UAG Civilian 20L Backpack Review: A Versatile, Stylish Medium Bag With Some Cool Features

Urban Armor Gear (UAG) was founded in Orange County, California in 2012 and offers a line of cases and accessories for smart phones, tablets, laptops, ear buds, smart watches and VR gear. Their product line also includes chargers, cables and power banks and other everyday portable items, but today we are reviewing a product from their bag and sleeve line, the UAG Civilian 20L Backpack.

The UAG Civilian 20L Backpack looks traditional at first, but it has a modern silhouette and several features that set it apart from many similar products in this segment.

Build Quality and Design

One of the first things you notice about the UAG Civilian 20L Backpack is its clamshell design, which allows the front of the bag to open completely, allowing access to everything in the main compartment. I can tell you from experience that this is a great feature, especially if you need to reach things in confined spaces, like when you’re sitting in an airplane seat with a bag on the floor. Depending on how you pack the bag, you can choose to open just the top or lay it down and open the front completely.

I love the size of this bag, at 12.2″ wide by 18.9″ high and 4.72″ deep, and weighing just 1.85 pounds, it’s not too big or heavy for any trip, yet its twenty liter capacity is large enough to fit your needs on most trips.

According to UAG, the bag is made of “hard materials that will not wear out.” I recently took a bag on a trip to Brazil, and despite the various legs of the trip, the bag did not break down. Best of all, the material is pleasant to the touch, something that cannot be said of all bags made of the same material.

The front of the bag has the UAG logo on a hook and loop attached patch for easy removal. The entire front of the bag, below the logo, is covered with sewn-in nylon loops for attaching all kinds of gear. I found this especially useful when unpacking temporarily, such as at airports, when a place to put a pen or glasses is needed.

The left side of the UAG Civilian 20L Backpack (when facing forward) has space for a regular-sized water bottle. This pocket also easily accepts plastic water bottles of many sizes. On the right side of the bag is a full-length zippered pocket. Inside this compartment there are two pockets, one above the other, suitable for glasses, glasses, pens, keys and other small items. This room is decorated with a light gray fabric with a hexagonal print.

This same material is used throughout the interior of the bag. All zippers are YKK, and the ones on the large compartments have orange pull cords. The zippers in the second compartment are dark. Everything was done without incident.

At the top of the bag is a small, zippered pocket for important papers and documents. This pocket can be accessed from the inside and outside with separate zippers, making it a logical place for your passport and boarding pass.

The main compartment has a pocket on each side with a padded opening for laptops up to 16″. The laptop is held in place by a flap with a hook-and-loop fastener. The tapered laptop compartment has a thick zipper on the outer wall and soft, thin padding on the inner wall. The outer padding is thick enough that even the bag is fully open.

The interior of the main flap features access to a top accessory pocket with two zippered mesh pockets below. Under the flap is a hidden compartment for Airtags, a good idea no matter where you are looking.

The back of the UAG Civilian 20L Backpack has a curved mesh back panel and shoulder straps. The black mesh is layered over the breathable fabric of the same orange accent color, which gives the bag its unique aesthetic. The back also has an essential feature for any air traveler, carry-on luggage, a nylon strap that slides over the carry-on handle, making the two work as one.

The straps themselves have ample padding and are adjustable. Each arm strap also has a small strap at about shoulder level that is perfect for temporarily holding your glasses or perhaps a pen. There is also a sternum strap with a snap to securely attach the bag to your body. At the top of the armband is a handle that connects the two to the right where they meet at the top of the bag. This belt is made of nylon and is not stitched.

Working

As I mentioned earlier, I went to Brazil with this bag and found it to be very good. The straps and padding are comfortable when used over both arms or simply thrown over one shoulder. The pass-through material holds the bag securely when you move it without affecting its balance. The zippered top compartment is very useful and works as designed.

I really liked the versatility of the bag with the clamshell design and its size, which is big enough to carry what you need without being bulky or uncomfortable. I also think that a sharp looking backpack whose aesthetic design means quality without screaming “steal me”.

My only complaint about the UAG Civilian 20L Backpack would be the nylon strap handle, which, while perfectly adequate for hanging the bag from a hook, quickly becomes uncomfortable in the hand when the bag is loaded with gear. I noticed this every time I took out the bag I was carrying. It’s certainly not a deal breaker, and the details seem easy to update.

At $139.95, there are less expensive backpacks on the market, but if you’re looking for a well-designed and well-built bag with the details and flexibility for today’s use, the UAG Civilian 20L Backpack might be for you.

The UAG Civilian 20L Backpack retails for $139.95; available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

The source: A sample update provided by the manufacturer

What I like: Smart design; Flexibility; Aesthetics

What Needs Improvement: The top handle must be installed