Raja Lite Roll-Top Backpack

Excellent bag!

I had bought this bag recently and both my kids were using it all the time, so I ended up getting them their own…they love them!!!!

Yay for Ecopak!

Ethnotek bags had come up on my radar a couple times before. I'm mostly in the ultralight backpacking world these days but did have a year abroad "backpacking" (mostly in hostels, some actual camping) a few years back. I used a bag made from 210 dyneema/nylon fabric. Did the trick but got beat up for sure. And not water-resistant. In my ultralight backpacking journeys I've since gone through a couple DCF (formerly called cuben fiber) packs and am currently using a Dandee packs backpack made out of Ecopak 200 ultraweave, which I love. Tough as nails and super light. Anyway, my 1st international trip in years is coming up, have been thinking what I'll take. Part of my vibe may be slightly "fashion!" since I'll be playing some music gigs. Also have some long weekend trips to gig etc. For some reason (I'm a hippie/hipster?) Ethnotek came on my radar. I was poking around the Ethnotek site and saw the Raja 30 in Ecopak, could not believe someone outside the ultralight world was using this fabric. This pack uses Ecopak 600 which I think is the right choice for more "luggage-y" travel that could get beat up, maybe checked, etc. I decided to spring for it with the very good deal to get a free wallet with. Bag came SUPER quickly- just two days from order to doorstep. It is very comfortable. I was a little sad face since I thought it was going to have the fun black and white fabric inset on the side but actually this makes more of the interior space of the bag useable- something other reviews of the normal Raja 30 complained about. I looked back at the pictures and I guess that was my mistake, this bag isn't advertised with it. It's a little smaller than I thought but probably pretty close to a 30 bag. My biggest gripe is the water bottle holder- this should be in a stretchier fabric. It's not stretchy at all and you will struggle to fit anything wider than a slim bottle, probably a 1L smartwater is as wide as it goes. Unsure if I would want water bottle on both sides or not. I'm finding myself using the side access more than I planned. I think there should be another zipper there for it to lock to- it seems like asking for trouble for someone to unzip and get in the bag. I'm also not fully sold on all the buckles around it- I guess you can strap on a yoga mat (useful)? Could be achieved potentially better though with just strapping it on top and/or putting a stretchy fabric bottle holder and just one side buckle that could be a lot smaller. I'm considering to take these off the backpack. Also the top strap is way too long so will likely cut that as well. All this being said it's a super cute bag but more for weekend use, the gym, etc. I *do* plan to replace the backpack I'm using (an old Katabatic gear pack in V40 fabric) with this one that is more professional looking as my commuter bag for work. I'm not sure the Raja 30L will be big enough for longer trips where I'll need to have gig-appropriate clothes or want to bring back more goodies. I would definitely love to see the larger Raja in Ecopak. I'm postponing buying the existing Raja 46 for a bit. That size is probably spot-on for a larger bag.

great but smaller

I haven't used it yet. I am trying to decide whether to keep it. The description says 30 l, which I assume is 30 liter. However, my measurements indicate 13-15 liters; so much smaller than 30. It looks well designed and I like the Guatemala design, but is it big enough for my purpose. I want to use it for air travel, underseat storage. This will definitely fit but could be bigger and still fit.