Video Review: Vaude PETros 25L ($110)

Introduction

I still love my ECBC Lance crossover daypack, but as a daypack freak, I always want to see what else is out there.  My mindset when looking around is to see if there is a pack that can knock the ECBC off the top of the mountain.  I can typically dismiss a pack just by looking at the photos and specs online. 
However, there are some packs that require a more complete investigation when they seem to tick a lot of the essentials on my list.  This was indeed the case with the Vaude PETros crossover daypack.

However, there are some packs that require a more complete investigation when they seem to tick a lot of the essentials on my list.  This was indeed the case with the Vaude PETros crossover daypack.

Vaude is German company that is known for their technical backpacks.  They make superb multi-day trekking packs, lightweight climbing packs, and an assortment of alpinist/snowboard packs.  Therefore, I figured that they should be able to use their expertise to put together a good crossover daypack.  However, this is often not the case with companies that are primarily technical pack makers.  The demands of commuting are different than the demands of climbing K2.  In fact, I could argue that commuting demands BETTER pack design (a future article)!

The PETros is made out of recycled material so you can feel good about buying it.  But for me, having a clear conscience ranks below functionality when it comes to a good crossover.  Take a look at the following video to get a thorough tour of the pack’s feature set.

So, as usual, let’s approach this from the The Good, The Bad, and The Indifferent for the Vaude PETros.

The Good

- 25L is an excellent size. Typically, I prefer a 28L bag. It holds what I carry and does not feel either too tight (making it difficult to find your stuff) or too loose (making all your stuff shift around and get out of balance).  This bag claims to be 3 liters less that my sweet spot, but frankly, I think there is a +/- 3 liter fudge factor when it comes to companies determining the volume of their packs.

- Sunglasses pocket. As a prescription sunglasses wearer, this is a critical feature for me.  Even if you do not use sunglasses, however, this is a great place for your mobile phone.

- No compression straps. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know my take on compression straps.  Particularly compression straps that lay across the zippers of the main compartment and impede your ability to open up the pack.

- Yahoo for waist straps!  While it is a pretty thin and limited waist strap on the PETros, it is a waist strap nonetheless.  It is important to have this extra level of stability if you are someone who rides a bike or has to run across campus because you are (once again) late for class.

- Large water bottle pockets. I am someone who usually carries a coffee mug in one of these pockets throughout the day.  However, even if you are not a beverage drinker, these pockets are great for car keys, earbuds, gloves, etc.

- Organizer panel in an outside pocket. Having easy access to my pens and styli is critical for me as a teacher.  Having easy access to my wallet is critical for me on the weekends.  Not having to go into the main compartment to get this stuff simplifies the process by a factor of 10 (yes, I measured this…). 

- Good compartment options. At a minimum, a good crossover daypack offers an organizer compartment, a main compartment for big stuff, and a separate compartment for your laptop or tablet.  The PETros includes an extra mid-size pocket (can fit a pair of shoes) and the aforementioned sunglasses compartment.

- External access (separate) laptop compartment.  This is vital.  If you need to go into the main compartment and fight through your fleece, lunch, and camera to pry out your laptop it can be a real pain.  Having a dedicated laptop compartment great simplifies access to and repacking of the most oft used item in my pack.

- Excellent suspension system. This pack carries its load beautifully.  That is because it has a frame sheet, spine channel, and perforated padding where the pack comes in contact with your body. As mentioned above, there is also a removable waist strap and sternum strap if you need the additional stability. Clearly, as much thought went into the suspension system as went into the other parts of this pack.  That is rare indeed.

- Smooth zippers.  The zippers run smoothly throughout the bag.  Don’t think that this is the case with all bags.  I have reviewed too many bags and packs with stiff, balky zippers.

- Integrated rainfly.  I never use a rainfly, but if one is provided, having a dedicated pocket for it and having it integrated (attached so it does not get lost) in the pack is a benefit.

