Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Blade 20 Backpack
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59
59 total reviewsReview Breakdown:
53%5Rated 5 stars out of 5
25%4Rated 4 stars out of 5
8%3Rated 3 stars out of 5
7%2Rated 2 stars out of 5
7%1Rated 1 star out of 5
Additional Reviews
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I have this pack for some time. it replaced a north face pack which was nice.
The Blade 20 is just perfect. It is functional (I carry a MacBook pro 15") and theres a dedicated charger pocket.
Also theside pockets are great since you don't need to take out the home bag to take out your keys only one strap.
Ikabar,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I moved from LA to Singapore in 2006 and scoured the web for the perfect pack. I knew I needed a laptop sleeve and for it to be protective from the elements of SE Asia. I decided on the original blade. It was unreal how perfect it was. I used to wake up, pack my gym clothes, laptop, spare drives, sketchbook and cords in it and leave for the day. Gym, then work, and I would even go out at night and give the bag to the coatcheck. I never ever had one problem with my bag or anything in it. When I moved back to LA, the bag went on overnight business trips. And that's all. About a month ago, my beloved blade finally gave out. A corner barely wore through.
So, I got the new blade 20. My first day I worried it wasn't as good... it's been a week and I have to say it fits everything, in new ways, and better. Laptop, 3 spare drives, a pair of Pro Beats By Dre headphones, and cords. The new wallet pocket behind my back is genius. I can't feel it or my keys when i wear it. The little pocket in front i use for pens ( i do miss the pen slots).
The comfort is unreal. I dunno how the thinner shoulder straps are more comfortable than before but they are.
This bag is just so good. And the company is even better.
LATLV,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I moved from LA to Singapore in 2006 and scoured the web for the perfect pack. I knew I needed a laptop sleeve and for it to be protective from the elements of SE Asia. I decided on the original blade. It was unreal how perfect it was. I used to wake up, pack my gym clothes, laptop, spare drives, sketchbook and cords in it and leave for the day. Gym, then work, and I would even go out at night and give the bag to the coatcheck. I never ever had one problem with my bag or anything in it. When I moved back to LA, the bag went on overnight business trips. And that's all. About a month ago, my beloved blade finally gave out. A corner barely wore through.
So, I got the new blade 20. My first day I worried it wasn't as good... it's been a week and I have to say it fits everything, in new ways, and better. Laptop, 3 spare drives, a pair of Pro Beats By Dre headphones, and cords. The new wallet pocket behind my back is genius. I can't feel it or my keys when i wear it. The little pocket in front i use for pens ( i do miss the pen slots).
The comfort is unreal. I dunno how the thinner shoulder straps are more comfortable than before but they are.
This bag is just so good. And the company is even better.
LATLV,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I bought this at the Arc'teryx retail store in Minneapolis to replace an older computer backpack that hangs way out. The weight carried the furthest from the body exerted a lot of pressure on the straps, making my back and shoulders sore and tired. The design of the Blade 20 brings the weight in as close to the body as possible, which greatly reduces pressure. I can carry the same weight but it feels much lighter.
This is important because sometimes, I have to carry it on my back for long distances on streets, subways, airports, and having a pack that is easy to carry makes a huge difference to my morale.
I like how I can open it up completely and arrange all of its contents like a suitcase, instead of a top-loading bag, where things get lost in the bottom. No more fishing around looking for stuff.
In all my years of flying commercial (nearly 1MM miles) this pack is the best. I can stow it behind my legs (straps forward, long side down, zipper up) and it will lean against my seat. That allows me to stretch my legs out under the seat in front of me. Getting it out from below is easy because it's narrow and doesn't have straps or mesh to get caught on the seat.
I was impressed by the amount of room this pack has for books, papers, folders, computer, pouch with wires/adapters, even a large water bottle. (It was a swag gift, I usually carry a Platypus instead.)
The straps are thin, but comfortable. Small-but-big delight: I can carry my travel duffel bag on my shoulder as well while carrying the Blade 20 on my back. The straps have a low profile and don't have useless buckles, D-rings (who really uses those), or other junk hardware that digs into the shoulders.
The pad that covers the entire front is an ingenious idea. It protects everything that is in the front pocket, such as eyeglasses, electronics, etc.. Most backpacks roll over onto the front because they are front-heavy. So everything in that front pockets ends up getting crushed. You won't have that problem.
I am very pleased with this purchase and look forward to many years of hard use.
