Side by Side Comparison of: World Traveler vs Swiss Gear

I bought this backpack with some hesitation. Not because of Swiss Gear or the overall good reviews, but because I was so used to using a leather shoulder bag as my daily computer, etc., bag. I just came back from a short business cross country trip and this was all I needed for a change of clothes, tablets, computer, toiletries, documents, etc. The bag still had room, kept everything well protected, organized, easy to access, fit under the seat in front of me. The TSA agent said I could have left the laptop inside the bag, just opened it up as advertised. It's not as 'classy' as my coach leather case, but much more versatile, practical, and useful. Without a doubt, I wish I'd had this 15 years ago when I started my international expatriate traveling career. It would have saved me a lot of hassle and travel annoyance over the years. Zippers seem very sturdy, well thought out side pockets for water bottles, center top pocket for boarding passes, passport, etc. Would recommend without hesitation, great buy for the business traveler. I look forward to using as a daily business bag as well.

This is a nice, heavy duty pack. I am not a huge fan of how some of the zippered compartments are organized because i don't see this as a laptop pack, nevertheless, that doesn't prevent me from putting in whatever i want, so i suppose it can be viewed as a plus too. Took to mountains and on a 3 week tour of Asia. Great for organizing your essential stuff (or whatever). Again, i am most happy with just how heavy duty this thing is. on the negative side, i think the very back compartment could use some work so you can organize things better (e.g. IDs, wallets, keys, pens, flashlights, etc). it is not bad by any means, but i prefer to keep different things segregated from on another--there are some zipper, velcro, and mesh pouches in there, so i don't want to be too critical; just my preference. there are also other compartments on the sides which is good. in sum, whether you use as carry on luggage, something to keep your laptop in, or to use in harsh environments, i definitely like it quite a bit. one thing i would say though--if you buy this for your laptop, books and papers, there are lighter ones available that are very similar but lighter and more tailored for that sort of thing. i bought one from EXOS that i am very satisfied with (black with yellow accents). hope this helps

This was supposed to be a gift for my wife at Christmas. However, my in laws bought her another SwissGear version of this backpack. So what did I do? I turned this bad boy into a "Go" bag!!I use it mostly for camping, but if there's ever a need to exit the house quickly, I take this bag with me. It holds everything I need from first aid kits, to firestarters, to hammocks, lanterns, MREs, paracord, K-Bar knife, and a dozen other survival essentials. I still have plenty of room and pockets to load it up with anything else I might need in an emergency situation. Even with all the weight I've put in here the adjustable straps and padded backside make it a delight to carry over long distances.In short, if I can use this bag as my personal "go" bag it is perfect for its intended purpose.

I will admit that when I first saw the backpack, I was disappointed. It looked so much smaller than it looks in the pictures. I was wondering how in the world will all my stuff fit in here. I was about to package it all back up and send it back. Something told me to at least try to get my things in it. Boy was I surprised when I noticed how the backpack handled EVERYTHING I put into it. I have a LOT of things and it got it all stored just fine. the backpack did not even feel heavy at all. There's still room for even more stuff. This is a GREAT backpack. I couldn't ask for anything more. Additionally, the price was great too. Thank you so much for making this affordable for consumers like me. I love this backpack.

This is my second Swiss Gear backpack, even though my first one is still in decent shape I wanted more pockets and organization - which this one totally gives you. My husband has this backpack in black and has had it for over 5 years now. Now we match. Just the ability to have so much stuff put into so many different pockets is perfect as everything has a place and fits without having to go digging for what you are looking for.This backpack goes everywhere with me, and is put through its paces. I might not have a laptop that I carry everywhere in it but that doesn't matter to me, the laptop section gets used for paperwork or reusable bags for when I need to go to the grocery store. Having a secondary place for a water bottle not oly works for an extra waterbottle, but for my cane when it is folded up to be put out of the way, this way I do not lose it or have to go looking for it. Having the pockets right beside the water bottles is perfect for the umbrella I carry and the emergency kit I carry too. Beyond that the main section for carrying things is perfect for carrying a variety of things, from books to clothes to groceriesAs someone who is blind, this backpack comes in very hady for my every day use. I would recommend this backpack.

I am very pleased with the construction and design of this bag. The materials used are solid and sturdy. I am impressed with the stictching throughout the bag. The overal design was well thoughtout. The interior has plenty of space for multiple larger books while still being able to use both side mesh pockets (water bottle in one side, reuseable coffee mug in the other). The bag gives excellent protection for a laptop and tablet. The front orgiazational pocket has enough space to fit multiple things in without over crowding making everything easy to get to. Carry handle is heavy duty and comfortable.The bag is bigger then I anticipated but nowhere near being a problem. I am very happy with the bag.

