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Details
- Price $299
- Material 840D Cordura® ballistic nylon with polycarbonate, custom 75Dx150D ripstop polyester lining, Woojin® hardware, and YKK® lockable zips
- Capacity 38 L / 2319 cubic inches
- Weight 3.48 lbs / 1.58 kg
- Dimensions 13.8" (w) x 21.0" (h) x 7.1" (d) / 349 (w) x 533 (h) x 180 (d) mm
- Made in Vietnam
Overview
In the saturated world of travel backpacks, entrepreneurs, having experienced their fair share of travel and captivated by the allure of one-bag travel, embark on the design of yet another travel backpack. This is THE bag you need, not just any others.
As a pessimist, I would never attempt to design a travel backpack. However, I have nothing but serious respect for new businesses challenging this industry. The competition is stiff, and to survive, they must bring not only a solid backpack design but also something special to the table.
That's not to say it can't be done. Brands that succeed have to start somewhere, and this could be the story with Minimul.
Minimul, whose brand name coincides with an Indian-style clothing brand, starts as a Kickstarter campaign. This is how most brands start, like some of my favorites, Wool&Prince and Aer. Their so-called brand story isn't anything special, believe that their minimalist backpack will surpass all the others out there.
I'll admit, I wasn't too hopeful from the beginning. It takes a long time to perfect a travel backpack. Some, like TOM BIHN, have been around for ages, perfecting their craft. Others, like Aer, just have the edge to power to the top. Many come and go, and never quite get there.
Let's see if the Minimul has what it takes to make a name in the industry. In this review, I will be looking at a sample version of the pack and there are some differences from the final version, specifically-
- Lining
The saffron yellow lining is now a 75Dx150D mixed denier ripstop polyester, supposedly feeling nicer and more plush and premium to the touch compared to 75D Cordura. - Waist belt assembly
The back panel has been slightly redesigned so a detachable hip belt can slip through on the bottom half area and attach inside against a velcro panel to hold its place. - Internal main compartment
The zipper direction on the inside internal zip pocket of the main compartment has been reversed to allow you to access it by the side when you pull it down. - Compression straps
Box stitching on the binding area on the end joints of the internal compression straps against the frame of the main compartment for added durability. - Magnetic top handle
Made a bit thicker, harder, firmer, feeling more solid in hand so it keeps in shape longer and holds up better.
Note that this is reviewed with a pre-production sample and some there might be some minor differences.
Style
Just like how most websites start looking the same in this age, travel backpacks have become less adventurous, often following a proven model of looking sleek in black. Minimul, being a newcomer, did not seem like a risk-taker in this aspect.
The silhouette of the backpack is something you would be familiar with if you have shopped for travel backpacks before. At a glance, you wouldn't be able to differentiate it from something like the Able Carry Max Backpack.
The front of the backpack carries minimal details, with a zipper across to access the quick-access pocket. There is a logo at the bottom but it is barely visible, just the way I like it.
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I do not particularly like the logo. It lacks the finesse that a logo of established brands might have, but understandable as a startup.
There are seams on both sides and across the bottom that make it look a little like a business backpack.
The bag looks all black at first, but the first tinge of yellow color appears on the handle. When you flip it over, you will see the back and upper part of the shoulder strap uses a mesh with large holes, and underneath it is a yellow fabric.
As a purist, I can't emphasize how much I would rather they kept it all black. My preferences for all-black products can be obsessive but an all-black backpack will undoubtedly be more versatile and look more minimal.
For a 38L backpack, the proportions were pretty good for my 6 ft frame. It did not look clownishly huge like some travel backpacks, and still passable as an everyday carry. However, I would say it is too big for those with a smaller frame, to pass as a daily carry.
Materials
The exterior uses 840D Cordura ballistic nylon material. Many brands, such as TOM BIHN, use ballistic nylon. Cordura is a well-known fabric company and has its own ballistic nylon.
Their ballistic nylon might or might not be better than unbranded ones, but they are often regarded as the best brand for backpack fabrics and that brand name value is not to be trifled with. There is a coat of polycarbonate which I can only assume gives it more durability.
The zippers are from the go-to king of zippers, YKK, specifically, PU (polyurethane) coated ones which have extra protection.
I designed a thing.
I found a 100 year old company that would create these heirloom quality canisters for me. They are handmade and will keep your tea leaves, coffee beans or anything that you need dry for years to come.
or read review
Usage
Organization
Quick Access Pocket
The front quick access pocket is spacious with a padded pocket that takes up 2/3 of the width. The remaining width is utilized by two mesh pockets, one stacked on top of the other. The larger pocket is great for a passport, although I have the AusAir Airweave Merino Mask in there.
I believe that all items in a quick-access pocket should be visible when opened, and can be accessed quickly. The top mesh pocket was great for my Sony WF-1000XM4, but the bottom wasn't something I used.
