INTRODUCTION

Over the years, we have evaluated numerous camera bags, all of which have been photography-related; however, as Travel Photographers, we obviously carry other luggage as well. So we thought it was only appropriate that we start reviewing travel-related bags as well.

The increase of budget airlines worldwide has made it much easier for travellers who prefer to fly with only carry-on luggage. As a result, many bag manufacturers are designing their bags to fit within airline restrictions for carry-on.

We love the idea of just taking a bag on board a flight with us and jetting off into the sunset, but unfortunately, as photographers, it’s not that simple for us, as our cabin luggage always includes camera gear, and there’s no room for clothes, extra shoes, toiletries, etc., needed for a getaway. As it is, we have to monitor that our carry-on does not exceed both the dimensions and weight restrictions of the airline we are travelling with.

Always keep in mind the following when buying a carry-on bag. Many people focus on whether the bag meets the airline’s size requirements, but they forget that airlines also have weight limits. Some airlines only allow 7 kg for carry-on luggage, but some bags already weigh over 1 kg before they are even packed, so you’re restricted on how much you can take before packing it. Nevertheless, if you travel on an airline that has a 7kg weight restriction, this generally applies to the weight of the bag you take on board to place in the overhead locker. Airlines also let you take a smaller bag that can fit under the seat in front of you. We’ve never had a problem with carry-on luggage; however, it is in your best interest to always check the restrictions of each airline that you will be travelling with.

Previously, we have reviewed the Bagsmart Soar 6L Camera Sling Bag and Bagsmart Paz 4L Camera Sling Bag, but as mentioned above, they are both photography-related. They have sent us the travel-related Bagsmart Blast 38L Travel Backpack in the Navy Blue colourway for this review.

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Disclaimer:  This review is unbiased. We would never recommend using any product unless we have used the product ourselves. We always strive to give you our honest opinion to help you make the best choice. We received the product with compliments , but were not paid for this review; however, we may receive commissions on links in this post.

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BAG EXTERIOR

The Bagsmart Blast 38L Travel Backpack is constructed with a soft nylon material with an almost canvas feel. It actually feels quite luxurious.

The buckles are all hardened plastic, which seems resilient enough; however, these are usually the first things that break on a budget bag. Only time will tell whether the buckles will stand the test of time. Similarly, the zippers seem OK, but they are not YKK zippers, which are the gold standard in quality zippers. So once again, we are not sure how long these will last with extended use. All the zippers have a knotted nylon zipper-pull attached which takes a lot of pressure off the zipper and can certainly extend the life of a zipper.

The front of the bag has 2 recessed single zipper pockets. One is horizontal and the other is vertical. The horizontal pocket extends 20cm across the front of the bag and is also 20cm deep. This pocket would be great for quick-access items. The vertical aligned single zippered pocket is much larger. It extends 33cm vertically and is 20cm deep, making it quite a large cavity to store quick-access items. Both zippers are not exposed to the elements and are not visible, so we would classify these as almost anti-theft pockets.

Lastly, the front of the bag has an exposed dual-zipper that opens 3 sides of the bag to access the main interior compartment. We love dual-zippered entrances to bags. It makes it so much easier to open and close the bag. For a little more security, the zipper pulls on each zipper can be knotted together to restrict quick access. For added security, it would have been nice if Bagsmart had included a way to lock these zipper pulls so they cannot be easily opened. The zipper runs smoothly, but struggles very slightly when navigating the corners.

The top of the bag has a dual-zippered pocket at the front. This pocket is not huge but sufficient; however, it has an additional zippered mesh pocket inside, which helps separate items. One of the bag’s two carry handles is also located on the top of the bag. Lastly, there is a dual-zipper that extends all three sides of the bag revealing a massive cavity containing the laptop/tablet sleeves and more mesh storage pockets. Naturally, if you are not carrying a laptop/tablet, this extra space could accommodate items that do not fit into the main compartment.

At the bottom of the bag is a single-zipper entrance. However, this pocket is mainly meant for shoe storage, although you can use it for anything, really. Not sure why they would make this a single zipper and not a dual like the top of the bag. Now, as useful as this pocket is, just keep in mind that anything stored in the pocket will infringe on the storage of the main compartment inside the bag. The flap also has 2 holes, which we can only assume are for ventilation.

