STM Goods BagPack Review: The Backpack to Pack

STM Goods BagPack Review: A collapsible Backpack that delivers real protection for your tech.

{Tech} for Travel

The STM Goods BagPack is designed for travellers needing a lightweight travel backpack that protects their expensive gadgets and provides a level of practicality many other backpacks can’t give. The ability to itself be packed away.

Whilst I like the idea behind them, many are made from very lightweight material prone to tearing under a heavy load, and almost all of them provide little to no protection for heavier gadgets like laptops or tablets.

STM Goods (Smarter Than Most) is a brand that always likes to design “outside the box” for its travel gadgets and backpacks, so BagPack has a strong reputation to uphold!

BagPacks’ packable design means it can fold into its own front pocket for easy storage. Whether used as a backup bag for trips, a commuter backpack for work, or an extra carry-on for flights, it’s a smart solution for those who require flexibility. And, at just 500g in weight, it will hardly weigh down a case.

Designed as more of a backup backpack instead of a daily carry, the STM Goods BagPack doesn’t compromise on space. When expanded, it offers a spacious 15L capacity main compartment that can hold essentials, clothing, or travel gear. But what sets the BagPack apart from other packable backpacks is its padded laptop sleeve.

The Innovative Airbag system in the STM Goods BagPack features a ‘one-breath’, easy-inflate air pad that creates a protective cushion for your laptop, up to 16″ in size. This creative addition not only safeguards your tech from shocks and impacts but also adds an extra layer of comfort against your back while carrying the backpack.

Additionally, the BagPack has dual water bottle pockets on either side, and the sleeve, which acts as a bag when packed down, pushes inside the BagPack when made up and becomes a quick-access front pocket for items you may need to keep quickly to hand.

For comfort, the STM Goods BagPack has an ergonomic design, adjustable padded shoulder straps, and a breathable back panel for enhanced airflow to avoid a sweaty back. Durability is another key feature of this tech-friendly backpack, made from rugged 210D Nylon and available in Black or Coffee Brown colourways.

Finally, the reinforced stitching and high-quality zippers promise the BagPack will last longer than most lightweight backpacks.

From the start of this STM Goods BagPack review, I knew how it was supposed to unfold, but pulling it out for the first time felt trickier than expected.

But for good reason. STM has packed a lot of backpack into the BagPack!

Reaching into the pouch and giving a firm pull ejects the BagPack from its pouch. My first thoughts were immediately on the quality of the nylon and back panel. Both are thicker than other collapsible backpacks for this price range and much better quality than I have experienced before.

Once unfolded, the small bag that once held the backpack pushes into the bag’s front panel and becomes the quick-access pocket. I’m not usually a fan of these because they’re an easy target for pickpockets. However, STM has concealed it well with an extended flap cover over the zipper.

The back panel and shoulder straps do have padding, but I’d consider it the bare minimum for it to be considered such. It’s enough for the BagPack to at least stand up on its own, even with the laptop sleeve deflated.

One Breath Air Pad

Where other collapsible backpacks let your gadgets down, the STM Goods BagPack excels thanks to its innovative Air Pad sleeve. This TPU rubber ‘bladder’ has been suspended from the top two corners of the BagPack and fastened to the bottom two. In its top left corner, as you hold the pack, is a small air valve.

STM Goods advertises it as a one-breath setup, and I agree with them, but it took two attempts. The trick is to pinch the back of the pad and gently pull it away from the valve. Then, with a single blow, the Air Pad fully inflates.

Once fully inflated, I was surprised at how big the sleeve was inside the bag. The space is perfect for a 16″ laptop, which is what STM Goods says the bag can accommodate, but if you were just travelling with a smaller device, for example, it would be moving around within the sleeve, but it would be protected.

As a reference point, I travelled during the STM Goods BagPack Review with my usual 13″ MacBook Air and 11″ iPad Pro. Together, they fitted snuggly into the space created by the Air Pad. What’s more, the Air Pad extends beyond the top of the sleeve space to encompass the whole inside of the back panel.

This extension boosts the rigidity of the BagPack back panel and gave me extra support with the weight of my devices. Such a small addition greatly improved the backpack’s performance when full.

Packing the BagPack away is as easy as setting it up once you know how to do it. The air valve features a quick-release button for the Air Pad—hold it down and gently squeeze the backpack to deflate it. Ensure every bit of air is expelled before attempting to fit it back into its pouch.

To store it, turn the front pocket inside out to form the carry pouch, zip up the main compartment, and fold the backpack into the pouch. As long as the air is fully released, it packs away effortlessly.

Storage

As a collapsible backpack, the BagPack is never going to compete with a daily carry. Its sole purpose is to be that additional short-term backpack, and with 15L of space, the main compartment was more than enough for my needs.

Aside from the inflated laptop sleeve, there are no other pockets or storage options in the main compartment, and if there were, they would impact the final size when the BagPack is folded away.

The front quick-access pocket, which is created when the carry pouch is pushed inside the BagPack, has a 22cm opening, which is more than wide enough to hold a passport, travel documents, or even a power pack.

The BagPack did fall short on its waterproofing. STM Goods claims it is water-resistant, which it is, but I would be worried about my gadgets if I were caught in persistent heavy rain while using the BagPack.

Collapsible and foldable backpacks are never going to replace the real thing, but the STM Goods BagPack review convinced me that the BagPack is the first viable one I’ve used that would protect my expensive devices.

I hope STM Goods runs with the Air pad feature and either improves on it for future BagPack models or incorporates it into other Backpacks. It still looks and feels a bit “version 1,” but it works well. I’d even welcome it in a standard backpack.

The BagPack finally delivers a collapsible backpack that gives travellers a tech-friendly option.

I prefer to use a carry-on case with dedicated laptop storage, but I often need a backpack at my destination. The BagPack solves this by collapsing into a sleek backpack that protects my laptop and looks good.

Once the creases settle and the air pad inflates, you’d never guess it was collapsible. It’s practical, stylish, and, finally, a travel bag that adapts as much as I do.

STM Goods BagPack
Dimensions	Backpack: 480x315x160mm Packed: 240x150x100mm
Weight	500 g
Colour	Black Coffee
Capacity	15L
Storage	Fits up to 16″ Laptop Organiser Pockets Quick-access Front Pocket
Material	210D Nylon
Features	Reinforced zippers Adjustable padded shoulder straps Packs into its own front pocket Built-in airbag system for laptop protection
In the Box	STM Goods BagPack
Website	stmgoods.com

The STM Goods BagPack is $59/£59 at stmgoods.com and your local Amazon store.