KNKG APEX Backpack Review: Medium 35L First Impressions
Affiliate Disclosure: KNKG provided this backpack to me for testing, but they had no input on this review and did not review or approve this article before publication. Some links in this article are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them at no additional cost to you. This helps support me from creating more reviews like this one!
Check out the KNKG APEX Backpack here: KNKG APEX BACKPACK
Watch YouTube Video Here: KNKG APEX Backpack First Impressions | Is It Their Best Bag Yet?
The KNKG APEX Backpack is one of the newest additions to KNKG's lineup of gym and training bags, and after getting my hands on the Medium version, I wanted to share some early thoughts.
This isn't my long-term review yet.
I've only had the APEX for a short period of time, so consider this more of a first impressions review of the KNKG APEX Backpack Medium, including what I've carried in it, how the storage works, what I like so far, and what the 35L version actually looks like when worn.
I'll be putting it through more regular use before publishing my full review.
Quick Take: KNKG APEX Backpack Medium
So far, the APEX feels like one of KNKG's most complete backpacks.
It combines a large main compartment with multiple exterior pockets, dedicated shoe storage, two bottle pockets, a padded laptop sleeve, customizable patch panels, and a heavy-duty construction that feels designed for people who regularly carry a lot of gym gear.
The Medium starts at 30 liters and expands to 35 liters, while KNKG also offers a larger version that expands up to 45 liters.
For my needs, the Medium already feels like plenty of backpack.
KNKG APEX Backpack Medium Specs
Capacity: 30L, expandable to 35L
Height: 17.7 inches
Width: 12.6 inches
Depth: 8.7 inches, expandable to 9.8 inches
Weight: approximately 4.1 pounds
Laptop storage: up to a 16-inch laptop
Shoe compartment: fits shoes up to size 15
Material: 1680D ballistic nylon
Zippers: Heavy-duty YKK Vislon
Two exterior bottle pockets
Four hook-and-loop patch panels
Luggage pass-through
External compression straps
Removable chest strap
Why I Chose the Medium 35L APEX
KNKG offers the APEX in both a Medium and Large version, and I went back and forth on sizing before deciding on the Medium.
I already own a 35L KNKG duffel bag, and I've found that amount of storage to be more than enough for most of my gym and everyday needs.
I also didn't necessarily want the biggest backpack possible. So I'm pretty confident the 45L wasn't necessary for me.
If you're deciding between the two sizes, this is something I'd consider.
The Medium is still a fairly substantial backpack, but it doesn't feel excessively large for everyday gym use.
Olive Green Might Be My Favorite Color
Anyone who knows me knows I usually buy almost everything in black.
This time I asked my wife which APEX color I should get, and she told me I needed a little more color in my life.
I ended up choosing the olive green, and I'm glad I did.
It's a darker olive that still looks relatively neutral, and in person I think it fits the rugged design of the bag really well.
Build Quality Feels Extremely Heavy-Duty
One of my first impressions was simply how substantial this bag feels.
KNKG uses a 1680D ballistic nylon exterior, reinforced nylon straps and handles, heavy-duty YKK zippers, ripstop nylon lining, and powder-coated steel hardware.
You notice the construction immediately. The material feels thick, the zippers feel substantial, and everything about the APEX gives the impression that it was designed to be thrown around the gym without needing to baby it.
Obviously, durability is something I'll need months rather than days to properly evaluate. But from a construction standpoint, my first impression is excellent.
Top-Opening Main Compartment
The Medium APEX uses a large top-lid style opening rather than a traditional small backpack zipper.
You can open the top and look straight down into the bag, which makes it easy to load larger items and reach inside without completely unpacking everything.
On one of my first gym trips with it, I packed:
Exercise handles
A lever squat belt
Shirt and shorts
Wrist straps
Knee sleeves
My camera
I was actually surprised that I could also fit my camera inside.
Normally I would bring a separate camera backpack, but the APEX gave me enough room that I didn't need another bag for that particular trip.
For someone using this primarily as a gym backpack, there's plenty of room for training gear.
