15.8.2012

I was looking for a replacement for my Travelpro Hydrogen backpack, which had been in daily use for the last 5 years, before finally coming apart, but unfortunately, Travelpro no longer make this backpack or a direct replacement for it. However, I came across this Swissgear backpack on my searches and thought it looked like it would do the job, so I ordered one...Build quality:Excellent. The materials used to make this backpack have clearly been chosen with quality in mind rather than building the rucksack down to a price. This approach is to be commended in todays "cheap as possible" approach to goods, with no regard to quality. All seams are well sewn and panels are joined together perfectly.Zips are of a good quality and glide smoothly, and the top handle which seems to be made of a plastic coated steel cable that has been riveted to the bag and had a comfortable grip attached to it, looks like it will last forever.Storage:Remarkable. I thought my previous Travelpro backpack had plenty of storage pockets, but it had nothing compared to this backpack. I won't go into describing all the pockets here, as Amazon's description is more than adequate, but I would just like to point out a few of highlights. Firstly the storage pocket at the top of the backpack - this is a zipped pocket of sufficient capacity to take an MP3 player and your phone and still leave plenty of room for passport, chewing gum, travel headphones, spare batteries etc. etc. and has a riveted hole in it that allows you to route your headphone cable through the pocket internally, and through a special outlet in the top side of the backpack that is marked with a headphone symbol - very handy. There is also a vertically aligned flap in the base of one of the large middle pockets, that when pushed down to be horizontal, aligns with the inside base of the rucksack to make the base flat, and the rucksack able to stand flat on the floor without falling over.The capacity of the backpack is exceptional, with plenty of dividers and pockets to take your laptop, books, tablet PC, pens and gadgets and adaptors of every shape and size. It will also accommodate a change of clothing for an overnight stay, without any problems. Padding internally, is more than adequate to protect your laptop and other delicate items.Extras:Apart from the thoughtful things like the headphone routing and special, headphone outlet port, and the panel that pushes down inside to make the backpack stand flat on the floor, there are some other thoughtful extras that are worth mentioning. Firstly the base of the backpack has a plastic coating on it that is robust and waterproof, which will allow you to stand the backpack on wet/damp floors without worrying about the contents getting damaged. The backpack has padded straps that are comfortable on your shoulders and the elasticated "spring loading" at the top of the straps, does a good job of absorbing impacts if you have the backpack loaded and are carrying it up and down flights of stairs or over rough terrain. Similarly, there has clearly been thought put into the padding on the outside, rear of the backpack, and it cushions comfortably against your lower spine and shoulders.Overall:An exceptionally high quality backpack at a very good price. It is not the sort of backpack to go camping with, but is most definitely the sort of backpack to use for daily commutes and overnight stays and will accommodate all that you need for such excursions. It will also function well as a backpack when riding a bike, or for those days out when you do a bit of hiking or similar. The only thing I have reservations about, is the size of the backpack when taking it on aircraft as hand luggage. I have found it just about meets current restrictions on the size of hand luggage you can take on board an aircraft, but if fully packed, you may find you will struggle to fit it in the overhead locker of something like a Dash 8 domestic aircraft and may need to put it under the seat, and it refuses point blank to fit into the overhead locker on the smaller 30 seat aircraft. So then, in summary, the positives and the negatives...[+] Excellent quality, with attention to detail shown in the construction[+] More storage pockets than you will ever need[+] Comfortably and securely holds a 17" laptop with room to spare[+] Lots of little details that make the backpack a cut above the rest - headphone routing, fold flat base, shock absorbing straps etc.[+] Excellent value for money, you will pay twice this price for a similar product from a competitor[-] You may run into difficulties with this large backpack being constantly checked for size as to its suitability for taking on aircraft as hand luggage. It will not fit into some aircraft overhead lockers at all, and you may need to store it under the seat

