Speck Aftpack Review

The Speck AftPack is a computer backpack which works well for travel, work or school. For this review, I tested this backpack during a trip to Asia. For the long flight, I needed to make sure that I had everything for my computer, some snacks, plug adapters, and miscellaneous gadgets (and their respective chargers).

If you just look at the bag, it seems very small, not like it could hold my computer and everything that I needed to keep my self entertained on the flight. After much consideration, I decided to pack: a MacBook Pro, some snack bags of goldfish, power adapters, a USB mouse, a FireWire hard drive, a card reader, lots of cables and a book. I was surprised how well everything fit. The next challenge was carrying it.

Once everything was loaded into the AftPack, it was a breeze to carry it. It has chest straps for better weight distribution, thick comfy shoulder straps as well as a padded back. While carrying the backpack, it was difficult to get anything from it, such as a water bottle, but its no problem for anyone else to get the water bottle out and give it to you. Even running to your gate was comfortable and easy with the AftPack. It didn’t feel like it was weighing me down. Once I was on the plane, the flight attendants asked me to place my carryon luggage below the seat, or in the overhead compartment. The AftPack, fit snugly under the seat, and easily in the overhead bin. Although the AftPack seemed to fit snugly under a economy class seat, parts of the Speck label started rubbing off and peeling. If you get the opportunity to be upgraded to business class, you will find that the AftPack will fit much better

Once the OK for using electronic devices on the plane was give, I immediately got my computer out of the case. Speck has thoughtfully integrated a second access zipper for your computer in the back of the backpack (it rests against your back). This is incredibly useful when you have packed the main compartment completely full and you need to access your computer without spilling stuff everywhere. The zipper is protected and covered by the backpack straps, so a passer-by would not know that your computer was accessible through there. Once the computer was out, it was time to connect my hard drive and watch a few episodes of Bones (a TV show).

The AftPack is divided logically into several different areas. the front under the flap, the front inside the flap, the main compartment, the ipod compartment, and the computer slot. The front compartment is visually separated from the rest by looking like a detachable pocket (which it is not). Although it is not detachable, it is very well thought out. There is a main compartment in it which I used for storing a hard drive, a USB mouse, an umbrella and a USB card reader. Right behind the front compartment there is a small, hidden pocket—perfect for storing your iPhone or iPod touch, since it’s in a special pocket and isolated from everything else. I used the backpack for two weeks before I discovered it, so I’d imagine that it would be hard for a opportunistic thief to steal something out of the pocket. This backpack is perfect for the frequent flyer, student or mobile professional.

The AftPack is amazingly handy and very convenient when you’re out and about. It’s truly a life saver when traveling (especially overseas) and holds just about everything that you would want. The only thing that could be better with the backpack is the quality of the zippers. They are kind of sticky and one fell off the first time that I tried to open it. Other than that, I HIGHLY suggest this backpack to anyone who needs to carry a computer and some essentials (gadgets and otherwise).

Verdict: Pricy, but definitely recommended.

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