We always find unusual backpack designs extremely interesting. There’s something about packing your gear in unfamiliar ways that just seems fun. That’s exactly what popped into our minds the first time we saw the Cliq Qlutch, a new backpack with a massive front pouch unlike anything we’ve seen before.
There’s good reason why you don’t see backpacks with large open front pouches. Putting stuff in that open pouch just seems like the easiest way to get your stuff stolen, after all, so it’s not something we’ll want in an everyday bag. This one, though, is designed for those times you’re carrying a pair of the outfit’s collapsible chairs along, both of which are designed to slot comfortably and securely inside the pouch.
The Cliq Qlutch is a streamlined and minimalist backpack that opens into a clamshell form factor. That means, it opens similar to a suitcase, allowing you full access to the main compartment for easily organizing all of your gear. The back of the lid comes with a full-panel mesh pocket, too, giving you a place to organize slimmer items you’d rather not have in the primary compartment. Of course, the unique feature here is the large pouch out front, which is sized to hold a pair of the outfit’s collapsible camp chairs. To use that, simply put the collapsed chairs inside the pouch, then secure them using the Velcro strap right above the pouch. Done.
According to the outfit, the pouch works with both their ClassiQ and MystiQ chair models, while definitely offering enough room to be compatible with other collapsible chair brands, too. For those times you’re not carrying chairs, you should be able to use the same pouch for carrying similarly-shaped items such as tripods, gimbals, and more.
The Cliq Qlutch comes with a padded, semi-rigid construction, allowing it to not just carry but also protect any gear you stash inside the main compartment. While it’s not waterproof, the bag’s exterior is coated for water repellence, allowing it to provide light moisture protection for those times you’re taking it out in wet weather. There’s a pair of padded backpack straps, so you can comfortably carry it whether in the trail, the beach, or the local outdoor festival. They’re stowable, too, so you can put them out of the way when stashing the backpack in the boot of the car or when you want to carry it by hand using the grab handles on the top and sides. The bag itself measures 17.5 x 12.5 x 6 inches (height x width x depth), while weighing 3.2 pounds. It only comes in one colorway.
The bag is sized for use with the outfit’s Qube Cooler, by the way, a soft cooler bag that holds a dozen cans of your favorite beverages. When placed inside the main compartment, it takes up one half of the entire space, leaving you with plenty of room to carry all sorts of other items.
The Cliq Qlutch is available now in one colorway. Price is $189. They also offer a package that combine the backpack with two ClassiQ chairs, with the set priced at $499.
