Toshi Pack 20L V2

The yellow slaps.

I purchased this from Japan as a replacement for a bag from Beruf, a Japanese brand.
It has a beautiful shape, with a good balance of simplicity and a touch of luxury. The build quality is solid and durable, and I have no complaints so far.
Shipping was also smooth and hassle-free.
I’m very happy with this purchase.

I got this bag because of its size, multiple compartments and comfort.
As I carry a MacBook Pro 16" around my old bag was really uncomfortable and heavy.
I did some research and watched some reviews and narrowed down to the Aer, Alpaka, Able Carry and Rework. After comparing the different styles and materials I decided to go with the Toshi V2 not because I’m Singaporean. But because of the thoughtful design of the bag.

I really like the false bottom for the laptop, the front compartments for my accessories and the padding of the bag. It feels so much better than my old one in terms of comfort.

The bag is a perfect balance between weight and long term durability. Overall; this is 95% close to my perfect bag.

Pros
The bag is extremely good quality.
The harness is very conformatable
The organization is adequate though some extra is always welcome. E.g. slot for 2 pens
Love the size of the top pocket and also the creativity of ambidextrous pocket.

Cons
The handle is too close to the body. Friction with back of hand.
The key leash can use better materials and can be slightly thicker though current setting is sufficient
The front admin pocket can be stiffer.

I had been happy and satisfied with my tomtoc T65 until I recently fell down the EDC rabbit hole and started doing some serious research into EDC backpacks.

I eventually narrowed my options down to four: the Rework Toshi Pack V2 (20L), Aer City Pack Pro 2 (24L), Alpaka Elements Backpack Pro, and tomtoc T77 (22L), and eventually decided to go with Toshi.

These are the must-have features for me:
1. Compact size: I’m 173 cm / 5'7", so I didn’t want something that would look or feel like a huge shell on my back.
2. A separate laptop compartment: This is one of the things I always wished my tomtoc T65 had.
3. A sternum strap: Another feature missing from the T65 that I really wanted this time around.
4. Two water bottle pockets: This was especially important to me because I use one for a water bottle and the other for an umbrella.

The Toshi Pack V2 checks all of those boxes (I'm sure there are plenty other backpacks do, too), but a few nice-to-have features are what really won me over:
1. Easy access to the clamshell main compartment: Thanks to the swooped-back zipper design, I can still access the main compartment from the top without fully opening the bag. I really like having the flexibility of both top access and a full clamshell opening.
2. Minimalist design: I wanted something clean and sleek that wouldn’t stand out too much in a crowd, and the Toshi fits that style very well. I picked 840D nylon instead of X-pac because the latter is just not my thing.
3. Well-thought-out organization: The storage layout gives different types of items their own logical places, which makes it much easier to keep everything organized instead of having things pile up in the main compartment.

My only complaint so far is the top handle. omg it's too tight to grab.

As for shipping, it took roughly six days from placing the order to receiving the package in Shenzhen, China.

Overall, the Toshi Pack V2 gives me the compact size and understated look I wanted while still offering the practical features and organization I was missing from my previous backpack.

good