Written by: XEONIQ [ Instagram | Tumblr ]
Edited by: DETALEX [ Instagram ]
Contents
1. Introduction
This is a comprehensive review of Condor’s Failsafe Elite backpack. It is a slight edit of my original post on Instagram, saved here for posterity. After almost one year of ownership and regular use, the backpack is still performing well with no defects. I was first drawn to this design while looking for a replacement for my military bag that I use for cycling. That inexpensive bag held together a good five years but eventually its waist belt gave apart and it was time for a similarly sized replacement. I wanted a bag that had no more than 20L carrying volume to reduce bulk in the silhouette and that was waterproof to protect my work laptop, camera and other electronics I carry each day. I was very interested in the Failsafe’s modern military design, which I found quite unique compared to the more square and PALS/MOLLE covered alternatives in the marketplace. At $USD98 the bag is relatively inexpensive compared to alternatives in the techwear market such as the Veilance Nomin.
2. Performance Specifications
- Main Textile: Mil-Spec 500 denier Invista Cordura® Nylon
- Side straps for attachments
- Hypalon Attachment Points
- Rhino Skin Drag Handle
- High Tensile Strength Webbing with hook and loop system for securing excess length
- YKK zippers throughout the pack with para-cord pull cords
- Main compartment with U-shaped zipper, internal mesh pouch, and hydration pocket
- Secondary compartment with organizer panel and internal zippered mesh pockets
- Air-Flow system on the back to maximize ventilation and back support
- Front quick Access Compartment
- Adjustable sternum and waist straps
- Hook and loop ID panel
- Grommets on all compartments
- Detachable hidden rain cover with storage pocket
- Reinforced bottom panels for shock-proofing
Measurements:
- Bag dimensions: 21”H x 13”W x 6.5”D
- Main compartment: 20”H x 13”W x 2”D
- Secondary: 20”H x 13”W x 4.5”D
- 16 Liter capacity
3. Design Features and Usage Impressions
Design wise, the bag is not only brimming with features but the features themselves have been implemented in very thoughtful ways that over time I came to appreciate during different activities. Firstly, the Failsafe has a partitioned laptop compartment with shock-proofing both at the back and at the bottom of the compartment, which is important to insulate your machine against impacts from drops and against your body while worn. Inside the main compartment it is fully featured with both flap Velcro and mesh zippered pockets. This is rather standard to offer for many outdoor bags, but for fashion bags that I’ve tried in the past from brands such as Prada and Porter, often completely miss out on these features, which is rather disappointing given that these bags often start at over $600 each.
The front compartment is accessed through a middle zipper and this is further partitioned into 3 parts via internal panels. I ended up using this for my cable storage because it was very convenient to have them all in one place, no longer needing a cable bag like I use with other backpacks. On the lower sides of the bag are two pockets each. The topmost are Velcro closure pouches with rubber protrusions that have gaps in them for stowing the waist straps when not in use. I found this waist strap storage design both novel and aesthetically appealing as my other waist strap equipped bags never had this feature. Further, all the webbing straps can be secured with either elastic loops or they have Velcro clasps where the strap is rolled up and then locked in. Again, I was quite impressed with this feature and hadn’t seen it offered on a lot of fashion or technical bags.
Behind the lower front side pouches are vertical zippers which conceal another pair of small pockets. At first I thought this feature was not particularly useful but what I found was you could easily stow a set of keys, or a wallet in these pockets and access them while the bag is still on by reaching behind. Essentially, this means I do not need to wear my holster bag to have frequently used valuables securely stowed but accessible without the need to take off my backpack.
The main textile is Cordura 500D Nylon and all the hardware is YKK. These materials feel relatively standard but they definitely get the job done and over the past six months of wear I have not had any failure or performance issues with either. Keep in mind that Cordura as a fabric is quite rough so it will pick up lint or stray animal hair. While Cordura is water-resistant, it is not functionally waterproof, and neither are the YKK black anodised zippers. My other backpacks utilise Polyurethane coating and YKK Aquaguard zippers, however even with this set up, there will be eventual seepage between the zipper pulls themselves when out in heavy rain for over an hour.
The Condor Failsafe works around this by having a waterproof rain cover that is stowed in a zippered compartment at the bottom of the bag and is attached by a strap to ensure it does not get lost. I have tested this at least a dozen time on commutes of an hour or longer in the wet and have never had soak through with this implementation. This bag is now my go to when I know I will have to be out in the rain for an extended period of time.
4. Issues and Concerns
For the money there are basically no issues or concerns that I have with the Condor Failsafe Elite. After more than two years of use now as of October, 2020, there are still no failures on the bag aside from abrasion on the bottom shock panel.
There may be some who need a slightly bigger bag for their daily commute, however there is definitely a point where you don’t want a bag to be too large for casual use; not just for comfort but also to avoid looking like you are about to go on a camping expedition while in the middle of a city.
5. Personal Use Case and Styling
The Condor Failsafe Elite is not only my every day commute bag, but it is also my travel bag and the bag I use for extreme wet weather. The rain cover provides peace of mind that no water will penetrate and damage my valuables or electronics.
It’s compact size and silhouette and muted black styling makes it wearable with more technical outfits as well as casual urban ones.
A slate grey version of the bag is also available; and is similarly versatile to wear as the black option. This variant is shown below styled with a Nike ACG GORE-TEX shell on CUSAQ.
6. Summary
6.1 Pros
- Compact size but can hold a large laptop up to 15.6″
- Versatile muted aesthetic styles well with casual urban clothes as it does with technical gear
- Fully waterproof with rain cover engaged
- Durable and robust, over 2 years of daily use with no hardware or construction failures
6.2 Cons
- May be too small for some who have a very large carry or a 16″+ laptop
- Availability outside the USA is limited, and non-American retailers can be expensive
6.3 Verdict
Overall for the price I can easily recommend this backpack. I use it as my every day bag for work and gym, it keeps my gear well protected on commutes between work and home, it has held up well as a hiking bag for day treks out, and I enjoy it as a small carry on travel bag for flights due to its structured storage and organisation.
Ethical Statement: This product was purchased by myself with my own funds and is in no way endorsed or otherwise sponsored by the manufacturer (Condor).