Customer Reviews

SwissGear Wired Laptop Backpack for 17-Inch Notebook (Black)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

If not for the sizing issues, I would have liked to give this backpack a 4 or 5 Star Rating. I loved the look, functionality and quality of this backpack, and friends & family have previously owned/used other Wenger/SwissGear/Swiss Army/Victorinox products and been pleased with them. This pack is widely available at Sam's Club, as other reviewers stated, for $39.95, and I purchased it for my son who is returning to college this year, expecting it to fit his new HP Pavillion DV-9200 series model 17" widescreen laptop. It does NOT fit 17" widescreen style notebook computers. We have 3 different brands/models of new 17" widescreen laptops in the family and none of them can fit into this pack. No amount of pushing, shoving, squeezing will allow the bag's zipper to close completely with a 17" laptop inside; about 2 inches of the computer extends from the top of the bag. Also, the padded computer compartment of this backpack is tight-fitting in depth-width of the laptop as well... difficult to slip any of our 17" laptops into the padded compartment without exerting a lot of pressure, and even harder to remove; but that point is moot, considering that you cannot use this pack to carry the 17" computer anyway. Regardless of what the manufacturer's product description or store signs may state, this pack is best suited for 15" or smaller laptops.

I normally prefer Victorinox products, but when I saw this bag at Sam's Club for $40, I had to get it. It's heavy duty and well padded with ergonomic shoulder straps and an air ventilation system necessary for anyone who wears a backback for more than just casual toting. For example, it works well if you ride a motorcycle or even a bicycle. Air is channeled directly down the center of your back and is diffused through lightweight padding along your shoulder blades. Most important is the padded sleeve for your laptop. It only holds laptops up to 17" so if you're trying to squeeze a widescreen laptop in there it probably won't fit. But then again, if you have a 17" widescreen laptop you probably didn't buy it for its easy portability anyway. It has lots of pockets and compartments, including a padded media compartment and a headphone jack on the shoulder strap for easy plug-and-play. It even has a padded sleeve within a side zippered compartment for your favorite Swiss Army Knife. It's not as wide or cumbersome as some other laptop backpacks out there, (Targus, you know who I'm talking about), but it does have some weight to it even when empty. I suppose that's to be expected when dealing with quality materials and padded sleeves.

I bought this at Sam's club for around 40 bucks for commuting on a motorcycle. As a previous reviewer stated, this will not fit 17" widescreen laptops, UNLESS you do what I did and simply rip the seam at the bottom of the laptop sleeve all the way across to the sides (center section first, then two short side sections along bottom of seam). Then the laptop slides right down to the bottom of the back and voila, perfect fit. I have an ECS G900 laptop that is possibly one of the largest available - it measures 15.6" W x 11.6" D x 1.75" thick. This is just slightly larger than other models I have seen listed by reviewers that won't fit without modification. Just get a $0.99 seam ripper and spend a few minutes to open it up and save a lot of $ on the bag itself. I only gave 4 stars because I had to rip the seam myself, otherwise would give this 5.

I got this backpack to use for my freshman year in high school and it is great. It has a lot of space, pockets, etc. It fits everything i need for school and just right at that.The back of the backpack is padded so that makes it more comfortable, and it has other ways to make the load lighter. It is also great for traveling because you can put your laptop in it, put in your mp3 player in the media pocket, and be able to fit all your carry on items in it. I love it so much and i give it an A+. I recommend it for all high schoolers and travelers.

This might fit standard 17" laptops, but it does NOT fit widescreens. I love the quality of the swissgears that I own, so I bought this one for my new laptop. Naturally, I was pretty upset that it didn't fit.

This is advertised to fit a 17" Notebook. The bag is much smaller than you would expect. My HP DV9000 17" Notebook will NOT fit. My son has a Dell 17" and it will not fit either. If you are looking for something to use with a 17" Notebook, don't be fooled by this one. I expected more from Wenger....!

I bought this backpack in place of a purse and to carry the shenanigans required with 4 small kids, while i'm in a large cast and using crutches.

Pros:
*There are pockets everywhere, every shape and size pocket you'd want, and pockets in pockets, and pockets in pockets, in pockets.
*Its made from heavy-duty industrial strength materials, everything is reinforced and i'm confidant that we'll have this backpack for the rest of our lives. Not even my 4 children will be able to kill this thing.
*Straps, clips, hooks and clasps abound, so i can hook my keys onto the outside in a number of places, or attached on the interior on similar clips.
*Some mesh pockets allow for visibilty.
*Most pockets zipper, with dual zippers, but several pockets also are cinched at the top with heavy duty elastic - which allows me to reach around and dig into one of them and fish something out, without having to find the zipper...but the elastic is banded tightly and effectively enough that your items won't fall out unintentionally either
*The shoulder straps are padded very, very well and its comfortable to wear, even when it choc-full and i'm hobbling on crutches.
*Interior dividers are thickly padded too, which is overkill for most items (when i try to put loose paper in there) but nice if i slide my kids portable DVD player in, my day-timer someplace else and my laptop in another slot. That's a plus, if you're buying this for your electronics obviously.

Cons:
*Its really heavy, even before you put anything in it. surprisingly heavy.
*Because of all the whiz-bang features and a thousand pockets, its bulky.
*If you pay $140 for this, you're crazy. I bought it on a "Gold Box" special for $40 and everyone else seems to have gotten it other places for that cost.
*With all those pockets, and deep dividers within pockets, within pockets; you'll inevitably find yourself digging around to find your things.


I would buy this again, and recommend it for someone who would benefit from so many organized, divided pockets; is looking for an uber-padded bag; and is okay with hauling around a backpack a little heavier and bulkier than most.

I travel on business and bought this after I decided to quit hauling my laptop around in a handheld leather satchel. The compartments are well thought out for the business traveler and I liked this so much, I bought the matching Swiss Gear rolling duffel. The combination of the two are perfect for the 1-3 day trips that I take on a routine basis.

The MP3 jack on the shoulder stap is a nice feature, but I really don't use it very much. Highly recommended for business travlers and students alike...

If your laptop is 15.4" it is a very good for you. The title is written for 17" laptop but it is not true. My laptop is 17" and it could not fit. Even I couldn't close the backpack when I put my laptop in the backpack!!!

I have a Sony 17" Diagonal VAIO that fits perfectly in this backpack. I can see that it does not fit widescreens. However the backpack is very rugged, well padded and delivers all it promises! Just don't buy it if you have a widescreen!