Pakt Cero Backpack Review
Taking advantage of the success of their flagship One, Pakt set out to trim weight and remain effective. Have they done it?
Pakt Cero Review Introduction
PAKT! Why is that such a big exclamation? Because they’ve been around for years now, and this is going to be my first time reviewing one of their bags. Which, considering their ethos as it relates to one bag travel, is kind of a crime. They are known for their original Pakt One duffel bag - getting exposure in a movie about minimalism. Quietly famous, of course. It’s well known, and loved, and also a great design concept for a duffel that actually opens clamshell. There haven't been so many of those around.
But that’s a review for another day. They’ve since expanded into the Pakt One backpack, something they originally collab’d on with Chase Reeves (we’ll be reviewing this later this year). They’ve taken that design language, it’s concepts and organizational chops and came out with the bag we’re discussing today - the Pakt Cero travel backpack. This is a bag meant to bring all these good things of the One, but REALLY trim the weight. Can they do it?
This is my review of the Pakt Cero travel backpack. I’ve been able to really put this one through its paces. This includes two domestic trips (one cross country for work, so I needed a little more space for work clothes) as well as a doozy - a trip from NYC to Asia that includes stops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Mainland China, again in Singapore, and finally a quick stopover in Frankfurt on the way home. I packed and repacked and carried this sucker around airports and hotels a-plenty.
For full transparency, I really wanted to review this bag and I did reach out to Pakt to see if they’d provide me a review unit. They were nice enough to send one to me, but this is not a paid review and I received no money to write it. They do not see the review before it’s live. Most importantly - this review is 100% human written as are all of my reviews.
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Pakt Cero Overview
Rearview.
The Pakt Cero travel backpack is a 35L backpack meant for the one bag traveler. It’s big enough to act as your sole carry-on and meets those restrictions for most global airlines in terms of size.
There’s one goal here - bring the core features Pakt loved on the One, but cut the weight. And just speaking facts - they did. This bag comes in at only 2.3LBS when empty.
They accomplish this while making decisions on the materials and foams used. The biggest thing here is the Aeroweave material. This is pretty complex stuff and while it resembles X-PAC, it feels lighter to my hands. 750D Polyester is sandwiched between a 210D ripstop nylon and 65D polyester taffeta backing. (From their website). It’s finished with a PFAS-free DWR to help with additional water resistance. So it shares a lot of properties with sailcloth.
From the website:
50 x 30 x 24cm or 20 x 12 x 10 in
2.3lbs or 1.04kg
It opens clamshell style and has a lot of features we’ll talk about in the next section.
It retails for $299 USD and comes in three color choices: black, olive green, and coyote (our version).
Pakt Cero Backpack Features
The AW fabric macro.
There’s a lot to go over here in terms of features, even when it’s nothing new on a bag but maybe how they’ve implemented it.
This is a clamshell style opening that opens from left to right, which is a new one for me.
The zippers are worth noting - every part of this bag is accessible from the outside. Left, right, middle. The middle zipper which is the main zipper, is also a water resistant zipper to help with water leaking in.
It’s got storable backpack straps, and a storable, stabilizing waist belt (this is not a real hip belt, but it’s meant to stabilize the pack). On the back you also have a well implemented luggage pass through.
In terms of pockets, there are two different external pockets, one having RFID blocking inside. These pockets are split about 50% each on the front panel.
The laptop sleeve is a unique implementation that sparks a lot of discussion in the community. It’s built in the middle of the bag as a divider for the main compartment, rather than against your back in a separate sleeve which is how it’s normally done. This is one of those unique choices.
The straps are well done - there is a removable sternum strap, the hip strap is also removeable, and there are compression bungees that actually hide away in their own pockets when not in use. Another one of those choices that makes this their own.
One thing you WON’T find is any kind of internal liner. This is to help with weight. This also makes the material, at least the coyote, as slightly translucent. This does nothing to the functionality, I’m just pointing this out.
Lots of side grab handles.
Water bottle pocket. Inside clips for their packing cube integration. Key leash. OK, let’s take a breath after that.
The Wandering Loadout
So I’ve got a picture of both types of set up, but most of the photos will show the most recent trip to Asia since that’s where I really loaded the bag out. Because of all the sweaty climates and unseasonably warm weather in Shenyang and Tokyo, I needed to do laundry but also needed the extra pieces, too.
I through in a few shots of the bag in various airports/countries and different configs. And since we stayed in the Park Hyatt in Tokyo, the Cero made a request to try and re-enact the famous shot from Lost in Translation (Last shot). I think Bill Murray did it better.
What did I bring? As usual, I went with packing cubes and this time chose my Tortuga, Western Rise, and Aer. Here’s the deets:
Western Rise Compression Cube:
4 Button up shirts (Two linen, one dressier for a business meeting I had in Tokyo, Western Rise Outbound shirt).
Tortuga Compression Cube:
2 Patagonia Capilene Cool t-shirts
3 Pairs merino socks (Darn Tough and Boardroom no show)
1 Pair of Western Rise Evolution Shorts
1 Proof Airweave button up shirt
Aer Medium Compression Cube:
6 boxer briefs in travel friendly material (Saxx, ExOfficio, Uniqlo Airism)
5 Uniqlo Airism undershirts
The Rest:
Bellroy Toiletry Kit Standard (my old standby)
1 Pair Loafers (not shown, but placed on each side of my camera for final pack)
1 Full Frame compact Camera
Pioneer Carry Global Pouch as tech kit
Matador Refraction Packable daypack (in bottom front pocket)
Some (hopefully) amazing bougie coffee from a Japanese shop in Tokyo.
