Heimplanet Motion Arc 20: Commuting Pack from the Hamburg-based brand in our commuter rucksack test

The Hamburg-based label Heimplanet is known for its travel and outdoor equipment with clean, minimalist designs. Founded in 2010, the brand first made a name for itself with its innovative inflatable tents. Today, the range also includes rucksacks and bags that combine functionality, robust materials and minimalist style. Designed for travel, everyday use and spontaneous adventures, Heimplanet is aimed at people who are often on the move.

The Heimplanet Motion Arc 20:

First impression: A simple rucksack with few distinct commuter features. The very lightweight Motion Arc 20 (772 g) is made from water-repellent material and does not require a rain cover. Although the material seems more water-repellent than completely waterproof, the rucksack still passed our shower test with flying colours. The large outer compartment, however, is not waterproof.

The stretchy outer material is particularly striking. The name ‘Motion Arc 20’ suggests a capacity of 20 litres, but in fact we were only able to measure around 17 litres.

Bag management: Bags are there, but they’re rather disorganised

The rucksack is designed in such a way that there is less storage space at the bottom than at the top. This is a bit impractical if, for example, you want to pack Tupperware or similarly bulky items. Nevertheless, with a capacity of 17 litres, the rucksack offers a decent amount of space.

The large, deep outer pocket (not waterproof) can hold quite a lot, albeit in a somewhat disorganised manner. There is also a pocket on the side for a water bottle or a spare inner tube. On the other side, there is a small zipped pocket, suitable for a smartphone, for example.

Inside, there is just one small pocket that fastens with a zip – ideal for a key, for example. The laptop compartment is lined with fleece, so your laptop is well protected when stored there.

Comfort & safety: Excellent & good

Overall, it’s reasonably comfortable to carry. The foam moulding is rather minimal. With a medium to slightly heavier load, the back panel presses directly against your back, so that hardly any air can circulate. There are no hip fins; instead, there are simple straps across the chest and stomach. The shoulder straps are simple in design and rather tight. Only when a laptop is placed in the compartment does the back panel gain the necessary stability. Other rucksacks handle this much better.

Conclusion on the Heimplanet Motion Arc 20

The Heimplanet Motion Arc is a simple leisure rucksack that’s also suitable for the occasional cycle commute. However, the back system wasn’t particularly impressive, nor were the ventilation or the build quality. The organisation of the compartments is sound, and the material proved to be surprisingly water-resistant. Nevertheless, the overall impression remains: for this price, I wouldn’t recommend the rucksack to frequent commuters. - Laurin Lehner, Test Editor

This is how we carried out the test:

We tested each rucksack over a distance of at least 60 kilometres, mostly with a medium load and in cool to mild temperatures ranging from 3 to 13 °C. We did not rely on the manufacturers’ volume specifications, but instead measured the volume of the rucksacks using specially filled bags – and there were certainly some discrepancies. In addition, the rucksacks were weighed and checked for their reflective elements; there is still room for improvement in this regard with almost all models.

Most rucksacks are made from waterproof outer fabric. Some materials are merely water-repellent – we tested these under the shower head.