WANDRD NIMBUS 18L Review

The WANDRD NIMBUS 18L is a versatile everyday daypack that’s comfortable while protecting your gear thanks to weather-resistant materials that shield your gear. This pack is particularly appealing for travel due to its thoughtful organization system and travel-friendly features like a sternum strap and luggage pass-through. Whether you’re heading to the office, gym, or lecture hall, the NIMBUS delivers functionality in an aesthetically pleasing package that remains comfortable throughout the day. The WANDRD NIMBUS 18L bears a striking resemblance to their STRATUS Photo 18L, which features an intuitive and dual-side access design. However, the NIMBUS was designed for everyday carry and travel with a similar aesthetic as the camera bag.

WANDRD specializes in making gear designed to accommodate and protect sensitive gear like cameras and lenses. They also excel at providing ample protection for everyday carry and travel. The brand incorporates unique design solutions and high-quality materials and has built a strong reputation for both photography and everyday carry. They are particularly known for their attention to detail and commitment to creating versatile, long-lasting products that serve multiple purposes.

External Components

The WANDRD NIMBUS 18L’s exterior is primarily made of tarpaulin, which provides exceptional protection for your gear. This material is weather-resistant and effectively keeps contents dry in wet weather. The bottom of the pack is made of durable nylon, and the overall construction feels sturdy, robust, and protective. Despite the tarpaulin construction, the materials are not super loud, which we’re happy to see, as that’s not always the case.

While the tarpaulin material offers excellent protection, it does have one downside. It can be easily susceptible to scuffs and scratches, particularly in high-traffic areas like the water bottle pockets. These scuffs and scratches may be more noticeable on the tarp than on other materials like nylon. Even fingernails can leave noticeable marks, and nowhere is this more evident than on the sides above the water bottle pockets, where the extra taut opening requires extra effort to insert or remove larger bottles. While not a significant concern, users may find themselves regularly checking for potential scuff marks like we did.

The zippers are YKK with smooth threads that glide fairly effortlessly around most corners, though the laptop sleeve zippers are noticeably less smooth despite being the same style as the rest of the zippers. The zipper pulls match the color scheme of the pack. On the main compartment, the ergonomic zipper pull is made from a dense plastic, while the remaining zipper pulls are made of a similar material but in the shape of a simple tab.

The WANDRD NIMBUS 18L has compression straps on both sides that help cinch down and compress the bulk of the bag for a slimmer profile. These straps also provide convenient attachment points for clipping on additional gear like climbing shoes, tripods, or umbrellas. The pack includes multiple attachment points on the front and bottom for even more external carry opportunities. These attachment points are compatible with WANDRD’s accessory straps and are perfect for securing larger items, such as yoga mats or jackets, to the bag’s exterior.

Branding is pretty minimal, with just a shiny laminate of the brand logo in the lower corner, giving the pack a clean, minimalistic aesthetic. The bag includes three convenient grab handles, one on top and two on the sides, which provide a nice amount of flexibility when maneuvering. These handles are made with an exceptionally smooth nylon material and feature minimal padding for comfort. While the top handle has more room for a full grip, the side handles sit closer up against the bag when not in use but still provide enough space to grab when needed. All the handles feel robust, secure, and comfortable.

The shoulder straps have load lifters that let you further fine-tune weight distribution and comfort for an optimal fit. WANDRD’s ultra-comfortable rolled design positions the air-mesh seam on the front of the shoulder strap, maximizing breathability while preventing uncomfortable chafing. The removable sternum strap adds stability and can be easily adjusted along what looks like a rail system but, in reality, is more of a predefined attachment point system. You can easily snap each side into place and remove it using the pull tab. This connection feels super strong. We particularly appreciated how both ends of the sternum strap can be clipped to one side when not in use, keeping it secure yet within reach. Both shoulder straps include daisy chain loops with attachment points that are excellent places for additional gear, enhancing the pack’s versatility.

The back panel has a super breathable air-mesh construction with a well-designed air channel to help manage heat and moisture. This panel is ergonomically contoured to match the natural curve of your spine, providing excellent comfort during extended wear. Combined with the densely padded shoulder straps, the pack maintains comfort regardless of how much you pack inside. A luggage pass-through is cleverly integrated into the air channel, allowing secure attachment to rolling luggage. Dedicated loops are included for WANDRD’s optional hip belt system for those interested in extra support.