On one side of the bag is a wide and deep pocket for storing a water bottle, with buckles on both the top and bottom to hold it securely in place. However, the top buckle is probably only necessary to achieve this. These can also be used to cinch the bag once folded down and not in use, making it easier to store. They could also be used to strap any other item to the side of the bag, such as a jumper, sweater, etc.. The opposite side has the second carry handle and another recessed vertical zippered pocket. The buckles on this side of the bag can be utilised for securing items to the side of the bag as well; however, you will lose access to the carry handle.

The back of the bag has two well-padded shoulder straps and a breathable mesh back. The shoulder straps have a height-adjustable sternum strap, which is a nice touch. Unfortunately, if you do not use the sternum strap, it cannot be removed from the bag and just dangles. It would have been nice to be able to detach this strap, but it’s not a dealbreaker. There’s also a recessed vertically oriented theft-proof zippered pocket on one side of the rear of the bag, which is ideal for a passport or any other small valuables when wearing the bag, and lastly, there’s a luggage trolley strap that loops over the extendable handle of a suitcase. You can also use the sternum strap around the luggage trolley as extra security  (as pictured).

Lastly, there is a single zipper that extends around all four sides of the bag allowing you the extra 10L of capacity if you purchase the ‘Extended’ version of the Blast bag.

We must say, we are very impressed with the number of storage pockets on the exterior. Hopefully, the interior will be as functional as the exterior.

BAG INTERIOR

Although the bag’s feature-rich exterior is impressive, there’s not a lot to write home about in the interior.

In reality, there are two interiors to the bag. The three-sided dual-zipper towards the back of the bag accesses the first interior. This massive pocket can accommodate a laptop, a tablet, or both. The pocket never really needs to be opened all the way, as you can access the contents easily by opening 75%. It will fit a laptop up to 15.6″. The smaller sleeve can fit a tablet. These are secured by a velcro strap, ensuring they will not slide out if the pocket is fully opened. On the opposite side are two mesh pockets for storing additional items; however, you may not want to store anything too bulky in these pockets if carrying a laptop and tablet. The image below, supplied by Bagsmart, is not an ideal example of what to use in the pockets when using both the laptop and tablet sleeves. Above the mesh pockets is all dead space, and we think this would have been a great opportunity to add even a few more mesh pockets.

If you are not carrying a laptop or tablet, this cavity is extra storage for items such as a jumper or rain jacket, which you can access without opening the main compartment.

The main compartment entrance, as mentioned previously, is located at the front of the bag. The underside of the flap has a large zippered transparent pocket, which, as illustrated below, could be a good option for toiletries that alternatively would take up more room in the main compartment. The main compartment is spacious and has compression straps to keep everything in place once packed. This is a common feature in most luggage bags. As mentioned previously, the cavity for shoes extends into the main compartment and could impede the amount you can pack in the main compartment. If using the shoe compartment, you may want to consider using the expander zipper on the exterior of the bag, to give you a little more room in the interior. We suggest you fill the compartment first and add the shoes afterwards. The interior of the bag ended up being a bit of an anti-climax compared to the exterior, but we don’t think much more could have been added to the interior.

SPECIFICATIONS

Before Expansion (28L) – 12.2″ (31cm) x 16.5″ (42cm) x 8.1″ (20.5cm)

After Expansion (38L) – 12.2″ (31cm) x 16.5″ (42cm) x 10″ (25.5cm)

Weight – 2 lbs (900g)

COLOURS

The BagSmart Blast 38L Travel Backpack is available in 14 colours in the USA; 15 colours in Australia; and 11 colours in the UK, Germany, France, and European markets. We were sent the Navy Blue colourway for the review. There should be a colour below to suit most people’s tastes.

We can’t find too many things we don’t like about the Bagsmart Blast 38L Backpack. For the price, we thought there would be more cons than pros, but we were pleasantly surprised.

CONS

PRICING

THE FINAL WORD

If you have any questions or comments about this product, we would love to hear from you in the comments section below.

RATED: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED