SwissGear Unisex-Adult 5358 USB ScanSmart Laptop Backpack, Black Dot, Large

A heavy-duty, well-designed, spacious backpack! I used it on a trip to Australia and it held a tremendous amount of stuff. When it is full and has a laptop and large power bar in it, it is really heavy, so when I arrived, I took out some of my stuff to make it lighter for daily use. The USB port on the strap is really convenient and, although the phone pocket is not really designed for a max sized iPhone, the fabric is stretchy enough that I could use it. The bottle pocket is deep enough that bottles dont fall out. The other side pocket extends into the body of the backpack and is lined with thermal insulation to keep something cold (presumably, it would work to keep something warm, too.) The straps and back are padded, so it is comfortable to wear. It also has a chest strap that provides additional support. I highly recommend this backpack.

The pocket layout on the new ballistic colorway is a definite improvement, but make sure to inspect the stabilizer straps for defects. The stabilizer straps are the small straps with the little arrows on them located at the top of the shoulder straps and their purpose is to keep the elastic from overstretching. If theyre too long like the ones shown in the images then they wont be effective. Thankfully they were the correct lengths on the replacement, which is why I suspect it was just a defect and not a design choice. I spotted the defect when comparing it to my old backpack, but you can test for it yourself pretty easily without needing another pack to compare it to. Start by gripping the shoulder strap at either side of the elastic with both hands then pull it tight. If the stabilizer strap fully stretches out like the first ones shown in the attached images, then the strap is the proper length. If there is still a lot of slack remaining on the stabilizer strap however then its defective and I suggest you return it for a replacement (although it might not be too hard to fix yourself if you know how to sew). Now that Ive covered the defect issue, and the reason Im only giving 4/5 stars, I want to say that Ive been very happy overall with this backpack over the past 3 years, but I was never very thrilled with the layout of the interior pockets. Im glad to report however that theyve addressed that issue with the new interior layout on the ballistic version, which is very similar to the limited edition version from 2018 that I missed out on. Theyve also recently added back the side mesh pocket over the drink compartment. Youll notice its missing this pocket on the product images, but both packs I received had it, as well the navy blue ballistic version someone else reviewed. Other notable changes is the addition of a document sleeve and a large interior zipper pocket in the main compartment. The adapter pouches were moved to the secondary compartment and placed higher so that they sit above the laptop sleeve. This all results in the backpack being slimmer when fully loaded, and it also makes accessing the main compartment easier. The USB port has also been moved to the side just above the shoe compartment due to the battery pocket being relocated. This is another change I like as well, because the only time I ever used it to charge my phone was when I was sitting down with my backpack next to me or when I had my backpack on top of my suitcase. Probably just a matter of preference as Im sure there are people who preferred it on the strap, which was a unique location, but I definitely find the new location easier to use. I dont write a lot of reviews, but I wanted to make you aware of the stabilizer strap defect so you know to check for it. I also had to spend a lot of hours researching the new version to decide if it had enough improvements to justify upgrading, so hopefully my review helps you with your decision I think the only major flaw with this backpack, is the mesh pocket is pretty short. It holds my 24oz water bottle fine, but only just barely. It also doesnt have a ton of smaller compartments, but its size, shape, and features suit my needs perfectly. It slides easily under the seat on airlines, its comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and the shoe compartment is perfect for stashing my laptops power adapter and wireless mouse. I probably wouldnt recommend this backpack to anyone looking for a dedicated school backpack due to the lack of built-in organizational features, but you know your needs better than I do so dont let that dissuade you.

About what I expected. Plenty of pockets!

The backpack is super nice and has a lot of functions.

A lot more than what I expected! It`s an elegant, multifunctional backpack with a lot of space and different pockets. It even has an area for glasses and one for tablets. I am impressed!

This is my 4th swissgear backpack in the last dozen years. This is the first one I feel lets me down straight out of the box. First off, what clueless marketing person photographs a pocket knife in a tsa backpack paragraph and shows a picture of it? Want to make sure you never fly again? Use the backpack the way swissgear depicts. They dont show it here like they do on their webpage but swissgear believes that people have small cell phones and dont have cases on them. Thats the photo they use on their website to demo the cell pouch. Reality= the last 5 phones Ive owned do not fit into this pouch at all. Negates the tech savvy usb cable to the internal pouch where your battery pack is supposed to be. They might market this to the tech crowd but its very poorly thought out. Try putting a pair of shoes into this bag from the side without taking out all of the contents of the pouch the side entry shoe pocket enters. I dare you.

Everything you need

3/31/2021 Wanted to provide an update on the bag. Everything I said is still true. 1 year, 4 months, and 10 days later, not a blemish, not a tear, not a loose string, not a stitch undone. Ive brought this bag overseas twice, snowboarding on the mountain 20+ times, dropped it, scratched it, and nothing, nada, zilch in terms of wear or tear. I will never own another backpack model. A coworker of mine put me onto the SwissGear bag brand while picking up liquor to sneak into a boozeless karaoke bar. Before a trip to Amsterdam and Brussels, I ordered this magical sack. This bag rocked it all trip long. From impeccable comfortable weight distribution (35 pounds feels like 15), to the clever wheeled luggage strap connecting your bag to the luggage handle, this thing has it all, and more. The bag can unzip and open like a crocodile’s mouth when swallowing a dwarfed hippo and consume your belongings with ease. There are many compartments and compartments within compartments. The bottom right pouch for shoes doubles as an umbrella or flashlight holder keeping the rest of your bag dry. Plus, you can open and close it to snag the umbrella without taking the bag of, like a Ninja unsheathing their sword. Have not used the USB charging feature but, seems excellent. I have an iPhone Xs and it does fit into the front shoulder strap phone holding pouch. Again, the comfort level is real and how it just feels like it’s floating above your back even with significant weight in it. If you have back probs, pops, you should probs buy this props-worthy bag. The metal cable in the top carrying handle is ingenious. Plus, an insulated cold pouch for soda or a roadie. Also, I ordered the $9.99 4-year insurance which SwissGear will repair or replace irreparable bags for, you guessed it, 20 years! Nope. 4. Showed my friend my new bag based on his SwissGear recommendation. He bought one and dearly loves It. Sometimes he wears it to bed. No, no he does not. Finally, I put the bag to the ultimate test. I wore it to an interview with nothing else on. Guess what, I got the job! The panel interviewers were able to easily overlook the fact that I was only wearing a backpack due to there complete adoration of the bag. DISCLAIMER: Some of these statements may be embellished, exaggerated, stretched, or even a dream. CLAIMER: Buy this bag!

Very well built and laid out. I would like more pockets and place to clip on on the outside.

This is by far the best designed and constructed backpack Ive ever had. There are pockets designed for multiple specific tasks (though theyre adaptable) such as one for sunglasses and another to keep your drinks cold!