Fit Notes

The WANDRD NIMBUS 18L features densely padded shoulder straps with excellent breathability for comfort and ventilation during extended wear. The contoured back panel curves naturally with your spine and offers ample airflow, making it comfortable once properly adjusted. This thoughtful design helps prevent overheating during longer carries.
The tarpaulin material gives the bag a clean, minimal aesthetic that looks nice in various settings. From lecture halls to board rooms to coffee shops, this pack has a modern and stylish aesthetic that will last. The pack comes in three colorways: a subtle all-black version, a dark Wasatch Green, and a distinctive yet subdued Uyuni Purple that resembles a lavender-like hue. The tarpaulin material contributes to the bag’s sleek appearance and provides durability and robustness across most of its exterior.

Inside The Pack

The WANDRD NIMBUS 18L has a quick-access pocket on the top with a dedicated key leash inside. This pocket is designed for smaller everyday essentials like keys and wallets. However, its minimal size can be somewhat limiting. We struggle to fit an iPhone Pro Max, and the lack of padding makes it unsuitable for sensitive items like glasses.

Dual water bottle pockets sit flush against the pack on both sides when not in use, maintaining a nice, sleek profile. While the pockets offer substantial stretch, you will probably need two hands to insert larger water bottles. A 32 oz Nalgene Wide Mouth Water Bottle can fit with some strong will and dedication, as well as a 32 oz Owala FreeSip. However, the stretchy elastic material provides excellent security for smaller or thinner water bottles, ensuring they stay firmly in place in transit. These pockets also can be used as quick access pockets for everyday gear like gum, lip balm, a battery bank, or a phone.

Between the top grab handle and the shoulder straps is a dedicated laptop compartment with dual zippers, which can accommodate up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro. While the zippers are YKK, similar to the rest around the pack, for some reason, they do not glide as smoothly in this particular section. The laptop sleeve lacks a plush or felt lining but makes up for this with an elevated design that keeps it off the bottom to guard against accidental drops. Its position behind the back channel also provides additional padding and structural support for better protection.

A hidden passport pocket is accessible via a zippered opening on the back, cleverly concealed behind the back panel’s lumbar padding. This secure pocket is perfect for sensitive or valuable items like passports, slim wallets, tickets, or cash that need extra protection. While the space is somewhat limited, its slim profile works well for flat items you want to keep close to your body and away from pickpockets.

The WANDRD NIMBUS 18L’s large main compartment features dual zippers that extend down just inside the water bottle pockets on either side, providing an additional layer of security. Both zippers can be concealed within the water bottle pocket when stored on one side. Storing a water bottle in the same pocket further obscures access, making it more difficult for potential thieves to get access in crowded environments.

Inside the main compartment’s opening, a zipper-secured fold-down mesh pocket on the lid provides easy visibility and access to smaller gear with a unique design. By folding the top lid down, this pocket offers secure storage for smaller items. In practice, it becomes obvious you will need to fully fold down the panel to prevent items from falling out when trying to access the pocket, even if it is just for something small. While the mesh construction offers excellent visibility, the items stored here may shift around more than in other areas of the pack, so we recommend avoiding storing delicate items in this pocket.

Behind the fold-down mesh pocket, WANDRD cleverly integrates a hidden AirTag pocket. While accessing this pocket requires effort, this is a thoughtful design choice. Once you have inserted an AirTag or similarly sized tracking device, its discreet location makes it virtually undetectable to anyone who doesn’t know exactly where to look. This strategic placement could prove particularly helpful if your pack is ever misplaced or stolen.

At the top of the main compartment, there’s another mesh pocket with a zipper closure up along the back wall. Like the fold-down pocket, the mesh construction offers excellent visibility of your gear. Together, these thoughtfully designed mesh pockets provide an efficient organization for smaller items, preventing them from getting lost in the cavern of the main compartment.

The main compartment also features stretchy slip pockets on both interior sides near the top for additional organization of smaller items. While these pockets offer excellent flexibility, they lack the visibility of their mesh counterparts. The remaining space in the main compartment provides ample room for larger items like packing cubes, Dopp kits, and tech pouches. With its versatile 18L capacity, this pack performs admirably across various use cases, whether as a gym bag, travel pack, or everyday carry backpack.

The WANDRD NIMBUS 18L backpack balances functionality, comfort, and style in an impressive 18-liter capacity. This well-designed everyday backpack delivers on WANDRD’s reputation for quality and attention to detail. The combination of weather-resistant materials, comfortable carrying experience, and clean aesthetic makes it an appealing option for anyone looking for a reliable daily companion. Its thoughtful organization, durable materials, and versatile design make it an excellent choice for daily carry, short trips, or professional environments.