REVIEW – I was pretty sure my backpack search had ended years ago. My GORUCK GR1 had been my benchmark since 2015, and the smaller GORUCK Bullet later filled the only other gap I thought I had. Then the Able Carry Daily Plus showed up. It has the rugged feel I like in those GORUCK packs, but with a sleeker, more futuristic style and a lot more built-in organization. At $198, it is not cheap, but it sits in a believable place between the Bullet and GR1 while competing well with other premium daily carry bags. After more than a month of use and two overnight trips, I found very little to complain about.
Overview
The Able Carry Daily Plus is a 21L water resistant backpack made with X-Pac fabric, reinforced webbing, YKK Racquet Coil zippers, Duraflex POM hardware, a foam support insert, a laptop sleeve, a tablet sleeve, an e-reader friendly sleeve, an internal water bottle pocket, and several zippered compartments. It is available in Black X-Pac VX21 and Olive Green X-Pac X42.
Able Carry keeps the packaging simple. Inside the cardboard box, the backpack is protected by a thin fabric drawstring bag instead of being tossed into plastic.
I appreciate that extra bag. It makes the unboxing feel more thoughtful and gives the pack some protection before it reaches you.
What is included
- Able Carry Daily Plus Backpack
- Protective bag
Specifications
- Capacity: 21L
- Weight: 2.6 lbs (1.2kg)
- Height: 19.3" (49cm)
- Width: 11.4" (29m)
- Depth: 7.5" (19cm)
- Laptop compartment: fits most 16" laptops up to 15.3" x 11" x 1.5" (39cm x 28cm x 4cm)
- Tablet sleeve: fits most 11" tablets up to 7.5" x 9.8" x 0.6" (19cm x 25cm x 1.5cm)
- Water bottle pocket: fits most 1L bottles internally
- Outer material: X-Pac Fabric
- Zippers: YKK Racquet Coil
- Hardware: Duraflex POM (Polyoxymethylene) thermoplastic
- Colors and fabric: Black X-Pac VX21 or Olive Green X-Pac X42
Fabric and weather protection
The first thing that makes the Daily Plus feel different from my GORUCK bags is the fabric. GORUCK leans on 1000D Cordura, while Able Carry uses X-Pac, a lightweight laminated material strengthened by its visible X-Grid pattern. It gives the bag its technical look and helps it handle everyday wear.
The material is also water resistant. I would trust it in short bursts of light rain, but I would not treat it like a fully waterproof dry bag for a long soaking.
The zippers add another layer of protection because the seams around them are rubberized and self-sealing.
Interior organization
The Daily Plus can feel a little smaller inside than the 21L number suggests, but that is the tradeoff for the built-in sleeves and pockets. I prefer that kind of structure in an everyday carry bag, so it did not bother me.
The two front sleeves use a soft stretchy material that holds gear in place without feeling abrasive.
Those sleeves are not limited to tablets or e-readers. The stretch gives them some flexibility, and pen or marker slots run along both sides.
In my test setup, the Daily Plus held a 15 inch Razer laptop, a Surface Tablet, and an Amazon Kindle Oasis e-reader without a struggle.
Behind the laptop sleeve is a hidden zippered pocket containing the foam support insert. It also works as a discreet place for valuables such as a passport, and Able Carry adds a smaller velcro-secured pocket inside it.
Opening the front flap exposes a large zippered pocket that is better suited to loose items you want packed away rather than items you need every few minutes.
The lighter interior color is a smart choice because it makes dark objects easier to see inside the bag.
That brighter lining also helps when you are looking down into the bottom of the main compartment.
The main compartment has useful room, although it tightens up once the sleeves, hidden pocket, and bottle area are all occupied.
Outside access and bottle storage
The exterior looks simple until you start finding the access points. The diagonal front zipper opens to a pocket lined with the same stretchy material used inside the bag.
This pocket is easy to reach while the pack is hanging from one shoulder. If you swing the bag around to your chest, the open stretchy pocket and the small zippered pocket sit horizontally.
A removable key leash with a small carabiner lives in that pocket, which is exactly where I want it.
Below that front pocket is my favorite part of the Daily Plus: an internal water bottle pocket.
