The Thule Paramount Backpack 27L is designed primarily to be a weather-resistant commuter backpack that holds laptops, tablets, and other items you need to get through the day with comfortable and secure storage while you are traveling by car, bike, train, or foot. My backpack, the focus of this review, is the 27L Paramount, though Thule also has 16L, 24L, and 29L versions (note that some of the features vary across the different sizes). Thule is an established Swedish company known for making quality items such as backpacks, laptop and camera bags, car roof boxes, roof racks, and bike racks.
The dimensions of the 27L (ie the backpack volume is 27 liters) are 13.0 x 10.6 x 19.7 inches with a weight of 2.6 pounds. The main laptop compartment has dimensions 15.2 x 1.2 x 10.4 inches. While the main laptop compartment easily holds a 15.6" laptop, there are two additional pockets that can hold a smaller laptop and tablet. The main laptop compartment also has a pocket with a soft lining to store items that you especially don’t want scratched.
In general, there are a lot of pockets in this backpack–you should have no trouble finding a place to store your items as well as having room for larger items like charging cables, books, folders, etc. One side of the backpack has a pocket for a water bottle while the other side has a zippered mesh pocket compartment with zippered mesh pocket and slip pocket.
Access to the top-load main compartment is protected by a top flap that secures to the backpack via magnets and has a zippered compartment. The front of the backpack also has a secure magnetic flap closure and the back of the backpack also has a hidden zippered pocket.
The device compartments and pockets are reinforced with padding and I feel my devices are well-protected. In general the components, handles, straps, zippers, and materials feel of high quality and quite rugged. The backpack is made from a 420D nylon material that should resist minor abrasions and scratches well and that has a water-resistant finish. The bottom of the backpack also has a reinforced rubber material to help protect main compartment items when you set the backpack down on a wet surface.
I’ve had no problems using the backpack and in fact, this backpack has become the one I want to use for quick trips. The mustard-yellow inner lining allows me to see and find items quickly. The YKK zippers work well and the zipper pulls are reinforced with heatshrink tubing to help keep the pulls from becoming frayed. The backpack does not come with a chest strap to keep the shoulder straps together but in use I’ve not missed it at all. The two handles–one on the top of the backpack and one on the side–are comfortable and convenient. The shoulder straps are well-padded and wide enough to provide a strap slip pocket on one strap to hold something like a metro or train ticket, though the straps perhaps can feel wide depending on your shoulder frame.
Comfort in wearing the backpack for long periods of time was helped by padded mesh panels on the back of the backpack. And finally, the side entry zipper to access the main laptop compartment is convenient for when you need to pull out your laptop to use it quickly without having to open up the full main compartment via the top-load entry compartment.
Overall, the Thule Paramount Backpack 27L is a rugged commuter backpack that will keep your electronics safe while you travel from point A to point B. This will appeal to those who commute by bike, car, bus/train, or even by foot.
- Pricing and Availability on Amazon: Thule Paramount Backpack 27L
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