Gandys Pantai Waterproof Backpack Review
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Gandys Pantai Waterproof Backpack Review

We review the Gandy’s Pantai waterproof backpack, the perfect day pack

Our rating

4

Published: June 30, 2025 at 12:08 pm

Our review
A compact waterproof pack with plenty of pockets.

Pros:

Waterproofing is good; durable; good for day trips

Cons:

Expensive; fiddly fastenings; not suitable for serious adventuring

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Three Things To Know

RRP: £100.00 at time of writing

19 litres of storage: with a 16" padded laptop sleeve

Waterproof: 100% Polyester with a polyurethane coating


    Comfort and Fit

    Storage

    Materials

    Durability

    Check availability at Gandys and Debenhams.

    Brother's Bob and Paul Forkan founded Gandys after losing their parents in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and being overwhelmed by the support of local people. 10% of all Gandys sales goes to their admirable foundation, which has so far put £600,000 into local communities to provide education for children in some of the world's most deprived regions.

    Starting off with flipflops, the brothers have now broken into the fashion and accessories market, and the Pantai Waterproof Backpack is a handy addition to day hikes and daily commutes.

    Comfort and Fit

    Adjustable padded shoulder straps make it easy to get a comfortable fit, while the padded back is welcome. At first glance, putting an outer zip pocket on the back looked like a potential irritant, but that proved not to be the case.   

    What's The Storage Like?

    If you like pockets on your backpack then you’re in for a treat. As well as the back outside zip pocket, there are spacious elasticated water bottle pouches on either side, and a front pocket with two zips: a small slot suitable for travel cards and phone; and a larger outer compartment that could, at a push, accommodate a small paperback if you don’t mind dog-eared pages (which we don’t!). 

    What's It Made From?

    Polyester with a polyurethane coating, while rubber trims and waterproof zips keep everything inside dry as a bone.

    Durability

    To test if the Pantai is as durable as it looks, we gave it some rough handling in the woods, with no visible effects beyond what could be wiped clean with a cloth. The stitching feels tough and hard-wearing, and there’s nothing to suggest it wouldn’t survive years of hard use. It’s been a regular for the daily commute for over a month now and still looks and feels brand new. 

    Value for Money?

    Considering it’s not really big enough for serious adventuring, it’s not a cheap bag. Having said which, it delivers good bang for buck thanks to being both waterproof and hard-wearing, which means it won’t need replacing any time soon.

    Worth noting that 10% of all Gandy’s sales goes to their admirable foundation, which has so far put £600,000 into local communities to provide education for children in some of the world’s most deprived regions.

    Sustainability

    While there's no mention of sustainable or recycled materials used in this backpack, Gandys has made steps towards using recyclable packaging and has a 'repair instead of replace' policy. Also as mentioned the company also donates 10% of sales to children's charities.

    Should You Buy It?

    The Pantai lacks the capacity for adventures that need a great deal of provisions brought along, but for day trips or commuting it works perfectly.

    Find out more in our guide to the best daypacks.

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