Evergoods x Carryology Civic Travel Bag 26 (CTB26), Phoenix II — Review
Over the past couple years, we’ve reviewed a couple different Carryology collaborations — the Mystery Ranch x Carryology Assault (Unicorn), the Mystery Ranch x Carryology No Escape (Dragon), and the Mystery Ranch x Carryology Spartanology (Cerberus). That’s a lot of Mystery Ranch... These backpacks are limited edition and always sell out very quickly. So we were very fortunate to be able to nab one of the of the Evergoods x Carryology CTB26 bags (Phoenix II) during the recent release. I’ve been using the Phoenix for the past month as an EDC backpack and am here to throw my two cents into the mix. Is the bag worth the price tag? Does it stand up to the hype? How does it compare to Evergoods’ other EDC bags, the CPL24, the CTB35, and the CHZ22?
Overview
The Phoenix II is a premium-quality EDC backpack and is a scaled down version of the CTB35 (Civic Transit Bag, 35L) in X-Pac. Like the CTB35, main access to the Phoenix II is via a clamshell opening front panel. It has a separate laptop compartment, 3 smaller external pockets, and water bottle holders. With an 26L of volume and plenty of organization, the Phoenix II is ideal for EDC, whether that be for work/school or for day trips.
Key Strengths
- High quality materials (VX42-based X-Pac exterior with 420D nylon interior lining)
- Excellent execution of features from the CPL originator makes it intuitive to use and comfortable to wear
- Great amount of organization. Not so many pockets that you’re paralyzed by the number of options, but enough that you don’t need to use more pouches if you don’t want to
Constructive Criticisms
- Overbuilt for the purposes of EDC
- The Aquaguard zippers can’t be used easily with one hand
- High price tag
Organization
Evergoods backpacks are typically relatively simple in terms of organization. The earlier generations of the CPL24 only had a couple small pockets in the main compartment, a laptop sleeve, and a front vertically zipped pocket. They seemed to push the wearer to use some org pouches. The newer generations, including the Phoenix II, have added quick access pockets and some internal partitions inside the pockets as well. To me, this is the perfect amount of organization. You can still use org pouches if you want, but there’s also plenty of organization if you don’t want to use pouches.
- Main Compartment — Clam shell opening, large enough for all your EDC needs. I can fit my wireless keyboard, headsets, notebooks, folder of documents, and even a hoodie or jacket.
- Tablet Sleeve — Elastic sleeve along the back of the main compartment, perfect for a tablet or documents.
- Internal Pockets — Two internal, zipped pockets in the main compartment. The upper one is 6 x 11.5 inches (H x W) and contains smaller partitions inside as well. The lower one is mesh, vertically zipped, and 11 by 8–11 inches (H x W).
- Laptop Compartment — Dedicated laptop compartment on the back panel with internal padded sleeve. The laptop is suspended and a Velcro strap help hold it in place. Holds devices up to a 17” MBP but if you have a pretty thick laptop, 15–16" might be the max. One thing I really like about this design is that there are two Velcro fields in the laptop sleeve, so if you don’t want to use the Velcro strap to secure the laptop, you can keep the strap out of the way.
- Quick Access Pockets — There are two quick access pockets, one at the top of the front panel (about 7.5 x 11.5 inches H x W, though the zipper isn’t at the top of the pocket nor as wide as the compartment), and one on top of the bag behind the main compartment’s zipper (4 x 11.5 inches H x W).
- Vertically Zipped Front Pocket — 13 inches in height and 6.5 to 8 inches across (it’s wider at the top). The compartment takes up most of the front panel of the bag and includes internal organization as well, including a key leash, a small zipped mesh pocket, and 2 small pockets.
- Water Bottle Pockets — This is what I felt was lacking on the CPL24. Now you get TWO of them. They are elastic but better suited for slimmer bottles. While my medium S’well bottle fits perfectly, a 1L Nalgene bottles doesn’t really fit well.
Additional Features
- MOLLE basket — At the top of back wall of the main compartment is a panel of MOLLE but it’s unattached at the top, so you can use it as a pouch as well. It’s a perfect place to hold a small org pouch.
- Sternum Strap — Adjustable and removable sternum, but it’s a relatively basic sternum strap, with just a couple pieces of webbing and a side-release buckle.
