Commuter backpack test: Heimplanet Motion Arc 20 - Commuting pack from the Hamburg label

The Hamburg-based label Heimplanet stands for travel and outdoor equipment with a clear design. Founded in 2010, the brand initially made a name for itself with innovative, inflatable tents. Today, the range also includes rucksacks and bags that combine functionality, robust materials and minimalist style. Developed for travelling, everyday life and spontaneous adventures, Heimplanet is aimed at people who are often on the move.

The home planet Motion Arc 20:

First impression: A simple backpack with few distinctive commuter features. The very light Motion Arc 20 (772 g) is made of water-repellent material and does not require a rain cape. Although the material is more water-repellent than completely waterproof, the rucksack passed our shower test impressively. However, the large outer compartment is not waterproof.

The elasticated outer material is striking. The name "Motion Arc 20" suggests a volume of 20 litres, but we were actually only able to measure around 17 litres.

Bag management: Bags available, but rather disorganised

The cut of the rucksack is designed in such a way that there is less storage space at the bottom than at the top. This is somewhat impractical if you want to store Tupperware or similar bulky items, for example. Nevertheless, the backpack offers a decent capacity of 17 litres.

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

Inside, there is just a small pocket that can be closed with a zip - for a key, for example. The laptop compartment is lined with fleece so that the laptop is well protected.

Wearing comfort & safety: Super & good

The overall wearing comfort is okay. The foam profiling is rather small. With a medium to slightly heavier load, the back section presses directly against the back so that hardly any air can circulate. There are no hip fins, instead there are simple straps on the chest and stomach. The shoulder straps are simple and rather tight. Only a laptop in the compartment gives the back section the necessary stability. Other rucksacks do this much better.

Conclusion on the Heimplanet Motion Arc 20

The Heimplanet Motion Arc is a simple leisure backpack that is also suitable for occasional commuting by bike. However, the back system was not very convincing, nor were the ventilation and workmanship. The pocket management is solid and the material proved to be surprisingly waterproof. Nevertheless, the impression remains: for this price, I would not recommend this rucksack for frequent commuters. - Laurin Lehner, test editor

Name: Heimplanet Motion Arc 20
Volume*: 17 litres (BIKE measurement)
Weight*: 772 grams (BIKE measured value)
Price: 159 Euro >> available here

BIKE EVALUATION: (school marks)
Carrying system (40%) 4.5
Handling (30%) 3.5
Safety (10%) 4.5
Weather protection (20%) 2.5
Overall grade: 3.8

This is how we tested it:

We tested each rucksack for at least 60 kilometres, mostly with a medium load and rather fresh to mild temperatures of 3 to 13 °C. We did not rely on the manufacturer's volume specifications, but instead filled the backpacks with specially filled bags - there were certainly deviations. In addition, the rucksacks were weighed and tested for their reflective elements; there is still room for improvement in almost all models.

Most rucksacks are made of waterproof outer material. Some materials only have a water-repellent effect - we tested these under the shower head.