The pocket can take most 1L bottles. My Yeti Rambler slipped in easily.
I like this approach more than an outside bottle sleeve because the bottle cannot fall out or snag on doorways, straps, or furniture.
The compromise is obvious: a bottle in that pocket takes a noticeable bite out of the main interior space.
Comfort and carry hardware
The back panel uses thick cushioning with channels that help move air and reduce the sweaty-back problem during longer wear.
The padding feels supportive when the pack is loaded, and it adds structure to the whole bag.
Small reinforced loops sit along both sides of the back panel for clipping on accessories.
Those loops are useful for carabiners, bike locks, or other small pieces of gear.
The shoulder straps are thicker than many everyday pack straps, but the extra padding is why they feel so comfortable.
Loose strap length is managed by built-in elastic keepers.
Even the keepers feel premium because they are double stitched around the straps to resist slipping.
The magnetic sternum strap is another detail I enjoyed.
It clicks together with a satisfying snap and stays secure once connected.
The other side of the sternum strap slides to different heights and can be removed completely.
Above the shoulder straps, Able Carry hides another exterior zippered compartment.
I used this top pocket for keys and a wallet because it is easy to reach from outside while still feeling protected.
The top handle is large enough to grab comfortably, yet small enough to blend into the pack when you are not using it.
Zippers, frame, and finish
Able Carry uses YKK Racquet Coil zippers on the Daily Plus.
The exterior pulls are extra long fabric loops with reinforced stitching, so they are easy to grab.
The main zipper pulls can tuck beneath reinforced loops near the lower sides of the pack.
Those exterior loops and anchor points are made from strong load-bearing nylon webbing.
The webbing continues along the bottom of the bag in an A-type layout.
Able Carry calls this support system its A-Frame, and it gives the Daily Plus structure while helping distribute load.
That wraparound webbing also helps prevent the bag from sagging when it is loaded.
The branding is restrained, which suits the stealthy overall design.
To show the fit, I found a better model than me, which admittedly was not difficult.
Living with the Daily Plus
Able Carry recommends wearing its packs higher on your back, and the Daily Plus is most comfortable that way.
When it rides higher, the pack hugs the body and feels secure even when full.
If it is worn low, it sits farther away from the body and feels less comfortable.
Weight distribution is one of its strengths, likely because of the stiff foam insert and the A-Frame webbing.
Buckling the sternum strap adds even more comfort and stability.
After using the Daily Plus as my everyday carry for more than a month and taking it on two overnight trips, I had to adjust to having far more compartments than I do with my GORUCKs. Once each item had a regular place, though, the organization became one of my favorite parts of the bag. Able Carry built an outstanding backpack for people who care about materials, comfort, and thoughtful access.
What I liked
- Premium durable build quality and stitching
- Plenty of easily accessible compartments
- Sleek, futuristic design
What I don’t
- It is expensive
- The 21L capacity may be too small for some people
Quick Questions
Q: What material is the Able Carry Daily Plus made from?
A: X-Pac fabric, a lightweight laminated material with a visible X-Grid pattern, reinforced with rubberized self-sealing seams around the zippers.
Q: Is the bag fully waterproof?
A: No, it’s water resistant rather than fully waterproof. It handles short bursts of light rain but isn’t meant to be treated like a submersible dry bag.
Q: Does it have a dedicated water bottle pocket?
A: Yes, an internal pocket fits most 1L bottles, though using it takes a noticeable bite out of the main compartment’s usable space.
Q: What colors is it available in?
A: Black X-Pac VX21 or Olive Green X-Pac X42.
Final thoughts
The Able Carry Daily Plus is a strong choice if you want a sturdy, comfortable, stylish everyday backpack with more organization than a simple open-bucket pack. The $198 price is high, but the materials, stitching, hardware, support system, and design make it feel justified among premium daily carry options. The main space can feel tight because the internal bottle pocket and sleeves take room, yet the tradeoff is excellent access for a laptop, tablet, e-reader, bottle, keys, wallet, and other essentials. I still love my GORUCKs, but the Daily Plus has earned a real spot in my rotation.
Price: $198
Product Link: Able Carry
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Able Carry.
RATING: 5 stars