It also comes with a nice loop. I like how the carabiner on it is much larger, which makes it easier to loop things like car keys that wouldn't fit into narrow key loops, like those on TOM BIHN bags.
Main Compartment
The zipper to the main compartment can be opened fully around the side of the bag. I am used to opening clamshell-style bags vertically, so having to open it to the side needed a little getting used to.
On the flap side, there is a zipper at the bottom that reveals a pouch. The pouch has a front zippered pocket as well as four equally sized mesh slots within the main compartment. It looks like the right size for a dopp kit.
The main compartment itself has a mesh zippered pocket and slot above it, on each side. The slot on the wearer's right came with its own eco bag. Now that most of the countries I frequent started charging for single-use plastic bags, this is a nice feature.
There were some things I did not like about the eco bag itself. First of all, it is too small. It looks a little lame for someone my size and wouldn't pass as a replacement bag for lightweight days.
There was a wall of text on it when you folded it into a bag that wasn't minimalist at all. This might sound harsh, but I expected nothing less from a brand using minimalism as part of its marketing.
Last but not least, it was not easy to fold it back into a bag. Essentially, you had to flip it into itself after you folded it up. The eco-bags with better usability let you fold it up and then tuck it into a pouch that was attached. That way, you didn't have to struggle to flip a bag made of rigid technical fabric.
There were two straps in the main compartment that went across. The straps come with two tightness settings and it allows you to compress stuff like clothing within the compartment. I also liked it for strapping down my tripod.
Attached to the straps, is a mesh pocket. This is not detachable. It's nice since it doesn't take up much extra space, but it probably won't work well with bulky items. While they will fit, it does create a bulge in the middle of the bag.
Laptop compartment
Unlike the main compartment, the laptop compartment opens downwards. On one side, there is a padded laptop compartment with a velcro strap on the top. Minimul did all the right things there. by having it padded and lifted off the ground and the sides so that direct impact to the backpack would not translate to your devices.
In front of the padded pocket, is a sleeve that looks good for a small tablet.
On the opposite side of the compartment are three columns of slots that are trying to replace your electronic dopp kit.
From the left, top-down, there is a mesh slot, an elastic band, a shallower mesh slot, and a pocket at the bottom. In the middle is a deep pocket, which fits the Aer Slim Pouch pretty nicely. The right column is the narrower equivalent of the first column.
The mesh pockets are pretty nice for cables, power adapters, or accessories like mice. The bottom one fits the NOMAD 130W Power Adapter pretty nicely.
You can choose the middle or top mesh pockets for cables depending on the cable length. Personally, my most used cables, the NOMAD Kelvar USB-C Cable and the lightning version go on top.
If you are a multi-bagger like me, you would most probably have your accessories in a pouch, so these might be redundant. However, they don't take up that much extra space or weight and are there if you need them.
Besides electronic accessories, these are great for general items, like South East Asia essentials, tissue, and wet wipe packets.
Hidden Pockets
Right below where the shoulder straps are attached, there are two hidden pockets behind the padding. They are perfectly sized for important documents such as your passport.
I love the idea of hidden pockets, like the ones on the Able Carry Daily Backpack. I especially love the ones that not only keep pickpockets at bay but stay hidden even after your backpack has been stolen. That way, if you have an Apple AirTag in the hidden pocket, you have a chance to retrieve it.
While this pocket wouldn't work with the AirTag, there is one on the top of the front quick access pocket that is designed just for an AirTag.
Carry
I used to be part of an infantry unit, so carrying a large pack with a heavy load is something I am used to. The Minimul Travel Pack feels decent on my shoulders.
Minimul plans to add a hip belt to the production model, but I didn't think it was particularly necessary. But it wouldn't hurt if it is detachable and doesn't significantly affect the price point.
There isn't anything on the Minimul Travel Pack that enhances this experience, such as the TOM BIHN edgeless straps.
There is a perforated fabric that runs on the underside of the shoulder strap. This means that if you wear a thin top, you'll feel that texture which might result in additional abrasion. I haven't had a chance to test it in such a season but will update if I do.
Handle
One unique feature that the Minimul Travel Pack has is a handle that snaps in place, thanks to a hidden magnet. It does feel a little excessive but helps keep your pack looking a little more streamlined.
Conclusion
The Minimul Travel Pack is decent. As a new brand, they lack the polish and distinct tastes of design powerhouses like Aer or Able Carry.
They did pack quite a bit of value by including an eco bag, pouch, and packing cubes, but could work against them for aficionados who want to curate every item (guilty as charged).
It would ultimately come down to the price. Compared to the $278 of the Able Carry Max Backpack and $249 of the Aer Travel Pack 3, I would be okay with a price point of $180-220 depending on how much you value the features and organization.
Additional Images
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