Alpaka Bravo Tote Review (Best TECH tote yet??)

[@Nomads.Nation]

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

[@Mattzerfyer]

As someone who already owns the Bravo Tote, I can confirm that the tablet sleeve will fit a 12.9 inch iPad Pro. But it's quite a slim tablet sleeve, so there will be quite a bit of friction inserting/removing your device if you've got a keyboard case with the tablet, but it still fits.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Appreciated Matt!

[@laeonflux]

Mine is on the way. I needed a more technical yet rugged and secure tote. I've been using the Elements tote and the Rennen Ripstop tote for a while now and as much as I love both of them, I wanted something that could double as a work bag as well. Usually I don't carry my laptop with me but when I need to it's great to have the choice to have it protected since I became used to totes now. This thing looks stylish and durable enough to fit into my EDC work rotation. Will give full opinion once I'm rocking the thing, I'm sure I'll love it, Alpaka is becoming one of my all time favorite brands when you consider their quality(price ratio, they're almost unbeatable. Didn't see your review until last night otherwise would've used your link. But it's what it is. Great review as always, man. Peace.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thanks dude, looking forward to hearing your full thoughts!

[@ramenbox]

Great value. Carries a lot. Crazy amount of organisation but it does get heavy and uncomfortable if you get too excited with compartments and load them with things. Agree with you that the shoulder strap gets slippery. It’s good enough if you don’t have to walk long distances, if not, you will have to keep adjusting unless you use it purely in tote mode. It’s a good hybrid but if you’re below 170 cm it does look a bit big (the bag can be a bit wide if you’re particular with bag size to body ratio). It does look great on Aaron given his height and frame. Oh yes the water bottle holder is tiiiijgghhttt but thankfully they have internal holder.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Great points on adjusting the shoulder strap 💪🏻

[@ratheruninspired]

I bought this bag a few weeks ago. I see it as a pretty awesome v1 of a meaningful outreach to organization enthusiasts that want non-backpack carry options for work - and that's a whole lot of people. Wearing the strap cross body, I think this bag works best for professionals with cars or who have short commutes. I work in health care and my spouse teaches. We're almost fighting over it. I wouldn't be surprised if the PU coating on the quick access pocket was more of an aesthetic choice than a weather proofing choice. I too would like to see the main compartment zipper with a coating, even as it risks a less smooth zip experience. Love your content. Thanks for making great videos.

[@Nomads.Nation]

The Alpaka Bravo Tote; so good, you might get a divorce 😂

[@ratheruninspired]

😆😆

[@daro421]

Love that Alpaka stuff. Already have this in use for a while as my daily tote.👌🏻

[@Nomads.Nation]

Nice!

[@cyjchua]

Thanks for the review! I have the brown version, and now thinking I should have gone black! Maybe wait for the XPAC version. Have a small request - when talking about water bottles, could you also do a conversion to ml? I figured you're from somewhere in North America, but I think you guys are one out of the three countries left in the world who uses ounces 😅

[@Nomads.Nation]

I’ll see what we can do haha

[@johann_espiritu]

Watched (and thoroughly enjoyed!) this video with a huge smile while waiting for my black Alpaka tote to get delivered to me. 😝 I fell in love with totes the moment a friend gifted me one. They're incredibly versatile and simple, yet they offer a good way for one to stuff in everything they're bringing for the day and they're good to go! They look good and feel good, too -- the sensation of having my bag under my arm and I have easy access to it while I walk around is good, as opposed to, say, having all my stuff in a backpack (Don't get me wrong -- I use one of those, too; I just love my totes more). I teach in a university. I need to carry my tech and some books around the campus all the time and having a bag that gets all my requirements ticked -- ie portability, versatility, convenience, and the added stylishness totes give off when they're worn -- makes life so much better! [Excuse the long comment, I just got more excited to finally use my Alpaka after having seen your review!]

[@Nomads.Nation]

So glad to hear you love it so much!

[@juri991]

i am not a tote person but i love Alpaka next to Fyro out of all the brands you feature. looks good but reasonably priced. I would like to love Bellroy but it is kinda expensive

[@Nomads.Nation]

Alpaka’s pricing is one of their best selling points for sure

[@Jaerb4]

I bought one for like $40 off from Amazon and it was a fantastic buy. It's replaced my SF Bags Bolt Brief and my Orox leather work bag. You're completely right about the shoulder strap though - I had to buy separate shoulder pad grips to put on it.

