ORBITGEAR R101 ADV-WX: REVIEW

FOREWORD

Techwear has been all the rage since Acronym (also known as ACRNM, founded by legendary Errolson Hugh) took the world by storm in the early 2000s with their innovative, forward thinking and functional apparel that forever changed the world of fashion.

Those ACRNM items defined what techwear is, pushed fashion and technical apparel forward and in general became a very sought after commodity with extremely high official prices and outrageously skyrocketing off-market prices.

Simply put, very few people could afford ACRNM and for years those who wanted to get into techwear had to either abandon the idea at some point or make do with cheap knock-off products that would look like techwear, but in no way performed well.

Those were dark times for techwear enthusiasts. And then in 2008, everything changed when a new player entered the market: ORBITGear.

ORBITGear is no stranger to the techwear scene. A small Jakarta-based workshop has been pumping out small batches of extremely well made and futuristic looking gear for over a decade. Those unique, durable and awesome looking items would quickly become a new default option for any fan of techwear. From their very conception until this day, the attention to detail, impeccable build and innovative designs allowed ORBITGear to compete with brands several times its size.

*Modularity is one of the key strengths of R101. You can attach externally different kind of mods to take your organization and access to the next level.*

My personal experience with ORBITGear products was very limited until the company was kind enough to send me a review unit of their popular modular backpack, the R101. I used the bag for different scenarios, over the course of 10 weeks. During that time it served mostly as my extended EDC (everyday carry), which considering my line of work in IT basically meant a mobile office with my MBP16, iPad Pro 11, chargers, dongles, water bottle, wallet, etc. I also took the bag on a quick weekend trip, with Peak Design’s packing cubes inside, and got a pretty good idea what the bag is capable of and how it carries.

Let’s dissect this bag and see what it offers.

*The bag can blend in or stand out - depending on how you pack it and what kind of mods you attach. Recently, ORBITGear started offering bright yellow attachment that pop and add a ton of character.*

WHO IT SUITS

Those who enjoy and seek techwear aesthetics.
Anyone looking for a durable well-made bag.
Someone who is into modularity regarding their carry solutions, interested in configuring the bag with a number of mods and accessories for enhanced usability and personalization.

WHO IT DOESN’T

If you are looking for the best ‘weight to volume ratio’ the R101 might not work for you.
Someone who wants their bag ASAP might be disappointed they have to wait until the next production batch is complete. The timeframe for restock differs for ORBITGear’s lineup and it’s best to chat with brand representatives to have a better idea on availability of the items you are interested in.

*The “liquid black” mods allow to spice up the look of the bag. The reflective surface plays really well with the matte black main fabric of the backpack.*

ABOUT THE BAG

* PRICE: $298

* DIMENSIONS: 320x600x180 mm

* WEIGHT: 1.6 kg

* CAPACITY: ~25L

*Fidlock V-Buckle - probably the best buckle invented to date. WARNING: extremely addictive. It’s hard to go back to regular plastic buckles after using these.*

The full name of the bag is R101 ADV-WX "AMPHIBIOUS BACKPACK", which can be a mouthful. Designed to be a very functional and durable bag by itself, the R101 shines with the addition of modular attachments that expand and enhance the overall experience and usability of the bag.

ORBITGear is rigorously challenging their previous designs and constantly fine-tuning the products they release. Production in small batches and close ties to the community help the brand to rapidly receive feedback and incorporate improvements and innovations rather quickly. Certainly when compared to big brands that produce thousands of units of every SKU, without the flexibility of making quick adjustments and improvements.

The company does not explicitly share the volume of the bag, just the dimensions and the weight. However, based on the load I was able to carry, I’d say the capacity is around 25L. Even though the bag is quoted at 1.6kg according to official specifications, it felt closer to 2kg during my day-to-day use.

*The reflective strip on the front of the back ensures your safety in the dark. Subtle but very valuable feature.*

COMFORT

Right off the bat I can say that the bag is very comfortable to carry. The padding on the shoulder straps is extremely thick, the straps themselves are burly and wide, albeit a bit stiff out of the box. At times, the amount of padding felt overkill but every time I was carrying the R101 over a long period of time (more than an hour because I like to walk and avoid public transport as much as I can), I appreciated how much thought ORBITGear put into the harness. The back panel complements the straps perfectly with the same thick, breathable mesh generously placed on the back.

