Knack Bags Expandable Knack Pack Review (One Bag For All)

Knack Bags is a brand you have probably never heard of. Neither had I. But when they contacted me to try out their Knack Pack I was intrigued. I have been looking for a more stylish daypack/travel backpack for a while and just not taken the plunge.

So, they were kind enough to send one to me to try and see what I thought. No conditions. No pressure. Nice!

Unfortunately, I have not been able to fly with this due to the current pandemic, but I have used it around town quite a bit lately and gotten a great feel for whether I like it or not.

Short version: I am very impressed. 

Of course, there are some downsides, and it is not perfect for everyone. So, if you are interested in this pack for weekend travel, everyday carry, work or pleasure, then here is my expandable Knack Pack review in all its glory!

Organization and Accessibility

This is where the expandable Knack Pack really shines. There are just enough pockets to organise all your gear well, but not so many that it gets out of control.

Let’s dive in and see what magic it has to offer…

Main Compartment

There are actually two big compartments in this bag, so here I am talking about the day-to-day front compartment. It is accessed via a U-shaped zipper that opens all the way down. The front of the pack can then fold forward, but is stopped from opening all the way by a well designed gusset. Now, that is a smart move on their part. And stops this from being annoying, as everything could spill out. (You can see that in the picture above.)

There is a mesh pocket on the front flap, great for small items, electronics, cables etc.

On the back is a padded sleeve which fits up to a 17 inch laptop (you can see my 15 inch Macbook Air in there) or a big tablet. There is also another mesh pocket above that. And a detachable key leash on the top right. I don’t use them myself, but it seems many of you do – because most backpacks have them!

And let’s not forget about the overall big volume that this compartment offers outside the pockets. Lots of space for a sweater, books or whatever it is you fill your backpack with normally.

Laptop Compartment (Behind Back Panel)

If you don’t want to put your laptop in the main compartment, there is a handy pocket right behind the back panel for it. It fits (on the medium anyway) up to a 15 inch laptop, and is padded and suspended from the bottom. Both great design choices to protect one of your biggest purchases. It’s super easy to get to, as well as hidden and protected. And a nice alternative to using the main packing space.

Top Pocket (Scratch-free)

This is something I think Osprey made popular – the scratch-free glasses pocket on the top of backpacks. Knack have taken that and run with it. Their top pocket has a fleece material in it (so great for glasses, a phone etc) as well as a back portion of their funky nylon material. This is where I throw my “easy to reach” items like headphones, keys etc.

V-Shaped Front Pockets

This is a bit of a weird one. You will either love or hate this too (or you can ignore it as there are enough other pockets).

There are two diagonal zippers on the front that open to give you an RFID blocking pocket for things like your passport (I didn’t find this a good spot), credit cards, phone, other electronics, business cards or whatever. My only complaint here is that it is a bit “strange” to use. Sure, there is lots of pockets and space in it (I think you could fit a small sweater in it). But, the double zipper makes it cumbersome, and when you close it the very top often needs to be “pushed in” to really close it.

Side Pockets (Water Bottle/Umbrella)

Yes, we should all stay hydrated. Or at least caffeinated, right? So, Knack have not forgotten to give you a decent side water bottle pocket (or perhaps an umbrella pocket), if you live in England.

I have managed to fit in a quite large Evian bottle (750ml/25 oz) I bought while on the go, so you can fit some big bottles in there.

It is also closable, so you can hide it away when you don’t need it, and often even leave the bottle in there. Very nice design – again!

Bottom Pocket (Cables, Batteries etc)

At the bottom of the bag is another handy pocket that I have been using to throw all my cables in. It is out of the way, and not a pocket you would go to very often. At least not while on the move. And being at the bottom, it’s perfect for the heavy stuff too.

But, once you are at say a coffee shop or in your hotel, you can throw the bag down flat, unzip this baby, and unload. It also has a few elastic loops you could secure any loose, smaller cables in.

