I recently had the opportunity to try a bag from a brand that was new to me, and it’s been the most impressive bag I’ve ever used. I’m talking about the Conceal Tote from The Brown Buffalo. I’ve had it for about a month now, and it’s been with me on a flight, at the range, and as an everyday tech/camera bag. With 20L of capacity and numerous internal and external pouches and zippered compartments, this bag has everything you need to store your gear in an organized fashion.
Padded Laptop Sleeve
The main zippered opening for the Conceal Tote is on the top of the bag. It features two zippers so you can center them or set them to your preferred side. Inside the main compartment is a padded laptop sleeve designed to fit a 16-inch MacBook Pro or slim PC. It is fleece-lined for added protection and to prevent any marring of the laptop.
A small detail worth pointing out is that the laptop sleeve is set against the backpack straps, so if you wear the Conceal Tote as a backpack, the laptop rests against your back. This keeps the laptop more secure, as nothing can bump into it. It also increases the comfort level of the backpack, as nothing can poke or prod at you from inside the bag.
Other Main Compartment Features
The main compartment features more than just a laptop sleeve. Inside, you’ll find two compression-style sleeves that allow you to store a phone, tablet, or, in my case, my META glasses. These are perfect for sliding a wallet into, a small notepad, or similarly sized items. Next to it is a pen sleeve so you can always be prepared with a writing utensil when you need it most.
Right under the main compartment zipper is an integrated key clip. It anchors to the bag itself, so when you clip your keys on, there’s no losing them unless you lose the Conceal Tote bag as well. Finally, across from the laptop sleeve is a see-through zippered compartment where I like to store my Insta360 camera, my GoPro microphone kit, spare camera batteries, and things I need to find quickly. I also appreciate that this compartment provides an added layer of protection for the contents, shielding them from anything else tossed into the bag’s main compartment.
Quick Access Zip Pockets
My favorite aspect of The Brown Buffalo Conceal Tote is all the external pouches and pockets. The two quick-access zip pockets are perfect for storing a Kindle, an iPhone, your headphones, a quick snack, and other small items you want to easily access.
When I used this bag as a carry-on on my most recent flight, these two pockets made it easy to store items I might need to find during the flight without rummaging through the main compartment. I keep a spare battery charger on me at all times, and during my over-3-hour flight on a plane without plugs, I was able to grab the charger in a second to charge my phone.
Water Bottle Side Pockets
On either side of the Conceal Tote are water-bottle side pockets that fit bottles up to 32 ounces. When I am traveling, I always carry a refillable water bottle since most airports have free water filling stations.
In the photo below, I put a standard 16-ounce plastic water bottle in one of the side pockets, and you can see how deep it is, as the bottle almost disappears. The side straps around the water bottle pockets let you tighten or loosen the retention so nothing falls out.
The Conceal Tote Offers Many Carry Options
Where The Brown Buffalo knocked it out of the park is in designing the Conceal Tote to be carried in a multitude of ways. There are two adjustable straps at the top of the bag that let you carry it by hand or in the crook of your elbow, as a tote is typically carried.
A second option is to wear the Conceal Tote like a backpack. When you first receive the Conceal Tote, the backpack straps are stowed inside the rear of the bag. When you unclip the backpack straps, the bottom ends tuck into the corners, and the two straps can be stored at the top of the same large compartment on the back of the bag. This makes it super easy to change how you carry the tote in just a few seconds by stowing the straps.
I like to be as hands-free as possible, especially in public or while walking through airports, so I prefer to use the backpack straps. The backpack straps also come with a removable sternum strap that can be adjusted to the height that is most comfortable for you. Finally, on each side of the backpack straps are pull-tab straps that let you tighten or loosen them as you see fit.
A third option for carrying this bag is to use the removable shoulder strap. On each end of the strap are quick-detach hooks that connect to the loops on either side of the top of the bag. The shoulder strap is adjustable in length and features a comfortable shoulder cushion.
FIDLOCK® Magnetic Buckle
I have a suitcase I love with buckles similar to the Fidlock magnetic buckle on the Conceal Tote. You don’t need both hands to use the buckle; once it connects to the magnet, it hooks on and locks in place. The FIDLOCK® magnetic buckle is located on the front of the tote and secures the document sleeve. While I haven’t used this sleeve for document storage, I have used it to store a hat because I can tighten the magnetic buckle to keep it from falling out.
1050D CORDURA® Ballistic Nylon with Durable Water Repellent Coating
The Brown Buffalo Conceal Tote is made of 1050D CORDURA® Ballistic Nylon material. Long explanation, short: this bag is extremely tough and designed for heavy-duty applications. I wouldn’t have taken this bag to the airport if I hadn’t trusted the material to withstand the abuse I put it through. Even when I bring this bag to the range as my camera bag, I have no qualms about setting it on the ground, on concrete, or on top of the wooden shooting bench.
The material can handle it. The durable water-repellent coating helps shed water, keeping everything inside the bag dry. Beyond the coating, the internal zip-up pouch adds an extra layer of security to ensure nothing inside that compartment gets wet. Overall, the quality of the material and coating is what I noticed first about the Conceal Tote. My active, outdoorsy lifestyle requires gear that can keep up, and I can confidently say this bag exceeds all my expectations.
Heavy Duty Zippers
I would be remiss not to mention the quality of the zippers on the Conceal Tote bag. The YKK® RCPU2 Zippers are built for durability, which complements the bag’s material and coating. The zippers glide effortlessly and handle the challenge of closing even if you’ve slightly overpacked your bag or its smaller compartments. The longer zipper design, with the fray-resistant ends, makes it extremely easy to grab and pull to open or close.
Final Thoughts on The Brown Buffalo Conceal Tote
I am beyond thrilled to be able to try the Conceal Tote bag myself. I never would have known about the brand without the opportunity to review one of their bags. I appreciate high-quality products that make my life easier when it comes to traveling and organization. The Brown Buffalo checks all my boxes for what I’m looking for in a travel or gear equipment bag. I can’t recommend the Conceal Tote enough.
I wish they’d have never went to the nylon zippers. Eventually they fail unlike the good old metal designs.