5 Best 20 Liter Backpacks [EPIC Guide]

[@Nomads.Nation]

Do you want to help me build a game-changing backpack? 👉🏼 nomadsnation.com/building-a-backpack

[@imlazy77]

I’d put the Able Carry Daily, Evergoods CHZ22 and the Bellroy Classic backpack as good contenders (and probably even better than Wandrd Duo) for the everyday backpack category!

[@Nomads.Nation]

Love this! We haven't had the chance to review those bags yet but hopefully they are coming soon!!

[@suzysxcraqkx]

Please please please do some PacSafe reviews, I love their bags, but I want to know how it compares in your opinion.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Can do Suzy!

[@marianthelibrarian2274]

I'm really enjoying your channel! Great reviews!

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thanks so much Marian!

[@raestera]

All 5 of these are from companies based in Utah or San Francisco. Damn SF and UT be killing it with their carry

[@Nomads.Nation]

Good point! It’s so true - these two areas are killing the backpack game

[@losaechao9393]

I already know this review’s gonna be lit so I liked before I watched it.

[@Nomads.Nation]

That is amazing! thank you so much for the support!

[@telanos2492]

Given 2 years have passed since you make this video - are you still satisfied with your recommendations? IE, has there been anything released over the past 2 years that would cause you to change your picks? If not, I think you could reasonably leave a note to that effect in the video description (and clarify the recommendations remain current for 2022). Otherwise, would be handy to update the video / include additional notes in the description on what has changed (assuming you don't want to do an entirely new video). P.S. Aside from the above, thanks for the video! It was just the right mix of informative (with the stuff I want to know), and concise. P.P.S. On the topic of EDC / what people put in the bag for "professional work" according to every video review I've looked at over the past week (bar none!): Apparently just the laptop, and (very occasionally) the mouse. What I have found in practice (and what I think any EDC bag should cater to in terms of organisation): 1) Lunch box. I think most people will bring lunch to work most of the time - and in any case, most people have a desktop provided at work, so I'd guess that in any randomly selected group of office commuters they're more likely to be carrying a lunch box than a laptop (at least here in Australia). 2) If I'm bringing a laptop in, I'm definitely going to be bringing a mouse. I can't stand using the touchpad for any prolonged work (I know might just be a personal thing). 3) A4 notebook (IE the 'laptop' compartment should accommodate more flat items than just the laptop). And then when I'm travelling, the same bag gets repurposed as the travel daypack (and so will need to cater to travel needs - airport carry-on (passport, boarding pass, powerbank), and travel miscellanea (e.g. water bottle, camera, sunscreen tube). ... Just in case you're looking for an extra 2 cents from a random viewer :)

[@Nomads.Nation]

thanks for the two cents! And yes, I still condone my picks but we WILL be doing an updated video in mid 2023 - be sure to subscribe so you know once it goes live 😎

[@SpiritThroughSteel]

Help! With hybrid teaching in the States, I need a recommendation for a bag that can organize all my tech AND documents/pads/small binder. If it can also replace a purse, that would be awesome!!

[@Nomads.Nation]

I think the Nomatic backpack might be a great option for ya! Check out our review

[@SpiritThroughSteel]

@@Nomads.Nation that’s what I was leaning toward. Thanks!

[@MarvinNim]

I own/owned all of these bags except the Nomatic backpack. I prefer the Evergoods CPL24 to all of them. Definitely recommend check that one out if you haven't.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thanks for the comment Marvin! I reviewed the CPL24 but unfortunately it was a few months after this video went live - that’s why it’s not included. Be sure to subscribe!

[@rygregory]

Could you remind us how tall you are and how much you weigh? In proportion to your body, these 20L backpacks look large on you. However, I remember 20L backpacks looking too small on me. It’d be nice to know how they would roughly look on me. For example, the Peak Design Everyday has a 20L and 30L variant and I’m trying to figure out which size would look better on me. Or perhaps have someone who is a larger and/or taller person than you model the bags that you review?

[@Nomads.Nation]

I'm 5'8, 160 lbs. If you wanna cover the costs for us to employ a taller person to have on-staff for all our reviews then let me know and I'll send you my Paypal address ;)

[@sgrant9814]

Really enjoy your thorough reviews but pls include exterior dimensions esp height as many airlines outside the usa have strict max sizes for personal carry ons,,,usually 16-17 inch max height thnx

[@Nomads.Nation]

have done in our most recent reviews, cheers!

