Hello Community!
It’s Cakepips here with my first impressions review of the Oneplus Urban Traveler Backpack (Arctic White edition).
Few notes before I begin:
- As this is my first OnePlus backpack so I can’t compare to the previous backpack editions, apart from what I can see on the website.
- I was given this backpack as part of the community awards and being an awardee (thanks again!).
- During the time of writing this first impressions, I’m unable to let the backpack live up to its ‘Urban Traveler’ name due to where I live being in a National Lockdown. So, this edition is being safely brought to you by ‘staying at home’.
Snapshot Introduction
Designed in collaboration with Italian designer Eduardo Alessi, the urban traveler backpack comes in two editions: Charcoal Black and Arctic White. This is OnePlus’ third style of backpack, with the previous editions being ‘Explorer’ and ‘Travel’ , and continues the tradition of one black backpack with an alternative edition of either grey, grey green and now white.
The Arctic White backpack itself is made out of 75% Polyester and 25% Polyurethane (PU) lining fabric. The fabric is both splash-proof and scratch-resistant with being treated to prevent fading. Without contents, the Arctic White backpack weighs 0.823KG with the Charcoal Black edition, strangely, weighing 0.835KG. both have the ability to carry 20L.
The dimension’s of the bag are 32cm length, 15cm width and 45cm high which is just a bit more A3 (29.7cm x 42cm) size wise. It also has 9 pockets and two inside elastic holders.
These can be bought via the OnePlus Store and costs £71.90 / $79.00 / CA$109.00 / €79.00 / ₹3,699 (M.R.P. ₹3,999. Invite only)
To read more about behind the design, feel free to also read @Donna L. 's Thread here .
First impression’s
When taking this out of the box it arrives in, the first thing you’ll notice is the large dust bag protecting this backpack. It’s made of simple white cotton material which distorts the contents inside, red drawstring that lines the entrance and top central OnePlus logo on the front. It certainly brings that premium feel before diving in… and slightly gives that feeling of opening Santa’s present bag!
Taking this backpack out of the dust bag, you are greeted by a bright white front with a red zip that breaks up the colours and a cut of black across the bottom giving a sense of style.
Noticeably, instead of the OnePlus icon logo that’s seen on the previous generations of backpacks, this takes a new direction with a more in your face rectangle with the word ‘ONEPLUS’ centralised within it. The icon could still worked perfect here too, maybe stitched in, but it’s clear that they are going for more recognition on the name than the logo itself this time round. Don’t worry though, the iconic logo features still on the zip tags and shoulder clip.
Feeling the material of the backpack, you can tell this leather type material will help prevent the bag from getting soaked through. Though, if you’ve ever stood in typical British weather, the padded areas might need some looking after (but that’s what umbrellas are for!). One small detail that I like, and for me I don’t often see, is that the main black zip and front red zip both have a leather covering which prevents water seeping through to the contents inside. This generally gives me confidence to use the bag during rainy weather conditions.
The backpacks back is padded fully both the back and straps which are adjustable, giving extra support when carrying this around. The material is more a dark grey colour which doesn’t cause an overload of colour to the backpack. A light grey could of possibly been used here to match up with the inside main compartment but this may have been the only option in production. Note: in the charcoal black edition, its dark grey/black inside the main compartment with the same dark grey on the back and shoulder straps.
Two hidden zipped sections can be found: one on the right carrying side to hold your 16/15” laptop, which definitely fit's my 13" laptop, and one at the bottom to fit a passport sized item. It also has a little velcro luggage belt to place onto the luggage handle for when traveling and a neat addition to the bag.
On the right shoulder, a plastic but thick clip with the OnePlus logo on can possibly be used to clip a mini flashlight, sunglasses to even keys. However, I do feel this part will most likely break or snap over time so… be careful with it!
Mentioning already a few of its pockets, this backpack has 9 pockets with 6 being in the main compartment. You’ll find within the spacious main pocket: one open back pocket for your A4 books and the opposite side two A6 sized pockets, one pen/stylus holder and a A5 landscape zipped pocket. The entire inside and pockets on the outside are made with a thick light grey material, again giving that confidence of protecting your items inside. Because it’s a light grey material, marks and leakages over time will be more noticeable so if your bag typically gets messy in the inside, I would recommend going for Charcoal Black as it's fully dark grey/black in the inside (or give it a clean wipe or something).
You also get two elastic holders at the bottom of the bag for your umbrella, bottles, cans or even camera lenses. What they don’t mention is that one is light grey, or black for the charcoal black backpack, and the other is red. Style wise, this is a very nice touch and something I’d probably use a lot! A possible addition could have been a velcro elastic strip on the back section of the main compartment that could securely keep a section to the back or velcro together to create a hook at the back… if needed.
Overall, I feel this bag can be used not just for office and collage/university situations but also could possibly be helpful for photographers, to those wanting to go on an adventure somewhere, to even that short weekend pack away (when we could do those). As a bit of a particular bag user who is a tad fussy finding a bag both splash/water resistant against British conditions and has plenty of pockets, at this moment in time it passes my backpack check. I already know though, and through experience with a backpack with a leather bottom, the bottom of the bag will crack over time but with good care, it should last quite a long time...
By Cakepips