Main Travel Compartment (Back Half)

I mentioned earlier that this is a travel/every day backpack. So, it is smart that the back portion of this backpack can fit up to a weekends worth of stuff. Toiletries, spare shirts/t-shirts, jeans and maybe even a pair of shoes. The medium here is pretty spacious (14L).

It also has a nice mesh tie-down panel to help secure your clothes too.

Oh, and it is expandable. So, when I say spacious, I am talking about the space when it is unzipped/expanded. So, if you are not traveling, this area is quite small (not expanded). Which also means it is almost hidden and does not get in the way. You can then use it as a daily back with all the other pockets you have available.

And that’s not to say you could not put anything in it while it’s unexpanded. You can. You just have less space.

Materials and Durability

If you are going to use a backpack like this a lot, or for many years, you want to know that it’s going to last. And, that the materials look and feel great.

Well, with the Knack Backpack you won’t be disappointed.

Outside Material

Knack Bags have chosen and super-durable 1200D Polyester for the main exterior material, and it’s a very solid choice. It feels very strong, thick and although I have not owned this bag for 10 years, it reminds me of my Deuter backpack which has lasted even longer.

But unlike my previous backpack, this one also looks stylish! The material comes in four colors, the gray I have here, a medium black, sangria red and indigo blue. Most of you will go with black or gray like me, but it’s great to have options.

Inside Material

On the inside things get a little more funky. You are either going to love it, hate it, or accept and get used to it.

Kind of like the pin stripes on the Herschel (if you have seen their packs) Knack Bags have chosen to go with a very “striking” (or maybe psychedelic) orange/white pattern on the interior. Almost everywhere, except some of the mesh and soft glasses pockets. I actually like it a lot as it really stands out and makes a statement. It’s modern, stylish and not the “same old” that most backpacks come with today. And because it’s on the inside, it doesn’t really get any attention, unless you open the pack up wide.

Looks aside, Knack have used a strong, yet soft, 150D Nylon for this material, with strong stitching and overlays to keep this thing ticking for years. You can see their attention to detail above on the orange material used to hold the mesh. Not a stitch is out of place.

The mesh panels, despite being see-through, are also very strong and without testing it I would say it would take a knife to destroy them. They are that strong. This material is used in quite a few places, and makes it easy to see what is in the pockets.

Top Quality YKK Zippers

If you have been around the block a few times, you will know that YKK are the zipper of choice for any decent backpack or anything actually. But there are zippers and there are…crappy zippers. Even from YKK.

The Knack Pack has very durable YKK zippers, not some cheap, thin, bottom of the line variety. And, they have thick, easy to grab, tapered pulls to help grab when you need to. They also have a material runner on the outside that helps keep things water-resistant. Not quite a Ortleib waterproof cycling bag, but the next best thing for a pack like this. You can’t go swimming with it, but it’s going to stay dry in all but the worst downpours!

On top of this the main section of the pack that can be easily accessed has lockable zippers, a nice touch for an EDC/Travel backpack.

The inner zippers have, of course, a little less beefy pulls on them. But that is normal, and they still feel like top-notch YKKs to me.

Water-Resistance

The exterior material has been coated with some kind of DWR (water resistant coating) so when I tipped a small glass of water on it, you can see above what happened. It just formed a nice little puddle and did not soak the backpack.

But, you have to keep a few things in mind. First, the material will be wet once you wipe this water or walk in the rain for a long time. It is not a plastic bag! However, Knack Bags have gone a long way to make it very water resistant.

Not only that, but the outer layer is doubled and very thick, so it is going to take a long time for water to get into the pack, even if you get it really really wet!

Carrying Comfort

The Knack Pack is designed to be worn for long periods while traveling or commuting (or anything in between) and there is a lot to love about it. However, this is the main section where I personally have a few issues.

Let’s start with the back panel.

