Customer Reviews

PEGASUS from SwissGear by Wenger Computer Backpack

5 star:		(132)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This bag is almost perfect. It has some rigidity to it so it can stand on its own which is helpful when you put it down. I sometimes have to carry 2 laptops and it does so perfectly (15.4" and 17"). The size is perfect, not like I'm going to trek over into the Amazon but can provide more than ample room for all sorts of activites/travel. The trend is towards too many compartments and sub-compartments/pockets, but once you get used to it, finding things become very easy. The Zippers work well, the padding and straps are excellent, and as a professional, this bag has a very high-tech, quality professional look to it. Weight is not feathery but is reasonable given its semi-rigid structure and excellent protection. The outer top loop has a nice feel and detail to it when you to lift it up by the loop. Its very balanced on my shoulders and reduces fatigue = important since I travel a lot by air and by motorcycle with it.

My single complaint is that it does not have a lower band or strap which allows it to securely wraparound a roll-on luggage's handle - useful when airporting around.

I probably need a life, but this bag has improved the quality of it immensely. The other excellent bags are the Synergy (same price) or the Maxuum (slightly cheaper), both by Swissgear but I don't think anyone makes a better functional or aesthetic bag than the Wegner Swissgear folks!

This is a very well constructed bag, but the odd design of the diagonal separation between the larger back and middle compartments, and their equal depth, really limits what you can put into the bag. If you want to carry lots of legal pads, this would be a great bag. I want one large section for all of my books, etc., and a thinner section for the computer. I exchanged this for the Maxxum (also Wenger), which is perfect for me, as well as cheaper! The Maxxum also adds an adjustable kangaroo pouch on the front which is very handy. Ah, I should also note that both of these packs have an across-the chest strap that is placed too high. I still use it because it really helps with weight distribution.

I got this for my sweety and he LOVES it. It fits his Dell Inspiron e1705 perfectly and for those reviews complaining about the zippers- they must have something different. The zippers on this bag are slippy but they lock, if you know what I mean. They won't unzip themselves.

It's got plenty of room for his accessories, work things, books and an extra change of clothes for overnight trips.

I have to admit, I thought about getting one for my e1405, but can't justify the expenditure when the laptop in a neoprene case transports well in my beat-up old Jansport. And he needed a backpack anyway.

We saw an airline employee traveling with the Pegasus from SwissGear and he had nothing but wonderful things to say about it. The only worry was getting one to fit his 17" computer. I bought this backpack with a niggling feeling from the iffy reviews, but let me put your mind at rest. He slipped it in and latched it and voila! Perfect fit. Snug but nowhere near worrisome. Plus, it's got a pocket for your Swiss Army knife. (but remember to take it out before heading to the airport!)

Highly recommended- and the price right now on Amazon is the best I've seen so far, saving up to $30 on other sites.

When I decided to get a high end laptop with a 17" screen, equally important was getting a nice-looking, roomy backpack that would adequately protect it. The challenge about finding a nice 17" backpack, though, is that most of them are very bland and the overall selection is extremely narrow.

I quickly noticed how Wenger's Swiss Army backpacks were nice looking (and they even feature colors other than black or gray), but scouring many website reviews I read a repeated complaint that Dell's 17" laptops "barely" fit in this pack, the zipper "barely" got around the machine, etc., etc. Now that I finally jumped off the cliff to risk this pack without testing it in real life, I want to assure you this lovely backpack has ample room for Dell's monster notebooks. The only thing "snug" about it is that the laptop pocket is tight around your hardware. This means you can't just mindlessly drop your notebook in: you have to line it up with the pocket, but once in place, your machine slides in easily and there are zero problems with the zipper clearing around the edges.

After that, there's space for a three inch thick textbook, if you want, and/or a large zippered leather portfolio folder. I can fit those in, along with a coiled, long USB cable, oversized headphones and a full-sized wired mouse. There's a separate zippered, breathable bag to store your power cord, battery and a travel power adapter if you choose. And I still have more room after that.

The laptop compartment is padded on all sides (including the bottom) and there's thick, firm padding along the shoulder straps and the back. There's a sternum/high chest strap you can clip as well, if you're feeling particularly mountain man-like.

Externally, if you love the Swiss Army white cross on red background logo, you'll love this pack, because the little design is on every single zipper pull, on the shoulder straps, and elsewhere. The blue color that looks so strong in the photos is actually much more subdued in real life and could even be mistaken for gray. The red logos set things off, and the little media player pocket on the top front is completely lined in red material, which adds nice punch to everything.

Another cool touch is the main hand grip at the top of the pack-- it's metal coil wrapped in clear plastic, and then wrapped again in a soft rubber grip. Very cool looking.

