious to see if this bag was capable of getting folded and if so how flat can it be?
Hi Judy! Great question!
So unfortunately, while the Bellroy weekender can be folded/squished down a bit, it has a bit of padding on the floor and some mild structure that prevents it from getting as small as you might be hoping.
For me, I think the best bet if packing it is to either lay it flat (in which case it gets to about 57 x 43 x 3cms - approximate since it's bit squishable still so you can probably squish it down a bit further in each dimension in your compression sleeve at the expense of introducing some hard-to-remove creases to the fabric) or else to fold it once longitudinally (maintaining the 57cm dimension, halving the 43cm dimension and roughly 2.5x-ing the 3cm dimension - there will still be wrinkles if you compress but not as badly perhaps).
From my perspective, the biggest problem is that this is just a pretty big bag especially in the longitudinal dimension (≈57cm) which generally will exceed the internal capacity of most carry on suitcases so you will have a hard time fitting it in and if you do, you will probably lose far more capacity than it's worth.
If you're looking for a foldable "emergency" bag for if you have more stuff on the way back than on the way outward ;) would be to look at stuffable / packable bags. Some of my favourite are the Matador series of packable bags: matadorup.com/collections/packable-backpacks
These get super duper small but can still hold a sizeable capacity when expanded and are still fairly robustly built. The packable tote or duffle in particular I think are excellent choices for the use case you are describing. There are also older versions of their packable totes and duffles (before their On Grid series) that get down even smaller albeit at the expense of maybe not looking as refined as the OnGrid line. Their packable tote and/or duffle is personally what I use for my "emergency extra bag" when one bag traveling :)
I hope this helps!
Hey- great review, couple of queries.
I have a few bags from Boundary, Wandrd, Millican etc but looking at this as a more formal work bag. I like the premium version in black but my concern is that the 45l will be overkill but the 30l too small...however, looking at your review this does seem to be a 'roomy' 30l, would you agree?
Are the materials nicer/ more durable on this premium version as its listed vs the Classic weekender?
Is that the standard size dopp or the plus?
Thanks
Hi Pete!
Yes, in my experience the 30L is fairly roomy and I think this bag has a decent amount of flex/and handles being over-packed better than many bags due to its construction (some clever dimensionality, flex/slight gusseting etc.). For most short trips I think most people could get by with this size, and for more experienced travelers, you can also do longer trips at this capacity.
I agree with you that the 45L is probably overkill for many situations - I think that carry 45L in this type of form factor is also quite challenging in some circumstances - bags of that capacity can get quite heavy if packed out fully and so I generally prefer either backpack straps or wheels for any kind of extended carry at that volume.
Regarding materials in the 35L Premium Weekender vs the 35L Classic Weekender (with a more traditional duffel form factor) I'd say technically the Premium one might be considered to be slightly higher quality materials due to the usage of some form of leather for the main handles and also what I think some might consider to be a slightly more premium feeling body fabric (or rather - the classic's body fabric choices seem slightly more casual regardless of the colourway), but I don't believe the difference is actually that supremely noticeable if I'm being honest. Neither will be mistaken for a true luxury leather style weekender, and it's not like the classic weekender is shabby or anything. I personally think the slightly flatter, more vertical form factor of the 35L Premium weekender probably makes it seems slightly more professional/classy than the more casual, traditional classic weekender duffle sillhouett. In my opinion there is likely no functional difference in durability between the two bags, though I must admit I've not really put the 35L classic version through its paces so I can't say definitively.
The dopp kit I show in the video is the standard sized one!
I hope this helps!
@@TheMountainborn thanks very much for the detailed reply, really helpful! Since commenting I did purchase the 30l premium weekender along with the standard sized dopp kit. Love them both. As you mentioned, anything larger, especially with tech gear/ a laptop would be quite weighty & uncomfortable to carry on a single shoulder strap so that’s where something like the wandrd hexad (60l) would come in. The weekender will be reserved for 1 or 2 night business travel/ smarter occasions.
