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Wole Femi Asaolu
- Last updated | July 24, 2023
- 16 Comments
Our Verdict
Welcome to our Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack review.
If you are on the hunt for a versatile backpack for work, school or travel, the Everlane Transit Backpack is a solid option.
What’s more, it’s made of eco-friendly and water repellent material — just don’t expect it to hold up well in a heavy downpour.
Our Verdict
Welcome to our Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack review
If you are on the hunt for a versatile backpack for work, school or travel, this is a solid option.
What’s more, it is made of eco-friendly and water repellent material — just don’t expect it to hold up well in a heavy downpour.
Our Verdict
Welcome to our Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack review.
If you are on the hunt for a versatile backpack for work, school or travel, this is a solid option.
What’s more, it is made of eco-friendly and water repellent material — but don’t expect it to hold up well in a heavy downpour.
Pros
- Simple yet versatile
Minimalistic design and neutral colours make it suitable for a variety of use, including travel, work, gym, etc.
- Water repellent
The material will protect your possessions from slight drizzle, snow, or even coffee spills.
- Ethical & Eco-friendly
Made from 100 per cent recycled material, you can step out in style and still be eco-friendly.
- Well priced
The ReNew Transit pack is not just practical, but also a great alternative especially if you’re on a budget.
- Ample space
Features a rear laptop pocket, two front pockets, two water bottle holders, two slip pockets and a spacious compartment to help you organize your stuff.
- Colors choices
Available in four neutral palette colours
- Trolley sleeve
Pass-through strap to attach to a rolling suitcase
Cons
- No specialized quick pockets
You may have to scramble around to find smaller items as there are no designated compartments for them.
- Not heavy duty
Not strong enough for rigorous activities like hiking or outdoor adventures.
- Laptop compartment lacks suspension system
The laptop pocket doesn’t have a padded (false) bottom to protect your laptop from hard surface impacts.
Pros
- Simple yet versatile
Minimalistic design and neutral colours make it suitable for a variety of use, including travel, work, gym, etc.
- Water repellent
The material will protect your possessions from slight drizzle, snow, or even coffee spills.
- Ethical & Eco-friendly
Made from 100 per cent recycled material, you can step out in style and still be eco-friendly.
- Well priced
The ReNew Transit pack is not just practical, but also a great alternative especially if you’re on a budget.
- Ample space
Features a rear laptop pocket, two front pockets, two water bottle holders, two slip pockets and a spacious compartment to help you organize your stuff.
- Colors choices
Available in four neutral palette colours
- Trolley sleeve
Pass-through strap to attach to a rolling suitcase
Cons
- No specialized quick pockets
You may have to scramble around to find smaller items as there are no designated compartments for them.
- Not heavy duty
Not strong enough for rigorous activities like hiking or outdoor adventures.
- Laptop compartment lacks suspension system
The laptop pocket doesn’t have a padded (false) bottom to protect your laptop from hard surface impacts.
Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack Review
Welcome to my Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack review.
I imagine you are here to determine whether or not the Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack is right for you.
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
In my view, for a backpack to qualify as a good travel companion, you want it to be functional, comfortable, and possibly stylish.
The Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack appears to score a home run on these things.
But how well does it perform and does it have all the functionalities you can expect from a reliable backpack?
This Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack review seeks to dig deeper into what the backpack has to offer and determine if it ticks the right boxes for you.
Ready? Let’s go.
Everlane In A Snapshot
Everlane is a California brand that deals in women and men: shoes, clothing, bags and related accessories.
Founded in 2010 by Micheal Preysman and Jesse Farmer, the San Franciso based brand also has stores in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles and Palo Alto.
A firm believer in sustainable and environmentally responsible supply chain, Everlane incorporates socially ethical manufacturing practices with ecofriendly products to manufacture products designed to last.
The ReNew products are created from recycled plastic bottles to reduce landfill waste.
The Everlane Renew Transit backpack, as well as other travel and clothing accessories in Everlane’s collection, are made in the PungKook Saigon Three Co., factory, an hour outside of Ho Chi Minh City.
You can read more about Everlane’s sustainability and transparency practices.
Now let’s dig into a detailed Everlane ReNew Transit backpack review.
Table of Contents
Design & Look
This unisex backpack combines a recycled polyester and water repellent finish to create a sleek, minimalist look.
What more, it is unisex and so can be used by anyone comfortably to work and even as an everyday carry.
Instead of buttons, velco, or buckles, you can close the backpack with a magnetic strip, which is secure and tech-safe.
