If you watch tech reviews on YouTube, chances are you’ve come across Judner Aura, better known as UrAvgConsumer. His channel covers gadgets, gaming setups, and everyday electronics, always with the end user in mind.

Four years ago, Judner came to us with his own gear problem. He wanted one backpack that could handle his workday tech and gaming gear while giving his community and fans something they could benefit from, too. That conversation became the starting point for The Protocol Backpack.

The Protocol Backpack is a 20L tech backpack co-designed by ALPAKA and UrAvgConsumer. It carries a 16" laptop, a handheld console, and everyday tech in dedicated spaces, with a customizable tag and patch system to keep everything organized. Only 1,000 bags were made, each individually numbered.

Key facts: 4 years in development. 1,000 made, each one numbered. 20L capacity. Fits a 16" laptop. Dedicated handheld gaming compartment. 12 included icon patches.

Four Years in the Making

From the beginning, we had one clear goal: build a tech backpack that works for the whole day, not just the part spent at a desk. Your laptop, chargers, and cables keep work moving. Your handheld console and headphones take over on the commute home, on a long flight, or once the laptop closes.

Most bags are designed around the workday and treat everything else as an afterthought. We wanted every part of your carry to get the same attention. And rather than put a creator’s logo on an existing design, we started from scratch with Judner. Every pocket had a purpose, every compartment had a job, and we built the entire layout around the tech people actually carry.

From Paper Cutouts to Real-Time 3D

With the direction set, we turned ideas into something we could carry, test, and refine.

We started with sketches and paper cutouts, which let us explore the silhouette, pocket placement, and overall layout hands-on.

From there, we moved into 3D software and shared live models with Judner in real time. We could move a pocket, adjust its dimensions, or rethink a section. Each round brought the concept closer to the backpack we had envisioned, with room to experiment and make changes along the way.

How Does the Tag System Work?

One of Judner's original ideas was to make finding your gear faster. Instead of opening pockets to figure out what's inside, why not identify them at a glance? That idea became the Protocol Backpack's customizable tag system.

The bag comes with 12 icon patches, including battery, phone, and sunglasses. Attach them to the bag's hook-and-loop panels to mark what's inside, then switch them around as your setup changes. It's a simple way to personalize your organization and know where to reach before you even unzip a pocket.

Picture yourself at the gate, looking for a charging cable before boarding. The battery patch points you to the right pocket, while teal accents make the opening easy to spot. Less searching, more moving.

Field-Tested, Then Refined

Good ideas get better when they're put to the test. Every prototype went through real-world use, with Judner and ALPAKA co-founder Ramiro carrying, testing, and reviewing each round. Their feedback helped us identify what worked, what needed attention, and how we could improve the bag.

For example, the phone pocket needed more room, so we enlarged it. We also added 2 hidden AirTag® sleeves, giving you places to store trackers and an extra way to keep tabs on your bag.

Before locking in the final design, we sent the backpack to 17 of Judner's friends for feedback. Their perspectives helped us fine-tune the details, alongside plenty of hands-on testing and spirited discussions between Judner and our team. We challenged ideas, worked through different opinions, and kept pushing until the pieces came together.

What Didn’t Make the Cut

Not every good idea belongs in the final design. Early prototypes featured exterior loops for attaching EDC gear. While useful in theory, they added visual clutter to the silhouette. We decided a cleaner exterior made for a better everyday backpack, so we didn’t include them.

That doesn't mean you have to stick to a fixed setup. The Protocol Backpack is compatible with the HUB ecosystem, so you can add HUB accessories (sold separately) to suit your carry while keeping the bag's clean lines.

We also weighed other concepts against their impact on production costs and the overall experience. Every feature had to justify its place, and the final design reflects that balance: practical organization, thoughtful details, and no extras for the sake of extras.

Teal Accents and One of One Thousand

The Protocol Backpack carries Judner's signature teal throughout the design. More than a visual nod to his brand, the color serves a purpose. Teal highlights the tops of interior pockets and sleeves, making them easier to identify, and continues through to the anodized zipper pull beads.

The limited run also makes each bag part of the collaboration's story. We made exactly 1,000, with each backpack carrying its own number from 1 to 1,000. Judner holds No. 1, while the remaining numbers ship at random.

Getting the details right extended beyond the design itself. We made multiple factory visits throughout production to check build quality firsthand and ensure each backpack met the standard we set with Judner from the start. From the first sketches to the final production run, the goal stayed the same: build a backpack we'd be proud to put both our names on.

What Fits in The Protocol Backpack?

The Protocol Backpack brings your work and gaming setups together in one organized carry. There's room for a 16" laptop, a gaming handheld, a tablet, headphones, and daily tech accessories, with dedicated spaces to keep everything in order. Across two main compartments and more than 20 pockets, it gives every part of your setup a place.

• Laptop: Padded 16" compartment
• Gaming: Dedicated handheld gaming compartment
• Organization: Dual main compartments, over 20 pockets, customizable tag system with 12 icon patches, front zippered pocket with Mod Key Tether
• Tracking: 2 hidden AirTag® sleeves
• Carry: Padded back panel with luggage pass-through, padded shoulder straps, adjustable sternum strap, top handle
• Weather-Resistant Materials: Axoflux 600D recycled polyester exterior in Black, Axoflux X-Grid 150D ripstop polyester interior in Dark Gray, YKK zippers

From the first meeting to the final prototype, we set out to build a backpack that works as hard as you do, whether you're heading into the office or settling in for a gaming session. Now, the Protocol Backpack brings that idea to life with the organization, flexibility, and details to make it yours.