HEIMPLANET TRANSIT LINE TRAVEL PACK 34L : REVIEW
FOREWORD
Based in Hamburg, Germany, Heimplanet is a fascinating company. Founded over a decade ago, it pursued a simple goal: to improve your travel experience. The first product they launched was an innovative, futuristic-looking inflatable tent cleverly called The Cave. With time, the company diversified and created a rich and sophisticated product line ranging from apparel, to accessories and of course bags.
Today I have one of the most popular and fine-tuned products Heimplanet has released to date, the Transit Line Travel Pack 34L backpack.
How does it fare against intense competition? Should you consider it as your trusty travel bag?
Read on to find out.
WHO IT SUITS
Anyone looking for a well-built and smartly organized carry-on backpack would quickly grow to love the pragmatic yet efficient built-in organization of the Transit Line.
Those who appreciate innovative materials that are also eco-friendly and sustainable.
If you like easy packing, you will find the clamshell opening of the Transit Line to be perfect for both visibility and accessibility.
People with a larger frame who like oversized EDC bags will find the Transit Line a very capable daily pack.
WHO IT DOESN’T
The 34L version might look too big on people with smaller frames, luckily there is also a 28L version of the bag.
ABOUT THE BAG
PRICE: 233 EUR (~$280)
DIMENSIONS: 53 x 34 x 19 cm (21 x 13 x 7 inch)
WEIGHT: 1,66 kg (3.4 lbs)
CAPACITY: 34L
COLOR OPTIONS: Castle Rock Grey, Black
COMFORT
I found the overall comfort of the bag to be excellent. The straps are wide and lightly padded, the included load lifters help distribute the weight better and the removable waist belt helps secure the bag on your body and further enhances the weight distribution.
The back of the Travel Pack features a nicely designed foam that looks cool but does not offer much air channel for ventilation. The bag was tested during winter so a sweaty back was not an issue, but should be considered during warmer weather.
Also, the pack has one of the best sternum strap designs on the market: an elastic part for improved breathability and a nice WooJin magnetic buckle for effortless use. A small but very appreciated detail is the sternum strap that has an elastic strap keeper to prevent dangling of excess fabric.
DESIGN & FEATURES
The Travel Pack hits a delicate balance between the number of features and the actual usefulness/usability of those. Surprisingly, the bag ticks almost all the boxes one could imagine for a perfect travel pack:
Clamshell opening has become the most convenient way to pack the back and unsurprisingly the Travel Pack utilizes this design.
A side handle for convenient brief-mode carry
One external water bottle has a nice stretchy fabric that can accommodate larger water bottles (32 OZ nalgene fit just fine) and is barely noticeable when empty.
A quick access pocket on top of the bag with also a front flat pocket is everything I could possibly ask to store my most commonly used items without the need to go inside the bag.
The separation of the main capacity into 2 compartments: one for tech organization and the other as a clothes compartment .
The ability to roll away the internal divider, making the bag a single compartment bag, is very useful when you need to maximise the capacity of the bag and simplify the layout further
MATERIALS & ORGANIZATION
The materials are superb across the board. Heimplanet went an extra mile to create a special fabric in-house, named DYECOSHELL, which is also dope dyed. Such fabric allows to save water, CO2, energy and chemicals thanks to the special process of adding colorant to the polymer melt during spinning. Not only extremely sustainable, but the fabric also has excellent water and abrasion resistant properties.
The hardware is great too, industry leading YKK zippers and custom metal hardware help reinforce the confidence in the bag and its durability.
The organization is just right:
Externally, there are two zipped pockets at your disposal and also a number of attachment points that can be utilized to secure things outside the bag. A single water bottle pocket gives the bag an interesting asymmetrical shape.
Internal organization features a nicely padded and suspended 15 inch laptop compartment and a number of pockets and small compartments to stay organized. I was glad to see a conservative number of pockets inside since forgetting where I put what is a frustrating experience that I don’t recommend to anyone.
ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER
Able Carry Max is similarly priced ($260), yet slightly smaller at 30L capacity. The Max also features 2 compartments (separating your office and your clothes), clamshell opening and thoughtful organization. It does have a more technical look, while Heimplanet Travel Pack is more formal and business-friendly.
Goruck GR2 34L at $375 (for US-made version) and noticeably heavier, the GR2 has an external access to laptop, velcro panel on top front for personalization and a very rugged build that invites you to abuse the bag and be amazed by how much beating it can take and still look new. GR2 (and most Goruck bags) are notorious for being stiff out of the box requiring a breaking in period to become comfortable to carry.
Bellroy Transit Line 28L and 38L is an excellent alternative if you are looking for a more business-friendly travel bag. Cleaner lines, a bit more organization and signature Bellroy design is easy to fall for. Unlike the Heimplanet Travel Pack I would not recommend taking the Bellroy on a hike or abusing it much.
Boundary Supply Arris at 35L this modular pack offers a very clean and unmistakably technical look with some bright color options. At $399 it’s definitely an investment but the modular accessories allow more flexibility and personalization compared to Heimplanet Travel Pack.
WHAT’S HOT
Excellent build and materials throughout
Balanced and useful built-in organization with enough external access and somewhat configurable internal organization
Sustainable, eco-friendly materials used in the bag are a testament to the continuous innovation of Heimplanet
Extremely weather resistant
WHAT’S NOT
Hypalon attachment points are finicky (if you need to remove or adjust the sternum strap or the waist strap)
The slanted bottom of the pack means it won't stand by itself and will topple over. This can be rectified by hanging the back via carabiner or simply getting used to leaning it against the wall/furniture.
VERDICT
The Heimplanet Travel Pack is an excellent bag that can be used for short trips and even as a larger everyday carry solution.
With smart thoughtful organization, sustainable materials, a durable build without looking technical the bag can be used for business trips and can hold its own in the outdoors. Striking such a delicate balance is no small feat and Heimplanet nailed it.
Despite some fierce competition and very interesting alternatives, the Heimplanet Travel Pack remains a strong offering for anyone who is in the market for a versatile and comfortable travel bag.
Disclaimer
Travel Pack 24 was provided by Heimplanet as a sample for review purposes, the content of this review was not shared with Heimplanet before publishing.
My goal is to share an honest, unbiased review that is not tailored to keep the brand happy.