3.5.2009

This is quite simply the finest laptop bag I have ever used (and I have had a few).When I first unpacked it, it looked smaller than I expected.I wondered if it would carry everything?In my case this is often 2 15.4" laptops, power supplies, leads, the odd folder, papers and other odds and ends.I should have known better. It carries all of this with absolute ease, and with masses of space remaining!This thing is like the Tardis!!Great, I hear you say, it holds lots, but how is it in actual use?Ok, the important thing first. Laptop storage.The section for your laptop is both very well padded and big enough to handle the largest of 17" widescreen laptops. I tested that with a couple of friends laptops and it kept them safe and secure.If you have a big 17" laptop, this will certainly do the job for you.It also holds 2 15.4" laptops vey nicely.Storage.There are pockets and little storage pouches everywhere!Honestly, at times I forget where I have put something and have to root around to find it. This,in my eyes is no bad thing. You will never be short of space to store whatever you happen to be carrying.Oh there are of course 2 mesh pockets (1 each side) for carrying bottles of water and a (padded) mp3 storage pocket on the top with a pass through hole for the headphone cableBuild Quality.Well there is no question this is built to last and take a lot of punishment.The zips are smooth and seem very strong (and there are lots of them).It has a reinforced (and they mean reinforced!) carrying handle on the top which I can guarantee you will never fail you!It is a steel cable surrounded by a plastic sheath and finally that is surrounded by a contoured carrying handle,and the cable is reveted into the body of the bag.Carrying it around.Well the handle is very comfortable when you use it, but most of the time it will be on your back and this is where this really comes into its own.The shoulder straps are thickly padded and have an effective shock absorbtion system.Also the back is very well padded but in a design to also allow the flow of air so you don't end up with a wet back due to sweat (it works too!)I have had this loaded up with all my work gear plus a change of clothes. When you lift it, it is heavy but on your back the weight is so well distributed you don't really notice it.A little touch that shows how much thought went into this is the way it just stays upright when you put it down. You don't have to worry about it tipping over and potentially damamging your laptop (not that it would, that is well protected).This particular bag will not be for everyone, most people will not need something capable of holding as much as this does. For those people I would say look at one of the other Swissgear bags, they are built just as well, only smaller.But, if you are like me, and need a LOT of storage space, look no further because you will find nothing better!It may seem expensive, but you are paying for quality and I expect this to pay for itself with many years of loyal service. If anything was to fail then you have the limited lifetime warranty to fall back on.

11.3.2019

If you are looking a laptop bag that provides incredible capacity, many separated compartments and is built to last - no need to search further. I read all the reviews on Amazon before buying this bag 6 months ago and it lives up to all of them.What do I carry in this bag - two 15" laptops with power supplies, a Kindle, noise cancelling headphones, power pack, kensington lock, bag of cables for all eventualities, pens, travel documents and one set of spare (lightweight) clothes when flying ... total weight usually over 10kg. In 6 months I have travelled internationally, using this as hand luggage (don't check the valuable stuff :-O ) and the same number of internal flights - this bag works fantastically.What is so great?Organisation - with all that stuff I can still find every item easily, there are 4 main compartments, 2 internal zipped compartments , +3 external 'small' compartments and 2 elasticated side pockets. The main laptop section secures two laptops and Kindle and PowerPack - at airport security they slide in and out really, really easily, which makes a big difference in that queue. There is a net pocket here that will hold power supplies and stylus so they are 'to hand' but won't fall out at security.The array of smaller zipped pockets ensure that I can drop my other valuables into the bag knowing they won't fall out whilst I am pulling the laptops in and out.There is one 'top' zipped, mid-size pocket that will hold passport, wallet, watch, security pass, shades, small cable, loose change, etc. that is incredibly useful.Downsides - it is a little heavy, I would not want to weigh this bag at check-in; when I pack all this stuff in it would probably not fit into those 'carry on bag gauges' (but might with a squash) but have never been stopped; there are a couple of zipped pockets so small I have never found a use for them, and the elasticated side pockets are not big enough for Camelback water bottles (my go to hydration packs) but many of the new aluminium, insulated drinks bottles fit perfectly.After 6mths - I have no serious complaint, nor are there any problems with zips, stitching, or material - simply the usual scuffs of daily use. Would I buy again - Yes - there is no doubt I would buy again, but not expecting to require that bag for many years!After 12mths of regular office use and four business trips there are no signs of wear, everything works just as day one, the plethora of zipped pockets and slip in pockets continues to amaze me, and organise as many as three laptops plus PSU, cables, mice, USB Power pack, etc. Copes with 15kg+ of bits and pieces.Continual use right up until "lockdown" this bag completed international trips, carried a huge load, without missing one stitch or zip problem. I would buy again but don't expect to need to for many years!

