Shieldon Travel Carry-On Backpack Review - Tech Backpack Meets Suitcase
Travel-tech weekender backpacks have become popular in recent years thanks to the increasing number of tech and accessories that help us survive our daily grind. With a main compartment that opens like a suitcase - bags like the Shieldon Travel Carry-On allow us to leave the laptop backpack and duffel bags at home for a more streamlined solution.
This is where Shieldon scores a home run - offering an affordable travel backpack with enough storage for things like a laptop, tablet, and tech accessories.
The backpack’s 23 liter main compartment is large enough for overnight stays while it’s expandable feature allows you to use the backpack for multi-day getaways at an impressive 38 liters. Shieldon does a great job at allowing you to customize the size and capacity to allow you to use the backpack exactly how you need it.
Fully cinched 23L vs 38L expanded capacity
When it comes to its design the Shieldon Travel Carry-on Backpack reminds us a lot of the Incase EO Travel Backpack. But at half the price we believe this Shieldon bag is a worthy competitor if you are looking for travel gear on a budget.
Features at a glance
MSRP: $64.99
Expandable capacity: 23L-38L
17-inch laptop compartment with tablet pocket
Separate compartment for personal items like water bottles and tech accessories.
Carry-on friendly size
Made of polyester with water repellent PVC coating
Travel Features
Inside the Shieldon Travel Carry-On
Inside is where you’ll find travel must-haves like a mesh divider and pockets for toiletries and smaller items. At 23 liters the bag is roomy enough to hold an overnight’s stay worth of clothing but when expanded it can hold 2-3 days worth of clothing (or longer if you are a light packer.)
Plastic spill-proof toiletries pocket
Shieldon’s toiletries pocket is actually an impressive feature that not a lot of backpacks include. Instead of mesh, the brand uses a clear heavy plastic to safeguard liquids from spilling into the rest of the main compartment.
Hidden anti-theft back pocket
Tech Carry
Shieldon offers a few spots for tech storage including a laptop compartment with separate zip access. The laptop compartment doesn’t open flat for TSA-friendly access at airports, but it does a great job at giving you quick access to your laptop without disturbing the items in the main compartment.
The laptop compartment includes a built-in padded sleeve for laptops up to 17-inches and a separate tablet sleeve. The tablet sleeve is roomy and can fit a 11-inch iPad Pro.
Shieldon laptop compartment
The front of the backpack features a full-length compartment equipped with organizers and pockets for things like pens, water bottles and smaller accessories. It’s a great place to store tech accessories like external HDDs, charging cables and still have room for bulkier items like a full sized desktop keyboard.
Shieldon front organizer pocket
Comfort and Materials
The Shieldon offers a padded mesh back and shoulder straps with an additional adjustable sternum strap to offload some of the weight when fully loaded.
Shieldon shoulder straps and adjustable sternum strap
As far as comfort goes - the backpack’s mesh padding does a good job at offering comfortable carry but you can definitely feel the difference between the cheaper Shieldon backpack and the more expensive Incase EO Travel Backpack or the Aer Travel Pack 2. The back panel on the Shieldon Travel Carry-On backpack feels thinner and not as stiff.
A closer look at the padded back
What the backpack lacks is the inclusion of premium materials in it’s build. Don’t expect materials like ballistic nylon or TPU coating. Instead the Shieldon Travel Carry-On Backpack is made of polyester with a PVC water resistant coating on the front panel. But this is expected with budget travel backpacks in the $50-100 range where premium materials are too expensive to include.
With that said the Shieldon Travel Carry-On Backpack is still scratch resistant and durable enough to survive busy traveling. We also like the water resistant front panel that allows for surviving sudden showers or snow.
Shieldon hollow zippers allow for travel locks.
All of the zippers are smooth with no snagging and the metal zipper pulls also add a touch of durability. One great design feature that Shieldon does right is including hollow zipper pulls that allow you to lock any of the compartments with a luggage lock. It’s a not-so-obvious security feature that is worth pointing out.
Final Thoughts
Is the Shieldon Travel Carry-On Backpack worth it? The simple answer is yes.
At the time of this review you can pick up the Shieldon Travel Carry-On Backpack for $64.99 which is a great price if you are looking for a weekender backpack with tech-carry options. Many similar weekenders can retail for twice the price.
When it comes to looks - Shieldon does a great job at offering a minimalist and streamlined design that is stylish enough for casual or work travel alike. Many budget backpacks either sacrifice robust design for cheaper prices but we think Shieldon does a good job at balancing both.
