By: Malti McKinnon
I was a messenger bag kind of girl in high school. Maybe it was an issue of laziness since I usually only sling my backpack over one shoulder, but I think mainly I liked that, with a messenger bag, I could have quick and easy access to my things without any annoying zippers.
When I began my undergrad work at Penn State, it was clear that I needed a backpack. I was biking everywhere, and the side of my shoulder that I carried my bag on was starting to get pretty sore and tight. Since I love my Osprey Packs Exos 48 Backpack, I decided to see what they had in the way of commuter daypacks.
The Osprey Packs Flapjill Pack immediately appealed to me. At the time I was attracted to two of its major features, the stylish appearance and the padded laptop sleeve. And after 3 years together, I’ve fallen in love with everything about it. At 25 liters, this pack has plenty of space for all of my college-related activities, and when I’m feeling too lazy to bring a separate gym bag, I never have a problem adding in my sneakers and a separate outfit on top of my notebooks.
Another important feature is the zippered water bottle pocket on the side. It comfortably fits my 32 oz Nalgene bottle, and I suspect that it would be fine handling a 48 oz Nalgene bottle as well, depending on what you already have in your pack.
There are five compartments in the pack, six if you count the water bottle holder. The main one is where I store my notebooks, and it also houses the laptop sleeve. The sleeve can squeeze a 17” laptop, but works much better with a 15” one or my iPad. The second compartment is a zippered mesh one found inside of the main compartment. It’s a great multi-purpose storage area that I use for my folders. There are also two outside compartments on the front of the pack. They are out of the way whenever the flap is down and buckled, and are ideal for pencils, calculators, and any other small, random material. Lastly, there is a small zippered pocket on the top of the flap that’s easily accessible, which is where I keep my keys, wallet, and lip balm.
As for carrying, the Flapjack Pack has padded shoulder straps, a webbing hip belt, and a sternum strap, which join together for a real comfy ride. For quick and simple carrying, a convenient grab handle is placed on the top of the bag. I don’t use the hip belt around campus, but it does add an element of versatility whenever I take this pack on short hikes. I wouldn’t use it for more than a two day long trip, but for an overnight pack it has plenty of space. Another area where I have found the Flapjack Pack to really shine is on bike trips. With plenty of space for snacks and water, your appetite and thirst are always taken care of, while reflective accents allow you to cruise at night without fear.
I use my Osprey’s Flapjack Pack every day, and have for about three and a half years. It’s holding up very well, and without any major structural or cosmetic damage. It’s clearly very well made, and even if anything went wrong, Osprey has an amazing warranty, which is their All Mighty Guarantee. This states that they will repair any issue with any of their products, no matter how old it is. If it cannot be repaired, it will be replaced.
The Flapjack Pack is a great option for students, commuters, and anyone who needs a pack for shorter outdoor adventures. It’s versatile, durable, and convenient. I love mine, and am looking forward to many more adventures with it.