Most of my backpacks have a specific purpose. Kryptek camouflage for hunting and hauling a rifle. 5.11 Tactical Rush 72 to carry my long range shooting loadout. Various Osprey and Deuter packs for camping and hiking. Ogio Gambit for airline travel, etcetera, etcetera. I just received an urban daypack from Deuter called the Walker 24. This lightweight pack has a lot of the features I like about my other Deuter products but in a much lighter, smaller package. It’s the kind of pack I would have loved in college. With enough room for books, a tablet, pens, pencils and a hydration bottle.
I recently travelled back to Washington State to witness a friend of mine take over responsibility of the 2nd Ranger Bn. This seemed like the perfect trip to test out this little feature rich daypack. For airline travel, I noticed it was a little light on compartments. I like to have a separate pocket or compartment for all my travel paraphernalia. Especially when I have to strip down to the bare minimum prior to visiting the TSA nazis. In all fairness, this pack wasn’t designed to be an air travel ace. Where it does excel is in the urban environment.
Hiking around the waterfront in Tacoma and Seattle. Catching a Seattle Sounders soccer match. Walking through Cambers Park with my son. Checking out a car show in Fircrest. These are the things that the Walker 24 were made for. It’s ability to carry all the essential gear for a day in town while remaining light were uncanny. The Walker 24 features two air-channeled Airstripes that rest upon the wearers back. These pads, with an AirMesh lining and minimal back contact, provide maximum airflow. And with the weather in the 80’s all week, I appreciated the lack of a sweaty back.
Anatomic shoulder straps afforded freedom of movement even while throwing a frisbee with my son in the park. Although the Walker 24 has a detachable waist belt, all loads remained secure enough that I didn’t see the need to use it. Access to the large main compartment is made easy with a single pull cord opening under the top flap. Inside you’ll find a padded laptop compartment that can also be accessed from a side zipper. This space also accommodates a Crye Precision ballistic panel. Additionally, the front zippered compartment features the standard pen/pencil, cell phone pockets to keep the smaller items organized. One standout feature is a key lanyard that can be removed with a quick release buckle. Finally, a zippered side pocket is perfect for storing chargers and cables along with an opposing side pocket suited for water bottles.
Deuter Walker 24 Daypack Specs courtesy of deuter.com
- Color: coffee-denim
- Article ID: 3810717-6308
- Weight: 780 g
- Volume: 24 litres
- Size: 52 / 30 / 23 (H x W x D) cm
- Laptop compartment: 39 / 28 / 3 (H x W x D) cm
- MSRP $89
The Walker 24 from Deuter has the same durability attributes found on all of their packs. I’ve beat up Deuter backpacks camping and have no doubt that this little urban warrior will withstand the same abuse without hesitation. And will make a nice addition to my closet-o-packs. Deuter has been in business for 119 years making some of the finest outdoor equipment. So if you’re in the market for any type of backpack, take a look at their website.
