Traveling with just carry on luggage is a fantastic experience. For example, it drastically reduces the waiting time before and after a flight.
But one thing I learned was that the carry-on compliant Osprey Farpoint 40 I use to travel was too big to use it as a daypack on site.
I needed a smaller daypack. That's when I discovered packable backpacks.
Those backpacks typically come with a capacity of 20-35L and can be folded very small, and thus, you can put them into your big backpack for use as a daypack on site.
I know it somehow sounds strange to bring a smaller backpack inside a big backpack, but hey, it works and makes exploring cities so much more convenient than using a big backpack.
I tried a few different brands and models before I found the perfect foldable backpack that I could use as a daypack during a trip. And it's the Gonex 35L foldable backpack.
Before we go into a detailed review, here's a list of my requirements for a foldable backpack that I was looking for:
- Must fold "in itself." I tried models that would fold into an extra bag. This extra bag is something you can lose, and it's merely inconvenient to handle.
- Must have at least one mesh pocket on the outside for a bottle of water
- Adjustable straps
- Volume of 30-35L
Material of the Gonex packable backpack
The Gonex packable backpack is made of tear-resistant and water-resistant nylon fabric. This makes the backpack sturdy but still lightweight.
One thing I like to add here is that this packable backpack is only water-resistant and not waterproof. So, a few splashes of water out mild rain won't do any harm. But from my own experience, I wouldn't walk in a cloudburst for hours with that backpack.
I was surprised by heavy rain in Tallinn, Estonia while photographing the abandoned music hall at the seaside. My hotel was 20 minutes from where I was. I walked back to the hotel in the rain, and once I returned to the hotel, I checked the contents of the backpack in the hotel. The stuff inside was mildly wettish.
The Gonex foldable backpack can be folded in itself
I had a few packable backpacks that I could fold and put into an extra bag that came with them. I didn't like that at all. It's one more thing to carry, to take care of, and one more thing you can lose.
The Gonex packable backpack solved this quite cleverly. The backpack folds into its own outside pocket.
Gonex packable Backpack packs into itself
How to fold the Gonex packable backpack
Packed, the Gonex backpack is roughly an inch larger than a current Amazon Kindle and probably 1.5 inches thick.
Here's how to fold the Gonex packable backpack:
- Open the front pocket. This is where you'll store the backpack
- Turn it around and fold the sides towards the center. Make sure all of the belts are inside.
- Now fold it three times towards the bottom.
- Turn it around by pulling the flap of the external pocket over the folded part. Now close the zippers.
Two Mesh Pockets
The Goonex 35L foldable backpack not only has one mesh pocket but two. That's a nice bonus.
Moreover, the mesh pockets are conveniently located at the side of the backpack so you can easily reach them and grab your bottle of water.
The mesh pockets are huge. They can hold a 0.4-gallon bottle without problems.
I even sometimes use one of the mesh pockets to carry my tripod. The Gonex comes with two straps on each side that are located right above the mesh pockets. So you can use those to attach the tripod to the backpack securely.
Adjustable, slightly padded, straps
Some foldable backpacks I looked at had rather thin and unpadded shoulder straps. On a long day, those can quickly become quite inconvenient.
The Gonex foldable backpack has broad shoulder straps that are even slightly padded. Even with the backpack fully packed, including water bottles, it's still comfortable to carry.
A really cool feature is the two rings at the shoulder straps. I haven't seen anything similar on other backpacks. I use them really often to attach things there like water when it's really hot outside, and even gear like the tripod, when it's folded.
Mounting Rings and sternum strap on the Gonex packable Backpack
Finally, you get a sternum belt and even an emergency whistle that's built into one of the clips. But I wouldn't rely on that too much in case of an emergency.
Side straps
The Gonex packable backpack also has two side straps that you can use in several ways:
- As tension belts
- To fix a large bottle of water in the mesh pockets
- Or even to carry your tripod
Sidestraps on the Gonex packable Backpack can be used in a variety of ways
Volume of 30-35L
Personally, I believe that the 35L capacity is a little exaggerated. My Osprey Farpoint 40 has a capacity of 40L, and that's way too big for a daypack. Nevertheless, the size of the Gonex packable backpack is perfect for a daypack. Here's what fits into the backpack:
- My Travel Tripod (either inside or in the mesh pockets)
- A windbreaker jacket
- iPad (carry electronics only in a padded sleeve as the backpack is not padded at all.)
- My Anker 26800 power bank
- Cables for charging
- Lots of snacks for the day
The Gonex packable backpack I'm reviewing here has several pockets that you can use to organize your stuff:
- A medium-sized pocket outside. This is also the pocket the backpack folds into.
- A small pocket at the top of the flap (e.g., for sunglasses)
- A big compartment inside
- Two smaller pockets inside the big compartment
So you can organize your stuff with this backpack.
One important thing is that I don't recommend using this or any other packable backpack as a daypack if you need to carry a notebook or tablet unless you use a special padded sleeve for those.
Conclusion
The Gonex 35L foldable backpack probably won't win any prize for the most beautiful backpack.
But it may win a prize for the most convenient, sophisticated, and most portable backpack. As I can fold it into itself, I can store it in my Osprey Farpoint 40 carry-on backpack and use it as a daypack on site.
I have been using mine for almost three years now, and it's still in excellent condition.
What's even more, the Gonex 35L foldable backpack has excellent reviews and is truly affordable. It's available in several colors. Check the price of the Gonex 35L foldable backpack on Amazon.
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