ALPAKA Bravo Totepack Review

The ALPAKA Bravo Totepack is a unique, specially-designed tote pack (tote + backpack) that merges the benefits of a tote and a backpack into a sleek and stylish everyday carry option. It does a surprisingly great job of combining the two, although not perfectly. It works well for various activities, from commuting to the office and running errands around town to serving as a travel backpack, provided you have an additional bag for clothing and other essentials. 

ALPAKA has done an excellent job of incorporating clever functionality into a modern and minimalistic design, even if it seems to push the boundaries with its use of magnets. Their commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable solutions is evident in their use of recycled materials throughout their products while ensuring ample protection for everyday essentials.

External Components

The exterior of the ALPAKA Bravo Totepack is their Axoflux recycled fabric (POLY 300D), which feels super smooth to the touch while providing plenty of protection against the elements. Using YKK silent zippers and an AquaGuard® coating, this tote pack should stand the test of time while keeping your gear safe from the weather. The zippers are supposed to be silent because they do not dangle and rattle against each other—a common issue in many bags. The tote pack takes a minimalist approach to lash and attachment points, with only two at the bottom of the bag designed for the backpack straps—more on that in a minute. Two more attachment points are found on the backpack straps themselves, providing compatibility with ALPAKA’s HUB ecosystem for quick and effortless attachment and detachment of gear. These points also accommodate standard carabiners and clips. We find they work well for quickly clipping a pair of headphones or as a place to store sunglasses briefly.

One of the most notable features of this tote pack is its minimalistic front, which has little to no branding and presents as a blank slate, except for the zipper to the secondary compartment. This design looks sleek and modern with a minimalistic aesthetic that is appealing whether we’re using the tote pack as a tote or a backpack.

One of the main strengths of this tote pack lies in its intuitive design and ability to transition seamlessly from tote to backpack. It’s comfortable to carry as a tote despite not having long straps like most others. It features a handle on each side of the main compartment’s zipper, and a built-in magnet at the top of both allows the handles to connect, forming an adequate carry handle. The handles are nylon webbing that offers a good grip. However, the lack of padding might be an issue when carrying heavier items or during extended periods of use. The built-in magnets do a good job of connecting the handles, although they do not interlock. They simply connect and prevent the straps from dangling at the sides. While the body tends to hang lower than most totes, we did not have any issues with the tote pack dragging the ground, but your mileage may vary.

In backpack mode, the ALPAKA Bravo Totepack includes backpack straps you can pull from a pocket between the back panel and the main compartment. When they’re not in use, these straps can be conveniently stored in this compartment, kept tidy and out of the way, thanks to a snap button closure. The totepack features two attachment points at the bottom, specifically designed to be the attachment points for these backpack straps. Attaching and detaching the straps is a breeze using a simple triangle-shaped carabiner. Despite the attachment points looking somewhat thin, they are incredibly durable and sturdy, leaving no concerns about longevity. The backpack straps are well-padded and wide enough to distribute the weight effectively, ensuring a comfortable carry.

The tote pack features a convenient luggage pass-through so you can slip it over a suitcase handle. The design ensures the bag stays upright, eliminating any worries about items falling out of the bag or their respective compartments inside. The luggage pass-through is unobtrusive when not in use. However, there does not seem to be any padding on the back panel, and the lack of a ventilation system could be an issue for some. It was for us! We found it noticeable throughout the day. While not a significant issue, those who prefer or require a ventilation system may want to look elsewhere. Of course, if ventilation becomes an issue, it is quick and simple to convert it back to tote mode and carry it that way to give your back some air.

Fit Notes

Throughout our testing, we found that keeping the backpack straps attached allows for the best use of both modes without causing unnecessary dragging in tote mode. Depending on your height and arm length, your mileage may vary. Switching from one mode to the other is also very straightforward. The tote handles on top ensure a secure and comfortable grip when using the tote pack, particularly for quick movements, such as navigating through a train or getting in and out of a car.

