Atlas Packs Athlete vs Burley Transit Backpack

Important: Choose the Adventure or Athlete hip belt – otherwise you will have literally no padding on your hips. I don’t recommend using the bag without a hipbelt either. The Adventure belt is more comfortable as it provides two layers of foam padding and a wider webbing and buckle – it’s also bigger and bulkier.

The cherry on top is that the buckles on the latter two are magnetic, though we still prefer the typical side-release buckles. The bag felt comfortable to lean against as well, thanks to the well-padded back panel that has a ribbed pattern and curved shape.

As a result, packing the Transit Backpack Plus does require some planning if you want to max out all of the available compartments. In our case, our setup of two large packing cubes, a large Dopp kit, and a rolled-up hoodie works. But if you throw in, say, two large water bottles on each side, then it might not work as well as before. We totally dig the amount of organization Bellroy has thrown in the Transit Backpack Plus; you just have to find your Goldilocks zone of packing to maximize its potential

We do think there is a surplus of organization inside, and it will be up to you on how to best use it while making the most of available space. We also think the harness system could use an upgrade, with a particular focus on the shoulder straps and the aluminum hardware. The current straps don’t make the Transit Backpack Plus unbearable, just not optimal.