I guess a bladder since you pointed out the issue with a laptop going there?

Depends on the trip. I haven't used it YET but I have a date with the Camino late spring next year. I will be journaling but I am under the impression that aqua is freely available pretty much along the journey so I'm not really concerned about lugging much water.

Neither! I bought this pack and returned it because of both the back compartment and the hip belt issue that you called out. Was a great carry and carried a ton but those two things killed me from keeping this - especially in more urban environments or business trips. You also don't have anywhere to store the hydration port when it's not in use so that didn't work either (though I tried!).

I probably wouldn't use a bladder while travelling (unless I was specifically for the outdoors) but I'm wary of putting my laptop in places that aren't specifically designed for it. It seems like a good place to put documents that you wouldn't use as often (spare ID, extra copies of itinerary etc.)

I would not use it for a laptop or bladder because I normally do not travel with these things. So is is perfect for me like it is.

Great info! Thanks for sharing, Na mi! - Austin

Solid usage on that Joe! Glad to hear you're digging yours. - Tom

Carried mine on my Everest base camp trek. Sail week in Croatia and hiking 110miles on tour de Mont Blanc

Thanks for this comment, its pushing me to buy the 28l version of this bag which should be a perfect travel bag for my small frame

That's awesome Daniel, we're so glad this pack is working well for you and your family. Thanks for sharing! 🙌😊 - Rebecca

@@PackHacker BTW: We're going to Taiwan in August and the REI Ruckpack 40 is going to be our luggage!

Hi shugoreirocks-always happy to help! 😊 -Hannah

We hear you Rocio! It's so important to find a pack that's going to work well for you. Keep us updated! 😊 - Rebecca

Thanks for the suggestion, Dalton! 😃 -Eric

Hey TheToeKnee216-glad to hear you're digging the bloopers! 👍😂 Also, all great points. A removable hip belt is always ideal for us, too. -Hannah

​@@PackHacker I own this pack and i'm about to take a 1-2month trip with it. I saw in another video that they just folded-in the hip belts and then folded the strap cover inward+tuck to semi hide it. then the hip belt sort of becomes a lumbar support. (seemed like a decent work-around)

@@wayneshau5111 Ah, yes! We've tried this same method for other packs-like the Osprey Farpoint 40. Great idea! -Hannah

Thanks for sharing, John! Sounds like a great trek. We'll have to check out the Trail 40. 👍 -Hannah

Thanks for the quick response. I am going to Ireland (home of my ancestors) this May so I will be reading more of your great site.

@@johnc1975 Have an awesome trip John! - Tom

You got it - Icaro! - Tom

Great info, Holly 👌 -Hannah

Great tip Holly! - Tom

Great to hear, jalabi99! 😊 -Hannah

Glad you're digging it, christopher carlos! 😊 - Rebecca

Awesome Michael - glad it's working out for you! - Tom

Update: It worked perfectly on my trip! My only small critique is that it will not stand up on its own. Thank you for your review again!

@@michaelalmassey8616 Great to hear it worked out, Michael! Stay tuned for more 😊 -Hannah

Hey jon custis - we recommend checking out our full written review for more information on the quick-grab handles packhacker.com/travel-gear/rei/ruckpack-40/ - thanks for sharing your experience with us! 😊 - Rebecca

Thanks for watching 😃 -Eric

Glad you're digging the content Elias R. - stay tuned for more! 😊👍 - Rebecca

It would definitely be nice if there were some lockable zipper features on the sides as well! - Tom

Hey jneb748 - We'd be more than happy to answer any specific questions you have. The opening of the main compartment doesn't go all the way down to the bottom but it's more than enough for organization and access. - Tom

That's a difficult one! It really depends what you prefer. A couple of our team members have used the Osprey Farpoint 40 for continuous travel and it's held up great. Based on that, it may have a leg up in our decision! Hope that helps. -Hannah

