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Knack Pack Large
Cost: $235
Capacity: 22-37 liters
Dimensions Unexpanded: 21.5” x 14” x 4.5” (55 x 36 x 11 cm)
Dimensions Expanded: 21.5” x 14” x 9.5” (55 x 36 x 24 cm)
Style: Clamshell
Weight: 3.3 lbs (1.47 kg)
Laptop: 17”
Materials: Water resistant 1200D polyester, YKK zippers, Duraflex hardware
Origin: Manufactured in China
Knack Pack Medium
Cost: $195
Capacity: 17-31 liters
Dimensions Unexpanded: 19” x 12” x 4.5” (48 x 30 x 11 cm)
Dimensions Expanded: 19” x 12” x 9.5” (48 x 30 x 24 cm)
Style: Clamshell
Weight: 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg)
Laptop: 15”
Materials: Water resistant 1200D polyester, YKK zippers, Duraflex hardware
Origin: Manufactured in China
Knack Pack Large vs Medium
In this post I’ll show you a comparison between the Knack Pack Large and Medium versions. I will fully pack each bag and show you what fits in it. As well as show you some of the different features. If you want to see my full review of the Knack Pack Large, see my post here.
Dimension Comparison
Both the Large and Medium sizes have essentially the same features. Same pockets, compartments, straps. With the main difference being the capacity, fit, cost and weight. The large version is a full-sized travel backpack. With expanded dimensions of 21.5” x 14” x 9.5” and capacity of 37 liters, that compresses to a 22-liter daypack.
The medium version is sized more like a weekend bag. With expanded dimensions of 19” x 12” x 9.5 and a capacity of 31 liters, that compresses to a smaller 17-liter daypack. Unlike the large version, the Medium Knack Pack will fit under an airplane seat if it’s not overpacked.
Packing List for Knack Pack Large
I will start by packing the Knack Pack Large. I’ll pack it with as much gear as I can fit, then I’ll unpack it, and pack everything into the Knack Pack Medium. This is the entire packing list:
Packing Cubes
Eagle Creek Specter Tech Compression Cube Set
Gonex Medium Compression Cube
Clothes
Long-sleeve button-up shirts (2)
– Generic Cotton Shirt
– Hardvark Everyday Shirt
Patagonia mid-weight crew top (1)
Patagonia mid-weight bottoms (1)
Outlier New Ways Shorts (1)
T-Shirts (6)
– Patagonia Cool Trail (2)
– Generic poly-blend undershirts (4)
Underwear (6)
Socks (2)
– Darn Tough
– Smartwool
Puffy Jacket (1)
– Arc’teryx Atom LT
Rain Jacket (1)
– Outdoor Research Helium ii
Pants (3)
– Cotton Jeans (1)
– Synthetic Eddie Bauer Guide Pants (2)
Electronics
CARD 4-Pro Travel Adapter
Epicka Travel Adapter
Dell Inspiron 15” Laptop
Google Pixel 2 Phone
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux
USB-C Cable 6ft.
Samsung Ear Buds
3-in-1 Cord Adapter
Misc. Gear
Vapur 1L Collapsible Water Bottle
Eagle Creek Hidden Wallet
Travel Utensils
Bond Travel Wallet
Passport
Notebook
Pen and Pencil
Sunglasses
Toiletries
Sea To Summit Toiletry Kit Small
Humangear GoTubb 0.5 oz. (1)
Eagle Creek Silicone Liquid Tube (1)
Matador Flat Pak Soap Case
Toothbrush
Toothpowder
Small Plastic Unbreakable Comb
Fingernail Clippers
Razor
Small First-Aid Kit
Packing the Knack Pack Large
Let me demonstrate where I packed everything in the Knack Pack Large. In this front triangle pocket I put the thin items. Travel documents, passport, and travel wallet. There is much more room in here than what used though.
Now I put all my electronics in the bottom pocket. External battery pack, chargers, and cords. I actually packed two travel adapters, not because I needed them, but to demonstrate the capacity of this pocket. It’s larger than the electronics I usually carry with me.
In the small top slash pocket I put the items I want to assess easily. Cell phone, hand sanitizer, and a pair of sunglasses. You don’t need an extra padded case for your sunglasses because of the fuzzy fleece lined pocket.
The top front compartment is quite large with about a 22-liter capacity. You can fit quite a bit in this pocket. In here I packed my larger bulky items like my toiletry kit, rain jacket, puffy jacket, and small packing cube with socks and underwear.
