Thule Subterra Travel Backpack 34L :: Drive By

Thule’s release of the travel-tuned Subterra line this spring brought us a lot of really smart features. Pulling design elements from across their brand and utilizing technology developed for their roof racks and bike carriers in the compression panels featured in the 22” Carry On is just one example of this, but right now, we’re focusing on the Subterra Travel Backpack 34L.

The Subterra Travel Backpack 34L has a clean exterior and is jam-packed with organizational features and ample internal padding for all your electronics. The real talking point for me is the removable packing cube that holds nearly the entirety of the main compartment’s volume—approximately 30 liters—I found it large enough for 5 days of clothing. Once you get to your destination, leave the packing cube in your room and tour around town with an empty pack. There if you need it. Gone when you don’t.

“The Subterra Travel Backpack 34L has a clean exterior and is jam-packed with organizational features and ample internal padding for all your electronics.”

Who It Suits

The travel savvy. The tech heavy working crowd. Students. This has a space for everything you’ll need to crush your weekend getaway, last-minute business trip, or for those long days on campus.

“The real talking point for me is the removable packing cube that holds nearly the entirety of the main compartment’s volume…”

Who It Doesn’t

Outdoor enthusiasts and minimalists, this pack is well padded and feature rich. You’ll need to look elsewhere for something to do your dirty work.

The Good

The cord management system, for example, in the organizational panel of the pack is great. I’m in and out of this pocket all day so I can really appreciate how neatly I can stay charged and ready to handle the long days and weekend trips.

“The cord management system, for example, in the organizational panel of the pack is great.”

I haven’t seen a roll top this clean; Thule nailed this closure. One magnetic closure point secures the stiffly reinforced sides. Roll the top down twice toward the back panel and, voila, SR buckle the top secure and you’re ready to roll.  Side access to the main compartment and the laptop sleeve gives you fast access to your belongings when the roll top slows you down.

“I haven’t seen a roll top this clean; Thule nailed this closure.”

“This has a space for everything you’ll need to crush your weekend getaway, last-minute business trip, or for those long days on campus.”

That side pocket…pretty slick. I could use a little more tension from the elastic webbing or maybe a taller pocket for more security. It’s all good though.

The attention to detail is very good. No shortcuts were taken in doubling over the webbing to create comfortable and functional grab handles. It looks like Thule choose to do things the right way rather than the easy way.

“The attention to detail is very good. No shortcuts were taken in doubling over the webbing to create comfortable and functional grab handles.”

The Not So Good

I’m really reaching for criticism here, but the suspension in whole is a little too firm. The back panel has almost no contouring, and the shoulder straps, while made from a layer or two of perforated foam, are notably rigid. It’s not uncomfortable by any measure, it’s just very minimal and I think a softer cushioning would be an improvement.

“The back panel has almost no contouring, and the shoulder straps, while made from a layer or two of perforated foam, are notably rigid.”

Alternatives to Consider

There are a bunch of different flavors of the roll top travel-ready pack: Timbuk2’s Clark, the North St. Flanders, and Cotopaxi’s Volta 35L all have a similar layout with side access and a large organizational compartment, but they don’t come with that handy travel cube like the Subterra does.

The Osprey Porter 30 paired with one of their 20L StraightJacket Compression Sacks gets you a comparable setup with enough cash left over for a sixer—and you know how much I like a sixer—but the Subterra 34L would get the job done better in my opinion.

Verdict

The pack excels at what it was designed for. To those looking for a travel savvy do-all, a tech heavy commuter, or urban roll top with lots of organization, I think this is a winner. As much as I like the simplicity and design of the bag, nothing about it really calls to me. Don’t get me wrong, it functions seamlessly between work and travel, but for me, it’s missing that wow factor.  Is it possible for a bag to be too functional? Too utilitarian? Domestic? I want to be excited by it, but I’m not.  Whatever it is, it certainly isn’t the functionality, because this bag truly does work.