Herschel’s modern take on the rucksack that prioritizes form over function.
Herschel knows a thing or two about making stylish bags. Every bag they produce is meticulously designed to look and feel great. The white Herschel Supply Co. tag that adorns all of their bags announces to the world that its wearer cares a great deal about looking good.
Their standard-size Little America backpack checks in at 25 liters (as opposed to the “mid-size” Little America 17L backpack) and looks like a 21st century take on vintage mountaineering backpacks from decades ago.
The vintage-inspired rucksack looks great, but is it the right option for the modern-day traveler?
Who is Herschel Supply Co.?
Named after a small town in Saskatchewan & based in British Columbia, Herschel has grown its label into a global powerhouse with dozens of retail stores around the world.
Herschel produces a wide variety of bags, apparel, and everyday accessories aimed at the young & fashionable. Often dubbed a brand for the trendy, their no-so-subtle branding strategy can be polarizing with strong feelings on either side.
Herschel Little America Specifications
- Dimensions: 19.25″ × 11.25″ × 7″ (L x W x H)
- Capacity: 25L
- Weight: 2.2 lbs
- Material: Canvas with synthetic leather straps (magnetic closures)
- Laptop Sleeve: Yes (up to 15”)
- Price: $109 MSRP (but often available for much lower)
How does the Herschel Little America backpack look?
There is no denying the appeal of the Little America backpack’s design. The leather trim straps that drape over both flaps of the bag are inherently nostalgic. The metal buckles used to adjust the leather strap add a touch of sophistication to the overall aesthetic.
Our specific backpack design is a limited edition colorway that includes horizontal stripes that wrap around the base of the bag. In a world full of drab monotone travel gear, I think Herschel knocked it out of the park with this design. Herschel’s signature red & white pinstripe interior complements the exterior colors whenever it peeks out from under the main flag. Overall, I could not be happier with the colors & design that Herschel chose for this version of their Little America backpack.
The high-contrast Herschel Supply Co. tag is placed smack dab in the middle of the bag to make sure everyone knows you are wearing a Herschel-branded bag. When done right, I can appreciate branding like this that enhances (rather than detracts from) a design.
How does the Herschel Little America backpack feel?
The external canvas material feels sturdy if not a bit average. The material isn’t particularly substantial nor is it advertised as anything special. This bag survived multiple trips without exhibiting any signs of wear, and I imagine it will have no issues standing up to everyday usage.
That said, this bag probably wouldn’t be my first choice for hiking, mountain biking, or any other activities that might call for more durable materials.
The leather straps look great, though I don’t see any sort of stamps or markings on them that would confirm they are in fact actually leather. Based on the way these straps feel, I would guess that they are actually made of a synthetic material. The straps aren’t load-bearing and simply serve to hold the flaps down, but I think it is worth noting that they feel a bit plasticky.
Herschel’s signature red & white striped interior lining is constructed with more finely knit fabric than the exterior. This internal liner has held up well throughout our testing and feels durable. Unless you travel with sharp objects, I see no reason why this liner would fail any time soon.
How does the Herschel Little America backpack fit?
Everyone on our team who has tried on this backpack will tell you that the harness system is incredibly comfortable.
The back panel consists of three airmesh pads that are separated to encourage airflow. This padding is soft yet supportive and feels great on the back.
The backpack straps are padded in the same manner which, when combined with the padded back panel, makes for a very soft & cushioned feel even with the heaviest of loads. Overall, this bag received five stars from all of our testers when it comes to the feel on the back.
That said, the top carrying handle leaves a bit to be desired. It is a simple unpadded canvas loop that you would find on any run-of-the-mill book bag. For a bag that retails at over $100 (though you can often find it for much cheaper), we would have expected a bit more in this area.
Features of the Herschel Little America
Drawstring closure
The Little America is a top-loading rucksack with a flap closure, and Herschel elected to use a drawstring instead of a zipper or hook system to secure the contents of this bag.
The drawstring plays well into the vintage-inspired aesthetic that Herschel was aiming for with this bag, but our team did point out that there were times that water could have leaked into the bag. The oversized bag does a good job of covering the top area when the drawstring is cinched down, but it did fold over sometimes during testing and allowed water to pool near the entry to the bag. Since the drawstring closure doesn’t create a weatherproof seal, we do have concerns about taking this bag when the weather is inclement.
Internal fleece-lined laptop sleeve
It is no secret that Herschel’s target audience are young tech-savvy students & professionals, so I am glad to see they didn’t skimp on the laptop sleeve.
The black fleece-lined laptop sleeve is padded and includes a false bottom to prevent your laptop from directly smashing into the ground if you dropped your backpack.
Hidden interior pockets in main compartment
There are two small internal pockets on both sides of the main cargo compartment. They are too small for water bottles, but they are the perfect size for smartphones, wallets, or snack bars that you want to keep within close reach.
The internal pocket on your right shoulder also includes a port that you can run your wired headphones through in case you want to listen to your music or podcasts with your phone secured in your bag. These headphone ports will likely go the way of the dodo bird as wireless headphones become more & more prevalent, but fans of wired headphones can rest assured knowing that Herschel is still thinking about them (at least for now).
Rummaging through toploader backpacks for small items can be a pain, so these two pockets are a great way to stay organized in an otherwise cavernous bag.
Key clip
We think key clips should be the norm and not the exception, and we are happy to report that Herschel included a plastic key clip in its small exterior zipper pocket to secure your car & house keys. The clip itself is a simple plastic hook that isn’t as sophisticated as we have seen on other bags, but it should hold fine without any issues.
Verdict
The Herschel Little America backpack is a fun & good-looking bag that can easily fit enough gear for a weekend trip and then some. The laptop sleeve and comfortable straps & padding are our favorite parts of the pag, and the overall design is very appealing.
However, we find that the Little America favors form over function and isn’t as practical as we had originally hoped.
The magnetic closures used to hold the main compartment flap closed are fairly weak and can pop open (especially if you pack this bag to near its capacity). The front pocket is useful for storing items you might need quick access to, but it’s on the small side and forces you to think about what items truly need to be stored here. .
The drawstring closure is a simple solution for closing the bag and we had no gripes with it as a travel bag, but I could see it becoming an annoying nuisance if you find yourself needing to get in & out of your bag often throughout your trip.
All in all, we really like the look of this bag and think it will serve weekend warriors well. Just don’t expect this bag to solve any of your travel problems; it’s a great everyday backpack that is not specifically geared for travelers.
Recommended For: travelers who are willing to sacrifice some functionality in their backpack to make a fashion statement.
| Pros | Cons |
| + Large main compartment | – Lacks internal organization |
| + Aesthetically-pleasing design | – Finishing touches feel cheap for a bag with such a high MSRP |
| + High-quality laptop sleeve |
