My Favorite EDC Backpacks (<15L) as a Non-Binary Short-ish Person
The small high-quality packs I own and love, Part I
I’m Frances and I love backpacks.
One of the first things I did to entertain myself and avoid dread during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic was to join a backpack forum on Facebook (The Perfect Pack). It became my tight-knit online community of mostly cis straight men (but not all) across the English-speaking world who relished in discussing their beloved packs, new releases, buying and selling, and being on the ever-long quest to locate our “perfect pack” or “grail.” Through reading discussions daily and ordering many secondhand, sale and Sierra packs, I began to develop my own philosophy of carry and become pickier about must-have features. After I started graduate school three years ago, my budget shrunk, but it has not diminished my love for backpacks and sharing recommendations.
Why start a Substack now?
I just graduated a few weeks ago from divinity school! I have a bit of time to decompress and would like to share some of my learnings and thoughts as I transition into this next stage of ???. However, I feel that my life has become too “spiritual” and serious, so I also want to share with you some of my other seemingly incongruent hobbies, such as collecting backpacks. So here it goes! My favorite small EDC (every day carry) backpacks under 15 liters as a non-binary short-ish (5’ 6”) person:
1. GORUCK Bullet Ruck
Intro
The GORUCK Bullet 15L (2019, $85 with military discount) was the gateway pack that started me on this journey. Most of the members in The Perfect Pack leaned toward military-grade packs, as they are deemed to be at a much higher level of functionality with abrasion-resistant, failure-proof hardware, such as zippers and buckles. The Bullet 15L utilizes a simple clamshell design: meaning, it unzips fully to open like a book and lay flat for easy packing. There are three pockets inside: two on the top and bottom of the “flap,” and one sleeve for hydration or a sleeved laptop.
I used this pack heavily for a few years, and the 1000D Cordura fabric still looks good as new. This is also the pack that convinced me 15L is the sweet spot for carry of someone of my size and averages-level fitness; even if I overstuff it, it won’t be too heavy for hoisting around town.
Likes
Easy-access clamshell design for packing very efficiently (using pouches)
Wide, shallow quick-access interior pocket for keys, phone, slim wallet
Relatively comfortable with thickly padded shoulder straps
Stands up on its own due to the flat, wider bottom
The perfect height, length and width (10.75"W x 18.5"H x 5.5"D) for daily carry and moving around in tight, urban spaces
Dislikes
I don’t prefer the military look with the three rows of PALS webbing on the front, the morale patch area is alright
The Bullet’s front flat pocket is large but notoriously useless when interior is packed out
The original 1000D Cordura fabric has abraded my wool sweaters and outdoor nylon jackets (but Goruck has since moved away from 1000D to smoother fabrics)
Could use a sternum strap, helpful for carrying heavier loads and when biking
Flaws aside, the Bullet Ruck continues to be my favorite all-arounder EDC pack. It’s not the best at any one thing, but it is very, very good as one bag for most every type of carry. If I had the funds, I’d buy one for all of my friends on their birthdays. In 2023, GORUCK released a 14 and 16L laptop version with a rigid back panel, but it adds weight and I prefer the flexibility of a using my own sleeve. Last year, I bought a 2nd Bullet one for $95 during their Memorial Day sale without the PALS webbing and with softer 210D Cordura back panel and under shoulder straps. It is common for GORUCK fans to have many, many versions of the Bullet, so I’m trying to keep it down to 2 … or 3 (one day, waxed canvas Heritage you will be mine).
2. Tom Bihn Zeitgeist
Intro
Tom Bihn, located in Seattle, WA, is one of my favorite bag designers due to their use of extremely high-quality and colorful fabrics. Yes their bags are expensive, and yes they are worth every penny. You can save money buying secondhand when they pop up on Facebook, Poshmark, Mercari, Ebay. When I’m out and about casually (not working/schooling), I rock the Tom Bihn Zeitgeist, a mini backpack from the company’s design archives of the 80s and 90s that they reissued in 2021-22. It was released as a response to years of their female-base asking for PLOs, or “purse-like objects.”