[@Nomads.Nation]

glad you enjoy it!

[@SinVice]

Thnx for the link mate! Just purchased my first alpaka product.

[@Nomads.Nation]

glad to help! please let us know what you thinnk about it after testing for a few weeks!

[@jonuiuc]

Shoulder straps on totes have become my favorite things. I use a rennen ripstop tote with a shoulder strap and it’s great for groceries and freeing up a hand. I like this tote, and if I needed to carry a laptop in one I’d probably pick one up. But as it is I have probably too many tech briefcase type options already.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Love the Rennen tote

[@84GKAllDay]

I love this tote soooo much. I have the gray with the orange interior. So much storage.

[@Nomads.Nation]

oh yea

[@linedwell]

Has there been a subtle shift in the style of these videos? Starting at the display rack, pieces to camera outside, showing the pack on Margaret (hello Margaret ❤️) I like it. Looking forward to more from Marisa too. 😁

[@Nomads.Nation]

Yes and thanks for noticing! This is what we call ‘NN 2.0’ and we are slowly rolling it out over the next few weeks. If you have any other suggestions for how we can further improve our reviews, we are all ears 💪🏻

[@rbyerly]

Great review! I own this bag, and I thoroughly agree with your points. The strap is very smooth, and it slides off my shoulder far too easily. In fact, it slipped off while I was leaving work today, causing my bag to drop along with my 16-inch MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, the laptop compartment lacks adequate padding, which resulted in several scuffs on my laptop and the lid sitting askew.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Yea I wish more totes had grip on the shoulder strap

[@bani_niba]

The zipper to the main compartment should have been PU coated. Both to protect the electronics as well as the zipper run is totally straight (no difficult corners to go around).

[@Nomads.Nation]

I can’t argue with that considering it’s a tech tote

[@Gael_AG]

What is missing in the bravo serie is at least an internal zipped pocket to stash securely small items as I like in aer bags

[@Nomads.Nation]

Never bothered me personally but probably something many ppl would like

[@yesterdaysjam2405]

It looks like a tote (BabyBjörn SoFo) I used when I had to carry my kids nappies and assorted baby stuff but the bravo is obviously more tech friendly lol.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Maybe it’s the same tote ;)

[@A-Name-101]

Should be Pu coated on the main compartment. Should have 2 water bottle holders so can have water in one and umbrella in the other.

[@Nomads.Nation]

I think many ppl will agree

[@BlargAtaraxia]

Love the magnifying glass

[@Nomads.Nation]

Us too haha

[@FarhanHassanFarrrn]

I've a Sympl All Terrain tote... Doesn't have great organizational features but I would recommend it for its overall capacity and quality materials

[@Nomads.Nation]

I’ve got it too, very into it, full review coming soon

[@wilsonlamlyt7138]

@@Nomads.Nation OMG! I'm just struggling between this and the sympl, I've asked the sympl and there was only one review available. Hope to decide between these two!

[@wilsonlamlyt7138]

If size doesn't matters that much? I'm not sure between these two lol.

[@Nomads.Nation]

@@wilsonlamlyt7138 if you want an urban tote with better laptop protection - go Alpaka. If you want a tote that can go to the office AND the beach/hikes - go Sympl.

[@wilsonlamlyt7138]

@@Nomads.Nation what? I didn’t expect that! I thought sympl looks like those very classy urban totes. Wait for the review!

[@321southtube]

For a messenger bag to work... you need strong broad shoulders. A small framed....man... with small sloped shoulders, it doesn't work. Thanks for your service. Love all you do.

[@Nomads.Nation]

💪🏻

[@dantecorbett2221]

I'm on the fence... I've been eying this bag versus belroy for like 2 weeks now. :D wish the totepack was shipping already. I appreciate you making this video Aaron.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Glad to help and good luck with your decision 💪🏻

[@annissim4]

LOVE tote bags, and this one is looking pretty dope (also, I am a sucker for alpaka). It's unfortunate that as a motorcycle rider I find tote bags to be totes unpractical 😂 Great review though!

[@Nomads.Nation]

Yea haha motorbikes and totes don’t really go hand in hand

[@OndaPiloto]

This bag looks so cool but it is too big and heavy for my taste. I wish they would make a smaller and lighter version, or the Bellroy would get an external water bottle pocket.

[@Nomads.Nation]

So close but so far

[@unfi6798]

Tote is goat.!

