REVIEW: Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack – The Best Daypack for Travel

Travel Gear

comment 4 Comments

By Ryan Gargiulo

For any avid traveler, having the right backpack to get you through your journey is of the utmost importance.

After all, the job of carrying all of your treasured possessions isn’t something you should leave to any cheap backpack that you found at a secondhand store.

You want a backpack that’s going to be lightweight, durable, and definitely stylish.

But what many travelers fail to consider before they get on a plane is that just one backpack may not serve all of your needs.

Of course, you need a big backpack that can fit all of the items you will need on your trip. However, it is also vitally important to have a good daypack that you can carry with you while you explore the streets of foreign cities, hike through an exotic rainforest, or any other day trip you might make.

So, when Tortuga created their Outbreaker line of backpacks, they included both the Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack and the Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack.

That way, you can use your backpack to stash everything you need for however many months (or years) you plan to be on the road, while reserving your daypack for only the items you’ll need on a day-to-day basis.

The Tortuga Outbreaker series is made of the finest quality materials and is perfect for anyone who considers themself a serious backpacker.

Because what is a backpacker without a good backpack? And if you want to maximize the amount of enjoyment you get out of your days of sightseeing, you need a daypack that is going to be reliable and comfortable.

Don’t let improper gear distract you from the beautiful sights of a foreign land, or deter you from exploring every nook and cranny that a city has to offer.

The Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack is just what every traveler needs to have the perfect sightseeing experience every time.

Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack Review

Here’s all you need to know about it before you buy: 

OBK-daypack_front
obk_daypack_back
obk_daypack_external

Build & Materials

The Outbreaker Daypack has a simple, no-nonsense build that includes everything you need and leaves out everything you don’t.

The last thing you want in a travel backpack is a bunch of little widgets all over the place that are just going to get in your way.

The outside of the bag is simple black with no unnecessary accents, which will keep you looking cool and classy as you traverse the world.

You probably don’t want to give off the appearance that you lost all of your good clothes rushing to catch a train. Travel with some style.

The bag also has two durable straps that can be connected by a duraflex buckle which will last you through every backpacking trip you’ll ever take.

If you’ve ever been on a backpacking trip before, then you probably understand how frustrating it can be when a buckle snaps and suddenly all of the weight of your bag is making your lower back ache. Not with the Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack.

Say goodbye to back pain and hello to consistent comfort!

And what’s even worse than a broken buckle? A broken zipper!

Luckily, the Outbreaker Daypack features weather-resistant, super-durable zippers made by Japanese manufacturer YKK, who has a reputation for quality craftsmanship.

This backpack is built to last, not to give you headaches with broken hardware. 

The Outbreaker Daypack is made of lightweight yet extremely durable material that will give you the freedom and comfort to enjoy however many journeys you plan to take this bag on.

If you’ve ever seen someone in the airport with a broken strap on their backpack looking miserable as they drag their stuff across the dirty floor, then you know how important it is to have the right material for your backpack.

That’s why Tortuga built the Outbreaker Daypack out of waterproof sailcloth that is durable enough to withstand a voyage at sea.

Now, you may think it odd that they would choose to use sailcloth to make a backpack.

But fear not, this stuff holds up! This material includes four separate layers that make sailcloth ultra-durable and nearly 100% weatherproof.

Perhaps the most important layer is a PET film that is only 0.25 millimeters thick. Why is this film so important?

Well, it’s resistant to mold and almost entirely waterproof, and it will hold the shape of your backpack for years without it ever feeling stiff.

The rest of this material is made of high-quality polyesters that come together to create one of the most reliable and comfortable fabrics on the market.

I guess those sailors got it right when they were building ship sails.

And sailcloth isn’t just durable, it also looks great!

Who doesn’t want to bring a piece of the high seas with them on their back while they’re traveling? 

No one likes taking their backpack off after a long journey and feeling their back drenched with sweat.

What if you run into a gorgeous local who wants to take you all of the best restaurants in the area?

What a shame it would be for sweat stains to ruin such an opportunity!

So Tortuga made the back panel of the Outbreaker Daypack from ariaprene foam that will never make your back feel clammy.

In fact, this foam is so breathable, it actually feels like you have a light breeze running across your back every time you take a step.