In my 10 weeks of testing I found the bag performed well and did not have any issues with comfort. I imagine the R101 will only become more comfortable as the bag breaks in further.

The load lifters allow to tighten the straps and make the bag sit tightly, thus distributing the weight better and improving the comfort. One trade off or R101 implementation - those load lifters get in the way of the back opening.

DESIGN & FEATURES

The R101 easily fits my MBP 16 and I expect it to handle any 15.6” laptop effortlessly. The suspended laptop sleeve is located in the main compartment and placed against the back. A velcro strap allows you to secure your precious laptop, so it will stay in place no matter what happens.

*The laptop compartment is secure, suspended and quite generous. A high-visibility liner would be a good option for improved usability.*

There are multiple ways to get into the main compartment, which is greatly appreciated. The standard way is of course through the top flap, which is secured by Fidlock V-Buckles. In my experience these are one of the best buckles you can find on the market: they are easy to use, very secure, durable and extremely fun in day-to-day use.

*Opening the bag from the top flap is fine, but in my use I kept wishing for a different liner color to help with visibility.*

The second option to get into the main compartment is through the ”Quick-Access zip” on the back, which in theory was perfect but during my use I found it less convenient than I would have liked. The zipper does not go all the way down for a real clamshell opening and moreover the load lifters are secured with plastic buckles that get in the way of the main zip. Essentially to open the bag you first have to undo 2 plastic buckles and then unzip the back. I am sure in some countries this will result in added security and peace of mind but in my day-to-day use it just made me stop using that opening and opt for the top access.

*Opening the bag via “quick zip” also grants access to the internal pockets.*

The zipper pulls on the outside are great with beefy paracord for the back zip. However, the pullers on the smaller compartment are thin and not easy nor pleasant to grab. I wish ORBITGear would reconsider these pullers and use something thicker and easier to grab.

*The pullers are bright enough but so thin that operating them never got joyful. I believe ORBITGear should revise these.*

A reflective strip on the front ensures your safety even if you are a stealthy urban ninja.

The high quality leather bottom feels premium yet does not require gentle treatment.

All the straps have strap keepers to avoid dangling, so the bag can be tidied up nicely.

The front compartment is secured with these strange plastic buckles that are easy to remove but a pain to put back. It is certainly not a one-handed operation and I wish it was revised to streamline the use of the bag

*This is SPQR Buckle used on the mod, the same is used on the front of the bag. Even though it looks cool, operating it is not fun at all (specifically closing)*

The mods are awesome! They are quite easy to install and don’t come off easily. They stay secured and can greatly expand the functionality and external access of the bag. This modularity is one of the biggest strengths of the R101, but keep in mind that the drops are seldom and the stock is limited. So, you might need to wait a bit until the desired piece becomes available.

*The mods are fun, cool-looking and very useful for additional external organization. ORBITGear is constantly adding new pieces to the line up.*

This backpack has an amphibious feature where you can change the closure system from a conventional flap system to a rolltop model.

MATERIALS & ORGANIZATION

Made out of VX21 fabric, the bag laughs in the face of any bad weather or elements such as rain, sleet or snow. The fabric is also very easy to maintain and clean, making the bag look new even after months of use. The unmistakable diamond pattern makes it easy to identify the fabric used for the outer shell and it’s definitely a bonus to the fashion style of the owner of the bag.

The zippers are all YKK, the hardware is a combination of Fidlock V-Buckles (probably the best buckle known to man!) and matte-black Duraflex buckles.

*Matte black Duraflex buckles are stylish and pleasant to the touch*

My least favorite buckle would be the SPQR Buckle used to secure the front pocket. Undoing the buckle is quite easy but it is closing that I have issues with. It takes a certain finesse to get the buckle inside and then secure it. Multiply this process by 2 (since there are 2 buckles securing the pocket), add the inconvenience of this being a two-handed operation and you get something that is not hard for pickpockets to get into while being a pain in the ass to close as a result. The frustration of using these adds up over time. Perhaps it’s just me but I wish ORBITGear would revisit this closure completely and replace it with something faster and easier.