This backpack has a ton of features! I did considerable research before purchasing it for my husband, who totes around a large laptop for work. I wanted something with all the bells and whistles, but still in a reasonable price range. The backpack came as expected and the material actually looks very nice and professional. While this wouldn't be out of place for a school backpack, it certainly seems more substantial. The water bottle holder was key for us - he doesn't go anywhere without one - so I am glad to see that there is a secure pouch for to tote around a Nalgene or similar water bottle. We really like the TSA lay-flat feature, but will have to report back on how it works at the airport. With two kids in tow, it's nice to have one fewer thing to unpack at security! I also like the headphones hole, but I don't really know how much use that will get unless he buys a pair of headphones that can control his phone.One wish I had would be a waistband for better ergonomics, but overall it's a great fit for a business backpack.I wouldn't send this along to a formal suit-and-tie workplace, but my husband's more "business casual" work environment will embrace it.

I have had this pack now for 3 months. It is not as large as my previous pack, but it does the job I need it to. Only three issues with it so far.1. The straps are a bit long and have a tendency to get caught or stepped on when on the ground. The plastic oval end caps on the straps are a nice feature, but I think they exacerbate this problem.2. The insides of the shoulder straps are not as 'sticky' as my previous one and they do have a tendency to slip off one's shoulder when doing a one strap carry. A bit annoying.3. The pack does not stand up on its own. Granted it will depend on how you pack it, and I do have a number of items in the two farthest rear compartments. Most of the time I do not carry my lap top in the near compartment so that leads to the imbalance. Just another annoyance.Overall it is well made. So far I have had no issue with weak sewing's, failing zippers, split seams etc.

This is a very well made, highly functional overnight/ day pack that's almost perfect. It's spacious and fairly well organized. Just a few minor oversights stop it from receiving a perfect rating. Probably the biggest among these is with a fold down platform to give it a solid base & the very substantial handle, it's designed to stand up & could potentially be placed on the floor. Why not give it a waterproof bottom or at least feet? The placement of the audio interface also raises some minor concerns. It's directly on top of the bag & not complete sealable. This could lead to water entering the bag in heavy rain situations. Not good........ Other than that, my other nitpicks are probably more of a personal nature. A couple of more zippered pockets internally couldn't hurt as well as adding a chest & waist strap.Outside of those things, this is a very attractive backpack that would serve well as an everyday business travel bag. The zippers are rock solid & most compartments can be locked if so desired (an important feature when traveling). It contains a lot of little amenities when it comes to holding electronics such as laptops, tablets & such. It is also well padded & very comfortable to wear. It is also highly adaptable to multiple functions which is always a plus. Business, casual, traveling, cycling........ I functions well in all rolls. Strongly recommended!

The laptop space will hold a 17.3" laptop (Dell XPS 17 16.3w x 11.3d x 1.5h). It is tight but it does fit. There is a padded foam bar that is removable, held in by velcro to help keep the laptop in place. The inside wall of this compartment is padded around the outside walls about 1" and then a mesh window for the ScanSmart. The zipper starts at the middle of the backpack and opens downward The ScanSmart compartment has a holder for tablet (iPad Air with cover fit in this with very little wiggle room). Moving forward to the next main compartment there is a pocket for a music player / phone with headphone accessibility out the top of the backpack on the inside wall. On the outside wall there is a zippered mesh pocket about 9in x 6.5 in. The rest of the compartment is large enough to hold full size headphones, laptop power brick, etc. There is also 2 half height separators to keep paper / books in order.On the outside of the backpack at the top is a decent sized zippered pocket (about the same size as the meshed pocket it is opposite). It easily held a CD case, passport, wallet, etc. On the outside of this pocket is the sewn in carbiner. At the bottom is another compartment which has a sewn in detachable keychain along with a pocket separator with storage for pens, business cards, etc. Two slightly padded, vented side pockets that can hold skinny/normal sized water bottles round out the zippered compartments. Mesh 1/2 pockets on each of those zippered compartments would also hold a water bottle but probably not if the inside was at capacity.The zippers are large and work easily. The padded back is comfortable. Both myself @ 6'4" and wife @ 5'5" felt comfortable wearing the backpack for an hour plus during a recent trip. The thumb hole on the adjustment straps makes it easy to tighten the backup up. The material appears to be of decent thickness and hopefully will hold up to general use. There are two adjustment straps on each side as well. One nice feature of the SwissGear backpacks is that the bottoms are designed to lay flat so with or without items in the bag it should stand up when sitting on the floor instead of laying on one the sides.

