I am obsessed with travel bags and gadgets and I am always looking for an incredible travel product that will help me travel light and comfortably. So when I saw Tropicfeel’s Kickstarter for their Nest backpack I was instantly intrigued by it. It promised to be a versatile everyday adventure backpack. I signed up and then waited almost a year for it to arrive. Now that I have the bag and the 10L smart packing cube, I want to let you know my thoughts on the bag construction, if it lives up to the claims and if I think it is worth the money.
Note: I purchased the Nest Everyday Adventure Backpack with my own money. All opinions shared in this post are my own based on my personal experience.
Who is Tropicfeel?
Tropicfeel is a sustainable Travel Brand. According to the Tropicfeel website, they are “about bringing the excitement of travel to everyday life. Travel is for everyone, everywhere, 365 days a year… Be responsible. Be respectful. Always leave a positive footprint.”
What is the Nest Everyday Adventure Backpack?
The Nest is a backpack made by Tropicfeel. The bag is marketed as versatile, high-performance, and sustainable. Some of the key feathers of the bag include:
- The bag grows from 16L to 30L in size. This was the feather that hooked me in. I love bags and accessories that are versatile.
- The bag is sturdy and would be great to carry your tech gear around.
- A separate waterproof compartment that is accessible from the side. Great for storing dirty items, a lunch box, a water bottle, or another pair of shoes.
- The Spider Net System allows for more storage of bulkier items in the front.
- Hidden laptop compartment that is well padded.
- Sleeve to slide over a suitcase handle.
- Internal mesh pockets for added organization.
- Extra accessories available include 10L or 5L packing cubes, XL camera cube, and an organization cube full of little pockets.
- Made from 100% recycled rayon and polyester materials.
Expanding capacity from 16L to 30L
The bag is 16L. The bottom of the bag has a kangaroo pocket that adds 4L of space, great for storing shoes. You can add a 10L compression cube which can attach to the front of the bag. 16L+4L+10L = 30L of space. (Note 10L is separate).
First Impression of the Nest Everyday Adventure Travel Backpack
The bag has a nice aesthetic. I love the minimal design and clean look of the bag. I chose the travel backpack in the colour Amphora Brown (also available in All Black, Blueberry Navy, and Desert Green). The bag felt really stiff but in a good way. It did feel really well made. I got mine with the 10L compression cube. It also felt of good quality. I couldn’t wait to get away to test out the bag.
Packing the Nest Everyday Adventure Travel Backpack
The 10L Smart Packing Cube
I was going away to my in-laws for 4 nights. On this trip, I would need a swimsuit, coverup, and travel towel, 2 cotton dresses, 3 tees, 5 undies, and sandals. I was wearing shorts, a tee, a light sweater, and white sneakers. All the clothes to pack did fit in the 10L packing cube, but the cube was really difficult to slide into the exterior pocket and attach the spider mesh. When the cube was empty I could fit and attach it to the front. So I added the cube inside the backpack and it did fit nicely.
All the clothes fit nicely when rolled and placed directly inside the travel backpack. I would recommend only packing clothes that are easy to compress in the 10L and keeping the larger items to pack directly in the main compartment of the bag. Then you can maximize the 30L of space.
The Kangaroo Pouch
Flip flops and flat shoes fit nicely together in the kangaroo pocket. I could also fit my bulky size 7.5 trainers on their own in the kangaroo pocket. This is a nice feather, that I wish more bags would incorporate. The straps holding the kangaroo pocket closed felt secure.
I packed the bag full. It was hard to close because the bag is so stiff. Once closed though, the zippers are of good quality and feel very sturdy so I don’t think they would open if the bag is stuffed full.
The Laptop Compartment
I have a 10″ Pro7 Microsoft Surface. It fits nicely in the laptop compartment. I believe you can fit a 15″ laptop easily. My accessories fit in the mesh pockets on the inside flap of the bag’s main compartment. I like how secure the laptop felt in the bag.
How comfortable is the Nest Everyday Adventure Backpack?
The backpack is comfortable and easy to carry when it is packed. The straps are padded and have a chest strap that helps keep the straps in place.
Where can you buy the Nest Everyday Adventure Backpack?
As mentioned, I purchased the Nest The Everyday Adventure Backpack from Kickstarter, however, the Nest is now available for purchase directly on the Tropicfeel website.
If you are interested in this bag I will link to the specific bag here: Nest The Everyday Adventure Backpack
Tropicfeel does have 2 other bags that are more travel minded. You can find them here. The brand also has a selection of other sustainable, travel-minded products including clothing and shoes.
What does the Nest Everyday Adventure Backpack Cost?
When I purchased the Nest backpack it was being offered on Kickstarter. The deal I chose was the Nest backpack plus the 10L packing cube. The cost at the time was 169 Euros (~$220 CAD). The bag is now available directly from the Tropicfeel website and is listed for $269 CAD for the bag only (accessories are extra). Best to check the Tropicfeel website for prices as they have various deals when paired with accessories.
Who will love this bag?
In my opinion, this bag is great for city day adventures (think bike rides, picnics, even daily commutes to work) and short trips (1-3 days). The bag does meet carry-on size if traveling by plane.
Photographers would also enjoy this bag when used with the XL camera cube.
Who may not like this bag?
Hard-core backpack carryon only travelers. This bag is too small for longer trips. It probably would be a good personal item though (especially for those who travel with a lot of tech gear). You may want to check out their larger bag Shell which expands to 40L.
Overall Impression of the Nest Everyday Adventure Backpack
Overall, this is a nice, good-quality bag for everyday adventures (as it is called). It would be good for commuting to work. I would recommend the bag to photographers, or content creators who carry a lot of tech around with them. Since I work from home, I was looking more for a bag I could use as a travel backpack.
I was drawn to the bag mainly for its versatility in expanding from 16L to 30L. However, for my travel needs, I need a larger backpack.
Shortly after publishing this post (literally minutes), I received an email from Tropicfeel announcing the launch of a 40L Rollerbag that can convert to a backpack and that can expand to 52L. It’s like they read my mind! I think pairing the Rollerbag with the Nest backpack would be a great travel duo.
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