- Sits upright when filled.  Again, one would be shocked at how often this is not the case.  The PETros sits on its bottom with great stability when filled.  This makes it easier to access your gear and load your gear.

The Bad

- Terrible pen slots. While I appreciate that Vaude included pen “slots” (essential in any organizer panel), the slots are awful. I think that Vaude was over-thinking their design.  They are not slots as much as they are three elastic loops sew into the panel. The greatest disaster is that they are set horizontally making it difficult to insert a pen into a loop. You need to slow down and be sure that you have fully threaded the pen through the loop so that it is held at the midpoint of your pen (the reason for this is explained further down).  With a wide vertical pen slot, gravity will just grab your pen, pull it in, and hold it there.  It can be loose and still stay in place.  Now you might say: “Perhaps Vaude installed these loops because then your pen cannot fall out if your bag flips upside down.”  You would be right, except for the fact that the loops are too big! Unless you pack child’s magic markers, your pens will slide right out of the loop!  I use a stylus that is about half the size of a full length pencil, so it slid out all the time.  Lastly, if you have a pen with a clip, you have to look to see how you have inserted the pen before you remove it.  With a vertical slot, you can grab your pen blindly. (Perhaps Vaude did not intend these elastic loops to be used for holding writing instruments.  Maybe they are for USB cords.  If this IS the case, then Vaude gets dinged for not including pen slots in their organizer panel!)

- Limited computer compartment. Not all bags have separate, externally accessible, laptop compartments, so I do give Vaude credit for having this feature in the PETros.  However, I do consider it odd that there is no pocket inside the compartment that actually holds your laptop.  This would allow you to use this compartment for your laptop, but also let you to keep file folders or even an iPad in this compartment, too.  Having a pocket also allows the manufacturer to install a hook and loop tab that prevents your laptop from falling out of this compartment when you forget to zip it up.  (Maybe a laptop sliding out of an unzipped bag only happens to me, but I doubt it.)

- Bulbous look.  This is completely subjective, so maybe it is silly to write this here, but the bag doesn’t look stream-lined and professional.  It also doesn't look rugged and sporty.  To me, it looks a bit swollen and dumpy.  It is hard to look past aesthetics when your bag is attached to you more often than your favorite hat.

The Indifferent

- Quilted front pocket. I understand that this does protect the stuff in this front compartment, but I am not sure if the diagonal styling was necessary. Seems like Vaude was going for a certain look here.

- The middle zippered pocket.  I think that I would have eliminated this compartment and gone for a more streamlined look.  I also think that it would have been better to put this INSIDE the main compartment instead.  However, it does give you a great place for a change of shoes, so…

Conclusion

There is a lot of good in the PETros.  There are also some odd design decisions (explained in “The Bad” above) that prevented this from being a complete, slam-dunk, winner.  I also think that Vaude missed some opportunities with this pack.  There was enough room in the top padded sunglasses pocket to divide it in two and have a spot for your sunglasses AND your phone.  Additionally, the computer compartment could have had zippers that allowed the compartment to be fully opened giving you the ability to access the computer from the side and making the pack TSA friendly (where you can essentially keep your laptop in the bag when going through TSA). 

Less as a Vaude oversight and more as a wish list: I would have liked one of the two water bottle pockets to be a zippered pocket instead. I never carry two water bottles.  If you need to carry that much water in your daypack, then you are a better person than me.  Lastly, on my wish list, I would like it if the waist belt could be tucked away in a slot rather than being removable.  Sometimes I need a waist belt, sometimes I don’t. I hate it when the excess webbing hangs down even when the waist belt buckle is clipped together behind my back. It is worse if I have detached the waist belt and then I need to fish around in my bag and reattach it for a two-minute ride across campus on my bicycle.

In conclusion, the PETros is a great pack with some excellent features and design.  Its bad stuff, however, prevent it from knocking my ECBC from its perch as my favorite crossover daypack.