The Good
Omakase in Tokyo.
Let’s cover off on the main point of this bag - the weight. Frankly, at a bag this size, of this quality in premium materials, the weight is astonishing. Now it’s not like the ultra weight brands where they go totally bonkers, but you know what? It’s close. It’s playing on the same playground. And I think it’s kind of a triumph for them. You’re getting all the goodness of a 35L pack (which PS, is my recommended sweet spot) without making it 4 pounds (that’s not hyperbole, a lot of bags are). They 100% accomplished this and I give them a lot of credit for it.
Now let me finish this next point before you come at me - I think the price is a good thing. No, $300 USD is not cheap. But, go look at other bags in this space. Bags with less techy fabric. I’ll wait. You see what I mean? They broke that shelf/floor with the Pakt Cero and I’m here for it.
I loved the organization, even if there were no pockets on the inside. I found I did not miss those, and I LOVED the set up on the front of the bag. In fact, I used the bottom front pocket for my toiletry kit so I did not need to use the internal case. But this would also be a good spot for full-size headphones if that’s your jam. The top pocket had my tech kit, work phone, AirPods Pro, and some other bits. These both have real volume, which makes them extremely usable. I also loved, with some caveats you’ll see later, the split access of this bag that allowed you to get into any section you wanted through any of three main zippers.
I didn’t get into these much, but I do like the optionality on here. The hideaway backpack straps and hip strap. The clips inside if you wanted to use their cubes. The removable sternum strap. The hidden compression straps are a REALLY clever idea and I love how they did this.
This may always be a personal thing but I’ll note it because I did notice the comfort of the carry. For my body, this bag was extremely comfortable to carry, even really weighted out. My camera alone added a lot of weight. The back panel fit me REALLY well and I really liked the way it felt resting on my back. The straps are lightweight foam, but I found them to fit my shoulder profile well. This is one of those things I don’t often dwell on, but I actively noticed I liked it and that’s why I’m listing it.
Put me on the side of the people that are fans of the laptop sleeve. I used it for my iPad and I needed access often. I found no issue with the sleeve being placed in the middle, and I really liked the stretchy top cover that kept things from sliding out of that pocket, but made it still very easy to take them out. High marks from me on that one. Let the controversy begin!
Shallow alert - forgive me my vanity but that coyote color is ridiculously good in this fabric. For some reason, I don’t think it looks very tacticool which that color normally does. I don’t know why it doesn’t, but I don’t think it does and I think it’s fantastic.
Lastly, I like the grab handles and how they are implemented when used for overhead bins and train racks. They aren’t beefy or plushy, but they are absolutely placed well and work great for pulling your bag out. Trust me, I was doing this repeatedly.
The Bad
In every review I need to find some nits to pick and this one is no different, even after a section as long as the previous was.
For one, I think with any fabric relating to sailcloth, including Ultra, you need to Accept The Crinkle. Put that on a t-shirt. Just accept it. The fabric is a utility fabric serving a purpose and it’s going to be crinkly. Not an issue for me as I love sailcloth stuff, but listing it because it’s not for everyone and I want you to consider that. Also note there is no internal lining on this bag. It looks a bit weird based on what you’re used to, but I promise it does nothing to the functionality.
The bag can be a bit strappy and dangly. I noticed this when storing it in the overhead bins on planes. No deal breaker for me but some of you are really picky about this stuff.
Let’s chat zippers - there are a lot. The internal ones can get in the way of closing the main ones externally, so just be intentional there. Also it can be a little difficult to see which zipper is which at first glance, because they are all the same design and color. This is easily fixed in a V2, however. A positive caveat here is that they glide REALLY well when opening and closing.
The lack of a true hip belt on a 35l bag might be a deal breaker for some. Especially for those with bad backs or smaller frames that really utilize those. I’m not a huge user of hip belts, even if maybe I should be, but that can be important. The strap is there, but again it’s kind of really just there to help stabilize, not to transfer weight to your hips. Adding a removable real one would give stronger optionality to people. Though, it would add to the weight and the price. Choose your compromise.
This might sound odd - but I feel like it opens “backwards”. Like it opens as a clamshell from left to right, rather than most bags which are right to left. As someone that opens tons of bags and kind of just has muscle memory, this threw me off each time. It’s not really a problem, let’s not be ridiculous. But there’s a real adjustment period depending on how often you use a bag like this previously.
Final Thoughts On My Pakt Cero Backpack Review
Grilling in North East China
Well that wraps up the testing and review of the Pakt Cero travel backpack and man that was a doozy. Both the trip and the bag.
Straight up, I loved it. In fact I’m going to make this a short list candidate for my Bag of the Year. I think they accomplished all they set out to do on this backpack and also kept the price reasonable. Normally when companies exchange nylon or polyester for sailcloth style material - you’re getting an extra hundo added on. Not here and I applaud them for that. I also find for most things, 35L is the sweet spot so they hit that too.
I found the organizational choices to be really practical. Especially the front set up. The clever choices with the laptop sleeve cover and the hidden compression bungees were very nice touches that show how hard they thought about the usage here.
I think a few tweaks could be made on the zippers for identification, and I think they could rethink how they design the dangly strap systems on the next version. But these are iterative changes and not revolutionary needs.
Lastly while olive and black are sharp here, too, based on online images - man I really like this coyote color. You don’t always have to be a ninja. Live a little.
So there you have it, our first Pakt bag review. Take the good with the bad, and hopefully that helps give you some solid input on your research and decision. Personally, it’s a winner for me. You can purchase directly from Pakt’s website if it does interest you.
Wander more, and wander smarter everyone.
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