Customer Ratings & Reviews

I've had this backpack almost a year and really love it. Plenty of space in the main compartment plus several other compartments to keep your stuff organized. The small top pocket is convenient to store things you need quick access to; keys, cell phone, etc. The laptop compartment is well padded but just barely fits my 15.4" laptop.

PROS: The backpack is very comfortable to wear in general. The shock absorbtion on straps makes a 15lb load feel like 10, and the evenness of it's momentum erases any insecurities I have about sprinting to the bus stop with it holstering my laptop--which, heh, I have done several times now and the laptop still runs great. Most backpacks would not be able to prevent some kind of hard drive destruction under such conditions. Which brings me to my next point--laptop protection. This is the first backpack I've seen and felt in-person that actually offers a little extra padding around the outside and bottom of the laptop compartment, so I can fall off my skateboard with a little more confidence. With most backpacks I'd be scrambling inside the laptop compartment to see if my flat screen had cracked. And the obvious pros. It is very stylish and the utility (for school or office purposes) is simply unsurpassed for your typical less-than-$100 piece of baggage. There's an obvious place for everything, and plenty of room for just about any officey/electronicky need you could have. And they're all fairly well placed, with plenty of "hidden" compartments that the quick and dirty mugger would easily miss. CONS: The meshy cushioning on the shoulder straps can easily chafe if not positioned properly, although the overall idea works--make the parts that contact your body or clothing breathable and sweat-proof. That being said, why would you need your backpack to be sweat-proof if you aren't going to take it rollerblading, hiking--sporting of any kind? Let's be clear--this isn't a Sport Utility Backpack. It's Office Utility Baggage. There are no straps, velcro, cords, clips, or any manner of fastener on the outside. There is one essentially useless attempt at a clipping mechanism that's attached to the inside of the second smallest pocket about three inches left of center. It's one of those that, in most backpacks, can be hung outside the zipper while the zipper itself is still completely closed. In this case, however, the zipper needs to be halfway open to use the hook, which would render the pouch useless. And even if you DID consider using the hook, the thing is a flimsy piece of plastic--I wouldn't trust it with anything that's too big for one of the internal compartments in the first place, which falls far shorter than my expectations of Swiss Gear quality. It's obvious that they threw it into the backpack just so they could say that it has one. As far as true functionality goes, it's a waste of material. The biggest point I will make against this backpack is a design flaw. It's so obvious and simple, I wonder how in the world anyone at Swiss Gear could have missed it or let it pass as "good enough". As soon as you pull apart the velcro on the release strap of the laptop slot you notice it. The velcro's 'hook' side moves into direct contact with a mesh pouch that compliments the laptop slot. Hooking, sticking, and destruction ensues. Within a couple weeks of use, the damage is blatant. What get's me is that it would only take a simple 3"x3" piece of nylon on that part of the pouch, and POOF! Problem solved. It's pathetic, really. If you do get this backpack, I suggest my modification: a piece of duct tape, horizontal, on the area that the velcro would normally come in contact with. In Conclusion: It is a very comfortable wear, despite the occasionally chafey mesh padding on the shoulder straps. Attaching sports gear, helmets, or lunchboxes to it will be tricky at best, but it is designed more for the white-collar or electronic kind of utility. The self-destructive mesh-on-velcro thing is a horrible design, but for all intents and purposes it is an easy fix, and all the other benefits do outweigh the effort it takes to do so. At the end of the day, it's a great backpack, but I still don't feel right spending $80 on a backpack--and it's not enough of a bag for me to think of it as being much more than that. A backpack. It's at the top of it's class and close to that next tier of baggery (whatever that is). But still. It's a backpack. If it weren't for the fact that it was on sale for $20 off, I had $50 in Best Buy gift cards, and my other backpack had been reduced to threads, I would not have purchased it. That being said, I am very happy that I have it. It's cool, it's functional, and it really doesn't disappoint. If money is easy to come by for you, spending it on this backpack would not be a waste.

