Is summer over yet? Doesn’t look like it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start gearing up for fall. After all, many kids and young adults are already heading back to school, and many of the daypacks featured this week are tailor-made to transition seamlessly from the classroom or workplace to the trail or bike path.
So there’s plenty of fun stuff to peruse, especially the new offerings from beloved backpack brands like Gregory and Cotopaxi. But there are also some interesting alpine-specific packs from Berghaus and the “dry out your wet phone” options from a brand named (you guessed it) DRYOUT.
Find all that and more in this week’s Emerging Gear.
Berghaus Fast Hike
When you’re aiming to go fast and light, a snug, light pack is the way to go. That’s the sweet spot of the Berghaus Fast Hike 15L Pack ($162), available for both men and women. This lightweight, 17-ounce day pack will work for long runs and has space for an extra layer, fuel, and gear, as well as a hip and chest strap system for stability.
There are inner and outer pockets, “intuitive cinching,” hip straps, and a “running vest-inspired” front closure, the brand said. It has a sleek, minimalist appearance, space for a hydration bladder, and perhaps best of all — the purchase comes with free repairs.
Matador Travel Update
Matador Travel Equipment, based in Boulder, Colo., knows a thing or two about making travel gear. The Matador Global Travel Adapter just got a rave review from GearJunkie’s Adam Ruggiero, who has also lauded the brand’s “ingenious” travel packs back in 2020.
Well, now Matador is launching a “complete reinvention” of its travel bag lineup. The new collection spans 11 pieces ranging from 2L to 45 L. They all share mostly the same features, such as RFID-blocking materials, pockets for AirTags or similar devices, multiple ways to access the bags, and recycled materials. Moreover, the brand says it was able to cut prices by 18% compared to previous generations of bags.
Highlights from the new lineup include the “do-it-all carry-on” Global Travel Pack, available in both 45L and 35L versions ($300 and $280), the 18L Personal Item Travel Pack ($150), the 24L Adventure Pack ($200), and the 2L Lite Sling ($23).
Cotopaxi Daypacks
Whether you’re seeking style or substance, it’s hard not to love packs from Cotopaxi. Colorful, functional, and often made from recycled materials, the brand’s hiking and travel bags have earned many loyalists and glowing reviews from us GearJunkies.
Its latest releases include several smaller bags, including the Abierto 26L Daypack ($105) and the Empacable 16L Daypack ($75). The Abierto is a solid “daily life” pack, complete with a laptop sleeve, a front cinch for day hikes, and a water-resistant design. The Empacable would be solid as a small flight pack, or for casual weekend days when you can leave work behind.
Gregory Terros
The packs from Gregory, based in Salt Lake City, have repeatedly proved themselves a worthy choice for serious adventurers. The brand’s latest offering, the Terros collection, is a line of unisex lifestyle packs. They’re “designed for people who move seamlessly between work, school, travel, and the trail,” Gregory said in a release.
Available in 20L, 25L, or 28L sizes, the Terros uses 100% recycled exterior fabrics. It has contoured shoulder straps and a breathable back panel. There’s plenty of organization here, including front bungee storage on the 20L and 28L models and a zippered organizer pocket with interior mesh compartments on the 25L. The price tags are also highly reasonable, ranging from $90 to $110, depending on size.
YETI Daypacks
Judging by the marketing pitch on this one, YETI hopes plenty of students will go back to school this fall with its new Palo pack. It’s made to “move seamlessly from early morning workouts to afternoon study sessions to evening errands,” the brand said.
Available in three sizes (20L, 26L, 32L), the pack has a RipZip opening and separate mesh pockets. It’s made from weather-resistant nylon and has the brand’s GroundControl Base that’s water-resistant and free-standing. There’s also a “no-pressure” back panel and padded shoulder straps. Prices range from $175 to $275, depending on size.
Po Campo Bike Bags
Po Campo is a woman-led company focused on bike bags that are as stylish as they are functional. After releasing the Vernon Bike Trunk bag, the brand now offers a version that’s compatible with MIK bike racks, an increasingly popular option for adding accessories to your daily rider.
Like the original version, the Vernon MIK Trunk Bag has 15.7L of capacity, 10 organization pockets, a dedicated spot for a bike lock, an expandable roll-top, weatherproof fabrics and zippers, plus a limited lifetime warranty. It also looks as spiffy as ever with the Tropical Nights design. Its MIK rear rack compatibility means that it’s a simple click-on/off when attaching or removing it from your bike. It sells for $160 on the Po Campo website.
Phone Rescue Pouch
It’s not exactly uncommon these days to put your phone in a bowl of rice after it gets wet. (I end up in this situation on a regular basis with my iPhone.) That’s why DRYOUT was invented.
The brand created Moisture-Removal Technology to help with wet devices, and has brought it to a new collection of backpacks, slings, sleeves, totes, and recovery pouches, all “designed to protect, carry, and rescue the essential technology devices people rely on every day,” DRYOUT said. Supposedly, DRYOUT’s tech absorbs more than 10× as much moisture as a bowl of rice under controlled laboratory conditions, the brand said.
The DRYOUT x UAG collection is a collaboration between both companies’ product development teams, combining DRYOUT’s patented technology with UAG’s rugged device protection. The product lineup includes a 22L Backpack with DRYOUT Active Moisture-Removal Technology and smaller items like the Phone Recovery Pouch.
Havo Flight Pouch
As the airline industry becomes ever more unreliable, many brands are creating smaller storage options to help streamline stressful trips through the airport. One of the newest options is the Havo Flight Pouch, which is essentially a small shoulder bag with a bunch of pockets to help you stay organized.
It recently launched on Kickstarter and has already soared past its funding goal with hundreds of backers. There are still 25 days left to go, as of this writing. The cheapest buy-in option is $85, which gets you the Havo S in weather-resistant X-Pac Sailcloth. It’ll store your passports, cards, cash, documents, and small items organized across 22 dedicated pockets in one slim 2.4L pouch.
Samaya MountainProof60
So this burly duffel bag/backpack came out last year. But it’s new to us GearJunkies, and it certainly looks like it can take a beating. French brand Samaya has proved that it can make gear to go the distance: its Samaya Alpinist2 Ultra tent was the “tip of the ultralight spear” for a GearJunkie reviewer who took it on a paragliding tour in Patagonia.
Its MountainProof60 pack aims for the same category as the ever-popular Basecamp Duffel from The North Face. Fully waterproof (IPX7), it combines welded construction with a YKK AquaSeal zipper. It can handle temporary immersion in water (3.3 feet for 30 minutes) while keeping your gear safe and dry. It also uses Bluesign-approved materials and sports removable shoulder straps, side daisy chains, and a reinforced Cordura base. Since it’s been out for a while, it’s also on sale for 50% off right now for about $173.
Patagonia Styles for Kids
It’s back-to-school season, which means many brands are putting out new designs for the kiddos. That includes Patagonia, which has dropped some sweet new pack designs aimed at youngins. That includes its popular Refugio daypacks (or Refugito for the kids’ version).
Check out colorful new designs for the Kids’ Refugito Daypack 12L ($75), and you might find something even the most fashion-minded child will love.