The side water bottle pocket is large enough to hold my 1L collapsible water bottle. This was the largest bottle I could find that will fit in this pocket and still zip it closed. I tested a 1L standard Nalgene bottle. Which is the same volume, but slightly thicker in width. It will fit in the pocket, but you can’t zip it closed.
I packed my Dell 15” laptop in the laptop compartment, which is located between the main compartment and the backpack straps. It fits easily in this well padded pocket.
And in the main compartment I have two packing cubes secured by this mesh flap. It’s not so much a compression strap, as it is a strap to keep your gear from moving around in the pack. I was able to fit all the clothes in these two cubes, except for the jackets and socks and underwear. These two Eagle Creek Medium Specter Tech cubes are about 14”x10”x3.5”. These are sold in a set with two mediums and one small cube. You can buy them separately, but not in the compression version.
Carry Comfort Knack Pack Large
I might have been able to get a tiny bit more in the pack, especially in the top, but it’s pretty much completely fully. And for reference, this bag now weights 24 lbs (10.8 kg). This is quite a bit of weight, and I wouldn’t recommend packing out a bag this full. Especially if you’re planning on carrying it around all day.
This is what the bag looks like on me. I’m about 5’10” and 200 lbs with a torso length of 17.5”. This pack is moderately comfortable but a little heavy for the thickness of the shoulder straps. I would definitely pack this bag out with less weight, but it will start to become uncomfortable after long durations.
Packing the Knack Pack Medium
I transferred everything into the Medium version. I was able to get all the electronics and small gear, but had to remove some of the larger bulky clothes items. The capacity of the Knack Pack Medium is 31 liters expanded, compared to the 37-liter large.
Gear Removed From Knack Pack Large
Long-sleeve Button Up (1)
T-Shirt
Puffy Jacket (1)
Jean (1)
Water Bottle (1)
Most of the gear in the Knack Pack Medium I was able to pack almost in the exact same configuration. Everything in the top pockets is pretty much the same. Small documents and travel organizers in the top triangle pocket, sunglasses, phone in top slash pocket.
The bottom electronics pocket is smaller in the Medium version. But because I didn’t have the Large pack full anyway. I was able to fit the same gear in here with no problems.
And because all the pockets on the Medium version are smaller. This will affect what you can pack in each compartment. The front pocket I was able to fit my puffy jacket in here as well as the rain jacket. However there’s just not enough room in the Medium. I also packed a smaller water bottle in here. The 1L collapsible was just too big, so I slimmed it down to a smaller 26 oz bottle.
The laptop compartment is in the same place in the Medium version, but it’s smaller. They both hold a 15” laptop, but the Large version can hold up to a 17” laptop. My Dell 15” Inspiron (actually 15.6 inches) is a little snug going into the pocket, but it still fits in here just fine.
The main suitcase compartment is a little bit different. The style is the same, with the same mesh flap and mesh pocket in the lid. But because the bag is smaller, the dimensions of the main compartment are quite a bit smaller. I had to switch up the packing cubes I used.
In the large version I was able to use the 14”x10” Eagle Creek cubes. But these were much too long for the Medium size. So I exchanged those for one Medium Gonex cube, and a Large Knack Pack cube. The Knack Pack cube fits great in here, and two of them would have fit perfectly. However I only have one, so I supplemented it with a second Gonex cube.
Knack Pack Medium Carry Comfort
The Large bag was over 10 kg when I packed it out. By removing some gear from the Medium I got the weight down to about 17.4 lbs (7.9 kg). I can feel the pack is significantly lighter. I lost the bulky items, plus I have a smaller water bottle in here. Also the Medium Knack Pack is about .75 lbs lighter just the bag itself.
The fit of the Knack Pack Medium feels a little different than the Large size. The shoulder straps are the same width, but they’re a little shorter so they start a little higher on me. And the footprint of the bag feels a little more rounded on my back. This is partly because the depth on these packs is the same, but the width and height is smaller. So, the surface area touching your back is quite a bit less. However overall this bag is quite a bit more comfortable than the large version. This is probably mostly because I have about 6.5 lbs less weight in this pack.
Luggage Pass-Through Sleeve
One minor difference between these two packs worth noting is the orientation of the luggage pass-through sleeve. This sleeve is for putting the bag over the handle of a rolling luggage if you used multiple bags. On the large version the sleeve comes in from the side. While on the Medium version it comes in from the top.
This doesn’t make much of a difference. Except this is also the pocket on the Medium where you store the backpack straps. The loose shoulder strap adjustors can tend to fall out the bottom of the pass-through sleeve. But this isn’t really a big deal, because you can just tuck them back in.
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