I have been using the Thule Subterra 23L backpack for a while now, so I would like to share my experience with you: It is the best urban backpack in this galaxy! That is all, folks... Well, okay, let's take it from the beginning and in a bit more detail.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + appearance | - depth of side pockets |
| + material | - difficult adjustment/detachment of the chest strap |
| + build quality | |
| + internal pocket organization | |
| + contrasting interior color | |
| + laptop pocket padding | |
| + comfortable back padding |
Elegant on the outside, practical on the inside
It happened one beautiful day when I was choosing a backpack at the Bagalio store (where I also work, by the way) that would meet my demanding needs and refined taste. My eyes caught the Thule brand backpacks, and I decided to take a closer look.
Have you heard of Thule? If not, know that whoever works for them likely uses more brain capacity than ordinary mortals, and it shows unmistakably on their products. (Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, they are Swedish.)
Appearances can be deceiving? Not with Thule!
Well, let's start with the build. The material (800D Nylon) seems very high quality at first glance. And you know what? It really is! Seriously. Shortly after buying it, I subjected it to a very demanding stress test and found no damage to the material itself, the seams, or the zippers, which were often stretched to the limit. And imagine, it wasn't even dirty, and I was carrying tools and construction materials in it! Naturally, I had to vacuum the bottom of the backpack afterward because it doesn't have a self-cleaning function yet, but who knows what Thule will come up with in the future... :-)
I was truly surprised. Although I had read all those marketing articles about how manufacturers thoroughly test their products and expose them to such terrible conditions that they don't even say what they are, otherwise the readers' hair would turn white with horror, it still exceeded my expectations. So that's the first (and definitely not the last) plus point for Thule.
If you have back problems or a hunchback like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, read on! You might be interested to know that the Subterra also has a very pleasant back system, which inherently includes comfortable shoulder straps. True, they seemed a bit stiff at first, but after some time, they adapt even to slightly deformed postures. It's a bit like shoes.
Moreover, the fabric in the padded area is very soft, so it doesn't scratch even on exposed parts of the body. There is also no risk of dirt, twigs, and other urban pitfalls getting stuck, which are almost impossible to get out of the mesh back parts of many backpacks.
The backpack is also equipped with an adjustable chest strap, which I recommend using because the shoulder straps have a tendency to slide off the shoulders due to the smooth surface. However, if you have broad shoulders and can do without the chest strap, it can be completely detached (it just takes a bit of effort). In that case, I advise keeping it safe, because you never know when you might need it.
True beauty lies within
Now, dear readers, imagine a drumroll announcing the most essential thing about this backpack – the internal organization! Ba-dum-tss! Beautiful, right? The first thing that will surely catch your eye is the bright color. The meaning is truly simple. The light and contrasting interior allows for better clarity and easier searching for stored items, especially the small ones. And believe me, in the flood of various pockets and compartments, it helps a lot. Plus, if you are a bit of a mess (like me), it forces you to keep the backpack (relatively) tidy. At first, I somewhat missed the two main compartments I was used to, but in the end, I have to admit that one well-designed one is perfectly enough.
Anyone who travels with a laptop will surely appreciate the generously padded pocket, in which the laptop will be completely safe. It's not just some flimsy partition, as is the case with some other wannabe laptop backpacks. After all, you can come and "feel" it for yourself at our store sometime. :-)
On the laptop compartment, there is also another smaller pocket designed for a tablet. It is fuzzy on one side so it doesn't scratch your display while cleaning it of dust. I sometimes used it to charge my phone, and (un)surprisingly, it works too. It's probably not worth describing every pocket, but for completeness, I will at least mention that there are seven in total, one of which has a zipper.
Other pockets are on the outside. In the front top, there is one for those necessary little things, like a knife, stockings, and a bit of chloroform. ;-) On the side, there is another one for some papers. I haven't really used that one yet, but it would certainly be useful for a map, for example. You will also find two pockets on the sides, but because there is simply enough room inside for everything essential, they usually remain empty.
Champion among urban backpacks
Phew! So what? Did you make it? No? I have to finish it anyway, so let's head to the finale – here is the final verdict!
It probably won't be a surprise that I rate the Thule Subterra 23L backpack positively. I really tried to find some flaws in it. After long pondering, only one came to mind. It is the side pockets, already briefly mentioned, usually intended for a water bottle. Getting a half-liter bottle of an unnamed drink into them was more difficult than I expected. But maybe those pockets would loosen up over time, or they are simply intended for something else entirely. But that is really all for the negatives.
In my opinion, this is simply a clear champion among urban backpacks. And there are many reasons: simple and elegant design, practical interior, whose layout someone really thought about during the design process, quality of material, zippers, comfortable carrying, and so on.
For my needs, 23 liters is also a perfectly sufficient volume. I can comfortably fit the things I normally carry with me, and at the same time, there is plenty of room for some small shopping on the way home without having to buy more and more shopping bags. If that's not enough for you, don't despair! There are also larger variants of this fantastic backpack.
P.S. The fact that they are really no amateurs at Thule is evidenced by the prestigious iF Design Award, which they earned last year for the suitcase of the same-named series.
