Introducing the GWA Citadel Mini
Inaugural run drops 12/13 10am PST
A project two years in the making. The Citadel Mini.
Everything you love about the Citadel in a smaller package.
Goal was to make a smaller Citadel while retaining it's usefulness & features you're already used to on the larger models. Since I don't make anything I wouldn't use it was imperative to get the size / scale just right. Something a ~9 year old could use all the way up to an adult.
Ranger Green w/ Red is a throwback to the original G1 Citadel run.
Like the G3, Micro & Crew variants the Citadel Mini features two interior zip pockets & two columns of loop. Compatible with all your Go Pouches in various configurations.
Sizing & scale was the trickiest detail when designing the Mini. How small do I go? I wanted the Mini to better fit a female & kids frame. Going too small makes the pack more of a novelty than useful.
I finally decided on dims based on a 14” Macbook Pro. Macbook fits inside the padded laptop sleeve albeit snug. Alternatively you can use a separate padded case inside the main compartment. Any dims larger than this makes the Mini borderline too close in size with the Micro & Crew variants.
Like the G3, Micro & Crew variants the Mini also features two exterior zip compartments. Because of the smaller dimensions instead of the traditional three interior micro pockets the Mini features two although slightly wider than one individual pocket like on other Citadel models. Still big enough for passports, external batteries, multi-tools, etc.
With pack dimensions done the next obstacle was the shoulder straps. How do you make pack shoulders compatible with kids, females & male adults? Well, you don’t.
Two obstacles to overcome with having universal straps: 1) The pad length and 2) The length of the webbing strap. Make the pad length too long & shorter people will run out of webbing cinch space preventing you from getting the pack where you want it (especially kids). Make the pad too short & taller people won’t have much pad on their shoulder & this would be a problem for me (again I don’t make things I don’t use).
Inevitably there was no way around it & to accommodate both kids & adults I had to offer two sets of shoulder straps. A shorter set for kids & a longer set for adults. The kids shoulder strap pads & webbing are shorter. Note that while shorter they are still usable for adults in a pinch. The adult shoulder strap pad is longer than the kids but also shorter than full size Citadel pad. It still fits my 6’2 frame. Goal with the adult straps was to make it fit smaller adults better while giving them more adjustability.
The straps are removable & interchangeable. You can also configure one strap into a cross body for “sling bag” carry. Both straps are included with the pack.
Citadel Mini features the same MIL-SPEC fabrics and build quality that you’re used from GWA:
-500 Denier INVISTA CORDURA® Nylon (body)
-420 Denier Pack Cloth (liner)
-Tweave Durastretch (bottle Pocket, front Panel, shoulder straps)
-Single bottle pocket, fits 32oz Nalgene bottles (would be criminal if it didn’t)
-MOLLE / PALS on opposite side
-~14" Length x 9.5" Width x 5.5" Depth. ~1.4lbs w/ 1 set of should straps
-~12.5L
-Padded laptop / tablet compartment
-Built-in HDPE framesheet
-Made in USA with US labor and materials
From left to right; 3'7", 4'6", 5'1"
Left to right; Citadel Mini, Citadel Crew & G3 Mk2 Citadel
Not a pre-order, Citadel Mini ships immediately. $310/ea (both straps included).