Kriega R22: 22L total, 18L waterproof

The two compartments serve different jobs

Kriega specifies a roll-top main body with a removable taped-seam liner, a Quadloc-Lite harness, four compression straps and a removable waist strap. Empty weight is listed at 1,445g, and outside dimensions are 430 × 235 × 220mm. The maker says the main body has room for a 17-inch laptop, but neither that screen class nor the outside measurements guarantee a fit for every computer and case.

Use the dry compartment for items that cannot tolerate rain. The front section is the logical place for items you frequently need while stopped, provided they have their own weather protection when necessary. Do not assume the zip pocket shares the main compartment’s waterproof construction.

Test the roll-top with your real load

A useful fitting starts with the things you carry on your busiest ordinary day. Include the computer sleeve, charger, lunch container and any spare layer, then close the roll-top according to the supplied instructions. There needs to be enough room for the closure itself; an open bag that appears to fit everything is not the final test.

Check whether removing your computer requires unpacking lunch first. If it does, decide whether a different arrangement solves the problem. A few minutes of deliberate packing is more informative than comparing the outside dimensions with another backpack’s advertised volume.

Fit and accessory decisions

The R22 accepts a hydration reservoir and can carry additional US-Drypack storage through its attachment points. Treat each addition as a change to the load, not as free capacity. Try the complete configuration again after adding it, particularly if the main purpose is daily office use.

Adjust the harness over the jacket you actually wear. Kriega describes Quadloc-Lite as a size-set, click-in/click-out system angled away from the underarms; those are design claims to check with your torso, jacket and load. If you alternate between light summer clothing and bulkier winter gear, fit both configurations rather than assuming one setting proves both.

R16, R20 and R22 all use the Quadloc-Lite name, but their published outside shapes differ. R16 is 480 × 240 × 140mm, R20 is 470 × 280 × 150mm and R22 is 430 × 235 × 220mm. The R22 is the shortest and deepest of the three on paper. That does not predict comfort or internal fit; it tells you why the same harness can carry a differently shaped load.

Who should choose it

The R22 puts an accessible front pocket alongside protected cargo without requiring a much larger backpack. Check that your regular dry load fits in the main body with enough material left to roll and close it correctly. If it does not, you need more dry storage; carrying the opening partly closed defeats the reason for choosing this layout.

R22 versus R16 or R25 V2: decide what the extra space buys

The R22 is a useful middle choice when you want more access flexibility than the single-compartment R16 without moving to the R25 V2’s larger setup. Compare 18L of dry main storage with the R16’s 16L, rather than treating the R22’s entire 22L as the dry compartment. The front pocket earns its place when it holds items you retrieve often and can keep within that pocket’s protection limits.

The current R25 V2 moves to 20L of dry main storage and a 5L front pocket with the full Quadloc harness. Choose it because those compartment sizes and its loaded fit solve a real limitation, not because 25 sounds substantially larger than 22. If your existing load already fits the R22, more nominal volume alone does not establish a worthwhile upgrade. Keep this comparison tied to the V2; the older R25 is a different design.