Able Carry Daily Backpack vs Thirteen Daybag - Which everyday backpack is right for you?
Able Carry offers two fantastic everyday carry backpacks with their Daily Backpack and Thirteen Daypack. But what’s the real difference?
Both the Daily Backpack and Thirteen Daybag are designed for easy carry of daily essentials and they don’t disappoint when it comes to style, pocket placement and fit.
In this hands-on backpack review and comparison we will take a closer look at both bags and help you decide which Able Carry backpack is the best everyday backpack for you.
Update: Able Carry have new updated designs for 2024! Check out our Able Carry Daily Plus review and new Thirteen Daybag review for a closer look at what has changed.
Quick Specs
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 |
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|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 19" H x 11" W x 7.5" D | 17" H x 11" W x 6.7" D |
| Volume | 20 Liters | 13 Liters |
| Weight | 2.1lbs | 1.3lbs |
| Material | Corudra Nylon or XPAC | XPAC |
| Laptop Storage | 15" laptop sleeve | 13" laptop sleeve |
| Document sleeve | No | Yes |
| Key Leash | Yes | Yes |
| Sternum Strap | Yes | No |
| Water Bottle Pocket | No | Yes |
| Price | Check the latest price | Check the latest price |
Video Review
Size and Capacity
Let’s start with the biggest difference between the Able Carry Daily Backpack and the Thirteen Daybag - their size.
Daily Backpack - 20 liters
Thirteen Daybag - 13 liters
In the world of backpacks, the Able Carry Daily Backpack is already on the smaller side. But 20 liters can be just the right size for essential carry of daily items.
What fits inside the Daily Backpack?
1 large pair of headphones
2 light hoodies or sweaters
1 small book
2 1-inch binders
1 laptop up to 15-inches inside the padded sleeve
Note that this is just what can fit inside the main compartment without consideration for the inside or outside pockets (there are plenty of those.)
Can the Able Carry Daily Backpack be used for travel?
Not really. If you are a very light packer then you might be able to make 20 liters work. You may be ok with packing for an overnight stay, but it there won’t be enough room to pack for a longer weekend trip.
What fits inside the Thirteen Daybag?
1 large pair of headphones
1 light sweater
1 small book
1 1-inch binder
1 laptop up to 13-inches inside the padded sleeve
The Thirteen Daybag has a much smaller capacity of 13 liters. The positive? This is the perfect size for smaller people that find most backpacks too large. The negative? It packs even less than the Daily Backpack.
Pockets and Compartments
In the last section we covered what fits inside the main compartment of the Daily Backpack and Thirteen Daybag - now lets focus on the pockets and compartments that provide some extra storage and organization.
Laptop Carry
Daily Backpack - 15” laptop sleeve
Thirteen Daybag - 13” laptop sleeve
When it comes to laptop carry both backpacks offer a padded laptop sleeve with a false bottom. A false bottom prevents the laptop sleeve from reaching the bottom of the bag. This is a great feature that avoids a lot of heartache when dropping your backpack on the ground as it creates a barrier between your laptop and a hard surface.
The Daily Backpack features a roomy laptop sleeve that can fit most laptops up to 15-inches while the Thirteen Daybag can only hold a laptop up to 13-inches.
13” Apple Macbook fit in the Able Carry Thirteen Daybag padded laptop sleeve.
One thing we noticed is that a 13-inch Macbook was actually a tight fit inside the Thirteen Daybag laptop sleeve. There isn’t much room between the laptop itself and the upper walls of the backpack so when you slip in a 13-inch laptop you’ll have to fold over the top of the backpack to comfortably get access to the laptop sleeve. Tablets (12” and under) will fit inside the Thirteen Daybag laptop sleeve just fine.
Inside Pockets
The Daily Backpack features a large mesh pocket right in front of the laptop sleeve that is perfect for storing things like chargers, cables and other small items you don’t want floating inside the main compartment.
On the other side of the Daily Backpack you’ll find an addition zip pocket and a narrow slip pocket for glasses.
The Thirteen Daybag removes the large mesh pocket for a document sleeve. We found that this document sleeve can also hold a tablet for those who want to carry both a laptop and tablet at the same time. The option for double laptop/tablet carry is a feature that the Daily Backpack lacks all together.
On the other side of the Thirteen Daybag, Able Carry offers a zippered mesh pocket for small item storage.
And they moved the slip pocket down to the side of the main compartment. This pocket is too small for a water bottle but it’s great for small items like a pair of glasses or power bank.
Side-Access Pocket
A common feature in both the Able Carry Daily Backpack and the Thirteen Daybag is the side zip pocket in the front of each bag. What’s great about these pockets is that they expand outward to create extra room when you need it.
