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The last time we were testing out a bag from Able Carry, it was the very compact Thirteen (seen here). If that felt too small for you, or you want want something that can carry a wider variety of gear, then today’s review will be the one you want to check out. Let’s get on with our look at the Able Carry Daybreaker 2.
Able Carry Daybreaker 2: how it’s like other Able Carry Bags
While the Able Carry Daybreaker 2 has a different look from their other bags we’ve looked at (like the Thirteen, Daily Plus, and the Max), make no mistake: this is an Able Carry design through and through. First off, you’ve got very minimal branding. I like the subtle approach, with the name showing up in color-matched spots here and there, like the side of the bag and the straps.
You have a comfortable set of shoulder straps, as well as a magnetic sternum strap. Past that, you’ve got plenty of other connection points (bits of strap that are sewn into place) where you can easily clip on carabiners or other straps to tack things on. As with their other bags, there is an exterior zippered pocket on one side, with the other side giving you a spot where you can tuck in a water bottle of coffee cup.
How it’s different
The first difference for the Able Carry Daybreaker 2 is a material choice: here, it’s cordura ripstop nylon. What this means is that this is a very light bag, just a touch over a pound. For your daily commute, the weight isn’t much of a concern. However, if you’re looking for a daypack to go hiking with, then the weight reduction is key. Fortunately, this bag can easily do both.
To get to the internals of the pack, you have a zipper that fully opens on one side, giving you easy access to the wide main compartment. There you’ll find another pocket (to tuck a water bottle in), an expanding zippered pocket at the top, and then a wide, stretchy section that’s along the back of the bag. If you’re commuting, this is the spot to slide your laptop in (though it’s not padded, so you might want a sleeve).
On the other hand, if you’re heading down the trail, this is the perfect spot that you could slide in a hydration bladder. There is not a set spot to thread the tubing out, but you can decide where on the two-sided zipper to do that. There are loops inside the bag that you can thread the tubing through, and then spots on the should straps where it could come through or attach through.
Using the bag
Now, for myself, I’ve not put the Able Carry Daybreaker 2 to the test yet on the trails. So, what I did was put it to work for my commute. I had a good spot in that expanding pocket at the top to put in the charging cables and power brick, and the laptop went into the pocket along the back. The large inner compartment (you’ve got 25L of space) easily swallowed my headphones and lunch bag, and did not impinge my coffee cup getting into that external pocket. In other words, it worked well on the commute.
Wrapping things up
What I appreciate about the Able Carry Daybreaker 2 is the versatility that this bag offers. If you want to declutter your closet and have a bag that can be used for the office, overnight trips, day hikes, or even as a gym bag, this is the one that can do it. It can swallow a large amount of gear, but not so much that you feel weighed down. At $139, it definitely doesn’t break the bank either giving you all of that flexibility. You can order yours (in two colors of cordura or three of X-Pac) directly over at ablecarry.com
Able Carry Daybreaker 2 Features
- 🧵 Cordura Ripstop Nylon / X-Pac (X42)
- 📱 Stretch Divider: fits up to 40x28x6cm
- 🎒 25L capacity
- 🪶 Cordura Ripstop Nylon: 660 grams / 1.4lbs
- 🪶 X-Pac X42: 718 grams / 1.58lbs
- 📏 H50 x W26 x D19 cm / 19.7″ x 10.2″ x 7.5″
