Pakt Stash Packable Backpack 16L Review

Pakt’s Stash lineup of packable bags is noteworthy simply because they don’t actually look or feel packable. Whether that’s down to the sturdy and substantial materials chosen or the bright colorways sneakily disguising most of their creases and wrinkles, it all translates to one thing: packable bags that don’t leave us feeling compromised. In this review, we’ll be taking a look at the Pakt Stash Packable Backpack 16L, and there’s bound to be a few design hiccups along the way, right?

Is it the harness system? Truth be told, it’s pretty comfy on the shoulders. Lackluster organization, then? Nope. Minimal, but nothing out of the ordinary for a packable backpack. Then, it must not have a laptop sleeve. Again, a common flaw of packable backpacks, but this one, surprisingly, has it.

So, what’s the catch? If you want to find out, let’s dive in and look at what con—or cons—lurks behind this not-so-packable-looking backpack.

External Components

The key to making a backpack packable is the fabric, and Pakt’s ingredient of choice is a recycled nylon with a visibly light denier. We say that because of the fabric’s fine weave and its slick texture when we touch it. It makes for a very pliable material that shouldn’t be too hard to compress. Even better, the slick texture also helps to keep splashes from seeping in too easily. There’s also a PFAS-free DWR (durable water repellent) coating, which is helpful for those who often find themselves in sudden downpours.

Also worth noting are the YKK zippers. They’re not the beefiest set of YKK zippers we’ve seen, but the brand’s presence boosted our first impressions of the bag. If you’re unfamiliar with them, YKK is one of the go-to choices for top travel gear brands because of their reliable hardware. Sure enough, a little over two weeks of constant usage hasn’t uncovered any issues with them. Trivial? Not so much, as lightweight backpacks like this one are harder to zip, since their usually thin fabrics offer little to no resistance as you’re working the zippers.

At the front are five attachment points. Four flank the bag—two on each side—and the remaining loop is at the bottom. Those on the sides are ideal for attaching accessory straps in case you need to sling bulky items externally, such as a packable jacket or a folding umbrella. Meanwhile, the bottom loop is handy for those who use a blinky light while cycling to and from places. It may not be as necessary if you’ve picked the bright Sumac colorway as we did, but it’ll help those who pick the Black or Cypress colorways stand out a bit more once it’s dusk and beyond.

There’s a handle at the top made of a thin strip of nylon. It’s one of the first clear signs of the minimalist focus in this bag’s design. Truthfully, you probably won’t yearn for anything beefier than this since it’s only a 16-liter capacity bag, especially if you’re conscious that this is a packable bag, thus grounding expectations.

All of that said, we are generally pleased with how “un-packable-bag-like” the Stash Packable Backpack 16L turns out to be. More so than its individual bits and pieces, this bag has a very well-kept form that doesn’t feel as saggy as other packable bags. Maybe it’s the slim profile, or the way the pockets and compartments are shaped, but no section feels too stretched or too out of proportion, whether packed or empty.

The harness system is another area where the Pakt Stash Packable Backpack 16L doesn’t seem like a packable bag. Firstly, the back panel has a layer of padding. Granted, it’s not that thick, only about a quarter of an inch by our estimate, but you don’t really need that much for a 16-liter backpack. Plus, once you have a laptop inside, you’ll have more than enough structure to make carrying comfortable.

The shoulder straps are similarly padded but not excessively so for the bag’s size. They’re even curved to help them contour more easily against the body’s natural shape. Each strap has an accessory loop, followed by rows of more loops, but the latter ones are for adjusting the sternum strap. Admittedly, we’re not huge fans of sternum straps that adjust via individual loops. We much prefer sternum straps mounted on rails because those can be adjusted more granularly, allowing you to dial the fit closely to your needs. That said, this loop-based mounting gets the job done, and it’s a set-it-and-forget-it deal once you’ve found your ideal adjustment.

Fit Notes

We were initially bothered by the Pakt Stash Packable Backpack 16L’s tall proportions, since it makes the bottom edge graze the tailbone area. It’s not a huge deal, but it did make us try and pull the straps’ adjustment a bit tighter to raise the bag higher. Unfortunately, pulling the straps tighter puts too much weight on the shoulders, so we’re more than okay letting the bag hang a little low.

All things considered, the bag’s slim profile and relatively light weight once it’s packed full make it so easy to tame that a slack carrying style is perfectly acceptable. The carrying comfort is still top-notch and not just by packable backpack standards; it’s a comfortable backpack to carry, full stop.

Inside The Backpack

The backpack has two secondary compartments at the front, one at the top, and one at the bottom. Having two is plenty for a packable backpack, and we’re quite pleased to see this level of organization. If you check out the top pocket, it’s not just a barebones dump area. There’s also a zippered mesh pocket for keeping smaller accessories in one place. There’s even a leash for your keys, a feature we only ever expect on bigger daypacks. Yes, having to go through two zippers just to reach your keys is not ideal, but given how easy it is to wield this 16-liter backpack, we’re more than willing to let that flaw pass.

The bottom pocket is where the entire bag packs into; thus, it’s much roomier than the top pocket. It’s deep, roomy, and ideal for bulky accessories such as a power bank and a stacked wallet. That said, we didn’t use this pocket much because the large gear we wanted to put inside, such as a packable jacket or a water bottle, was too big. Another factor against using this pocket is that fully packing the main compartment takes some space away from this front area. Again, it’s another aspect where the packable nature of this bag shows, though nowhere near being a deal-breaker.

Access to the main compartment is through your typical horseshoe-shaped opening, with the zippers going all the way down the sides. The opening is quite tall, befitting the interior space that’s quite vertical. That said, it is a bit awkward to pack a space so deep like this when the bag is standing up. Most of the time, we’d put the bag on its back to make packing easier. It’s not a huge deal, but it does take some poking around to make sure everything is packed away neatly inside if you do it this way.

As for capacity, we fit two packing cubes of tops and bottoms, plus a toiletry bag and a rolled-up extra layer inside—what we’d consider enough clothing for 2-3 day trips. So, if you’re bringing this bag as an extra for scooping a few of your clothing from your luggage to a campsite, for example, it’ll get the job done. You can also use this to bring your laptop around. Granted, the relatively thin materials aren’t what we’d consider top-tier protection for your 16-inch MacBook Pro (which does fit), but it’s better than nothing if a packable bag is your only option.

There are also a few attachment loops inside if you want to accessorize using Pakt’s Clip-in Pouches. There’s the Flat pouch for toiletries and stationery, the 3D pouch for tech accessories, and the Waterproof pouch for damp clothing. None of these come with the bag, so they’re not factoring into this review, but they’re noteworthy simply because we don’t usually see packable bags with customizability in mind.

Compression is done by stuffing the entire bag into the front pocket from the backside, turning the pocket inside out. The process is fairly easy. In fact, it’s a bit easier compared to the Pakt Stash Packable Tote 20L. On the other hand, that may be explained by the fact that it doesn’t pack that small compared to other packable backpacks. You end up with a package about the size of a small travel pillow, though it’s thankfully flat, so it should still be fairly easy to squeeze into the rest of your luggage.