Thule

Chasm Laptop 26L Backpack

Great minimalist pack for office/travel

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Size Bought:

26L

Height:

5' 9"

Weight:

175

I bought a few different packs to try, in search of a pack that can double as a vacation travel pack for airline/bus travel, easily fit under airline seat, but also get me to professional office meetings when I have to travel for work without looking too-outdoorsy/rugged, and this fits that bill perfectly. I love the simplicity and sleekness of the pack, and the fact it seems rugged/weather-resistant enough to handle at least some light rain during transport. There are only a couple of possible minor things that detract from a 100% winner for some people. One is if it's wet, inside the pack there is lack of any flap to fold OVER the top of the laptop sleeve inside the pack, so if the pack were still a little wet when you open, some water might drip down right into the vital ports/vents in the end of the laptop, or i suppose if pack was upside down the laptop could slide out (rare in my opinion). The only other thing I would improve is perhaps attach the straps a little different somehow so the pack doesn't hang out so far from the shoulders. I tested a couple of other packs and some (such as the latest Osprey Archeon 24L) felt much more snug/streamlined against the body. That said, I'm actually keeping this Chasm pack due to it being a little more clean/office-friendly looking for my needs. There is one full-length major pocket which is the majority of the pack, but also another, slim full-size pocket that runs the full height of the pack, which I could see works well for some people and not others. If the main pocket were packed tight, it might be hard to get to items that may be at the bottom of the slim pocket, but there are already a variety of accessory pockets in that slim pocket, so to me the full-length is a benefit, to handle long items, or slip a jacket/sweatshirt down in without opening the main chasm. The pack doesn't have the flattest bottom, so may not say sitting up on end, and that may bother some people looking to use as an everyday office laptop bag, but to me that's minor, i probably will have it leaning against a desk or chair anyway, and helps improve the look without a rigid/flat bottom. I also like the the zippers to the main compartments are in more of a U-shape, because on a plan I always slide my pack under the seat with shiny-outer side down, and straps up, that way I'm not transporting whatever junk is on the ground directly to the back of my shirt, and for that, the placement of these zippers is great, without all of your stuff falling out when you get into the pack. The small top-pouch zipper is just exposed mesh to the inside main cavity, but is very thick/fuzzy on the top/outer part of the pack to keep items (sunglasses /headphones) well protected from a random bump or smash. I really like the side-handle and size-laptop zip to easily get laptop out for something like TSA/airport security if needed, or just quick/easy access without exposing everything that's in your bag. Due to that side-zip and sturdy side handle, there is only a water-bottle pocket on one side, but I don't see that as a problem since 99% of the time i have only one bottle. I also really appreciate this has a little strap horizontally in the back-padding for slipping this pack over the handles of a carry-on roll-aboard airline luggage, so this pack is a perfect personal item/pack for most airline travel (except some of those small planes or budget US/euro airlines). You wouldn't want a pack that was any bigger if you plan to put it under an airline seat. Overall, pretty stoked on this pack, Thule does a good job and makes clean/pro looking packs. If it looks like it fits your needs, this is the one.

Love the new back pack!

It wa a purchase for my wife she loves it! It is functional and practical