We love travel backpacks, but let's face it—they have to do a lot. This isn't just the bag you take on your daily car commute; it's the carry on bag that has to carry upwards of 15 pounds of gear through the airport, get stuffed into the overhead bin, tossed into the trunk of your Uber, and then survive bell services and your hotel room.
Oh, and did we mention that it needs to be comfortable, well-organized, and last for years? That's a lot to ask, but BAGSMART rises to the challenge. The brand makes bags for people who constantly pack, unpack, and live life on the move, and nowhere is that more evident than with the latest addition to its BAGSMART BLAST Series: BLAST X.
Where BLAST X Fits in the Bagsmart Lineup
If you like straightforward design and organization, BAGSMART's BLAST Series offers functional bags at an accessible price. After all, you don't want to spend more on your travel backpack than you have to.
The BLAST Basic Series is great for occasional travelers who want a great value. These bags just work and don't cost an arm or a leg, so they're for those who prefer to spend more on their next adventure than on the bags they use to get there.
Then there's the BLAST Pro. These bags are for frequent travelers who want improved hardware, more protection, better materials, and a comfortable carry.
But what if you want your bag to last without weighing you down? BAGSMART created the BLAST X Series for anyone who wants a bag that’s “Built Beyond Basic,” with a lightweight construction and durable materials. With CORDURA® recycled fabric for water resistance and durability, YKK® zippers, and Duraflex® hardware, you know these bags will last, even with repeated, long-term use. They're lighter than other BLAST bags, so you can carry them around town before checking in without them weighing you down. In other words, these bags will help you “X Out of the Ordinary.”
BLAST X 38L Travel Backpack: For Hands-Free, One-Bag Travel
The BLAST X 38L Travel Backpack ($119.99) is designed to go everywhere, from work and the gym to a weekend getaway. Travelers who don't want to worry about maneuvering a suitcase can get the same space and durable materials in a carry-on backpack designed to go everywhere. It pairs upgraded materials—like YKK® zippers, Duraflex® hardware, and CORDURA® recycled polyester for durability and abrasion resistance—with a design that expands from 28 to 38 liters and a profile that fits more easily on the bus or train.
This travel backpack includes storage for tech and clothing, with plenty of exterior quick-access pockets that work both for daily use and travel. The top pocket is softly lined for your phone, and there's an RFID-blocking pocket under the side carry handle to protect your wallet and passport from data thieves. There's another zipper pocket hidden on the back panel; it's a great place to tuck extra cash.
A larger top pocket is good for locking down other gear you want to access along the way, from sunglasses to headphones and snacks. It's large enough for a 3-1-1 bag, keeping it handy for airport security. With two more large front pockets for gear like a notebook or a map, and a side pocket for a bottle or umbrella, you have options for organization. You can even stow your sneakers in the built-in shoe pouch at the bottom to air them out and keep dirt off your other clothing.
It's the best travel backpack because you can access everything you'll need in-flight without dislodging the rest of your clothing and accessories. The laptop compartment opens separately, with a well-padded, fleece-lined sleeve for your laptop and pockets for cables, chargers, and tech accessories. A 16-inch MacBook Pro fits with room to spare, so you may be able to carry larger gaming or work laptops, depending on your setup.
You pack the main compartment like a duffle, with a front opening and adjustable hold-down straps keeping your clothing or packing cubes in place as you walk. If you don't want to bring a separate toiletry bag, pack your liquids in the internal water-resistant pocket instead.
Of course, all that organization doesn't mean much if the carry-on backpack is uncomfortable, and the BLAST X 38L Travel Backpack's harness system can keep up. You can take it anywhere you go in the city, since the back panel and hip belt have structured foam padding lined with breathable mesh for comfort, and the shoulder straps are also padded and airy. The sternum strap adjusts along a sliding rail, and there's even a pass-through running down the center to pair with rolling luggage.
You can also carry it crossbody by detaching the padded hip belt and sliding it out from the back panel. It clips to side buckles to become a padded shoulder strap, and the shoulder straps unhook and slide behind the back panel to keep them from getting caught on other gear. We find it more comfortable as a travel backpack, but it's nice to have options.
BLAST X 43L Roller Backpack: When the Trip Gets Heavier
Not everyone wants to carry their bag all of the time, though, which is where the BLAST X 43L Roller Backpack ($229.99) comes in.
