Versatile lightweight pack
Volume and Organization
After traveling with 30- and 45L clam-shell style packs as carry-on bags, I was curious about trying a more traditional backpack. The 45L Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack appealed to me because at 10” deep, 12” wide, and 22” tall, it’s slimmer and sleeker than some of my other large clam-shell bags/packs, and it has a nice variety of compartments and sleeves for organizing my gear.
The Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack has a large, 37L main compartment, accessible by unzipping the top panel, which covers the vertical length of the pack and wraps over the top of the pack. I like that I can fully unzip the panel and fold it backward while packing. It feels like I’m packing one side of a suitcase, with a nice large space to fill. I get the added bonus of seeing what I’m packing rather than stuffing and stacking items from the top of the pack. I can take advantage of the pack’s large volume, or I can use the six internal compression straps to reduce the volume for shorter trips or for day hiking. The straps allow me to customize the level of compression I need. I like that versatility.
The other two main compartments are: a large zippered compartment on the front of the pack and a medium-sized zippered compartment on the top. Like the main compartment, these pockets contain additional organizational pockets on the inside. All but one of these inner pockets are made out of an ultralight mesh material to keep the weight of the pack down. There are also two external zippered pockets, one on each side of the pack. Each pocket can hold a 17 oz (500 ml) water bottle.
Compression and Expansion
I found it very easy to pack the Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack’s main compartment. I place my clothing into packing cubes, then arranged the cubes into the space. I was surprised by how much the pack holds. Even when compressed I was able to pack enough clothing for a five-to-seven day trip, including: three packing cubes containing a pair of pants, a pair of sweatpants, three short-sleeve tops, two long-sleeve tops, two bras, six pairs of underwear, and three pairs of socks.
I’m tall, and have a long toros, so I really like that the Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack’s 22” length that gives me more packing options with such long, bulky items as parka-length jackets and wetsuits that can be quite builkly when folded several times. I can fit most of my jackets into the Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure by folding them in half.
When the Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack is fully expanded I can add a swim suit, a swim cap, goggles, a snorkel, an extra pair of shoes, and a thick zippered hoody sweatshirt. I use the provided accessory straps to securely attach my bike helmet to the front of the pack. (The pack has many accessory attachment loops, including six inside the main compartment and eight on the outside of the pack.)
I love having options around how to use the space in the main compartment. There are three compression straps on inside of the compartment, so I can reduce or expand the volume in any part of the pack. This versatility comes in handy when I want to fit my helmet inside the bag. I just expand the top of the pack.
The main compartment contains two long sleeve-style pockets (one on each side of the pack), as well as a full-length zippered pouch on the underside of the top panel. All of these pockets have a tough nylon binding around the borders. I don’t always use the side pockets, but when I do they are great for small items I forgot to pack in a cube, like an extra pair of socks, and for things like note cards and my Tarot card deck, and my iPhone tripod.
I use the zippered pocket on the underside of the front panel to store my medicine and vitamins. I carry a seven-day pill box divided into four doses a day. It’s abut an inch thick and it’s a bit bulky, but I want it with me in case my checked bag gets lost. After I slide the pill box into the deep pocket there’s still plenty of room for a medium-sized toiletries bag that holds a few more pill bottles.
I’ve also used the main compartment to carry my wetsuit, two changes of clothes (including two-days worth of socks and underwear), a pair of shoes, and a thick hoody. This pack is ideal for day-long or weekend outings where I bring fewer items of clothing but more activity-specific gear.
Security and Safety
The front panel of the Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack is narrow and long, wrapping around the top of the pack. It has four zipper pulls on the long zipper, which is a fabulous and thoughtful way to give the user more access to items on the inside of the pack. I can pack more strategically, knowing that I can quickly open only part of the panel to find what I need. I love how the top of the pack covers the top of the pack like a lid. This design gives me more space for gear and makes it easy for me to find things at the top of the pack without unzipping the sides and risking items falling out.
There’s a spacious zippered compartment on top of this panel that I use for stashing my padded computer accessories cube (cords, chargers, adapters), my iPad mini (in its bulky OtterBox case), and my iPhone 12 (also in a build OtterBox case). This deep compartment has a padded cover and a single zipper pull that can be parked under a tough nylon strap to slow down thieves who might try to access the compartment. If I want to access items at the bottom of the compartment, I have to fold the top panel back and reach into the depths.
This compartment also features zippered mesh pockets, two on the bottom and another on the underside of the panel. I use the lowest bottom pocket for items I need to keep safe: my passport, most of my wallet contents, jewelry. Then I put a smaller version of my wallet, containing only a single credit card, my ID, and some cash, into the top pocket. On the underside of the panel there’s a deep sleeve-style mesh pocket that I use for any items I don’t want to lose while traveling: a knit hat, a pair of gloves, a bandana.
