This do-it-all backpack excels at travel and daily use. It's a must-see for most people

Bellroy’s latest Classic Daypack is an unassuming bag at first sight, but it’s robust and suitable for anyone. It can be used for work, school, or nearly any other type of day trip. It has a subtle style to it from a distance, but up close, it has the fine finishes that make it look complete. This is a backpack that can really do it all.

The Classic Daypack retails for $149, making it a slightly premium option. Its versatility, however, means that it can pull double duty, so it might provide the right person with some great value.

The Daypack seems basic, but it’s subtly not

The Classic Daypack would be at home in any school yard in the ‘90s or early 2000s. There’s a single front pocket and a large main compartment. It’s familiar, but Bellroy has updated the design to feel modern. That includes air travel. There’s a discreet pass-through strap on the back that slides over wheeled carry-on bags.

Those two areas contain nearly all the organization that the bag offers. The front zippered pocket has a few slots for a wallet or power bank. The main compartment has a laptop slot big enough for a device with a 16-inch screen, a spot for a tablet, and an internal mesh zippered pocket. It’s a great spot for more valuable items.

It will depend on what you’re looking for, whether you think the organization is too minimal. After using the Classic Daypack for daily commuting and air travel, I think it has enough internal pockets and dividers to be useful. In general, I prefer to use separate pouches rather than have a lot of internal pockets since I switch bags often. This design is ideal for me in that regard.

On the outside, I like the double water bottle holders, one on each side. Even though I never carry two bottles, I like being able to put a water bottle on either side. I also like having an open pocket for stashing things quickly and temporarily. As a nice bonus, the side pockets each have a drainage hole at the bottom if water does spill in them.

The details and feel of this bag make it what it is

Up close, the bag shines. It’s where you can see the bold metal zipper and feel the soft recycled fabric used on the exterior. The same green interior is present across all four exterior colors. Surprisingly, it works as well on the yellow as it does on the black or green. There are leather accents on the zippers, top handle, and more. There’s even a hidden AirTag slot inside so you can track this bag in Apple’s Find My app.

In terms of the fit, the bag feels lighter than it might appear. It weighs 1.79 pounds and has a 21-liter volume. I found this to be a good amount of storage for daily use. It’s not bulky, but it can handle tech gear, a sweater, headphones, and other odds and ends.

The padding in the straps is firm, but still squishy. The back dual-density foam is comfortable in use. It’s soft enough to bend and mold to your back, but the foam still provides an insulating layer. Both my wife and I used this Daypack to carry snacks, jackets, and other items on long walks on the Las Vegas strip. It did surprisingly well in this context.

In fact, it’s hard to pick out a real fault with the backpack. My one nitpick is that the soft, exterior material can show a little dirt and dust, especially on the darker colors like black. But bags get dirty with lots of use. This is something to consider, but I wouldn’t let it stop you from getting it. For what this Daypack is, it looks great, feels great, and performs well.

Is the Bellroy Daypack worth spending money on?

If there is a concern with the Bellroy Classic Daypack, it might be that it looks a little simple for its $149 price point. You can find cheaper options for a general-purpose bag.

The 21L Topo Designs Daypack Classic might qualify as an alternative. It retails for $110, but is often on sale. That is a practical daily-use bag, but it doesn’t have the same sophistication that Bellroy’s does. Bellroy also offers a 20L Classic Backpack for $145 with a sleeker look. It omits the water bottle side pockets and has a less traditional profile.

Still, the Classic Daypack is surprisingly robust with plenty of storage, thoughtful organization, and a go-anywhere design. The black color could absolutely serve as an executive backpack. I think anyone looking for a daily carry bag that can also fly well should give this one a look. I came away impressed.