Cotopaxi Batac 16L Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Lightweight, easy to access contents, internal organization, fun colors
Cons: No hip belt, no padding or support, small side pockets
Manufacturer: Cotopaxi
Our Verdict
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Cotopaxi Batac 16L | |||||
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| Price | $60.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $155.00 at Amazon | $139.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $129.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $129.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Lightweight, easy to access contents, internal organization, fun colors | Comes with hydration bladder, very comfortable hip belt, good capacity, solidly constructed | Comfortable, well-ventilated, adjustable torso length, included rain cover | Adjustable torso length, very durable, great features and pockets | Moves with you, durable build, well-balanced load carry, good pockets and carry options |
| Cons | No hip belt, no padding or support, small side pockets | U-shaped top opening is smaller, some pockets are less convenient | Heavy, ill-fitting hipbelt | Runs a bit small, front stow pocket a bit small | No hydration reservoir clip (loop only), not meant for downpours, very long torso |
| Bottom Line | Plenty of wild color combos and a good level of usability and easy access that make it a good casual pack | An extremely comfortable daypack for committed hikers | A great pack for those who hike in wet climates and who are on the smaller side | A comfortable and durable pack that works as well around town as it does out on the trail | Comfortable to carry even over long distances when fully loaded, with great balance and good features |
| Rating Categories | Cotopaxi Batac 16L | CamelBak Sequoia 24 | Osprey Sirrus 24 | Osprey Tempest 20 | Black Diamond Nitro 22L |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Versatility (25%) | |||||
| Weight (25%) | |||||
| Ease Of Use (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Cotopaxi Batac 16L | CamelBak Sequoia 24 | Osprey Sirrus 24 | Osprey Tempest 20 | Black Diamond... |
| Weight (oz) | 11 | 36 | 41 | 26 | 31 |
| Volume/Capacity (liters) | 16 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 22 |
| Back Construction | Lightweight nylon | AirSupport(TM) backpanel; mesh covered foam panels with air flow channels | Ventilated tensioned mesh | AirScape backpanel; large spaced padding covered by large-holed mesh | OpenAir backpanel; ridged foam covered by large mesh |
| Hydration | Internal hydration sleeve | External hydration sleeve and 3L Crux reservoir included | Internal hydration sleeve | External hydration sleeve | External hydration sleeve |
| Hipbelt | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compartments | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rain Cover | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Additional pockets | 3 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Outside Carry Options | Daisy chain, 2 side pockets | Trekking pole and ice axe attachments, side pocket, expandable overflow pocket, hip belt pockets (one zip, two stretch), daisy chain, hydration hose clip | Trekking pole attachment, ice axe loop, side strech pockets | Lidlock helmet attachment, trekking pole quick-stow, large stretch front pocket, ice tool loop with bungee tie-off, side pockets, hip belt pockets, sunglasses shoulder stow, bike light loop | Ice axe loops, dual 5-loop daisy chains, expandable side drink pockets, front stuff pocket, hip belt pocket, small zippered top pocket, four shoulder strap loops |
| Whistle | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Key Clip | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Materials | 75D-210D nylon (sometimes ripstop; individual pieces may vary) | 420D oxford nylon | 210D nylon body, 420D nylon bottom | 70D x 100D nylon body, accent and bottom 420HD nylon packcloth | 210D ripstop nylon, 210D Dobby Abrasion |
| Notable Features | Side-opening small pocket, internal organizational pockets | Hydration bladder included, hydration pocket has blue zipper pull, removable metal stiffening rod in center of back. multiple pockets in both hip belts, several internal stretch pockets, U-shaped top zipper | Integrated rain cover, ice axe loop, trekking pole attachment, adjustable back | Helmet attachment, trekking pole quick-stow, sunglasses quick-stow, bike light loop, shoulder strap pocket, stowable ice axe loops | Bike light loop, main zip opens all the way down, ReActiv shoulder straps connect to each other behind the waist and waist belt not attached to frame to facilitate twisting, front expandable pocket reinforced with internal structural foam panels |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Cotopaxi Batac 16L is a unisex daypack made from recycled nylon scraps ranging from 75D-210D in thickness. It weighs just 11 ounces and comes in a single size and volume.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
Up against fully padded models with structured bodies that cushion your body away from your gear and wide hip belts to take the weight off your shoulders, the Cotopaxi Batac looks a little bare bones. It lacks any sort of hip belt, weight-bearing, or otherwise, and its only "padding" is the recycled nylon and mesh that make it up. When empty, it's easy to see this simple pack doesn't have any support structures that might also protect your back from the contents you place inside. However, this funky little bag isn't made for hardcore treks that are gear-heavy and cover seemingly endless miles. Instead, it offers a short learning curve of careful packing that ends up making this bag reasonably comfortable to carry, with a sweatshirt for padding in the back and low weight items over shorter distances that won't fatigue your shoulders. Its only downside is the slightly wide unisex shoulder straps that have a tendency to slip sideways off of narrow shoulders. The sternum strap helps stop this from happening, though it's barely high enough to be comfortably placed for short-torsoed women. While it lacks some of the finesse other models bring to the table, the Batac still manages to be fairly comfortable with lighter cargo and for shorter excursions.