Thanks again for the great review & reply 👍🏼
I am stuck between this one and PKG Bishop 2 (Blackout)
Bellroy is very expensive, more minimal, higher and slimmer while PKG is more classical design and more wider/rounder
I mainly will be using it for traveling between cities and such (maybe plane carry on) - will mostly put clothes and some shoes
I already own bellroy classic premium backpack, so I know the quality is top notch
I am just not sure about handles (being flat - although that can be changed later on), and the slimmer profile - as you mentioned clothes gotta be put sideways not just flat
idk if Bellroy will make any new duffel bags/weekenders in the near future? if I should wait a bit maybe?
Hi Axios!
I have never tried any PKG bags so I can't speak to that, but with respect to the horizontal packing style of the bellroy I never found this to be a problem and it worked well with the types of loadouts I showed (if you're a pouch/packing cube user it should work great).
You did mention you'll be carrying shoes though which is one area in which the PKG (with its built in shoe compartment) may potentially have an advantage depending on the size and shape of your shoes and whether you prefer your bags to have a built in shoe compartment or are okay with using shoe pouches (I prefer shoe pouches vs. built in compartments but it's very much a personal preference thing)
Personally, I would go with the Bellroy due to the build quality, modern appearance, surprising capacity, sleek external design and tons of organisation, but of course you've got to weigh the trade offs for yourself.
Regarding any upcoming duffle bags - I don't have any insider knowledge of what Bellroy is planning but they did send a preview of upcoming bags to their email newsletter subscribers a few months back and there was no mention of upcoming duffles or weekenders in there. (Also sometimes on their site they will tease upcoming bags in silhouette but there aren't any at the moment).
If you like to carry shoes and are looking for an interesting modern duffle/weekender that still packs more traditionally instead of vertically like the Bellroy Weekender, you might want to check out the Aer Travel Duffle as well. Another option might be something like the Mission Workshop Transit Duffle (no shoe pouch but it is an awesome bag that I personally really enjoy).
Good luck!
@@TheMountainborn
Thank you very much for the advice, yeah I've heard about aer brand, they were my 3rd or 4th choice when I was looking for very sleek designed minimalistic, premium and elegant bags
What you said makes sense, the shoe compartment is not a big thing for me, I still have special shoe bags - I wouldn't put dirty items just like that anyways, so it's not a big issue. For packing cubes and such, I don't use those...with this weekender I was mainly thinking about using it for going to different cities for long weekends or such
Maybe even potentially using it as a carry on instead of the actual carry on. I don't think it would be useful for anything else...maybe going to the gym or such.
But yeah mainly folded clothes, pants, jacket, few shoes - no tech as I already got their bagpack for those things...that's why I was worried about stacking up folded clotes, cuz of that narrower opening of it...definently easier to carry on the side, but I guess you'd have to stack clothes sideways...
What about the handles? Did you get used to them? Idk why but they look more feminine to me and that flat leather belt style, idk how long can you hold it without fatiguing?
Regarding the handles - I got used to them, but they're not my favorite. They're not the worst handles I've ever used, but they're nowhere near the best either.
They are very straightforward in executing - just a simple piece of thin leather, which has pros and cons but one of those cons is that they're just not that super ideal for carrying long distances. The degree to which you will fatigue I think depends on a few things:
1. How heavy your load is (obviously)
2. If you're wearing gloves or not (gloves helps cushion a bit)
3. If you are able to periodically set the bag down or if you have to carry it from point a to point b with no set down (i.e. if rushing through a giant airport)
4. If you use the shoulder strap
For me, I think they work best in "short bursts" - from car to check in counter, from train to station entrance taxi stand, from taxi to hotel room, etc. For longer sustained stretches I would definitely recommend the shoulder strap or taking breaks in between/wearing gloves (like thin leather gloves, more appropriate in the winter I suppose lest one inadvertently look like a serial killer haha). If you plan on carrying for sustained unbroken stretches then perhaps a more cushioned handle bag will be better (or use the shoulder strap)
Regarding the appearance /design. I very much believe aesthetics and appearance are very much in the eye of the beholder - I don't personally find the straps feminine persay (and I personally believe that if women can wear pants and suits and ties, then so too should men be able to carry bags with thinner handles 😂) but I understand where you're coming from. I think the straps match the design aesthetic of this bag - modern, sleek, slightly restrained in overall design - but that also means they aren't the right aesthetic to many people (and more importantly, are less comfortable for extended carry as mentioned)
@@TheMountainborn
Right, that makes total sense
You made my decision, I won't be buying it. I just figured it will be collecting dust. For daily use it might be cumbersome especially with those handles, if you put shoulder strap, that's ok unless you already have a backpack on, it can get on the way. I think the application of this is for a short distance city - city traveler, throw in a car or carry-on and go for 3-4 days to a city in the same country and comeback
I don't think it's a daily use bag or a traveling carry-on replacement
I just got 15% off coupon, and was thinking to get it, but whatever, will wait until they come up with a better design if they ever do...
