WE LOVE HEARING FROM KNACKPACKERS

I travel a lot for work. Generally its either a one day trip or a 3-4 dayer. I used to have separate back packs for each of these, and would inevitably not transfer something that I needed from the unused pack to the used pack. This eliminates that issue. I have taken the pack on a 10 day personal trip and it did great. Only slight things I could see improving would be: More comfortable straps. They seem like if you were wearing this on a hike all day they would get bothersome. I dont do that, so no bigs. A place for pens. Yes, I still use those. And a loop where the top strap and bottom strap join to hang a carabiner. I clip off a good-sized water bottle to my strap, and there is no place to do that. I just used a soft shackle to make my own, so again no bigs. For my needs, this is a great pack.

I bought a backpack for Mother’s Day, but when the package arrived, we realized we should have ordered the medium size. Although it was past the 30-day exchange/return period, I contacted customer support. After I provided proof that the bag and tags were still intact and in like-new condition, they promptly approved the exchange. We received our new bag within two business days, just in time for our international trip. Outstanding customer service like this sets a company apart, and these guys have it figured out. Plus, the bags are excellent!

obsessed with this backpack - the compression part is genius - capacity, laptop slot all great

I just completed a three-month trip to Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. The bag traveled really well and was easy to pack and organize. It went on 12 flights and in and out of many cars, taxis, buses, and ferries. It was really durable; yet it still looks new. The only problem I had with it was that when it was full, it was hard to close the middle section zipper near the top ( see photo below). And I sometimes had difficulty getting it on and off my carry-on bag handle.

Put this bad boy to the test three days after I got it. Rain while training and documenting Marines at Quantico, this bag took it all like a champ. Travels well too. It fit my 16 inch and 14 inch MacBooks (both with rugged cases), my boxed Magic Keyboard, my Magic Mouse, my Canon Camera, a 28mm lens with case, my flash, my Joby mini tripod, 2 sets of news crew lav mics, a rode mic, and a toiletries bag. Anddddddd it wasnt even remotely full! I only filled up the front pockets and not the clam shell portion. The water bottle pocket was nice and fit my 18 oz. Brita waterbottle.

My only little whine is that it really should come with a waist belt and a thicker chest strap.

It’s good

I had specific needs when I was shopping for a new backpack: since I'd be carrying it to the office and on business trips, I didn't want it to look like I was heading out on a campaign trip. I wanted it to have enough space to carry my gym clothes or one change of clothes and toiletries for an international flight. I wanted to be able to easily reach small objects without having to completely remove the whole pack and put it down somewhere. I wanted it to be able to easily carry a water bottle securely. And as a short woman (5'0"), I wanted the bag to sit comfortably on my hips.

This bag hits all those marks and then some! In addition: the space for storing cords and chargers is a thing I didn't know I was looking for. The small top pocket for storing sunglasses is also perfect for storing my my ear buds.

My one small request for improvement: when I travel and go to the toilet in bathrooms in airports in a variety of countries, the carry handle on top isn't well situated for hanging the bag on a bag hook in a toilet cubicle. Since we use the bottom of the bag for the cord storage, I'd rather not be putting it down on strange bathroom floors. Just a suggestion to keep in mind for future design! :-D

I have become obsessed with my Knackpack Series 1!!! And NO, this is not a paid review. I saw an Instagram ad for this Knackpack when I was in the market 6 months ago for a laptop backpack that would hold my personal Macbook + work laptop + coffee tumbler + a few personal effects, without looking too bulky or masculine (I have a small frame at 5' and 100 lbs). Price was not too much of an issue, but I wanted to stay under $500, so TUMI was out of the question. I took a chance and ordered the Series 1 in Medium (black), cautious that I may have to exchange for a size up bec in the website photos, it looks a bit small... I didn't want to get the Series 2 bec I like all the pockets and organization far more in the Series 1, and Series 2 looked a lot bigger (vertically) in the photos. Do NOT let the size of the Series 1 Medium fool you. I have been absolutely blown away at the quality of this company!! Not only was the packaging so carefully thought of, it arrived quickly, and for a backpack that looks so small, it fits soooo much and never ever looks bulky. When traveling, it slides very easily under the seat in front of you. Oftentimes, I grab the essentials from my purse or tote and toss them in my Knackpack to be completely hands-free. One thing I really appreciate (besides all the pockets and org) is that the pocket for the tumbler is hidden away. I HATE those backpacks that expose the water bottle or tumbler and it's just floppin around as you're frantically running to catch a connecting flight lol. I'm a forever customer as long the quality remains this way!!

