WaterField Designs has announced the Air Travel Backpack, a carry-on luggage option for personal and professional travel.
It has a dedicated, TSA-friendly office compartment for two MacBook Pros and other work necessities. Other features include lockable zippers, multiple carry options, and a height-adjustable sternum strap. It’s available in a water-resistant ballistic nylon or waxed canvas.
Foam and neoprene-padded backpack straps lined with breathable mesh wick away moisture and prevent clothing from wrinkling, says WaterField owner Gary Waterfield. A removable, height-adjustable, sternum strap attaches to the straps to balance heavier loads.
For more formal settings, straps tuck away to convert the backpack into a suitcase-style bag, carried by a top or side leather-lined handle. Stiff, lightweight plates under these handles prevent sagging and help maintain the bag’s clean shape, according to WaterField. When used as a secondary bag, the Air Backpack’s back panel slides over a wheeled suitcase handle.
A clamshell-style compartment opens like a suitcase with dual zipper pulls. A gold, water-resistant, nylon ripstop liner lights up the interior. Two compression straps prevent clothing and other contents from sliding around. Two large mesh pockets separate smaller items and keep them visible.
A dedicated office compartment incorporates two raised, padded pockets to protect two Apple MacBook Pros or a MacBook and iPad Pro And it lies flat for TSA screening. Corner cut-outs permit laptop charging while the MacBook Pro remains protected inside its padded compartment. A mesh zippered pocket above the devices is accessible when the backpack stands upright on the ground. It holds a power supply, cords, and other accessories and keeps them off the bottom of the bag.
On the opposite side, a pocket stores the Apple AirPods Max in a WaterField Shield Case or the optional WaterField Air Caddy. The latter is a zippered pouch sized to fit an airline seat-back pocket that holds accessories air travelers need to access while seated. Additional pockets hold pens and other smaller items.
A full-length front panel divides into one large and one small pocket for frequently needed items such as an iPhone, glasses, tickets, and keys attached to the sewn-in key leash. A zippered pocket, accessible from the top of the bag, keeps a passport, ID, or other items quickly accessible. A water bottle pocket lies flat when empty and expands to fit up to a 3.5-inch diameter bottle. For added security, custom metal zipper pulls hook to a loop on the bag keeping them shut or can be locked together with a TSA-approved lock (not included).
The WaterField Air Backpack is priced at US$419. You can preorder now; shipping begins August 6.