But thank you for helping out, I'll see if yoy did a top brands videos, but if not could you tell me brands like bellroy? Besides Aer...something catchy, premium quality/materials, minimal classic design
In no particular order:
Evergoods ← probably my favourite brand of all time
Heimplanet ← distinctive style
Rofmia ← for dyneema lovers. probably one of my favourite Japanese bag brands.
Cote & Ciel ← fascinating structures/shapes
Mystery Ranch ← not minimalist, but popular, high quality brand
Dsptch ← also for dyneema lovers
GoRuck ← a cult favourite. honestly starting to fall behind compared to more modern bags and a bit overtly tactical looking but high quality build and some of the special editions are more minimalist and awesome.
Yoshida Porter ← A big popular Japanese brand with an overwhelming lineup, but some of the pieces are really great.
Hey, thanks for the great review! I'm just wondering how many pieces of clothing did you have in that aer packing cube? I'm trying to get a sense of how much clothing would fit in the bag.
Hi Roy - it's been a while since I recorded this video but I generally pack something like this:
* 2~3 undershirts, socks, underwear
* 1~2 shirts
* sleepwear set (pants, shirt, socks)
* sometimes: extra pair of clothing depending on need - i.e. light hiking pants, shorts, etc.
Some key notes when packing like this:
* I don't pack an extra pair of jeans/pants as those take up too much space
* My sleepwear pants (usually stretchy comfortable technical climbing pants) can also double as exercise pants
* I do laundry a lot (in the sink of the hotel almost every night and hang clothes up to dry)
* I use a lot of very lightweight, fast drying clothing - fast dry socks, underwear, t-shirts, and thin lightweight shirts when possible (things like the Arcteryx Elaho shirt for example)
* If I am carrying an optional piece of clothing like hiking pants (something lightweight like Arcteryx Palisade pants etc.) then I usually reduce the count of t-shirts/underwear/socks and/or shirts by 1 or 2 sets and just do more laundry. (tweak according to conditions of trip)
I hope this helps!
when do we get a review on the bellroy dopp?!
I just picked up this bag in charcoal for cheap(er) on ebay. I was surprised to see how much lint the material attracts. Does the black do this too? Are they different materials?
The black doesn't collect too much lint in my experience, but it's a different material (Dura Nylon) than the Charcoal (Canva Weave).
Bellroy does definitely do different materials even for the same product and according to the colourway. You can find out more information here: bellroy.com/our-materials
To find out which material is used for which bag, you need to expand the "description" section on their website for the product and then which material they mention in the last bullet point as you click on different colours.
Can this bag fit under an economy class aircraft seat?
In my experience yes, but it depends on several things:
1. How filled out the bag is - if it's stuffed to the absolute gills then you might have a hard time getting it under the seat
2. What you're carrying in the bag - if it's largely clothes and softer stuff then you should have no problems "squishing" it a bit if needed. If it's like I dunno, a bunch of hard bricks and stuff (lol) then maybe it might be harder.
3. The airline seat itself - some airlines have smaller space under the seat, and some seats sometimes have like a power box or something under them which ridiculously limits what you can fit in there.
But those caveats not withstanding, I think for most use cases and most airlines you should be fine!!!