The Zeitgeist is a traditional 6.7L backpack with an exterior zippered pocket, an interior top zippered pocket, a plushly padded inner sleeve for a tablet, and rain flaps on the exterior main opening. I carry my standard 21 oz. Hydro Flask water bottle, a journal, a book, lots of little knick knacks while feeling like there’s near-nothing on my back. The Zeitgeist cost me $130 from the Tom Bihn site. This may seem ridiculous for a mini backpack, but to me, is well worth it given that it’s sewn in Seattle and uses amazing materials and I use it all the time.
Likes
The much-coveted, now-gone Nightwalk halcyon fabric is unique, lightweight, and strong
Small quick-access interior pocket for keys, slim wallet
Has a sternum strap! Usually a pack of this small size won’t
At 9.8" x 12.8" x 4.7", The Zeitgeist is small enough to be allowed into most museums and venues
Dislikes
Front flat pocket can be difficult to access when pack is full
Whitish marks are more visible on darker halcyon fabric
This model is out of production so I can’t recommend it to friends!
This is my absolute favorite mini backpack! No matter how much I put in it, even if it’s a bunch of water bottles, it will never feel too heavy due to its size and just-thick-enough strap and back padding. The only time I’ve seen it “it in the wild” was a burnt orange version on a medical resident at Beth Israel Deaconess when I was a chaplain intern. It sparked joy!
I love it so much that I got the Paradigm in Taiga halcyon ($120, secondhand from the Tom Bihn Bags & Discussion Facebook group). The Paradigm is essentially the Zeitgeist with three 3D pockets on the front, and it has since been commandeered by my partner.
I used to have their vaunted travel backpack Synik 22 in Mars Red ($190, secondhand from Ebay). It has five magical exterior pockets and full clamshell opening, but missed having a top quick access pocket. It was also a little too Dad-vibes for me. I have since passed it on to my super organized dad for his jet-setting adventures, and he loves it even more than I do.
3. Waymark Dark Sky
Intro
Lastly, there’s the Waymark Dark Sky 18L. First off, I have to apologize for recommending yet another pack that is out of production. But I think it’s worth seeking out, and you may be able to find a used one on Ebay or Geartrade. I bought this pack in December 2023 for my January trip to Taiwan and the company has since gone out of business … due to it being difficult to run a small backpack business (note to self).
I liked the idea of ULA Packrat, but wanted a smaller version with waterproof zippers, and this one fit the bill. The Dark Sky is designed from a ultralight hiking approach, so the materials are much lighter and there is less padding/structure, which is exactly what I wanted in a travel daypack. I don’t typically go for black packs (boring), but the other colors were shouting “I’m a hiker” too much. I like to use it for biking day trips, since it is easy to stuff gloves, bars, bottles and small random objects in the three exterior stretch pockets.
Likes
The Dark Sky is my only pack with more modern, eco-friendly materials. This uses a black ripstop UltraGrid™ 210D Recycled Nylon as the main body material. It matches nicely with my other, colorful Ultragrid organization pouches from Ultralite sacks
It’s lightweight! At 330 grams, it weighs less than half of the Bullet Ruck (1.62 lbs)
Straps are pretty thick and comfortable for the weight. Comes with sternum strap
It packs pretty flat at the bottom of the suitcase
Dislikes
There is an interior quick access pocket, which is a must have, but it is sewed to the back so objects in there poke me in the back due to the thin back panel
Doesn’t stand up on its own, but that’s to be expected for outdoorsy packs and how they redistribute weight away from the bottom
I like how the Dark Sky fills an outdoorsy/travel carry spot for me. It is not ideal for EDC and commuting, as there is no laptop sleeve and the back padding is too thin. I don’t pull it out often, but when I do, I’m glad I have it.
Finally, you may be asking, why do only one of these packs have exterior bottle pockets? Aren’t those a must have? I like having that as a feature when traveling and being outdoors. But really, it’s just as easy to store your water bottle inside your pack standing up. Packs without water bottle pockets have a more streamlined look. They are, in my opinion, better looking. Plus, water bottle pockets are usually open on one end, so there is a medium chance your bottle or whatever else may fall out if the bag tips over. Give non-water bottle holder packs a chance, it opens up so many more options!