A look at my new backpack for extended travel.
I got a Mobile Edge Core Gaming Backpack to haul all my tech toys for weekend and extended travels I'll hopefully do again in the future. I specifically wanted to securely pack my laptop and drawing tablet.
Why Did I Get This?
After I got my Huion Kamvas Pro 12 drawing tablet and started using it regularly, I decided I wanted a case of some sort to safely travel with my tech. I preferred to have one case to rule them all! I meant I wanted to haul my 15" laptop, 15" laptop cooling fan, 11-1/2" drawing tablet, and other tech accessories I'd use with the laptop and drawing tablet in a single carrying case.
I searched online for a case that I could use for a one-week visit to my Mom's house I never ended up taking. Although I'm not a serious gamer, I decided on a gaming backpack because of the thick padding inside, on the back, and in the shoulder straps of the backpack.
The amount of padding inside and out made me feel hopeful that a gaming backpack would keep my tech safe during extended travels.
The Mobile Edge Core Gaming Backpack was on sale through Amazon.com when I got it.
The Included Tag and Card
Attached to the handle was a tri-fold tag that provided detailed information about the backpack. I won't retype everything written on the tag, but below are the key features of the backpack:
Sized to hold all popular models of Gaming Laptops (up to 17"-18")
Checkpoint-Friendly design to speed through TSA checkpoints
Prewired universal power bank pocket for charging items in section
Quick-charge external USB 3.0 Charge Port with built-in charging cable
Three separate sections for laptops, tablet, accessories, & personal items
Organizer section provides pockets for pens, phone, business cards, keys, cables and other accessories
Separate poly-fleece lined iPad/Tablet/eReader pocket
Four zippered side accessory pockets for cables, gaming mouse, phone, large water bottles, etc.
Lifetime Warranty
Inside one of the zippered sections was a card that provided detailed information about the lifetime replacement warranty.
Exterior
I had the option of getting a molded or velcro front panel. I opted for the molded panel because I'll customize it with paint or vinyl one day. The velcro option allows someone to attach a patch to the front.
The backpack is roughly 19.5" x 17" x 9". It's huge on my back. I'm a short person who's 5' tall. It's bulky, but the padding on the back and inside the straps make it comfortable to keep over my shoulders for a short while.
For any females reading this blog post and considering this backpack for themselves, the straps may chafe the sides of your breasts. It rubbed against my sides when I wore it while walking (with any movement, really) and felt uncomfortable after wearing it for several minutes.
I don't think I'll be able to hike long distances comfortably with this over my shoulders, but a trip from my car to a hotel room for a weekend trip would be doable. I could always strap this to the handle of my rolling suitcase for longer, extended trips.
The side pockets were convenient for storing my laptop and drawing tablet's power adapters and cables. A large mouse would easily fit in one of the two top pockets on the sides. To my surprise, my HP Sprocket portable photo printer and cable fits well in the top pockets.
The USB Charge Port worked well after I plugged in the provided cable into my portable power bank and into my old phone.
Interior
The interior was divided into three separate zippered sections. In the section directly behind the front panel of the backpack were smaller pockets and pouches for small accessories and personal items.
There are three elastic pouches for USB cables and full-sized SD cards. These pouches held shorter USB cables and SD cards tightly and securely. While I see myself using the cable pouches, I don't see myself using the SD card holders. I'd usually carry micro-SD cards and a single micro-SD card reader. I'd personally prefer to carry multiple mini-SD cards in a small card carry case and store it in a zippered pocket.
The middle zippered section is divided into two halves. In one half, I easily placed my 15" laptop cooling fan and drawing tablet stand. It's my understanding that gamers would place their portable keyboards in this half.
In the other half of the same zippered section, there are three mesh zippered pockets on the side that 'neighbors' the half I stored my laptop cooling fan and drawing tablet stand. I liked being able to see what's in each pocket without having to open and dig through them to find something.
There's also a padded pouch on this other half of the section. I believe it's meant for a tablet like an iPad, but I thought it was perfect for my Nintendo Switch Lite. I think a full-sized Nintendo Switch would fit easily as well. Above that pouch is a hook and elastic band for attaching headphones.
The third and most padded zippered section was perfect for storing my laptop and drawing tablet. My laptop fit in the pouch labeled "Checkpoint Friendly" with lots of excess room. The Velcro strap allowed me to secure the laptop in the pouch. I didn't have to worry about the laptop sliding around in there.
My drawing tablet fit in the narrower padded pouch. It only took up about 2/3 of the pouch, but the Velcro strap kept the drawing tablet secured in the pouch.
My Thoughts
Overall, I really liked this backpack. It has more storage than I need, but I can find ways to fill all the pouches and pockets if I wanted. As far as backpacks and laptop carrying cases go, this does what it's supposed to.
The only complaint I have isn't the large size on my back, but the uncomfortable rubbing on my sides when I'm in motion. If you're a short female, the large straps may chafe the sides of your breasts over time with frequent use. If this is a concern of yours, you may consider researching other laptop backpacks to carry over your shoulder, carry this backpack by the handle, or strap this backpack to a suitcase handle.
I don't see myself wearing this backpack for long periods of time or distance, so hopefully I'll never experience chaffing and extensive discomfort.
What's Next?
I'm anxious for the day I get to travel and use this backpack to haul my tech. I may get my chance over Christmas if I visit my Mom and family for a couple weeks. Otherwise, I'll hopefully get to use it next year for a weekend or longer trip.
I hope the information and opinions I shared, while minimal, were helpful in your search for the perfect tech backpack or carrying case. If you're reading this post a month or more from the post date and want to know if I still like the backpack, Login and Signup or send me an email to ask me your questions.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam