Vertx Ardennes Mens Tactical Backpack Large Molle Laptop Rucksack for Travel, Work, Outdoor Utility Gear Bag, Canvas, Holiday Ash Grey

I have owned several backpacks (Gamut, Gamut Plus, Gamut 2, and the Ready Pack V2) from Vertx, and each one has been excellent. The materials used, the overall design, and the construction have consistently been top-notch. This pack is no exception, though it is quite different in many ways than the other Vertx bags I've owned.The first thing I noticed is the canvas material used for most of the pack. It is simply gorgeous. It feels soft and supple while also being tough and water-resistant. I poured a glass of water over the top, and it just shed right off. I don't know how well it would hold up in a heavy rain, but they make no claim about it being waterproof anyway. The outside zipper pulls are the best I've seen yet. They are loops of cord with a double leather toggle sewn on to make them easier to grip. There is also the standard quick grab pull on the CCW compartment that is designed to look like a luggage tag. The side pockets are massive. They easily swallow my 40 ounce Hydroflask clone, even with an extended cap. There are ports at the top of these to run a cable out or even a hose from a small bladder. There is just enough organization built-in for my needs, and there are some loop fields inside the main compartment where you can add your own organizers or pouches.Now, onto the negatives. First, I wish there was some kind of compression system to tighten the bag up when it's not full. I know that would negatively affect the look they were going for with this pack, but it is a large pack, and it would be nice to be able to compress it. The second is the flap that hides the molle panel. On other Vertx packs, this flap can be unzipped and used as a "beavertail", or gear sling as they call it. You can almost do this with this bag, but there are no secondary loops to attach the g-hooks on the side, so you're stuck with the leather loops on the handle that the straps attach to. It's not a huge deal, but it would have been easy to add a set of loops to make this more useful. The last is the straps. While not horribly uncomfortable, they feel inadequate for the size of the pack. They are a little thin, narrow, and not well-padded. I wish they had used something more like the super comfortable straps in the Gamut.Overall, I would recommend this pack if you're looking for a larger pack with great materials, a cool look, and decent organization. The CCW capabilities are also a plus for many people.9/21/22 Update: I've been carrying this awesome pack for over a month now, and the shoulder straps are much more comfortable now that they've broken in. I'm upgrading my review to 5-stars.

Great design/look. The only improvement would be Velcro on the laptop compartment for Tactigami.

Great bag for everyday Carry in an urban Environment. The bag is well constructed, has plenty of storage room and lots of very Nice features. The shoulder straps are a bit small and takes Some getting used to. Doesn’t look overly tactical but has a lot of Great features like the hidden Molle panel. Side pockets are easily accesable, my Nalgene 32oz bottle fits very well. My country doesn’t allow guns, so the CCW panel is useless for me, but it’s Great for documents and passport etc. The canvas material is not completely Waterproof, but I have traveled in the rain for a fair bit and the inside was completely dry. Would highly recommend for EDC and urban commute. All in all a very good bag!

Good company great product but it’s a big backpack. If you carry a lot of items with you everyday and a computer then this is the bag for you. I had to downsize to a smaller bag. This bag won’t stand on its own so you will have to place it on its back or side.

My new day pack. Great pockets, sturdy, material seems really tough. Does not look tactical.

This bag is solid all the way around!

I expected more from Vertex. I have had this bag for a month and it has ripped. I have never had a bag rip and I have owned bags from Maxpedition, 5.11, Alpha one miner, and many others these bags have lasted me years in the outdoors and day to day use. I use this bag main to and from the office. Very disappointed in Vertex.

This bag looks incredible, and the materials feel very high quality. However, there are some flaws in the design that really can’t be ignored. Firstly, the bag is no fun at all to carry when it is filled. The straps look nice but are not very padded or comfortable, and the flimsy hip belt does little to shift the weight off of your back when in use. The padding in the back of the bag is not sufficient for the size of the bag. Design-wise, while the exterior of the bag is inspired by military rucksacks, I feel like they could’ve still modernized the bag to a clamshell opening for easier access and organization. Instead, it’s a top-down approach that makes reaching the contents of the bag or the interior admin pockets a chore. I did really like the valet straps that allow you to slide the bag horizontally onto a luggage handle. However, the leather construction stretched considerably over two weeks of use on a recent vacation. I can’t imagine them holding up over the lifetime of the bag. I give the bag three stars because it has durable materials for the most part, and an attractive design. But it has the comfort of a small bag with the size of a big bag, and the combination just does not work for my needs.