Best Business Travel Backpack for Conferences
Disclosure: We may earn a small commission from some of the products mentioned in this post. If you click a link and make a purchase - at no additional cost to you - you help us keep this site online. Thank you for your support!
What makes the SwissGear Travel Gear 1900 Scansmart TSA Laptop Backpack the best business travel backpack for conferences? It’s a perfect business casual bag that will easily hold everything you need for the official portion of the conference; but still be appropriate for socializing afterwards! You want to be approachable and exude a fun vibe, while still maintaining an aura of professionalism.
This SwissGear backpack will fit in perfectly at any conference, from SXSW to TechCrunch Disrupt NYC and everything in between.
Best Business Travel Backpack for Conferences
Quick specs
Dimensions: 18.5″ x 13.5″ x 9″ • Weight: 3.3 lbs • Volume: 26L
Laptop compartment: 17.5″ x 12.5″ x 2.5″ • Warranty: limited 5 yr
Specs and Features
You really can’t go wrong with anything that bears the SwissGear name. This backpack is 18.5” H x 13.5” W x 9” D. As for the capacity, there’s a bit of a discrepancy. Many sources report it as 30 liters, but we confirmed directly with Swissgear that it is actually 26 liters. Just trying to provide you with the most accurate information.
The fabric is a durable, weather-resistant 1200D ballistic polyester. It will stand up to years of use. However, it’s not waterproof – only water-resistant.
TSA Friendly
This is a TSA ScanSmart pack with lay-flat technology, which means you simply unzip the main compartment and place the bag on the X-ray belt. This incredible pack is quite spacious, but will still fit comfortably under most airplane seats.
Comfortable and Efficient Design
The contoured shoulder straps are made with breathable mesh fabric and are amazingly comfortable on the shoulders and back. The straps even have an elastic tab to hold your sunglasses! It seems as though the manufacturer thought of everything. It also has two very large water bottle pockets with elasticized mesh. These hold two 32-ounce bottles quite securely.
You also get a key fob to keep all your keys in one place. Interior organizer compartments with multiple dividers store everything you might need on a trip. Use the zippered accessory pockets to keep small items safe and secure. This pack has excellent side compression straps to reduce pack volume and tighten the load to your body.
An external port allows you to keep your phone or music player right in the bag, if you want to.
> For ultimate organization, check out our Best and Lightest Packing Cubes review.
Laptop Storage
Any business backpack has to have laptop storage and you know our pick for the best business travel backpack for conferences is no different. This bag fits all 15-inch and most 17-inch laptops. Some manufacturers state their bags will accommodate 17-inch models, but always double-check the pocket measurements against your device. In this case, the compartment is a full 17.5″ x 12.5″ x 2.5″. That’s big enough for most devices.
The padding is excellent in this backpack as well – especially at the bottom of the compartment, where it really counts. And, most reassuringly, the laptop secures to the base with a Velcro strap.
The Cons
Some customers report zipper problems, such as tears in the zipper stitches even after light use. These same customers complain about customer support being a bit slow about fixing the problem. We have not experienced these issues, however. The pack also tends to tip forward unless it is very full or has something very rigid inside it, but you can easily lean it against a chair or lay it flat.
The Bottom Line
For us, the benefits and overall quality of this bag make it a winner. The SwissGear Travel Gear 1900 Scansmart TSA Laptop Backpack will keep you organized on your business trip and quickly transition to after-hours socializing. Find out why we chose it as our Best Business Travel Backpack for Conferences and make it your go-to pack for your next event.
