The Bellroy Classic Backpack is a 20L backpack that was designed with the urban adventurer in mind. This stylish backpack boasts high-quality materials and a modern design that exudes sophistication without screaming for attention. While the price tag is a shocker, I fell in love with this backpack as soon as I saw it up close & in person. Our black Bellroy Classsic Backpack has slightly faded with time and produced a well-worn patina that still looks good. Instead of feeling outdated, this suns-stained black fabric now wears its age with pride by maintaining its top-notch construction. If you find the idea of a faded black backpack concerning, I would recommend choosing from Bellroy’s other classic colors instead. Just don’t mistake any discolorations as signs of deterioration; if anything, our Bellroy Classic Backpack review shows that this bag has taken a licking yet keeps on ticking.
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| Pros | Cons |
| + High-quality materials | – $139 MSRP is relatively steep |
| + Well-positioned technology pockets | |
| + Comfortable fit |
Who is Bellroy?
Bellroy was originally created by the team behind the Carryology blog to bring revolutionary wallet designs to market. From the beginning, Bellroy produced high-quality products that solved problems that the team saw weren’t being addressed by the industry.
Bellroy quickly made a name for itself in the wallet world, and they followed up on their success with phone cases & bags soon after. These days, Bellroy’s understated bags are widely recognized as sophisticated & modern pieces of gear.
Bellroy Classic Backpack Specifications
- Dimensions: 17.7” x 12.6” x 7.1” (450 x 320 x 180 mm)
- Capacity: 20 Liters
- Weight: 1.7 pounds (750g)
- Zippers: metal YYK
- Material: Dura Nylon
- Price: $139 MSRP (click this link to check the latest price on Amazon)
How does the Bellroy Classic Backpack look?
The Bellroy Classic Bacpack provides a modern silhouette that is well-suited for urban commuters. Our bag is constructed with Bellroy’s all-black “Dura Nylon” that provides a classic canvas feel that you can trust to withstand anything. While the backpack isn’t waterproof, the canvas construction is quite resistant to Mother Nature’s sprinkles.
The light brown zipper pull-tabs, minimal Bellroy patches, and carrying handle provides just the right amount of contrast to produce a timeless design. The main compartment is a panel-loading design that stands out. The smaller front pocket peeks out of a well-designed fold on the front of the bag.
All in all, this is a smart-looking bag that looks modern without the risk of going out of fashion any time soon.
How does the Bellroy Classic Backpack feel?
The Dura Nylon canvas incorporates a large weave to produce a tough & durable exterior. This material is reminiscent of vintage canvas bags of yesteryear. The canvas is soft and feels very natural; one touch and you will instantly appreciate Bellroy’s material choice on their Classic Backpack.
The stitching across the bag is immaculate, and the entire bag feels well put together. The piping material along the backpack straps provide a nice tactile sensation every time you pick up this bag, and the padded back panel hugs your body when wearing the Classic Backpack.
Bellroy also included a leather-wrapped carrying handle at the top of the bag. It is the little touches that Bellroy included on the Classic Backpack that come together nicely to produce a wholly sophisticated package.
How does the Bellroy Classic Backpack fit?
The backpack harness is one of the most comfortable bags that I have tried in recent memory. The shaped back panel provides a decent amount of lumbar support, and the padded backpack straps snugly hug your shoulders.
The backpack’s length is just under 18 inches. Falling squarely in the Goldilocks zone, the Bellroy Classic Backpack is not too large or too small. Our team thinks this bag is the perfect size for students, commuters, and travelers alike. The balanced dimensions of this bag make this a great all-round backpack.
When it comes specifically to travel, you can rest assured that this backpack fits well under an airplane seat and will be considered as a “personal item” on most airlines. The Bellroy Classic Backpack has a compact footprint that makes it easy to stow on any type of airplane.
Features of the Bellroy Classic Backpack
Dura Nylon construction
The canvas used to build this backpack just feels good. It is soft & supple while still providing a ton of support. The canvas is thicker than many urban backpacks, so you can feel confident that it will stand up to your day-to-day commute. The robust material does come with additional weight, but the relatively small footprint allows for a very manageable backpack. The Bellroy Classic backpack has held up to months worth of abuse without signs that it plans on quitting any time soon.
The nylon exterior has performed exceptionally while repelling light rain. I would not expect this backpack to keep your cargo dry if it was exposed to torrential rainfall for extended periods of time, but this Bellroy backpack should hold off Mother Nature long enough for you to safely carry your belongings to somewhere dry.
Thoughtful Technology Pockets
The Bellroy Classic Backpack is relatively light on internal organization, but the pockets inside the main compartment are well-placed.
Not only do you get the standard 15” laptop sleeve to protect your computer, but there is a smaller sleeve attached to the bag that is great for laptop chargers or a small tablet for quick access. This second pocket is one of Bellroy’s extra touches that helps the Classic Backpack stand out from the crowd. Bellroy customers expect their gear to be thoughtful & modern, and the Classic Backpack delivers on that promise.
As shown below, the extra sleeve does not have much give. It is very useful for thin tech gear, but you will not be able to fit bulky items in this compartment.
Water-Resistant Top Pocket
The top pocket has aqua-guard zips and is lined with a soft material. This pocket is ideal for gear that you might want to access quickly instead of digging through a larger pocket. The soft lining is perfect for valuables that you need to protect, and we find this is a good place to store fragile items (like glasses) that you might be afraid of crushing in the larger compartment.
Final thoughts on the Bellroy Classic Backpack
This unisex design is well-suited for anyone who is looking for a bag that feels stylish & sophisticated. The 20L capacity is on the small side and is best utilized for everyday carry (EDC) situations or weekend flights, but it may not be large enough for trips lasting longer than a few days.
There is no question that this bag will easily fit under the seat of any airplane. While the Bellroy Classic Backpack may have been intended for the urbanite toting their laptop between coffee shops & the studio, the bag’s construction & stylish design work well in all situations.
The Bellroy Classic Backpack is well-suited for those who want a backpack that is equally at home at the airport or at the office. If the idea of having multiple backpacks for different scenarios seems like a redundant nightmare, this line of modern classics from Bellroy could be the silver bullet that you are looking for (as long as you can get past the premium price tag).
Recommended for: an office commuter or weekend traveler who needs an easy-to-carry backpack that looks as good as they do.
Love this backpack! I’ve taken it on work trips, weekend getaways, and as a daily commuter.
Have gotten quite a few questions about it, so I think people definitely take a liking to it.
I have a Transit workpack and a transit backpack from Bellroy. The shoulder strap will loosen, and backpack gets lower and lower even as i walk and move my shoulder… I wasn’t carrying a very heavy load and just 15inch laptop, afew textbooks, a 500ml water bottle and some small accessories, weight total of less than 4kg. Bellroy’s shoulder straps have been a problem since I bought both my backpacks from them in October 2021. It’s a major design and materials flaws and VERY frustrating when using their bag on a daily basis.
This flaw is occurring to so many Bellroy’s workpacks and backpacks. I hope viewers make sure that problem is fixed before buying. Anyway, as of December 2022, Bellroy offers no solution to that.