I was waiting at my gate in Tokyo Narita Airport, about to walk out onto the tarmac, sweating through my Smartwool tee. It was 33 degrees Celcius outside (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit), and I could expect the same where I was going. Every time I put on my NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Backpack, overstuffed with travel essentials, I said a quiet prayer, thanking the designers who put CCubed in this comfortable, well-ventilated pack.
CCubed is an “innovative cushioning material“ made of 97% air. It’s said to outperform traditional PE or EVA foams and is fully recyclable. I’d never seen it before a media demo with NEMO last year, and it caught my attention right away.
I’ve used this backpack several times a week for over 12 months. It’s traveled from my home in Colorado to Utah, California, the East Coast, and throughout Asia. NEMO took a big step into the pack market with both its Vantage and Resolve, and I wanted to make sure to put it through as thorough a test as possible.
In short: If a well-organized pack makes you smile, then the NEMO Vantage will make your whole day. There is no shortage of compartments and clever and functional organization. The front expandable shove-it pocket is great for less-organized travelers. As a total package, this travel-oriented pack offers comfort, easily adjustable straps, and the ability to flex for almost any adventure. Its recycled fabrics also held up over rigorous testing. And the comfortable CCubed cushioning material was soft and ventilated surprisingly well. It has some small drawbacks — but overall, this is a highly capable bag for travelers.
If you’re shopping for daypacks, check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Daypacks to see more options.
- Dimensions: 19” x 11” x 11”
- Verified weight: 3 lbs., 1 oz. (30L), 2 lbs., 9 oz. (20L)
- Sizes: 20L, 26L or 30L
- Material: 100% recycled polyester, proprietary recyclable PET, CCubed foam
- Features: lots of compartments, tech pocket, duffel zip, shoe compartment (on 30L model)
Pros
- Ideal for city or off-road travel
- Packing capabilities of a small duffel
- Incredible ventilation and comfort
- Very durable
- Made from recycled materials
Cons
- Water bottle pockets are too small (no water bottle pockets on 20L)
- Slightly heavy compared to other daypacks
- $180-200 for a daypack is quite expensive
NEMO Vantage 20L Daypack Review
I got a sneak peek at the first samples of these packs from NEMO back in June 2023. I was on a press trip in the high country of Colorado’s Front Range mountains. After over 20 years as a camping, sleeping pad, and tent brand, NEMO announced it was adding packs to its gear lineup.
I got my hands on a sample and proceeded to take it around the world on a multicountry adventure.
This pack, at a minimum, had to work well as a carry-on and “travel” pack. It also had to flex from daily commuting to heavy use on planes, trains, hiking trails, and more. I can safely say that this pack is now well-traveled in hot, humid, and ever-changing mountain weather.
Traveling and Testing
The NEMO Vantage pack, unlike its more technical Resolve counterpart, is more geared toward commuting, daily carry, and travel. I also used it a fair amount for my everyday trail-to-town hikes, as a carry-on, or as a packed road trip bag. From time to time, it was also my spare camping backpack.
For travel or car-based adventures when you don’t need the most technical features or something ultralight, the NEMO Vantage is a versatile do-all option.
The Vantage is an ideal travel pack. Throughout my time on the road, I found it to have the packing capabilities of a small duffel. This thing simply swallows gear. And despite being made from recycled materials, it held up to the durability test. There was some small wear and discoloration on the bottom, but aside from that, it held up. (Though, considering the price tag, I’d expect nothing less.)
My favorite feature, though, was the CCubed — a recyclable replacement to EVA and PE foam. Unlike those other types of foam, this one is 97% air, according to NEMO. That allows it to wick sweat and help it evaporate more efficiently.
I experienced some minor back sweat while wearing the NEMO Vantage on my travels. But I never had any sweat, rubbing, or uncomfortable issues with the shoulder straps, thanks to CCubed.
Some Room for Improvement
One gripe I had with this pack was its lack of water bottle pockets. The 20L version doesn’t have any, and that’s a feature I frequently use. Keeping your water bottle in the pack takes up a lot of room unnecessarily.
The capacity of the Vantage — especially with the expandable stuff pocket on the front — is a benefit. But as I discovered, it can also be a detriment. Just because this pack can fit a ton of stuff doesn’t mean it needs to be bursting at the seams. It got pretty heavy when I had it stuffed full for longer-distance travel. I had to exercise some restraint while packing.
Finally, there is the price tag. $180-200 is a lot to spend on a daypack. It’s clearly durable and will last a long time, and part of what you’re paying for is the sustainability efforts behind the design of this pack. But still, it’s pricey. There is only one other pack in GearJunkie’s Guide to the Best Daypacks that is more expensive.
Notes on Sustainability
The NEMO Vantage backpacks join NEMO’s 100% recyclable Endless Promise Collection. The daypacks, including the Vantage 20L that I tested, use NEMO’s exclusive CERO fabrics, made with 100% recycled PET yarn and a unique PET coating that allows it to be recycled at the end of its life.
According to NEMO, this construction also creates greater water-resistance and tear strength than typical pack fabrics.
NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Backpack: Conclusion
The NEMO Vantage backpack holds all the daily necessities required to go from the airport to the office, commute to the gym, or hike. It’s worth noting that the hiking-specific and slightly more technical NEMO Resolve daypack differs from the Vantage. This pocket includes an expandable front stash pocket and more compartments for laptops and tech. The Vantage comes in 20L, 26L, and 30L options.
Personally, the 20L size was plenty for me. For most travelers who like to travel light, its a great option. It might even feel like overkill in some cases. I packed it to the gills with a spare pair of shoes, electronics, books, rain shell, passport and visa documentation, and travel essentials. If I was traveling for a longer period of time, the 26L probably would’ve been slightly more comfortable with more capacity.
I think that 30L would be a lot of space for most travel and office needs, but for those who like to pack more or go on longer trips, NEMO has you covered.
I plan to use my NEMO Vantage 20L as much as I can. I already know that for comfort, capacity, and durability, it can hold up to a lot — from hiking to the top of Mt. Fuji down to wandering through a national park at sea level. And I’m really looking forward to seeing where it takes me next.
