My brand new Victorinox backpack took a beating. It survived being squished in front of my feet on the flight to/from New York from Toronto, as well as times I used it as an ersatz pillow against the plane window. Stuffed to the max, it lasted through a week of walking tours through New York City, chunks of fallen snow, and a splash or two of zooming gritty Manhattan cab slush. The latest from Victorinox, the VX Touring laptop backpack was a dream to use. After the snow and slush, it was a comfort to find out the bag is a cinch to clean. A quick rinse with soap and water, and it was like new again. It’s also easy to pack and easily expands for additional capacity, with adjustable side straps.
The measurements – at 31 cm width, 49 cm height and 19 cm depth – can seem near-immaterial, given how sturdy and durable the bag is. With not a lot of creativity, one week of clothes punched in, with leftover room for souvenirs and tchotchkes. And with a global 10-year warranty, it means you can run it ragged, and stuff it like mad, and know it’s not going to bust.
On its own, it’s not heavy whatsoever. On the contrary. Victorinox touts it as its lightest and most versatile pack yet, and “built to fit the needs of the modern traveller”. One of the things that separate a good backpack from a great one, is the idea that you can move around extensively with it on, and not feel that it’ll make you sore, or that something’s going to slip off. Its padded adjustable shoulder strap guarantees it. Moreover, among its key features is its padded front pocket that can hold a 15.6-inch laptop, perfect for business travel.
It’s one of its newest in the nine series collection.
The Collection includes a wheeled global carry on duffel, a wheeled 2-in-1 carry-on backpack, a wheeled medium duffel, a wheeled large duffel, a wheeled extra-large duffel.
It’s no surprise it’s come from the makers of the original Swiss army knife; the bag is just as multi-purpose, quality made, and flexible.
Whether you’re hiking in the woods, jet-setting, taking the bus long-distance, or commuting to work, it’s an all-purpose bag that fits cozily on your back, beneath your seat or in the overhead compartment.
It retails for $237.
