Arc'teryx Blade 24 Review

The Arc'teryx Blade 24 vs. the Blade 6, 20, or 28

The Blade is no longer available in the 24-liter version and has received a slight update. You can find this pack in the Blade 6, which might be ideal for a light commuter, while the Blade 20, or Blade 28 would be an excellent option for a daypack or overnight bag, as well as a laptop bag. In addition to being available in new sizes, the Blade now has a more streamlined look, which you can see below.

The 6 liter weighs 1 lb 14.5 oz and has the carrying capacity for a small laptop (up to 13 inches) and tablet, as well as a quick stash pocket, while the 20 protects a laptop up to 15 inches, as well as a tablet, smaller electronics, travel documents and a few extra heres and theres. The 28 liter protects up to a 15-inch laptop and also has a sleeve to protect a tablet. Arc'teryx mentions that you'll also find space for an overnight trip (think clothes and toiletries), as well as travel documents and work tools.

Hands-On Review

The Arc'teryx Blade 24 is designed specifically for work or business travel and functions very much like a briefcase with shoulder straps. While it offered the most protection for a laptop, we could still improve it to hold small 11 inch laptops better. In our water resistance test, it did surprisingly poorly, which could be a concern for some, and we also thought it was the least comfortable backpack to carry around for long periods. However, it looks professional and is designed to keep your important documents and other essentials well-organized.

Performance Comparison

Laptop Protection

This backpack was the highest rated for laptop protection, just a bit better than The North Face Recon or The North Face Surge II Transit. In our opinion, it had the firmest and most protective padding along the back. Additionally, it has a dedicated laptop compartment that is accessed by a side zipper. The carrying system itself is composed of a solid and very firm foam sheet suspended in the middle of the compartment and secured on all sides by Velcro straps. For a 15 inch laptop, it offers what we believe is optimal protection, although it cannot accommodate a smaller laptop without movement, which is disappointing.

Comfort

In our opinion, the Blade 24 was the least comfortable backpack to carry around. It has a very firm backplate designed to protect the laptop, but unfortunately, the back plate is awkward and uncomfortable to carry. While the shoulder straps are well padded, we found that they were attached to the bag too close together and thus dug into our neck. With no sternum or waist strap, it was not easy to make it more stable, but more importantly, it just didn't fit our testers' backs. It felt like wearing a briefcase, which was the opposite effect from the Osprey Pixel, the most comparable bag in this review.

Organization & Storage

The Blade 24 does not have a lot of storage room (it is, after all, only 24 liters). It is only slightly bigger than the Osprey Pixel and still slightly smaller than the Patagonia Arbor. While it won't hold all that much, we still liked it for its intended purpose - work or school - because every pocket has a clear and well-thought-out function. In short, it is optimally designed to keep you organized. However, you can forget about picking up groceries or heading to the gym after work with this bag.

Versatility

With its highly optimized design intended for work and laptop protection, the Blade 24 is the least versatile backpack we tested. We can't recommend using it for any other purpose than carrying your laptop securely.

Style

Water Resistance

Perhaps the largest flaw of the Blade 24 was its water resistance. It ranked with the Timbuk2 Command Pack and Dakine Campus 33 as the lowest in our testing. While it does come with a durable water resistant (DWR) coating applied, its critical flaw is its upward-facing zippers that are not water resistant and have no fabric cover. In our testing, which included only 30 seconds of water exposure, these top zippers allowed water to leak into the bag, which then percolated into every compartment and pocket in the bag. This oversight could be catastrophic if you are carrying important documents, let alone for your laptop. Don't use this bag in heavy rain!

Best Applications

The Blade 24 is like a briefcase with shoulder straps and made out of fabric. It is best for going to the office or school. Arc'teryx also suggests that is would be a great travel briefcase, and we can't argue with that.

Value

The Blade 24 costs a whopping $179, which is not unexpected considering Arc'teryx makes it. Business professionals who are not concerned about money will probably consider this to be money well spent. Students should look for a cheaper and higher performing backpack.

Conclusion

We recommend the Arc'teryx Blade 24 for professionals who need a briefcase but want it in backpack form. It would also make a good laptop carry on for business trips and could be a great school bag as well. But with its high price tag, limited versatility, and lack of water resistance, we think there is a limited market for this backpack.