Drop Liner Backpack

Seriously, what piece of gear do you use everyday that has lasted a DECADE? I can only think of this backpack that has withstood (and continues) to stand the test of time. I bought a white/orange medium sailcloth drop liner bag in March of 2015, and I still use it every day. After a decade of nearly daily use --as a loyal bike commuter the bright colors have been my safety blanket to and from work at all hours of night-- it's has shown signs of wear: the straps are not as cushy and some of the reflective tape has worn away. Considering it's seen at least 5,000 work commuter trips (round trip 5 days/week, 50 wks/yr, for 10 yrs) mostly in the Pacific Northwest, and countless trips to the grocery store/gym/park on the weekend, I'm amazed that it continues to remain waterproof. I've often been in hellacious PNW storms and I've never seen a hint of water inside the backpack that held my clothes or computer. It's also the perfect size to take as a carry-on and stuck under the seat in front of you. With some smart packing I was able to live out of it for a week+ traveling around different countries. The somewhat hidden zipper pockets inside the main storage area are great places to stash your passport + money. I might have been one of the early requests to add two water bottle pockets on the side (before it was an option on the dropdown menu), but Luke was still able to accommodate my request even back in 2015. The original design used elastic material that has stretched a fair amount in ten years, but I've fit 1.5L nalgenes, rain coats, soccer shoes, bananas, etc, and never had anything bounce out of the pockets or seem insecure. The new pocket design uses an adjustable webbed strap that won't stretch out, further increasing longevity of this already bulletproof backpack. I got one zipper replacement after 6-ish years that Luke did in house for a very reasonable price; at that time my white backpack was getting pretty dirty. Luke suggested using a diluted solution of Ms. Stewarts Bluing to clean it up and it worked like magic. Again, this backpack continues to be waterproof and is still bright white. I have broken the main plastic buckle once or twice, once I stepped on it and another was a very very cold morning that cause a tooth to snap when closing (if I were to do it again, I'd get a metal buckle). The only other critique I have is that I wish the loop on the bottom/outside of the pack was oriented horizontally (instead of vertically), it would make clipping on my bike light slightly easier, but at this point I'm really stretching to find something that needs improvement. Is this an expensive backpack? Yes indeed. But my backpack is still waterproof and going strong after 10 years. The day something finally happens to it I'm immediately buying another one from Luke because it's honestly the best piece of gear I've ever owned.

This is an excellent backpack! I’m a bit of a bag enthusiast, owning several from Peak Design, Wandrd, 5.11, Pacsafe, GoRuck, Yeti, and more. Living in the Philippines, I needed a day bag to withstand the rainy season, especially during the typhoon season from June to December. I emailed Luke to inquire about the strongest material available and requested a few modifications. He was very responsive and accommodating to my requests. Luke made the Dropliner backpack using Ultra800TX, incredibly durable and waterproof. One of the strongest typhoons hit the Philippines this July, and I had my Dropliner with me. It held my cellphone, Kindle, tablet, documents, and miscellaneous items. Despite being in a heavy downpour and getting soaked myself—even my Merrell shoes were drenched—everything inside the bag stayed bone dry! Thank you, Luke! I’ll buy it again!

I love my drop liner backpack. what makes it unique is that it’s made from sailcloth which is a great fabric and environmentally responsible for not letting it go to waste. Luke is great to work with and will do customization if within the possibility of the bag (he made my water bottle holders larger as I tend to use big ones). The quality of the product itself is outstanding. It’s become my daily bag along with the tote he made me. FYI because of this backpack I pretty much ordered one of every bag/accessory he has available on the website!

I like Truce and my Drop Liner Backpack so much that I could easily spend an hour making a video review or writing a super detailed review. So here is my personal top 10 reasons to buy this bag. 1. Quality is off the charts. Seriously. 2. The Company will customize this bag using different fabrics in combination and you can pick from several optional features to make it work exactly for your intended purpose. 3. My backpack has been on the high seas, all over the US and Europe, on the back of adventure motorcycles and goes with on many different vessels based out of the USVI when I work as a professional private charter captain. It is very robust and super versatile. 4. Complements, Complements, Complements! Easy, that’s enough positive feedback for a backpack. 5. The optional and adjustable side water bottle holder is designed to take on anything that holds liquid. Nalgene, bike water bottle, three 500ml water bottles, two quart OJ bottles, etc… Amazing! 6. Truce stands behind their products. I sent it back to them because it needed a repair (my abuse) after 3 years of everyday use and the company repaired it and even updated some other panels for me where I wanted a different material or color for very reasonable cost. 7. Luke. (The owner) This should be reason number one, if these where in order. He is a pleasure to work with. The word “quality” is elevated somehow when you speak with him about his work and own one of his bags. I have never said this before about anyone, but it will all make sense when you put of his bags on your back. 8. In the almost 6 years that has passed since I bought what seemed like a very expensive item at the time, I realized early on and still believe that it was an excellent purchase/value. I can not imagine needing another backpack for any reason as this one does everything I ask of it. 9. It’s a one off design. Not only is it made for me to my wishes, even more noteworthy is that in all this time, I have never seen another one in the wild. If you want to feel special, a Truce product will certainly make that happen. 10. Lastly, I can not image a new customer of this company purchasing anything from them and not being thrilled with the end result. In fact, it’s even harder to envision someone being unhappy for any reason and Luke and his staff not crafting a solution that will exceed all expectations. For the record, I have never met Luke. I learned about his Company originally on the internet doing a search for a “top quality backpack”. Before I paid $400 give or take, for a custom Drop Liner Backpack I had never seen his work in person. I don’t usually write reviews, but after all this time, I am still fully impressed.

Beautiful finish, high quality construction, great details and attention to design. 10/10

I am extremely grateful and lucky to have 7 different types of bags from Truce. These bags are hand-built, made to last, and the attention to detail is incredible. If you are considering getting a bag do it. Top quality while helping the planet. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

I was able to customize my bag beyond the options offered on the website. Luke was great to work with. Also it was very important to me that my bag is made in the US -- and more sustainable than most bags. I couldn't be happier.

I love this pack. I use it primarily for work and travel so the laptop compartment was a good add. The internal sleeve holds my iPad off the bottom of the pack and I’ve got enough places to keep things organized. The recycled sail is an eye-catcher. I’m super happy with it.

Most high quality backpack I have ever owned. The design and workmanship are superb and Luke was super helpful in consulting me on the right pack. It truly is a work of art and I am super stoked about it!!