An added bonus – the bag comes with a suitcase handle sleeves you can attach to a rolling luggage for a breezy movement to and around the airport.
Another useful point is how you can carry this light bag as a personal item to take with you on flights.
The four neutral colors palette available are all rich yet subdued, allowing you to select the one that bests appeal to your taste.
Although it would have been nice to see more fun design colour patterns, instead of just the subdued shades available.
Overall, its simple-anywhere style, luxurious feel, and subtle branding makes it a bag modern traveler would appreciate.
Materials & Construction
One of the best things about the Everlane ReNew Transit backpack is the environmentally conscious material it’s made of – 100% recycled polyester with CO water-resistant finish.
Well, if you are passionate about eco-friendly backpacks that are just as reliable, well-made and versatile for any occasion, you’ll love my detailed review on the 10 Best Ecofriendly backpacks.
As mentioned already, the exterior is water-repellent. That water-resistance is great for drizzly days or if you accidentally set the backpack down on a wet surface.
But don’t expect it to do well in a downpour.
The metal zippers are smooth with a touch of durability, and the top lid covers the main compartment as extra protection against water entry.
That said, the harness system is basic at best. The shoulder straps are not decently padded and only comfortable if you won’t be wearing the pack for a very long period of time.
Overall, users have found this bag to be comfortable and durable.
Storage capacity
Outside Pockets and Compartments
The exterior comes with thoughtful place for most items, but also spots some flaws in the design.
There are two zippered pockets to hold small items like your passport, extra cash, wallet, pens, keys, and more.
However, they are not organization friendly. There are no specialized quick pockets to help keep smaller items organized. You will have to blindly dig around for those items.
There’s a water bottle pocket on one side of the pack for quick access to your drink. But it can be difficult to fit your bottle into the pocket when the pack is full because the pocket is not stretchy.
Finally, the side-zip back compartment keeps your laptop (15-inch) for you to easily access or return whenever you want to.
However, the bottom of the compartment is not padded so you will need to be careful when setting the pack down on hard surfaces so as not to damage your gear.
Conversely, there are bags that are specially designed to keep your laptop snug and well protected. I have written a detailed review of the best laptop backpacks here if you would like to learn more.
Inside Pockets & Compartment
The roomy compartment is useful for anything you need to take along —snacks, a packable rain jacket, a pair of shoes, or books and other necessities.
There are also two interior drop-in sleeves where you can keep notebooks or tablets.
But we don’t suggest keeping smaller items here since they’ll all end up in a jumbled pile at the bottom of the compartment.
In fact, you can easily use a few packing cubes to keep your stuff organized.
Perhaps as a make up for the non-elastic bottle holder on the front, there’s an additional pocket inside where you can keep your bottle or umbrella.
With a 27 liters capacity and a main compartment along with pockets and sleeves, it is spacious enough to use as a carry-on or a gym bag.
Durability
Water repellent and easy to clean
As this is an affordable backpack, it’s not surprising to find that the bag is not made of premium material like ballistic nylon or TPU coating.
Instead the Everlane ReNew Backpack is made of 100% Recycled polyester with a CO water repellent finish.
As a result, the exterior and pockets allow water to roll off the fabric, which is especially helpful when you brisk from a slight drizzle, snow, or coffee-spilling travelers in airport terminals.
However, keep in mind that it is not 100% water resistant and might cave in under intense exposure to water.
Bear in mind this isn’t a super technical backpack like the Patagonia Ascensionist 40L because the material feels thin, and so the Everlane pack isn’t recommended for extreme hiking or adventures.
Nonetheless, users have attested to how it works fine when used as a carryon, gym use, beach trips, sightseeing, work or daily use.
You will like that merely wiping dirt and stains off the bag works well.
One thing to consider: I find the black and dark grey coloured models to be dark enough to hide everyday spots and stains than their warm charcoal and warm quart counterparts.
Fit & Comfort
As far as comfort goes – the backpack offers a comfortable carry mostly on a short commute.
Its evenly distributes weights and the straps are adjustable to suit men and women frame.
However, on a longer trip or on wearing the bag for long, you’ll definitely start to notice the straps digging in and adding to the toll of a long haul on a hot afternoon.
This is because compared to the Kaya Laptop backpack, the straps feel a bit thinner and not fully padded. You may want to consider backpacks that are suited for longer hauls in this kind of situations.
Other than this lapse in judgement by the manufacture, the Everlane ReNew Transit backpack fits well.
Price
A hassle-free schlep for every occasion be it the gym or office, isn’t a bad investment, if you make one.
It’s even better that the price of the Everlane ReNew Transit is affordable.
