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Chrome Macheto 2.0 Specs
Cost: $200
Capacity: 41 – 52 liters (expandable)
Dimensions: 20.8” x 13.8” x 9.5” (53 x 35 x 24 cm)
Dimensions Expanded: 20.8” x 13.8” x 12” (53 x 35 x 30.5 cm)
Style: Clamshell
Weight: 3.81 lbs (1.73 kg)
Laptop: 15.6”
Materials: 1680D ballistic nylon, 450 TPE Tarp, Duraflex Buckles, YKK Zippers
Origin: Manufactured in Thailand
Overall Impression, Aesthetic
There are several styles of travel backpacks out there. Lightweight minimalist packs, and sturdy bombproof packs. If you’re in the bombproof camp, you’re going to love the updated Chrome Macheto 2.0. This thing is a beast, made from some of the sturdiest materials you can get. I’m pretty sure you could drag this thing behind a horse and it wouldn’t fall apart.
Materials, Colors, and Size
This pack is made from a 1680 ballistic nylon on the back and sides. Which is one of the sturdiest materials you can use for a travel backpack. And one of the changes in the 2.0 version they upgraded the fabric on the front of the pack to a 420 Denier TPE coating. This gives the bag a sleek shiny look, while greatly increasing the water-resistance on the front of the pack.
Zippers and Hardware
To fit with the bombproof theme of Chrome packs, they use large solid zippers and hardware in the Macheto 2.0. The zipper on the main compartment is the biggest #10, with smaller #5 and #8 for the rest of the exterior and interior compartments.
The Buckles are all large plastic Duraflex. The side compression strap buckles are huge and solid. The Sternum strap buckle hardware is all solid Duraflex. And the shoulder strap uses a sturdy custom metal adjustor.
Security System
None of these zippers are lockable, but you can use a carabiner clip to connect the zipper pulls. The zippers on the main compartment are close enough to the laptop compartment, that you can also secure all three together with one Nite Ize Microlock. It’s not as good as a locking zipper, but it makes it your pack more difficult to access.
WaterProofness
Two of these zippers are waterproof YKK Aquaguard. On the top slash pocket, and laptop compartment. Which increases the water-resistance of these two pockets. However, it’s worth noting that this is not a waterproof backpack.
Unlike some of Chrome’s messenger packs, like the Barrage. The Macheto doesn’t have any waterproofing apart from the TPE coated front, and these two zippers. The 1680 denier fabric is relatively water resistant to begin with, but that’s due to the thick basket-weave and not to any water-proof coating.
Size, Dimensions, Colors
The Chrome Macheto 2.0 is noticeably less “boxy” than the previous version. They reduced the dimensions of the width and depth slightly and made it almost 3 inches taller. Now it’s shaped much more like a rectangle, than a cube.
Unexpanded it measures 20.8” x 13.8” x 9.5” (53 x 35 x 24 cm), with an expansion zipper that adds an extra 2.5 inches to the depth. Chrome lists the capacity of the Macheto 2.0 at 52 liters on their website. Which seems a little large to me. You might be able to fit 52 liters in this pack fully expanded. But unexpanded, it’s much smaller, probably closer to 40 liters.
External Components
The Chrome Macheto 2.0 has stowable backpack straps, laptop compartment, beefy compression straps, two slash pockets, and an expansion zipper. And it’s worth mentioning, there is no external water bottle pocket.
Compression Straps
The compression straps are a thick 1.5” seatbelt webbing connected with huge buckles. They don’t go completely across the top like the old version, but they still offer a ton of compression.
One thing I like about the positioning on these, is you only need to remove two of them to access your pack. The back two aren’t blocking any zippers or pockets, so you can just leave them connected.
Laptop Comartment
The laptop compartment is located on the back of the pack. between the main compartment and backpack straps with the zipper access on the top. It’s nothing fancy, just a large pocket with a waterproof zipper and good padding.
This pocket holds up to a 15” laptop and easily fits my 15” Dell Inspiron. The false-Bottom is huge, stopping your laptop at least 5 inches from the bottom of the pack. So you can smash your bag on the ground and have no worries it will harm your laptop.
Organizational Pockets
The exterior pockets are simple. There are only two slash pockets on the front and no larger organizational document sized compartment. This top slash pocket takes up the volume between these two front seams. It goes down a little over half the length of the pack. It has a thin liner, with no further interior dividers or pockets.