Note to the company: You guys are doing some really great work - thank you for this gem. :)

I'm almost 2 years in my knack pack journey. After extensive research, I reluctantly purchased this bag for work travel. 30-40 trips a year. This bag needed to hold 2/3 days worth as well as all my work gear and supplies. Not only does it still look brand new, I have never needed anything on the road as it has a place for everything. It's so good, I use 2 compression cubes and have ditched my suitcase all together. You'll never need another bag.

Perfect

I'm traveling every week and rely on my bag to hold my gear but also look good in a meeting room. I must have looked at over 400 laptop bags. I even bought a couple of things and had to return them. The Knack is perfect. I love it! I love the pockets, I love the quality, I love the expansion. It's got some thoughtful touches (the mesh pockets let you see everything in them, the key fob is long enough to be useful.)

If you're a techie person or utilize hot offices/desks at work and need to transport your tech daily this is a great bag. There is a padded area that could hold up to a 12.9 tablet with full coverage. If you don't have a 17 in computer you could store a laptop and a tablet in the laptop compartment (I'd probably throw the tablet in a sleeve just for extra protection but a 13 in MacBook Air and 12.9 iPad Pro both fit in the laptop compartment without a problem). There are lots of smaller compartments inside the bag so you can separate your wires/snacks/pens etc. I was using primarily tech organizer bags previously but at some point why do you need to buy a bag to put in your bag lol? This is a much better solution for daily use. The bag itself is well made and extremely comfortable to wear. The zippers especially feel great and are smooth. The compartment where the straps are stored also has enough room you could store an extra item in there like a light jacket when the straps are deployed. I haven't tried out the waist support belt that comes with it yet but I appreciate that it's an option considering the size of the bag if expanded and filled with clothes as well.

On the topic of travel, I fit a medium and two small packing cubes in the expandable pouch and was able to slip in my bathroom pouch as well. I haven't tried putting shoes in but I do see Knack sells a compressible shoe case that would probably be helpful. The water bottle storage inside the bag is designed that you can use it without dislodging all of your items inside which is awesome since I have seen bags that provide this but then if you use it you have to rearrange the interior. I regret I missed out on the offer for a free Knack water bottle when I bought the bag!

I was unsure about the aesthetic of the white interior but I have to admit the practicality of it is great - you can very quickly find an item which isn't the case with darker interiors. My old bag had a dark blue interior and I have to admit it is 100% easier to find small items with the contrast of the white interior that Knack is using.

Finally, I would be reminisce if I didn't mention I grew up in Rhode Island and I think it's awesome to support a local company that is making nicer bags than many of the bigger competitors. Having used this bag for a little under a month, including traveling with it, I think Knack's statement that this lets you live a "one bag life" is completely accurate. It's pretty nice when going on a trip to just have one bag and not need to move anything from your usual daily bag. You just expand, add your extra travel items and roll out.

I’ve been using this backpack for over a year. I use it as my daily work bag with laptop, notebooks, etc. It has fantastic storage, is very sturdy and still looks great after heavy daily use. It expands to be a roomy weekend bag and also a great carry-on overflow bag for longer trips. I’ve tried a number of high-end backpacks and briefcases, and this is by far the best. Highly recommend!

I began traveling a lot for a new job and my wife bought me the large expandable pack. I can carry a laptop, charging cords, and 4 days' worth of clothes (including a spare pair of shoes). The construction of this pack is incredible, and the convenience of not having to carry an additional roller bag is a gamechanger for me. This is one of those instances where you get what you pay for. Definitely recommend this product.

Perfect product for gym and work. More than enough room for overnight stays

Amazing backpack that completely changes your mind about what a backpack should be.

Perfect bag! No issues or concerns. I can quibble with a few minor tweaks I’d make, but this bag gets all the important features right.

Great backpack. Love the fact that it fits under seat. Perfect for minimalist travel.