Back Panel

Knack Bags have used a very plush and soft material and padding on the back, with various channels to help give you a little airflow. Now, as someone who hikes a lot I see some limitations here. The airflow is limited and the bag still sits kinda flat on your back. However, I am trying to keep my “travel” hat on here. For the purpose it is built for, it is super-comfortable.

Shoulder Straps

Likewise, the shoulder straps are reasonably well padded and have a mesh covering that will help wick some of the sweat away (if you happen to be in Thailand or Florida for example!).

Wearing the pack for a few hours around town the other day I did find it a little uncomfortable on the shoulders though. Something about the angle of the padding, or the initial stiffness of a new pack? I am not 100% sure what it was. It just annoyed me.

However, it is new and will mould to my body with time. And, it was only a minor issue. I didn’t come home with red welts on my shoulders 🙂

Sternum Strap & Hip Belt (None On Medium & Small)

If you really load up this pack it could get heavy, despite only being the medium model. So, for me, it is really missing a hip belt. The large comes with one, but the medium could use one too. I love hip belts as I get sore shoulders easily. Maybe you don’t?

There is a sternum strap which helps bring the shoulder straps into position. It works well, is super-high quality. However, the Knack Pack in general always uses metal for their clips. I am not a fan. It is heavy, and when not in use it hangs and swings annoying around. Sure, you can take most of it off, so it’s not a big issue. Just something I noticed.

Strap Adjustability

The designers of this pack have done a great job of make the straps adjustable, and keep those damn hanging straps out of the way. There is a material sleeve you can slide along the strap that “swallows” the excess straps once you adjust it. Which is a great touch. (You can see that in action on the “shoulder strap” image above)

My only beef again is the attachment points that are made from metal. It means they are super durable, but they tend to swing and hang because they are so heavy. And the hook for the sternum strap is hard to get out once attached. That could be improved too.

The should straps are meant to be quick release though, so that you can hide them behind the back panel should you have to check the pack in. This is a feature you see on many travel packs like the Osprey Porter and Farpoint, as well as many other travel backpacks.

Size Choice

This pack is a medium. I am 5 feet 8 (173cm) and found this to be the perfect size. It would also work for slightly smaller or larger torsos. I would only go bigger if you intend to travel for longer periods and need more space. And smaller if it is just a day pack or something for work.

Value For Money

The Knack Pack is not a cheap backpack that you are going to pick up from Walmart. It’s a smartly designed backpack with top-quality materials and zippers.

Not only that, but it is multi-functional. Big word, I know. But what I mean is that you can use it for almost anything.

I have only used it as an everyday backpack for working downtown and short trips. Something to carry all my gear in – laptop, cables, sunglasses, phone, sweater, keys, etc.

However, you can also use the travel compartment to fit in a weekends worth of gear (and this is the medium). If you go small, you can perhaps only do small day trips. If you go for the large, you might be able to pack for a week!

For me the medium is perfect, and ticks all the boxes for a travel pack and an everyday pack. So, for the near $200 you pay, it is worth it as it’s two packs in one (or more).

Overall Rating & Verdict

The Knack Bags Knack Pack gets an 86 from me, which is pretty darn good. Is it perfect, no. But what is perfect in a backpack? It’s just a question of whether it works for you.

It’s very high quality, and covers all the bases in terms of packing, organisation and daily use.

It has some quirks and design elements you or I may not love, but overall it’s great.

My only real beef is with the carry comfort, but keep in mind I am super fussy! I am also used to carry hiking backpacks with hip belts. So most of my complaints are when you compare this bag with a hiking pack. Having said that, if it is fully loaded, I honestly believe it is missing a hip belt to help take the load of your shoulders.

Who Should Buy The Knack Pack?

Anyone who wants a backpack that can do almost anything. Everyday carry, work or commute. Combined with the ability to travel on short/weekend trips (or more with the large version).

It’s great for you if you appreciate quality design and materials too, because it’s not cheap, but it shouldn’t be either. It is your everyday bag that will last for a long long time.