Modern Dayfarer Backpack V2 Review
We reviewed the Modern Dayfarer Backpack about 3 years ago. This year, David, the man behind the Modern Dayfarer brand, has released the Dayfarer V2, building upon everything he’s learned from other products he’s developed during this period. V2 is a substantive improvement and upgrade from the original. This review will focus on comparing with the original, so check out our first review for a more comprehensive take on the bag’s functionality.
Disclaimer: The Dayfarer V2 was provided by Modern Dayfarer as a sample for this honest review. There are also Amazon affiliate links in this article which support our blog at no cost to you.
What’s Changed?
- Cleaner lines, sleeker aesthetic — the original was already pretty clean, but V2 removes some visual lines for an even more minimal and stealthy look.
- Top corners constructed to naturally fold inwards — this addresses potential weather-proofing issues from the original.
- Redesigned back panel and straps — V2 has two columns of foam instead of the three panels on the original. A bonus add is there’s a luggage pass-through strap that sits between the foam padding. The straps are updated to have a distinct S-curve. I don’t quite remember how the original felt, but the V2 feels really comfortable and firmly supported on my back.
- Water bottle pocket loses the zipper — in the original, it hardly did anything so this is a welcome omission. The elastic fabric is also upgraded from the mesh used in the original. It can accommodate slim and big bottles.
- No stiff side panels — This allows the bag to naturally expand and compress based on its load. The original was quite bulky and rigid. I love this change and it improves both the aesthetics and practicality of the Dayfarer in use.
- External zippered pockets are more hidden — especially the back panel pocket; it’s really well hidden. Most people probably wouldn’t even notice it if you didn’t tell them. Great for secret storage of a passport, cash, etc.
- The small zippered pocket on the shoulder strap has been removed, and I don’t miss it.
- Weight — V2 is slightly lighter at 2.2 lbs vs. 2.4 lbs
I’m sure there are many more fit and finish tweaks from the original (face fabric and interior lining material), but the above are what I consider to be the most significant changes.
What’s Still Great
- High quality materials — 840D ballistic nylon and ripstop grid lining are both confidence inspiring
- Padded top and side handles — they’re easy to grab but still pretty flush with the bag; doesn’t compromise the silhouette
- Main compartment access — Top access is great for quickly grabbing something, but being able to unzip the sides to open the front panel completely is great for packing.
- Enough pockets for organization — The smallest items have a home in the internal mesh pockets in the side admin compartment. Medium items can go in the front vertical pocket or internal zippered pockets behind the front panel. Documents and a 1-inch 3-ring binder can go in a sleeve in the main compartment.
- Dedicated, suspended and padded laptop compartment — protected with a YKK Aquaguard zipper and can comfortably fit a 16" Macbook.
- Vented bottom shoe compartment — useful if you have dirty clothes or shoes you want to keep separate from your other stuff. The original was targeted for an office/gym use case and this still serves that purpose. I didn’t use this compartment at all since I work from home.
Overall, the V2 is still a very elegant and premium-feeling backpack that you can bring in urban and professional settings. It’s an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a work bag for daily commutes or short business trips, and also looks really cool.
Usage Drawbacks
As with every bag, there are some trade-offs that are still present from the original and also introduced with the refinements made for V2.
- The external zip pockets are so seamless that it can be hard to find the zippers. I often needed to look under flaps as the pulls can get lodged in them. Plus, the pulls are black and don’t stand out. These are some trade-offs made for a cleaner aesthetic.
- Related to the above, the front vertical pocket zipper can easily get mixed up with the main compartment side zipper if you’re just feeling with your fingers.
- The side admin pocket can get quite tight if main compartment is packed out. I found it a little difficult to get things in and out quickly so I couldn’t really regard it as a quick access pocket.
- The main Fidlock buckle can get unintentionally released when the bag is fully packed in a somewhat uneven way. I’m not sure why, but even the act of setting a fully packed bag down can cause enough settling movement for the top flap to shift in a way that detaches the buckle.
- The bag does not easily stand on its own. Not sure if it’s because of the shoe compartment flap, but the bottom has a natural roundedness that makes the bag want to lean forward. I’m generally a person that prefers a flat, padded bottom so the bag can easily sit upright even if it can’t outright stand on its own. With the current shape, even when leaning in against the wall the bag can slide down on its face if the floor is smooth. If you pack a heavy pouch with a square bottom, that helps the bag stand up.
- There’s no sternum strap included, and I would recommend picking one up from Modern Dayfarer or elsewhere like 8Timber if you like the Fidlock V-buckle.
- The shoe pocket, when occupied, will take up a lot of space in the main compartment; that’s just how every shoe compartment works in any bag that as them.
Summary
The Dayfarer V2 (currently $195 USD) makes some welcome updates to the Dayfarer backpack and is a meaningful upgrade. However, you should consider the usage drawbacks, most of which were present in the original, and see if you can live with them before purchasing. Meanwhile, the V1 is still available at a discounted price from Modern Dayfarer’s website.
Thanks for reading this follow-up review and hope you found it helpful!