Finally traveled the first time with this bag so I thought I'd leave a review. Some highlights from other reviews to note is that the water bottle pocket isn't too useful if your bag is full because it competes with space in the bag. I'd also prefer if the front pocket opened more, it's easy to lose little things down towards the bottom if you don't put them in one of the interior pockets.
I can't speak to how comfortable it is with both shoulder straps on since I tend to sling over one shoulder, but the cushioning felt fine. Being able to tuck and zip away the straps is great when you're on a plane. Speaking of that, one main reason I got this bag was so I could fit it under the seat and not worry about getting overhead luggage space and this really delivers, even when I had it packed full.
The bag really works for anything from a weekend (unexpended, no packing cubes) to a week or possibly more using the packing cubes and the bag expansion.

Lots of space for items and love how it becomes compact when don’t need the space!

I took my new Expandable 2 on my first visit to NYC and it worked out perfectly! On some outings I used the expandable compartment to carry my mirrorless camera with attached super wide zoom lens hidden from view like on the subway. The layout of compartments is awesome and extremely useful! As a Christ follower we’re supposed to love people and use things but I have to say that I LOVE my knack pack!

A minimalist bag ideally sized for everyday/commute as well as weekend travel. Easily fits 2-3 days of clothes. It’s also a great duffel bag; just hide the straps and grab it by the side handle! The computer sleeve lacks a false bottom; be cautious dropping in a laptop. Also, the water bottle compartment intrudes into the main compartment reducing space. My only 2 minor gripes. Overall, this bag is incredibly well designed… and It looks bad-ass cool!. Go donate your daily backpack, travel bag, and duffel bag… this one backpack does it all!

I regularly commute by plane between home and work and carry on only this bag. There are two great aspects of the bag. First, it allows for excellent organization. As the saying goes, there is a place for everything and everything is in its place. Second, it is versatile. The expanding feature allows me to travel small when possible and larger when necessary.

Knack has finally found the Goldilocks size for their backpacks. I have the Series 2 Med that has been my go to bag for some time. It works great, but I never liked the side zipper for the laptop and it was a touch big for everyday use (but great on my last 12 day overseas trip). The new Small series 2 addresses both these issues perfectly. I love the top loading laptop feature and it still handles all my accessories and spare clothes for a two day trip, but for everyday work it meets these needs without being too bulky. It is amazing the difference in feel for just a small change in dimensions. I had hoped the slig bag would solve the size issue, but found it was too small and the pockets proved to be too loose (no velcro or zippers on the inside), but now Knack has redeemed themselves and more.

Solid 4 out of 5 stars. Be aware that the bag expansion is at the very back of the backpack, as opposed to in the middle pocket where all of the organization is. That means you cannot expand the backpack to hold things in the middle pocket (where your laptop pocket is), such as a book or a 3" binder. Instead, you will have to store them in the back section of the bag, where there is no organizational pockets and requires the 3-sided zip around to open.

The other flaw is the water bottle pocket. I get why they want to keep the sleek line of the water bottle. But because the water bottle pocket intrudes into the middle pocket, you really can't use the middle pocket to store anything with any depth such as a book, a binder, a file folder, etc. And, it really only fits tapered water bottles that have a narrow neck. My 24oz trail hydroflask that does not taper at the top doesn't really fit in the pocket easily -- it's super tight and difficult to get in/out of the pocket. (If the Knack design team reads these reviews, I would highly suggest you make the water bottle pocket be one where you can fold in the pocket if you don't need it, but when you do, the pocket expand outwards with an elastic top.)

Final thoughts: this backpack is a great option for travelers where you're looking to store clothes in your backpack but you don't necessarily need quick access to the items. But I would not recommend the bag for business commuters--there are better options out there where you can expand the bag to gain quick access to documents/binders/books without having to go through the 270° zipper shenanigans. And the water bottle pocket is not a great design.

Wonderful bag. This duffel was highly recommended by my two sisters who each have one also. I’m using it for the first time on my vacation and very impressed with how much I can pack in all the convenient places. Perfect under the seat carry on with all you need readily available for your in flight trip.

Carefully planned and designed, this goes everywhere with me. Even fully expanded, it fits under the seat of every plane I've had it on. Love the "secret" zippered compartment! Carries quite comfortably in backpack mode and clamshell style makes for easy access to items. Proven durability too. For me, this was by far the best value out there.

I liked the multiple ways to carry this item, and its size will be helpful on future flights!

I love the new bag. It does everything. The only addition would be a front zipper flap to quickly access important items.

Would have been a perfect solution for ODC and one bag travel except there is no quick access pocket which makes travel difficult on the plane, bus, etc when out of the country. Having to pull out the bag to open the main compartment is too inconvenient. Add that and you will certainly have close to the perfect bag!