Ariaprene foam is commonly used in athletic shoes, and the guys at Tortuga wanted to bring that same breathability you get from a pair of high-performance running shoes into their backpack design.

Overall, the materials used in the Outbreaker Daypack are meant to keep you comfortable through your travels and to make it home with you from every trip you go on.

Check Prices Button

Size & Weight

When it comes to the size of a travel bag, you want it to be big enough to fit all of your necessary items, but not too big to the point where it becomes a hassle.

There’s nothing worse than trying to drag a bulky bag through the aisle of a narrow bus or trying to stuff a huge suitcase into the overhead compartment of an airplane.

Tortuga kept this in mind when creating  the Outbreaker Daypack.

With dimensions of 17″ x 11″ x 6.5″, this compact daypack is small enough to fit into any compartment, and can comfortably be held in your lap if you find yourself on a crowded bus.

But maybe you’re worried that you won’t have enough space for your things. Never fear!

The Outbreaker Daypack has 21 liters of internal storage space so you can pack in everything you need and more for a successful day trip.

It also has a special sleeve that can fit a tablet up to 9.7” and another sleeve that can fit a 15” laptop.

You’ll never have to worry about keeping your electronics safe and sound again.

The Outbreaker Daypack is the perfect combination of compact and spacious, and will help you ease through your days of sightseeing without a hassle. 

Another extremely important thing to consider when buying a travel backpack is how much it’s going to weigh you down as you’re walking around.

You want to enjoy the nightlife of whatever foreign city you’re in, but it’s difficult to do that if your body is in pain from lugging around a heavy bag all day.

The Outbreaker Daypack is only 1.1 pounds, so light that you’ll barely even notice it’s there! In today’s market, many brands are overly concerned with adding a bunch of unnecessary features to their daypacks, making them overly weighty and cumbersome.

But Tortuga has kept their Outbreaker Daypack as simple and light as possible so you can enjoy your travel time pain-free. 

Check Prices Button
obk_daypack_straps
ONK_Daypack_extras

External Features

Perhaps the most important external feature of the Outbreaker Daypack is its weather-resistant skin.

The sailcloth exterior will keep all of your valuable items protected from any kind of weather.

Imagine what a bummer it would be to have your passport, your phone, your journal, or any other moisture-sensitive object soaked through.

The Outbreaker Daypack also features a flat-pack design that will make it easy to fit your bag into tight spaces whether you’re traveling by bus, train, plane, or car.

Having an oversized bag when you get to the airport can be ridiculously costly, but with an Outbreaker Daypack, you’ll never have to worry!

Another nifty feature of this bag is the key clip that doubles as the zipper for the bottom pocket.

And attaching your keys is just one of hundreds of possible uses for this handy little feature.

You could hang a sleeping bag from it, attach a hammock, or even clip on another bag. But when it comes to a daypack, you can’t forget about comfort.

So Tortuga has included a layer of soft anti-sweat padding to the back panel and shoulder straps to keep you clean and comfortable throughout your entire backpacking trip.

First impressions are everything, and you don’t want to be walking into a new hostel all sweaty and smelly.

The Outbreaker Daypack will help you keep your back dry and your armpits smelling fresh. 

OBK_Daypack_Internal

Internal Features

It’s not just the outside of a backpack that matters, the inside is equally important to having a silky smooth backpacking experience.

You wouldn’t buy a house that looked amazing from the outside but on the inside looked haunted.

So you shouldn’t do the same with a backpack! With the Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack, you will be thoroughly impressed with the care that went into creating this bag, inside and out.

The interior of the bag features a front pocket to help you keep your things even more organized.

It’s the perfect place to fit all of the small items that you find yourself reaching for frequently.

And on the sides of the bag are two mesh water bottle pockets so you can easily slide your water bottle in and out without even undoing one of your shoulder straps.

Plus, you won’t have to worry about your water bottle busting open in your bag and damaging your electronics or papers.

And to keep your electronics extra-safe, the built-in laptop and tablet sleeves inside the Outbreaker Daypack will snuggly fit your valuables so you can stroll around the world stress-free.

For travelers who need their laptops or tablets to work while on the road, there is nothing worse imaginable than having your electronics break.

Tortuga understands this concern, and has built the Outbreaker Daypack to give you peace of mind.