Great review, and channel. The Base Camp Small looks relatively compact when I see it in their stores. It’s listed at 50L but doesn’t seem that much larger than some 30L bags. Would you say it fits considerably more than the Bellroy or Peak?
Hi Frank! Thank you so much for the kind words.
In my experience, the Base Camp small is actually quite capacious - it has a very high "capacity to size" ratio (a term I've mentioned in a few of my videos) - actually one of the highest in my opinion and higher than the Bellroy/Peak Design.
The main reasons for this are:
1. Virtually all the capacity is contained in a single, unadorned, unsegmented main volume (pretty much as efficient as it gets)
2. Relatively lightweight/thin materials (actually the material itself is rather heavy compared to something like Dyneema/nylon but as it's quite rugged it isn't padded/double walled/etc. so you don't lose space/weight to wall/structural elements)
3. Simple rectangular shape makes it easy to utilize virtually the entire inner volume (compared to tapered/circular structures where you often end up with dead space in corners/edges, etc.)
When compared to the Peak Design or Bellory, it comes out ahead on capacity to size ratio for all of these reasons. The PD in particular splits its capacity over a couple of non-trivial external pockets, uses (comparatively) heavy inefficient construction (lots of excess material spent on multiple layers of wall/structure/padding) and has an odd shape that makes it hard to make fully use of the bag's capacity depending on your load. The Bellroy is much better in my opinion, but still doesn't score as well as the Basecamp on at least the first two points above.
That having been said, capacity to size is not the only thing to consider. The Base Camp duffle scores very unfavourably in some other areas (particularly vs the Bellroy Weekender). For example:
- inferior fit and finish
- inferior organisation
- lack of any laptop/device pockets
- complete lack of padding/protection for contents
- arguably inferior load carriage (depending on use case however)
For me, the basecamp duffle is a great choice when my primary goal is to maximise what i can carry in a check-on compliant size (and I'm okay packing a second bag inside to use at the destination) and/or when I'm traveling off grid without a laptop. On the other hand, when I'm traveling in a more urban setting (i.e. commercial aircraft/car/train etc.) or expect to be carrying a laptop etc. - then I consider the Bellroy Weekender a superior solution.
In general I'm not a fan of the PD duffle, but if you wanted to carry a bunch of camera equipment (using their camera cubes) and maybe work in/out of that with that in the back of your truck/car then I think that could be a potential niche which it's pretty good at (and one that I've used it for from time to time).
I hope this helps!
Thank you for that incredibly thoughtful response. It is definitely helpful.
Capacity to size ratio is a good way to put it. It’s good to know that the Base Camp is true to its stated capacity despite it’s (in my opinion) compact appearance.
The negative points you mentioned are partly why I’ve held off on buying it. I was hoping it would be updated with some of the features of its competitors (i.e. quick release straps, a bit more organization). I also wish there was an option for over-the-shoulder carry with a single strap. Lastly, I’m not sure how I feel about them getting rid of the dual duffel carry handles that you have on yours. A nicer fit and finish on the interior would be great, but that’s probably pushing it…this might be the bag equivalent of a Humvee after all.
TNF has addressed several of these shortcomings with the recent release of the Voyager line. On paper it looks great, although I’m not sure if it has the same intangibles that made the Base Camp a classic. Guess I need to check it out in person.
My pleasure - love your reply as well.
I've been interested in carry for a while and one thing I've noticed is that some bags that used to be classic, genre-defining choices have, over time, started to show their age and compare poorly as competitors increasingly step their game up and advance basic expectations for each given category.
In my opinion the Arcteryx Veilance Nomin pack is one such bag, and the TNF basecamp duffle is another - all the issue you mention are, as you say, glaring shortcomings compared to what most, if not all, competitors in the genre are offering. While the BC Duffle is still ostensibly aimed at more rugged outdoor use (though even this seems questionable when looking at some of the clearly urban/fashion-oriented materials/colour/patternways), this still doesn't excuse things like the terrible interior fit and finish and inferior carry straps - these (especially the removal of central grab handle) seem like things driven more by a cost-cutting mentality than any practical use-case and I often feel like TNF relies on its mass market consumer appeal/brand name to justify offering less value for the money versus its competitors, knowing people will still buy them.
