Customer Reviews

Osprey FlapJack Pack, Jet Black

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I tried to find something I didnt like about this pack, but I think its one of the best packs I've owned to date. It's perfect for commuting to work, school, library, or anyplace that your going to need quick access to your stuff without having to unzip a bunch of pockets and look for things. It has one large main compartment, and a laptop compartment as well.
Space is not wasted if you dont use this pack for a laptop however. The main compartment is further secured by a drawstring at the top, and when you put the flap down you can rest assured that everything is safely tucked away.
There are two pockets in the front of this pack, one secured by a small bit of velcro for easy access, and one zippered pocket, both are fairly deep and compliment this pack nicecly. There is a zippered pocket to the side that is more suited for small flat rectangular things like a cellphone, checkbook, etc.
This pack stands up nicely when propped up against the wall or table leg, which is great. The back of the pack has some ribbed ventilation for airflow, I couldnt say how well this works since my bike commutes are not all that far, but it rides comfortably even with a laptop and library books, with a change of clothes for work to boot.
As with all the Osprey packs i've owned, the stitching is superb and the pack is well made in general. I thought about knocking my review down one star due to the lack of colors, but I think it would be an injustice.

I haven't read any reviews for my backpack, which I have had over 1.5 years now, so that they don't influence what I am about to say. This is, without a doubt, the BEST backpack I have ever had! I have a collection of backpacks in my office. I would end up with one, sometimes 2 a year, always trying to find a backpack that was comfortable in the shoulders, distributed weight well, and could hold my laptop without making me feel like Quasimoto. Since I got my FlapJack (yes, I'm a girl, no, I can't stand the little floral things on the female version) I haven't even glanced at another backpack in the store. My 15" Macbook Pro slides in and provides wonderful back support. So much in fact, that unless I'm schlepping a bunch of books around campus, I tend to forget I have my backpack on. It has traveled with me to conferences with nary a complaint from my back (I do use the sternum strap). The weight distributes perfectly to offset an ample bosom as well. And it can hold A LOT. If you want a backpack that you can load up and carry well, this backpack may very well be the one for you.

P.S. I'm not big on organization within storage compartments, but the 5 pockets do just fine holding my stuff (books in one, laptop in another, electronic components in the third, loose stuff in #4 and long loose stuff/water bottle (on the rare occassion) in #5

I was sick of my messenger bag because I would have to spend tons of time adjusting the contents so it wouldn't hurt my back. This bag does a great job at allowing you to just toss stuff in and go, because it's got a padded back. The light strap at the bottom is a great additional feature, and the sleeves and extra pockets int eh bag just make sense.

However, I wish it had some horizontal compression straps, because when things are loose the bag sits more on your lower back than I like.

This bag is very cute and compact. It is at least aesthetically pleasing. However the quality is poor. After a week of use commuting to and from work, it had very obvious signs of wear on the front of the pack. I have not been over-stuffing it or throwing it around, but in under a month of use, my keys have worn a hole through the front of the pack, lining and all (I attach them to the string/hook designed for your keys in the front pouch---only four keys on the ring). I would expect a bit more durability from an osprey pack. This is obviously a cosmetic bag, not a particularly functional one.
Also the design of the pack minimizes space inside, your computer and a sweatshirt are about all that fit---at least if you want to be able to get something out with out removing everything else. I should have bought another timbuk2, but was so tempted by the looks of this one.

I bought this as a laptop carrier for my 15" MacBook Pro & all of it's accessories and have not been disappointed. The flap opens up to reveal 1 large pocket that includes a separate, secured space for your laptop. My 15" MacBook fits nice & snug, so I wouldn't think you'd be able to put a 17" mobile computer in this bag.

It also includes 2 outer zip pockets, in which I store the MacBook's various cables & adapters. It has room for it all, including spaces for pens/markers, zip drives, & any other computer type accessory you might want to keep with you.

This is a great commuter bag. It tries to be a little bit of everything (a bicycling bag, hiking backpack, laptop bag) and lacks specialized features of each type (e.g., a cycling bag would have a helmet holding strap, u-lock pocket, more reflective strips), but the combination of all of these designs makes for a versatile, lightweight bag that I'd happily use for an everyday commute (bicycling, using a laptop on public transit, walking for extended distance with heavy items).