[@maxjohansson3633]

Love the video

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thank you! we are trying our best! Tav's got a few ideas to make the future ones even better

[@brodobroggins]

Thanks for the really insightful video. What are your thoughts on Tumi backpacks and how would they compare against the ones you mentioned here?

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thanks for the love! I've unfortunately never tried a Tumi pack yet - but hopefully soon. I think that they would probably have a more designer/premium feel, but I'm not sure about their durability. Also, love your YT name 😂

[@brodobroggins]

@@Nomads.Nation Thanks for the response! I just got a $475 Tumi slim brief pack, and then a $180 Nomatic travel pack on black friday and they both have different pros and cons. In a nutshell, the Nomatic is better designed but the Tumi has much nicer materials - expected at this price. The Nomatic I think is geared more towards "digital nomads" like you: it has more accessible design, lots of organization built in, and is more rainproof due to the zippers, but it also makes the zippers more difficult to pull. Like you mentioned in your review, the outside material is easily scratched, and it is inferior to the ballistic nylon on the Tumi. I basically agree with all the points you made in the Nomatic travel pack review. I wish the quick access pocket was larger than phone size to hold my passport and money holder. Nobody puts keeps their phone in their backpack. The hidden pocket will remain unused and useless, just like the uncomfortable side handle. The Tumi zippers have larger teeth and are very smooth to pull, which is much better than the Nomatic zipper experience, but not rainproof. The feel is premium, however the design isn't as innovative, with no suitcase access and deeper pockets which makes it not as easy to find things. The water bottle outside pocket is better designed. Like you mentioned, the Nomatic pockets look like wings when actually used. I wanna emphasize the zipper experience. The time you save on finding something in the Nomatic may be nullified by the inferior zipper experience, which takes longer to pull open. However the more you carry, the better the Nomatic gets. The suitcase opening is a much superior experience to anything Tumi offers for longer travel, but then you don't really need quick access to your clothes or whatever you access in suitcase-mode. Tumi has better color options and premium feel but uglier design imo compared to the sleek and sharp Nomatic. Overall the Tumi backpacks may make sense for business travelers due to their great materials which will resist getting cosmetically damaged in stowage, ease of use of zippers which don't need to be rain proof, and ability to mount right-side-up on a suitcase. For everybody else, maybe the Nomatic. Nomatic is a much newer company and I look forward to them integrating better material into their backpacks while hammering out the kinks in their design.

[@Nomads.Nation]

@@brodobroggins Dude, such an epic comment. Thank you so much for the detailed look and thoughts into both packs. I cannot wait to get my hands on a Tumi now, that materials sound heavenly 😍

[@unfi6798]

As always great presentation mate. Have you check out the APC 2025.? Cowabunga matey.!

[@Nomads.Nation]

Not yet but hopefully soon!

[@seechangenyc280]

I care about liter size but I care more about the length of the bag or it hits in the wrong place. At 5'6" with a 17" torso, it seems that the height of the bag should be the first thing to consider. That's where I have made the biggest mistake. I wish more EDC packs were adjustable (and I'm not just talking about load lifters).

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thanks for your comment! What do you wish was adjustable?

[@seechangenyc280]

@@Nomads.Nation height/length of packs. So many are in 19"-20" range. My back wants 17" to 18" long but with capacity of a larger bag, especially for a few days travel (and a lousy packer). I love the aesthetic of Evergoods bags but at 19" long, it's poking in wrong place. Back to TB Synapse 19/Synik 20. The larger sizes of those bags are too long. I wish the cool backpack designers would take a hint from outdoor gear folk who have adjustments for torso size.

[@Nomads.Nation]

@@seechangenyc280 Honestly those are vry cool ideas! Thanks for sharing, if I ever start a backpack company I'll try and implement some of these ideas

[@seechangenyc280]

@@Nomads.Nation I might beat you to it out of sheer frustration! Again, thanks so much for writing!

[@kgaletin]

Have you been able to review the Neweex BackPack?

[@Nomads.Nation]

Not yet, hopefully soon!

