Climate-proof compromise

Three years ago, I got a very strange backpack for Christmas. A totally waterproof daypack! Although it had its flaws, the Ortlieb Flight turned out to be a quite decent EDC backpack. Until it literally started falling apart. The outside zippered pocket turned out to be glued to the pack. Suddenly, it wasn’t. At least not very firmly. One entire side had become unglued, meaning the pocket was totally open. Luckily, I didn’t lose any valuables, but, of course, the unglueing of the pocket rocked my faith in the entire pack.

The organization that had sold the bag saw this as a clear warranty issue, and offered me a free choice of another Ortlieb bag or backpack. After the unfortunate incident with the pocket, I wasn’t ready for another Flight, but I was still keen on the concept of a totally waterproof daypack.

Surprise!
After looking at other Ortlieb packs online, I chose the Packman Pro2. As many of you probably know, photos and product descriptions can be quite deceptive. They are not necessarily meant to be that way, of course, but there just is no way text and photos on the Interwebs can deliver the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about anything. Not even something as simple as a backpack.

ortliebstein by Magnus Holm, on Flickr

Wait a minute, did I just write «backpack»? Yep, I did. Because that is what I believed the Pacman Pro 2 would be. And that is why I was rather surprised and just a bit disappointed when I actually received the bag.

Hybrid theory
Yes, the Pacman Pro 2 is meant to be carried on your back. And, yes, it does have two shoulder straps. It even has a sternum strap and a half decent waist belt. But the shoulder straps are very thin, the padding on the back is rather sparingly applied and the entire pack lacks structural integrity. So is it really a backpack? Or is it rather a drybag? Both? Neither?

Design
The Ortlieb people seem to have taken their design clues for the Pacman Pro 2 from the classic bicycle messenger pack. Not the fashionable messenger bag carried by everyone from students and hipsters to (would-be) military operators, but the two strapped, back-carried style used by actual bicycle messengers.

The Packman Pro 2 is quite waterproof (rated as IP64, but I believe it is actually a bit better than that)

Most modern backpacks follow either a clamshell design or a classic flapped or lidded backpack pattern. The Packman, on the other hand, is essentially one big, squareish bucket with a roll-top closure. The roll-top is perhaps best known from drybags, and with good reason. A roll-top may not give you the easiest axess to your gear. On the other hand, it is lightweight, solid, fool proof and perhaps the simplest, cheapest way of making a totally waterproof bag.

Like most drybags and many messenger packs, the Pacman is made from a thin, but rugged feeling and totally waterproof fabric. The thin fabric means the bag itself has absolutely no structural integrity and is rather shapeless. Therefore, the bag is attached to a thin, somewhat flexible plastic board or sheet, which makes the backpack (barely) able to stand up. The straps and waist belt are in turn attached to this board.

The board, which is meant to lie against your back, is covered in mesh and somewhat padded. For some strange reason, rather than padding the entire back, Ortlieb has chosen to apply the padding in seven small but thick bumps, making it look a bit like a motorcycle or skiing back protector.

The padding on the back of the Packman Pro 2 comes in 7 lumps – too few and far between for comfort.

Like most real messenger packs, the Packman has one huge main compartment. In addition, it also features a flat, but large, zippered internal pocket, a pocket for a hydration bladder and two small, zippered outside pockets. None of the outside pockets are waterproof, however.

The Packman Pro 2 features two compression straps. Ortlieb being a quite bicycle fixated company, the pack also has anchor points for a sort of net for carrying a bicycle helmet (included). The pack does not have any outside pockets big enough to hold a water bottle, and has no other attachment points for gear or extra pouches.

The bag has two swooshes of reflective material for visibility in traffic, again something that can be rather important if you use it for bicycling.

The Packman features two compression straps, one on each side. In this photo, you can also see how the roll-top closure buckles at the sides of the pack.

Comfort and performance
When I first received the Packman Pro 2, I didn’t really know what to think of it. Now, I have owned it for almost two years, and used it as a daypack, for grocery shopping and as a gym bag and weekend bag, and I have finally formed an opinion on this strange hybrid.

As mentioned earlier in this review, the Packman looks like a cross between a standard drybag and a real daypack. That is also how it feels and performs.

The large main compartment means the pack will swallow surprisingly large and bulky objects for a 20l pack. This can come in handy both when you use it as a daypack, for grocery shooping or for commuting. I have stuffed anything from cooksets and rubber boots via boxing gloves and gym shoes to large cartons of milks and boxes of cereal in it without any problems.

On the negative side, the lack of anything remotely like a frame or proper padding makes the bag somewhat floppy. The waist belt and back padding makes it OK to carry as long as you do not overload it – at least as long as you carry only soft and/or lightweigh stuff.

However, once you put something hard and heavy in there, things get rather uncomfortable. The thin, flat shoulder straps will dig into your shoulders. The thin back board and haphazardly applied padding means that hard, angular objects in the pack will dig into your back. This is rather unfortunate, since being able to carry heavy objects comfortably is arguably the main reason for getting a backpack in the first place.

Quality and durability
All in all, the Pacman Pro 2 seems to be rugged and solidly built. After two years of rather hard use, it is still going strong. This is probably due to the rather simple construction and rugged material.

Sadly, after being used only twice, one of the anchor points for the helmet net tore off. While this is not a major issue for me, it does make me a bit wary of the overall quality control procedures at Orlieb, as well as the glue they are using.

Conclusion
The Ortlieb Pacman Pro 2 is neither a proper backpack nor an ordinary drybag. It is a compromise. Of course, we all compromise sometimes, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Sadly, in the case of the Pacman, it mostly is.

The Pacman Pro 2 is not the ideal drybag to stuff with clothes and stow away belowdeck on a sailboat. Neither is it the right choice if you are looking for a comfortable daypack for EDC, hiking and other outdoor activities. It works great as a gym bag or as an overnight or weekend bag, but there are better and much cheaper alternatives for that.

If you actually need a totally waterproof backpac, the Packman Pro 2 may still be your best option.

However, I hope it is not.

A long story short

Pros:

• Waterproof (rated as IP64, but I actually think it may be closer to IP66 in real life)
• Lightweight
• Very roomy for its size (large main compartment)
• Waist belt and sternum straps
• Pocket for a hydration bladder and water protected opening for drinking hose.
• Reflective material for visibility
• Rugged material and simple, solid construction

Cons:

• Thin, flat, uncomfortable shoulder straps
• Inadequate padding on the back
• Floppy design – no structural integrity
• Few and small outside pockets and few attatchment points
• Weak attatchment points for helmet net

In one sentence: Unless you absolutely, positively need a waterproof backpack, the Pacman Pro 2 is a rather poor compromise.