My philosophy on backpacks has always been the same: they’re useful but ultimately disposable, and it’s not worth getting too attached to them or spending a lot of money on them.
Blame a decade and a half of education loaded with what overflowed from the Staples discount box, or piled up just before the Ikea checkouts. Until I received the OnePlus Travel Backpack as a gift two years ago, I never gave much thought to the bag I carried every day.
That OnePlus backpack has been good to me, especially considering how little it costs: just $69. but then Bellroy Tokyo Totepack I showed up at the Laptop Mag office and now I don’t want to use anything else as my main laptop bag. Here’s why.
You pay a lot, you get a lot
Let’s make one thing clear before we continue: at $179, the 20-liter Tokyo Totepack isn’t cheap. I don’t know how much backpacks should cost, although it seems like a lot to me.
However, you get a lot for your dollar. The exterior of the Totepack is composed of a durable, water-resistant fabric that is durable enough to ensure that the bag maintains its shape, but has the necessary degree of flexibility. There’s a soft mesh pocket inside that can stretch to hold more than you imagine, opposite two sleeves on the back of the bag: one lined with thick padding that fits laptops up to 15 inches and another smaller, slimmer pocket lined in polyester.
Outside the bag, there is a further compartment secured with a button where the shoulder straps can be stored. (Presumably you could use this space for whatever you want, as long as the straps are out.)
Don’t overlook the pair of deep pop-up pockets inside the Totepack, which are ideal for storing water bottles and umbrellas. These compartments are lined with the same polyester material as the rest of the bag’s interior and sit flush with the sides when not in use. Once filled, they push out the sides, essentially as an internal replacement for the outer cylindrical pockets.
However, the Bellroy backpack really won me over with its two front pockets, which are divided between the left and right hemispheres of the bag. The one on the left offers sturdy interior padding, while the one on the right hides a ring for a carabiner or set of keys, although I don’t use it for that.
In fact, in my Totepack, these compartments are almost always filled with the smartphones I’m testing. In fact, they are the perfect size for each to hold a phone independently. Working at Tom’s Guide and Laptop Mag, I carry an average of three phones on any given day, so it’s a blessing to be able to carry two in separate pockets without them repeatedly bumping and scratching.
There are other nifty features of the Tokyo Totepack. The two thick handles on the top don’t seem particularly special, until you realize that they are literally the reason for the bag’s name. Hold them up and the backpack effectively becomes a tote bag, which is really helpful when you need to be as slim as possible getting out of a crowded New York City subway car. I also like the fabric that protects the zipper at the top, ensuring that the teeth don’t scratch the laptop when sliding it in and out.
Imperfections aside
I must also highlight the general design of the bag. At first, I wasn’t in love with the combination of beige, rust, and navy that makes up the Desert Ocher colorway I’m using (it’s a little too preppy for my taste), but I’ve slowly grown to like it over time. There are also black, forest, and ink blue options for those looking for a more consistent, subdued look.
Still, as much as I like the Totepack, I have a few minor criticisms. Because the zipper on the main compartment doesn’t extend to the sides of the bag, it can be quite difficult to store things inside. It would also be nice to have at least one or two small cases for pens or pencils, although I’m not exactly sure where Bellroy could have put them.
FURTHER: Best Laptop Bags: Backpacks, Cases, and Luggage
Oh, and again: it’s very expensive (at least for me).
Of course, I realize that there are more expensive backpacks out there. But just like an $80 pair of headphones is not that expensive in the context of the entire market, but it is extremely Expensive compared to the pair you get free with your phone, $179 is a lot for something you apparently only need to carry stuff.
It’s for that reason that I can’t, in good conscience, recommend everyone reading this buy a Tokyo Totepack, unless you’re in the mood to splurge or enjoy the small details of a well-made device or accessory. Either way, this bag won’t disappoint.
Credit: Portable Magazine