This is easily the best laptop backpack you will find! It might be a few dollars more than others BUT you will NOT find better! I have had this laptop for 2 years now and it's as good as it when when I bought it! the support on your back etc...is incredible! The space and compartments it has in it is outstanding for everything you want to carry with you! I have an inside edge seam fraying a tiny bit nut after 2 years if that's it---WOW!!! I use this nearly EVERY DAY and for travel! I have also loaded it down on some days and not a tear or anything! Swiss Gear by Wenger makes the best! I didn't want to spend a few bucks more BUT I am so glad I did to get this! I carry all I need for my business and more! The other thing I like is that it doesn't look like the "business" laptop bag! So - it's less prone to getting stolen! It's "concealing"! Which IS one of the reasons I bought it too! Even though I work daily and own my own consulting business...I don't like the "look" of it all the time! And I like my costly laptop...that I bought at Best Buy too...being "hidden" in this bag! If you're in the market for a laptop bag - GET IT!!!

This product arrived completely covered in dust and dirt. Product itself was great, condition was awful. When I advise Best Buy of the how the product arrived, they sent a replacement that was just as bad as the original.

The back pack is well constructed but it does not stand up alone well. It flops over.

I love this laptop backpack! It's super lightweight and beyond comfortable. And best of all, you can carry it hands-free. This is the perfect size and protection for my 13" Macbook, but it would work just as good with a 15" computer, too. Buy one of these backpacks today. You won't be sorry!

I had an older version of the synergy and it served me well for several years. It's a sturdy, well made backpack - great for travel and for business. I looked around for a replacement and honestly, even way more expensive backpacks didn't have the features this one has. So I just bought this new one. I love the durability, the space, the padding, the comfort. Style is okay. My only downside is that I tend to stuff too much into it since it's so spacious and then it's too big to slide under my seat on the airlines. I think that's a me problem though. And the other downside is that I see these everywhere. I guess I'm not alone in concluding that there is no better backpack for the price.

Way to expensive for what it is. So many pockets and dividers mskes it very bulky with just a few small things in it.

It is not that big. Has only 1 zipped pouch. Not worth it

Description says there is an adjustable chest strap. There isn't one so we returned it. Swissgear backpacks are great but this product isn't what was advertised.

I just replaced my North Face backpack after 10 years and wish I had done it sooner. I absolutely love the cavernous storage this bag has, while still remaining relatively lightweight for easy transport. Great protection for your laptop and accoutrements, as well as a planner, iPad, and daily files (which I always carry home with the intent of reviewing but don't - the back pack is great, but didn't fix that). I hope not to have to replace this bag soon, but foresee myself being loyal to Swiss Gear in the future.

I ended up returning this, as the build quality sucks, it's no where near what Swiss Gear products used to be like before they got bought out. Avoid!

I had to replace my old identical bag that was 7 yrs old and they don't make them the same because this is already falling apart

I just bought this backpack in January, after 3 months its already ripping in the front. Never buying swissgear again.

After Only a weeks of use, the backpack started breaking trough the sutures. I only have had it for less than a month and its already broken. I will see if it can be returned. It looks good though.

Worst Customer Experience I will never shop at a Best Buy again! Please don’t do business with this company.

After only 3 months the zipper broke. Best Buy would not take the product back, I now have to contact Swissgear

Bought it and hardly used it and the rings on it fell off. So I returned it and the same thing happened to that one. Should have been made better!!!!

I love this backpack. Its very comfortable, it has a ton of space and pockets for everything and its durable because its held up even though I haven't had it for very long. I use it for school mostly. It holds my laptop, a change of clothes, 6 of my books, 5 folders with all my papers and my notebook, 2 bottles of water and all my laptop accessories with ease. I've also taken it camping. Its perfect for hiking in the woods because its comfortable even on those long hikes. I also use it on long mountain bike trips. Holds everything I need. It'll hold everything you need for whatever you need. It is a little bit bulky but that's because its made of some really strong materials that don't flex the best but you'll know it'll last because of that. It keeps your notebook dry and stuff on those rainy trips. I've gotten the zippers jammed on some paper and plastics bags but they still work perfectly. A lot of my friends have this bag. After seeing my boss have this one, I wanted to get it.

I purchased this backpack for 59.99 at Best Buy, and I couldn't be happier. It has all the things you would expect from the normal Swiss Gear attention to detail in all of their products. Lots of compartments, but not too bulky. Lightweight. Sturdy. Great styling. What more can I say? A great deal, for sure.