I’ve Traveled Around the World With Amazon's Top-selling Backpack — Here’s My Review

When I was preparing for a fast-moving two-week family trip around Greece and the Dalmation Coast with then-toddler twins, I knew I was going to need to up our carry-on game when it came to performance. Until that point, my husband and I had been relying on our Herschel backpack and Lesportsac nylon crossbody carry-ons, respectively, but we were going to have to rethink our strategy to include more pockets, enhanced durability and gear protection, and better weight distribution. 

That’s when, as one does, I got to searching on Amazon for a solution. The very first non-sponsored product that popped up was the Matein Travel Laptop Backpack. So I dropped that one in my cart — and my family has been traveling with the feature-rich, performance-minded, and impressively durable carry-on ever since. (Four years and counting!)

The backpack is fairly compact at 18 inches by 12 inches by 7.8 inches, and it weighs just over 1.5 pounds. That makes it ideal for use not just as a carry-on, but as an everyday commuter bag. It’s a versatile size that works equally well for me and for my husband, who is seven inches taller than me. And it punches way above its weight when it comes to organization, storage, and gear protection.  

To buy: amazon.com, $30 (originally $42)

A separate laptop compartment holds a device as large as 15.6 inches long. A tricked-out front compartment has many thoughtful organizational features, including pen pockets and a key fob hook, so you can keep your essentials organized and at the ready. It also has a hidden pocket on the back designed to prevent theft of your most valuable essentials when you’re in a crowd.

 This pack even has a built-in USB charger outside and built-in charging cable inside, so you can charge when you’re on the move using your own charging device. (Note the pack is not self powered — just well designed with charging in mind.)

 To buy: amazon.com, $40 (originally $49)

To buy: amazon.com, $40 (originally $56)

 Importantly, the bag is also comfortable to carry with excellent weight distribution. It has a back design meant to facilitate airflow and thick but soft multi-panel ventilated padding for solid back support. Shoulder straps are substantially made, and a foam-padded top handle adds another grab-and-go option. It also has a luggage strap so it can slide over a rolling suitcase for hands-free maneuvering when you’re striding through the airport in a hurry. 

The durable pack is water-resistant and made of heavy-duty polyester fabric with metal zippers; even four years (and many passport stamps) into the game, ours shows little signs of wear.

 My family’s pack also shows little in the way of dirt or stains in the dark gray color we chose. The stain resistance and versatility of the hue is a plus, but if I were buying this again, I’d pick one of the more standout colors for both easier identification and also a bit more style. It comes in 12 mostly neutral hues, with a few bolder options that include yellow, red, and even a galaxy print. 

 No, this isn’t a bag with a designer name — nor is it the most exceptional example of unique style. But it’s an absolute workhorse that has over-delivered on performance and durability for me and more than 58,000 others. And that’s $30 very well spent.

 At the time of publishing, the price started at $30.

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