It’s been quite sometime since I last wrote a review here at PocketFullOfApps, as I’ve transitioned to news the last few years. That all changes today with the Everyday Max Backpack from the folks over at Solo. A few weeks ago I was presented with an opportunity to review this backpack and being a full time university student with finals week approaching, it seemed like a pretty opportune time.

Coming in at $79.99 it’s definitely what you could consider a pricey backpack, but is it worth the cost? While I got mine for free as full disclosure, I think it’s something to seriously check out considering it’s been a long time since I last wrote a review here. Anyways, let’s dive in.

Daily Driver

Due to being a full time university student studying Information Technology and working part time as an intern, I take a lot of stuff with me throughout the day. Typically a change of clothes, two 13″ laptops, books and some other miscellaneous items. Having previously used a messenger bag later on in this review, it was a struggle getting all the essentials to comfortably fit in my bag. Since switching to the Everyday Max Backpack, I’ve never encountered an issue and better yet I’ve got plenty of room to spare (more on this in the General Info section).

What makes this an interesting case is because I’m on the go so much, I don’t always think about putting my backpack on properly and when it’s really heavy I prefer to carry it like a bag. Thinking a step ahead Solo included two handy carrying straps on each side, turning it into a mini duffle bag of sorts. And honestly I’d have to say it is pretty well built. Over the years I’ve had some backpacks quickly wear out or straps begin to not hold as well, but with the use I’ve put this thing through so far I’m fairly pleased.

How it Stacks Up

I’ve came to accumulate a few different bags in various fashions. A messenger bag (shout out to my buddy Andrew), a generic backpack from work, and a Continental Airlines duffle bag from a trip to Arizona many years ago (not pictured). I’ve used all these bags pretty extensively throughout my travels, adventures and time at university. It’s safe to say that since the Everyday Max Backpack has came along it has most certainly changed the game.

The bag is comfortable, fits A LOT of stuff, and durable. It’s honestly what I would consider to be a perfect mix between a backpack and duffle bag, which plays an important role in the “Travel” section later on. Back to how it stacks up against my other bags, I think the Everyday Max Backpack blends most of the redeeming qualities of my other bags into one. Even though I have a couple complaints that I touch on later, from my perspective it is seriously a well rounded bag.

Complaints

Much of what I have to say is in a positive manner, however, there’s two yet minor complaints during my time with the Everyday Max Backpack. The first is that there’s no options for different color schemes, while this isn’t a big deal it would be nice to see later on. The other small thing I’d like to point out is a carry strap — similar to a messenger or duffle bag — would be handy. Other than that, my complaints are mostly superficial.

Travel

Let’s talk travel for a second… This backpack is huge. I enjoy traveling just as much as the next person and my general rule of thumb is taking a personal item plus carry on. Considering the size of this backpack, its an ideal size allowing you to fit more stuff into what the airline sees as a “personal item”. If you fly economy class like I do, legroom may be a bit crammed, but it’s a small sacrifice to take some extra things with you along the way.

Don’t forget weekend trips. Sometimes in life you want to take a weekend getaway trip on the spur of the moment, and maybe you need the bare essentials plus a few changes of clothes. Forget the need to take a full size suitcase of duffle bag, this will get the job done while being able to be comfortably carted around.

General Info

So what can you expect from this bag? Its got a fully padded 17″ laptop compartment, an internal iPad pocket, fairly spacious side zipper pockets, padded handles and straps. Did I forget to mention this thing even has a dedicated compartment for shoes? Now that’s pretty cool.

Worth noting as well is that the side pockets are big enough to fit a 16oz water bottle with room to spare, while some may not see that as important, it’s worth considering. Beyond the iPad/laptop space, the compartment in front of it is also pretty spacious where you can fit plenty of clothes and items. This compartment can be accessed in two manners — from the top and front of the bag. As shown to the right, the zipper location just below the iPhone is where you can access the “clothing” compartment from the front.

Coming in at 21″ x 13″ x 8″, it’s crazy just how much room this thing packs. While it’s most certainly classified as a “backpack”, it bridges a gap between a full sized duffle bag and a backpack if you will. So depending on your use case, this bag can be ideal for weekend getaways, traveling, or extensively being on the go.

Conclusion

I really, really like the Everyday Max Backpack. It fits my needs between a messenger bag, a backpack, and duffle bag while being pretty durable. Better yet the bag fits a variety of use cases thanks to its design and features. Whether I’m traveling or carrying a lot of stuff on the go, the experience thus far has been pretty enjoyable. As stated in the title, it’s a balance between a backpack/duffle bag combo and if you’re in the market for something like that, this could be worth looking into.

While $79.99 may bit a little pricey and there’s two small complaints, if you’re in a similar situation as me, I highly recommend checking it out. Thanks for reading.