I have multiple laptops I can assure fit in this backpack:- 15" HP EliteBook- 16" MacBook Pro- 17" Dell Inspiron (two different and bulky models from 2005/6 and 2008)- 17" HP Zbook (Updated review to add this - Sept 2015)They fit in the ScanSmart sleeve and anywhere else you may normally think to put a laptop. In a viable inner pocket, I can put either the Mac or the HP in it ALONG WITH my Cooler Master NotePal X2 Laptop Cooling Pad ([...] which is decently bulky on its own.Some other reviews have mentioned this, but the 1900 actually has a pocket opposite of the ScanSmart laptop area. I will be posting a picture of a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" in it. It clearly is big enough to put papers, airline tickets, and/or whatnot in it for traveling. Due to its location, I suggest not putting something that could poke you in the back like a regular sized mouse or any non-flat object.The bag has a good number of compartments, but transitioning from my old Dell backpack, it has less. It's fine though. At maximum potential, this has a ton of space.It has a detachable keyring in the outermost pocket, which I know some people look for.It is also comfortable on my back. For reference, I am 5'11.5" wearing XL sized shirts.I go on business trips once every three months or so, so I plan to update this once I go through the TSA checkpoints with it.I'm rating it as near perfect as I can without being perfect (4 out of 5 stars) because I'd like more pocket accessible from either the inside or outside of the backpack.Feel free to ask me questions via the comment section or the Q/A section!

This is a virtually identical review I wrote for the model SA1923, which I now use.I needed to replace my old laptop backpack and noticed many colleagues using the SwissGear line. The difficulty in ordering one of these on-line is that there are a number of variations and the differences are subtle. From everything I could learn an all websites, including Amazon, there were 2 models I was interested in. the SA1900 (this one) and the SA1923. The photos are misleading. They are not necessarily unique to those specific models. I had to order both packs and compare in-hand and send the one back that I didn't fit my needs.The only difference between these 2 models, besides the color, is this one has a compartment for an iPad opposite the laptop compartment in the section that opens up to lie flat on the airport's scanning conveyor. Thus, your laptop will be in one half and your iPad in the other as it goes through the scanner. The SA1923 has a full width pocket for a slim folder or notebook in the iPad's location. All other compartments and sections of the pack are identical. I loved the color red color of this one, which is unique, but I don't use an iPad and I wanted the pocket there for travel papers (itinerary, boarding passes, receipts, etc.) Also, keep in mind access to the laptop compartment is on one side only (right side while wearing the pack). The zipper goes from the top of the pack down the side.The pack is roomy and can old a lot. Probably more than I would really want to carry. My only complaint with both packs is I wish it had just a couple of other small zippered sections inside for small miscellaneous items often needed on business trips (e.g. medications, snacks, sunglasses or reading glasses, etc.).There are other models in this line that are smaller and more simple. If the features each offer is important, just don't rely on the pictures if they seem to be the same as other models.

This backpack was my go to bag for the last 3 months while traveling. I took care of it, but I noticed the mesh over the back (padded) area ripped, probably the first week I used the bag. :( I have had less expensive bags that don't tear on the back side by your back.) So I was disappointed as I expect SwissGear to be durable. There are also catchy zipper issues with one of the zippers. It's not like it wont work, but it isn't a smooth zip and feels a bit cheapy. I do like the many compartment design. And other than the mesh area, there were no tears but I felt like that is setting the bar kind of low, since I do take care of my things. So overall I feel kind of "meh", about this bag. Perhaps there are more durable editions? I expect more for the price.

I bought this backpack as a replacement for my 10 year old SwissGear backpack, where a zipper has come apart and a couple of tears around the zipper area. I like the idea that this backpack can be unzipped to lay flat so that you can pass through TSA without taking your laptop out. However, it does not seem to matter anymore as I just came back from an international trip to Asia and the TSA agents specifically told everybody waiting in line not to take out their laptop/tablet. Like most SwissGear backpacks, this one is just as nice as others. There are a couple of things that I don't like about it compared to my old one. The zipper for the laptop compartment is a side zipper instead of opening from the top. The should straps feel a little thin and they don't have a chest strap.

