In-depth review of the Orbit Concepts Jetpack Prime DJ bag, a specialized backpack designed for DVS DJs carrying laptops, mixers, controllers, and vinyl. Explore the three compartments, build quality, and practical features.

Orbit Concepts Jetpack Prime DJ Bag Review: The Ultimate DVS DJ Backpack

Purpose-Built for the DVS DJ

The Orbit Concepts Jetpack Prime represents a thoughtfully designed solution for a specific type of DJ: the digital vinyl system (DVS) practitioner who travels with a complete setup. This boutique bag is engineered to accommodate four essential items—a laptop, DVS interface, control vinyl or CDs, and remarkably, a two-channel battle mixer. For DJs who don’t travel with their own mixer, the front compartment easily accommodates a laptop stand or small DJ controller instead.

Orbit Concepts has established itself as a specialist manufacturer of DJ bags, and the Jetpack Prime represents the latest evolution of their popular Jetpack line. Rather than attempting to be all things to all DJs, this bag embraces a focused design philosophy tailored to the needs of a particular workflow.

Exterior Construction and Materials

The Jetpack Prime’s exterior is constructed from ballistic black nylon, a material choice that prioritizes durability and weather resistance. The fabric is waterproof and notably rigid, providing reassuring protection for expensive electronic equipment. This stiffness translates to confidence that gear inside remains safe even when the bag experiences rough handling during travel.

Three pairs of YKK zippers—widely regarded as the gold standard in zipper manufacturing—secure the three main compartments. Each pair is robust and smooth-operating, designed to withstand the repeated opening and closing that DJ bags endure. The front compartment houses mixers or controllers, the middle section contains the laptop and headphones, while the rear compartment stores control vinyl and CDs.

At the top, a padded carrying handle provides a convenient grab point for short-distance transport. Attached to this handle is a luggage tag for identification purposes. On either side of the bag, deep easy-access pockets provide quick storage for water bottles, energy bars, protein bars, or even a compact camera—useful for capturing moments at gigs.

Back Panel and Comfort Features

The back panel reveals the bag’s thoughtful ergonomic design. Two thickly padded shoulder straps distribute weight comfortably across the shoulders, essential when carrying heavy equipment like a two-channel mixer plus additional gear. During testing with a full load over several hours, the straps proved comfortable without digging in or causing pressure points.

A particularly welcome feature for users in warm climates is the mesh material covering the back padding. This porous fabric promotes air circulation, significantly reducing the sweaty-back discomfort that often plagues backpack wearers in hot, humid conditions. For DJs traveling to gigs in tropical environments or during summer months, this ventilation makes a noticeable difference in comfort during extended wear.

A chest harness strap provides additional load distribution when carrying particularly heavy gear. This strap helps stabilize the bag and reduce shoulder strain, especially valuable when the front compartment contains a substantial two-channel mixer.

An often-overlooked but highly practical feature is the luggage pass-through sleeve on the back panel. This allows the bag to slide over the extended handle of rolling luggage, enabling DJs to stack the Jetpack Prime on their suitcase when navigating airports or traveling to gigs. This simple addition streamlines travel considerably.

Finally, a concealed “stash pocket” on the back provides a hidden storage area for valuables or sensitive items that shouldn’t be easily accessible to prying hands—a smart security feature for gigging DJs in crowded venues.

Front Compartment: Mixer and Controller Storage

Opening the front compartment reveals generous space designed primarily for battle mixers or small DJ controllers. The compartment includes a removable padded divider that can be configured or removed entirely depending on the gear being carried. This flexibility is crucial—DJs carrying a mixer can keep the divider in place for protection, while controller DJs or those using the space for other purposes can remove it to maximize available room.

The front flap features a large zippered mesh pocket perfect for storing cables, USB thumb drives, pens, or other small accessories that need to be readily accessible. A second velcro-secured pocket provides additional organization space, and there’s a dedicated sleeve for business cards or calling cards—a basic but appreciated inclusion for networking at gigs.

An innovative design element is the removable foam board in the front flap. Users can unzip the flap and extract this foam layer, instantly creating more depth in the compartment. This accommodation allows the bag to accept slightly thicker gear than would otherwise fit, demonstrating Orbit Concepts’ attention to real-world DJ needs and the variety of equipment sizes on the market.

Middle Compartment: Laptop and Essentials

The middle compartment showcases smart space utilization. At the top, a large mesh compartment is specifically sized for headphones, including bulkier models like the Pioneer HDJ-2000 Mark 2 in their carrying case. Positioning the headphone storage at the top makes logical sense—most gear occupies the bottom of the bag, leaving upper space underutilized in many designs. This top-mounted headphone pocket maximizes every cubic inch of the bag’s interior.

