Mammut Seon Transporter 25L [Review]

When we first laid eyes on the Mammut Seon Transporter 25 backpack, we were immediately drawn to its sleek, professional design. Mammut is known for their high-quality technical clothing for climbing and hiking, so we were curious to see if their backpacks held up to the same standard. After testing this backpack for three months as an after-work tennis bag on weekdays, we can confidently say it lives up to its promise of being a 2-in-1 backpack for work and play.

Here's an in-depth Mammut Seon Transport 25 review, where we’ll be going over the pros and cons of this versatile backpack.

Video Review

The Rundown

What we like

• Sleek, high quality design that blends-in well with work settings.

• Made of water resistant materials

• Very protective pockets for tech; laptop, tablet and phone

What we don’t like

• No side pockets! Water bottles will have to be stored inside the bag.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 18” H x 12” W x 6.25” D

• Capacity: 25L

• Materials: 100% Polyamide, water-repellent zippers

• Laptop Sleeve: Up to 17.3”

• Tablet Sleeve: Up to 11”

Where to buy

Similar Backpacks

Mammut Seon Transporter 25 Backpack - model height 5’6”

Size and Comfort

Mammut's design focus on a sleek and compact shape is clear in the Seon Transporter 25. Its briefcase-like shape ensures it doesn’t stick out much from your back when worn, providing a sleek, professional look. The size is also compact enough to use as a personal item backpack on flights.

Mammut Seon Transporter 25 exterior measurements: 18” H x 12” W x 6.25” D (45.7 x 30.5 x 15.9 cm)

Mammut Seon Transporter 25 - Foam padded back panel and shoulder straps

The back panel scores a 10/10 in terms of comfort. It’s made with two padded sections that feel like memory foam pillows against your back. Even when the Seon Transporter was packed to capacity, the back panel still felt soft and supportive. The shoulder straps are made from the same foam as the back panel and are ergonomically shaped for comfort. They work well until the bag gets heavy, at which point the shoulder straps start to feel a lot more firm than they should - a far cry from the soft, pillowy back panel.

It’s worth pointing out the lack of a chest strap or waist belt for additional weight management. For everyday use and light to moderate loads, the lack of chest and waist straps wasn’t a deal breaker during our testing. We believe the Seon Transporter 25 is compact enough where they aren’t needed.

Mammut Seon Transporter 25 - Use the side handle to carry it like a briefcase

Another great features is the side handle that allows you to carry the backpack like a briefcase! Although the shoulder straps do not tuck away like a convertible backpack, they do include elastic bands so that you can avoid dangling straps.

Rear "Work" Laptop Compartment

Mammut Soen Transporter 25 - The WORK compartment has both a padded laptop and tablet sleeve

The rear laptop compartment of the Seon Transporter 25, called the "WORK" compartment by Mammut, is designed with a professional work day in mind. Inside this compartment you’ll find a padded laptop sleeve, padded 11-inch tablet sleeve and a flat pocket for a notebook or documents.

Mammut says that this laptop sleeve can fit up to a 17.3-inch laptop, but we recommend double-checking the sleeve dimensions below to ensure your laptop will fit comfortably.

• Laptop sleeve dimensions: 17.1” x 10.8” (43.5 x 27.5 cm)

During our use, we found the tech protection in this compartment impressive. Both the laptop and tablet sleeves have generous false bottoms, giving you about two inches of protection between the bottom of the sleeves and the bottom of the bag. This gave us peace of mind whenever the bag was placed a little too hard on the ground during our use.

Main "Climb" Compartment and Packing Test

The main packing compartment, known as the "CLIMB" compartment, opens like a suitcase. For shorter trips, the packing space was perfect for 2-3 changes of clothes plus toiletries.

There are mesh pockets inside this compartment, perfect for toiletries or small workout accessories. The shoe pocket, surprisingly, does fit running and workout shoes. Our tests showed that women's size 8 running shoes fit inside the pocket just fine, and men's size 12 workout shoes also fit, though it was a tight squeeze. However, just like with most backpacks with shoe compartments, you're left with minimal space for packing when shoes are in this pocket.

Mammut Seon Transporter 25 - CLIMB compartment packed for a workout session.

With shoes in the pocket, we could fit a pair of lightweight pants and a t-shirt in the leftover space on top. Toiletries and smaller workout accessories found their place in the mesh pockets.

The shoe pocket can also double as a spot to store dirty laundry, which came in handy when we traveled and wanted to keep our soiled clothes separated from clean items.

Valuables Compartment

Mammut Seon Transporter 25 - Inside the valuables compartment with attached key leash

Sandwiched between the Work and Climb compartments is a smaller valuables compartment. This section features a water-repellent zipper and comes with a built-in lock for added security. Inside, there's a padded pocket for a phone and another pocket that we found perfect for stashing sunglasses.

There's also a larger mesh pocket for smaller loose items, complete with a key clip. This compartment became our go-to for storing our phone, keys, and other small valuables. The built-in lock added peace of mind, especially during our travels.

Exterior Features

In order to keep its sleek look, Mammut only added a few extra features to the exterior of the bag.

Mammut Seon Transporter 25 - The large front pocket can store a lightweight jacket

Front Pocket: The only exterior pocket on the Seon Transporter 25 is a large flat zippered pocket on the front of the bag. This pocket spans most of the front panel and also features a water-repellent zipper. However, it's not gusseted, so bulky items like large headphones or pouches can cause the pocket to bulge, detracting from the bag's sleek look. We mostly used this front pocket for storing a lightweight jacket, which we found convenient for quick access.

Mammot Seon Transporter 25 - Built-in trolley sleeve can be attached to travel luggage

Trolley Sleeve: Between the back panel padding, you’ll find a trolley sleeve that allows you to securely attach the backpack to the handle of your rolling luggage.

Water Bottle Storage: One big con about the Seon Transporter 25 is the lack of side pockets for water bottles. This means that a water bottle will have to stored in the main Climb compartment with your clothes and shoes, which isn't the most practical design. For a backpack that was designed for sports and activities, it was an odd choice not to include one!

Water Resistance TEST

Mammut Seon Transporter 25 - The bag has water repellent zippers and fabric but uses a regular fabric zipper for CLIMB compartment

Our water-resistance test found that the coated polyamide fabric exterior did a great job at creating a waterproof barrier, and wiping away water with a towel to dry the bag was a breeze. The water-repellent zippers also helped keep water out in light to moderate rain conditions. However, one big critique is the main CLIMB compartment uses a regular fabric zipper, which is a missed opportunity. Since the CLIMB zipper also reaches the bottom of the bag, it created an unfortunate situation where moisture can get in through this zipper if placed on wet ground. As a result of this design, leaks were more prone to happen inside the CLIMB compartment.

Even with the extra protection of the water-repellent zippers in the WORK and valuables compartment, it’s important to note that this isn’t a fully waterproof backpack. We wouldn’t feel confident around prolonged periods in heavy rain or significant splashes, as moisture could still seep through the stitching. But if you are looking for a backpack that will stay dry in a light rain commute, the Seon Transporter 25 will get the job done with ease.

Final Thoughts

The Mammut Seon Transporter 25 is an attractive backpack that makes the perfect work to gym bag for those who want a sleek pack that won’t look out of place in an office setting. Its sleek design, high-quality materials, and thoughtful compartments also makes it a great travel bag option. Despite a few drawbacks, such as the lack of water bottle pockets, the overall design of this backpack is impressive.

If you are still searching for a backpack that can be used for both work and play? Check out our Best Backpacks for Gym and Work buying guide for more options.

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