Customer Reviews

Brenthaven Expandable Trek Backpack for Notebooks up to 15.4"

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Summary
-------
Brenthaven has a reputation for making tough laptop bags that do a good job protecting their contents. The Expandable Trek is new to the Brenthaven lineup.

Real-World Capacity
-------------------
I can fit about 4 small books (each about 9"H x 6"W x 3/4"D) into the expandable pouch. The main compartment holds my 14" widescreen laptop and a large folder that measures 12"H x 10"W x 2.5"D.

Pros
----
1. TONS of useful compartments for storing various things like keys, water bottles, writing implements, etc.
2. The expandable pouch is very useful.
3. Removable mesh pocket looks good, is functional, and well-designed.
3. The bag is has a nice appearance overall.
4. Brenthaven's not quite as well known as, say, Targus, so the bag is less likely to be identified as a laptop bag and hence somewhat less likely to be stolen. (Okay, so that's speculation on my part...) =P
5. Sturdy, well-padded straps with sternum clip
6. Tough rubberized handle up top.
7. Bag stands upright with or without a laptop inside.
8. Felt lined pouch is a nice touch. Lets you store delicate stuff like PDAs, bluetooth headsets, sunglasses.

Cons
----
1. The U-shaped pouch that holds pencils and pens is awkward to open, particularly if approaching the bag from above.
2. Sternum strap often falls off from the straps to which it attaches.
3. A bit more storage space would've been nice.
4. Padding for laptop feels thin in places. The 1.5" padding is only at the bottom. Back has about 1/2" foam and front is about 1/4". Sides really don't have much protection. It's too bad Brenthaven didn't implement the the CORE protection system with this bag.

Overall
-------
A capable, versatile and attractive (albeit very masculine-looking) bag that's worth the money. Improvements in padding and more colors/styles would make it the perfect laptop backpack.

Update (6/4/06)
---------------

One side of the rubberized handle separated from the rest of the bag. Brenthaven promptly issued me a RA (Return Authorization) number. I returned the bag. They replaced it not with a repaired bag, but a brand new bag. In this transaction and in others, Brenthaven's customer support has proven to be excellent.

Also, the sternum clip on the replacement bag seems sturdier and less likely to fall off than the first.

3/11/08
-------
The handle broke off again, about six months ago. I contacted Brenthaven, and they immediately sent me an RMA. Their support has been very, very good. But I decided to hold on to the bag. While I do miss the handle sometimes, it's still a great bag with out it.

This bag is tight, as in it holds everything tight to the body. I though at first it may be too small for books and my mac but there is room for a mac 15", notebooks, I have gotten up-to three books in, and everything else I need for school. So because it is held close and tight to your back it does not feel like there is a bus on your back. This back is the one to get I PROMISE!!!!!

I'm 5'2" and an install tech for a computer company. I spend lots of time traveling and frequently have 15-25 lbs in my backpack between my computer, spare parts for customer machines and tools. I bought this bag because a friend with a similar job role told me he swore by Brenthavens and that the increase in comfort and durability were well worth the price. I was sold when he told me his bag was 3 years old, it still looks new.

The bag delivers on every promise they made. It's voluminous, and pocket-y which means everything has a place and I can always find the right tool when I need it. No more digging around in 1 of 2 giant pockets and hoping I find a socket or allen wrench; they all have their own little pockets and I always know where to go to find them.

The expandable pocket does make the bag huge, but accommodates food and other amenities, such that when I am traveling for work I need only this bag for a carry on, I don't need a separate bag for personal items. Ditto for long days at customer sites. I can bring everything I think I might need along with me and don't have to sacrifice space or leave anything behind.

I haven't started school so I haven't used it too much, but the few times I have, its been amazing. I got this so I can bike to school with all my stuff and it holds everything--my mac, books, and more. The only thing against it is the fact that its huge and you need a sleeve for your laptop for some protection. Otherwise, I've loved it so far.

