Able Carry Daily Backpack Review: Overhyped or Just Right?

This hands-on Able Carry review will help you decide if you should buy their Daily Backpack.

Able Carry is a brand that’s generated a lot of buzz for their sleek and functional backpacks. In this review, I’ll share my thoughts on their Daily Backpack.

Quick Take

If you like the look of Able Carry’s Daily Backpack, buy it! You probably won’t be disappointed by the quality or storage capacity.

Click here to check out Able Carry’s Daily Backpack, or read on for the full review.

About Able Carry

Able Carry is a pretty new company. They were founded in 2018, and have a small team based out of Hong Kong.

They make an array of backpacks and accessories for them.

Our mission is simple: engineer the best everyday bags to supercharge your day. We focus on fit, organisation, and durable build, so that you can carry your daily essentials with ease.

from Able Carry’s Our Story page

Their products are known for their practicality, and we put their Daily Backpack to the test. Now, let’s get into the review to see how good the Daily Backpack really is.

Overview of The Daily Backpack

At the time of writing, Able Carry makes four different backpacks. The Daily Backpack is a mid-sized bag that’s made for everyday use.

It’s not small, but it’s also not huge. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from a backpack that you need for school, work, or travel.

After testing the Daily Backpack, here are my thoughts on it.

Design

The Daily Backpack sports a minimal, no-frills design. It comes in a few different colors, and I chose the Cordura Olive, which is a great earth tone that matches everything in my wardrobe. Note that Cordura is a material. They also make X-Pac versions of this bag.

I like the sleek look of the Daily Backpack, though my girlfriend did point out that it looks like a turtle shell.

She makes a good point, and now I can’t unsee the turtle vibe that this bag gives off. I suppose choosing one of the other available colors would solve that issue.

It’s definitely still a cool bag, and there’s something to appreciate about Able Carry prioritizing function without totally sacrificing form.

As you’d expect, The Daily Backpack is water resistant. The Able Carry site says it can “handle splashes and brief periods of light rain”. That means it’ll be fine for daily use unless you’re in a downpour.

If you need a bag that can handle heavy rain, you can consider getting the rain cover that Able Carry makes. It’s a cool idea to make a cover that you can use to get more water protection, but at that point, it might make more sense to buy a fully waterproof backpack.

Storage

The Daily Backpack is generous with storage. It has a 20-liter capacity, but let’s be honest, who thinks about backpacks in terms of liters? Maybe it’s a good reference point, but I’m more interested in how many compartments there are and how many of my items I can fit in them.

On the outside, there’s a big compartment on the front with a key clip. This compartment is good for items you need to be able to access quickly.

On the top of the bag, there’s a small compartment that’s great for keeping small items secure.

The front of the bag also has some fabric loops that can be used for clipping things on.

When you open the bag, there’s, of course, the large main compartment that’s great for books, folders, etc.

Along with that, there’s a designated laptop sleeve that can fit laptops up to 16-inches.

This pocket does have a slight false bottom which is a thoughtful feature that will protect your laptop if you drop your bag.

There are two smaller zip pockets inside as well, including a mesh one that feels perfect for storing small items like my phone, wallet, sticky notes, cables, pens, and pencils.

It took me a while to find it, but I finally discovered the “secret pocket” mentioned on the Able Carry site. It’s a small pocket that’s very well hidden on the top inside of the bag and is a great place to hide cash.

All of the zippers on the Daily Backpack are YKK which is a staple of quality in the fashion and accessory industries.

One crucial feature that’s missing is a designated water bottle holder. You can definitely fit a water bottle into several of the available pockets, but having a water bottle sleeve is a pretty standard feature that I’d love to have.

Overall, the Daily Backpack is well thought out and has tons of storage. That being said, if you want a smaller bag, you can opt for the Thirteen Daybag.

If you want a larger backpack, there’s the Max Backpack.

Finally, if you’re looking for a bag that’d be good for taking to yoga or the gym, the Daybreaker has you covered.

I’m perfectly content with the size of the Daily Backpack. For me, it’s a good size for daily use, light hiking, or a weekend trip.

Comfort

The straps are super comfortable. They’re nicely padded but not super bulky.

There’s an additional chest strap that adds some extra security while you’re wearing the bag, and you can kind of tuck the buckles into the straps if you don’t want to use them. I like the idea of tucking them in, but the execution of it is kind of clunky.

The back of the Daily Backpack has firm yet comfortable pads that support your back and allow a channel of air to flow through to help keep you cool.

An interesting feature of the Daily Backpack is the foam insert for the back. It helps the bag retain its shape. You can remove the foam if you want, though I like having it.

The Daily Backpack is definitely a comfortable bag overall. I don’t have any major complaints.

My Recommendation: Go for It

The Daily Backpack is a great bag for EDC, travel, and light hiking. It’s sleek, has a lot of compartments, and it’s comfortable.

The price is fair, the backpack has a lifetime warranty, and Able Carry even offers a 14 Day Test Run. You can buy a backpack from them, try it for 14 days and, if you don’t like it, return it. See their FAQ page for more details.

Overall, the Daily Backpack has our seal of approval. If you like the way it looks, give it a try! The comfort level and storage capabilities are up to par.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!