Inside The Pack

The interior lining of this totepack features a 300D Cool Grey Honeycomb Ripstop Nylon lining, which not only adds an attractive aesthetic but also provides added durability. The front pocket also uses an AquaGuard® protective coating on the dual zippers to help ensure weather resistance. Despite the limited range of the zippers, this pocket extends all the way down to the bottom, providing a nice amount of storage space below the organization panel. 

The admin panel offers a good amount of storage and functionality. When unzipping the front pocket, you will find a zippered mesh pocket opposite, which is perfect for small items like headphones, lip balm, gum, or hand sanitizer. It’s easy to get in and out of on the fly from its position at the top. The panel includes three slip pockets: one large, one medium, and one designed to hold a pen or stylus. These slip pockets are easily visible thanks to a black accent marking but do not have any stretch. This compartment also has an Integrated MOD Key Tether on a leash that is easy to use with one hand. The tether connects via nylon to the upper corner of the pocket for easy and quick access while staying out of the way. The rest of the compartment can be used as a “dump” site since the organizational panel is located towards the top.

On the side is a pocket designed to hold a small to medium-sized water bottle or compact umbrella. It can accommodate a water bottle, provided it’s on the thinner side since this pocket does not have much stretch. When not in use, it does not sit entirely flush against the side of the bag, which was not a huge issue. This pocket can also be used for an umbrella, with drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to drip out.

A hidden quick-access pocket is on the top of the bag, right above the compartment that stores the backpack straps. This pocket is incredibly discreet and blends in quite seamlessly with the design, so well that we initially did not even notice it was there. Despite being so well-concealed, it offers a decent amount of storage. It secures with a strong magnet that snaps closed reliably, ensuring the contents stay safe. The pocket is spacious enough to easily accommodate a wallet or an iPhone Max. However, it is important to note that this pocket lacks any soft or plush lining, so be careful when storing sensitive items with screens or glass.

While it’s technically not a pocket or compartment, the storage area for the backpack straps can be utilized as an extra pocket since the bottom is sealed. This is particularly useful in backpack mode when the straps are connected to the attachment points at the bottom. It serves as an excellent space for storing flat items such as magazines, a book, or even a wallet, but there is no padding for this compartment, so oddly shaped items may dig into the back when worn as a backpack.

Inside the main compartment of this tote pack is a laptop sleeve that comfortably accommodates up to a 16” MacBook Pro. The laptop sleeve features a soft-touch fleece lining that offers additional protection. Additionally, there’s a tablet sleeve located right in front of the laptop sleeve. These compartments can be secured with hook-and-loop closure, providing extra security and peace of mind. It is important to note that these sleeves are not lifted off the bottom of the bag, so keep that in mind when setting it down.

Opposite the laptop and tablet sleeve is a spacious zippered pocket towards the top. This pocket provides ample space and is ideal for storing items like hard drives, a mouse, portable battery banks, and even some bulkier wall chargers with cables. It does not have too much stretch, though.

Further down, on the side of the main compartment, is another pocket that can accommodate larger water bottles than the one on the outside. Although the bottom is not fixed, it functions more like a strap that keeps the contents upright when inside the main compartment. Despite the lack of stretch, this pocket can fit a slightly larger water bottle, like a 32 oz Nalgene water bottle, without any issue.

The rest of this compartment essentially functions as a spacious dump site for whatever gear you may choose. The design is similar to the front compartment’s approach in that most of the organization is at the top. This ensures that gear placed in the main compartment does not interfere with access to any of the organizational pockets.

The ALPAKA Bravo Totepack offers a unique and pleasant solution to everyday carry. Combining a tote and a backpack provides flexibility and convenience for various use cases, from daily commuting to travel. The exterior is durable and weather-resistant thanks to the recycled Axoflux 300D, while the interior offers thoughtful organization and storage. The tote pack’s minimalistic design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Despite a few minor issues, such as the lack of padding and ventilation on the back panel, this tote pack is a solid choice for those seeking a versatile and stylish carry option.