Pros:
- Slim profile when not expanded; expands to a really big size when you need the extra room.
- Lots of storage areas: space for phones, ipods, power supplies, pens, glasses, widescreen laptop, keys, etc.
- Great straps. Durable construction (except for zippers). Nice handle.

Cons:
- Zippers aren't the big, durable self-healing zippers that you find on other Brenthaven bags. Time will tell whether this is an issue.
- I'd prefer a more subdued color scheme, like black or black/grey. More a taste thing.

Great back pack. It really has the space needed to carry a laptop and some books. the only thing I'd like more is if the backpack was more business style black rather than the silver and black. That's just a taste issue. I also had an issue with the chest connector coming off and not staying in place. that's what stopped it from having a 5 star rating. I'd recommend this for anyone look for a laptop bag. Tons of pockets, great place to store pens and pencils, ipod, and many more compartments. When it expands, it is really big, almost too big.

Good product for the occasional, short-trip traveler, as it is a sturdy, well-protected backpack with average-sized compartments. Not for the road warrior, though: the access to its compartments is unnaturally narrow, it doesn't hold enough stuff other than your laptop, your charger, your ipod, and some books, and it lacks placeholders for your bottle of water and cell phone. It could also use some protection underneath.

It's expensive, but it looks great and has lots of useful pouches. I haven't had any problems with it, and it also seems like Brenthaven will take care of you if anything goes wrong.

One side benefit is that it's not that common of a bag, so it's distinctive without drawing too much attention. It also doesn't scream "I have a laptop! Steal me!" like a Targus bag does.

I was reluctant to spend that much on a bag at first when there are so many other deals out there, but I'm definitely not disappointed with that decision now.

Pros:
- Nice-looking, streamlined bag.
- Expandable section is a nice feature.
- Fits a 15" Lenovo T61 very snugly. Fair amount of padding for protection.
- The felt-lined pouch is very accessible and is great for sunglasses or other scratch-vulnerable equipment.
- Lots of other storage pouches (the two on the back seemed kind of weird-shaped to me initially, but I find that one of them stores the AC adapter and cords for the laptop quite well.

The two pouches on the sides are useful, but they hold drink bottles a little awkwardly (probably works fine, but looks cheesy and you can lose the bottle if you're not careful when setting down the bag). There's a great mesh "gum pocket" on each side which is useful for students. I use the large removable mesh pocket in the back to hold a water bottle instead of trying to use the side pockets. If your water bottle has a carbiner clip, you can use that to hook to the bag for extra security. I'm emotionally attached to some of my bottles.


Cons:
- Zippers don't feel that sturdy. I haven't had any problems with it yet (owned the bag for about 7 months now), but you can tell it's the weak point in the backpack.
- Main storage space isn't as big as you'd think (though if you expand it, it should be more than enough for your needs). I can fit about three to four small/thin 3/4" binders along with a 15" laptop without expanding, but it's a tight fit.

I have used the bag quite extensively for about 1 year. During my last trip one side of the top handle became detached. Other than that, the bag still looks like it is brand new. I have lots of experience with laptop bags and travel a lot and never had a handle detachment before. This is very disappointing to me as I was convinced by someone that this was a quality bag and I spent about $30 more than I wanted to. Back to Targus bags for me.
Other than the handle detachment, this bag was quite functional for me and I agree with most of the other comments about it. But don't buy one unless you can verify that something has been done to correct the handle problem.

Perhaps I have too much time on my hands, but I did a lot of research on what kind of backpack to use for my new laptop. I bought this one, along with a Brenthaven protective sleeve for the laptop, and I'm very happy with both!

The backpack has a lot of compartments & is comfortable to use. I haven't used all of the compartments yet.

My only complaint was that it took over 10 days to deliver it, and I wanted it before a trip.

But overall, great product! And my macbook fits perfectly with the protective sleeve inside the backpack.

The backpack is probably sufficient protection, but I'm glad that I got the sleeve too.

Glenn