The BC Duffle is long overdue for an overhaul but as you mentioned the voyager variant does (somewhat) address some of the shortcomings of the base BC duffle. If you're deeply enamored of the duffle pack format, I would also urge you to look at various competitors as there is surprisingly a lot of competition in this space - besides the ones you mention, you also have things like the Matador Set 30/40, Boundary Supply Aegis, Osprey Transporter, and many more - not to mention that virtually every outdoor brand offers their own take on the "duffle bag with backpack straps" genre (Mammut, Patagonia, etc.). Plus there is also healthy overlap with things like Weekenders as you noted in your original comment.
Good luck!!
Definitely agree with what you said about the TNF brand. Also interesting to hear your thoughts on the Nomin. Never really been drawn to it myself, but I know it’s a grail bag for a lot of people.
I will make sure to check out the other duffel options you mentioned. Thanks again 👍
hey man, great go-over of the bag, thanks! Im planning on using it as a flight personal item in addition to a roller carry on. Looks like it would fit all in-flight/airport essentials plus tech gear really well. Now if only this corona business would get done and gtfo of our lives...😜
You have the 30L version. Do the inside and outside laptop pockets fit a 15" MBP? Any idea? I know the Bellroy website specifies 13" only, but from the size of the pockets they look like they could fit a 15" ?
Hey there! Thanks for the kind words and share the sentiment on this crazy corona business :)
So I have a 2020 16" MacBook Pro which is just slightly larger than the 15" MacBooks and here's what I found:
- Front pocket interior laptop pocket proper: 16" macbook does fit, but it's tight and tall. For the 16" I needed two hands to get it in but could get it out with one hand. The height is a bit annoying as it sticks out past the natural zipper line of the laptop pocket. You *can* coax the laptop compartment zipper to close up over it, but it's straining the zipper at that point. If I were to put it in this pocket, I'd leave the laptop compartment zipper unzipped and just tuck it in there.
- Front pocket itself (outside the laptop pocket): Fits no problem. You'd want to use a case or something though as there's no padding if you put it in this area..
- Interior back fleece lined pocket - does not fit (can't get inside of the zipper opening even if you angle it, and the pocket itself is far too small.
The 2020 16" MacBook is a bit larger in every dimension versus the 15", but about 1cm wider in width in particular.
9to5mac.com/2019/11/14/15-inch-vs-16-inch-macbook-pro-comparison/
Given this, I'd say the front pocket interior laptop pocket is passably usable for a bare (no case) 15" MacBook pro as long as you leave the top zipper unzipped. A bit of friction in the in/out access as noted, but not fatal. The interior is a no go on the 30L.
....Oh one other thought - I personally found this bag a bit large to use as a secondary item in addition to a roller carry on - of course preference totally varies by person! But I'd recommend to check the dimensions carefully and see if you need all the space - 30L is a ton of space in addition to a 40-50 roller carry one and the bag is surprisingly cavernous as I show in the review so it might be a case of almost having too much bag with you! :)
The main issue I foresee is getting it under the seat in front of you - when I traveled with this on a plane it was my main bag (I had a folding backpack inside) but I tucked it in the overhead bin as it was quite large for the seat in front of me.
A couple of other options you might want to consider as your personal flight item:
Aer Flight Pack 2:
www.aersf.com/flight-pack-2-black
Smaller but still quite capacious. Has the added advantage that it holds a 15/16" laptop no problem and has a variety of carry styles (and could even pass for a briefcase in a pinch depending on your work). Will easily fit under seat in front of you.
Bellroy System Work bag.
bellroy.com/products/system-work-bag/
Smaller size but still quite capacious. Nice open capacity for odds/ends/sweaters/etc. + tons of organisation for work stuff. Has a luggage pass through same as the weekender but smaller size means it works nicer on a roller luggage. Can also comfortably do duty as a daily EDC/work bag when worn messenger style at the destination. Only downside is the top doesn't zip shut (it closes with a latch which is fairly secure, but I'd be a little hesitant if I tipped this bag sideways and stuffed it in an overhead bin, but as long as it's with you/under seat in front of you no problem.
