An Underrated Adventure Brand Built the Ideal JanSport-Alternative ’90s EDC Pack

This reinterpretation of the most iconic backpack ever is more refined, durable and has some serious quality-of-life updates.

Close-up of a green and beige Topo Designs backpack with leather strap details and an orange drawstring.

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By Sean Tirman

Published 2 hours ago

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When most folks imagine a backpack in their mind’s eye, there’s a pretty solid chance they’re thinking of a JanSport SuperBreak. It might just be the most iconic backpack of all time, at least in the modern era.

But what if you could have that same classic styling in a bag that was much more durable, capable and both EDC- and travel-friendly? That’s the question the Topo Designs Classic Teardrop Backpack seeks to answer.

Blue and tan backpack with red zipper pulls worn by a person in a beige shirt. — This bag has all the looks of a classic JanSport, but with some significant updates and upgrades.

Return of the pack

As far as its form factor is concerned, this bag is pretty faithful to the classic JanSport backpacks many of us used in our schoolkid days. However, it’s not an exact replica (it wouldn’t really be product news if it were just a copy-paste job).

It maintains a classic 20-liter capacity, which is perfect for EDC use and travel (as a carry-on or auxiliary personal item that fits under the seat in front of you). It also has the same two-compartment layout, with a large main compartment and a small, externally accessible secondary pocket.

Blue backpack with black zipper, red zipper pulls, and a tan diamond-shaped leather patch. — The zippers are heavy-duty and come with outdoor-inspired paracord pulls, making them more convenient, too.

However, it also has a lot of differences. For instance, the zippers are more heavy-duty and come with outdoor-inspired paracord pulls, making them more convenient and durable. It also gets a trio of Topo Designs diamond-shaped leather patches, which add some style and function as additional modular attachment points.

Even the inside is more organization-friendly, boasting multiple internal pockets, including a padded 14-inch laptop pouch (the standard SuperBreak doesn’t have one, but the upgraded SuperBreak Plus does).

There’s even a hidden water bottle pocket, accessible from the outside via the side entry zippers (there’s one on each side) and doubling as a more secure stash for sensitive items.

Red backpack with yellow interior and black zipper, partially open showing a black and gray pouch inside. — One of the big quality-of-life upgrades this pack has is a 14-inch padded laptop compartment.

Harder, better, faster, stronger

While the quality-of-life feature updates are exciting on their own, I might argue that there’s an even more significant alteration you can’t immediately see. This bag is not built from the same pedestrian materials as a JanSport.

The JanSport SuperBreak (and the SuperBreak Plus) are built from polyester, which is … fine. It’s just not quite up to the same standards as, say, 400D and 1000D nylon, which the Topo bag is made of, making it more durable, weatherproof, and resistant to punctures, cuts, scrapes and abrasions.

Red and gray backpack with black straps and a partially unzipped side pocket showing a yellow interior pouch. — There’s a sneaky compartment with an internal pocket that’s perfect for a water bottle, but you could use it for any number of sensitive items you need to stash.

The padded shoulder straps are also tougher, boasting a nylon construction similar to car seatbelts. And since Topo Designs is an outdoor-inspired brand, there’s even a webbing axe loop on the bag.

The JanSport SuperBreak walked so that this pack could run, and I genuinely think it is a worthy successor, even if it is a good deal more expensive. Still, under $100 for a bag of this quality is hardly too big an ask.

Person holding a yellow and navy Topo Designs backpack with black zippers and orange zipper pulls. — The bag comes in Classic Blue, Forest (green), Salsa (red) and Sunset/Midnight (above).

Availability and pricing

The Topo Designs Classic Teardrop Backpack is now available in four distinct colorways for $99 apiece on the brand’s official site.

Topo Designs

Topo Designs Classic Teardrop Backpack

$99 at Topo Designs

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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