One of the Most Important EDC Packs in Recent History Returns with Some Critical Upgrades

This iconic pack laid the foundation for Topo Designs’ emergence. Now, it gets a significant, long-awaited reissue.

Red Topo Designs backpack with black straps and tan leather accents.

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By Sean Tirman

Published December 10, 2025

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Updated December 10, 2025

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Founded in 2008, Topo Designs quickly earned a reputation for stylish, vintage- and outdoors-inspired gear. The Klettersack was one of its flagship bag offerings — one that helped establish the brand’s flair for bold colors, retro designs and, perhaps most importantly, reliably sturdy offerings.

Much to the dismay of some fans, that bag was discontinued a couple of years ago. But the drought has just ended, as the brand has officially brought it back. Better still, it has been given some crucial quality-of-life updates, making the new Topo Designs Klettersack better than ever.

Red Topo Designs backpack with black straps and tan leather accents worn by a person in a green fleece jacket in a forest. — This bag boasts the same iconic vintage outdoor vibes, but it also features some serious modern updates.

Hit the sack

Largely, this new version of the Klettersack is true to the original — a boon to fans of the once-defunct bag. Most notably, its external styling is largely unchanged.

It retains its iconic flip-top closure, dual closure and side compression straps, and iconic diamond leather patches. For those not in the know, this bag is specifically crafted to mimic the appearance of traditional hiking bags (also called klettersacks, a borrowed German term.)

Navy blue Topo Designs backpack with black straps and tan leather patches held by a person wearing a plaid shirt. — The classic flip top is modernized with quick-release clips and nylon straps.

That said, this version is contemporary in many ways. For instance, its exterior is crafted from lightweight, weatherproof, durable 1000D recycled nylon, instead of heavy canvas or, in some cases, leather. And it has heavy-duty YKK zippers.

It also features modern conveniences, like side-mounted water bottle pockets and plastic quick-release buckles. However, many of these were already present on the original incarnation of this bag.

Person sitting indoors near a window, wearing a gray sweater and brown boots, packing a bright red Topo Designs backpack. — The cinch top and flip cover combine to offer some handy weatherproofing.

Mixed bag

So what makes this version different? Most notably, it has a significant travel-friendly addition — one that fans had been clamoring for before the bag went belly-up the first time.

Now, the Topo Designs Klettersack features an externally-accessible, TSA-compliant laptop sleeve. For reference, this new compartment fits computers up to 15 inches.

Open navy and yellow backpack showing a silver laptop, white wireless earbuds case, and a folded map inside. — This bag actually features dual laptop compartments: an internal one that accommodates laptops up to 16 inches, while the outside one fits laptops up to 15 inches.

Those in the know might be thinking, “But didn’t it already have a laptop compartment?” Yes. Now, it has two. The original can still be found inside the main compartment, and it fits laptops up to 16 inches.

Other zippered pockets and organizational pockets flank that internal laptop compartment, and they’re all lined with 210D recycled nylon. All told, the bag is suitable for 25 liters of gear, making it great for EDC, day hiking and as a carry-on travel backpack.

Three colorful Topo Designs backpacks in red, green, and navy blue stacked near a wooden cabinet with Coleman water coolers and red hiking boots on a plaid suitcase. — The new Klettersack comes in a trio of vibrant colors (seen above).

Available now

The new Topo Designs Klettersack is now available in three beautiful colorways on the brand’s site for $159.

Navy blue Topo Designs backpack with black straps and tan leather diamond patches.

Topo Designs Klettersack

$159 at Topo Designs

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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