Growing up, all I needed was my leather bottom Jansport. It served me well on the playground and through middle school. As I made the rough, aberrant transition into adulting I found out my trusty pack wouldn’t cut it. Soon I found myself with a briefcase, an overnight duffle, a gym bag, etc. It was a real nuisance swapping bags all the time, and it was then that I started my search for one bag to rule them all. In this review we’ll check out TAD’s Axiom 24 Pack and see if it can handle being a one bag…bag.
Construction
Probably the first thing you’ll notice when handling the Axiom is the textile material composing the shell. VX-21 Ripstop is comprised of 4 layers including a C6 DWR 210D Nylon face, Polyester X-PLY, 0.25 mil PET film and 50D Poly Taffeta backing for abrasion resistance. Most of us are likely used to rough, heavy 1000D cordura, so it might seem like a sensory shock at first. Opening the bag is a little reminiscent of a bag of Lays Sour Cream and Onion at times but not overly noisy. The water resistance of this material is far more impervious to water than traditional ripstop, and much lighter.
The pack has a mesh back made of closed cell, cross linked polyethylene foam. We see Hypalon Synthetic Rubber across the top, enhancing water resistance even more so. Capacity is rated at 24 liters (1465 cu in) and the pack measures 12” (30.48 cm) W x 19.75” (50.165 cm) H x 7” (17.78 cm) D – Weight is about 37 ounces comparable to a male adult Chinchilla (Short tailed)
Function
The team at Triple Aught Design created several Axiom’s, and they took in customer feedback off previous renditions to really fine tune this pack, and it shows. If you’re familiar with their signature Fast Pack bags, but were leery of the tactical vibe, then the Axiom would be better suited for you. This bag has a streamlined, clean and uncluttered design. I found the top shallow pocket perfect for sunglasses or keys, although I would have liked to have had it lined with microfiber for electronics. TAD also included an ingenious side water bottle pocket that is completely gusseted to the inside of the pack. I was able to fit in my 40 oz Kleen Kanteen inside the pocket, which was a first as no other bag’s pouches were large enough.
The bag features a smaller organizational pocket which has lots of slots and zippered pouches for small items you want contained. There’s also an inversed compartment on the bottom of the bag, this is probably best for storing a rank gym shirt, Ke$sha CD or anything else you want out of sight. The main compartment has attachment points for MOLLE type accessories as well. I really appreciate the generous padding on the shoulders and back, both of which are very breathable. Just keep in mind, all those streamlined pockets come at a cost. Anything you stuff into the side compartments or the inverted pocket, will directly eat up space in your main compartment.
Aesthetic
I had a hands on review with TAD’s Fastpack, and while it was a versatile bag, I often felt it was a little too tactical at times. TAD has managed to successfully replicate a lot of the features we see in that pack, but in a much easier to swallow pill. The Axiom has a very sleek look. Whereas the Fastpack was engineered, the Axiom was orchestrated. It’s like an adult bag for the guy who has a lot of toys. The coyote brown is a neutral color that goes with almost anything, it will also show wear more too, so something to consider when purchasing.
Conclusion
Triple Aught Design’s Axiom 24 is a well thought out, superbly constructed bag. It exhibits top notch, highly technical materials in its DNA. The price is definitely in the upper echelons as far as quality bags go, so you’ll have to decide if the price warrants the use. The Axiom is a very solid everyday bag that has the capacity and organization to get you through your day, day in and day out.