The weight distribution and slim profile are both a strength and a weakness. Overall it feels comfortable to carry heavy loads (the same items in my previous backpack strained my back in weird places); Osprey's skill in designing hiking/camping gear really shines here. The sternum strap and waist strap (typical in camping gear) help in that regard. On the minus side, in order to achieve this level of ergonomics, you can't carry as much as some other backpacks. Think of this as a "day pack"; you can have your laptop, water bottle, book, paper, sweater, food, and other small items, but you can't pack multiple day's worth of clothes or anything large. For a commuter backpack, that's reasonable -- set your expectations accordingly. But you can overpack the bag a little, as long as the flap can be secured with the straps.

A note about airline travel: this backpack fits under the seat of your typical plane seat and counts as carry-on luggage, but not for the smaller, 20 person commuter planes. In that case this bag had to be checked in and sat on the tarmac in the rain while the cargo people were loading the plane's cargo area up (the laptop remained dry and survived).

Osprey offers an "All Mighty Guarantee" for this bag. According to its web site: "Osprey will repair for any reason, free of charge, any damage or defect in our product - whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. If we are unable to perform a functional repair on your pack, we will happily replace it. We proudly stand behind this guarantee, so much so that it bears the signature of company founder and head designer, Mike Pfotenhauer."

A few random things:
1. The side pocket can hold your typical 27 ounce Klean Kanteen water bottle. It could hold a small hydration pack, but it doesn't have any way to neatly route the sip tube near your mouth.
2. For extra protection for your laptop, consider cutting a strip of large bubble wrap and storing it at the bottom of the laptop compartment. When you drop your backpack on the floor, the laptop has some cushion to soften the shock.
3. For the blinker patch, I'd recommend Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash Tail Light; it fits and is a great visibility light.

I have been carrying messenger bags since 1996 (a Timbuk2 and a Crumpler) and they served me well as bike borne year round commuter bags. Last year I took a job that had me doing a lot of air travel and spending a lot of time in a suit. As my Crumpler bag was starting to look a bit worn I decided to look for something that would work with a suit jacket and also have a carry handle- which is the one thing I missed about my old Lands End canvas briefcase.

A quick trip down to my local REI and looking at a wide array of bags I stumbled on the Flapjack. Thus far it has been as good as expected. The ample pockets hold all of the stuff I carry around (my mobile office), the laptop slot easily holds the Dell 1520 that I lug around and the side pocket is a great place to stow power cords or an umbrella. The one thing I haven't done with it yet is hit airport security, but I think it will be fairly smooth. Some have noted the padding on the bottom, while not the armor plate you see on a Keen bag, it is enough to set the bag down without worry. The upside to that is that the bag itself is pretty light (feels even lighter than my messenger bag).

The bag sits well on my back with most of the weight riding near my shoulders. It feels stable even when running up the BART stairs and looks so much better than those other backpacks that look like they were lifted from the back to school aisle.

I've been using a Crumpler King Single for a long time, and while the material is as solid as a Fort Knox vault, it's never been a practical choice -- it was form over function. With its bulky zippers and tough, heavy material it takes too long to get into and out of the Crumpler; it's lousy on storage design and the Velcro flap sleeve hugs the laptop so tightly, getting your computer out of the bag is like trying to pull it away from a gorilla. So I was looking for something that would safely carry my 14" Thinkpad (but not with the same obsessiveness as if it were a Fabrege egg) and provide a large open storage area for everything else -- gym clothes, power brick, cellphone, wallet, keys, etc. I'm very pleased with this choice. The design is smart and minimalist. The straps, clips and material are as good as they can be without getting in the way of function. The Osprey lifetime warranty doesn't hurt either (particularly considering a former Timbuk2 laptop bag fell apart and I received no love from that company). I looked a long time and I'm satisfied with this choice.

Bought this bag for a new 14" laptop to use during graduate school. I considered buying a messenger style bag to ride my bike with, but after looking at the reviews I went with this one.

It has worked perfectly as a commuter bag. I ride 14 miles with it from home to school a few times a week, and it is very comfortable and stable.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of five was that the bag's middle pocket that is held by a small Velcro strip could be better. It has two mesh dividers which are nice, but the holes for the pencils/pens are right below the velcro (can't use 1 of the holes for holding pencils) which doesn't make sense, and stuff could potentially fall out. I don't keep any thing valuable in that pocket just in case. Maybe a smaller flap over that pocket would have been a better idea.

Overall a very durable and well made bag though.
I would recommend it for anyone who rides a bike around and wants to carry a laptop, books, and some other stuff.

Great pack all around, my best purchase all year. Plenty of padded space for my laptop and books. Fits great on my back, great style.