Tortuga Tech Organizer Review

At first glance, we’re curious whether or not the materials used on the Tortuga Tech Organizer are thick and durable enough to give us peace of mind while using this as our tech pouch abroad. However, here at Pack Hacker, we’re open to trying any new gear that comes our way. Let’s dive in!

External Components

The primary pack material we’re working with here is Tortuga’s SHELL200, a 200D recycled polyester. It boasts good water resistance and can withstand 200+ PSI, which is pretty good for how lightweight and malleable it is. The DWR coating is PFAS and PFOA-free, which we dig, too. The added water resistance helps protect your tech if your water bottle leaks or if there’s a spill inside your daypack or travel backpack from something like your toiletry bag.

The material is lightweight, water-resistant, and durable; however, no padding protects your gear from the bumps and knocks of travel. You might think that a tech pouch doesn’t need such features, considering it’ll be in your pack most of the time. However, we’d argue that many things bump inside your bag that could lead to your tech getting crushed. It’s also vulnerable when sitting on the table at a coffee shop or desk at home. This won’t be an issue for some users, but it might be if you’re rough on your gear.

Another aspect of using such light materials is that it doesn’t always stand up on its own accord, especially when heavier gear is loaded inside. It can topple onto its side depending on how your gear is split up. Once you get used to the materials, you can combat this, but it takes some getting used to.

The pouch utilizes YKK zippers, which are up to the task. This is a favorite brand here at Pack Hacker, and they live up to that reputation in this use case. The pulls are simple yet effective but can be hard to grab if they get wet.

Overall, this thing is incredibly lightweight. It comes in at 0.23 pounds, or 1.04 kilograms, which is excellent if you’re an ultralight packer. Compared to the Aer Split Kit, a Pack Hacker favorite, the two options feel like polar opposites despite being similar in size. The Split Kit weighs 0.2 pounds, similar to the Tortuga, but comes in at a tiny 0.4 liters compared to the Tech Organizer’s 2.6 liters. In roughly the same size and weight, you get significantly more space. It’s worth noting that most companies measure volume slightly differently, but you get the gist. This thing is lightweight!

The exterior is minimalistic, similar to other Tortuga gear we’ve tested. The logo is sleek and hard to pick out from a distance. There are two attachment points on the bottom of the pack, so you can attach it inside your bag or turn it into a makeshift sling. If you do the latter, it’ll sit upside down, which might look a little goofy, but you do you.

If you already own Tortuga gear, the Tech Organizer will fit well into your collection. If not, the simple black design will fit into most arsenals.

Inside The Organizer

Once you enter the main compartment, it has accordion-style organization, which we dig. The zipper opens quite wide, so you can access the gear you stow inside and get dirty with the internal organization. There’s a divider in the middle, but we’ll get into that later.

On the logo side of the pouch, there’s a zippered compartment. There’s no organization inside, but it’s pretty large and is an excellent spot to lock down gear you don’t want tumbling around the main compartment. There are a few zippered toppers inside this bag, which is nice. Many tech pouches only have elastic and liner pockets, so gear can fall out.

Below the first zippered pocket, there’s a daisy chain crafted from elastic. It’s easy to use and is snappy to hold various-sized items. If you don’t want to use them, they don’t get in the way, which is a plus.

The divider we mentioned earlier has a zipper on the top so you can stow stuff inside, which is a good use of space. The zipper is ridiculously tiny, which can be hard to use with large hands. However, it stays out of the way, which is nice. This divides the space, too, which helps organize your gear.

On the opposite side are two mesh pockets with an elastic topperwhich are good spots for a mouse or other similarly-sized pieces of gear.

There’s a lot of intuitive organization for gear inside the Tech Organizer and leftover room for extras, too. It might topple over if you go too heavy on one side or stack the gear higher. This isn’t the end of the world, but it might bother you if you like to set your tech pouch on the table at the coffee shop while working.

In addition to intuitive organization, the materials are very lightweight and water resistant. This doesn’t lend itself to gear protection or structure, but this isn’t most important to all travelers.

Overall, we dig how much gear we can stow inside here and how lightweight it is. The organization is intuitive, and it feels as if every piece of equipment has a home, making it feel comfortable from the jump.

For gear we’re worried about breaking, it might not be the best fit due to materials that lack padding and protection from bumps and knocks. However, if you’re trying to save space and weight, this is an excellent option!