Best of all? Unlike other backpacks (third and first party) you could bundle with your purchase at Dell's website, this pack doesn't come emblazoned with a screaming "steal me, I'm an expensive computer" Dell logo smack in the middle of it. This pack could easily be seen as a plain ole backpack.

Heartily recommended. Dell 17-inchers (and otherwise): have no fear.

I've had this backpack for a week and took it right away on a trip to Vancouver. It's built strong and it looks strong too! The extra compartments on it made me feel queezy at first but I soon learned to love them, you can compartmentalize all your stuff and keep them accessible. My laptop is well protected and you can keep all your accesories handy like your mouse, cables, printer cables, etc. The shock absorbers at the straps really take the pain off carrying a lot of stuff on the backpack. I definitely recommend it to all those looking for a great product to keep your laptop and your stuff safe and handy!

On the whole, the Pegasus is a high-quality bag;, especially if you can get it for a good price (I paid $60 for mine). If you can deal with the few downsides (see Cons below), then I highly recommend it.

Pros:
-Feels very sturdy and secure; from the top handle (thick rubber grip over plastic tube over steel cable) to the bottom (rubberized base that keeps it standing up on its own, at least most of the time), it feels well-built and able to withstand some punishment while keeping your gear safe.
-Comfortable; the padded straps are able to keep it from hurting your shoulders, despite carrying a big laptop, accessories, and a couple books.
-Looks good; while practically panel and zipper bears the Swiss cross (there's 22 of them in total), making you a bit of a walking advertisement, it still looks much more sleek and professional than most other laptop backpacks. Of course, if looks are your primary concern, a leather briefcase-style bag would probably be superior, but the Pegasus definitely gives a good compromise between utility and looks.

Cons
-Capacity: while any bag that can carry a 17" laptop pretty much by definition has a fair amount of space, the Pegasus isn't that impressive in how much it can carry. As a university student, I occasionally have to choose between carrying the laptop and being able to carry more than two books and a notebook or two. I probably wouldn't want to travel with it as a carry-on, either. If you're just looking to carry a laptop and a few other things (power brick, cables, mouse, a few thin books and notebooks or a change of clothes), it'll work great. If you need to carry more on a regular basis, something bigger will fit the bill better.
-Not all 17" laptops will fit into the inner sleeve in the laptop compartment; my Dell Inspiron 1720 will only fit if I remove the battery. While it fits in the laptop compartment, which is still pretty secure, the extra sleeve/pouch just takes up space for me.
-Side pockets don't have much room for water bottles--you definitely can't fit a Nalgene in there.

being new to laptops, firts, i didnt know that 17" screens were (at the time) still new and harder to get full size BACKPACKS.
I had seen the quality of the swiss gear products and fell in love. the pegasus is big enough for my notebook AND many of my books, being a college student. every thing about this backpack was well thought out. The materials are sturdy and rugged, the zippers are big and wide, and i KNOW they will not fall apart of malfunction any time soon. the straps and back are thick with comfy padding. I have recommended this bag to any one else in the market (and even those few who were not, but made the mistake in commenting on mine).

Outstanding tool for carrying a laptop.
I purchased this backpack to carry my HP Pavilion; it has a huge monitor and a keypad with a number key, which I appreciate for calculations. The SwissGear backpack easily accommodates the long laptop. It's the only one I could find that could fit my Pavilion. This backpack is ideal for the long-distance commuter or road-warrior, ergonomically-designed to contain everything -- not only for your laptop but for travel needs. The padding is surprisingly sturdy and works well. Here's my summary of the positives:

1. Two large compartments that easily contained laptop, charger, cables, mouse-case (I keep my external mouse in a hard case that was originally for CDs.), international converters, and project binders.
2. One small top compartment I selected for keys, IDs, etc.
3. One larger, long compartment for pens, cell phone charger, bluetooth charger, thumb drives, etc.
4. Two side compartments ideal for eyeglasses, pharmaceuticals and other stuff.
5. The padding is lighter and more useful than heavy plastic or leather in protecting delicate electronics and such.
6. It fit easily in the overhead compartment, although the straps were a challenge confining.
7. Two pull straps are located on the arm straps to allow tightening, which is great for older people with shoulder rotation problems.
8. Two hefty hand straps for moving around.
9. Lockable compartments with two sturdy zippers sealing each compartment.
10. Semi-waterproof construction; it rained heavily on my last day and the backpack contents remained dry.
11. Two open net side pockets for eyewash packets and hand sanitizer packets.
12. Heavily padded arm straps for hours in lines and walking around airports and train stations.
13. Backpack stands up on its own, even if filled, without risk of falling over.

There are few negatives. The padding on the sides is protected by a light nylon webbing. The webbing tore in one spot after one trip, albeit, around the world on a 30 day road-warrior assignment. Although it is black and won't show too much dirt quickly, you should protect it with a couple coats of Scotch-guard. The SwissGear picked up some of the red dust from the jobsite. After the Scotch-guard put a couple coats of silicon spray to improve its waterproofing.

