Béis Backpack
I purchased The Backpack in black on a whim. I didn’t need a new travel backpack, but I wanted to upgrade my current one to prepare for my trip. The Béis site was running a promotion on the day I happened to be looking at The Backpack, so I decided it was worth a shot. I didn’t do my usual research before this purchase, but The Backpack checked all the boxes of what I wanted.
My new backpack had to have the following:
- Clamshell opening
- Separate laptop compartment for easy TSA passage
- Trolley pass-through
- Several compartments for storage
- Sleek look to match my travel aesthetic
This backpack seemed like the perfect choice, so I took a chance and bought it. I placed my order on a Thursday evening, and by Saturday morning, it had arrived on my doorstep. I am incredibly impressed with Béis’ order processing and shipping times.
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Materials, Quality, and Design
The Backpack’s body is made from cotton, the trim with PVC, and the interior lining is made of polyester. I was slightly nervous about the quality, but upon inspection, this bag is very sturdy. The zippers function well; I zipped and unzipped them several times, and they didn’t give me any trouble or catch on the fabric once.
The design of the bag is what drew me to this option. The clamshell opening makes it easy to open the backpack and organize its contents. The main interior flap contains two storage compartments, one with a mesh lining and the other with a plastic lining. The opposite side of the bag features a compression strap to keep your items from shifting in transit. This design is very functional as you don’t have to dig around to find items packed towards the bottom of the bag.
The front pocket contains organization slots for pens and other travel items like a passport or ID. The Backpack has an additional zipper in the rear to store a laptop or tablet. The separate zipper is a nice feature, so you don’t have to unpack any other items when going through security. The back of the bag contains a luggage pass-through sleeve, so if you are traveling with an additional suitcase, the backpack can slide securely onto the telescopic handle for easy maneuvering.
I purchased the black version of this backpack. The beige color was also available but I was afraid it would get dirty after a few trips; black is much more forgiving. The bag's look is very simplistic and modern - the leather trim on the handle, bottom of the bag, and two side pockets add something extra to an otherwise dull black bag.
Packing The Backpack
Before taking The Backpack on my trip, I packed it with everything I wanted to bring on the plane. I will be checking a bag (or two), so these are only my necessities and things I will be okay with if my checked bags do not arrive on time. I also will be traveling with a small crossbody purse as my personal item, so The Backpack will serve as my only carry-on.
Inside The Backpack, I was able to pack the following:
- One makeup organizer
- Two waterproof toiletry bags (for skincare and hair products)
- Two shirts, a pair of pants, and three days' worth of undergarments
- Two pairs of sunglasses
- One pair of ski goggles in front pocket
- One makeshift first-aid kit (in a Ziploc bag)
- One jewelry organizer
- Two laptops (one Dell and one MacBook) and chargers for both
- My iPhone and Apple Watch charging cables
- Inflatable travel pillow (attached to the top carrying strap)
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To my surprise, there was still some room for small items in the bag after packing it with the above things. I carried the bag around the house for a bit to see how comfortable it would be fully packed, and it was pretty comfortable and didn’t feel unreasonably heavy on my back. I was mindful of packing the bag as I would be carrying it through airports and various cities, so comfort was a priority.
Additionally, European airlines are known for having weight restrictions on cabin baggage. I wanted to pack efficiently but keep The Backpack as light as possible. Fully packed, the weight was 14.1 pounds or 6.4 kilograms. I have seen limits varying from 8 kilograms to 15 kilograms, so keeping the bag under 8 was my goal and will prepare me for any scenario.
Specifications
Backpack Dimensions: 13" W x 19" H x 5.5" D
Backpack Weight (empty): 1.8 lbs (0.8 kg)
Backpack Weight (packed): 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg)
Overall, The Backpack was a wise purchase, and I am excited to take this on my trip!
Post-Vacation Backpack Review
I used The Backpack while traveling to Switzerland and Germany for two weeks in January. Not only did it fit all of my items perfectly, but it also made going through airport security a breeze. Taking my laptop out of the compartment took all of two seconds and being able to unzip the main compartment fully made it very easy to locate my toiletry bag of liquids to place in the bin.
However, I did find The Backpack to be slightly uncomfortable to wear when it was packed fully. Due to my flight delay from Detroit, when I arrived in Amsterdam, I had to SPRINT to the next gate (two terminals over) to catch my flight to Geneva. My back was a little sore after all that running and if I packed a few less items, I think it would have been a better experience.
On my return trip from Munich, I made sure to put the heavier items in my checked luggage and the backpack was much more comfortable to carry around during my two hour layover in Amsterdam. I stored the backpack in the overhead bin on all of my flights, however I did test if it would fit underneath the seat in front of me on my KLM flight from Amsterdam to Geneva. It was a tight squeeze and left me with very little legroom (and I am only 5'4...) so I wouldn't recommend trying to stuff a fully packed backpack underneath a seat on smaller planes.
Overall, I think The Backpack is my new go-to backpack for travel and am excited to take it on my upcoming trips!
