Gear Closet: Osprey FlapJack Travel Pack

Looking for a new backpack for your daily commute or for traveling? Need a bag that can safely carry all of your gear, while providing quick and easy access to all of the stuff inside? Than Osprey most definitely has you covered with their newly updated FlapJack Pack, which deftly mixes the company’s vast experience with outdoor products with a great sense of design and functionality.

The FlapJack has been around for a number of years now, and has proved to be a good choice for commuters and travelers. But the line of packs and courier bags gets an update for the fall of 2015 that brings a cleaner, more modern design to the product, as well as new materials that are built to resist moisture, while protecting the contents of the bag more fully. The new FlapJack Pack feels more durable than in the past, which allows it to resist the rigors of daily use more fully. Putting this pack to the test, I get the sense that it can easily stand up to the challenges it’ll face with frequent use, which something I value as a frequent traveler.

The interior of the pack is well designed too, providing plenty of space to bring everything you need with you. A large laptop sleeve ensures that my computer is safe and well protected, while a secondary sleeve is perfect for holding my tablet too. There is even a third interior pocket that comes equipped with a zipper, which is perfect for holding important paperwork. The volumes main compartment also has room for a light jacket, power cables, a camera, or just about anything else you might need to take with you on your excursions.

The storage options ont he FlapJack Pack don’t end there however. A zippered external compartment on the front opens to reveal a nicely designed organizational space complete with key-clip, penholders, and other pockets meant to hold small items. A secure zip-pocket located under the low-profile handle on the top of the bag is great for holding a smartphone or other small valuables you want to keep close at hand, while a water bottle holder along one side is a welcome touch too. The opposite side of the pack even has a deep zippered pocket for carrying other items with ease.

All of these pockets, compartments, and sleeves come in very handy. Not only do they make it easy to keep all of the items you carry with you well organized, they also ensure that every thing has its own designated place. That comes in very handy when you’re looking for something specific, as the FlapJack Pack probably has a place meant just for that item. Carrying this bag around kept me well organized while on the move, and made accessing all of the stuff inside a breeze.

It’s definitely no secret that I’m a fan of Osprey packs, and I’m glad to see the company’s same high quality approach and attention to detail in this bag. The zippers, buckles, straps, and belts are exactly what you’d expect from a backpack made by Osprey, which is to say they are durable, tough, and built to last. Of course, the entire pack is also backed by the All Mighty Guarantee, which means Osprey will repair or replace the FlapJack as long as you own it.

After testing the FlapJack Pack recently, it is safe to say that I have a new favorite travel pack. It is exactly what I need on my regular travels, with the perfect size to carry all of my important gear with me when I hit the road. It is also durable and versatile, two qualities that I look for in just about any product that I use. Add in the fact that it provides a high level of organization, and it is tough to find anything to not like about this bag. And if you’re someone who needs to lug a laptop around with you on a daily commute, or finds yourself hitting the road often for, I think you’ll agree. This is a pack that is built to fit those needs well, and it accomplishes that mission admirably.

The new FlapJack Pack is available in four colors, and should be arriving in stores now with an MSRP of $110. If you prefer the messenger bag design instead, the new FlapJack Courier sells for $100, is is also shipping now as well.

Kraig Becker