Bellroy Flight Bag:
bellroy.com/products/flight-bag/
This is 28L so actually quite large pretty similar in size to the Weekender. Will hold your 15" laptop no problem. Given the more structured nature of this bag it might work better as a secondary item in terms of being easier to manipulate and tuck under a seat, etc. You can easily pack out for a multi day trip in this - so if you like the weekender but want a slightly different take on the same concept, you might want to check out this bag.
Happy travels and stay safe!
@@TheMountainborn grateful for this wonderful detailed response, thank you so much! It really helps. I see the logic of your other suggestions, but they are all a bit larger than what I'm looking (in the case of the Aer and the Bellroy Flight bag) and not the way I'd like to pack a personal item (Bellroy System Work). This Weekender hits the spot due to its duffel nature and work bag organization combined. Been using backpacks for my personal item, tolerated getting into them awkwardly while in flight or in the airport lounge etc because of depth. Larger brief cases are ok for the tech carry, but inevitably fail for the travel on-the-go essentials such as jacket, food, water bottle... all lumpy items that need volume. so the Weekender was a total OMG moment! My travel is 90% international, so huge airports and lots of walking (literally miles in total) so a roller is necessary for comfort, which is packed fully with clothes, Dopp kit, shoes etc. Hence the need for this kind of secondary item, for tech and on-the-go essentials.
No problem - glad to help!
Gotcha on the constraints - sounds like the weekender might hit that sweet spot then. If you end up getting it, let me know how it ends up working for you!
And yes I feel you on the huge airports + lots of walking - nothing can beat wheels when you're rushing to make a tight connection and trying not to end up disheveled and sweaty on the other end (^^).
@@TheMountainborn Thanks for this! Was gonna post a similar question about using this as a personal item but you've answered it here. Will be checking out the other flight bags!
@@pendchode I second this. I'm in the same boat.
I just got the weekender plus (actually ordered weekender and the accidentally sent plus) do you feel like the plus still functions as well as the 30l as a carry on and weekend style trips. I worry it might be to big.
Hi Eduardo - I don't own the weekender plus so I can't comment from first hand experience as to the plane carry on experience with it, however I can make some inferences from my experience with the regular 30L weekender and the size references on the Bellroy site.
First, for "weekend style trips" where you'll be traveling under your own transport (i.e. car etc.) I expect it to function just as well as the 30L regular weekender, and maintain all the same advantages and features, only with larger capacity.
For carry on, I think given its stated dimensions, it will technically be over the carry on size dimensions for several major airlines (but check your intended airline carefully). That having been said, you can probably squeeze it into any gate checker as long as it's not too fully packed out by taking advantage of the fact that it's relatively softly structured so has some flex/give.
The biggest challenge for airline carry on would be in my opinion, the fact that if you packed out the 45L weekender plus to near capacity, that would be a lot of weight to carry on either a single shoulder strap/carry handle, and there is considerable mass being swung around as you're walking with this at your side (I touch on both of these points in the video even for the 30L). Speaking for myself personally, if I'll be carrying 45L worth of goods in a single pack, I would probably be looking for something with decent backpack straps or wheels if there will be any kind of substantial transit/walking around an airport etc. involved. Also, as mentioned in my review, there are other bags out there that have a better "capacity to weight" ratio and I expect that to be even truer with the 45L Plus.
So to summarise - weekend trips in your own transportation, I imagine the 45L plus will be fabulous if you need the extra capacity.
For carry on, it can probably work as long as you don't pack it out fully since it's technically over size, but you will probably be quite uncomfortable hauling all that weight around on a single shoulder strap.
what is the size of the aer packing cube? Thanks.
Hi Connor - the Aer Packing cubes I have are the v1 so you can find the specs here:
www.aersf.com/packing-cube-00013
* Length: 12" (31 cm)
* Width: 10" (25 cm)
* Depth: 3.75" (10 cm)
* Capacity: 10.9 L
(As an FYI, the v1s are not sold anymore and have been replaced with the v2)
Btw, how does this bag compared to the pakt one, in terms of organization and carry style for travel? 🙏
Hi Johannes - that is a great question. Unfortunately I've never taken the Pakt One on an actual trip so I can't give a definitive answer.
