I compared literally every backpack on the planet to find the right one.
The Bandit is the only bag that pulls off the absurd combo I was after: compact, but still able to hold a ton of gear.
I use it as my everyday carry, but it can flex into an overnight bag when needed. You can tuck a sleeping bag inside the beavertail, and mount a tent on the bottom MOLLE with separate straps. Long items like tent poles fit nicely into the side MOLLE.
- A 14" MacBook won't fit, but an 11" iPad Air fits snugly.
- The top storage compartment is bigger than it looks. A 4.5x6.5x2.5" pouch fits in with room to spare.
- The main compartment is listed as 7"W x 6.5"D on the site, but when I measured it myself, the actual usable space is closer to 8"W x 7"D.
- The back panel padding and shoulder straps are genuinely comfortable, the kind of quality you don't usually see on a 15L bag. It shows this pack was designed with heavy loads in mind from the start.
If I had to nitpick one thing, it's that the bottom of the bag, which sees the most wear, isn't padded.
Other than that, it's basically flawless. Whoever designed this bag is a genius.
Hoping this bag proves durable and sticks with me for the long haul.