Thule Subterra Backpack

This is the best backpack ever, and I am someone who would know! I am a 36 y/o research scientist, mom and world traveler and I wear a backpack to work every single day, in addition to taking one on every trip and vacation I've ever been on. My favorite backpack before this was also in the Thule line (the crossover). I had it for 3+ years and I actually still love it. Before that I have used Ogio bags, Burton, Jansport, Camelbak, Osprey, you name it. For the price, this backpack really does have it all (well, almost). I mentioned that I use it for work. The laptop sleeve fits my HP Spectre X360 15" laptop perfectly. I LOVE that you can insert it in the sleeve at the top/inside of the bag but can access it via a zipper on the outside/side of the bag as well. I also keep my iPad Air 2 and all of my iPad and Laptop accessories and chargers etc. inside. I also keep my large wallet, a powerbank, my Sennheiser PXC 550 wireless over ear headphones, my lunch, and plenty of pens, cables, highlighters and personal stuff as well as keys and a water bottle etc. I also do some audio and video recording on the side and can fit a small tripod, Canon Vixia, my DSLR and other audio/video/photo gear in here if I want to. You could also easily fit a change of clothes in here for an overnight trip if you don't want to pack a carryon. I adore the colors of this bag and that it has a pocket or pouch for everything I need. My favorite part about this backpack that makes it different from literally every other back pack I've owned is the addition of the strap on the back for slipping it over the handle of a piece of rolling luggage, so you don't have to wear out your back/neck and shoulders wearing when traveling. It's very very comfortable, but even the most comfortable back pack is going to cause neck and shoulder pain after a long day of airports. This little feature is seriously my new favorite thing!!! The other "best" thing about this back pack is the quality. Thule doesn't skimp on quality. Period. I can speak from years of experience. I also own their large rolling luggage and it is my favorite by far. Their limited lifetime warranty is phenomenal. When I owned their crossover backpack, 3 years into my first one and a zipper started to come apart from the fabric of the bag. I contacted them and within the day they had shipped me a brand new back pack at no cost to me and with no questions asked. That kind of customer service is worth its weight in GOLD!! This bag is made for the long haul and is super sturdy with the finest materials from the zippers to the handles. The only complain I have about this backpack is that it doesn't stand up on its own when I set it down. The way it's made, it always tips forward, no matter how much or how little I have inside. It's a very rigid material for a backpack and I don't see it softening up and sitting flat over the years but I could be wrong. Also, I've always hung my back packs on a hook on the wall, but the way the top handle is positioned, it makes hanging it on my old hook impossible as it's too far forward on the bag and the space is too narrow in between the handle and the bag. Those are very minor quibbles though. In summary, this is the best bag for work, every day and travel that I have ever owned and I am NOT sponsored or compensated by Thule in any way for saying so! I've paid full price for all of the stuff I've ever bought from them, this bag included! I can highly recommend this for professional working adults, college students or travelers. You will not regret buying this. You DEFINITELY get what you pay for it and then some!

I have used two Ogio Renegade RSS backpacks in succession over the last ten years, or so. The Ogio is a fantastic backpack. Sturdy, dependable, and lots of zippered pockets to store all of my stuff. Mine lacked a sleeve to slide over by carry on roller bag. So, I decided to look at what else is out there. I looked at the Travelpro Platinum Elite-17-Inch Business Laptop Backpack, TIMBUK2 Authority Laptop Backpack, and the Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L Zip backpacks. All of them are likely good options for others. This time I went with this Thule backpack. Their stuff is always well built and lasts. I am not worried about that out of Thule. It's just a matter of what is going to fit my travel style the best. It has plenty of interior pockets for cord management, hold my keys, cards, and the rest of the little bits. There is a nice padded sleeve for my pad and another for the laptop.

I like this bag a lot. I've had it for about a month now and it is very sturdy with quality stitching and heavy duty materials. There's also a lot of space inside. I carry a laptop (the alternate access awesome!), a handheld game system, charging cables, a hoodie, some books, and other odds and ends... and there's still room for more. It's slightly bulkier than the bags I'm used to, and the straps feel a little stiff; comfortable but slightly rigid. It has a substantial feeling to it. I am very pleased with my purchase. I knew Thule from my bike rack that I purchased for my car. They sturdy, high quality goods, and this backpack is no exception. Very nice!

