MACPAC RAPAKI 22L BACKPACK REVIEW

by | Aug 28, 2024

If you’re looking for a bag to suit all occasions, the Rapaki 22L is a contender. From day hikes, a bag for work, or a travel bag…it’s been working a treat for me, especially the last two months around Europe.

The things I most like about the pack?

  • How much stuff it holds without feeling too bulky
  • How sturdy it is, especially the zips
  • It’s suitable for all activities
  • It’s good to go on most planes (click here for the measurements etc.)

Macpac rapaki 22l review

Want to buy now?

You can pop into any Macpac store (pretty much all of them will stock it), or buy online in Australia or in New Zealand.

MY MACPAC RAPAKI 22L REVIEW

1. RAPAKI 22L BACKPACK FEATURES

  • Internal organisation for pens, small items etc.
  • Carry handle
  • YKK zips
  • Bladder compatible
  • Tuck-away walking pole attachments
  • Padded Air Mesh back panel and lumbar support
  • Padded sleeve fits laptops up to 15″
  • 2x mesh drink bottle holders
  • Removable webbing hip belt
  • Bike light loop

2. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE RAPAKI 22L

SHOULDER STRAP AND BACK COMFORT

The longest day hike I’ve done with the pack is a little under 20km and I never thought, blah, this bag is so annoying and hurting me. Even when I had to jog the last kilometre to make it to the train on time, it wasn’t the end of the world.

The lumbar sections are in a good spot for my 5 foot 10 frame, and you do get some airflow with the way it’s designed. But, that doesn’t mean you won’t get a sweaty back, sometimes that’s just unavoidable regardless.

THE ZIPS ARE STURDY

Using YKK zips (I find the YKK Wiki page an interesting read), I’ve had to really make the zips work hard on a few occasions to ensure everything fits.

When I’ve had some cheap bags in the past, you can feel the intense pressure on the zips and surrounding seams feeling stressed out.

I’m not precious with my gear. If I had to sell this bag on Facebook Marketplace tomorrow, I’d say it’s in great condition despite the amount (and different types) of use it has had so far.

I’ll update this section if I notice anything else down the road.

NICE WATER BOTTLE POCKETS

There are two mesh drink bottle holders, one on each side of the pocket. They fit my 550ml Water To Go bottle nicely, and while it’s not quite as snug, a generic 1.5l water bottle fits as well. Though if you’re stumbling over tricky terrain it may fall out.

And yes, I can access them without taking the pack off. Getting the bottles back in isn’t smooth, but again I don’t have to take the pack off at all. I’m not flexible either so you could probably do it easier.

THE LAPTOP COMPARTMENT IS DISCRETE

I’ve been traveling with my laptop, and the laptop pocket inside the pack is also well constructed and doesn’t take up a lot of space in the pack. I like it. Except for when I’m thinking my laptop isn’t in the pack as it’s tucked away so well.

THE GRAB HANDLE

This seems like a tiny thing, but not all hiking bags come with a handle to hang it up (in public toilets especially) or to make it easier to pick up off the ground. This does, and it’s not going to break anytime soon.

3. WHAT I DON’T LIKE

The pack is slightly on the heavy side for me at 770 grams. For the trade off you do get a sturdy bag as mentioned, but if I’m nitpicking then a slightly lighter weight would be nice. Having looked at the photos at the top of the past, I could probably cut some of the straps a bit shorter!

This list is short…I like the pack!

4. WHAT I HAVEN’T TESTED

You may be interested in the following parts of the bag, but I haven’t had to use them as of yet (nor likely will).

  • The water bladder compatibility
  • The hip belt
  • The webbing on the outside of the pack

5. DOES IT FIT THE NEEDS FOR AIRLINES?

A popular question I’ll address right away is if it’s suitable as a carry on bag for flying.

When packed, the Rapaki is about 29.5cm x 23.5cm x 51cm.

Comparing that to some of the budget airlines limits.

Air New Zealand: One carry-on bag (7kg) with the length, width and height must add up to 118cm or less (the Rapaki is 104cm).
Jet Star:

  • One main item: 56cm x 36cm x 23cm to fit in the overhead locker
  • One small item to fit under the seat in front (both items combined to be less than 7kg)

    • Ryan Air: 40cm x 25cm x 20cm for one small bag included.
    Wizz Air: The free carryon bag they allow is 40cm x 30cm x 20cm.
    Southwest: Carry-on bag limits are 61cm x 40.6cm x 25.4cm.

    My personal experience: I’ve flown with both Jet Star, Ryan Air and Wizz Air and have not had any issues thus far with the Rapaki 22. I figure at worst, I can take out my jacket from the pack and it squishes enough to fit the limits. And it’s been fine going under the seat in front of me…RIP foot room.

    6. MACPAC RAPAKI 22L ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

    There are two other packs in the Rapaki range, the Rapaki 25L and 28L…but they felt too big for what I needed…though I like the harness on the 28L a lot.

    I was initially thinking to get a Kahuna 18l, but decided to go for the Rapaki 22L for that extra bit of volume, and am glad I did.

    In terms of packs of a similar size from Macpac competitors, you could look at (I haven’t used any):

    So yes, I can recommend the Rapaki 22l pack for an overall great bag for a great all round bag. And based on other reviews from customers, it’s a well liked bag with no real weakness.

    You can pop into any Macpac store (pretty much all of them will stock it – maybe not in all colours), or buy online in Australia or in New Zealand.

    If you’ve got any questions about the pack, feel free to leave a comment below or email jub@churnewzealand.com.

    Chur.

    p.s. you can see all the products I’ve reviewed here.

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