The Instagram-worthy Adventurist backpack is put to the GearJunkie test. Spoiler alert: it’s a good one.
Denver-based Adventurist Backpack Co. began in 2017 as a passion project of married couple Matilda Sandström and Kelly Belknap.
Avid global travelers, they wanted to both create quality outdoor products and do something to address the alarming poverty they have witnessed, not just around the world but also right here in the United States. Accordingly, for every Adventurist Backpack sold, the company donates 25 meals to the hunger relief nonprofit Feeding America.
Perusing the Adventurist website is a decidedly feel-good experience, replete with beautiful photos of millennials wearing the brand’s distinctively minimalist packs in often stunning settings, plus the company’s heartwarming story and mission statement.
But do Adventurist backpacks actually feel good on your back?
To find out, I tested two of their models, the Adventurist Classic and the larger Weekender, on and off trails in the western San Gabriel Mountains. What I discovered on these day hikes were unfussy but well-thought-out products that are deceptively durable, voluminous, and versatile.
![Adventurist Backpack Co. Adventurist Backpack Co.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/10/Adventurist-Backpack-Co.-1.jpg)
Adventurist Classic
The Classic is Adventurist Backpack Co.’s original product. Measuring 10.5 x 15.5 x 6 inches with a 16L capacity, this unobtrusive bag weighs just one pound.
Like all Adventurist backpacks, it has a deliberately functional design influenced by the styles of Sandström’s native Sweden. And all Adventurist packs are innately unisex. The seven available Classic colors offer something for everyone.
The Classic in Action
![Adventurist Classic All 6 Colors Adventurist Classic All 6 Colors](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/10/Adventurist-Classic-All-6-Colors.jpg)
Weekender
![Weekender on Pacific Crest Trail Weekender on Pacific Crest Trail](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/10/Weekender-on-Pacific-Crest-Trail.jpg)
The Weekender in Action
![Weekender showing contents Weekender showing contents](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/10/Weekender-showing-contents.jpg)
A Pack for Life
Get Your Pack
![Adventurist Backpack Co. founders Kelly & Matilda , Backpacking in Summer 2017 Adventurist Backpack Co. founders Kelly & Matilda , Backpacking in Summer 2017](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/10/Adventurist-Backpack-Co.-founders-Kelly-Matilda-Backpacking-in-Summer-2017.jpg)