Troubadour's Pioneer Backpack Is Ready for Absolutely Anything
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“You can’t only mean business, you gotta be it.” That’s the lesson I learned growing up watching my dad, a businessman, commanding the people around him. They were not yes men, and he was no tyrant. But they deferred to his words whether they worked for him or not. My mom explained that it’s all about respect—to get people to listen to you, you must earn their respect; and in dad's world of suits and ties, that not only being about business, but looking like it at the same time.
Those were some big ass words for a small boy. But many years later, I was reminded of them when I was shopping for a backpack I would use daily. Troubadour’s Pioneer backpack is one I could envision my dad carrying with him to his office, looking all serious and determined, ready to take on the day and command respect—like how the Pioneer commanded my attention. I knew I had to give it a try when I caught myself staring at it for too long. While I'm not a businessman, and I seldom wear suits, it became my go-to carry for whenever I go out. It's the jack-of-all-trades backpack that absolutely means business.
It's a freaking workhorse.
The first thing I noticed about Troubadour's Pioneer after getting my hands on it was that it's full of nice contrasting qualities: It's light but feels rugged, and the fabric is soft but tough-as-nails. After seeing it brave wind, rain, and the horror of NYC subways unscathed, I know the Pioneer means business wherever it'll take me, duly protecting the almost 24 liters of goods I can stash within its waterproof body without losing one bit of clean-lined attitude. And it excels when fully loaded. I've shoved cables, chargers, gadgets, snacks, and even a large dopp kit inside—all at once, with no ill effect. While the zippers require some breaking in to move smoothly, the shape and material hold up well; no damage or sagging has happened thus far. It still looks brand new.
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It's got tricks after tricks.
You gotta be patient with this backpack. Most of its strengths are neatly hidden, and it took me a while to unearth the secret features and see its utility in full glory (like how I only found out about its back top pocket for setting phones upright after using it for months). When it's fully opened to reveal the black hole inside, some digging-around is needed to feel pockets on top of pockets and compartments next to compartments—including one for shoes. The outside is less subtle: Visible front zipper pockets, deep bottle holders, a trolley sleeve, breathable back panel padding, and whatnot. Everything is cleverly placed and spaced out to help you stay organized. Even when it's packed to the fullest for a day trip or gym session, rummaging through the Pioneer to find your stuff won't be necessary.
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And it looks the part.
Compared to the raggedy Eastpak from high school or the old JanSport you hauled to your first job, Troubadour’s Pioneer delivers good looks in spades. Its sharp, minimalist form announced itself to me immediately when I first saw it. Can’t take your eyes off me, can ya? it teased as adjectives flew across my mind—sleek, cool, streamlined, handsome, hunky… And while I waited for its delivery, I was planning out what outfits I should sport with the Pioneer on my back. A full-blown black suit? A business-casual combo of polo plus pleated pants? Or just a weekend hoodie and sweatpants? It really didn’t matter, because after carrying it with me through all kinds of occasions, Troubadour's Pioneer has proven itself to be a grown-ass backpack that'll give me the leading-man panache wherever I wonder, whatever I need it for.
Shop $275, troubadourgoods.com
Photography by Timothy Mulcare. Prop styling John Olson for Halley Resources.
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