A must have for every gear junky is a good gear bag. I have been carrying the Everki Titan Backpack for quite a while. I love the bag, but since I am not using a laptop anymore, it is just too large. I actually quit carrying a bag at all of late because of the over kill for my needs. All I carry now is a tablet, but also have some odds and ends that need to travel with me, just not as much as I did when I was using a laptop. A smaller, lighter gear bag is definitely in order. Fortunately, the folks at ecbc gave me the opportunity to review the Javelin Daypack. Let’s take a look.
The Javelin Daypack is crafted from the most durable water repelling ballistic nylon and is loaded with features. Its extreme slim design and sleek lines guarantee not to cramp your style or weigh you down. The padded, TSA-compliant laptop compartment unzips and lays down flat for going through security without having to remove your coveted laptop. Ergonomic shoulder straps are padded and enclosed in mesh, allowing for a comfortable fit with plenty of airflow. Whether you are on vacation, traveling, or going to work, carry your personals in style and convenience with the Javelin Daypack.
Like I said in the opening, my new project is getting used to life without a laptop. My plan is to be as productive as possible using a tablet and bluetooth keyboard. A gear bag is a must for me, but I also wanted to downsize there too. The first thing I noticed about the Javelin Daypack is how lightweight it is. Even though it is super light, there is still plenty of room to carry all of your devices and gear safely and securely. At first look, the materials used seem to be more cheaper than other laptop backpacks I have used, but after a week of carry it seems the materials are made to be durable but also weigh less. Filled with all of my current gear, the Javelin is easy to carry in all situations and has not given me any backpack fatigue.
The outer shell sports a ballistic nylon with water repellent coating which helps protect from the elements while being light weight and durable. The compartments all sport heavy duty, water resistant YKK zippers which I found to all work flawlessly. The back of the product as wall as the inside of the shoulder straps are covered in a mesh padded panel. The material helps airflow making the backpack cooler to use and provides soft padding for comfort. I find the bag to be super comfortable to carry.
The Javelin Daypack is small and light, but includes plenty of storage space inside. On the sides are two zipper compartments that can also be used to carry water bottles. In front of the top handle is a small fleece lined pocket designed to hold an MP3 player. The pocket has plenty of room and keep in mind the headphone jack will have to come out from the zipper. There is no special opening for cords. The padded back compartment will hold up to a 17″ laptop and includes a padded block to change the size for smaller computers. The TSA approved pocket opens up to allow FastPass boarding at security checkpoints. The front part of the bag includes three more zipper pockets. The front pocket is perfect for quickly needed items. I actually carry my iPhone and iPad cables as well as work USB drives in this spot. Next is a true business compartment with plenty of storage for pens, cards and other items you need to carry on the go. The middle pocket is large and perfect for magazines and documents or folders and includes another area to carry chargers and wires. All in all, this small backpack has room for me to carry everything I need on the go with some room to spare.
The ecbc Javelin Daypack is a perfect solution for anyone who needs to be mobile with gear but prefer a smaller and lighter option. While the materials are not high quality in a luxury style, they are comfortable and durable. There are more than enough pockets to accommodate most you will need to carry for a short business trip or commute to work. Of course the light weight is awesome, but I also find the backpack to be rather comfortable and easy to carry. If you are looking for a durable and practical bag, the Javelin is a great option. I never realized how uncomfortable and heavy my gear bags were until I used it.
ecbc Javelin Daypack
MSRP: $129.99
What I like: Super light and durable this is truly a working mans gear bag.
What can be improved: At the price, some might expect more luxury in the materials and design.