This rolling backpack has the same materials, including durable and abrasion-resistant CORDURA® recycled polyester, and useful organization as the 38L Travel Backpack, but it's paired with a trolley handle and wheels. That may save your back when you're waiting in a long customs line or for the bus. The handle adjusts to three different heights to accommodate most users, and the wheels roll smoothly over most surfaces.
When you hit cobblestones, crowded streets, or steps, you can pick up this backpack with wheels. The capable harness system includes a stowaway hip belt, padded shoulder straps, and an adjustable sternum strap. There's no back panel padding, but it's surprisingly comfortable thanks to the structured back panel. The same cover that holds the straps in place when you're rolling it flips down to cover the wheels when you carry it. You don't want your souvenir to be dirt marks on the back of your shirt from the dust at your destination, so it's a great feature.
The organization of this carry on luggage is designed with travel in mind. You can tuck a smaller laptop or large tablet in the vertical laptop sleeve on the front. You'll want to put it in a sleeve for protection, but it's easy to access while you're waiting to board. There are also two top pockets: a soft one for your phone and sunglasses, and one with additional zippered mesh pockets inside for small accessories. The RFID-blocking pocket is still on the side with the carry handle, but that's it for the outside.
Since it's designed with your next trip in mind, most of the rolling backpack‘s capacity is inside the main compartment. There's a water-resistant pocket on the lid for your toiletries and another zippered pocket next to it for small gear, plus a large zippered mesh pocket on the side for socks, underwear, or any other small items you want to keep separate.
There are compression straps to hold your gear in place, and rods that snap to the bottom of the bag to keep it extended while you use it. Unlike other carry-on luggage, this one flattens for easy storage, so these rods prevent it from collapsing on you as you travel. They help it feel more like the best carry on luggage than a backpack with wheels, and we appreciate the added structure.
BLAST X 2-in-1 Crossbody: Keep the Important Stuff Close
No matter what bag you use for your other gear, you'll want a smaller sling to keep the essentials close at hand. We usually pair a travel backpack or suitcase with a crossbody, since we don't love digging through big travel bags for our passport, tickets, and phone, and the 2-in-1 functionality of the BLAST X 2-in-1 Crossbody Bag ($54.99) gives you a lot of space for travel days while allowing you to lighten up as you explore your destination. With durable and water-resistant CORDURA® recycled polyester, your gear will be safe wherever you go.
You can use the two bags separately or together, since they connect magnetically. The 1L document pouch is for your daily or travel essentials, with a front zippered pocket to keep your phone handy, card slots and large mesh pockets in the main compartment to hold a battery bank, cables, or other small accessories, and space in the center for snacks or small toiletries.
The 3L sling has an open front pocket for tissues or a pair of gloves, a zippered RFID-blocking pocket for your wallet and passport, a padded sleeve for a large phone or small tablet, and two stretchy mesh pockets for accessories. There's also a key clip and more space in the center to hold what you need every day.
Depending on your travel style, you can keep the bags together as you travel, then detach the smaller pouch when you arrive at your destination and carry the 3L crossbody for the rest of your trip.
The strap is soft yet unpadded. Still, it's comfortable to wear, and its adjusters are located close to the bag so they don't press into your back when you're wearing a travel backpack. The strap is also removable if you'd rather. However, it's pretty useful, thanks to the daisy chain of attachment points and a buckled elastic strap to hold accessories like a hat or a collapsible water bottle. All in all, it's a flexible, lightweight bag for carrying what you need at home and on the road, so you don't have to rummage through a larger bag to find what you need.
Which BLAST X Bag Fits Your Travel Style?
So, which BLAST X bag is right for you? That depends on your travel style.
If you prefer the freedom of a travel backpack that keeps your hands free as you move between airports, trains, cabs, and city streets, you'll like the 38L Travel Backpack.
However, if you need to pack more gear and prefer to take the weight off your back as you move through the airport or wait in line, the 43L Roller Backpack is the better choice, with the flexibility to use wheels or backpack straps.
Either way, you'll probably want to add the 2-in-1 Crossbody to keep your passport, wallet, phone, and other travel essentials within easy reach, and it can easily become your favorite everyday carry at home, too.
The BLAST X bags are the lightest-weight, most premium bags in the BAGSMART BLAST series, but if you're only an occasional traveler, the BLAST Basic might be enough. If you're looking for more comfort and protection, BLAST Pro is the way to go.
Either way, you have options for getting through the airport and exploring your favorite city, all with a bag that suits your travel style.
Check out the BAGSMART BLAST X Series!