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Back earlier this summer, we brought you a review on a pair of waterproof sneakers made from Hemp from the crew over at 8000Kicks. Hemp is a pretty versatile fiber, so it’s no surprise that they’ve got a number of different products, and not just shoes. I’ve been hauling around the 8000Kicks Everyday Backpack on my commute to the office as of late, and we’re here to give you our verdict.
A different sort of laptop backpack
When we think laptop backpacks, we tend to think of ones that are more strictly regimented for what goes where, and perhaps a few separate compartments. Those are great if they fit your need (and can work quite well for business travel), but what if you want the versatility of a large interior to swallow whatever you need to carry? Or, what if your capacity needs change from day to day?
Well, that’s what the 8000Kicks Everyday Backpack offers up. Yes, it’s got some interior organization – and padded slots for a laptop and a tablet – but it is one large interior space. Not only that, with the rolltop, you can cinch it down to make things compact, or you have have it unrolled all the way to almost double the volume you can carry.
The material
First things first, though. With the 8000Kicks Everyday Backpack, a lot of focus is going to be on that hemp that they used. In practice, it feels like something that manages to be both heavier duty – and softer to the touch – than your standard canvas bag. Once you add in the fact that the material is waterproof (just like their shoes), well, then you’ve got a bag that’s ready to go the distance. Internally, you’ve got a more satiny material, so you’re not sliding your electronics in against the hemp. That also provides a cover for the internal water proof membrane as well.
The organization
As you can see in that photo above, there is a lot of built-in organization, more than you’d expect for a large-capacity bag of this sort. You’ve got the expected spots for the laptop and tablet to go, but then you’ve also got a zipper storage on the inside (perfect for stashing cables and charging bricks) as well as some open-top pockets. On the exterior, you’ve got a zippered pocket on the front (perfect size for an e-reader), as well as a hidden zippered pocket in the back padding.
There’s an additional zipper on the one side as well, that allows you to have a battery pack inside the bag, that you can then access from the outside to power your devices. Conveniently, one of the two external expanding pockets is right below that, so you could stash whatever you’re charging in there. Me? I use both of those external pockets for carrying beverages (one water, one coffee).
The carry
While the straps of the 8000Kicks Everyday Backpack are not the most-padded I’ve ever experienced, they’re more than up to the job for getting you to the office and back. Some of that is going to be due to what you load in the bag as well. What I’m saying is, for a standard office commute (including a lunch bag and a couple of beverages), it’s going to feel plenty comfortable. I found that using the sternum strap also helped in that regard. Ostensibly, it’s to help keep things steady, but I found it helped more by being able to cinch the shoulder straps in some to adjust where they rest.
Along with a laptop and tablet, I was easily able to fit in all the other things I need for a day at the office – a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, a keyboard and mouse, some cables, glasses, and of course my lunch bag. All of that, the bag swallows up, and I’m able to roll the top down (after zipping it shut) all the way. There were a few times where I had more in there (say, a jacket that I didn’t need in the evening) and the ability to easily expand things was much appreciated.
The takeaway
I’ve gotten used to the more technical fabrics, clean exteriors, and regimented organization of laptop bags, and had gotten to preferring that style. So, going into this review of the 8000Kicks Everyday Backpack, I was not sure how well I was going to like the bag. Long story short? I came away really digging this bag. While it may not look as “slick” as some of the more technical bags, the versatility you have with that roll top really makes it easy to adjust your carry day-to-day.
And yes – it may not have all of the dedicated spots to stash things that some of our other reviews have had. And realistically, for a longer trip that I need a laptop for, those might be the sort of bag I go for. For a regular commute into the city, though, the 8000Kicks Everyday Backpack with that giant open space inside is where it’s at. Carry as much – or as little – as you need, and you’re off to the races. And with the treatment of the hemp, and the additional water proof lining, this is a bag that won’t care if you’re out in the rain or the snow – everything inside will be nice and dry.
While we reviewed the 8000Kicks Everyday Backpack in the beige-and-green color combo (just like the shoes), it’s also available in beige-and-red (they call it pink) or an all-black look. Regardless of the color, you’ll be putting $149 down on the barrel.
Details from 8000Kicks
Hemp yourself up from head to toe with the new Everyday Backpack. The world’s 1st weatherproof hemp backpack, minimalist for the work days and versatile enough for you to travel during the weekend. The last piece of back storage you will need.
PRODUCT DETAILS
- 💦 Weatherproof (PFC free)
- 🍁 Durable Hemp Fibers
- 💻 Fits a 15-inch laptop
- 🧳 18L expandable up to 30L
- 🔋 USB plug (no cable or battery included)
- ⚖️ Only 1.05kg | 2.31lb
