Filson's Passage Business Pack: Good Looking, Ill-Fitting
There are plenty of different occasions in life that call for different bags. For school, you just want something inexpensive and durable. When biking, something lightweight and weatherproof. Hauling your life through an airport means wheels, and there are even times when you could use a place to sit (with or without your pets). Maybe you want lots of carrying options. But we haven’t looked at many bags that are more formal- that can stand-in for a briefcase, carry your laptop, and do so without attracting undue attention.
But why must business be uncomfortable? It’s so often true with suits and shoes, and it’s unfortunately the case with Filson’s Passage Business Pack. Sure, the color scheme fits the bill- dark black, brown, or the one we tried out in otter green. And the leather touches certainly seemed appropriate, on the straps and handle as well as some edging. It was durable, as a nylon bag should be, and pretty weather-resistant (they mention a 3XPU coating as well, which we suspect but cannot prove assists). Zippers were surprisingly solid, and there is a lightly padded laptop compartment in the main section. There’s even a nice handy small pocket that is easily accessible, for your tickets, passport, phone, etc. It could’ve been felt-lined, but we that can be a mixed blessing as it gets more easily damaged and is harder to clean.
No, our main issue with the bag was that it was just uncomfortable to carry. We’ve worked with so many bags that lacking comfortable straps (especially on a bag with no other real carrying options) is a major downside. Weight wasn’t balanced very well, and though the back and straps are padded, it’s barely noticeable. There are no cross straps for either your sternum or waist, though oddly there are loops for ones up high. Another small issue we had was with the exterior side pockets, usually made for holding water bottles- they were not stretchy, and couldn’t fit anything larger than a soda can in diameter (and even that was a tight fit). Laptops could also shift around fairly easily, especially up and down when walking (many bags include a small strap to hold the computer firmly in place).
In short, it’s an attractive bag, with some decent features, that serves a useful purpose in allowing you to drop the briefcase. At $195 though, it’s a bit pricey, and is hard on your back to boot.