I could also see the Medium working well as a short travel bag depending on how lightly you pack.
Dedicated 16-Inch Laptop Sleeve
Inside the main compartment is a padded laptop sleeve designed for laptops up to 16 inches.
This is an important feature for me because my days aren't always simply home to gym and back home.
As a physical therapist, there are plenty of days where I might go to the clinic, bring my laptop with me, and then train afterward.
With the APEX, I could keep my laptop, work items, training clothes, shoes, and gym accessories all inside one backpack.
That makes this more versatile than a bag that only works for the gym.
Quick-Access Top Pocket
On top of the main lid, there's also a smaller quick-access pocket. This is the type of pocket I always end up using constantly.
I'd put things like:
Keys
Wallet
AirPods
Phone
Sunglasses
Other small everyday items
Instead of tossing those items into the main compartment and digging around for them later, you have one dedicated place that's easy to reach.
Four Oversized Exterior Pockets
One of the defining features of the APEX is the amount of exterior organization.
You get four oversized 3D exterior pockets, which gives you several ways to separate smaller pieces of gear.
I've already used them for things like:
Lifting straps
Wrist wraps
Smaller gym accessories
You could also use them for snacks, notebooks, chargers, headphones, toiletries, or anything else you'd rather keep separate from the main compartment.
For people who hate having every single item thrown together inside one giant bag, this layout makes a lot of sense.
Huge Hook-and-Loop Panels for Patches
The exterior pockets also double as large hook-and-loop panels, and I absolutely love this feature.
I'm someone who likes adding patches and customizing my bags, and the APEX gives you much more usable patch space than most backpacks I've owned.
You could use the panels to represent your gym, country, favorite sports team, brand, military unit, or pretty much anything else you want.
It doesn't change the function of the bag, obviously, but it makes the APEX feel much more personal.
Dedicated Shoe Compartment
One of my favorite features so far is the shoe compartment.
KNKG designed a separate internal shoe area that can accommodate shoes up to size 15.
What I like is that the shoes don't simply sit loose inside the main storage area with your clothes, laptop, and other equipment.
Technically, filling the shoe compartment does push slightly into the main storage area, as you'd expect, but it hasn't taken away a significant amount of usable space during my initial testing.
I had shoes inside while still carrying all of the equipment I mentioned earlier.
Depending on your shoe size, you may even have room in that section for slides, a towel, or other smaller items.
Two Large Water Bottle Pockets
The APEX has two bottle pockets. I usually have water with me and very often have coffee as well, so I much prefer backpacks that give me a bottle pocket on each side.
My 26-ounce YETI fits easily and sits surprisingly deep inside the pocket.
Based on the amount of room left over, the pockets should accommodate some fairly large bottles.
I'll test additional bottle sizes in my full review.
External Compression Straps and Lifting Belt Storage
The sides of the APEX also have external compression straps.
These can help tighten the backpack down when you're not using all of its expandable capacity, but KNKG also designed them so they can be used to secure something like a lifting belt to the exterior of the bag.
I haven't tested the belt setup enough yet to give you a real opinion on it. That's something I'll specifically cover in my long-term review.
Luggage Pass-Through
There's also a luggage pass-through on the back.
If you're traveling, you can slide the backpack over the handle of your rolling luggage instead of carrying it on your shoulders through an entire airport.
It's another small feature that makes the APEX more practical as both a training and travel backpack.
Though I’m not too sure about whether it’ll fit under the seat on an airplane as a personal bag.
How Big Does the KNKG APEX Medium Look When Worn?
This was actually one of the main reasons I wanted to create this article and my accompanying YouTube video.
Product photos are useful, but sometimes you really just want to know:
How big does this backpack actually look on a person?
I'm 5'5", and these photos give you a better idea of how the Medium sits on someone my height.
It is definitely a substantial backpack, but I personally don't think the Medium looks excessively large.
If you're taller than me, it will obviously look proportionally smaller.
If you're around my height and want something significantly more compact, that's worth keeping in mind before purchasing.
KNKG APEX Medium vs Large: Which Size Should You Buy?
