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

Ive searched backpacks for the better part of a year and Ive had tens of backpacks over the years and this backpack is by far the best money can buy. I went as far as looking into the TUMI which is like a $750 dollar backpack and this backpack is way better and way less expensive.

let me start out by saying nobody, and i mean nobody, makes better backpacks than SWISS GEAR! hands down they are the best! i have an old SWISS GEAR bag that dates back to the early 2000s (man im old) ... it was my road warrior technology backpack ... i loved it but thought i would update it given how much i used this bag (still sturdy, no rips/tears, but signs of age/wearing as expected). the 5358 black/blue back has the BEST LOOKS of any bag, bare none. but im returning this back for 3 reasons: 1. water bottle pockets. they wont hold a 32oz gatorade bottle w/o buckling them in (which poises another problem as those buckles get in the way of opening up the bag altogether. just give me DEEPER mesh pockets for waterbottles (BOTH SIDES please). and while the side insolated area is nice, its made for only small 12oz bottles. 2. shoe carrier. this is a technology carrier backpack, and not a workout bag ... having a compartment for shoes is just not somethign im interested in. if i need to carry shoes, ill bring a gym/clothes bag with. 3. key hook on the outside. i use this ALL THE TIME on my current swiss gear backpack ... i dont want to open up my bag to get my keys ... i LOVE the key hook (and my model has it on the handle. maybe im too picky, but reason #1 is enough for me to say no to this model.

I love(d) this bag - high quality finish, lots of compartments, thoughtfully designed. Every thing great except the Velcro stitching has come off with in one week of usage. I don’t expect this from a high quality brand like Swiss gear. The super dry bag I was replacing this lasted two years with out a problem. It’s too much hassle to go through returns. Swissgear Needs to replace this.

I used this backpack for traveling to Europe for a month, and it worked great. I took my laptop, Kindle, Ipod, headphones, and all of the electronic accessories. The back section lays out flat, but TSA still wants you to take the laptop out of the pack. The center compartment was great for storing a few clothes items. The front compartment was good for organizing various things, but could have had a few more pockets/pouches (baggies help organize). The very front side zip compartment was used for things you dont access very often. I stored things in baggies to make it easier to find things. I spent a lot of time looking online and this met my needs the most. Its also not too bulky if you dont overstuff it and can slide under the seat on the airplane.

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!

Should have bought this months ago! I Travel for work and was us Not a laptop bag…. No more! This bag is awesome l. Well organized well made lots of space easy access. Especially love the re enforced sunglass holder on top ! Passing through TSA is a breeze and feels good on my back walking through terminal ! BUY IT!!!

But I did on this backpack. I have 2 of these and love them. One I use daily and one I use for Piloting. Perfect for a Cessna 172 and holds absolutely everything I need to travel. The compartments are perfect size, its not over bearing on your back. Very comfortable to wear over longer distances and the colors are well chosen. All around great backpack!

I’ve never seen a pack pack with this many features. It has amazing organization and spaces for everything I need. I love the sunglasses pouch, insulated drink compartment (it really works!), laptop holder, portable battery holder with wire, etc. Looks great too and amazing bag for travel/ tech enthusiasts. Bag holds SO MUCH STUFF, but is not bulky due to side strap pockets. Quality is so good I can imagine it lasting 5+ years.

I am fairly particular about the things I purchase. I look for value, practicality, and of course, looks. This backpack has it all! If you’re looking for a backpack with room to store lots of files, notebooks (both the digital and non digital kind), documents, writing supplies, tech items (chargers, battery packs, adapters, tablets, ect.), and a laptop simultaneously… then this is your backpack! Oh did I forget to mention it doesn’t have a “I’m a dork with a huge backpack” look!? I don’t review things, but this backpack definitely won a review. I recommend it man, you won’t regret it.

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.