Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Review

We’re digging the versatility and comfortable carry of the Osprey Arcane Tote Pack (a tote/backpack hybrid). We only wish it had water bottle pockets.

Our Verdict

8.1 /10
Great info

Form

83/100

Design

80/100

Value

80/100
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Pros

  • Simple, minimal aesthetic
  • Works well as a tote and backpack
  • Simple, effective organization

Cons

  • Lacks water bottle pockets
  • Key clip is in the main compartment, which is inconvenient to access
  • The tote handles could use some padding

Technical Details

35 %

Carry-on Compliance

View 51/145 Airlines

27 %

Like the Look

Polled on Instagram

  • Capacity

    20l

  • Weight (lb)

    1.76 lb (0.8 kg)

  • Denier

    500D

  • Dimensions

    18.111 in x 14.96 in x 9.06 in (46 x 38 x 23 cm)

  • Notable Materials

    Recycled Polyester, Packcloth, YKK Zippers

  • Manufacturing Country

    Vietnam

  • Laptop Compartment Size

    15"

  • Warranty Information

    All Mighty Guarantee

Buying Options

Brand
Price
Deal
Osprey Logo
$120.00 
Backcountry Logo
$120.00 
Amazon Logo
$120.00 

Full Review

It’s a tote bag…It’s a backpack…No, it’s the Osprey Arcane Tote Pack—an everyday carry bag that combines the classiness of a travel tote with the convenience of a backpack.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack In Ferndale
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack In Ferndale

We’ve been putting the Arcane Tote Pack to the test for two weeks in good ole Detroit, Michigan as well on a short trip to the northern part of the state. So how has it performed? Read on.

Materials & Aesthetic

The Osprey Arcane Tote Pack is far more urban than you usually see with Osprey gear (the exception being the rest of the Arcane line, including the Arcane Day Pack). While sleek and modern, the pack also manages to possess a classy, almost heritage vibe. Overall, we’re digging it. But, of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.

You can usually count on Osprey for creative colorway names—and they haven’t disappointed this time around. At the time of this review, the Tote Pack is available in Stonewash Black, Stargazer Blue, Honeybee Yellow, Haybale Green, and Mud Red. (We’ve been testing the Stargazer Blue.) They’re more earthy and subdued than the bright colorways Osprey usually offers.

But the pack’s quality is classic Osprey. The craftsmanship feels solid, as does the 500D Recycled Polyester Packcloth exterior. Osprey claims 13.5 plastic bottles go into making every Tote Pack, which is definitely a win for our planet.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Material
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Material

The pack also features a PFC-free DWR coating for some water-resistance, which means your stuff should stay safe if you get caught in the rain.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Zipper
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Zipper

Finishing off the materials, you’ll find aluminum hardware and YKK zippers. At this point, we’ve had a lot of experience with YKK and limited problems…so you should be all set here.

External Components

Let’s start with the handles, which account for the “tote” part of the Tote Pack. They’re designed to be held in the hands, but they’re long enough you can also throw the bag over one shoulder if you so choose. It may get tight underneath your armpit, depending on your body, but it works well enough.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Handles
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Handles

The top of each handle is folded over and sewn together, which provides some comfort. But there’s no real padding, which is, frankly, disappointing. Padded handles would make the tote carry more comfortable when the pack’s fully loaded out (this thing can get heavy).

That said, it’s not the end-of-the-world since you can always switch to backpack mode when the tote carry gets old. To make the switch, simply take the straps out of the sleeve where they’re stowed and clip them into the loops at the bottom of the pack. Note that the sleeve the straps tuck into doesn’t zip or close with velcro, so (in theory) the straps could fall out while you’re carrying the pack in tote mode. We haven’t experienced this yet, but we wanted to point out the possibility.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Shoulder Strap Attachment
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Shoulder Strap Attachment

Converting the pack into a backpack is a relatively smooth process, although not seamless. We’ve found that detaching the backpack straps takes longer attaching them, which could be more of a positive than a negative. We’ve tested other packs with stowable backpack straps and experienced the clips randomly disengaging. Luckily, we haven’t had that issue with the Tote Pack.

As an added bonus, since the straps are detachable you can also use them for security purposes (a feature we also saw on the Osprey Arcane Day Pack). Unclip one of the shoulder straps, or pull it out of the storage sleeve, wrap it around a table leg, your chair, park bench, etc and clip it back to the bag. Of course, someone could simply unhook the strap and steal your pack, but it’s still a good deterrent.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Locked To Pole
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Locked To Pole

We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the backpack straps themselves. They’re dense and well-padded, making for a comfortable carry. There isn’t a sternum strap, but the pack is small enough that it doesn’t need it. There is a small mesh pocket on the left strap (when you’re wearing the pack) to stash smaller items. Say a granola bar, lip balm, etc.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Shoulder Strap
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Shoulder Strap

The back panel is quite nice, featuring padding and soft mesh-like material to help with breathability. There are no real air channels, although the panel has a ribbed texture beneath the mesh that helps with ventilation.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Back Panel
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Back Panel

However, because there’s not a lot of structure to this pack, you may feel your stuff against your back when it’s fully packed out. Especially items like a laptop, for example, which can feel stiff if you prefer to wear the bag higher/tighter on your back. It’s not uncomfortable, but something to keep in mind.

