When I first got my hands on the Chiemsee School backpack S16, I was pleasantly surprised by its lightness. Unfortunately, during testing, it turned out that this apparent advantage could also be a drawback.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + low weight | - soft back system |
| + nice design | - very loose chest strap |
| + small glasses pocket | - impractical organizer |
| + large side mesh pockets |
Everything depends on your perspective
Since I am used to wearing sports backpacks, the Chiemsee disappointed me at first. The soft back panel is simply not suitable for carrying heavy things for long periods. But then I realized I was looking at it from the wrong angle – I cannot judge a city backpack by the criteria of sports backpacks! And suddenly, I started discovering the advantages and strengths that the Chiemsee had to offer.
A colorful companion for the city
The overall look of the backpack is not bad at all. I chose the Plaid Regatta color variant, which features various shades of blue combined with a solid blue surface. After half a year of intensive use, the backpack shows no signs of wear or color fading, which honestly surprised me. The zippers are also well-made, and the color-coordinated sliders glide nicely along the teeth. A design element that is also functional is the two straps with buckles on the front of the backpack. A handy feature when you need to shed some layers and suddenly realize you have nowhere to put them.
But looks aren't everything
Even a city backpack is not just about design. It should also meet certain requirements for quality and functionality. So, what did I find inside? The main compartment hides a practical laptop space. While my 17" giant didn't fit into this pocket, I must appreciate the elastic band at the top, which grips electronics firmly but gently, keeping them securely inside. It doesn't necessarily have to be just for a laptop or tablet; I used the pocket primarily for documents, books, or folders. The remaining space in the backpack is large enough to store all other items; after all, with a volume of 28 liters, this model is no lightweight.
A small pocket also extends into the main compartment space. Access to it is at the top of the backpack, right next to the top handle. The pocket is square, measuring 16 x 16 centimeters, which again provides quite a lot of space. It is a great feature for everyday use; you can easily store your mobile phone, keys, gym pass, or even a small diary with a pen. Simply a space for small items you want to have at hand without having to unzip the entire backpack.
The front pocket has an integrated organizer, which, however, disappointed me more than it excited me. The pockets are shallow and low. Apart from a pen that stayed where it was supposed to, most things always spilled out into the remaining space of the pocket, so after a few attempts, I gave up on using this "feature" and stored necessary items directly at the bottom of the pocket. For most backpacks, a key loop is part of the organizer, but unfortunately, that is missing here too.
What I do appreciate, however, are the compression straps on the sides of the backpack. Easily adjustable straps make it simple to shrink a half-empty backpack to a reasonable size, which is much more comfortable to carry on your back. The side mesh pockets are unusually large and spacious. They even handled a bottle of champagne (the backpack needs to be exposed to all sorts of situations during testing ;-)), so I definitely rate this feature positively.
City or nature?
During testing, I wore the backpack most often to work, so it was exposed to lighter loads. For the city, it is a pleasant, lightweight backpack with the option of fastening a chest and waist strap. However, the chest strap was a disappointment for me – it is attached quite loosely and easily slips out of the rail, posing a risk of losing part of it. If you do not want to use the waist strap at all, it can be easily detached as it is attached with Velcro.
Another big disappointment for me was the back system, which unfortunately lacks any form of ventilation. On hot days, the backpack was unpleasantly stuck to my back and did not breathe. The shoulder straps are relatively soft and do not scratch the shoulders. But again, because it is a city backpack, they have no fine-tuning options other than their length.
Final Summary
I tested the Chiemsee School backpack S16 for over half a year, and in general, I could recommend it primarily to those who regularly move through city streets. It will certainly be great for young and active people with many interests, whether it's clubs, sports training, or meeting friends. The backpack has a relatively large volume, so you might have a tendency to pack everything you can into it, but keep in mind that it has a soft back and the way you pack things in the backpack will strongly influence its carrying comfort. For the reasons mentioned above, I would definitely not recommend this backpack for hiking or long walks with heavy loads.