I haven't personally tested the Large yet, so this isn't a direct comparison.
However, based on capacity and design, I'd look at it this way:
Choose the Medium APEX if:
You primarily need an everyday gym backpack
You want enough room for shoes, clothes, accessories, and a laptop
You occasionally travel with it
You prefer something slightly more manageable for daily use
30 to 35 liters is already plenty of room for you
Consider the Large APEX if:
You regularly pack significantly more clothing or equipment
You use your gym bag heavily for travel
You want up to 45 liters of storage
You prefer the additional flat-lay packing functionality of the Large
For my own use, the Medium was the better choice.
What I Like So Far
My early highlights are:
Excellent build quality
Large top-opening main compartment
Dedicated shoe storage
Four useful exterior pockets
Two large bottle holders
Huge amount of patch customization
Laptop storage
Expandable capacity
Can work for the gym, work, and travel
Olive green looks fantastic in person
The organization is probably what stands out the most.
There's a lot going on with this backpack, but it doesn't feel like KNKG added compartments simply for the sake of saying there are more compartments.
Most of the storage areas make sense.
What I Still Need to Test
Because this is a first impressions review, there are several things I'm deliberately not making conclusions about yet.
I still want to test:
Long-term comfort
Strap comfort when fully loaded
Durability after repeated gym use
Lifting belt storage
Water resistance in real-world conditions
Travel use
How well the expandable storage works when fully packed
Different bottle sizes
How the shoe compartment behaves with larger shoes
I'll update my thoughts once I've had significantly more time with the bag.
Watch My KNKG APEX Backpack First Impressions Video
If you'd rather see the backpack instead of just reading about it, I also put together a video showing the Medium APEX in use.
You'll get a better look at the compartments, storage, olive green color, and most importantly, how the backpack actually looks when worn.
Watch YouTube Video Here: KNKG APEX Backpack First Impressions | Is It Their Best Bag Yet?
Is the KNKG APEX Backpack Worth It?
After my initial use, I'm impressed.
The KNKG APEX Backpack feels extremely well-built, provides a lot of organization, and combines features that make it useful beyond just carrying gym equipment.
For me personally, the Medium seems to hit a nice balance.
It's big enough to carry my training gear, shoes, laptop, clothes, accessories, and even some camera equipment without immediately feeling like I should have purchased the larger version.
Whether it's truly the APEX of KNKG's backpack lineup?
I need more time before I can answer that.
But my first impressions are very positive.
I'll continue using it for the gym, work, content creation, and everyday use before putting together my full long-term review.
👉 Check out the KNKG APEX Backpack here: KNKG APEX BACKPACK
If you purchase through my affiliate link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Using the link is an easy way to support Obey Strength and helps me continue producing independent equipment reviews.
KNKG APEX Backpack FAQ
How many liters is the KNKG APEX Medium?
The Medium APEX has a standard capacity of 30 liters and expands up to 35 liters.
Does the KNKG APEX Backpack have a shoe compartment?
Yes. Both APEX sizes include dedicated shoe storage, and KNKG states that the compartment accommodates shoes up to size 15.
What size laptop fits in the KNKG APEX Backpack?
The padded laptop sleeve is designed to accommodate laptops up to 16 inches.
Is the KNKG APEX good for travel?
Based on its storage capacity, luggage pass-through, laptop sleeve, shoe storage, and expandable design, it has several features that make it useful for travel. I'll be testing this more extensively before my full review.
What is the difference between the KNKG APEX Medium and Large?
The Medium starts at 30L and expands to 35L. The Large starts at 40L and expands to 45L. The Large also includes an additional flat-lay opening compartment that the Medium does not have.
Is the KNKG APEX Backpack waterproof?
KNKG uses heavy-duty 1680D ballistic nylon for the body of the APEX, but I would describe the backpack as built with durable materials rather than call it completely waterproof. I'll test its real-world water resistance as part of my longer-term review.
Did KNKG sponsor this review?
KNKG provided the backpack to me for testing, but they had no input on the content of this review and did not review or approve my opinions before publication.