Before we unzip this thing, we want to point out that the Tote Pack doesn’t have side water bottle pockets. While that’s not a problem for everyone, it’s a bit of a bummer if you usually carry water bottles or coffee thermoses with you. We’ve tossed a water bottle into the main compartment, but it’s slow to access if you’re on the go. You may be able to fit a bottle in the front pocket, depending on its size and how full you have the bag (the 32oz Hydro Flask we’ve been testing is a bit too big to fit comfortably).

Inside the Pack

While the Osprey Tote Pack has a relatively slim profile, it has enough space to hold all of your everyday items (you know, within reason).

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Front Pocket
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Front Pocket

The front pocket is the perfect spot for your quick-grab items. And, as it takes up the whole front area of the bag, it’s roomy enough for bigger items too. That said, the space and lack of interior organization means you may have to go digging for smaller stuff. To skirt this issue, we’ve been using accessory pouches.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Top G-Hook
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Top G-Hook

The other two pockets on this thing are secured by what Osprey calls a “fold-and-hook closure.” Essentially, it’s a G-hook attached to a strap. You can tighten the strap to really secure these pockets.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Stash Pocket
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Stash Pocket

There’s no other way to keep the stash pocket—or the shove-it pocket, as Osprey says—closed. It’s a good spot to stash a packable jacket or for those random items that you may not carry around every day. Say a lunch, umbrella, juggling balls, etc. Just note that anything bulky will eat into the capacity of the main compartment. You can also use this stash pocket to tuck away the tote straps, ensuring a clean profile in backpack mode.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Roll-Top
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Roll-Top

The main compartment is a roll-top, which is one of those controversial things you’ll either love or hate. We’ve enjoyed it as it allows you to slightly expand the capacity of this compartment when need-be (say for short trips) or cinch it down when you have a lighter load.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Laptop Sleeve
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Laptop Sleeve

In addition to the fold-and-hook closure, the main compartment is also secured with a zipper.

When you open it up, you’ll be greeted with a relatively simple interior. Against the back, there’s a laptop sleeve designed to fit up to 15’’ laptops. It’s decently padded and has a false bottom, which we certainly appreciate. If you’re not familiar, a false bottom suspends your laptop off of the bottom of the pack, protecting it in the case of unexpected drops.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Organization
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Organization

In front of the laptop sleeve, there’s an additional sleeve for documents, notebooks, tablets, etc. In front of that, there’s a long zippered pocket with some stretch to it. It’s a great place to keep little things—say headphones—so they don’t disappear into the Bottom of the Backpack Black Hole (you know, the place where pens, bobby pins, and socks get sucked into). There are also two small liner pockets for pens and other similar items.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Key Leash
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Key Leash

Finally, there’s a small key leash. We’re not sure why the folks at Osprey opted to put the key leash here. We feel like it would make more sense to have it in the quick-access pocket, so you don’t have to open up the whole bag to get to your keys. During testing, we only clipped our keys to the key leash for a few days before we got too annoyed. It’s just an inconvenient spot for it.

The rest of the compartment is empty space for the rest of your stuff. We’ve put a laptop stand here, as well as a tech pouch and water bottle.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Visibility
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack Visibility

Now, the roll-top/top-loader design can make it difficult to see your stuff inside the pack. Plus, because it’s a roll-top/top-loader, you have to go digging around to find your stuff. That’s less of a critique of the Arcane Tote Pack and more of a critique of top-loader designs in general. It’s also not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind. A workaround is to use accessory pouches to organize smaller gear, ensuring they don’t succumb to that aforementioned Bottom of the Backpack (Tote Pack) Black Hole.

Durability & Testing

We’ve been testing the Osprey Arcane Tote Pack around Detroit, Michigan for two weeks and have taken it with us on a weekend trip to Northern Michigan. It has just enough space to fit all of our usual tech stuff, an extra change of clothes, and a Dopp kit. The roll-top helped here because you can unroll it a bit to make space for the Dopp kit.

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack

As far as durability is concerned, the Tote Pack still looks brand new at the time of this review. We have nothing major or minor to report.

Usage Timeline

Initial Usage

Condition: Excellent

  • Can be carried as a backpack or the shoulder straps can be packed away for tote carry
  • Great organization for all your EDC items including laptop
  • Back panel and shoulder straps have dense and comfortable padding
2 Weeks of Use

Condition: Excellent

Digging the versatility of this bag. It works well as both a tote and a backpack. As a tote, it’s easy to grab and go—although the handles could use some padding (especially on longer walks to the co-working space). As a backpack, it’s quite comfortable—even when loaded up with our daily kit.

By Pack Hacker Team
Created April 13, 2020 • Updated April 23, 2024
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