I fell in love with the Kathmandu Transfer Pack back in 2018. Realising that there was a little 12 litre Kathmandu Litehaul bag as well, I was smitten. So much so that one joined me at the beginning of 2020 ready for my travels. Or so I thought until the Coronavirus pandemic put a halt to it all.
A love affair with the Kathmandu Litehaul Plus 1
The thing that grabbed my attention with the Kathmandu Litehaul Plus 1 was that it works as a partner to my Transfer Pack. I can clip it onto the front and it also works as the ‘plus 1’ bag when flying, hence the name. I really like that Kathmandu have thought about their bags in order to make travel that bit simpler. And the Litehaul is a perfect example of that.
Although travel was off the cards, my new bag came into it’s own. As I wasn’t carrying around my gym gear, work stuff or shopping for long distances, I could reduce my bag from 28 litres, to 12 litres, with little trouble. The only downside was that my reusable bottle no longer had an external pouch, but I got used to it. (NOTE: the new version of the bag has a zipped pocket for a bottle!)
Nifty Features
On occasion at the airport, I have had to stuff another bag into my rucksack for boarding the flight. Only because someone has deemed it the wrong type as the plus one (despite other people getting on with all kinds of bags and one of those coats the size of a sleeping bag…but that’s another gripe!) So having something designed specifically to fit the bill is a win for me.
The Kathmandu Litehaul is a simple bag, similar to the Transfer Pack, but with different nifty features. There is a main pouch in the bag, which works for all kinds of bits and bobs. A little zipped pouch on the front for small items. Then there is a zipped pouch at the back and a slot pouch – which works well for laptops and iPads. It is also good for organising shopping on a quaxing trip.
The shoulder straps are connected together with clips, which also attach to the Transfer Pack for front loading.
The nifty thing is that the straps tuck in to turn the bag into a handheld pack. There is a handle to the top and one on the side, like a traditional laptop type bag. Being generous in size, it is able to take a 15″ laptop in the back pouch.
These little features are more than enough for a general day pack or for your second bag on a flight, as you have the rest of the things jam packed into the Transfer Pack.
Surprisingly Spacious
For a 12 litre bag, it is surprisingly spacious. I have been using it as my main pack for a year now and it has carried all manner of shopping items around with me. The straps are also comfortable when you have a kilogram of peanut butter and some cat food loaded in for a three-mile up-hill walk home. I can honestly say that it has been a great addition to my life and saved me wandering with a sloppy large bag for all these months.
I also love that the zip opens fully so you can pack the bag as you would a suitcase. It is a feature that I make use of when tackling the only not-so-good bit – getting at my water bottle when my bag is loaded.
The Downside
The only niggly thing for me is the lack of an external bottle holder. I have adapted to taking the bag off to have a drink, but it would be simpler with it being on the outside. This has been resolved in the new version of the bag, but I can’t justify buying a new bag simply for that reason. Shame really, but in the grand scheme of things, it is a tiny price to pay for an excellent bag that I have carried with me every single day for 365 days.
It also hasn’t got a waterproof bag, which again is no biggie as you can pick a Salzmann 3M reflective one up on Amazon for around £15.
Verdict
I love the Kathmandu Litehaul Plus 1 as much as I love the Kathmandu Transfer Pack. Although I am yet to give it the full test on a trip further afield by air or by train, I am happy with the performance on a daily basis. I can’t wait to give it the full travel test and get out on the bike with it too.
If you are looking for a light pack for daily adventures, something to do the shopping with, or a nice day pack for a city wander, then this is a great option for you.
NOTE: Kathmandu doesn’t seem to make the Transfer Pack any more but has this alternative, which converts into a holdall.
Have you got any of the Kathmandu bags? Which type of pack is your favourite multi-purpose bag?
Let me know in the comments.
This is not a sponsored post, I am simply a MASSIVE fan of Kathmandu bags and want to share my reasons with you.