The main difference between these two pockets is their size. Not only is the Daily Backpack’s front pocket larger, but it also includes a leash with a key clip for easy access to your keys.
Unfortunately, the Thirteen Daybag hides its key leash in the zip pocket inside the main compartment but that’s still better than having none at all!
Water Bottle Carry
Another big difference between the Daily Backpack and Thirteen Daybag is with their water bottle storage. The Thirteen Daybag has a dedicated water bottle or umbrella pocket on the front of the backpack. This pocket is really convenient and we love how it blends into the front of the bag when not in use.
The Daily Backpack does not include a dedicated water bottle pocket. Instead you can store your water bottle inside the side-access pocket. But this pocket is just one large open compartment with no water bottle sleeve so your water bottle will just free-float in there.
The lack of a water bottle pocket in the Daily Backpack is something to keep in mind if you are someone who likes to carry a water bottle and would like a dedicated pocket.
Additional external storage
The Daily Backpack has one last pocket located on the top of the backpack that is perfect for small items like a pair of sunglasses, phone or wallet.
The Able Carry Thirteen Daybag skips the top pocket for a hidden pocket right behind the back panel. Although this hidden pocket is great for flat items like a passport or airline tickets, anything that isn’t flat will dig into your back. All in all, we don’t know how functional this large hidden pocket is in a commuter or everyday carry situation.
The last carry feature worth noting are the attachment loops on both the Daily Backpack and Thirteen Daybag.
Able Carry designed the Daily Backpack with an “A-Frame” anti-sagging straps that double as attachment loops. This A-Frame design is awesome as it allows you to attach carabiners or a bike lock to the outside of the bag.
The Thirteen Daybag does not have an A-Frame but Able Carry cleverly hides a row of small attachment loops on the bottom of the bag. This allows you to have attachment loops when you need them while staying hidden when not in use.
Fit and Comfort Features
When it comes to comfort both backpacks are really comfortable to wear but they are built with differently sized people in mind.
Daily Backpack: Better for people with wider shoulders and a larger frame.
Thirteen Daypack: Better for smaller people with narrow shoulders, curved “chest-friendly straps” allow for more comfortable shoulder strap fit in women.
When it comes to comfort the Daily Backpack features a ventilated air-mesh back panel and generously padded shoulder straps. The back panel feels stiff thanks to its foam frame sheet which helps give the bag more structure.
The Thirteen Daybag doesn’t have a frame sheet or air-mesh padding and instead features a quilted padded back panel. But because the Thirteen Daybag is so small you don’t really need a lot of bells and whistles to make this backpack comfortable.
A lot of the Thriteen Daybag’s comfort really comes from the shoulder straps. If you compare the shoulder straps you’ll see that the Thirteen Daybag has what Able Carry calls “chest-friendly straps.” These shoulder straps are curved to better fit a woman’s body. They are also designed for people with narrow shoulders so all of that adds up to a really comfortable fit if you are on the smaller side.
If you have broader shoulders or a larger frame you are going to want to go with the Daily Backpack because the Thirteen Daybag might be too small of a fit.
One last feature that the Daily backpack includes is a sternum strap. The Thirteen Daybag does not include a sternum strap.
What’s great about this sternum strap is that if you don’t want to use them, Able Carry integrates little pockets on the shoulder straps so you can tuck them away. This avoids annoying dangling straps when they are not in use.
Materials
Cordura Nylon vs XPAC
The Daily Backpack is available in both Cordura Nylon fabric or XPAC depending on the color you choose. The Thirteen Daybag on the other hand is only available in XPAC fabric.
Both fabrics have excellent water resistance, are super tough and are considered best in class when it comes to backpack fabrics but there are some key differences:
Cordura Nylon:
Heavier weight
Strong and abrasion resistant
XPAC Fabric:
Lighter weight
Great tear resistance
Signature “X” pattern on the fabric
Feels more “plastic like” and crunches when you handle it
Both Cordura and XPAC fabrics are really durable and water resistant so it really comes down to personal preference when choosing between the two.
Which Able Carry backpack is right for you?
Choose the Able Carry Daily Backpack if… you need room for a 15” laptop and carry a bit more than just the essentials. 20 liters is a great size for an everyday backpack and will be more than enough storage for most commuters. The Daily Backpack has a unisex fit but is better suited for taller people with wider shoulder when compared to the Thirteen Daybag.
Choose the Able Carry Thirteen Daybag if… you need a reliable everyday backpack for just your essentials. The Thirteen Daybag is great for smaller people with shorter torsos and slim shoulders. The contoured “chest friendly straps” and small size is perfect for women who usually find regular sized unisex backpacks too large.
