• Storage and Organization 90% 90%
  • Comfort 90% 90%
  • Durability 90% 90%

Price: $179.98

Dimensions: 18.25x12x7.25”

Weight: 2.9lbs

What We Like: Side access pockets and side handle combination

What We Don’t: Price

The Evergoods CPL 24 v2 is everything it promised to be: a great update on a great pack. The versatility and option to use the laptop pocket for a hydration bladder is excellent. Having all of the pockets accessible while the bag is on its side, even interior pockets, is proof of great initial designing. The material is durable and weatherproof, and the exterior material and zippers are both covered in a DWR finish. The clamshell opening’s main compartment allows for excellent organization and storage opportunities. Everything is perfect—except for the price.
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The Evergoods CPL 24 v2 or Civic Panel Loader is, as mentioned, version 2. We all know the v2 is always the best, because the company and design team have been able to take direct feedback from consumers and add improvements to the original to create a more efficient and streamlined EDC backpack. In the CPL family, there is also a 28l version that is identical to the 24 just slightly larger.
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Storage and Organization

Let’s get to the fun stuff! The first thing to note about the Evergoods CPL is that every pocket runs vertically on the left side of the bag with the exception of a top zipper quick access pocket. This feature is to make it easier to swing your bag over your shoulder and be able to access every pocket quite easily. Essentially, it turns the backpack into a briefcase without the straps.

Best Everyday Carry Backpacks: Evergoods CPL 24 v2 Backpack - Gear Hacker
Inside of the laptop sleeve, there is a separation divider to keep your laptop secure as well as some additional space for a tablet or large documents. There is a velcro fastener to secure the laptop in place, and along the boundaries of the laptop sleeve, there is additional space so that your laptop will never directly touch the ground while in the pack. The laptop pocket also doubles as a hydration bladder pocket that has a hose access which runs through a passthrough sleeve on the left shoulder.
Best Everyday Carry Backpacks: Evergoods CPL 24 v2 Backpack - Gear Hacker
The main compartment is large and will fully open for access to everything inside. Inside of the main compartment there is one open-top stretch pocket to hold down some larger items, and there is also a mesh zippered pocket that is horizontally oriented to give access while the bag is on its side. Above the mesh pocket, there is a smaller zippered pocket for small valuables such as medication, cords, etc.
Best Everyday Carry Backpacks: Evergoods CPL 24 v2 Backpack - Gear Hacker
The pocket directly on the front of the pack is a small valuables pocket that has storage for a variety of smaller items such as pens, phones, and notepads among other items. The side orientation of the pack makes it very easy to access everything within the bag while it is on its side or being held with one shoulder. It is always impressive to see that a design team has thought of the finer details like that.

Comfort

Evergoods has thought of many things in the v2 and the design of the CPL 24. The backpanel itself has an added wedge at the top of the bag that helps to warp the backpack along your shoulders for added comfort. There is a removable sternum strap that helps to control the weight of the cargo along your shoulders.
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The shoulder straps are well-padded and would provide ample comfort for a day hike in the mountains or a busy city commute on a subway. There is a frame sheet in the back that is made of HDPE so it is flexible but will help to direct the weight of the cargo throughout the back and not directly on the shoulders.
Even on the side handle for the bag there is an aluminum stay that will stop the bag from collapsing if it is not filled fully. It’s also great for using as a “briefcase” carry in a more professional setting.
Best Everyday Carry Backpacks: Evergoods CPL 24 v2 Backpack - Gear Hacker

Material and Durability

Made using 500D High Tenacity Nylon with a DWR finish, you can expect the CPL 24 v2 to last. The zippers are YKK and have a DWR finish as well to keep your cargo dirt-free and dry. It is easy to see the care that went into the design of the pack, and with a lifetime warranty, you are covered from the usual accidents that can happen in daily life.
Best Everyday Carry Backpacks: Evergoods CPL 24 v2 Backpack - Gear Hacker

The Bottom Line

Evergoods has delivered with their CPL 24 v2. This bag could be used in a variety of settings and would be equally comfortable in each of them—from a city setting to a weekend trip to the lake house, you are set. The price of $259 is a bit steep for what we are looking for in this style of backpack. However, the quality is apparent, and the pack does come with a lifetime guarantee.

The side access pockets and aluminum stay in the side handle make this a great side carry backpack. The details have been well thought out—even down to a small piece of velcro on the exterior of the bag that can accommodate a flashy patch to make the wearer more visible at nighttime. The 24l is a great EDC, and if the pockets are what you’re looking for, the 28l is the exact same and would belong on our single bag travel article. If it weren’t for the price, we would all be carrying a CPL around.

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We participate in affiliate programs to help us fund Gear Hacker. Some of the links in this website are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product using our link, we will earn a small commission. Don’t worry! This comes at no additional cost to you, and we will never base our reviews on whether or not we earn a commission off of a product. With that said, if you find our review helpful and decide to purchase an item we review, we would be very appreciative if you use our links to do so. It will help us bring you more awesome content in the future!