18.11.2012

Overview:I have been using this backpack for 1.5 years now. I use it everyday carrying it to and from class, plus use it commonly for travelling. I typically stuff it to the brim, fitting my large 17" laptop, 2 small textbooks, a binder, a large spiral notebook, a few folders, mouse, mouse pad, power cords, and so forth. So far, never struggled to get in all in there, though, does get heavy. Comes with cushions on the back to make it comfortable to wear.Great Product.********Comfort:********This backpack has thick straps that do not dig in, though they are not heavily padded. In terms of comfort, that would be my only complaint, though it has not bothered me. The back itself does come with nice size pads,

8.4.2015

First off, let me say that this bag has an absolutely brilliant build quality. The zips are sturdy and feel smooth to open and close and are a strong metal, no plastics here. The compartments are well proportioned and the laptop pouch at the back provides excellent protection with the extra padding.So why 4 stars rather than 5?While my 17 inch laptop does fit in the padded laptop pouch, when closing the zips over the top it is a very tight fit. Tight to the point that when the bag is stood upright, rather than the top of the bag appearing curved like in the picture, it's more rectangular where the corners of my laptop press into the top of the bag.

21.5.2012

Although expensive this is an excellent product. I wanted a backpack in which I could carry my tablet PC safely, overnight clothees and sponge bag, iPod, mobile, paper, chargers, files, and an assortment of "office stuff" (pens, rulers, sissors, post-it notes, etc). This is it. The problem with it is that you can put so much into it it's heavy and hard to put onto one's back (I'm well into my 60s so maybe ..... Although it isn't overly large in height and width, when loaded it is quite deep front to back so much so that it won't go on the floor between the back seat and back of the front seat in a car.It is very well made and this shows. It has a lovely feature whereby the base is stiffened so that it will stand up ALL THE TIME.

10.6.2012

I needed a backpack that would hold my laptop and its accompanying stuff, as well as various stuff that one needs during a trip. I was impressed by the numerous positive reviews of the Wenger backpacks and decided to give it a go. All I can say is that it was an excellent choice.The backpack is very sturdy, it has lots of storage space and most important it is easy and comfortable to carry, even when fully loaded. My current laptop (a 15-inch Dell XPS) fits very well and it seems that it there is space to fit a larger one (which might be the case for me quite soon, as I intent to get a new 17-inch laptop). It also seems to provide quite good protection for the laptop with all these padded areas around it.I've been using it for about 6 months,

22.11.2013

This is very simply the best laptop bag in the world. I have owned 2 of them; 1 for about 5 years. I only bought a replacement because I was in fear it could be discontinued by the manufacturer and replaced by something inferior. Crazy I know, but I really doubt Swiss-gear will be able to live up to this one. OK.. so why is it so great. (1) It can, if you could carry it, hold not 1, or 2, but 3 laptops and an Ipad comfortably. (2) It has so many pockets, one reviewer actually wrote that after he puts stuff in the bag, the thing denies it's in there. (3) The handle is reinforced with steel; I don't think any other laptop bag has this feature. (4) Underneath the backpack is some kind of hard plastic - so you can put it down anywhere (5)

29.6.2012

I ended up looking for something that could hold a laptop as well as an Xbox 360 because I was working away from home during the week on a customer site. This meant my evenings were spent watching TV which gets incredibly boring. On recommendation from a biking friend who has a similar Swissgear product, I looked at this one. The price initially put me of, but I assure you, it's worth it.The rear most compartment has a red cushioned sleeve for your laptop and you can fit notebooks behind it. I even found room on top of all of this for power supplies and a mouse to free up space in other compartments.The middle compartment was where I put my Xbox 360 and it too had some room to fit stuff on top of this.