Intrigued by the SmartScan feature I chose this model when my old Swiss backpack retired. The key feature indeed works well and avoids the hassle around laptops at airports. So far so good.Otherwise the 1900 rates average.While - like with all Swiss products - the build is solid and high quality, some of the features and design seem a bit awkward.The number one annoyance is the fact that - no matter how you load it - the backpack does not stand up well and tilts over very easily.There are two straps on the side pockets and they are utterly useless. I guess the idea was to keep water bottles etc stay put but they don't work and are actually in the way.The center department has a nice pouch for a tablet and you may be able to also get a notebook in that compartment. That center piece separates these items from the SmartScan compartment and there is a lot space wasted.The model is lightweight and does the job, but I would pick a different one if I had to buy again.

We planned to use this bag as our carry on but after we filled the compartments it was clear it was too big to go under the seat in front of you. And, it was kind of awkward and uncomfortable to wear.My partner and I are both 5'7" - perhaps if you were taller it would sit well.Like other reviews we were really annoyed with all of the compartments. And, the zippers are very large and clunky. Overall, it just felt like there was too much going on.The lay-flat function works exactly as described and would have been really convenient had we used this on our flight.

I'll keep this bag. My stars are not enthusiastic only because the number of compartments (I think a bit too numerous) has occasioned a lot of padding, which has resulted, for my taste, more bulk (and some weight) than desired. For my first trip abroad after this arrived, I opted to remain with my laptop bag which has basically two compartments and two outside pockets. It was able to hold everything I had previously packed in this backpack, more comfortably without bulk. Admittedly, the backpack would have managed the weight on my back far more comfortably than the computer bag on one shoulder or in one hand. I expect that I shall use this bag with lots of satisfaction in the future, though.

It appears to be very sturdy. But I'm frustrated that padding seems insufficient to protect my laptop. I was very sad when my prior HP brand backpack (no longer made) finally wore out. I spent a long time searching online before deciding on this model - was willing to pay considerably more in hope of getting something similar to my prior backpack. But here are poor design in my opinion:1) do NOT like fact that laptop sleeve is not padded on both sides. It is only padded on the outer side of the bag. Inside, there is just some thin netting separating it from whatever you might tuck into the pocket - books, papers, extra cords, etc. I believe a laptop should be protected with padding on BOTH sides.2) Also, although I asked a specific question, a user gave me incorrect information about the strapping (I wouldn't have even bought if I had known). I asked whether there was a strap at the top of the pouch containing the laptop, to keep it from slipping up if backpack tipped over. No, there is no strap on top (unlike some other Swiss backpack models). And padding on top of bag seems thin in my opinion. (FYI - once, I had a prior backpack with laptop inside, sitting on a bleacher at a high school basketball game. At some point, the backpack was knocked over the edge of the bleacher, and landed on its "head" only about a foot or two onto the step below - but it was still a hard fall. I was SO glad that there was a strap over the top (secured by velcro) to hold it in place in its padded internal pocket, that prevented it from sliding forward onto the top part of the bag and taking an impact when the bag tilted over). This does not have it.3) This backpack has much less room than my prior HP - where I could even put clothing for an overnight trip.4) This isn't a design flaw, but frankly I'm very puzzled about the "scansmart" feature -- I fly a few times a year, but most of the time I just carry the backpack to work, school, school - and the most convenient for me in these situations -- and even at the airport - would be to zip open the top of the backpack (upright or lying on its side), and pull out the laptop. With this "scansmart" design, it is very awckward, the laptop must be loaded sideways into the backpack, after laying it on its side. It is much more cumbersome than my prior method. I don't understand how this speeds up the process of going through an airport line.Anyhow, to summarize, I don't like this backpack mainly because it doesn't provide padding on all sides of the PC with a strap on the top to keep it from slipping upwards if it was tilted over onto its head.

I have been carrying a Swiss Gear back pack everyday of my life for about 15 years now. You know no matter how hard you are on them they just hold up. It is my mini office and never worry about it giving out. The reason for the low rating on this one is really a matter of the trend I see that I do not like. These bags have lost a lot of their usable space because of this "lay flat" design. What you lose is a nice big pocket to cram over night clothing or jacket. I hate how this thing flops wide open. I want my usable space back! I don't want to worry about all of my stuff ending up on the floor because the zippers worked their way apart. I am struggling to find one with lots of pockets anymore and may have to finally consider another product. I am returning this one... PLUS this thing is HUGE!!!

i like the backpack and the many different pouches and zipper pockets it has, my only complaint is it wont stand up... it falls over and i have to find something to lean it against. To make it worse it is the front that falls over so when you have it propped up against the wall or your desk you are now blocking the front pockets

Beautiful design but very bulky. I traveled with it as a hand bag and hated it throughout all the trip. I had my laptop and charger, ipad, kindle, and a few other first hand stuff and it felt suuper heavy. I would use it for the office but it is too big for daily use. I guess I'll give it to someone but definitely not using it again to travel. Maybe it works for men but if you are a woman it will feel very heavy.

