A Grown Up Backpack Loved by All
I freaking love bags. Target ones, Chloé ones, and all of the ones in between. I love smelling them, feeling the material and also abusing them to the point of loving them almost a little too much. My work bags are the ones that get the brunt of my loving abuse. They’re really put to the task - look good with every outfit, be spacious, also hold my snacks, be durable enough to be throw around and lastly, be fun enough that I look forward to going to work. That last point is a hard one, but even 5% goes a long way in this equation.
This backpack from Calpak does an extremely good job at meeting all of the requirements. The color is even more vibrant than it is online, doesn’t look too sporty or overly feminine and has tons of storage options. That being said, it isn’t perfect, but I am not 100% sure that bag exists (yet) - gives me a great excuse to keep looking though!
Super into:
The color - mine is the dragonfruit one pictured, but they have neutrals and 10+ to choose from
The two zippered sections - love a zipper that only opens in the back, feels extra secure. That’s where I keep my wallet, giving me extra peace of mind
So many internal sleeves - both of the bag sections have dividers for your laptop/book/etc
The stitching detail, its delicate but just enough to give the bag a bit of personality
The luggage trolley sleeve - I don’t personally use it to travel, but love that I have that option
The fact that the zippers (both) go all the way down to the bottom, talk about being open
Its adjustable shoulder straps - gives you freedom to have it as low or as high as you want (I personally like it almost at my forehead, the higher the better, I want to be confused for a turtle)
Its zipper section on the inside, I keep all my pens there and pray for the best
The material - its not flimsy! This bag stands on its own and the bag itself feels thick
Wish it had:
A little less weight - this bag is heavy for a work bag. Its 3 lbs when empty, but by the time you add your laptop, notebooks, etc its giving you a mini workout. Its not horrible for me, I will happily suffer for aesthetics, but I’d rather not if I had the choice
A bit more give - you know that thing where we shove things into our bags or suitcases to make them fit? This material is so tight and snug that really isn’t an option. It either fits or it doesn’t, that’s fun
A bit more of a scratch-resistant situation, I do use it every single day and since then it has a scratch in the front that I have not been able to get rid of or even hide. I would have thought with the material being as thick and sturdy feeling as it is, this one would have been easy to avoid, but I was wrong
Everywhere I go, I get complimented on this bag, one of those ‘I wish I had a dollar every time…’ kind of things. Unusual enough, men have even complimented me on this bag - and with no attempt to hit on me, which was a pleasant surprise. The color is outstanding, I now think that’s my new favorite color. The bag isn’t perfect, which is important to note at $138, but overall a great addition to your collection and will make up for any flaws via compliments from strangers - its the ultimate conversation starter. So really, are you paying for a bag or a good conversation opener? Hard to tell.