David,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I bought this at the Arc'teryx retail store in Minneapolis to replace an older computer backpack that hangs way out. The weight carried the furthest from the body exerted a lot of pressure on the straps, making my back and shoulders sore and tired. The design of the Blade 20 brings the weight in as close to the body as possible, which greatly reduces pressure. I can carry the same weight but it feels much lighter.
This is important because sometimes, I have to carry it on my back for long distances on streets, subways, airports, and having a pack that is easy to carry makes a huge difference to my morale.
I like how I can open it up completely and arrange all of its contents like a suitcase, instead of a top-loading bag, where things get lost in the bottom. No more fishing around looking for stuff.
In all my years of flying commercial (nearly 1MM miles) this pack is the best. I can stow it behind my legs (straps forward, long side down, zipper up) and it will lean against my seat. That allows me to stretch my legs out under the seat in front of me. Getting it out from below is easy because it's narrow and doesn't have straps or mesh to get caught on the seat.
I was impressed by the amount of room this pack has for books, papers, folders, computer, pouch with wires/adapters, even a large water bottle. (It was a swag gift, I usually carry a Platypus instead.)
The straps are thin, but comfortable. Small-but-big delight: I can carry my travel duffel bag on my shoulder as well while carrying the Blade 20 on my back. The straps have a low profile and don't have useless buckles, D-rings (who really uses those), or other junk hardware that digs into the shoulders.
The pad that covers the entire front is an ingenious idea. It protects everything that is in the front pocket, such as eyeglasses, electronics, etc.. Most backpacks roll over onto the front because they are front-heavy. So everything in that front pockets ends up getting crushed. You won't have that problem.
I am very pleased with this purchase and look forward to many years of hard use.
David,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
As with all the Arc'teryx products the designs for use are amazing. Quality and function are 1st rate, I am extremely pleased with my Blade 20 back pack.
VC12,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I bought this bag online reading some of the reviews on another site.
First of all, I bought the nightshade and glad that i decided to get this instead of black. Wanted to get get a unique color and wasn't sure how the color would look just form looking at online but it looked better than i expected.
So having used this back for about 3 months, these are some of the issues I have with the bag:
shoulder pads gets loose from time to time
not sure if it's the material of my winter jacket but shoulder pads tend to slid off.
was hoping the bag was more water resistant but i figured it would get soaked
Aside from these issues I am very happy with the purchase.
The handle on the top gets pretty loose after you use it for awhile. I rarely held the bag by the handle but now its loose enough that i can hold it without having my hand wedged between. The reviewers here probably never used the bag in daily bases to know this.
Laptop sleeve fits my 15" macbook pro really nicely and with numbers of hidden pockets and a roomy storage in the front it was very close to what I was looking for.
Oh and the small pocket on right side comes in very handy to use my keys(it has a keychain inside the pocket and I just sling it to the right side to access it)
Overall it was a great purchase and I would recommend this to other people who are looking for a sleek minimalistic looking back with lots of room to carry around.
.
JpC8030,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
This new version is much lighter than my original Blade. The best new features are the interior zip pocket to hide a change of clothes on business trips, just in case your luggage is lost. The side handle is much easier to maneuver in airports. The full zip opening makes it much easier to access your stuff, and find little things hiding at the bottom. The fit and comfort on your back is outstanding compared to fashion or luggage brands. I have used on several trips and highly recommend the Blade.
DoubleG,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
Mina was bought in 2016 and used to/from work during some years, until my work laptop was replaced from 15" to a 17" that did not fit. After the next computer renewal, I went back to 15" and then could get the Blade to work again. My HP Z Book fits in, just on the limit! I can use the bag by only opening the zipper along the side, to get laptop, charger, mouse and notebook in simple ways.
The handles on top and side makes it simple to carry in various ways, I do not always like to look like a school kid with a backpack when at work.
Internal pockets are somewhat tight and deep, things might get hard to reach.
The stiff front keeps the shape, but somewhat limits what/how to pack.
The small zippered compartment on the side is very useful for a small wallet, earplugs, and other items. The hidden compartment on the back I rearely use, but perfect for a passport while travelling.
A bit on the heavy side.
BlueSwede,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
A bag pack ideal for labtop and accessories and just spacious enough for a brief day trip.
Good shoulder pad
Daisy D,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
The Blade 20 is a good pack for your day to day commute. To and from the office, maybe throw in a stop at the cafe with your laptop. It's slim design with no external pouches keeps you from snagging on door ways or hooking other people as you squeeze through crowded areas. It's rigid shell keeps the pack well formed even when it's basically empty. I'm sure I'm not the only one who hates a saggy pack. The long carry handles on the top and side of the pack are something I wished featured on more packs, as it makes it so much easier to access the main compartment from different angles while on the move.
