I hesitated for a long time about buying a new backpack, but when the opportunity arose to test some of our products, I told myself it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. Since I carry a laptop to work every day, I was looking for smaller urban backpacks with a separate laptop compartment. Although I don't know our product range that well, I hit the jackpot with the Mammut Xeron Element 22l backpack.
The perfect backpack for your laptop and daily city commute
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + easily accessible and large padded laptop compartment | - chest strap could be wider |
| + two separate front pockets | - compartment in the main pocket could be larger |
| + elastic side mesh pockets | - shoulder straps are too long, they drag on the ground when carrying by hand |
| + comfortable back system | |
| + easy to clean |
Pockets, pockets, and more pockets
The biggest advantage of this backpack for me is the large and sufficiently padded laptop compartment. It is no problem to insert a laptop with a sleeve, and I also carry a book or magazine in it to pass the time on the tram. Because the laptop compartment is easily accessible from the top of the backpack, I have my favorite reading material literally at my fingertips. The main compartment is also zippered, and you will certainly appreciate the separate compartment for various documents inside.
There are two pockets on the front of the backpack. The first is smaller, with several pen holders, a key loop, and a small pocket for a mobile phone or MP3 player. The second is larger and stretches almost across the entire front of the backpack. It is intended more for flat, soft items (personally, I don't use this pocket much because I don't really know what to put in it, so until I figure it out, I'll only carry a spare pack of painkillers in it). A pleasant surprise are the side mesh pockets, which are large enough to fit a 1.5-liter water bottle.
Practical design
Although the backpack does not have a very large volume, it can also be used for a one- or two-day trip. However, I think its main advantages shine during daily movement around the city. Even though I chose the light version (Smoke), the backpack is very easy to clean. It seems to me that the bottom side doesn't even get very dirty, and it is nicely padded, so it doesn't get soaked easily, and I don't have to worry about breaking anything if I put the backpack on the ground a bit harder (meaning it slips out of my hand).
The backpack is comfortable to carry on the back; the only thing I would criticize in this regard is the relatively thin chest strap (personally, I prefer a wider one, as it seems to distribute the weight better on the chest and is more comfortable to wear). But considering it's not a hiking pack for carrying dozens of kilos, it's just a negligible flaw.
Who is it best for?
Mammut Xeron Element 22l can be gladly recommended to students, everyone working with a computer, and young people in general. It does not have any gadgets for sports or outdoor activities, but it fulfills its function as an urban backpack with a laptop compartment perfectly.
