COTS APEX EXPLORE laptop backpack review

REVIEW – Since COVID hit, I’ve been working from dwelling and it seems to be like it’ll keep that means for the long run.  I’ll, nevertheless, have to enter the workplace every now and then for particular conferences or staff occasions.  I needed a bag I may use to hold my laptop computer into work that was professional-looking and never cumbersome.  The COTS APEX Discover backpack got here up for overview and I jumped on it.  Let’s see the way it works out.

What’s it?

The Apex Discover backpack (Apex to any extent further) is a light-weight multi-pocketed backpack that has padded areas for a laptop computer and pill together with a bigger open storage compartment and plenty of different smaller pockets to arrange issues.  It is available in two colours:  black which I acquired and a funky-looking navy colour.

{Hardware} specs

• Our water & stain resistant, ultra-durable, prime quality patented Filmpor™ material is used for all merchandise of COTS backpack assortment. Nicely-designed materials is produced from new molecular expertise, with a particular TPU movie on the floor. It offers mushy hand feeling and wrinkle-resistant options, straightforward to handle. Tremendous grime resistance, simply merely wipes, could be as clear as new. For its multi-functional efficiency, COTS backpack will develop into your reliable companion from day-to-night.
• Dimensions: 19.5″x 12.8″x 6.3″
• Weight: 2.3lb
• Whole Quantity: 26L
• padded space can maintain as much as a 16 in laptop computer

Design and options

The image under exhibits the entrance of the bag.  There are two vertical pockets, one small fleece lined entrance pocket, and a big predominant pocket.  There are additionally two pouches on the aspect for issues like water bottles.

This subsequent image is a closeup of the Filmpor material.  It’s a very nice weave and water does bead off of it.

Opening up one of many two vertical pockets you’ll be able to see there’s a contrasting liner.  It’s lighter in colour and may enable you to discover issues within the pocket.  It doesn’t zip all the methods down however stops a bit after midway down.  There are not any further pockets inside both of those vertical pockets.

This subsequent image exhibits the smaller fleece-lined pocket simply above the 2 vertical pockets.  This might be good for holding sun shades or any kind of merchandise you don’t want to have scratched.  The width is simply broad sufficient for my iPhone 11 Professional.  I’m not positive a Max telephone would match simply and I had no approach to check.

The subsequent zipper behind this glasses pocket is a bigger space.  There are two zipper pulls for this one pocket and it opens as much as about midway down the bag.  You’ll be able to see there are slots for pens and bigger gadgets.  There’s a key holder clip together with a bigger zippered space to retailer gadgets.  The zippered space within the again is overlaying just below half of the size of the bag.  This provides you loads of locations to arrange your stuff.

Behind that first greater pocket you’ll find a velcro tab overlaying the zipper of the principle pocket of the bag.  This retains that space from opening by chance which is an efficient factor in case your laptop computer or pill is saved inside.  The velcro has a pleasant tab sewn to the entrance of it to make it straightforward to open.

Now we get to the principle compartment.  This zipper additionally has two separate pull tabs.    This massive pocket is made up of two padded sleeves within the again and one predominant compartment space.  The underside of the bag is barely flippantly padded.  I’d not wish to put one thing breakable in the principle open space after which drop the bag.  The bag you see on the prime of this pocket belongs to the final pocket behind the backpack.

The 2 sleeves don’t go all the methods right down to the underside of the bag so your laptop computer or pill is healthier protected.

There’s a remaining smaller pocket behind the principle pocket of the bag.  It has padding on the again as its again is the again of the backpack.  The pocket itself is a really skinny shell.  Something you set on this pocket will drape over any laptop computer you might have within the sleeve of the principle pocket.

Here’s a image of the again of the backpack.  It’s nicely padded and the raised bumps will hopefully give a little bit of airflow to your again.

I took a closeup of one of many buckles on the chest strap.  It’s plastic, however feels fairly heavy responsibility.

The bag additionally incorporates a useful seize loop on the prime of the bag.

Efficiency

I first tried placing my Dell XPS 16 inch laptop computer in the principle laptop computer sleeve of this backpack.  You’ll be able to see it does match, however does stick out of the sleeve space.   There’s nothing holding it in place however the resistance of the sleeve.  Holding the bag the other way up, which I admit hardly ever occurs, does trigger the laptop computer to slip out of the sleeve till it hits the highest of the bag.

I then put in a Dell Latitude 13.5 inch laptop computer within the sleeve and it matches fully inside.

This subsequent image exhibits my massive XPS laptop computer together with an Apple iPad Professional 11 inch contained in the pill sleeve.  It simply matches with the case I’ve on it.

The second of reality was after I tried the backpack on.  I had it loaded up with the big laptop computer, iPad, a e-book, and some different gadgets.  I additionally had my Hydroflask in one of many aspect pockets. I like how the backpack stayed with a slim profile.  The backpack didn’t really feel that snug to me.   The shoulder pads had been very stiff and I do know I’d not wish to spend the day touring via airports with this bag on my shoulders.  Carrying it from my automotive to the workplace wouldn’t be an issue, however having to put on it longer than 20 minutes at a time left so much to be desired.  I’ve a very nice Osprey backback that’s a lot extra snug.

I took an image of my entrance so you can get a greater thought of how the shoulder straps sit.  They’re broad and stiff.  They appeared to chop into my armpits.  I’m positive a man or gal with wider shoulders would haven’t any points.

Here’s a image of the water bottle pouch.  I really feel like a smaller bottle would fall out simply if the bag had been tipped.  There are not any straps to tighten down a water bottle or umbrella if you happen to put one in there.

What I like

• Very light-weight
• Numerous pockets for organizing
• Skilled wanting and retains a slim profile

What must be improved

• Straps had been uncomfortable – stiff
• No approach to safe a laptop computer or pill in place
• Aspect pouches haven’t any means of securing gadgets in them to maintain them from falling out

Closing ideas

I’ll proceed to make use of the COTS APEX EXPLORE laptop computer backpack as my bag to hold my laptop computer to work.  It permits me to arrange the place I place the whole lot I want so I can seize it rapidly.  It seems to be skilled and is light-weight.   I’ll nevertheless not use this backpack for any lengthy prolonged journeys the place I must put on the backpack for a time period longer than quarter-hour.  If I had been on a visit someplace by airplane, I’d use one other backpack that I personal.

Value: $79.99
The place to purchase: COTS (Save 15% with coupon code: TG15  (no expiration date))
Supply: The pattern of this product was offered by COTS.