[@Nomads.Nation]

🐐

[@cgazlan]

Bought it for usd67. Now waiting for it to arrive. My 5th alpaka if I'm not mistaken 😅

[@Nomads.Nation]

nice! let us know what you think of it after testing for a few weeks

[@cgazlan]

@@Nomads.Nation will surely do. Will use it as my main work bag and putting aside the Bravo Max v2 for a while.

[@mstammyn]

Comparing this tote to the Boundary Supply Rennen tote, which one is better in your opinion?🤔🤔🤔

[@Nomads.Nation]

this

[@travelwifme]

Hi! Can you do a review of a tote from Black Ember. Its called the WPT Tote. Would love to hear your view of it

[@Nomads.Nation]

Have it in my possession, hoping to get a review live in a few months (but holy moly we are so backed up with bags to shoot, please bare with me)

[@OmarAliAWSM]

AAARON! NEW ALPAKA TOTE! HELP ME BAG JESUS!

[@Nomads.Nation]

This tote ?? 😂

[@OmarAliAWSM]

@@Nomads.Nation the metro tote?

[@Nomads.Nation]

@@OmarAliAWSM haven't seen it yet, looks cool! Hopefully I can review one soon :)

[@SZMN766]

Is there any aftermarket shoulder straps that can replace this one? It looks similar to the Alpaka Elements Tech Brief Pro which didn't have good grip on my shoulder.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Not sure tbh but hoping someone from the community can help

[@einsomniumkm]

The removable shoulder strap is way too slippery. The inbuilt one was too small and slippery as well. Rendering the bag unusable

[@Nomads.Nation]

Agreed that some grip would have gone a long way, but in their defense there aren’t many totes that DO have the grip

[@kioti15]

Can you review the Maxpedition Entity 23?

[@Nomads.Nation]

I'll add to our wish list

[@Dmassimini7]

Random question: thoughts on the new nomatic jacket?! I really am considering getting it but i’m torn currently. Is it water resistant or waterproof? Was recently in a monsoon rainstorm in new orleans and my buddies had “water resistant” jackets and got soaked. Mine was waterproof and i stayed dry. I want to get the nomatic jacket but if it’s just water restistant then that hurts my decision a bit.

[@Nomads.Nation]

I have it, been wearing for 3 weeks. Def not waterproof, but I don’t know what jackets actually are

[@OmarAliAWSM]

That bag is lookin thicccc.

[@Nomads.Nation]

soo thicc

[@ZR47EDC]

False bottom on the laptop compartment?

[@Nomads.Nation]

A bit yes

[@ZR47EDC]

@@Nomads.Nation cool thankss

[@Nomads.Nation]

@@ZR47EDC 💪🏻

[@user-uh9zu7gm6w]

where i can buy aer bag in HK? is there store in HK?

[@Nomads.Nation]

Suburban HK has two locations, sometimes they have Aer bags

[@user-uh9zu7gm6w]

@@Nomads.Nation thank u

[@mokisan]

Whats the advantage of using a tote? And isnt tote mainly for women? Although i do know that in japan lot of men has totes too. I hate totes or messenger bags. Backpack with a side handle seems much nicer tbf.

[@Nomads.Nation]

bags are bags and some people prefer to carry their bags differently. Totes give a different range of freedom and access that some people prefer over backpacks. I don't really believe anything is mainly for a man or woman, wear whatever you want to wear 💪

[@RK-um9tu]

Tote's are big purses for women. You won't see a man walking around with a tote bag in the US.

[@melonplayz-roblox9600]

No point for totes, they hurt your shoulder so just get like a basic backpack that carry’s your tech and then done more comfy and shoulders don’t hurt

[@Nomads.Nation]

I too prefer backpacks, but still have a place in my bag-lineup

[@sean1e100]

One of the many “points” of a tote is when you’re wearing a decent jacket / sports coat and you don’t want to look like a teenager whilst carrying some essentials.

[@melonplayz-roblox9600]

@@sean1e100 it dose t matter since a backpack is still better

[@sean1e100]

@@melonplayz-roblox9600 intelligent contribution. Well done 👏🏼

[@Christopher-today]

Hey Aaron, I’m the same height as Margret. How does she feel the carry is especially when held in the hand (so comfortable distance from the ground) and in “messenger” mode worn over the shoulder or is that cross body - never sure. Thank you, Christopher

[@LexEvans90]

Too heavy...

[@Nomads.Nation]

It’s def not light

[@imcharlesincharge]

First

[@Nomads.Nation]

❤️