Hey Chuck woof - thanks for sharing your experience with us. And, we get what you're saying about the hip belt, we found this to be pretty annoying as we tend to prefer removable or hideable hip belts so you can tighten things up when you don't need that extra support. 👍 - Rebecca

Hey mArLon DaYdAy - we recommend checking out our new sorting filter, you can now filter different types of travel gear and then sort by the highest rating packhacker.com/travel-gear/category/bags-and-luggage/travel-backpacks/?order=rating which will help you see a list of our highest rated packs. 😊 - Rebecca

Thanks for sharing, Midwest Louis! Let us know how you get on with this pack, we'd love to hear if it works for you. 😊👍 - Rebecca

Hey Dhanush - from our experience we've found that airline carry-on specifications differ, so we recommend checking with the individual airline before you fly. 😊 - Rebecca

I carried on for a domestic Lufthansa flight.

Hi consumativ-great question! I really like the straps of the REI Ruckpack 40, they are curved and padded enough for comfort. If I was in your shoes, I believe I would choose the Ruckpack 40 (women's version) simply because of it's comfortable carry and ease to use. If you are still considering the Farpoint 40 (which is another great option)-I urge you to take a look at the Fairview 40 instead, as this is designed specifically with women in mind. Here's a link to our full review: packhacker.com/travel-gear/osprey/fairview-40/ Hope this helps! Happy to answer any other questions you may have. -Hannah

That's a real shame Flavio. Interesting that Deuter is available, it's been a pack we've had our eye on for a while to test out. All the best, - Nathan

We haven't had any issues yet-but we recommend checking with your respective airline(s)! -Hannah

Yeah, I was considering this pack until I realized that it exceeds European budget airlines' carry-on dimensions.

Hey ada! I think you answered your own question in your comments. If the Aer is "your favorite", go for that one! Having a packable daypack or duffel is a great option just in case. - Tom

Yeah let's not get stuck into analysis paralysis =). There is so much great gear out there, we can't really go wrong

Lot's of great gear out there, for sure!

@@alyssabrolsma5943 Thanks for sharing, Alyssa! Great to hear you've found a system that works for you 😊 -Hannah

Hey Rome LJ - we agree, we found this pretty annoying and would prefer removable or hideable hip belts so you can tidy things up when you don't need that extra support. Thanks for watching! 👍 - Rebecca

Any bag that is similar to this that you cqn tuck the hip belt?

Hey scootermcgoot, we see what you mean there. We've ended up really enjoying the design because it gives you some slick quick accessibility at the top of the pack. 👌 -Hannah

Also in the Q&A on REI's site, they say that the hip belt can be hidden away, but the velcro might be a bit hidden

@@RevibinDesigns - for the hip belt, it's not easily hideable, however, this strategy will work kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p9qAn5p-2Myre58.html The Waymark Gear Thru 40 packs aren't on our immediate list but we'll check them out! - Tom

This pack isn’t your best bet for a carry-on! 😞 -Eric

Hey! We recommend checking out the full reviews of the REI Ruckpack 40 packhacker.com/travel-gear/rei/ruckpack-40/ and the Eagle Creek Wayfinder Backpack 40L packhacker.com/travel-gear/eagle-creek/wayfinder-backpack-40l/ to compare the ratings. 😊👍 - Rebecca

Hey Joaquin, the women-focused option is designed for a smaller frame. It has slightly thicker straps, while the men’s are more narrow, plus they are shaped slightly differently, too. The women’s harness is anchored a bit lower than the men’s version, which is done to optimize the pack for smaller torsos-and because it’s anchored lower, it also sits a bit higher on your back. We haven't tested the men's focused harness system on a smaller frame, so we cannot verify the fit 100%, but both packs do have adjustable straps on the shoulder straps and on the load lifters. Just as a note, the sternum strap and shoulder straps don’t offer anything in terms of strap management, which means you’re going to have some dangling straps on various parts of this bag especially if you need the straps shorter. Hope this helps! We also recommend checking out the full written review here: packhacker.com/travel-gear/rei/ruckpack-40/ - Rebecca

