A high-quality carry-on bag is the most essential piece of travel gear in a frequent flyer’s quiver. For the vast majority of travelers, I firmly believe that a well-made backpack is superior to a wheeled carry-on bag or a shoulder-slung duffel. 25-liter backpacks fall into the Goldilocks zone of bags because they strike a perfect compromise between size, portability, and practicality. Today we review a modern backpack with vintage rucksack vibes: the made-in-USA Topo Designs Klettersack.
| Hits | Misses |
| + Unique heritage-inspired design | – Backpack harness is rather basic |
| + Durable materials | – Water bottle pockets are small |
| + Made in USA |
About Topo Designs
Topo Designs is a Colorado-based company that prides itself in producing colorfully designed & USA-made products for the socially-aware traveler. Topo Designs’ MAP Guarantee includes a lifetime warranty on their products and a way to repair (instead of replace) products that have lived past their prime.
Topo’s iconic designs are rooted in outdoor living. The mountaineering aesthetic shines through in all of their backpack designs, and fans of the company should no doubt recognize the Klettersack as one of Topo Designs’ most popular profiles. The brand conjures up images of young hip adventurers scrambling over boulders with pine trees soaring in the background.an
In addition to making unique backpacks, Topo Designs has branched out into apparel & merchandise. All of their gear is true to form with vintage outdoor vibes, and everything I have bought from Topo Designs has looked unique and feels well-made.
Topo Designs Klettersack Specifications
- Dimensions: 11” x 20” x 5” (width x height x depth)
- Capacity: 25 Liters (1526 cubic inches)
- Laptop Sleeve: Yes (fits most 15″ laptops)
- Material: 1000D nylon with 420D nylon pack cloth
- Zippers: oversized YYK (water resistant)
- Hardware: Plastic
- Made in the USA
- Price: $169 MSRP (check the current price on Topo Designs website or use StandbyWithMe’s referral link to get $15 off your first purchase)
How does the Topo Designs Klettersack look?
The pictures speak for themselves: the Klettersack is a looker. I realize that there will be travelers out there who don’t find the heritage-inspired design appealing. To those people, nothing I say will be able to sway you (just know that I think you are wrong).
The 4 prominent lash tabs (or pig snouts, as I recently learned) featured on the front of the backpack give the Klettersack an old-school mountaineering vibe. These lash tabs are completely functional and can be used to carry attachments via laces or carabiners.
The external straps that run up & down the exterior, coupled with the compression straps on the side, help add a sense of ruggedness without betraying the design’s simplicity.
The uniform color scheme consisting of 1000D Cordura fabric comes in a number dark and/or earthy tones. I absolutely love the olive & black look of this bag, but Topo Designs currently offers the Klettersack in neutral colors like gray, black, and navy to match your aesthetic. There are some brighter discontinued colors like mustard and orange that you might find secondhand. If that wasn’t enough for you already, there are some special editions floating around with leather trim, desert camo, and geometric designs.
How does the Topo Designs Klettersack feel?
Utilitarian is the best way to describe how the Klettersack feels when wearing it. The 1000D Cordura fabric feels incredibly durable without being too thick. Because the bag doesn’t feature many extra pockets or complex hardware, the bag itself is relatively light when compared with the more feature-packed Topo Designs bags like their Mountain Pack.
The compression straps and plastic hardware feels pretty standard. The sewing looks good and has held up so far, but I’ll be keeping my eye on the straps (especially the strap holders on the front of the bag) as I use & abuse this backpack.
The lash tabs are relatively thick and feel much sturdier than the other brands’ pig snouts that are sewn on more for looks than functionality. I feel comfortable strapping external items to these attachment points. Personally, I plan to use them for hanging sandals or shoes when traveling with an extra pair. If you have any other favorite ways to use lash tabs, let me know in the comments!
How does this Topo Designs Klettersack fit?
The Klettersack is not a fancy backpack. Don’t expect suspension netting or even a shaped back pad; this backpack doesn’t even feature airmesh or vents on the back. Instead, a thin foam pad runs down the back of this bag to provide minimal support (and to keep your laptop tablet from digging into your back when traveling). The foam padding does help, but the bulge of a laptop is still noticeable on your back.
That said, the Klettersack is not an uncomfortable bag at all. The backpack straps are padded with airmesh and reinforced with a seatbelt-like strap stitched to the padded straps. From what I can tell, the material used to reinforce the straps looks identical to the straps that we found during our Topo Designs Y-Pack review.
