Incase EO Travel Backpack Review (A Tech Lover’s Best Friend)

This is the ultimate tech lover’s travel backpack. It has a lot of amazing features for all of you that like to carry more electronics than clothes. And, it’s the size of an average carry-on, but it’s much lighter than a traditional 21” suitcase. So, if you are already thinking about replacing your old carry-on, you’ve come to the right place.

Or if you’re an avid tech lover looking for a travel accessory to keep their 17” MacBook safe. If you’re intrigued and want to find out more about this bag, then scroll down and check out this detailed review of the Incase EO travel backpack!

Main Specifications & Materials

You know, there are a lot of different travel backpacks out there. Some are designed to replace your big ole’ suitcase, and others to be the perfect carry-on. However, not a lot of them are designed for tech lovers, which is where Incase EO comes in.

So, as you can see, this backpack is just big enough to be allowed inside an airplane cabin. Therefore, it’s perfectly suitable for a carry-on – when it is not expanded. And, the 24L capacity is plenty of packing space for shorter trips.

One important thing about this backpack is that it’s made of weather-resistant material. This is particularly significant because the Incase EO is all about technology, and you always want to keep your technology dry!

You can get this backpack in two colors, Black and Heather Grey. Both look great, and both have the same features, so that decision is really just a matter of personal taste.

Padded Laptop Sleeve

The most common issue I encountered with most travel backpacks is that they usually include a laptop sleeve that can fit 15.6” laptops. And, while that will be okay for most people, what about the ones who have 17” laptops? That is why this backpack is perfectly suitable for everyone.

Whether you have an 11” laptop or a 17” one, you will be able to store it safely inside the EO’s heavily padded laptop sleeve. The sleeve is in the very back compartment on the backpack, which also includes a smaller sleeve for your tablet.

Additionally, there is also a Velcro strap on the top of the laptop sleeve, which helps further secure your laptop. This is particularly helpful with the TSA opening, as it ensures that your device won’t slip out if you yank open the compartment. But, more on that feature later.

Expandable Main Compartment

The main compartment of this backpack opens up clamshell-style – just like most carry-on suitcases. It’s quite roomy, and you could fit clothes for a long weekend in it, for sure. Well, if they aren’t bulky winter clothes. :>

And if you need more space, it’s a good thing that this compartment is expandable. You can get 35% more packing space, with this feature, which is awesome. But, once the backpack is expanded, it does exceed the carry-on requirements for some airlines. So, be careful with that.

Also, the opening of this backpack means that it’s not really suitable for everyday use. If you were looking for something multi-functional, I’m sorry to disappoint you. But there are plenty of other cool backpacks you can get that would be perfect for school or everyday commute!

Side Compression Straps

The side compression straps go over the main compartment, and their job is to keep everything securely in place. They are adjustable, and you can loosen them to fit the backpack even when the main compartment is expanded. Just don’t tighten them too tightly – you don’t want all your clothes to get wrinkled.

For one thing, I really like the addition of these because they kind of act like an anti-theft feature. It is much more difficult to unzip someone’s backpack if there are straps over the zippers.

TSA Friendly Design

Similar to some Swiss Gear backpacks, the Incase EO features a TSA-friendly opening of the laptop sleeve. So, at TSA checkpoints, you can just undo this compartment, show your laptop, and you’re good to go.

Another cool design feature is that the compression straps don’t go over the laptop compartment, which means it’s much easier to undo it than many other packs.

Hidden Dedicated Phone Pocket

This pocket is cleverly hidden below the top carry strap of the backpack. It’s zippered, and it’s just large enough to fit your smartphone. However, it might be too small to fit some of the larger smartphones out there.

There are no exact dimensions of the pocket, but I did find a few reviews in which customers complained that their phone would not fit in it. So, if you’re a fan of smartphones with big displays, you will probably have to stash them somewhere else.

But, there are several other pockets on the Incase EO backpack that can keep your phone, so don’t worry. It’s just a shame that not everyone will be able to utilize this particular feature of the EO because the idea behind it is really great.

Front Compartment With Organizer Pockets

Who here enjoys throwing their chargers and headphones into one compartment and then dealing with the tangled mess later? No one, right?

Well, in that case, you will really like the front compartment of this backpack. It has several pockets that are meant to hold all your different cables. Not only will this keep them tangle-free, but it will also help keep your organization on point.

The front compartment of the EO has 4 nylon pockets, 2 mesh pockets, and a couple of penholders. These will keep your accessories perfectly organized, so bring whatever you need – your chargers, power banks, external hard drives…

In addition to all that, the front compartment is roomy enough to fit some other stuff in it. Even if you fill all the pockets, you could still fit in a notebook or a spare hoodie in the compartment.

Padded Shoulder Straps & Mesh Back Panel

The great design of the Incase EO doesn’t stop with all the cool organizational features. It is also designed for your ultimate carrying comfort!

The shoulder straps are adjustable and padded, and they also feature a sternum strap. This allows you to ensure that one of the straps won’t accidentally slip off your shoulder – a thoughtful inclusion. Particularly, if the backpack falls off your shoulders, it will fall flat on the laptop and the tablet, and you DO NOT want that.

Additionally, the back panel is not just padded but also meshed. The mesh allows for excellent ventilation and breathability of the backpack, and it will also feel super comfortable on your back. Kudos to Incase for thinking of (almost) everything!

Should You Get The Incase EO Travel Backpack?

If you are a tech lover who travels often, then definitely yes. Not only is this backpack great as a carry-on that you can combine with a larger suitcase, but it’s also perfectly suitable for some weekend trips on its own. And, there is a ton of really cool features for all true tech lovers.

The padded laptop sleeve is just one of them, and 6 different pockets for your chargers and cables are another. Honestly, if you’re all about tech gear, this might be the perfect travel backpack for you.

Incase EO Travel Backpack (Black) fits up to 17" MacBook Pro

• Padded back panels and shoulder straps with breathable mesh
• Main compartment expands 35% for overnight travel

$199.95

Buy On Amazon

But, if you are someone who is looking for something that they can also use on a daily basis, I wouldn’t recommend this particular backpack. Its clamshell-style opening means that you have to lie the backpack flat in order to access the main compartment.

This makes it unsuitable for school or the daily commute. In that case, I would suggest that you check out the Osprey Daylite or the Osprey Quasar. Both of those are much better suited for such use.

Otherwise, if a tech-friendly travel backpack is what you are looking for, then head over to Amazon. The (Black) Incase EO is currently on sale, and you can save up to $80 if you purchase it there!