[@realfrancisco]

Why does nobody review the AER travel 2 small? It's well designed, and perfect for one bag travel at 28 liters. I'm a big boy with a wide back and it looks great on me and my petite girlfriend. PS: love the videos, keep it up, think we met back in Saigon a few years ago, godspeed and party on!

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thanks for the comment Francisco! I was in Saigon from Feb 2020 - May 2020... maybe we met? 😂

[@curiousj87]

Cakes! 🎂🤤

[@panayiotisstavrou3283]

It's not just a water bottle pocket... It's also for tripods and other. Easy access. If you were to put a water bottle in there, so what? Is it really as bad as you make out?

[@Nomads.Nation]

I'm not sure which bag you're referring to...

[@panayiotisstavrou3283]

@@Nomads.Nation Sorry, it was about the Peak Design 20L backpack. Also, you offer your opinion, it's just subjective and not from research comparisons to break things down through experienced expertise. It seems like just a guy who depending on what mood he is in that day will offer his seemingly expert view. I noticed another video where you corrected yourself on the circular hinges for the same bag that they were not so good but then you realized they were important design for the swivel action to open the side zip. You also mentioned the aesthetics of the drinks side pocket on the Nomatic backpack and Peak Design not looking so good with a flask inside... Did you not think that it's convenient to just reach out and grab your drink? What are you supposed to do, put your bag down open the zip, find your container that could have leaked inside and and and? You are not a designer, just a man off the street offering views and I do not like this type of reporting putting companies at risk after years of sweat and toil to design something unique and of high quality. Your cons aren't cons, they are just your subjective dislikes.

[@Nomads.Nation]

@@panayiotisstavrou3283 hey dude, thanks so much for your comment, and your analysis of our channel is 100% spot on. We are not backpack experts - merely backpack enthusiasts - which is why I think our channel has grown so fast since launching a few months back. We do backpack reviews by the ppl, for the ppl. Our goal is to make reviews based on simple user experiences, and report our findings here. If you watch our peak design everyday backpack video you'll see that we gave it one of the highest ratings of any EDC we've ever reviewed. But it doesn't mean that we like everything about it. And of COURSE our pros and cons are subjective - isn't that the point of a review? Thanks for watching brotha ♥️♥️

[@panayiotisstavrou3283]

@@Nomads.Nation Yes I know... I just find it sad how the 'cons' are expressed. Subjective views can be expressed differently. That's my view. They can be more respectful, more thoughtful as to why they may have selected to place something or design something a certain way. To be responsible and more low key. That key latch you spoke in a manner that presented them as complete idiots. You do not think these designers thought about it, discussed it, laid out different ideas for it? For then some free-flowing guy to present his subjectivity like that? C'mon! You can do what you want, but I think you let yourself down there. Yes, express your personal view, it's your channel, your thoughts, but for all the cons out there, they are not stupid, invite their thoughts on why they went that way maybe?

[@Nomads.Nation]

@@panayiotisstavrou3283 thanks for your input again dude! But I stand by my right to express my opinion, even in a negative light, exactly the way that you expressed your fairly condescending opinion claiming that on this channel we 'aren't designers, just a man off the street'. Don't sweat it so much bro, I gave the backpack plenty of respect. I freaking love PD gear! Just not a fan of this particular dumbass keyring solution

[@tycham85]

Kinda disingenuous to call this a 2022 guide when you made it in Oct 2020…

[@Nomads.Nation]

We update as many parts of our content as we can (description, cards, links, etc) to make sure our reviews are as up to date as possible 💪🏾

[@TheRubsi]

i certainly appreciate the video and reviews but almost all of those "20L backpacks" are way bigger than 20L.

[@Nomads.Nation]

We meant for the video to the best backpacks in the 20-liter-range, not that are exactly 20 liters. Thanks for your feedback!

[@BoStark]

Wandrd is the closest for me, but still not perfect :/

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thanks for the comment Bo! Finding the perfect pack is a tough mission - let us know if you find one :)

[@zacheaton7306]

Rerack your weights bro

[@Nomads.Nation]

Shit! Did I not???

[@zacheaton7306]

Lol @1:30

[@nellatrab]

Actually, are those bags really 20 L...don't think so...all too big, expensive and not really designed well for EDC's!

[@Nomads.Nation]

they are all ~20L. Thanks for your input!