CamelBak A.T.P. 20 Journey Pack Evaluate| GearJunkie

Sustainability is oversold — each model is getting on board as of late, attempting to innovate probably the most sustainable fill-in-the-blank gear.

Once you boil down all of the flashy options, new “know-how”, model ethos, and advertising, my decide of true sustainability is whether or not or not I’ll use a bit of drugs. How lengthy will this new pack final me? Will it assist streamline my day, my commute, my stuff? Is it sturdy sufficient to deal with all that use with out breaking down?

If a pack can do all that and turns into the one one I would like to make use of, the sustainability impression of that’s tenfold. If I don’t have to purchase one other pack, equipment, or alternative elements sooner or later, it’s “sustainable” in that sense. “Sustainably made” is an interpretation — a spectrum.

When CamelBak calls its Journey Journey Pack (A.T.P) its “most sustainable bag ever created” it did imply “sustainable” within the literal sense. The A.T.P. pack physique is 100% recycled CORDURA. Each single part is both recycled or a recycled share. And all of the {hardware} is recyclable. The pack can be undyed.

And CamelBak didn’t cease there — it makes use of 100% recycled paper for hangtags, in addition to 100% recycled PE polybags for transport (which has change into pretty commonplace within the out of doors business).

General? The CamelBak A.T.P. backpack accomplishes sustainability in each the literal sense, and likewise in my interpretation of what sustainability means. I’ve mentioned it earlier than: Use it usually, maintain gear in play, beat it up, purchase used gear, restore it, maintain it going. That’s one other option to observe sustainability for all of us who “accumulate” gear.

In brief: Can one pack do every little thing and resolve all my issues? In fact not. (A lady can dream, although.) Did CamelBak’s new foray into sustainable daypacks depart a rattling good impression? Sure.

CamelBak is thought for its water bottles and hydration; listening to that it was making a non-hydration journey backpack got here out of left subject. “Does the world really want one other sustainable journey pack?” I assumed. Effectively, perhaps. As a result of it is a nice one (with one Achilles heel).

Right here’s why you need to put the CamelBak A.T.P. in your shortlist for journey, commuting, and every day adventures.

CamelBak A.T.P. 20 Pack Evaluate

I’ve taken my CamelBak A.T.P. pack on buses, trains, subways, vehicles, mountain climbing, tenting, and, most frequently, to the workplace.

Backside line: After weeks of testing, I belief this backpack. It’s acquired a ton going for it. The hardest criticism I’ve is that the 20L measurement will possible not be sufficient room for some commuters or vacationers. On the flip facet, the 26L measurement has a distinct design I haven’t examined but.

Designed for Day by day Use: The A.T.P 20 Pack

Initially, let’s get into the design. The CamelBak A.T.P. 20 has an accessible, easy-to-use design with good zippers and pockets. It has tons of storage for a laptop computer to pens, hydration, and people miscellaneous, always-in-your-pocket objects. And, every little thing stays safe.

The A.T.P. pack features effectively, it’s comfy, and there’s no annoying design quirks or ignored features. The shoulder straps are additionally narrower than most daypacks, making them tremendous comfy (decreasing any possibilities of sweating or chafing).

Flexes for Journey

The water bottle pocket design is stellar. The pocket is deep sufficient for taller bottles, and zippers open to develop for objects of any width. I attempted it with my Nalgene, a Hydro Flask, a CamelBak-brand bottle, and the narrowest water bottle I may discover in my kitchen. It holds all of them.

Is a water bottle pocket a very powerful factor right here? No. However anybody who is aware of me — and anybody who is aware of what a superb pack appears like — is aware of it has to have facet pockets. Most manufacturers make use of the double stretch mesh, however that’s simply broken with poked holes, rips, and the eventual carrying out of elastane.

Then there are manufacturers that embody two facet pockets. They usually use the small zippered type, although. Those which are neither massive nor deep sufficient for a bottle. I’ve by no means understood this. A water bottle or exterior drop pocket is a fairly fundamental factor any pack ought to be capable of simply accommodate. CamelBak’s A.T.P. does embody one on the left, and there’s a zippered organizer and key loop stash pocket on the suitable.