4.7.2012

Bought this a while back for my wife to have something to lug her new laptop around in without having to have a messenger bag or briefcase style case. Fits everything she uses for her computer with plenty of room to spare. Laptop is a 17.3" HP and fits in the laptop pocket with no problem. The power supply and mouse fit neatly in two of the many smaller zippered pockets. Keeps everything organized and secure.I was wondering if the overengineered handle was a gimmick, but having hefted her bag when full of computer and other stuff (and my equivalent bag, that has to fit an 18"+ laptop with college books without the heavy-duty handle) that massive wire handle is reassuring. You just know that that's going to hold,

22.4.2013

I survey buildings for a living, I work inside and outside and carry everything I need in my bag. This is a large day-sized bag which fits a large laptop, paperwork, lunch box, drink, hand-tools, ipad etc. It's a great laptop bag for anyone with a lot of other stuff to carry. I can stuff my jacket in there too if it gets too warm. It has a large laptop compartment and one big storage compartment; each of these has a tall thin "slot" which is great for holding documents flat. There are several smaller pockets with the front two having internal dividers and a particularly useful pocket on the top.It is well made, much better than most. It is designed to stand up on its own which is very useful,

15.6.2011

I was sceptical about finding a bag that would hold my MSI GX660 BEAST of a gaming laptop (not 17" but thicker than just about every other laptop, so I needed the space). I needed something that would also hold a lot of other stuff - camera, change of clothes, jacket, mp3 player, documents, food etc.I almost opted for a Lowepro bag, but felt they were too heavy on the camera emphasis. I own a digital SLR, but really needed a space that wasn't exclusively for an SLR, but lots of other things too.This bag seemed like a slightly less pricey, and slightly more ideal solution, so I took the plunge and bought it.Within minutes of opening the package I realised this was going to be IDEAL for my needs.

22.10.2014

The best back pack I owned. Period.All the amazing reviews look pretty much genuine to me after using the bag.Made by a reputed company for longevity. It looks and feels pretty much it.PROS:1) I usually carry my Mac book pro 15 inch along with a neoprene sleeve on it. It just fits perfectly.May be 17 inch should be carried with out any other extra protection on top of it.2) The base of the laptop compartment does not touch the floor when placed down.3) Can stand by itself with the thick reinforced base.( Depends on how you distribute the weight)4) Even 8 kilos feel light. Awesome weight disspiating design.5) Lotsa pockets, Mind you things can get lost/forgotten if you don't take a mental note of where you are putting the stuff.6)

30.6.2017

Hard-wearing, loads of zips, pockets, pouches, compartments, zipped pockets, velcroed pouches, zipped & velcroed pouches, zipped & velcroed pouched pocketed compartments... it is like the TARDIS. Seriously, allow plenty of time for looking for items you have loaded into this as it is definitely the 'Swiss Army knife' of bags.I have had mine for three and a half years now and it has been on international flights and domestic flights, sometimes in the baggage hold (with laptop removed ...) and it is only just starting to get a bit bobbly on some of the patches. I suspect that if I used one of those shavers for removing bobbles from jumpers to tidy it up, it would look brand new again.

8.7.2015

Needed a rucksack to carry a laptop and all the bits and pieces that they seem to attract (cables external drives etc.) This coupled with the need to keep a brace of notebooks meant that the generic laptop bag was over stuffed and I still need to carry another bag. This was recommended by several colleagues at work who all use one. So got one when on offer. Plenty of space for the laptop in it's own padded slot. power adapter and leads next to it along with a Butterfox cable organiser. More pockets for the notebooks, glasses, pens and the usual stuff you end up dragging around with you. There are a couple of useful sections as well as one in the small padded pocket that is perfect for keeping generic smart phones or music players safe from impact.

Wenger Ibex - Reviews

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