Now unfortunately the Blade loses out on that last star for me due to it's lack of versatility. That rigid outer panel prevents the pack from stretching and forming around it's contents, which means flat and thin items like laptops and books will fit nicely but once you introduce bulkier items like a change of clothes, large water bottle, or a lunch box, and the pack really starts to struggle. For example a pair of runners will fit, but it will feel like it needed to be shoved and crushed as you close it up. It is a 20L pack but yet I found I couldn't fit nearly as much stuff into it as I could an older 12L pack of mine.
While I definitely can recommend the Blade 20, I strongly suggest you think about your intended use and what kind of items you tend to carry with you on a daily basis. You may want to consider it's larger sibling packs the 28 or 30 instead, even if you're migrating from a similarly sized or even smaller capacity pack.
Edie,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
The Blade 20 is a good pack for your day to day commute. To and from the office, maybe throw in a stop at the cafe with your laptop. It's slim design with no external pouches keeps you from snagging on door ways or hooking other people as you squeeze through crowded areas. It's rigid shell keeps the pack well formed even when it's basically empty. I'm sure I'm not the only one who hates a saggy pack. The long carry handles on the top and side of the pack are something I wished featured on more packs, as it makes it so much easier to access the main compartment from different angles while on the move.
Now unfortunately the Blade loses out on that last star for me due to it's lack of versatility. That rigid outer panel prevents the pack from stretching and forming around it's contents, which means flat and thin items like laptops and books will fit nicely but once you introduce bulkier items like a change of clothes, large water bottle, or a lunch box, and the pack really starts to struggle. For example a pair of runners will fit, but it will feel like it needed to be shoved and crushed as you close it up. It is a 20L pack but yet I found I couldn't fit nearly as much stuff into it as I could an older 12L pack of mine.
While I definitely can recommend the Blade 20, I strongly suggest you think about your intended use and what kind of items you tend to carry with you on a daily basis. You may want to consider it's larger sibling packs the 28 or 30 instead, even if you're migrating from a similarly sized or even smaller capacity pack.
Edie,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
Seit einigen Monaten beim tglichen Pendeln per Rad/Zug. Der Rucksack ist gerade klein genug um keine strende bergre fr die Bro-Basics zu haben und gerade gro genug um maximal 2 Nchte unterwegs zu sein. Natrlich ist er damit auch manchmal zu gro und manchmal etwas zu klein, in Summe ein sehr guter Allrounder. Der Aufbau des Rucksacks ist bis ins Detail durchdacht und bewhrt sich. Insbesondere die Trageschlaufen, sowie die kleinen Taschen fr Geldbrse (Rcken) und Schlssel (Seite) suchen ihresgleichen. Materialien und Verarbeitung sind gewohnt sehr gut.
Ein paar Kleinigkeiten wren optional durchaus praktisch. Etwa ein gepolstertes Fach fr eine Sonnenbrille, ein abnehmbarer Brustgurt oder ein zweiter Reiverschluss bei der Tasche fr die Geldbrse um diese von beiden Seiten zugnglich zu machen.
Innsberg,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
12.5PCelite book
PC
PC
2PC
tumi 26141
705type415,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
12.5PCelite book
PC
PC
2PC
tumi 26141
705type415,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
Amazing bag in terms of being practical with its pockets, minimal design and light yet study construction.
Except for the black handles in the sides that loose their elasticity after 3 months (but still work fine) and the biggest issues is not being waterproof which doesn't make since for a brnac like arcteryx when making a bag that has a laptop compartment.
Serag,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
Amazing bag in terms of being practical with its pockets, minimal design and light yet study construction.
Except for the black handles in the sides that loose their elasticity after 3 months (but still work fine) and the biggest issues is not being waterproof which doesn't make since for a brnac like arcteryx when making a bag that has a laptop compartment.
Serag,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I have never felt ashamed taking this into a meeting given that it's from the outdoor industry. It is functional and sleek. The pockets to protect things in crowds or commuting are nice. Their are so many that I forget where things are from time to time. I love it for a carry on piece. I can work or just know that my crucial materials will make it with me to my destination.
Easily going back and forth from a briefcase carry to a backpack is great. I don't set it down and forget it when I need two hands. Even worse I don't end up with it between my elbow and ribs as I try to hold too many things.
I would like to see and integrated rain cover. This would add extra protection for electronics. I would like to also see it have an extra liter or two of volume. Just enough to make carrying a laptop with other presentation materials a little easier. I know there is a larger version but that in my mind is a little too big for everyday use. Reinforcements in the high wear areas could improve the durability.
