Originally wanted a slimline messenger bag for my new MBP, but then realized that finding the ideal one would be a difficult, time-consuming task. Whereas if I bought a good, small backpack that I could also use as an aircraft carry-on or light travelling bag I would be able to kill two birds with one stone. So that's what I did.
The one I chose was the Samsonite Paradiver Light, Tablet 10.1" size, which incidentally fits the 2016-2018 13" macbooks like a glove. There is also a larger version of the backpack, but I felt that one would be too cumbersome in day to day use.
Paradiver Light is padded on all sides, and particularly where it rests against the wearer's back. The construction overall is extremely sturdy and well made, the fabrics, zippers, straps and seams are all of excellent quality materials. The outer fabric is covered with a smooth synthetic material and the zippers are sealed, making it virtually completely rainproof. Only the most intense of torrential downpours could possibly hope to defeat this very solid backpack! The main compartment has twin zippers with interlocking eyelets, making it easy to secure with a padlock (I have a TSA approved lock which I bought in Merica back in 2006 which hasn't seen much use since.)
Apart from the laptop pocket inside the main compartment there are also a multitude of other pockets, inside and outside. There is a large mesh pocket on the inner side of the backpack's opening flap which is well suited for holding say, a laptop power brick for example so it doesn't rattle around and damage itself or other items (or in the case of when you travel, any documents you need to keep easily visible and handy like insurance papers, boarding card, passport and so on.) Also inside, alongside the laptop pocket, there is also a padded mouse pocket with its own velcro flap (which easily swallows a Magic Mouse - which one should remember to turn off, lest the laptop is powered up inside your backpack and runs down the battery and causes heat buildup), and a smartphone pocket that should handle most any size phone except perhaps the most ludicrous ones. There's also two pen holders here, if someone has a crazy urge to write something down on a piece of paper for some reason. (Don't we live in the 21st century now, yes?)
Accessible from the outside of the backpack there's three additional pockets; one larger one on the main compartment's flap, which I find useful for storing my padlock when it is not being used, as well as my spare Apple Watch charger and an USB-C to lightning cable. On the side there's a small pocket with a mesh bottle holder stashed inside it, and on the rear side, near where the carrying straps connect there's a shallow "hidden" pocket which Samsonite's website claims is suited for wallet storage, but which it is clearly not, since you can't lock this pocket. Only the main compartment is lockable.
Even when using the backpack as a computer carrying bag there's still plenty space left inside; when travelling you could quite comfortably fit some spare clothes and toiletries in there, like a pair of pants, a shirt and underwear and so on, as well as an inflatable headrest pillow. Gymbag this pack probably isn't good as though, as squeezing in a pair of indoors shoes and water bottle along with towel, change of clothes and so on would be difficult. It is a small backpack after all!
Went out with my Mac inside it today, and it performed beautifully. Brought the power brick and extension cable too just to test out how it would feel, and it's no problems whatsoever. This is a very nice computer backpack, the one thing I would have preferred to see was a velcro strap to secure the internal phone pocket. Other than that though, nothing to complain about really.
Score: 9/10, easily.