This is a great backpack. Pros: -The materials feel nice and sturdy -The straps are big and comfortable -The luggage handle pass through seems like an afterthought but it works and is not noticeable -There's tons of space, I can fit a large and medium packing cube in this along with my laptop -The organization is amazing, lots of pockets for everything -Nice big chunky zipper pulls -Overall an excellent bag Cons: -A bag this size really needs to open up either clam-shell style or at least 80% towards the bottom. I cannot get to the bottom of the bag or see what's at the bottom of the bag because it does not open up far enough. -This bag rides a little high, so it looks huge on me, but this could just be how I have the strap setup -The material gives it some dimension as well so it really doesn't work as an every day work bag unless you have a monster of a laptop and tons of gear you lug around These were the reasons I returned the bag. Would recommend this bag to anyone looking for a larger travel bag or has lots of gear to lug around. Would not recommend this bag as an everyday bag because of the bulk.

What a great product! It is comfortable, durable, well built, and thoughtfully designed. I’m absolutely thrilled. Great to see someone show up and beat Osprey and The North Face for some real competition in this category. No shortcuts here, I like the heavy duty zippers and contrasting interior color.

I know a lot of people say they don't review items and it's their first time doing it.. I don't review items and it is my first time doing so. I'll do it for free, only because it is Thule. This Subterra model is really special. I own a bigger 'Thule Covert DSLR Rolltop Backpack' which I really like but it's too big for everyday use if you are not packing many things. That's why I decided buying a smaller backpack. You only stay with a brand if you feel you made a good investment in the past, right? You can feel the quality you are paying for in the Subterra. I feel my 15" Mac is very well protected, the straps feel good , zippers feel they will last a long time, and the backpack is actually pretty. I've received compliments. Also, it may seem expensive until you have it in your hands, quality is excellent. If you are worried about protecting you pc, you just don't buy a 20 dollars backpack, you go with Thule(Don't drop it though). Hope this helps.

General Thoughts: I am a huge fan of backbacks. I’ve bought way too many. Similar to the stereotype that all women love purses, I am a man that loves backpacks. I am a photographer, videographer, graphic and motion designer. I am also a dad of 3; I love having my DSLR camera on hand. With all of this, I’ve looked for the backpack that compliments all of these lifestyles and hobbies – impromptu hikes, spontaneous photography, lugging work items such as external hard drives, graphics tablets, laptops, in addition to misc. office items. In the past, I’ve leaned towards finding a camera bag that has storage in it for general use. But it just wasn’t right. With the Thule Subterra 30L backpack, I finally have discovered THE bag for these need. Size: Do not get anything less than 25L for what I listed above and for my size (6’). To give you an idea, it’s general carrying size in the main compartment at one go is big enough to carry a *DSLR, sweatshirt, thick book, an extra water bottle or two (y’know, for the kids), couple energy bars or packed snacks, and a bit more. The size could also accommodate a Mac Studio (*highly recommend keeping the studio in an additional slim case) and whatever a packed lunch, plenty of cables, and a camera* *Protection: If you are carrying a DSLR or something similar, the bag’s padding is great with one exception - the bottom, and that’s usually where I want my camera. I highly recommend getting an appropriately sized neoprene sleeve for your camera. I also have my camera in a silicone cover. Don’t get the bag if you need… If you need to keep extra lenses somewhere, this is NOT a camera bag to use FOR photography; not purely a long distance travelbag - I would want more space in the main compartment Some Other Recent Bags I have: Thule Enroute 25L – What I was using but the camera section was barely used and the storage section at the top was too small overall and made the bag top heavy. Also material felt flimsy Lowepro LP37127-PWW Camera Back - Super durable and compact camera bag. Absolutely my go to for small solo shoots. I have several f-stop bags that are great, but I still prefer this one for its size. Loewpro makes some good stuff. I wish… I wanted Mineral. It’s a dark, dark blue. I wish it was just dark blue. It’s practically black. Conclusion: If you’ve read all of this, this is probably the bag you want. THULE: If you read these reviews, I would love to be a brand ambassador. Also…three recommendations: 1.) add better padding at the bottom; that’s a huge miss IMO and surely an easy thing to add. 2.) Add a design element that would accommodate adding a bladder for water, swapping out the laptop 3.) I’m confused how it only fits a 15.6” PC laptop. We measure diagonally, right? It holds my 17”. A little snug.

I am a big guy. Backpacks usually fit me a little small so I was worried when purchasing the Subterra 23 liter backpack from Thule. Not only did this bag fit me perfectly but the quality of the bag is remarkable. Excellent stitching all around and very well padded. It may be the most comfortable backpack I've ever had. The bag is very slim in profile so its not ideal as a travel bag, but it's perfect as an every day carry for your laptop, tablet and some other essentials. I chose the Ember color and I definitely don't regret it.