This is well made but the shape is not so conducive to packing. It would help if the design was more square and the compartments were shaped more like items that you would actually pack. The side pouches, for example, are long, deep, and narrow, unlike anything I use (it would be good for rulers). It would be helpful for the dividers inside the main compartment to be adjustable, as is the strap for the laptop section.The main / middle outside pouch would be better if it ran the whole length and included various compartments for different kinds of small items, cords, chargers, etc. As it is, it gets fat and points out quite far from the main bag. This means that when placing the bag open on the conveyor belt at airport security, the bag must be turned upside down for it to lie flat, otherwise it tents up and the screeners will rescreen the bag. It would be easier just to unzip it and let it be. One time, because my bag was flipped over to be rescreened by security, my tablet fell out of the tablet sleeve and landed on the floor.Also, because the outside pouch protrudes a lot, if you fill it up, it will not fit in small overhead bins for planes that do shorter flights. The bag will fit, but the pouch will not, so I often have to remove items and shuffle them around when trying to store luggage and sit down.As I bought this bag specifically for travel and not everyday use, it would be more convenient if the shape were more square and it distributed items more evenly in a flat rectangular shape.

I ordered this backpack in December of 2014 and it was my daily backpack while I studied abroad in Europe. I had more than enough space to carry my 17'' laptop as well as any books to class. I also used it whenever I traveled around. There was so much space I could fit a week's worth of clothes and my gadgets/laptop in it and was fine (although it was a tight fit). This backpack worked awesome and was very handy. I kept using it when I returned the states and put less stress on it when I got rid of my laptop for a Surface 3. About 3 months ago, the zipper that held the main compartment broke and the zipper line detached from the fabric it was attached to. Now I can't close it all the way and it opens up constantly since the zipper naturally falls. When I can close it, it's only half closed and gravity opens it back up again. I loved the backpack while I had it, but I expect a backpack of this quality and price from Swissgear to last longer than 10 months of normal use. This is very disappointing coming from such a well-respected brand. Maybe I got a defect or something, I don't know. But now I need to find a new backpack

I've had great luck with SwissGear backpacks in the past. This one had a good layout even though it was just a little smaller (cargo-wise) than I would have liked. I noticed right away that the strap connections didn't seem as sturdy as my last SwissGear backpack, but I figured it's made to carry a computer, paperwork & accessories so it would be fine. Just over a month later I found that one shoulder strap is about to fail. I hadn't loaded up the backpack too heavily so I'm really disappointed. Too bad I didn't notice it a week ago when I could have returned it, but I'll try to see if I can get a warranty return.

After less than two months the stitching on the shoulder straps is coming undone as well as the zipper. Second one of these I've purchased with the first one being 3 years ago. The quality of the product has definitely gone downhill since my original. Very disappointed.

Way too small for laptop

I guess there was not much to say about this product as I returned it right away. I meant it to carry my beast of a laptop from republic of gamers, but it did not fit at all.

Looks cheap, feels cheap. Too small. Find another product.

Poor Quality. The seam by the zipper in the second compartment ripped creating a huge hole within just two months of very light usage. Very unhappy with this purchase, I would not recommend this bag to anyone.

I was initially a little concerned about purchasing this pack because of the negative reviews regarding the zipper quality. When it first arrived I was pleasantly surprised to find the zippers were all very big and the quality felt great. This pack is big and has more than enough room for my laptop, tablet, books, and all my other small stuff.I really wanted to leave a positive review on this pack but unfortunately there were a few issues that are deal breakers.First, unfortunately the zipper did break on my pack. What happened is the stitching started to come out of the seam around the zipper and was getting caught in the teeth and eventually broke the teeth of the zipper within weeks of owning the pack. I didn't realize how serious it was until one day while standing in a crowded conference one of the zippers broke apart at that point and my laptop fell out and hit the floor behind me. Luckily my Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is well built and had a good case on it so it wasn't hurt but would have been toast without a case.Second, the service from Swiss Gear has been completely non-existent. I contacted them because this was obviously a defect in their pack and it was only a few months old. I get no response except an extremely large email filled with all kinds of legal stuff about their responsibility and liability. No personal response, no responses when I replied with pictures of the damage and an clear explanation of what broke and where.I am more than disappointed in Swiss Gear on so many levels. I have multiple Camelbak backpacks and several of them are 15-20 years old now and this pack couldn't even last 1/2 a year. It's one thing to have products fail but to have no service to support customers when products fail is the deal breaker for me. I will never buy anything from Swiss Gear again.