My guess is that the two biggest differences between the bags would be
1. The material/design - the Pakt is a more "traditional" (in a sense - obviously it is very different from most other bags out there) type of bag from the choice of materials (straightforward canvas/nylon), layout (squarish with middle zip opening to reveal two sub-compartments) and hardware (shiny metal swivel clips on the strap for example, or metal bottom feet) whereas the Bellroy I would classify as more "contemporary/modern" in each of these aspects. I would assume that neither is inherently better/worse but rather a matter of preference. I personally prefer the look/design/materials of the Bellroy.
2. Having total capacity contained in one single compartment (Bellroy) versus two (Pakt) - my guess is that this is where much of the functional difference will lie. Two compartments (Pakt One) are theoretically more organised and can generally give you better inherent compressions (since each side zips independently, then there is one large zip for the bag - you can overstuff and compress), but generally hold less than the equivalent one compartment space - especially when it comes to bulky items (think - big boots, etc.) as they cannot be bigger than half the total volume of the bag since they need to fit in one sub-compartment. Because they open completely flat, they are also usually much easier to load/pack but simultaneously harder to access on the go for the same reason - who wants to fillet open their bag on the floor of an airport or train station to grab something out of it?
Single compartment bags can generally hold more overall, can handle bulkier items, and while more annoying to pack, are usually much easier to access on the go (just unzip top zipper and you can easily rummage through the top of the bag without filleting it open) but usually require packing pouches, can sometimes be harder to see/find things deep inside (in the case of top-opening bags like the Bellroy) and don't have as much inherent organisation/compressibility though I would argue neither are so critical at the 30-35L size range.
I use both two-compartment and one-compartment type bags in my travel but generally prefer the simplicity and superior capacity of the one-compartment type bags (as I use packing pouches anyway). If you are interested in a 2-compartment Bellroy option in this same general class of bag, you can also check out the Bellroy Flight Pack - it's an interesting 2 compartment take on this genre (though only one inner compartment has its own zip which I find annoying) and several carry options (including backpack straps).
@@TheMountainborn haha wow such a detailed comparison 🙏 thanks! I understand what a pain it is to fillet a bag open in public 😅
Thank you for the insightful review! Can't wait for your duffel video also :) I'm thinking about purchasing a duffel for my outdoor/urban/camping trips. And then a separate "Weekender" bag for short business trips or weekend trips to another city.
I also want to point out that your main problem with the Peak Designs bag can be remedied by maneuvering the straps to one side of the pack so that it hangs sideways (video link below). With that "solved", do you still think the peak designs duffel is worth considering as my outdoors duffel?
14:30
czcams.com/video/rAhFQf9xyFA/video.html
Hi Jake! Thank you for the kind words and for pointing me to that video about the straps! I remember watching the PD duffle videos but must have missed that part when he talks about attaching the strap to the side 😅
There are still several other things that I don't really like about the PD duffle that still have it collecting dust on my shelves until I invariably get around to selling it but that doesn't mean it might not work for your outdoor duffle. (ps. I love the idea of a two bag packed system - one for camping/outdoors and one for weekender/business. 👍 )
Before answering your question maybe a few clarifying questions from me:
1. For your outdoor/camping trips, approximately how much/what kind of things would you envision yourself carrying? (i.e. tents, sleeping bags, etc.? clothing? Camera gear? Hatchets, etc.)
2. Would you see yourself mainly using this for car camping (i.e. trunk of a car to the destination/cabin) or would it be more like adventure camping (i.e. in bush planes, back of pickup trucks/strapped to roof racks, etc.) - also, do you see yourself needing to carry this on foot for any kind of significant distance?
3. Any special features needed? (i.e. waterproof-ness, light weight, backpack straps, etc.)
4. Are you more a "the more organisation the better" or a "give me one big compartment" kind of guy?
Too much sugar for a penny, open the bag and show the capacity!