Just under $100, the backpack looks way more expensive than it is.
Plus, we dig the sustainable approach.
Final Thoughts
Is the Everlane Renew Transit Backpack worth it?
The simple answer is yes.
At the time of this Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack review, the bag comes in a great price with a mix of function and clean design suited for travel and day to day use.
You’ll find enough room to keep your 15-inch laptop, water bottles and other personal or business items.
And let’s not forget about the sustainable materials and construction.
The recycled polyester and water repellent exterior is expected to wear very well over time and the metal hardware is a nice touch.
It is versatile and durable enough to take along for a weekend getaway, work, school or even trips.
So, feel free to experiment with the Everlane ReNew Transit backpack and enjoy a blissful traveling experience.
If you however have any question about your luggage needs, don’t hesitate to drop it in the comment section below. I would love to discuss and help you out.
Related: If you are a gadget freak and particularly want the best of your laptop – check out my latest review of the best laptop backpacks here.
This article is not sponsored in any way by any company. This backpack has been independently selected by myself and my team. And the only thing I receive is a small commission from the Amazon affiliate program if you buy any of them through the links and buttons on this page. It doesn’t cost you a penny. But it really helps me out as this money goes to paying for maintaining the website, editing software, my time, team and everything else that goes into preparing this post.
16 thoughts on “Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack Review (Versatile Backpack for Travel, Work and Beyond)”
Sounds like a solid backpack. I don’t believe I have ever seen a review that is this extensive! You answered questions I did not even know I had. I like the fact that the backpack is water resistant, is made of recyclable materials, and its light! Sounds like my perfect go to bag!
Hi Brianna,
Glad you found this insightful.
Cheers
Femi
The moment I read that it is eco friendly and made of recyclable materials, it convinced me – along with great looks, ample space, and versatility.
I myself have been supporting the recycling and reuse industry for over a decade.
Great review, thanks!
Nina
Hey Nina,
You are welcome – Everlane is one of a number of retailers today who care about how their commercial activities affect the environment. And other brands are seeing this and following suit because, in the end, it also makes for good business in the long run since customers (like you) are increasingly paying attention to these things.
Cheers
Femi
Hi Femi,
Wow, this is seriously incredibly detailed! I’m not sure how much I like the look of the bag itself, but the fact that it’s made from recycled materials and is water resistant is AMAZING! The only things that would hold me back from buying are the fact that I already own too many bags, and the price, to be honest. It seems like it’s an amazing bag, though!
Hi Jade,
Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment. The simple look is not for everyone so I can appreciate your reservation:)
But I agree with you, it’s still a decent backpack.
Cheers
Femi
The most important thing to me when it comes to a backpack is that it is waterproof and my laptop can fit inside with a room to spare. I’ve never heard about Everlane backpacks until recently and now, after reading your review, I think my next purchase has been decided. Everlane seems like a good brand and I like all the positive feedback from their customers. It shows that the quality is outstanding. Thanks for sharing this review. I like what you’ve done with your site here!
Yes Ivan – Everlane may not be as popular as your top-tier brands like your Osprey, Herschel and Filson but they had their first big break with backpacks for good reason. Their products are of good quality while at the same time eco-friendly.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Cheers
Femi
I like the simple design of this Everlane backpack. It looks like it will be ideal for my girls. It has different compartments, it is waterproof and made from eco-friendly products. All the sort my girls like. I will be looking into buying one too.
Glad to hear it Bolupe – the simple look and the eco-friendly ethos are common features that most people like about the pack.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Cheers
Femi
Beautiful visuals on this particular item. The item being showcased from all angles, the display of the interior sections, plus clear measurements included are very helpful indeed.
Hey Schalk,
You are welcome and I’m pleased to read you found the piece helpful.
Cheers
Femi
Hi, Femi,
This is something I might consider buying. This is perfect for the personal article you bring onboard.
I like the fact that it’s eco-friendly and water-repellent. We should support this type of company that strives to preserve the environment.
I also love the look and the price.
Now, the only thing I don’t like is the lack of padding at the bottom. I travel with my laptop, so this is extremely important to me. I would have to consider it carefully.
Thanks for sharing. I’ll add this item to my accessories list.
Great comment Enrique! I’m happy you found the review helpful.
Best regards
Femi
I actually love the way this backpack looks. Clean simple lines, in basic colors, I would definitely consider this backpack. I need something that can store my laptop and it seems like the Everlane will do a good job. Being waterproof is another must, and again this backpack offers just that.
Thanks for a well put together review!
Thanks for the feedback Veronica.
Cheers
Femi