Tortuga Outbreaker 45L Review

This 45-liter travel backpack distributes weight impeccably. Read on to see why we think the Outbreaker is a bag you'll love to own.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Comfort is paramount, especially for packs as large as 45 liters. Not only can an uncomfortable pack dampen your ability to enjoy your travels, but it can cause longer-lasting issues like back or shoulder injuries. The Outbreaker blows its competitors out of the water in this metric.

There are two long strips of perforated Ariaprene foam on the back panel equipped with mesh coverings for breathability. Ariaprene foam is firm, comfortable, hypoallergenic, and non-abrasive, making it easy to wear with clothing or directly on the skin. These half-inch thick pads are placed vertically from the hips to the shoulder blades allowing for ample airflow to the middle of the back, where most sweat collects.

At the top of the back panel are the shoulder straps, complete with a sternum strap, and at the bottom, you'll find a wide hip belt. Both are comprised of the aforementioned Ariaprene foam-mesh combination and are highly adjustable. The hip belt can be removed if you prefer a pack without one. However, this impacts the perfectly calculated weight distribution and will negatively affect the overall comfort of this backpack. The shoulder straps can be adjusted both in length and positioning. Rounding out this nearly perfect harness system are the adjustable load lifters that ensure complete control over the weight distribution.

Tortuga claims that the Outbreaker fits 16 to 20-inch torsos, and we agree. While this is a decently wide margin, those with particularly long or short torsos may find this backpack to be less comfortable. Some also may feel that the amount of padding on the Outbreaker is excessive, resulting in an unnecessarily bulky pack, but the thick padding is strategically placed, and the weight distribution is superior.

Features

While comfort is a must-have, special features are what set one pack apart from the rest. The Outbreaker is sleek and straightforward, but it is not without its thoughtfulness.

As we mentioned above, the harness system is highly adjustable. This is not necessarily a unique feature in and of itself, as many high-end travel backpacks offer adjustability, but the Outbreaker executes this in a very user-friendly way. The hip belt can be removed and shoulder strap height adjusted in a matter of seconds with a simple tug on some velcro.

The YKK AquaGuard zippers help keep your belongings safe from the elements, and the thoughtfully placed lockable zippers help keep certain belongings, like your laptop, safe from theft. The Outbreaker has lockable zippers on the front, main, and laptop compartment, giving you some options as far as where to distribute your valuables. The carry handle on the top of the pack helps with stowing and retrieving your bag, and the hanging handle comes in handy when you'd rather not place your belongings on the ground, like in an airport bathroom.

The compression straps on the outside of the pack are a nice touch, but they don't make a significant difference in the overall size. The strap keepers, which help reduce dangly bits, are somewhat primitive in design. That being said, the Outbreaker does a good job of not having too many loose straps to begin with.

Packing and Accessibility

Comfort and features heavily affect how a travel backpack performs, but packing and accessibility play a big role in convenience. The Outbreaker performs admirably in this department, offering standard organization solutions for a clamshell-style travel bag.

Let's start with the exterior. The Outbreaker has three pockets on its face, two water bottle pouches on either side, and two zipper pockets on the hip belt. The largest of these three pockets offers some pencil, card, and electronics organization and a lockable zipper. Aside from the one mesh zipper pocket, the organizational solutions in this compartment are simple pockets with no elastic, zippers, or velcro to keep your belongings in place. We find that when the bag is jostled around, these pockets become useless.

Let's move on to the interior. The front flap opens up clamshell-style to a large rectangular main compartment. On the flap, you'll find two large mesh zippered pockets perfect for socks, underwear, or any other small garments that would otherwise get lost in the larger compartment. On the walls of the main compartment are four small zippered Ripstop nylon pockets for extra organization. The 35-liter version of this pack only has two. This is a great spot for items like your contact case or toothpaste. The main compartment is easy to pack but works better with packing cubes, as there are no compression straps on the interior.

The electronics sleeve is found on the panel closest to your back for safekeeping. The padded laptop sleeve easily fits a 17-inch laptop, and the small, soft tablet sleeve fits a tablet up to 9.7 inches. There are also three zippered mesh pockets in this compartment which we liked to use for our chargers.

While the Outbreaker does just fine in this category, there is room for improvement. When the pack is stuffed, a few pockets are difficult to access. The bottom pocket on the face has a small flap over the zipper to help keep your valuables safe, but this makes it difficult to access with a full load. The same thing goes for the two water bottle pockets. The electronic sleeve could also use some attention. While we love a mesh pocket for visibility, this compartment could use a little more electronics-focused organization, like cord keepers. Our last bone to pick is that there is no designated space for dirty laundry or shoes. Most of these issues are small and can easily be remedied by not packing your bag too heavily or introducing organizational tools like packing cubes and a laundry bag.

Volume to Weight Ratio

This is an important metric, but the distribution of said weight is arguably more important. That is why this metric only accounts for a small amount of each travel backpack's overall score.

Weighing in at 4.6 pounds, this 45-liter pack is not what we consider lightweight. All that padding is very comfortable, but it gets a little heavy. The saving grace for the Outbreaker is how impeccably the weight is distributed across the body.

Durability

Durability is mainly determined by the materials a product is constructed with. From the zippers to the ripstop nylon, the Outbreaker is made up of some pretty high-end materials.

The exterior is made of VX21 waterproof sailcloth, which is highly durable in addition to being waterproof. The AquaGuard zippers are YKK, a well-known and highly trusted zipper manufacturer. The hardware is all made by Duraflex, and as the name suggests, it is durable and long-lasting. The interior of the pack is ripstop nylon. While ripstop is not immune to tears, the technology stops the rip from spreading, so one little hole won't be the death of your pack.

Value

Although the Outbreaker is not what we consider a budget-friendly option, it is a high-quality product and completely worth the investment. The 45-liter model costs a little more than the 35-liter, so if you do not need the extra room but are interested in the superior comfort and design, the smaller size is a great option.

Conclusion

This high-performing travel backpack owes its award-winning comfort to calculated weight distribution and plentiful Ariaprene foam padding. The respectable organization and abundant space make it perfect for week-long trips or longer. While it is on the expensive side of the spectrum, the Tortuga Outbreaker is made of very durable materials, ensuring a long healthy life making each dollar stretch a little further. If you are looking for a large travel backpack whose comfort is uncompromised by weight, this is a great choice.