Keep Essentials Handy
The top of the Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack has a nice big pocket for storing flat items I use often and need quick access to: my glasses (inside a protective case), my iPod (encased in a thin, nylon case), and a packet of hand wipes.
Inside this compartment there are two flat zippered pockets that are ideal for all the small items I might need during a flight or bus ride: essential cords and chargers, lip balm, and pens. The bottom inner pocket contains elastic bottle holders, so I use those for my “just in case” personal items such as a bottle of Tylenol, a bottle of something for my stomach, and a Bag Balm moisturizer stick. I often get headaches when I travel, so now I have a bag that provides me with options for keeping essentials close at hand. There’s also a short key lanyard in this pocket for my keys.
Even when the pack is stowed on a rack or in a bin, I can access what I need without removing it from is storage place. Nothing worse than trying to remove a bag from the overhead bin mid-flight. I’m always afraid I’ll drop the bag on someone’s head.
Tech Support
With my iPad mini, iPod (yes, I still use my iPod Classic), and iPhone secure, all I have left to pack into the Outdoor Vitals Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack is my 13” MacBook Pro.
It fits easily into the deep padded laptop sleeve on the bottom of the main compartment, even when inside a protective case. The sleeve is quite roomy and has space for a 15” or 16” laptop.
Easy to Carry
The Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack feels comfortable to me when I wear it as a pack. The shoulders straps and hip belt are thick and densely padded (with perforated EVA foam), as well as adjustable. It only takes me a minute to adjust everything to a fit that works for me. When not in use, I can unbuckle the straps and tuck them under the mesh-covered padding on the back of the bag. The adjustable chest strap is removable, so I usually don’t use it because it’s the type of thing I tend to lose.
I love how Outdoor Vitals has designed the hip belt. First, it is securely attached with a large Velcro-like patch located underneath the back padding. It is so helpful that I can remove the belt and stash it in another pocket while traveling, especially when I need to check the pack rather than use it as a carryon bag. Also, the belt provides great support around the torso but doesn’t extend over my stomach. It’s a thoughtful design that saves weight and reduces some bulk.
The Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack has four nylon handles, one on each side of the pack, that make it easy to grab the pack off of a rack on busses or off of the airline baggage claim conveyor belt.
The pack is heavy when it’s full, but it is much more manageable than other 45L bags I’ve used. It must be the thinner, taller profile. It just feels easier to manage. I can easily wear it and feel comfortable in it while navigating an airport or a trail. Also, with the four handles I can safely lift the bag when I need to store it or retrieve it during travel.
The lightweight aluminum frame is housed in a flat, sealed pocket on the back of the main compartment. It is removable, but I have kept it in the pack because I like the additional support and shaping it provides.
Bottom Line
I thought I was pretty attached to the clam-shell packs I have, but I loved using the Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack. It’s my new favorite bag. It’s durable. It has so many options for packing the various items of different sizes that I need on long trips and on day-long outings, and I think it is easier to handle when full than my stockier bags.
I appreciate the clean, elegant design. I like having sleek gear because I most often travel to and through cities. I don’t want gear covered with logos.
I feel like Outdoor Vitals made smart choices about where they reduced the weight of the Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack. The mesh pockets can feel very flimsy, but so far they are performing well. Same with the handles. They aren’t the most comfortable handles, but they are durable and get the job done.
I like the look and the thinness of the grid-print material. It’s much easier to wipe clean than my old-school packs made out of woven nylon that have more of a canvas-like appearance and texture. I also appreciate being able to pack things securely and still have access to them when I need them. I think the Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack’s long, lean design makes it ideal for air travel because it seems to fit (or come very close to fitting) within common airline carry-on dimension limits.
Finally, I like that the Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack provides safe passages for my many devices.
Details
The Kotaul Ultralight Travel and Adventure Backpack weights only 2 pounds and 13 ounces (a wee bit more, 2 lbs 15 oz, if all accessory straps are used). It is made out of 210D Nylon with 400D Spectra Ripstop Grid, with YKK zippers. The pack isn’t waterproof and doesn’t have taped seams. Outdoor Vitals describes it as a water-resistant pack. (“Water Resistance: 1500 mm HH.”) Outdoor Vitals also makes waterproof dry bags for this pack. Items sold on their website, and some items are available on Amazon.
Available in black and in green.
Brand: Outdoor Vitals outdoorvitals.com
$249.97 at Outdoor Vitals site.
All images from Outdoor Vitals website.