Patagonia Atom Tote Pack 20L [Review]

The Patagonia Atom Tote Pack was designed to be as versatile as you are! Patagonia has set out to make one bag to be used as a daily laptop backpack for work or school. Or as an outdoor and hiking pack, thanks to its removable laptop sleeve.

In this backpack review, we will take a closer look at the Patagonia Atom Tote Pack and explore all of the details. Is this backpack worth the price? Let's find out.

Video Review

The Rundown

What we like

• Removable laptop sleeve is a game changer! Quickly turn from laptop backpack to hiking pack in seconds.

• Stretchy side pockets fit larger bottles

• Roomy main compartment that fits a lot despite being a small bag.

• Super comfortable shoulder straps. Very padded!

What we don’t like

• The front pocket becomes hard to use when the main compartment is overpacked.

• No trolley sleeve to attach bag to rolling luggage when traveling.

• Not convertible - cannot tuck away the shoulder straps when carrying as a tote bag.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 16” (H) x 12” (W) x 5” (D)

• Capacity: 20L

• Weight: 1 lb 7 oz

• Materials: 100% Recycled Polyester with PFC-Free DWR Finish

• Laptop Sleeve: Up to 13”

Where to buy

Similar Backpacks

Size and Fit

It's important to note that the Patagonia Atom Tote Pack 20L was designed to be a smaller-fitting pack. Patagonia calls this the "Atom Fit" - which means it can accommodate those with a shorter torso length and smaller shoulders. This is welcomed news to anyone who find most backpacks to be too long on the back. It's about the same size as the old Patagonia Classic Tamangito Pack.

You can carry the Atom Tote Pack as both a backpack or a tote bag. One small design issue we have with this backpack is that it is not a true convertible backpack. The shoulder straps cannot be tucked away and you will get dangling straps when carrying it by the top handles.

Materials and Construction

The Patagonia Atom Tote Pack is made out of 100% recycled polyester with a PFC-Free DWR Finish (a technical term for water resistant coating). The polyester construction makes the Atom Tote Pack very lightweight. But this pack never feels cheap and keeps the premium Patagonia feel the brand is known for.

We found that the Atom Tote Pack can stay dry in a light rain with the weak point being the zippers, which are not water resistant. But the fabric allows water to just roll off the pack. Would we take this kayaking? No. Are we comfortable using this as daily commuter or beach backpack. Absolutely.

One of the most impressive features of the Atom Tote Pack is the back panel and shoulder straps. Patagonia does not cut corners here!

These shoulder straps are very padded and some of the most comfortable we've used in a backpack this size. The breathable back panel has two spacer mesh panels for cushioning. Again, this beefy back panel is a rare sight in smaller backpacks.

Although the Atom Tote Pack isn't a large backpack, Patagonia still includes a chest strap to help with weight distribution. This chest strap is adjustable and removable.

What fits inside the Patagonia Atom Tote Pack 20L?

With a pack volume of 20 liters, you wouldn't expect the Atom Tote Pack to fit much. But this is a roomy 20 liters! The main compartment is designed as a large open space with just a single sleeve (more on that below).

We found that we could easily fit a pair of running sneakers and a change of clothing inside the main compartment. Folders, binders and notebooks also fit inside the main compartment of the Patagonia Atom Tote Pack just fine.

The wide open main compartment gives you a lot of versatility to use the bag as a school or work backpack, gym bag and hiking backpack.

Removable Laptop Sleeve

The removable padded sleeve is easily the best feature on the Patagonia Atom Tote Pack! This feature is what allows you to quickly switch from laptop backpack to a outdoor trail bag.

Each Atom Tote Pack includes a removable padded sleeve that is held in place by a velcro loop. The sleeve itself contains a padded sleeve for a tablet or laptop up to 13-inches plus a secure zippered pocket for small items. This zippered pocket is great for keys, chargers, cords, pens, and other accessories.

When the sleeve is removed, you can then use the built-in padded sleeve to store a hydration bladder for hiking. The velcro loop now acts as a hydration hanger and Patagonia gives you pass-through access against the back panel to feed a hydration tube.

The larger sleeve that the removable laptop sleeve lives in is also padded with a false bottom to protect it against drops. This means that you can technically use it as a laptop sleeve for a bigger laptop. We were able to fit a 14" laptop just fine.

Outside Pockets

The outside of the Patagonia Atom Tote Pack 20L gives you a few extra pockets for organization.

The two side pockets are made of stretch mesh that fits larger bottles. We were able to fit a 32oz Nalgene bottle and big 30oz Yeti cofffee tumbler inside the side pockets. These pockets are also great for daily commute items like an umbrella or phone.

The front stash pocket is fairly large and covers the entire front of the backpack. Here you can fit items you need quick access to like headphones, winter gloves or small notebooks.

Our one gripe with the front stash pocket is that the main compartment can bulge into this pocket when overpacked. This makes it harder to access the items inside this pocket.

Final Thoughts

We recommend the Patagonia Atom Tote Pack 20L if you are looking for just one smaller pack that you can used for everything from daily laptop carry to outdoor adventures. It really is a great do-it-all option. This is all made possible by the removable tech storage that transforms the bag into a blank slate for different acitivies.

If you need a backpack with lots of pockets, then this backpack may not be the one for you. The Patagonia Atom Tote Pack has just enough pockets without being too overwhelming. But those who want more organization may find the number of pockets lacking.

Additionally, the shorter body of the Atom Tote Pack might too small for some people. If you are tall or have wide shoulders, you might want to take a look at other Patagonia backpack options for a better fit.

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