Sherpani Sojourn Tote Pack Review

Certain bags can get uncomfortable when carried for a long time, and you might long for the flexibility of changing how you carry them. Then there are bags like the Sherpani Sojourn Tote Pack, a 3-in-1 system that lets you switch between carry modes, depending on the day and how you feel like holding it. It’s a structured tote bag, backpack, and crossbody all in one, but does it do them all well? We’ve been using it for the past few weeks for the daily commute and carrying around town to find out.

External Components

Since this is called a Tote Pack, you might not be surprised to see it has a more squared-off shape than other daypacks, which are typically rounder. The material is similar to that of other backpacks, though. It’s ballistic nylon that is recycled, lightweight, and water-resistant thanks to the PU coating. The 840D material feels durable and has held up well throughout our testing period.

We’ve got it in Black, but you can also get colorways with fun names like Antelope and Sea Stone if you want something with a little more flair. They all have the Sherpani brand name printed at the bottom, along with a brand label on the back panel.

The zippers are from YKK and work as well as we expect from the brand. They have cords with plastic ends woven through the pulls to make them easier to grab and use. They’re all reverse coil models, too, for some water resistance. We carried books home in the rain and had no issues with moisture getting inside, so it all seems to be functioning as we want it to.

The plastic hardware on the bag is recycled from abandoned fishing nets pulled out of the ocean, which is a great nod to sustainability. It all works well, as do the Woojin strap adjusters.

They’re on the backpack straps, which can be tucked behind the back panel or connected to D-rings at the bottom of the bag. These lightly-padded straps are pretty comfortable, though they lack any breathable mesh or strap keepers. That last item is something we have an issue with; they are quite long, and there is a lot of excess strap dangling when you cinch them tightly for smaller users.

Fortunately, that’s not the case with the crossbody strap. It’s a closed-loop system that connects to D-rings at the top of the bag with swivel clips when you want to carry it that way. There’s no padding, but the carry is still fairly comfortable.

You can also hold the pack by the two carry handles at the top. They are longer than you might expect, which isn’t a problem except for the fact that they flop around when you carry the bag in one of the other two modes.

Finally, there’s a luggage pass-through on the padded back panel if you are pairing the Sojourn Tote Pack with rolling luggage. The rectangular base helps the bag stand nicely on your suitcase, so it’s a good option to save your shoulders, especially if you’re waiting for a while at customs or security.

Fit Notes

This isn’t the most comfortable bag we’ve tested, but it’s not the most uncomfortable, either. The minimal padding does a decent job of cushioning the load, though you can feel your laptop through it. It is only an 18L bag, but we wouldn’t have minded a little more padding and maybe some breathable mesh to keep things airy when using it in warmer weather. Instead, you get the flexibility to carry it on one shoulder or crossbody when things get too hot or by hand when your back and shoulders get sore.

It is a decent-looking bag, too, though there are a lot of straps flopping around. You can remove the crossbody strap or tuck away the backpack straps when you’re not using them, but you can’t do anything about the carry handles or the excess on the backpack straps when you are using them.

Inside The Tote Pack

However, the organization and security features help the bag have a little more going for it.

We’ll start with those anti-theft features. There’s a tag attached to the top zippered pocket with a unique code. You can connect it to the ReturnMe network and register your information so that a Good Samaritan can contact you if the bag is lost. On the back panel, a coated-wire loop connects to a clip. It’s there so you can wrap the bag around a fixed object to prevent snatch and grabs. However, the clip doesn’t lock, so a thief could undo it pretty easily and still get away with your bag. You could also use a travel lock with the wire for added security when you need it.

Moving on to organization, we’ll start with the three pockets on the front. The top zippered one is small, but secure, thanks to that locking tab, so it’s a good spot for your passport as you make your way through the airport. There’s another, larger zippered pocket at the bottom for quick-access gear like small toiletries, tech, and boarding passes.

Then, behind both of those is a large slip pocket that closes with a magnet at the top. It’s probably the least secure of the three, but it’s the easiest to access. We found it to be the best for tucking away our phone and wireless earbuds, along with any paperwork we accumulated throughout the day. Smaller gear falls to the bottom, but the nylon material is flexible, so it’s easy to reach deep inside to get what you need without fighting with zippers and locks.

Each side of the bag features stretchy pockets for water bottles, umbrellas, or other tall, slim gear. Standard bottles work best, as the elastic at the top is quite tight, but they’re easy enough to slide in and pull out again.

Finally, we’ve come to the main compartment. It opens widely with a dual-headed zipper running between the two bottle pockets. That gives you good access to this area, which features the 15-inch laptop sleeve against the back panel. This is where the repurposed Korean billboard fabric really shines, giving the sleeve a fun and funky aesthetic in an otherwise basic bag. The same liner is used in the exterior pockets, too; it’s just easiest to see here.

The sleeve has an angled opening, and sometimes the bag’s lack of structure requires a little more care and effort to slide a device in, but it’s not that big of a deal. The sleeve is padded around the bottom of your computer, creating a small pouch to cradle it off the bottom of the bag.

On the front side of the main compartment are two more pockets. One is a zippered, RFID-blocking pocket for your wallet and passport, and the other is a mesh slip pocket for another piece of gear. There’s a key leash inside here, but we found it less convenient to use than if it had been in an exterior pocket. If you’re going on a trip, it’s nice to tuck it here so you don’t have to worry about remembering where it is when you get home, but it’s cumbersome to access daily.

In all, the Sherpani Sojourn Tote Pack gets the job done for daily carry and as a personal item on a trip. While it’s not the best option we’ve tested due to the somewhat lack of structure, it still has a lot going for it, from the flexibility of carry to the ease of packing, and the nod to anti-theft security for peace of mind. You can certainly pack it solo for a short trip if you’re going for super minimalist personal-item-only carry, or use it as your daily work bag that transitions to an under-the-seat bag when you travel.