Frequent travel means having a set of bags and suitcases in which you can put all the necessary things. One's luggage takes up more space than the passenger himself, another has a couple of small bags, and the third travels with a wallet and laptop at all.
However, regardless of this, most travelers need a bag in which you can put everything you need that may be needed directly on the trip itself.
I tried a variety of options, ranging from oversized shoulder bags to waist bags, like those at market vendors, but the most comfortable option was a backpack.
But a backpack is a backpack. When choosing a backpack for travel, I started from the following requirements:
- It should be small so as not to interfere and at the same time hold things and gadgets that are needed at hand. From this point of view, the optimal volume for me was up to 10 liters.
- It should be lightweight and not take up much space when folded.
- It is desirable that it be made of a thin but durable, waterproof material.
- Should not have too many pockets and compartments so that everything can be quickly found.
- Also, he should not have laces, ribbons and other attributes of a serious tourist backpack – all this will only interfere.
These are, in fact, all the requirements that I have for a backpack for travel.
Once again, I would like to clarify, this is not a backpack for moving things between travel points, this is a backpack for walking around cities and towns.
My favorite at the moment is my new production backpack Xiaomi, which has no separate name. On the seller's page, it is named Xiaomi Colorful Small Backpack.
It was bought for 518 rubles. He came to me in 40 days, which is nonsense for me, since usually goods from China arrive in 2-3 weeks. You just need to choose a different seller and a different shipping method next time. But that is beside the point.
The backpack has seven color options, most of which are quite bright and cheerful.
I chose one of the neutral colors for myself – dark blue. My woman loves yellow, so she chose yellow for her backpack.
Despite the free delivery, the backpacks did not arrive by regular mail, but by courier service, which for twelve days after exporting them in transit warehouses (I recently wrote about this).
I really like it when things have a laconic, finished look and are made in a style tending to minimalism, and in this sense Xiaomi, as in most of their products, they hit the mark. As a result, we have a very calm design with no frills.
On the front side there is an external zippered pocket, where you can easily fold small items that you often need access to. On the manufacturer's website, this department is positioned as a pocket for a wallet, however, on foreign trips, when I have to be in various areas of different cities with a diverse population, I would not put my wallet there. But headphones, travel tickets, charging cables are the place there.
Outside, at the zipper attachment points, the pocket is reinforced with stitching – it should not come apart over time.
The front surface of this pocket goes over the ends of the backpack, forming two side pockets, in which it is convenient to carry a jar of lemonade or a small bottle of some water. ?
The main compartment is closed with a zipper with two pawls, on which ribbed cylinders with an embossed company logo hang. These cylinders are found on all dogs. I don’t know why, but I really liked these cylinders.
The lightning is of high quality, does not stick. Protected by bumpers. Nice to use.
All accessories for the backpack are plastic. This is not bad, since with such volumes, a situation is hardly possible in which the strength of the plastic will be insufficient, since it is durable and, at first glance, of high quality.
Inside we are greeted by one large compartment with a document pocket on the back. The main compartment opens to approximately 2/3 of the volume, making it easy to remove things from the backpack.
The inner back surface is the same gray for all backpack colors.
A seal is sewn into the back, which feels like dense porous rubber.
On the one hand, one compartment is not very convenient, since all the contents of the backpack are piled up in one pile, on the other hand, it makes no sense to make many compartments for such a volume, since such a backpack has a completely different purpose.
By the way, its bottom is flat. What it lacks is the same seal as in the back, so that you can use the backpack to carry equipment, for example, a camera, without fear of placing it on a hard floor.
The material itself, in addition to being water-repellent in the literal sense of the word, is made using ripstop technology (has a reinforced 'checkered' structure), which increases strength and protects the backpack from tearing.
The straps are of medium thickness, soft, inside they have the same porous rubber as the back, thanks to this they do not cut into the shoulders. The straps have a good margin of length and allow you to put on a backpack even on a thick down jacket.
Not forgotten in Xiaomi and about the top handle, for which the backpack can be carried in hand. The handle here is designed more likely for occasional wearing in the hand, since it does not have a seal or expansion and, with a large load of the backpack, it can cut into your fingers.
As for the volume, then, I repeat, at the moment I see it as optimal for using a backpack as a bag for everyday things and for use on trips.
Three 1.5-liter bottles of water easily fit inside, and there is still room for a chubby notebook.
If we talk about carrying a laptop, then you will have to be content with a maximum diagonal of 14 inches, and ideally 13 inches. For this size, this is the best option. For example, my 12-inch chromebook fits easily inside and does little to reduce backpack space.
In general, the backpack makes a good impression of a solid item that should serve its purpose well. We were pleased with both materials and workmanship. No threads stick out anywhere, no unstitched seams. Everything is neat and high quality. One feels that this is not a Chinese 'no-name' but a branded thing. And considering the cost, the purchase becomes more than justified.
They can compete with numerous bags and backpacks of both famous and unnamed brands. For example, now in the Sportmaster chain of stores you can find backpacks that are similar in volume and appearance at a similar price, but this, of course, will not be Xiaomi.
Conclusion
The above is not a review, but rather my thoughts on another product Xiaomi that is indirectly related to electronics. It can be used both in tandem with appliances, and simply as an everyday accessory that can increase comfort and convenience and will be convenient in a wide variety of situations.
At the moment, the backpacks have not yet been tested in battle, but literally one of these days this will happen, and they will have to save their contents from the rough walls of the narrow streets of old Jerusalem, withstand many hours of walking under the scorching sun of the Negev desert and the salty wind of the Red Sea.
Time will tell whether the backpacks will cope with these tests. Despite the fact that these are ordinary city backpacks, not intended for any extreme conditions, the results of these tests will determine whether these backpacks will become our constant travel companions, and whether I can recommend them for purchase.