Testing the Boundary Errant Adventure-Commuter Pack
Durable fabrics, intelligent design, clean looks, and plenty of storage make this one of the best office-outdoor crossover bags we’ve tried
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Boundary Supply may have perfected the one-backpack quiver. The Utah-based company launched on Kickstarter in 2017 with the Prima pack system, a modular commuter-adventure crossover bag that funded over 1,000 percent of its goal and netted $1.6 million in preorders.
Now Boundary is making a lighter and sleeker pack, called the Errant ($99). The work-travel-photo-hike-bike-commute bag is built with the promise of being the only everyday bag its customers will ever need, in terms of functionality, durability, and aesthetics.
That’s a lot to promise out of one pack. But after three days, I’m convinced that the Errant has a better blend of class, function, and durability than any commuter bag I’ve seen. The pack is made out of Bluesign-approved, burly 500-denier fabric and includes a wealth of well-thought-out features, none of which feel unnecessary or overbuilt. And at $99, it’s cheaper than most of its competitors.
Building off of the success of the Prima, Boundary made user-friendliness a big design focus for the Errant. The pack has one main compartment with two openings: a U-shaped top zipper for stuff-and-go access and a full-zip back panel for strategic packing. (An optional side clip stops the back-panel zipper halfway so you can pull out your laptop without opening the whole bag.) A six-liter wet-dry storage pocket on the bottom holds gym clothes or running shoes, and a hidden passport pocket along the back panel adds security for small valuables.
The Errant is also full of small but significant details, like magnetic buckles, water-resistant zippers, a Nywool-lined laptop sleeve for scratch protection, a built-in magnetic keychain that clicks in and out with ease, and a hidden webbing strap that buckles over the backpack straps, keeping them tight to the pack during airplane travel. Both the hipbelt and sternum straps are removable. And the bag is compatible with Boundary’s line of modular storage cubes and camera cases, which attach to the inside of the pack via Velcro and magnets.
All in all, these design elements translate into one of the few backpacks I’ve encountered that transitions from the office to the gym to the bar to the trail without significant compromise. It has the elegance and clean design I look for in a work pack, yet it’s also tough and comfortable enough to ride or hike in and has the storage capacity to fit gear for work and play.
Admittedly, the 22-liter capacity is a tad small for a post-work grocery run or a two-sport day, and it lacks a helmet carry for folks who don’t want to leave their lid on their bike. But the pack wins for looks, versatility, and ease of use.
The Kickstarter campaign to fund production launched on June 25, and it has already reached $326,446 of its $45,000 goal. The campaign ends August 10, and packs ship in September.