This is a review of the Lifeventure Dakar 25 Daysack. I’d like to preface this review with a bit of disclosure. We used the bag the way people normally use things, which means not always following the recommended directions.
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| On the Chain Bridge in Budapest |
Technical Info and Highlights:
3 yr warranty (original purchaser)
dimension: 44x27x20 cm
weight: 700g
capacity: 25 litres
padded laptop pocket
hidden security pocket
lockable zips
At first glance, we thought the Dakar 25 might be too small as a second bag for our 3-month European adventure. Its compact size is deceiving, similar to our other bag, the Lifeventure Altai 60+15, when you think you just can’t fit anything else into it, you find an empty space.
I couldn’t wait to try it on, the air mesh padded back and straps make it one of the most comfortable bags we’ve ever owned. The front organizer pocket is great for a note pad and pen and other little things like a toothbrush and floss but you could fit a lot more than that into it and the fleece lined loft pocket is very useful for fragile objects.
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| On a Floating B&B in Amsterdam |
The Dakar 25 has a stretchy front pocket that I thought I would never use but it soon became my favourite place to stash *a camera lens and extra memory cards for quick and easy access.
I asked a few people what they looked for in a backpack and most came back with the same answer,
easy access to contents and no hanging straps (that could get caught in conveyor belts). Lifeventure bags are different, they have barely any hanging straps and the ones they have on bigger (checkable) bags usually have a zippable flap to contain them, they open up in a way that everything is easily accessible and all of their bags feature lockable zips for security.
I asked a few people what they looked for in a backpack and most came back with the same answer,
easy access to contents and no hanging straps (that could get caught in conveyor belts). Lifeventure bags are different, they have barely any hanging straps and the ones they have on bigger (checkable) bags usually have a zippable flap to contain them, they open up in a way that everything is easily accessible and all of their bags feature lockable zips for security.
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| At the Train Station in Ghent, the hanging straps are from the bag on my front (not a Lifeventure bag) |
So how did the Dakar 25 fare on the road? Consider the conditions it endured, walking (one of us carrying the bag) for up to 8 hours a day for 90 days in 40C weather, a few days of rain and **a few wash cycles.
It held up perfectly, it was quite hot in the July and August heat wave and the straps (being well padded) may have soaked up a bit of sweat (or should I say perspiration?). We emptied it, threw it in the washer and it came out like new, except for a bit of stitching that came undone on the mesh pocket (easily fixable with a travel sewing kit). Make sure to empty all pockets beforehand. I say this because the Dakar 25 has a secret pocket, so secret in fact that I kept losing my passport (or so I thought) because it was secure in the secret pocket. Avoid the need to explain to a customs agent why your passport is wet and make sure you check the secret pocket before **washing the bag. That said, it’s a great bag but it would be even better with these two additions.
– enlarging the mesh pocket on the side or making it tighter (useful to hold a pair of socks or a hat) would be more useful if it were deeper (a regular sized water bottle kept falling out).
– a built-in rain cover
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| Hiking in the Apuan Alps |
Even without these two enhancements, I would still recommend this bag with confidence.
*This is not a camera bag and using it as such is asking for trouble. Lifeventure and/or ACNM are not responsible for your broken camera equipment.
**After checking with LifeventureUK on washing instructions, they recommend that you clean it with a damp cloth and not put it in the washing machine.
Disclosure: LifeventureUK were nice enough to give us this bag to use and review. As always, the opinions in this post are our own.
Great review, I’m looking at the 35 litre model, great to read a real-world experience.
I don’t think you can go wrong with LifeVenture, their products are well made and durable. We also have their 65L and love that all straps can be zipped up for checking.
Good information. Lucky me I recently found your
website by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve saved as a favorite for
later!
Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for the great review – by coincidence I’ve just come back to England after working in Gent for 6 months.
I’m off travelling again soon and have been looking for quality bag that will hold my laptop and everything I need for around 6 months travelling. I stumbled across the Dakar 45 which is absolutely perfect but couldn’t find any reviews – so this has given me the confidence to part with my beer tokens 😉
Thanks again, Russ