ProView: Thule AllTrail 25L Review

Summary

The Thule Alltrail 25L Daypack is comfortable and a great choice for hiking, travel and everyday use, with a sustainability footprint that exceeds industry standards.

The Thule Alltrail Daypack arrived just on time for my explorations in Colombia. My home base, a lovely town called Jardín in the coffee triangle, is famed for its colorful houses, friendly climate and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, a truly intriguing bird of the cloud forest. Some species like the Canada warbler, the olive-sided flycatcher, and the summer tanager are seasonal visitors, who commute between the Boreal and the Neotropics, twice a year. Migratory birds are arguably the world’s greatest ‘athletes’!

My basic birdwatching kit includes a pair of binoculars, a reference guide, a camera, and a cell phone. Thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird and Merlin apps, bird identification in this biodiversity hotspot is no longer hopeless but instead can advance citizen science. Other standard equipment on my fieldtrips includes rain gear, sun protection, a warm jacket, food and hydration, while my laptop is added when I work in town.

Performance

For the past few years, I have become accustomed to using a small 50L duffel bag for all of my daily activities from cycling to work, walking to the weekend market, training in the gym, and even hikes. The Thule Alltrail 25L Daypack is bound to take on some of these tasks. What immediately excited me was the pleasant fit (even more so compared to a duffel bag), both with or without the chest and waist straps closed. At 192cm and with an athletic physique, the bag sits comfortably on my back and shoulders.

The bag features various pockets, including a laptop sleeve that neatly stores my 14″ laptop or a large hydration bladder. The side pockets perfectly fit two water bottles, while the stretchy front pocket is great for binoculars, snacks for the day or a light jacket. Three zipable compartments include a small pocket in the bag’s ‘hood’ (could fit a t-shirt), a slightly larger pocket in the front (could fit a rain jacket) and the main pocket with the laptop pouch, a slightly smaller sleeve (could hold a book) and a mesh sleeve for smaller utensils. I really like that the main pocket can be zipped from two sides. I also enjoy the types and sizes of the pockets, which have proven ideal for my day-to-day purposes. The rain cover sits in a pouch within the main pocket and comfortably extends over the fully-loaded bag. Tuckable waist straps and trekking pole attachments underscore the great attention to detail. Overall, the bag performs really well on outdoor, travel, and urban pursuits.

What sets the product apart

The Thule Alltrail 25L Daypack stands out for its excellent quality, design, and versatility.

Who is the product for

As a scientist studying the human impact on the natural world, and with a relatively nomadic lifestyle, I own a small selection of high-quality gear that excels under many circumstances. The Thule Alltrail 25L Daypack makes a great addition for its versatility. The bag is ideal for day trips into the outdoors, as hand luggage for multi-day travel, or even for work and travel in the city.

Friendliness to the Earth

Thule is a member of the bluesign® system, an international standard for sustainable textile production, and is committed to the UN Global Compact principles, a non-binding roadmap for sustainable and socially responsible policies. Adherence to ILO and OECD standards round off a strong commitment to environmental and social standards. The company acknowledges that consumption means impact, and therefore, designs its products with a focus on longevity and sustainability, followed by rigorous testing. According to Sustainalytics, Thule is a pioneer in sustainability leader in the sports and outdoor world.

The Final Word

The Thule Alltrail 25L Daypack is comfortable and a great choice for hiking, travel and everyday use, with a sustainability footprint that exceeds industry standards.