Medium Expandable Knack Pack®

I've been looking for that perfect "one bag solution" for business and travel for a couple of years. When I found Chase Reeves review on YouTube, I was very intrigued. This bag has the durability, quality materials, size, and organizational functionality I need, along with what are to my a eyes nearly ideal business/casual visual design. Add to that the ability to seamlessly transition from daily carry business bag to suitcase for one-bag travel without having to repack the whole bag, and we have a winner. My review would be 5 stars if not for the following two caveats, which may or may not be a concern for you. I would rate it 4.5 stars if I could, but these are significant enough to knock it down from five stars for me.

First: The laptop pocket is advertised as accommodating almost all 15 inch screen laptops; this is mostly true. However (and hopefully they'll correct this on the site), while the site says the zipper opening for the pocket is 15 inches, it actually measures a tight 14 1/2 inches. This meant that while my new Asus Zenbook Pro Duo fits through just barely with some effort (being an inch thick and 14 1/8 inches wide), my 15 inch screen work laptop does not fit at all (being a Dell Precision 3520 at 14 3/4 inches wide). Thinner laptops at less than 14 1/2 inches wide should fit just fine. Measure your laptop before ordering if this is a concern for you.

Second: The front triangle pocket has been updated to include RFID blocking material. This choice doesn't make much sense to me, since I certainly don't want the pocket that I'm keeping my passport, credit cards, license, etc. in to be the pocket that is presented most prominently to pickpockets in a busy area when traveling. In my opinion, the Knack Pack line still needs a secure valuables pocket for such things.

Overall: Buy one. I bought two - the medium 2.0 for work and a large version 1.0 for another use (I value the waist strap highly in the latter case, since removed from the 2.0 ve...

I have about a dozen bags that I use for travel, camera gear and daily work commute. The Knack bag is a really great commuter bag. Has a lot of room for daily gear, a lunch bag, laptop, kindle with tons more to spare if you need it. It also has a lot of organization available. The comfort is also there with good padding on the back with the straps being high quality. It does a good job holding off the rain but I wouldn't mind if they had a rain fly available.

Being a fan of the original Knack bag (medium and Large), I was eager to upgrade my daily medium bag to the new 2.0 version. After a few days with my new bag, here are my thoughts:
For the most part, the upgrades are all a success. Love the deeper pockets, trolly pass-thru, deeper card pockets and new placement of the elastic pen/USB keepers to the cable garage. Also like the deeper interior mesh pocket. The new sternum strap is a step back for me because as a NYC subway commuter, I have to remove my bag multiple times a day. The old sternum buckle was easy to use one-handed and without having to look. The new one (though removable) requires two hands and takes longer to unhook. I may take my old sternum strap and put it on my new bag. I also miss my Loden green color, but the indigo blue is growing on me. My one big disappointment is that the side handle didn't make the upgrade list. Every other bag I own has multiple grab points and this is the one major downside to this bag. Otherwise, I think the upgrades were well thought out and executed. I highly recommend this upgrade.

I’ve taken a few trips with my Knack pack now and I love it. The organization is great and makes it easy to find everything I need in the bag. I took it to Spain for 5 days and I was able to fit all my clothes and toiletries in it when it was expanded. I also love that the entire thing doesn’t have a clamshell opening, it makes it easier to open the main compartment in airports or on the road without everything spilling out.

I travel often and had trouble finding a bag that could hold electronics, extra clothes and basic needs. This bag was fantastic on my last trip. Glad I finally found a great bag!

Goes with me everywhere...carries everything from electronics, tech equipment, medications, toys, camera, writing material and pens plus more than any briefcase I have ever had......and things are organized and easy to find. Open the expansion and add a jacket or rain gear plus. Pack well for overnight trip. Purchased the Large bag as well for extended trips. Waiting on the small bag for my 14 year old daughter’s school bag!

I was honestly a bit skeptical at first. The reviews were great but you never know if what worked for someone else will work for you. I may be hooked for life. I love the design and user experience for a work bag, but I'm also thrilled at how easy I can expand the bag to accommodate a 2-3 day work trip (with the same suit). No complaints at all. Constructive is solid. Design is clean and modern and intelligently utilitarian. I will agree with some constructive feedback that the back can get a bit warm. But the trade-off is a secure and well-padded home for my laptop.

My only disappointment is that it arrived a couple of weeks ago and this week I received an email that a new and improved version will be released soon. Oh well. At this pace of everyday use, I think it'll be several years before this one is replaced. Well done team Knack.

I love this bag! Having recently moved into flexible space (which I surprisingly love), I needed a bigger bag to hold my stuff and I wanted a bag I could quickly grab my computer out off and stuff back into. I also needed a space for my ipad, my purse, my cord bag, etc.. This is great. I did want a bag that looked less "backpack'y" but you can't have everything. I also really like the hidden water bottle compartment - makes the overall look more business appropriate and less like I'm about to go on a hike. Very comfortable on my back. Since the back straps can be hidden, I do wish it came with a shoulder strap to carry cross body. But all around a win.

I researched and researched bags. I've bought many (just ask my wife, she keeps count). This is the game changer for me. I can't tell you how amazing it is to have a dedicated water bottle pocket that zips shut. Keeps it safe from dirty aircraft floors! Unexpanded I can fit clothes for a day and expanded I'll use it for a 3 day trip with no issue.

The ONLY issue I see is the lack of usable organization in the very front triangle pouch but I'm managing. You can also fit a lot in the main compartment. more than i thought it would. It's also pretty comfortable.

Brilliant back pack. Light enough. Super durable. Very compact and comfortable for everyday use, super roomy when expanded. It really enables a "on bag life". This summer I went to Tuscany, Italy, for a week and I only brought my black, medium Knack backpack. I really enjoyed to be able to carry everything in just one bag... hands free. Even when completely full it's very comfortable on the shoulders. And it is plenty of pockets. So many pockets, indeed: you can store everything, from smallest to biggest items, and immediately find what you are looking for. Awesome. In particular I love the possibility to hide the water bottle in the special zippered compartement (which I used for the water bottle this summer and I'm goind to use to store an umbrella during cold months). This is what I was able to put inside the medium backpack (expanded): 7 Lacoste, 7 T-shirts, 7 pants, 7 socks, 1 trousers, two swimsuits, 1 bermuda, 2 shirts, 1 pajamas, 1 medium toiletry bag, 1 iPad, 1 kindle, 1 TomTom car GPS, 2 mobiles, all the cables and battery chargers, 1 Hobonichi mega weeks, my small kit for calligraphy (...yes, I'm learning some calligraphic alphabets), 1 Knack black water bottle (btw, it is a really a good bottle: beautiful design, very good quality material, keeps liquid fresh for many hours), 2 earbuds, 1 Cord Mojo DAC, 1 small bag (15x10x3 cm) containing small items I always bring with me (pen, sd card reader, a battery pack, foldable shopper bag, kleenex, etc), 1 book, travel papers, keys, some snacks and few other things. It is amazing how many things it can contain.
I daily use it without paying too much care to it and after two monts it seems just unpacked. It resisted also to many "ferocious" attacks of my two cats!
I am supremely satisfied by my Knack pack. I do prefer it to any other backpack I own (some of wich are very very good products indeed). Best purchase of the year! Recommended without any doubt or hesitation.