Despite spending the last 8 years travelling, 6 of those years nomadically, I have never been 100% happy with my luggage setup.
I’ve tried SO many bags. Always drawn in to the newest releases, featuring a million handy pockets and inventive openings. But none have ever been the right bag for me.
You may be thinking that maybe I’m just picky. So let me share my requirements with you…
First and foremost, I want it to be comfy. I don’t care if it can stretch to a gazillion litres in size, if it is simply too uncomfortable to wear when packed full of my stuff.
I then like to have a laptop compartment that is easy to access, even when the bag is full. A few handy compartments are useful for cables and pens. And then of course, I want it to look good and last a good few years of solid use.
This is all I was hoping for when BAGSMART sent me their backpack and packing cubes. I have been putting both products to the test on my recent adventures, and in this BAGSMART review, I’ll be sharing how I got on. And ultimately answering the question: Is this the best bag I’ve found for travelling?
Spoiler alert: It has been going very well so far!
TL;DR
BAGSMART has truly lived up to its name. These are smart bags that have significantly improved my travels. Everything is well made, and seemingly very durable. They are sold in a variety of enticing colours, with a well thought out design. Plus, the packing cubes are super handy and sturdy, saving me lots of space when packing. The icing on the cake – they are all really affordable!
Pros
- Comfy to wear, even when it’s fully packed
- The laptop compartment is easy to access
- Thoughtful design, with useful pockets
- Feels sturdy and well made, with solid zips
- Comes in a range of fun and versatile colours
- The packing cubes are sturdy
- Good value next to other similar bags
Cons
- Too soon to say how they’ll hold up
What is BAGSMART?
BAGSMART is a bag brand made for travellers. What that means is they design bags and accessories that are handy and convenient for people who need to carry their stuff between places, with as little fuss as possible.
They design versatile pieces that can be used for taking on planes, going to a local cafe, on long hikes, and much, much more.
Their range includes backpacks (4 different kinds), as well as other travel bags like duffels, slings, totes, camera bags, and pet bags, as well as useful accessories like packing cubes.
My experience
I have been using both the BAGSMART Travel Backpack in Tangerine and their packing cubes (in mixed colours). I’ve been travelling with both, putting them through their paces to test their design, durability, ease of use, and the value for money.
The design
BAGSMART products are thoughtfully designed, made with real-world use in mind, particularly for travellers like myself.
The backpack has one of my favourite designs I’ve used. It features multiple useful compartments, including a main section with compression straps, plus a separate section at the bottom with its own storage section for things like shoes.
In the back is a separate compartment for your laptop and other important things that may need to keep safe, as well as a secret pocket for valuables (think passport, keys, bank cards) hidden within the padding on your back.
On top of this, there is a strap for attaching the bag to your suitcase (see picture above). Which I always love to see. This makes navigating airports, train stations, and new cities, so much easier!
It comes in many great colours, which are vibrant and fun, as well as the more versatile colours like black and white, which I love to see! The orange colour that I went for looks amazing and vibrant in real life.
And as for the packing cubes, they are different to many others I’ve seen, with a nice range of colours (or a mixed pack, like mine). They are also designed with a compression zip for those tighter packing trips!
The best bit – they are designed to fit perfectly inside my BAGSMART backpack.
The durability
Obviously design and style mean very little if the items don’t last very long. And whilst I can’t speak to how these will be after a few years of use, just yet, I can discuss the materials and the build quality.
The bag feels very sturdy, with thick material used throughout, including the sides and straps. It feels hard-wearing, with very solid zips. The main straps feel very comfy, although the tightening bit is a little flimsy. But it doesn’t seem to be an issue, even with heavy stuff in the bag.
The packing cubes also feel pretty durable, with heavy-duty supportive zips. I’ve been able to cram in a lot of clothes and zip the compression up and the material is showing no sign of breaking or struggling.
Ease of use
When it comes to travel accessories like bags and packing cubes, I want them to be as easy to use as possible whilst also being convenient. With many of my previous bags, I’d find it impossible to get things from inside once packed. Particularly my laptop.
Thankfully this isn’t the case with the BAGSMART offering. The backpack has the right kinds of compartments in all the right places, with a couple of useful handles on the outside for carrying.
My personal favourite compartment is for the laptop. The front of the bag opens fully like a flap, giving easy access to this section. Plus, the water bottle pouch on the side is the perfect size, accommodating large bottles without removing much needed space from the main section.
As for the packing cubes, these are as easy to use as you’d hope. Designed in the same way as many others I’ve seen and used on the market. You simply pack them, close the main zip, and then push down on the cube as you close the compression zip.
Value for money
BAGSMART products aren’t cheap, but nor are they built cheap. That being said, they are somewhat more affordable than other well-built and well-designed bags.
You’ll be looking at around £70 to £80 for the backpack, which was the cost of my Antler backpack whilst on sale. And arguably, this BAGSMART backpack is a little more fun and useful.
How the BAGSMART backpack compares on price
| Brand and model | Capacity | Fits laptop | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAGSMART Blast 38L Travel BackpackReviewed in this post | 28-38L (expandable) | Up to 17.3-inch | £74.99 |
| Cabin Zero Classic 44L | 44L | Up to 15-inch | Around £75 |
| Osprey Farpoint 40 | 40L | Up to 15-inch | £160 |
| Antler Discovery 45L Backpack | 45L | Up to 16-inch | £160 |
Prices are recommended retail prices from each brand’s official UK site (a UK stockist for Cabin Zero), checked on 18 August 2026. Cabin Zero and Osprey vary a lot by retailer and all four are regularly discounted, so check the live price before buying.
My verdict
Honestly, I’ve been really impressed by my BAGSMART items so far. They look great, are useful, and appear to be very durable (watch this space).
As someone who needs to carry a lot of stuff around, I can say that this bag is versatile and actually a dream to use, with all the right compartments.
I would recommend their bags and accessories to anyone who needs an organised layout, with fun colours, at an affordable price. Be that for your travels, work or everyday use.
And for me, I think I have found my ultimate travel luggage setup – the BAGSMART backpack, the compression packing cubes, and my Antler suitcase. I am looking forward to the many journeys ahead with this setup.
My go-to travel health insurance:
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