A perfect backpack is something that many are in search of, almost perpetually and for this reason, when the new Bagsmart Blast Pro 38L Travel Backpack email came across my desk, I jumped at the chance to check it out.

The new Blast Pro 38L Travel Backpack from Bagsmart offers a massive 38L capacity and a near-uncountable number of pockets, with some compartments also customisable to help you fit your gear the way you want and where you want it to go.

The backpack features:

Exterior

  • Top quick-access pocket for essentials.
  • The elastic side pocket fits up to a 30-oz bottle.
  • Two front zip pockets for extra organisation.
  • RFID-blocking pocket for cards.
  • Hidden anti-theft back pocket for passports & valuables.
  • Padded 15.6″ laptop compartment with lockable zippers.
  • Two reinforced grab handles for flexible carry.
  • Trolley pass-through.
  • Padded shoulder straps with adjustable sternum strap.
  • Thickened breathable back panel for long-wear comfort.

Interior

  • Clamshell opening for suitcase-style packing.
  • Two-level fold-flat divider panel separates shoes, clothes, or gear.
  • Divider folds away to release maximum space.
  • 2 compression straps secure load during transit.
  • Wet/dry pocket for toiletries or damp gear.
  • Stowable ventilated shoe compartment for breathability.
  • Tech compartment with 180° opening for quick access.
  • Padded sleeve fits laptops up to 15.6″.
  • Dedicated iPad/Kindle slip pocket.
  • Built-in top zip pocket organises cables, chargers, or earphones.

Did I mention that it has more pockets than you will ever need?  In fact, it may have too many pockets, so you won’t know where to put things or where best to put them – too many options.

The timing of the review was perfect as I was headed off on my yearly overseas jaunt, this year to Scandinavia.  A proper test of a backpack, carrying on many flights, around the various breathtaking scenery on the trip and then back again, all packed to the gills with various things that I may need but most likely will never look at.

Design

I chose the oyster colour for the review backpack, not because it was a great colour to travel with but because it would show off the backpack details in photos for you folks.  The lighter colour did get a bit worn on the holidays, so I would think twice about choosing the lighter oyster colour if you tend to use your backpack in dirty areas.  

I did use mine on three different flights to our final destination, on many excursions and hikes to various locations, and on another three flights to get home.  Considering all this though, there were only a few marks on the outside of the backpack.

The backpack is made of durable ripstop nylon, and after putting it through the wringer over the past few weeks, I can certainly confirm that it is durable and relatively lightweight.

The zips, of which there are many, are all solid and I did not have any issues with any of them, although the packet at the top of the back will open if you put the zipper all the way to one side and then use the handle at the top to lift the backpack – not ideal but it’s pretty easy to get used to not leaving the zip in this position.

The zippers all have small cords on them to allow them to be opened quickly but that is one of the issues I have with the backpack – the zips may well be too easy to open.  If you are heading to an area with a lot of pickpockets (I won’t name the places here because I’ve never had any issues myself but you hear things about some cities), then you need to be careful not to put valuable items in these front pockets so they won’t get stolen.  

Now, it is recommended that you wear your pack on your front in these areas anyway, which would prevent any issues, but there are some backpacks – such as my EFTM backpack in the picture below – with no accessible zips at all while worn.

In the front pockets of the Blast Pro I had my Sennheiser headphones and my Lenovo Legion Go S (along with my chargers, medications and a lot more).  If I were heading to cities with higher crime rates, I would likely have put a lock on this big front pocket, although the front zips do not have the built-in metal loops to insert a lock properly.  

The laptop pocket does have these, though – I’d like more of them included, especially for the RFID pocket.  Why would you have the security of an RFID pocket but not offer the security of a proper lockable zipper?  Some feedback for Bagsmart I suppose.  

Wear the backpack on your front if you are worried about things being stolen from it – which you should do anyway, with or without zips.

How much does it fit?

It fits a LOT.  The back of the Blast Pro is extendable, like a suitcase.  I extended it at one stage, but in the end I decided that I didn’t really need to as the bag holds a lot more than you think.  The pockets all extend out to make the bag wider.  As you can see in the images below, I fit a LOT into the Blast Pro to use as my carry-on luggage.

One thing I didn’t realise I would use was the waterproof pocket – there were a few times where we visited waterfalls and hot springs (eg. Sky and Blue lagoons in Iceland) where I had wet clothes and bathers that I did not want making everything else in the bag wet.  The pockets worked as advertised, keeping the waterlogged clothes away from the rest of the bag’s contents.

The hidden pocket is always a great idea and perfect for wallets, etc., and I actually liked the pocket within the laptop pocket – so I sort of take back what I said above: there are two lockable pockets – but just one zip.  I used this to store my spare phone and a couple of other valuable items.

Comfort

Now, I really put this pack through its paces – sure I used it through Melbourne, Doha, Heathrow, Reykjavik, Stockholm and Amsterdam airports but also on hikes to various glaciers, waterfalls and stony landmarks such as the 9km trek to Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock, and the 4km directly uphill trek to Skageflå.  

The pack, with the sternum strap, was relatively comfortable, though heavy.  I would have preferred a waist strap as well to take some of the weight off the shoulders – the Sternum strap did this a bit but not altogether.  If you are going to do some serious hiking, though, you should get a proper hiking pack with a waist strap.  This backpack is for everyday use, so adding a waist strap would be a waste for most people.  

Even for the 9km trek, it was comfortable enough for me to take it all the way up and back without any issues with it banging or rubbing uncomfortably on any part of my body.

Should you buy it?

The Bagsmart Blast Pro 38L Travel Backpack is not cheap but it is a backpack that can be used for many things. I used it as a carry-on on a few long flights, as a backpack while hiking, carrying a few litres of water, spare clothing and food, or as an overnight bag with pockets for your toiletries and shoes that keep them from dirtying your clothes. The bag is extendable and with this you can fit even more in it.

The only issues you may have is empty pockets — there are so many pockets that you will struggle to find things to put in them all — and that it can fit so much that it may end up being too heavy!

If you are looking for a versatile backpack with many functional pockets, then you should check out this offering from Bagsmart. It is available online at Bagsmart for AU$145.