*This is the front pocket secured by SPQR Buckles. I did not enjoy using them which made me abandon this front pocket entirely.*

The materials used for the inner liner are top notch, both the TPE Tarp Liner and 210D PA liner were pleasant to the touch and I had zero concerns about durability, nor any fear about leaving stains in case any liquid spills inside. In use I did wish they were made from a high-vis fabric, seeing how often I was searching for things that were simply difficult to see in the bag due to the dark green liner used.

*The liner is nice and durable, I just wish it was better visible to make digging for my things easier.*

The construction of the liner is also quite interesting, it is sewn to be floating in the bag which basically makes the liner even more waterproof. When the liner is not sewn completely it allows to reduce the number of seams and of course holes through which the water can seep in.

There is a nice balance between external and internal organization, each offering 6 pockets. The beauty of the R101 is that you can add more external pockets thanks to a rich ecosystem of mods that can turn your backpack into a real beast with a ton of usability.

MODS

The mods I tested were MODZip-2G, MODZip-2P and MODF.

*MODF Liquid Black. The form is perfect for storing the phone of middle size. Super easy to open, not as fun to close*

*MODZIP-2G Liquid black. Handy little thing. I loved storing my headphones, phone charger and a spare mask there.*

*MODZIP-2P in Liquid black. Secured on the side with zipper looking towards me it was a handy place for my wallet.*

WHAT’S HOT

Durability and build quality.
Some of the best materials on the market.
Excellent versatility and modular design, allowing you to make the bag your own and expand the external organization tremendously.
True techwear aesthetics that don’t break the bank.
Very comfortable to carry, no matter the load.

*The detachable waist strap is nothing fancy but can help secure the bag on your body and distribute the weight for improved comfort and mobility.*

WHAT’S NOT

The R101 without mods felt heavier than the officially specified 1.6kg and with mods attached the weight quickly adds up, making it not the most optimal ‘weight to volume ratio’ backpack.
The “quick” access of the back of the bag is hampered by load lifters getting in the way of the zipper and the actual opening not being a full-clamshell.
I found that the SPQR Buckle used on the front compartment (and on one of the mods) is cool looking but not quick or fun to operate on a daily basis. I wish a different closure was used altogether (even simple magnets in the flap would do wonders there, though admittedly wouldn’t be as secure).
The zipper pulls on all the internal pockets are silly thin and not usable.
The bag is a black hole inside, a high-visibility liner would work so much better.

*The sternum strap features magnetic WooJin buckle, one of my favourite buckles for this type of use.*

VERDICT

I have to say that I was very impressed with the ORBITGear R101 backpack. The company made a unique, functional and durable bag while using some of the best materials on the market. The foundation is strong and even more expanded upon with excellent modular items that can be attached on the outside or used to enhance the internal organization of your belongings. The build is impeccable, all the stitches and seams ooze pure quality and superb attention to detail.

Looking at all these huge positives the bag offers, I found myself somewhat puzzled with the lacking usability of the bag. Primarily because the quick zip was not as quick as I would expect. I also wish the opening was wider and not restricted by the load lifters that get in the way.

The rest of my recommendations are minor and not difficult to implement. Revisiting the SPQR Buckle, the internal zipper pulls and the inner liner would really take the bag to the next level.

Even without these improvements, ORBITGear has earned the respect and trust of the community as one of the best techwear brands out there. The brand continues to impress and innovate without resorting to easy gimmicks or cheap shortcuts.

Admittedly, the look and aesthetics of the R101 are not for everyone, but in its niche it is a very strong offering that I can confidently recommend, despite my minor gripes.

Disclaimer

R101 backpack and mods were provided by ORBITGear as a sample for review purposes, the content of this review was not shared with ORBITGear before publishing.

My goal is to share an honest, unbiased review that is not tailored to keep the brand happy.

*The matte of the main fabric plays nicely with the reflective fabric used for mods. The reflective strip does help too.*

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