- Grab Handles — One of the unique features of Evergoods bags are these grab handles. They are relatively thin, but with aluminum stays inside, they are still strong and stiff enough to fully support the weight of the bag. In conjunction with the internal frame sheet, the bag doesn’t really deform when you hold the bag by the handles.
- Luggage Passthrough — Luggage handles can go under the back panel, but the backpack will need to be in a horizontal orientation, which is something to make note of if you’re carrying a water bottle.
- Counter Pulls — These small details make a huge difference in the user experience. When backpacks have stiff zippers but don’t have counterpulls or anything to take hold off, it’s a nuisance to use the zippers every single time.
- Bladder Ports — Both shoulder straps have a port for a hydration bladder tube, though this backpack isn’t technically a hiking backpack.
Construction and Comfort
Like all Carryology collaborations, the Phoenix II is a bit overbuilt. But this seems to be an intentional style. The backpack is 18.25 x 8.5 x 12.5 inches and 26 L in volume. It weighs in at 3.69 lbs, which is on the heavier side for an EDC bag. The version seen in this review is VX42 fabric (i.e., an X-Pac with a 420 D nylon and polyester X-ply, and 50 D polyester backing, all laminated together. The interior is a bright orange 420 D HT nylon lining; the color is a nice contrast to the black exterior and makes it really easy to find items inside the main compartment.
The Phoenix II has an HDPE internal framesheet, allowing it to retain it’s structure, even when using the grab handles. There is Zote EV50 foam padding throughout the contoured shoulder straps, which is another trademark of Evergoods backpacks for me. The foam has an excellent balance of structural support and comfort. Even though it sits a little high on your back, the Phoenix II is very comfortable even for people who prefer their backpacks to be lower on their back, like myself.
The zippers on the Phoenix II are all YKK. The exterior is #10 RCPU and #8 RCPU, providing excellent water resistance, and the interior is #8 RC. The zipper pulls are hypalon. The plastic buckles all feel sturdy, and after regular use, I haven’t noticed anything concerning about the durability of the backpack.
Additional Usage Notes
Though the CPL24 wasn’t really able to stand upright on its own well, the Phoenix II can. However, it tends to lean forward slightly. Of course, this also depends on how you pack the contents of the backpack.
A last note about the Phoenix II is that the pocket layout works allows for usage in both vertical and horizontal orientations. If you swing the backpack around to your front while wearing it on one shoulder (and thus have the Phoenix II oriented horizontally), the pockets and backpack still function well. This was a positive point about the CPL24 as well, and continues to be a strength of the Phoenix II in my opinion.
Summary
Overall, the Phoenix II is an excellent backpack, despite the fact that it is quite overbuilt for an EDC backpack. It’s comfortable, durable, and has just the right amount of organization. The Phoenix II is great for a professional or school environment, and as a travel carryon or a daybag. It’s versatile. But it’s not an ideal backpack for someone looking for a very lightweight bag or someone who is cost-sensitive.
Features: 4 of 5 — Though the Phoenix II is relatively simple in terms of features, the execution of the design and features that it does have are exceptional. This was also our reaction to the CPL24, and it carries through to the Phoenix II as well.
Organization: 5 of 5 — In my opinion, the Phoenix II has just the right amount of organization. It’s not overly organized, but still has enough that you don’t need to use any org pouches if you don’t want to. Just the right balance.
Construction: 5 of 5 — With X-Pac exterior, 420 D interior lining, YKK hardware, and Zote foam, the Phoenix II is built like a tank. It has great weather-resistance and the craftsmanship is also top notch.
Aesthetics: 4 of 5 — Like all of Evergoods’ backpacks, the Phoenix II has a more minimalist aesthetic. With the all black exterior, it’s suitable for professional settings. But the Velcro patch lets you add a bit of your own flair too. It may seem like an unassuming look to some, though.
Comfort: 5 of 5 — The shoulder straps are very well executed and superior in comfort for a 26L backpack. The padding and contouring reflect designers who are leaders in the industry.
Life-Integration: 5 of 5 — The Phoenix II is a very simple backpack to use. There aren’t any novel features that require a learning curve. Everything is intuitive.
X-factor: 4 of 5 — All Carryology collaborations come with a ton of hype and excitement. And a collab with Evergoods just elevates that even more. It’s still a niche target though, and while a bag nerd who sees the Phoenix II in the wild might freak out, lay people won’t recognize how rare the sighting is.
