Got this bag recently after a LOT of research. Looked at bags (online) from Evergoods, Sympl, Aer, Stubble & Co., Yeti, and a couple of others. I had three key requirements: wanted a luggage strap that mounted vertically on my suitcase (my days of lugging around heavy backpacks through airports are over), I needed a water bottle pocket (which is why I ruled out the Duration backpack), and it had to ‘look cool,’ which is admittedly very subjective.
All of the other backpacks checked most of the boxes and it came down to the Panda and the Evergoods bag. The horizontal mount of the Evergoods was a deal breaker and I liked the looks of the panda better. I know it looks like the Tumi Alpha, but that played no role in my decision. Anyway, I decided to take a chance on the Panda, so I ordered the black one. It arrived with no issues and the out of box experience was fine. I’ve taken the bag on two business trips and an international vacation trip and below is my feedback on the pros and cons. Most of these have been covered in other reviews, but I’ve included my perspective:
Pros:
1. I like the look and feel of the material. Feels sturdy and looks cool. I also like the subtlety of the branding.
2. It’s a personal opinion, but I like the big zippers. They look cool and work very well. Super easy to use.
3. I liked the look of the straight zippers on the Duration, but I read that the curved outside pockets on the Panda make it easier to access them, and I think that’s true.
4. I like the size. My previous back was 20L and it was slightly too small at times. I carry my laptop and iPad in the laptop area, I carry my tech bag (cables, adapters) in the outside bottom pocket, my phone, keys, wallet, pens, headphones in the upper outside pocket, a water bottle in one side pocket, and miscellaneous stuff in the other side pocket. That leaves the inside main compartment for my travel pillow, my toiletry bag, and a jacket. It all fits nicely and I could add some additional stuff, if needed, yet it doesn’t feel too big.
5. I love the luggage strap for my suitcase and that it mounts vertically. Saves my back.
Cons:
1. I was used to a smaller bag, so the size difference is noticeable. It’s not bad and I knew it would be bigger. It still fits under the seat in front of me on a plane, but it’s a tighter fit and it feels bigger. I’ll get used to it.
2. Because it’s bigger and I’m carrying more stuff, it’s heavier. Again, not unexpected, but it’s noticeable. This makes the luggage strap even more important. One of my business trips was a single night. I only took the backpack. It carried all of my stuff without any issues, but not having an option to roll it around got old. Probably not an issue for most folks.
3. The only ‘miss’ on this backpack, in my opinion, are the outside side pockets. They’re fine, but they’re too short for 95% of water bottles. I have a 16 oz Hydroflask bottle that fits that allows you to still zip the pocket closed. So I have a solution. But it seems like there could be an elegant solution that accommodates larger bottles and takes up less space. Perhaps Pioneer could add elastic side pockets to the outside of the Duration. I would have bought that. There could be an elegant way to implement a flexible bottle holder (IMO). The side pockets on the Panda also give it extra width that isn’t needed, again in my opinion. Bit of a nit, but keeps me from saying the bag is perfect.
4. Like others have suggested, I would have included a clasp on the shoulder straps to be able to provide more chest/back support. Not a huge issue, but would help and wouldn’t make it ugly.
5. A lot of folks have said the bag stands up easily. In my experience, the bag tends to fall toward the back outside pockets. Perhaps I just need to break it in more. I didn’t buy the bag for this reason, just sharing my experience. I also noticed that a couple of threads on the back started to fray a tiny bit after three trips. Something I’ll keep my eyes on.
The pros definitely outweigh the cons. Several reviewers pointed out that security can be a potential issue. I have a TSA lock that I used to secure the laptop compartment when I left my bag at the front desk of a hotel. A second lock could be used to secure the main compartment AND the top outside pocket, if needed. So I don’t see this as a huge issue.
Overall, I’m very pleased with the bag, and I’ve used a lot of backpacks. It meets all of my requirements and I think it looks cool, which is very subjective. I’m happy with the purchase and was able to find a 10% discount coupon, which made the price a little more tolerable. It’s a great product and I highly recommend it.