Versatility
Two large pockets comprise the body of this bag, each with additional simple organization inside. The main compartment has a laptop/water reservoir sleeve (or a great spot for your extra layer to add padding to this padless bag) and a small zippered mesh pocket with a key clip inside. However, with no hole through which to thread a hydration hose, if you're a hardcore water bladder hiker, you'll be left stringing yours through the main zipper. The second compartment zips open on the side of the bag, making it easy to access by swinging the whole thing under your right arm. It houses another small, mesh slip pocket that's just about the right size for most smartphones. The Batac has two side water bottle pockets of mesh, though they're quite small. It is possible to fit a 1L Nalgene or insulated bottle into the pockets, but only if the body of the bag isn't already stuffed to the brim. And to round out this smattering of just enough pockets and features to be useful, a daisy chain cascades down the side of the pack opposite of the side-opening pocket. The Batac's combination of pockets, size, and simple design make it a surprisingly versatile bag for everyday use, venturing into moderate outdoor exploits. And while Cotopaxi has made a name for themselves with wacky, surprising color combinations, you can also choose a premade version of the Batac if you don't feel up to spinning the color wheel of chance.
Weight
Considering each Batac is constructed of a unique combination of fabrics, the weight of the final product is never completely certain. Cotopaxi claims this pack weighs 12 ounces, while the one we tested actually weighs just 11 ounces. Considering what this brings to the table in terms of capacity, features, and pizazz, the Batac has a great weight value. It's not quite in the realm of ultralight, but it's still light, thin, and packable enough to justifiably stuff into your suitcase on your way to faraway adventures.
Ease of Use
The simplicity of the Batac makes it a bit less adjustable than many other bags we tested. It's a unisex model that's pretty small overall. The shoulder straps can be adjusted and the sternum strap moves up and down, but neither provides a women's specific fit. The shoulder straps splay wide on narrow frames and the chest strap cuts a bit low for many shorter women's busts. As for packing and accessing this back, it's easy to do. The traditional top opening zipper extends far enough down each side to facilitate rummaging for items at the bottom of the bag without necessarily having to empty it. By moving the other compartment's zipper to one side of the bag, the Batac offers a large pocket with very easy access without needing to fully remove this pack. We're fans of using this bag for heading to the coffee shop, spending a day running errands, and as a personal item in airline travel. True to what we've come to expect from Cotopaxi, the Batac is a simple piece of gear with just enough features to be useful and handy without entering into high-tech terrain.
Durability
Here again, the uniqueness of each Batac made from a random selection of recycled nylon scraps ranging in thicknesses from 75D to 210D, it's difficult to gauge the hardiness of a specific individual. Some pieces are thicker, and some are thinner; some are ripstop, and some are not. Our version lacks any double-thick patches in high-traffic areas like the bottom of the bag. However, every seam and stitch is neat and strong, and key junctures are reinforced. It's not a bag built to be heavily abused, but it's not wimpy, and we had no problems with it during our testing. While we wouldn't want to overstuff this bag or drag it across a granite boulder or through a thorny understory, it seems solid enough for most everyday applications.
Value
Compared to so many others we tested, the Cotopaxi Batac 16 is relatively inexpensive. It lacks many of the frills and comfortable features of its spendier brethren though. If you're looking for a serious day hiking bag to fill with heavy gear and carry for miles, it's not worth saving a few bucks and trying to make this floppy bag work. However, if you don't want a hip belt, prefer a backpack without rigid support, and appreciate a modest amount of space, the Batac is a good buy for a pretty versatile, simple pack.
Conclusion
The Batac 16 threads the needle between the ultralight, nearly featureless packs and the beefy, bells-and-whistles bags that can comfortably cart heavy loads. It's lightweight, simple yet very functional, easy and pleasant to use, and comes in all kinds of color patterns leftover from other industry projects. For a no-nonsense, super useful, casual everyday bag to travel with, adventure with, or just head to the gym with, the Batac has got you covered.
— Maggie Brandenburg