I had never heard the phrase "too much sugar for a penny" before! Interesting :)
Anyway, regarding just opening the bag and showing the capacity - I feel you! When I made this video I had not yet added chapter markers, but if you want to see the capacity of the bag just jump to the 18:15 mark. All my current videos have chapter markers so people can jump straight into the relevant sections.
Regarding your comment - so this is something I've been thinking about for a while. On the one hand, I think it's important to give a brief context on the bag, discussing the use cases/who it's for and not for as well as discuss the exterior of the bag (which often leads to side discussions regarding usability in action, how it carries, etc.).
On the other hand, I know most people, such as yourself, just want to get into the inside of the bag and see what it looks like packed out! 😂 I totally understand, I'm sometimes the same way when watching a review (especially Chase Reeves tends to go on forever on unrelated tangents before getting into a bag).
So I'm trying to figure out a good way of balancing those two things - as mentioned, right now all my new videos have chapter markers, and I'm thinking if maybe I might include a brief peek inside the bag during my "quick overview" up front so people can get a sense of capacity and load out from the beginning without needing to sit through 8 minutes of discussion of exterior and straps.
Thanks for the feedback - I'll keep working on this!
SUGGESTION: If you are in a conversationnal mode, I think it's better to see your face, or/and other images that just a fixed plan on the bag. You get into the first pocket after 10 minutes of speech... Most people have quit the review at this time. Entertain Us ! Long life to your channel btw !
Haha so true so true! I've been trying to reduce the amount of exposition and time from video start to showing folks the inside of the bag/other interesting things (my face, sadly, is not that interesting hahah) in my more recent videos. Will keep at it!
I think this particular video you're commenting on - the Bellroy Weekender - might be my longest one 😅 and after I rewatched it after posting I was like "yeahhh.... I probably could have compressed that down a bit" 😹
I find it difficult to find a bag that’s between a « everyday » bag and a full-on duffle/weekender bag.
As someone who HATE carrying a lunch box, most bag I have juste bulge out and become very boxy. Looking at this bag, it looks perfect to carry my laptop, school supplies, a hoodie and my lunch (often in a simple plastic container) BUT I still feel it’s a little bit overkill for daily commute and use.
I will probably still getting it for the organisation potential (often lacking in duffle bag) and because I prefer having too much space than not enough (for those quick after-work groceries).
I don’t know if you got thought on about bridging the gap between a « normal bag » (that become overfilled easily) and carrying a duffle bag everyday in public transport?
Great question Amber!
So my immediate first thought is - the Bellroy weekender is quite large to carry as a daily normal bag. It definitely wouldn't be my first choice for that use case.
So your question about a more "daily carryable" duffle is interesting. Here, in no particular order, are some duffle-ish type bags you might want to consider that I think could be daily-carryable
* Bellroy Lite Duffle ← I have been using this bag since it came out last month for daily travel and I really like it. I am hoping to review it soon. It's large but I think it's a better EDC choice if you want a duffle than the weekender
* Rofmia Boston Bag M - I have a full review of this on my channel. Expensive but I quite like it
* Aer Gym Duffle - designed explicitly for urban commuter + gym use, this bag is well equipped to be a normal EDC type use duffle while still being able to carry larger things (like your lunch box)
Another thing I might suggest specifically with regard to your bulging lunchbox issue (quite common actually) - have you considered switching your lunchbox? The main culprit is that many western lunchboxes are designed around the idea of a horizontal sandwich - low flat and wide - which unsurprisingly doesn't work well with many bags. Japanese style lunchboxes have a much wider variety, including skinner two layer types
Random examples (not affiliate links, just random Google hits)
* www.smallable.com/en/product/bento-original-2-airtight-compartments-khaki-monbento-227390
* notebooktherapy.com/products/3-layer-bento-lunch-box
That may widen the scope of bags you can consider. Hope this helps!
@@TheMountainborn Thanks for the suggestions!
The Lite Duffle was also in my head since the weight of the bag is also an aspect I got to keep in mind!
I think switching my food containers (who are currently ~15cm squares) and trying different organisation pouches might help solve my problem without buying a whole new bag.
Thanks a lot for the input!