Below the headphone storage, three thick mesh pockets of varying sizes provide organization for USB cables, adapters, and other accessories. The bottom pockets easily accommodate laptop chargers and their associated power cables.

The padded laptop compartment occupies the rear of this section and can accommodate up to a 17-inch laptop—large enough for even the most substantial mobile workstations. A 13-inch MacBook Pro sits in the compartment with room to spare. A zippered mesh pocket on the front of the laptop compartment provides additional storage for items like shoulder pods, pens, or cable adapters.

At the bottom of the middle compartment, two larger pockets offer space for equipment like video cameras, external hard drives, or—for DVS DJs—the DVS interface box (Serato SL, Traktor Audio interfaces, etc.). An adjacent pocket is perfectly sized for storing needle cartridges, keeping these delicate components protected and accessible.

Rear Compartment: Vinyl and Media Storage

The third and final compartment caters specifically to DVS DJs who still work with physical media. Four dedicated slots accommodate control vinyl records, keeping them organized and preventing warping during transport. A separate wallet-style holder stores control CDs or promotional CDs to distribute after performances.

A padded tablet sleeve with velcro closure provides secure storage for iPads or Android tablets, adding modern utility to what might otherwise be considered a retro-focused compartment. This blend of old and new technology storage reflects the reality of contemporary DJ workflows.

Practical Capacity Testing

During real-world testing, the Jetpack Prime successfully carried a complete DJ setup including:

• Native Instruments Machine controller
• Pioneer HDJ-2000 Mark 2 headphones with case
• 13-inch MacBook Pro laptop
• Various USB cables and adapters
• Laptop charger with extension cord
• External hard drive
• Video camera
• Control vinyl records
• Shoulder pod and accessories

This comprehensive load demonstrates the bag’s impressive capacity while maintaining a manageable carry profile.

Who Should Buy the Jetpack Prime?

The ideal buyer for the Jetpack Prime is a DVS DJ who regularly travels with their own two-channel mixer to gigs. This bag perfectly accommodates the specific gear combination these DJs require, consolidating everything into a single, well-organized backpack.

Controller DJs using larger units like the Pioneer DDJ-SX, DDJ-SZ, or Traktor Kontrol S4/S8 will find their controllers too large for the bag and will need to carry them separately. However, even for these DJs, the Jetpack Prime offers substantial value as a comprehensive accessories bag. It can transport the laptop, headphones, cables, external drives, cameras, and all the small essentials that accompany mobile DJ setups, all in a well-built, waterproof, comfortable package.

DJs using compact controllers can fit them in the front compartment alongside all their other gear, making the Jetpack Prime a true one-bag solution for these users.

Build Quality Assessment

The ballistic nylon construction, quality YKK zippers, substantial padding, and attention to detail in stitching and reinforcement points all point to a bag built to withstand the rigors of regular gigging. Orbit Concepts’ boutique approach to manufacturing shows in the thoughtful design choices and quality materials.

The mesh back panel, chest strap, and padded shoulder straps demonstrate understanding of real-world comfort needs. The luggage pass-through and hidden stash pocket show attention to the traveling DJ’s complete experience, not just gear storage.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Specifically designed for DVS DJ workflow
• Accommodates two-channel battle mixer
• High-quality ballistic nylon construction
• Waterproof materials
• Excellent organization with three distinct compartments
• Mesh back panel for breathability
• Luggage pass-through sleeve
• Removable dividers for flexibility
• Hidden stash pocket
• Quality YKK zippers throughout
• Comfortable padded straps with chest harness

Disadvantages

• Front compartment too small for large DJ controllers
• Higher price point than generic DJ bags
• Some might prefer more color options beyond black
• Could benefit from additional exterior pockets

Final Verdict

The Orbit Concepts Jetpack Prime excels at its intended purpose: providing DVS DJs with a comprehensive, well-organized transport solution for their complete setup. The ability to carry a two-channel mixer alongside a laptop, interface, vinyl, and all necessary accessories in a single backpack is genuinely impressive and addresses a specific market need.

Build quality inspires confidence for long-term use, and the comfort features make carrying heavy loads more manageable than budget alternatives. The waterproof construction provides peace of mind when traveling in inclement weather or storing the bag in potentially damp venues.

While controller DJs using larger units may need to carry their controllers separately, the bag still provides excellent value as a comprehensive accessories and laptop transport solution. The organizational features, build quality, and comfort justify the premium pricing for professionals who gig regularly.

For DVS DJs who travel with their own mixer, the Jetpack Prime is an obvious choice that consolidates gear into a professional, durable, comfortable package. It represents a successful execution of purpose-built design in the specialized world of DJ equipment bags.