Flaws but not dealbreakers
Some people, especially those who are hard on their gear, may consider not being able to remove or stow the Tortuga’s straps (as they can with our other picks, like the Cotopaxi) a disqualifying factor. But after years of testing, traveling with, and occasionally checking our bag, we haven’t had an issue. Personally, it still makes me nervous to see the Tortuga traveling on the luggage belt toward mysterious machines and conveyors beneath the airport—all of which, in my imagination, are waiting to tear the hip belt from the bag or slice open the sailcloth exterior. But the Tortuga appears to shrug it all off with ease. However, if these mysteries beneath the airport also make you nervous, you might prefer one of our picks with easy-to-stow straps, like the Peak Design Travel Backpack. We’ve also fielded complaints from some testers that this bag was too heavy for them to carry, even with the padded hip belt and adjustable straps. The additional padding does add a lot of weight. At 5.1 pounds, the Outbreaker is 2 pounds heavier than most of its closest competitors. If you feel like you would struggle carrying a full-size travel backpack like this model, we strenuously encourage you to consider one of our more-manageable picks, like the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L.