There are two extra actually considerate design examples: a baggage pass-through on the again compartment and an inside/exterior zippered entrance pocket that may separate damp or soiled gear, or, say, a layer out of your electronics. I not too long ago found the flexibility of this pocket and have been loving it.

Cons? Minimalist, Small Primary Compartment

Intentional or not, CamelBak made the A.T.P. backpack pack fairly minimalist. Particularly, I’m talking concerning the 20L measurement. When you’re used to a giant, roll-top-style, black gap of a bag — one that may carry larger, cumbersome objects like groceries, Amazon packing containers, and bike helmets — know that this pack isn’t that.

By the point you could have both a laptop computer within the sleeve (which I did almost each time I carried this pack) or a hydration bladder within the again compartment, and stuff within the facet water bottle and zippered pockets, there’s restricted inside room. The adjustable and expandable compression straps do assist. The pockets and ease of entry on this pack are stellar. However the precise inside room is a compact, barely small feeling 20 L.

That mentioned, on the every day, I carried every little thing I wanted within the CamelBak A.T.P. backpack. I match a number of books, a digicam, and a pc; a rain jacket, telephone, water bottle, and pockets; some layers for mountain climbing, a small journey towel, a mug, and all my canine’s gear on this bag.

There’s some restraint within the design right here. It’s modern, light-weight, and never overstuffed or clunky. That’s each a professional and a con for somebody like me who’s consistently schlepping and touring round. I would like group; I would like restraint. I additionally want to hold (typically) plenty of stuff, and it’d be good for it to all match on this pack.

The 26L measurement does look extra promising with regards to further room for larger stuff; and on spec, this one can simply stash or carry a helmet. If that’s a requirement for you for a daily-driver pack, go for the 26L as a substitute of the 20L.

A Be aware on Sustainability

Even in the event you weren’t purchasing particularly for the CamelBak A.T.P. backpack, or seeking to put money into actually sustainably made gear (although you need to), it’s onerous to disregard the sustainable upgrades. All of the recycled parts are printed straight onto the pack. I consider CamelBak did this (1) for transparency and (2) to scale back plastic playing cards, pamphlets, and extra printed tags that find yourself within the garbage pile.

I preferred seeing this little printed reminder each time I opened the pack — a reminder that recycled supplies, relying on how they’re constructed and their software, will be each bit as sturdy as their virgin artificial counterparts.

One materials that stands out on this record, and in my testing, is CORDURA. Time and time once more, CORDURA has confirmed itself. Many within the business would agree it’s top-of-the-line materials with regards to sturdiness. CORDURA is utilized in every little thing from tents to boots, jackets, and packs. It’s within the kick guards on ski pants, the ultra-durable bike messenger luggage and duffels, the ripstop face cloth on shells, and the impenetrable uppers on mountain climbing boots.

CamelBak takes a slight flip, utilizing CORDURA Re/COR — an offshoot and newer textile from the model that employs high-tenacity, abrasion-resistant, high-denier thread made with recycled yarn as a substitute.

To date, I haven’t seen any knocks or failures from the pack’s cloth. Apart from the plain — the undyed white pack saves tons of power in manufacturing, however it picks up and exhibits grime pretty simply. CamelBak says its undyed model’s manufacturing “emits almost half the greenhouse gasoline emissions” and requires much less energy and water, as does most undyed gear.

Conclusion: The A.T.P 20 Pack

CamelBak already makes hydration packs: slim, with a hydration compartment, sternum strap, and one pocket. These kinds of packs aren’t probably the most technical or sturdy. They’re meant for mild mountain climbing and shorter adventures.

However the CamelBak A.T.P. backpack isn’t that. It actually does really feel like one thing completely different from the model, which is cool to see. Even cooler is the truth that the pack carried out effectively. No factors of failure, nice group and design, and it’s comfy.

My verdict: The A.T.P. Pack challenges among the REI Co-op, Patagonia, Matador, and Gregory daypacks in the marketplace.

CamelBak stunned me with the CamelBak A.T.P. backpack. I look ahead to persevering with testing indoors, outside, touring, and all over the place in between. I extremely advocate this pack to anybody who desires a pack that’s light-weight, extremely organized, versatile, and able to every day or long-term journey.