This bag is admittedly more comfortable when you do not have a large laptop riding against your back (though what backpack isn’t?). I recently used this bag to transport picnic supplies and my camera cube. The padded back support flexed to help disperse the load and was easy to carry around while walking.
The lack of back vents does concern me. I haven’t had a chance to test the Klettersack in a hot environment yet, but I imagine the breathability is below average and will not help prevent your back from sweating. I will be sure to update this once I get the opportunity to travel to warmer climates with this backpack..
Topo Designs Klettersack Features
The simple lines and functional designs of the Klettersack leave little room for additional embellishments, but Topo Designs has included some thoughtful touches to help separate this backpack from the competition.
Brain Pocket featuring an Oversized YYK Zipper
This zipper pocket closes over the drawstring opening. This brain pocket is the perfect size for holding smaller items that you want quick access to. Top-loader backpacks can be frustrating to navigate when your small valuable items sink to the bottom, so having a separate exterior pocket is a useful design feature.
The pocket itself is about the size of a large amenity kit. It can easily fit my wallet, keys, and passport with room to spare. Since the pocket gets secured over the top closure, it helps protect the main comportant from Mother Nature.
Two External Water Bottle Pockets
I think all backpacks should feature water bottle pockets, and Topo Designs delivers by adding identical sleeves on both sides of the Klettersack. What is interesting about the Klettersack’s design is that these pockets are not elastic or adjustable. The sleeves are fairly thin, so you can fit a standard water bottle here while a fat Nalgene bottle would not.
It should also be noted that the slim design of the backpack means that water bottles stored here actually take up displacement from the main compartment. Instead of holding the bottles completely on the outside, the Klettersack’s pockets actually open inwards. This can be frustrating when you are trying to jam a water bottle into an already full backpack; running your hand inside the bag will reveal that some internal capacity must be sacrificed to use these pockets.
Laptop Sleeve
The laptop sleeve that Topo Designs included in the Klettersack is very simple. The pocket is a single non-elastic sleeve that my thick 15” laptop slid into easily. There is a bit of a false bottom with about a one inch gap between the bottom of the sleeve and the bag’s base.
There is a small zippered compartment attached to the sleeve that is just big enough to hold items like a phone charger & wireless mouse. Frustratingly, this accessory pocket is a tad too small for me to fit my laptop charging cable/adapter. Your mileage may vary, but the pocket was a bit too shallow to comfortably fit my laptop gear.
Ice Pick Loop
Topo Designs gives another nod to their mountaineering roots by including an ice pick loop at the base of the bag. I can think of absolutely zero practical uses for it, but I still like knowing that it exists. This loop, in addition to the 4 lash tabs and 2 additional straps, give wearers a plethora of attachment points to use from.
I have no idea when I would ever need that many attachments on my bag, but it is nice to have more just in case.
How I pack my Klettersack
I love the look of top-loader backpacks, but packing them efficiently takes some practice. Because the drawstring closure at the top of the bag is the only way to access the main compartment, the Klettersack almost forces you to employ a Last In First Out system (yes, that’s a supply chain analogy).
When I travel with my Klettersack, I save the gear that I need quick access for last when I pack. Gear that I don’t need access to until I get to my destination goes in first and fills in the bottom of the main compartment.
On my last trip, I threw my picnic blanket & clothing in the bottom of the bag and kept my camera cube & book on top. I find myself reaching for my camera often while in transit to my destination, and having a good book within reach is a necessity.
I also only travel with a single water bottle, so I have found a couple uses for the second pocket. Lately, it has been the perfect spot for carrying my larger hand sanitizer bottle on trips. It is always a good size for a mini tripod or sunscreen tube.
Final Thoughts
The Topo Designs Klettersack is a durable American-made backpack with an iconic look. This bag can be found gracing the Instagram profiles of hiking influences and outdoors enthusiasts, and the rugged design is a huge part of its appeal.
This vintage-looking backpack doesn’t come without its compromises. Internal organization is minimal and the water bottle pockets don’t feel like the optimal design. The sleekness of the design appears to have taken precedence over functionality.
Overall, I love how this bag looks & feels, but you have to realize this is a simple backpack without many bells & whistles. I have no doubt that its materials & construction will stand up to years of abuse. There are plenty of more functional bags in this price range, but none look quite like the Klettersack. If you can make peace with the top-loader design and the expensive price tag, this bag won’t let you down.
Recommended For: conscious travelers who want a heritage-inspired backpack that was made in the USA.
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