We tested what might be one of the most practical backpacks out there
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EverlaneWe spend a lot of time and money trying to make our daily commutes to work a little easier and more enjoyable.
Whether that's purchasing a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to drown out temperamental toddlers and other people’s conversations on the subway or a phone case that doubles as a wallet to make your office ID and MetroCard more readily accessible or a pair of dress shoes that won't kill your feet, the little things can make a huge difference in the mornings.
In this vein, a few lucky members of the Insider Picks team were excited to try out Everlane's new backpack, which was made specifically with the modern commuter in mind.
We've already talked at length about why we like Everlane. To reiterate, though, Everlane isn't your traditional clothing retailer. Unlike the J.Crews and Banana Republics of the industry, high clothing markups are nonexistent at Everlane; instead, the company promotes transparency. On its website, the retailer breaks down how much it costs to make its clothing and accessories (labor, materials, transporting the apparel, and duties). It compares its prices with those of traditional retailers. The Modern Commuter Backpack we're recommending, for instance, goes for $68 at Everlane, and Everlane claims traditional retailers would sell it for $160.
Transparent pricing aside, the backpack is great for a host of others reasons. Most importantly for commuters, Everlane's backpack doesn't feel overly casual for the typical office. At Business Insider's NYC headquarters, which adheres to a business causal dress code, it feels far from out of place. Below, our testers go so far as to call it one of the most stylish, practical, tech-friendly, and affordable backpacks currently on the market.
Tester #1: Breton Fischetti, senior director, commerce:
Compared to my old backpack, the construction of this one feels very solid, and I like the minimalist design and lack of visible branding. The fabric is thick and durable. The backpack looks and feels high-quality. The zippers stay put and don't feel like they're going to break when the bag is overstuffed.
The slim design is great for commuting because it isn't too bulky to carry in a crowd. It also fits more than you would expect for a relatively slim design. I was able to carry a rolled up yoga mat securely while biking. The mat stuck out of the top, but I didn’t have to worry that the zippers were going to fall down. There's also a padded pouch on the inside that's great for carrying a laptop safely.
Tester #2: Ellen Hoffman, commerce editor:
I'm a big fan of Herschel Supply Co.'s backpacks, but so is everyone else these days. I can't tell you how many of them I spot on my commute to work every day. Everlane's backpack is much less ubiquitous. It's also one of the most stylish and tech-friendly backpacks I've come across for under $100 — usually it's one or the other, it's hardly ever both. I'm not the backpack-carrying type during the workweek; I prefer my purse. But I've brought this backpack on my most recent weekend trips, and it's nice to be able to know where all of my stuff is and access it quickly and efficiently.
Tester #3: Brandt Ranj, commerce reporter, tech:
As someone who’s always fallen on the messenger bag side of the "backpack or messenger bag" question, I’m surprised at much much I like this backpack. It’s on the smaller size, which would typically make it a non-starter, but its large enough to hold a 15-inch laptop with some accessories. I find its small, front-side zipper pocket to be very useful for cables and a USB battery pack. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s definitely the most stylish backpack I’ve ever owned. I use it daily on my commute, but have also brought it on weekend trips back home.
Everlane's Modern Commuter Backpack retails for $68 and comes in three great colors, navy, black, and gray.