And amongst all of these wonderful features is the perfect amount of packing space to fit exactly what you need for a day of sightseeing and nothing more.

The 21 liters of internal space can fit a light jacket, a water bottle, a 15” laptop, other small electronics and chargers, headphones, a guidebook, and other everyday essentials.

Don’t ever worry about having to rifle through a massive bag just to find your daily items, the Outbreaker Daypack is meant to save you time and energy. 

Check Prices Button
OBK_Daypakc_Whatfits
obk_daypack_open
OBK_Daypakc_Whatfits2

Organization

One of the greatest assets that the Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack offers is how helpful it is for keeping organized.

Imagine you’re in a crowded bus station, you’ve just waited an hour and a half in line to buy your ticket, and when you get to the counter, you can’t find where in your bag you put your wallet.

You could risk getting kicked out of line for being unprepared and disorganized, or you could do the responsible thing and get yourself a Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack.

With separate compartments for your laptop and tablet, a main compartment to hold clothes or other bulky items, a small pocket for easy access to frequently-used items, and a clip to keep your keys on, you’ll never lose track of another item again.

No more sifting around through a disorganized bag in stressful situations, you will always know exactly where you’ve put each of your possessions.

And that means less time digging and more time enjoying the sights and sounds and irreplicable experiences of your backpacking journey. 

Check Prices Button

Specifications

Dimensions:17″ x 11″ x 6.5″
Volume:21L
Wight:1.1 lbs
Laptop:15” Macbook
Tablet:9.7”
Outer Material:VX03 waterproof sailcloth
Padding:Ariaprene foam
Zippers:Weather resistant YKK zippers
Buckles:Duraflex buckles
Origin:Made in China

Video Overview

https://youtu.be/p6WQQRHhBK8

Click play to watch the full video overview of the Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is the Tortuga Outbreaker daypack designed for?

  • This daypack is designed for anyone looking for the perfect lightweight backpack for a day of urban exploring, the beach or off-the-beaten path day hikes.
  • If you’re a digital nomad the Tortuga is a great companion because it’s lightweight, easy to pack and can carry both your laptop, tablet, cables, and more.
  • Photographers will appreciate it as an auxiliary camera bag for those chargers memory cards, extra lens, even a small tripod will fit great in one of the outer mesh side pockets.
  • If you are a gym junkie the Tortuga Daypack will tote your gym clothes with ease, and can effortlessly convert into a beach bag for weekend warriors.

2. What happens when the Tortuga Daypack gets wet?

The Outbreaker Daypack is almost completely waterproof thanks to a waterproof coating and on the inside and a fully waterproof layer on the outside. The Outbreaker is made from not just one layer of waterproof sail cloth, but four layers, with each serving a unique purpose to improve durability and longevity.

3. What are people saying about the Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack?

Online reviewers note the daypack is a space-saver when traveling because you get the benefits of an lightweight daypack without the hassle of packing a second bag, and the inside compartments give the Tortuga Daypack structure not found in other comparable sized daypacks. When using it with your latop be advised there is no padding on the bottom of the daypack, so you may want to use a separate laptop sleeve for added protection.


Buy It Now Button

4 thoughts on “REVIEW: Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack – The Best Daypack for Travel”

  1. I love the minimalist design but the noise just drives me crazy. If I’m in a meeting and need to discretely get something from the bag, that crinkly sound would be a deal breaker. I understand the advantages of the sailcloth in a travel pack (the 35L or 45L) but not for a day pack. I’d buy that pack if it weren’t for the noise. Thanks for a great review.

    Reply
    • I completely understand your complaints when it comes to the noise of the bag — especially in the situation you described. For me, it doesn’t really bother me as I don’t see myself being in those types of situations (offices, meetings, etc) often.

      I think Tortuga went with the sailcloth for the daypack to keep their product line uniform and to show the quality across all of their product line. At the end of the day you really can’t deny the quality of their products. I think a basic Jansport would cover you in the office/meeting situations while the Tortuga Outbreaker Daypack is more of a lightweight daypack built for adventure and to withstand the elements.

      Reply
  2. Would this be a good carryon personal item? I understand not a lot of padding, but feels like there’s way to deal with that.

    Reply

Leave a Comment