This backpack will oscure your back when walking through a dark airport parking lot. I added some strips of 3M reflective tape to make me more visible. It's the iron on type that seems to be available only through the internet.

This is the best backpack I've ever purchased for a laptop and was well-worth the premium price I paid in the last minute before flying half-way around the worlds.

I hope this review was helpful. If so, please add your vote.

I bought this backpack primarily to take my HP dv9000 17" laptop around campus. The first thing I noticed about this bag was how sturdy the material and construction appears. Small attention to detail, such as how the straps are sewn onto the bag using a weight-distributing attachment, shows that this thing is made to handle a load. I especially liked how the main handle on this bag is laminated threaded cable riveted into the top of the book bag. Once again, sturdy.

My main issue with this bag, however, is that it doesn't fit my laptop. My laptop will fit in the bag, however trying to zip it up is a different story. The edges of the laptop are very snug against the zippers, and deform the case. My beautiful dv9000's finish got a tiny scratch from the zipper, so I didn't try it again. I instead ordered a Merax sleeve to put around the laptop, but now it will not fit inside the dedicated laptop compartment. It will, however, fit into the bottom of the bag, outside of the laptop compartment, and close fine, even with the sleeve on. I wouldn't consider this a fix, since one of the primary purposes of the bag's laptop compartment is to lift the computer up off the bottom of the backpack so that it is protected from the ground.

I decided not to return the bag because I don't intend on lugging my behemoth of a computer around campus too much, and it fits my older, smaller 15.4 in Compaq perfectly. Also, I fell in love with the bag when I first saw it, so I couldn't get rid of it.

A little information about the bag to supplement the info provided by Amazon's description:

What is referred to, I believe, as the "quick pocket" is a zippered pocket on the front of the bag containing an elastic mesh pocket, a velcro sleeve for a swiss army knife (nice touch), keyring hook, and a few other small pockets. There is also a zippered pouch inside this pocket, large enough for, say, a TI-89 calculator to fit in.

Above the quick pocket is what must be the mp3 pouch. This zippered compartment is only a few inches deep and contains a pouch in which to place an iPod, held in with a velcro strap. I have a Zune, and though it fits into the velcro pouch without its leather case, it does not with the case on. The entire pouch is plenty big enough, though, to put the Zune and my headphones case (an Altoids tin) in. There is no hole to thread headphones out of.

The first main compartment runs the entire height of the bag. On either side (on the front wall and the back) there are pockets to put things in, which run the entire width of the pack.

The second main compartment is designed to hold the laptop. In it there is a mesh elastic pouch on the front wall, and a padded laptop compartment on the back, which is suspended from the bottom of the bag. There is an elastic strap which snaps into place and holds the computer snug. The bottom of the bag is padded as well and protected by rubber on the exterior.

On either side of the bag are zippered pockets to put things in, with elastic mesh water bottle holders on the outsides.

The back of the bag is covered with several foam pads which are actually more comfortable than gimmicky. The straps also have this padding and a "shock absorption" feature where the strap adjustments have a little bit of slack in them. I don't really notice a difference. A chest strap runs across to connect the two shoulder straps. It cannot be removed without cutting.

There is a nice utility zip-up pouch included which I find useful for stashing all the cables that I need for my laptop.

Also, I've used this bag several times on vacations. I have even packed my clothes in for a weekend trip, along with my laptop and accessories, and I think I could've fit more in.

All in all, this is a great bag, which I am sure you can tell by my enthusiasm. Otherwise, I would not have written a several page review, right?

I am a pretty frugal buyer, but I definitely do not regret purchasing this backpack. I'm someone who has to fly around every week with TWO laptops, but this bag is so comfortable it feels like I'm only carrying one. If you're worried about the size, this bag is obviously large, but I wouldn't say it's too big to either look unfashionable or feel too bulky. It's also flat enough to fit under airplane seats, which was a worry for me. I currently don't have a 17" laptop, but I got this bag to be future-proof since I am looking at buying a laptop with a big screen.

The build of the laptop is great. The material feels strong and the zippers are large and smooth. The pockets each have multiple compartments inside to keep things organized.

Special features that I really like:
- The bottom of the bag, which allows the bag to stay standing vertically
- The pocket at the front top of the bag (supposedly to hold Ipods or the like), which is actually quite deep, well padded, and very easy to access
- The straps and back of the bag, which is very well padded yet allows your back to breathe

Small gripes:
- The buckle that connects the two straps (does anybody use them?) is not removeable
- The front compartment only zips down about 3/4 of the way, although some people may consider this to be good since it prevents things at the bottom of the compartment to fall out

Overall, this is a great bag, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality laptop backpack, even if you don't have a 17" laptop.