Trakke Storr Travel Backpack 25L Review

If you’ve seen other gear from Trakke, you might already know what to expect. Waxed canvas, cotton, and metal adjusters—you know, the works. We’re curious how well this pack operates because it seems to be a happy medium between a day bag and a larger travel pack. Let’s dive in!

External Components

The primary pack material is dry-finished waxed canvas. You’ve probably felt this material before; it’s pretty common, but you don’t often see it on backpacks. It boasts reasonably good durability and water resistance and is comfortable to hang onto. Plus, it looks professional and sleek without going overboard with a business travel look.

The extracurriculars are crafted from cotton webbing. That’s the straps, handle, and other odds and ends on the pack, and we think the cotton feels natural and looks rad.

The pack utilizes YKK zippers throughout its construction. They’re easy to work with and haven’t failed, but we expected that from YKK. Trakke has added their trademark circle or hoop zipper pulls. We’ve found that most users tend to enjoy these, as it makes it easier to get a good grip when opening and closing the pack; however, some users note that the metal ring can hurt their finger when the pack is super full and resistance on the zipper track is high. If you have sensitive fingers, that’s worth noting.

All the hardware is stainless steel, which adds to the sleek look and adds durability. This is boosted by the AustriAlpin COBRA strap adjusters on the shoulder straps. They’re durable, smooth, and fun to look at. We’ll chat more about those later!

Trakke’s site said this pack aims to “bridge the gap between everyday carry and short-haul travel.” Essentially, it’s straddling the gap between a daypack and a travel backpack.

We assume that Storr is referencing the mountainous area in Scotland, but you don’t have to go there to use this pack (although you should if you can). It comes in 20-, 25-, and 35-liter options, so there’s something for every kind of weekender. If you don’t take much on any trip, the 20 is a good shout. However, if you take everything but the kitchen sink, even overnight, the 35 is for you. If you’re somewhere between, the 25 might be calling your name.

At the time of writing, the Storr comes in Black, Olive, Whisky, and Port. We’re Pack Hacker, so we, of course, went with Black. It’s sleek and stylish, but it attracts light-colored pet hair. The material is fairly easy to clean but takes some time.

A small Trakke logo on the top of the pack adds some heritage styling. It isn’t too in your face, and you can remove it. It attaches using a hook and loop fastener, so if you take it off, there’s a black area that blends in fairly well with the rest of the pack. You can attach another patch or leave it blank.

The handle on the top of the pack is crafted from cotton. It’s durable and comfortable for short jaunts; however, it can dig in a little during longer trips. It is a backpack, after all, so you can always throw it on your back if your hand gets tired.

Water bottle pockets on either side of the pack are crafted from waxed canvas and an elastic strap. Standard-sized travel water bottles work fine; however, a larger bottle, like a 32-ounce Nalgene, is too wide and won’t fit.

There isn’t a ton going on around this pack’s exterior. There aren’t a ton of attachment loops, pockets, or extra features. Some users might see that as a bummer, but this might be a perk for you if you’re into sleek and minimalistic designs!

Fit Notes

The shoulder straps are relatively dense with padding and have mesh for breathability, which works well to keep the temperature balanced. On sweltering days, they’ll still make you sweat. They may feel a little too robust on a smaller frame; however, for the most part, they’re comfortable.

The back panel has a similar amount of padding and aeration, which we appreciate, but if you are used to soft, synthetic-feeling cushions, this might be a new experience for you.

There is no sternum strap or hip belt, which feels fine on the 25-liter model we have on hand. However, the 35 might feel slightly naked without them. There’s a cotton attachment point on either shoulder strap to connect your sunglasses or another item, like a clip-on speaker.

The AustriAlpin COBRA Frame adjusters we mentioned earlier are easy to use and stay put once you’ve found the sweet spot. However, they feel somewhat superfluous for the job. We don’t often have issues with shoulder straps coming loose, so it wasn’t an issue that needed fixing. They don’t get in the way and look rad, though, so we can’t complain about their inclusion.

The strap keepers are metal, which looks neat. You can’t loop the fabric through more than once, though, which may be an issue for those with a smaller frame or who like to wear their bag tighter to their body.

Overall, the harness system feels comfortable without many dohickeys and features, which is commendable. It looks sleek!

Inside The Pack

There’s a separate laptop compartment, so we’ll review that first. It’s a vertical opening on the right side of the back panel. We typically don’t love these because it’s fairly easy to forget to close the compartment and have your laptop tumble out. Luckily, that isn’t as likely in this instance because there’s a lip between where your laptop sits and the zipper opening.

The 25-liter model can accommodate up to a 16-inch computer. It doesn’t have a false bottom, but it’s fairly well padded from the back panel, so it feels secure enough for use while traveling.

The quick-access compartment on the pack’s front is pretty large, taking up roughly half the front. All three bags come with Trakke’s Gigha Sling, which honestly looks like a pencil case you might have used in elementary school. That isn’t a diss, but it’s true. It comes with clips and a strap, so you can use it as a sling once you remove it.

This isn’t a review of that sling; however, it isn’t a very intuitive carry. That said, it’s nice to have something you can remove from your travel backpack as a personal item on the plane to stay entertained. Plus, it fits in either the secondary or the main compartment, so you can switch where you stash it.

Additionally, the quick-access compartment has two mesh pockets and a key clip. It’s nice to be able to lock down the gear you don’t want rolling around and attach your keys if you’re into that kind of thing. The key clip is metal, but you probably could have guessed that!

The main compartment doesn’t have much going on, but we dig it. It’s a clamshell opening, so you can see everything going on inside. Because of the lack of internal organization, we recommend using packing cubes and other organizers like a tech pouch to stay on top of where your gear is.

On the lid, there are two zippered pockets. Both are relatively large, so you can stow some clothing inside if you want, and the rest is up to you.

All of the compartments have orange lining inside, which you might have already noticed from the photos of the pack. We think this helps you see your gear and adds a nice contrast to the pack.

Overall, we’re happy with how this bag carries, looks, and packs. The lack of a sternum strap, a hip belt, attachment loops, and internal organization might be a dealbreaker for some. However, the Storr has a sleek and professional look while still offering a comfortable and intuitive carry.