DandWaldo,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I have never felt ashamed taking this into a meeting given that it's from the outdoor industry. It is functional and sleek. The pockets to protect things in crowds or commuting are nice. Their are so many that I forget where things are from time to time. I love it for a carry on piece. I can work or just know that my crucial materials will make it with me to my destination.
Easily going back and forth from a briefcase carry to a backpack is great. I don't set it down and forget it when I need two hands. Even worse I don't end up with it between my elbow and ribs as I try to hold too many things.
I would like to see and integrated rain cover. This would add extra protection for electronics. I would like to also see it have an extra liter or two of volume. Just enough to make carrying a laptop with other presentation materials a little easier. I know there is a larger version but that in my mind is a little too big for everyday use. Reinforcements in the high wear areas could improve the durability.
DandWaldo,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
At first I was worried that I had bought too small a bag having come from a 26 litre North Face bag. However the bag is surprisingly spacious and is very easy to access and pack with its zip that extents right around the body of the bag. The design is very cool and I've received plenty of compliments on the bag.
It's not as comfortable to wear as the North Face bag (a Hot Shot II which is super comfortable) and there's a strange raised ridge half-way down the back panel that can be a little annoying but overall its an easy carry.
Happy with my purchase and been using it non-stop for the last few weeks. With a few tweaks it could be the perfect over-nighter.
Conor,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
At first I was worried that I had bought too small a bag having come from a 26 litre North Face bag. However the bag is surprisingly spacious and is very easy to access and pack with its zip that extents right around the body of the bag. The design is very cool and I've received plenty of compliments on the bag.
It's not as comfortable to wear as the North Face bag (a Hot Shot II which is super comfortable) and there's a strange raised ridge half-way down the back panel that can be a little annoying but overall its an easy carry.
Happy with my purchase and been using it non-stop for the last few weeks. With a few tweaks it could be the perfect over-nighter.
Conor,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
Je viens de recevoir mon sac blade 20 et je suis vraiment surpris par toutes les poches prsentes me permettant de moduler son remplissage.
Je le recommande vraiment. Un petit bemol son poids que je trouve un poil trop lev mais cela est aussi d la conception et aux rembourrages.
PhilS,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
At first I wasn't sure about this bag. But I ended up buying it and loving it.
For work I used to be in the field so I got used to carrying a big bag around with lots of stuff (and sometimes redundant stuff) around. "Two is one, one is none."
Now I've taken a management job so most of my day is spent doing presentations for directors, etc. I now go to work by subway and I have to look the part. So I started carrying a leather attache case with me. I carry a large notepad, important files, a lunch container, a Goretex shell (in case of rain since I walk home), water bottle or Kleen Kanteen (for my morning coffee), headphones, my personal cell phone, and my work cell phone. Again, "Two is one, one is none". Of course this has made my shoulder bag really heavy.
To stay fit, I also stand during my entire subway ride (45 mins each way) and also walk to and from the station (25 min walk). Carrying a shoulder bag for months has started to cause some back pain.
I've tried other backpacks but the issue is they look too sporty or outdoorsy or had way too much molle all over it. I dropped by the Arcteryx store and I was intrigued by this pack. The salesperson said I could try to empty my entire shoulder bag into this pack to see how it works.
To this day I find it works well for my use. I can carry it as a backpack when walking, hold it like a laptop bag when standing on the subway (especially if it's crowded), and if I'm showing up for an important meeting, I can still look the part even with a backpack. (of course, I got the black version...I don't think bright orange would work!)
So yes, it's a niche product and I'm glad they made it. Is it for everyone? Probably not. But if you're like me and you need a comfortable backpack, be able to carry a lot, but yet be presentable when you walk into a room for a director's meeting, then this bag is something you should consider.
Watchdog,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall3Rated 3 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I like this for overnights where I can pack laptop, a change of clothes and some meeting essentials. Critically, it's a bag you can open up to get your work stuff out without treating everybody to a view of last night's underwear. On the downside, the shoulder straps are set weirdly wide apart (even for my muscular and manly shoulders) and a belt strap would help make it suitable for a bike.
Arthurascii,
0 found this review helpful.
Overall3Rated 3 stars out of 5
Reviewed at Arcteryx
I find that after I've adjusted the shoulder straps, as soon as the tension is released the webbing slips through the buckle and you need to readjust when you shoulder the bag again. It's not the end of the world but is a little annoying since it's not a cheap bag.
Andrew9000,
0 found this review helpful.