This other slash pocket is a side zip hidden behind a storm flap. This one doesn’t have a water-resistant zipper, but it’s still well protected from rain. It goes from about here to here down to this seam and overlaps most of the way with the top slash pocket. There are no further pockets in here, but there is a key-leash with a small metal D-Ring,
Carry Options
The Chrome Macheto 2.0 has two simple, sturdy methods of carry: stowable shoulder straps and side and top carry handles.
Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps are wide, and moderately padded with a breathable air mesh backing. They’re noticeably more curved in the 2.0 which I think adds a lot to the comfort. There are no top load adjustors here, but I don’t think this pack needs them.
Also in the update, they added a thick seatbelt webbing running the entire length of the strap. This doesn’t add much in terms of comfort. But it’s so solid that I doubt you could rip this strap off if you tried.
Stowability
Another update in the 2.0 version is the stowability of the straps. On the older version you unclipped the straps and tucked them into a top-access pocket. In the update they got rid of the bottom buckle and the straps are instead sewn directly into the pack. Now instead of a top pocket there are two Velcro flaps on each side.
You just unhook the flaps and tuck the strap behind it. I think this system is a lot easier and greatly increases the strength of the straps. Because they’re directly connected to the pack they’re not reliant on that plastic buckle to support your pack.
Back Padding Comfort
Now that the straps are stowed away we can see the back panel of the bag. There’s actually a decent layer of padding back here. About a ¼” piece of foam behind the laptop compartment. But the bag is still soft and will largely mold to fit your back. And there’s almost no air ventilation, which can make this bag hot
Structure
Other than this foam panel, the Macheto 2.0 doesn’t have much structure. There’s no firm internal frame sheet or wire frame. Instead it relies on the thickness of the 1680D material, two foam pads on the front and back and the extra seat-belt webbing that wraps around the side of the pack. And considering there is no further interior structure, the Macheto is fairly stiff, and actually holds its shape well.
Top and Side Carry Handles
These side webbing straps are part of the side carry handles and run around almost the entire perimeter of the pack. The handles are quite thin with the webbing is sewn together with no additional padding inside. However there are two of them, which makes it more comfortable. They’re good for opening and unloading the pack, but this is probably not going to be how you carry this bag around.
Carry Comfort
The carry comfort on this pack is decent when it’s unexpanded. The straps fit my shoulders well, and are wide enough with good padding. It fits my back well and doesn’t sag back so I don’t think this pack needs load lifters.
I like all the sturdy hardware, it’s easy to adjust the sternum strap and shoulder straps. And they have these elastic keepers that help prevent the straps from dangling. And I don’t need to worry about the bottom strap buckle breaking because it’s now sewn into the pack. It’s starting to get to the size where it needs a hip belt, which it definitely does if you expand the pack.
Expanded
This is what the pack looks like fully expanded. The amount of gear that you can fit in a 52-liter pack is going to make this bag too big for the comfort of the shoulder straps. And at this size, it really should have a hip belt. I wouldn’t recommend packing the bag this full. Pack it small in unexpanded mode and save the expansion capacity in case you need it.
Interior Design and Organization
The Chrome Macheto 2.0 has one of my favorite interior organizational styles. A side-opening suitcase style with two large main zippered compartments.
Packing Style
I really like this packing style because it helps you to stay organized and your gear won’t slosh around in the pack. Because there’s no large exterior pocket, you’ll have to store most of your gear in one of these compartments.
Both sides are about the same size in unexpanded mode. And two of these 14” x 10” x 4” packing cubes will fit almost perfectly in here. If you can, pack your lighter gear in the mesh zippered side. Because that will be further away from your back. And pack heavier gear, like your toiletries, and tech pouch on this other side.
Summary
The Chrome Macheto 2.0 is a solid travel pack, made from some of the sturdiest materials you can get. I’m pretty sure you could drag this thing behind a horse, and it wouldn’t fall apart. The laptop compartment is solid and well padded. I like the sleek exterior look of this pack and it has my favorite clamshell suitcase style interior organization. With two large, mesh covered compartments.
Cons
My major critiques on this pack, is the expanded dimensions. The backpack straps aren’t designed to hold 52 liters of gear. And at that size, it will be way too big to fit as a carry-on.
The backpack straps are thick enough and comfortable when it’s unexpanded. I don’t’ think it needs load lifters, and I don’t mind that the pack doesn’t have a firm frame-sheet. However I do think a softer foam mesh with some air-ventilation on the back would make it more comfortable. Chrome should also consider adding a hip belt option to the Macheto 3.0.
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