It's a great carry! 👍 -Hannah

Hey Knugen - it's great to hear that you've found which features are a must-have for you, it's so important to work this out so that you can find a backpack that's going to work for you and your travel style. 😊 - Rebecca

Hey Jayson! We've found that all airlines have different carry-on specifications, so we always recommend checking with the individual airline you're flying with before you leave. You can also check out our Carry-On Compliance feature on the full review which you can use as a guideline to check out the carry-on specifications for over 100 airlines. packhacker.com/travel-gear/rei/ruckpack-40/ Hope this helps! - Rebecca

Hi 808JOKER - it's not on our immediate list but we may consider it! - Tom

Hey Diane - this pack is carry-on compliant, but size specifications do vary between airlines, so we recommend checking with the individual airline before you fly. Hope this helps! 😊 - Rebecca

@@PackHacker Thank you. I am completely addicted to your website and channel!

Glad you're digging it, Diane! 👍 - Rebecca

Thanks for reaching out! It really depends on your torso length and build-the women's harness system is anchored a bit lower than the men's version-other than that they are the same size. For reference, here you can find Tom & I's torso length: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jNRdjLJ72ZOXd4E.html Hope this helps! -Hannah

Thanks Hannah for the chart and breakdown, and DJNess for the real life experience. Will look to get the men's version soon. Cheers!

Hey Nicolás! Tons of great packs to choose from. For instance, we rated this one an 8.2, whereas the Peak Design Travel Backpack we rated an 8.9. -Hannah

Every airline has different requirements-we recommend checking with the one you're flying with to ensure you're good! 👍 Stay tuned for some upcoming Arc-Teryx reviews! -Hannah

Pack Hacker ok please start with brize 25/32 smiley face

😆 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ - Rebecca

🖤

You bet Igor! We've got the Synapse on deck in a recently released colorway. Stay tuned! - Tom

Guessing that's the Guide Edition, yeah?

We don't have the Guide Edition, but we do have the Nebulous Grey with Island Halcyon interior 👍 -Hannah

🙂 - Tom

Great point, AafkeArt! The women's version fit me nicely and I'm about 5'3". Happy to answer any questions you may have regarding fit! -Hannah

@@PackHacker I'm 5.11....

@@AafkeArt Are there any other packs you prefer to wear that fit well? I know height can change things up! -Hannah

@@PackHacker Thank you, I have only just started looking for new luggage. I have been traveling with a big roller suitcase (and so fed up with it), and my old backpack is a big top loader for trekking, totally adjustable so torso length isn't an issue.. My stuff is old and falling apart so a good time to rethink travelling. The Tortuga Setout divide is top of my list right now.

@@AafkeArt I understand! The Tortuga Setout Divide is a great option. You could also check out their Setout Laptop Backpack, it's very similar but a bit cheaper! Link: www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/setout-laptop-backpack -Hannah

It's not in our immediate pipeline, but we'll check it out! -Hannah

The Radian is one example of many other packs we've reviewed that offer removable hip belts. - Tom

🙊 ...always happy to help! -Hannah

Hey DEVRAJ! We typically try to stay within carry-on compliance as we love to travel that way so we likely won't if I'm being honest! Hope this review helps regardless. - Tom

You got it senyum0! - Tom

Yup..yup...

I was gonna say anyone who's owned a pair of jeans has heard of ykk. 😂

Bummer, Dufffaaa93. We always recommend checking with airlines before purchasing a pack. 👍 Let us know if you find another pack that works out better for you! -Hannah

I use this on all china flights

@@spellerlittlewing-thanks for sharing! -Hannah

If you pack it full it won’t, but because it’s somewhat of a soft shell you could squeeze it in but you’ll most likely lose the top quick access pocket.

Great point neojei-don't forget there's an aluminum frame, too!

Hi! No plans to review the new one at the moment, but I'll pass it along to the team for consideration-thanks! - Austin