Janji Revy Run Commuting Pack Review

Run commuting is a great way to fit mileage in around your daily life, it comes with the benefit of being a slightly weighted run, and means time you may usually be walking to and catching a bus/train is now spent training.

For the last few years I've been using the Zip Commute Pack, a bag I've enjoyed that was like a tardis inside, but found to be a bit unwieldy when running. Now it's on its last legs (on wash too many) I was keen to try Janji's new Revy pack. I've heard nothing but good things about their gear and it looked like a great fit.

What's The Pack For?

Revy is short for "Run Everywhere", and that's really the intention of the bag. Enough space to be versatile, working well as a daypack with plenty of storage, whilst being fitted like a race vest so it's comfortable when in motion.

This makes for a solid run commuting, biking commuting, hiking and general purpose day pack.

To make the pack secure and great for running, it has a slim profile with lots of external pockets. The advantage is it sits nicely and doesn't bounce about, whilst the disadvantage is you have limited storage space in the main compartments.

Features, Pockets and Storage

• Comes with a great lockable 500ml Hydrapak bottle
  • Really nice bottle, the lockable top is gold, I'm going to get some of these for my race vest!
• On the front
  • 2x water bottle holders (500-650ml size)
  • Left side: phone zipped pocket with a mini safety whistle (would fit most large phones)
  • Right side: smaller zipped pocket with a stuff pocket behind it, has a key clip inside
• On the back:
  • 2x large stretchy side pockets (could carry a 1L bottle in each)
  • 1x larges stretchy back pocket outside the main compartment
  • Small zip pocket at the top
    • Note anything in here tends to move about as it's quite a loose pocket, I'd avoid putting heavy items in here unless you like the sound of rattling
  • Back zipped clamshell pocket, inside:
    • Laptop sleeve / bladder sleeve
    • 2x small stretchy pockets
    • 1x larger zip pocket
    • General storage area
  • Middle zipped clamshell pocket, inside:
    • 1x larger zip pocket
    • General storage area
• Straps to hold poles on the back

Straps and Adjustments

• Two cross chest straps, very similar to running vest straps
• One waist strap which you can stow if not needed. It's a stretchy strap and stays in place nicely.
• Over the shoulder adjustment to bring the pack closer to your back
• Under arm adjustment to cinch the pack in
• Toggles on the side of the back of the pack to cinch down the contents

Fit and Feel

The pack comes in three sizes, S, M, L, based on torso size / your height.

Putting it on I'd say it fits very similar to a standard race vest, just with thicker shoulder pads and a more substantial feeling back panel.

The position on your body is the same as a race vest too.

As stated about there's plenty of adjustment points get the pack secured in a way that works for you.

I will say however, if you have a broader chest the pack may be too small. I'm 94kg, 6ft 4" using the Large model and the top chest strap is almost at its limit.

Waterproofing & Washing

The material is water resistant, not waterproof. Would recommend putting any tech and clothing in dry bags if running in rain.

Happy to report that sweat from a longer run didn't come through the back panel to hit the laptop in the sleeve. The padding is substantial enough to prevent it.

In terms of storing wet clothes in the bag post run, I'd recommend a dry bag if going in the main compartment. You could also use the outer stretch pockets to stuff wet clothes away from the inner storage.

As it's polyester and nylon with no waterproofing treatment, I'd imagine it would be fine to use on a gentle wash. I'm yet to test this however, if worried handwash (or take it in the shower with you post run).

What I Fit In There

To test it properly I did 2 days of run commuting both to and from the office. In the bag for these days I had:

• Water bottle at the front
• Phone and keys in front pockets
• Laptop in the sleeve
• 3x charging cables
• 1x mouse
• 1x small set of in ear headphones
• 1x power adapter and plug
• Change of clothes (underwear, shorts and a t-shirt)
• Packable waterproof coat
• Small microfibre towel
• Dry bag (to put my tech in if rain was forecast)
• Epipens

Run Commuting With The Pack

I'm happy to report that in terms of running, biking and hiking, this pack does it's job well. The straps keep it in position nicely, I get no bouncing, and unlike other commuting packs I've used it doesn't insist on pulling my t-shirt up behind me.

Didn't get any chafing from the straps or vest area.

The back panel, being more substantial, does get a little sweaty.

Especially notable is, despite there being so many adjustment straps, none of them got in the way or flapped about. All had ways to cinch them down so they wouldn't move.

Front storage is enough for some water, snacks, phone and keys, making it a good choice for longer run commutes.

However...

As stated you are limited a little on storage. Whilst I could fit all my clothing in, space was already running out. If it was winter and I needed more layers / thicker clothes (jeans instead of shorts, a jumper etc) it would be a challenge to get them all in. I'd have to use the outside stretchy pocket as well.

On the way in I usually pick up a post run second breakfast. It was a challenge to fit it all into the pack and I had to use all the external pockets in the end.

I'm lucky, my coworking space has an airing room where I can dry out the clothes from my morning run ready for my run home, which works nicely. However, if I was only running into the office, and needed to store my wet clothes in the bag, it would also be a bit of a challenge. I'd need to use a dry back, and imagine it would fill all the remaining space in the bag.

Do I Recommend It?

Despite the drawbacks of the storage being limited in the back, I can see that this is necessary to keep the pack cinched down and secure on your body when moving.

And boy does it move well, of all the run commuting packs I've tried in the past, this is the one that feels the most like a decent race vest. Fully loaded it still sits snugly without any chafing or bouncing.

It's definitely my new daypack for running, biking and hiking, and will probably be my carry on for flights too.

This comes with a big thumbs up from me 👍

You can get hold of the Janji Revy pack here.