Herschel Retreat Backpack, Black, Classic 19.5L

I purchased my first Herschel classic backpack on this Amazon account all the way back in early 2018, and it has seen a _lot_ of use during that time. Used it through my last years at university, lugging around a laptop together with heavy and bulky textbooks, pencil cases, a battery bank, and even a collapsible umbrella in its large main pocket, with still more room to spare. I've used it to pack for multiple international trips, with tons of open space for spare clothes, multiple devices, and a large metal water bottle. I've packed it on trips to the tropics, to desert climates, and frosty wintry areas. All the while, this backpack has survived a ton of wear and weight, handling it all like a champ. It has been so durable and spacious inside, in fact, that I also used it as a reusable grocery bag multiple times a week for ~4 years when I used to live alone. Even though the drawstring has long since degraded and torn apart from several years of heavy use, the magnetic straps are still intact and the backpack is still holding strong. The canvas-like water-resistant exterior of this bag has held together wonderfully and still looks good as new. The magnetic faux-leather straps have been extremely durable over the years, though the finish does peel a little after 4-ish years of heavy use. The drawstring rope could be made much more durable so it doesn't unravel and rip, but like I wrote probably, it's not the end of the world. The bag continues to function extremely well even without it. When I first purchased this bag, I was initially disappointed by the conspicuous lack of pockets and dividers inside (aside from the laptop divider and very small side pocket), but I quickly came to love and even depend on its spaciousness whenever packing for school, day trips, flights, and even grocery runs. I found that if I ever needed additional organization inside, I was better served by packing those things in individual clamshell cases, or even Ziploc bags, to give them structure within the vast TARDIS-like space inside this backpack. And now, in winter 2024, I've finally decided to replace my Herschel with a new one of the exact same model. Not because the bag itself failed, mind you, but because I spilled something sticky inside that I feel will be ridiculously hard to clean. 😂 10/10 bag, will serve you very well during a zombie apocalypse or crash-landing on a remote desert island.

I bough this along with 2 other backpacks and 3 large purses trying to find a solution for the perfect student/laptop/camera/city bag as I go to school in Paris coming up. I expect to ride the bike a lot, but really wanted something that would also serve as a purse... i.e. something convertible. Grabbed this one just in case and really it is fantastic. The padding for my laptop (15" MBP retina) makes me comfortable to take it out of it's sleeve and just use the pouch provided in the backpack. It is super comfortable, roomy, secure and looks great. It was the most expensive of all of the options I picked up (hence the reason I was hoping it wouldn't be my favorite), but it really is. It is a big backpack, but doesn't look super huge or bulky because the design is pretty clean and simple. It would also serve as a great little overnight/weekend bag if you pack light!

Bottom Line: This backpack is exactly what it claims to be. 1. I can’t fit a lot of stuff inside. I know there were some reviews about the lack of space but I honestly don’t understand how. I added a picture of some stuff I wanted to fit in on my first try and there was plenty of room after that. I can carry my laptop and daily stuff and a jacket and my coffee mug and my water bottle/jug and still have room. So much room. 2. It is not hard to locate your stuff. Seriously I’m not especially organized and I can reach in there and find whatever I’m looking for quickly. If you need your wallet often put it on top or spend literally 15 seconds looking for it. 3. The front pocket is not useless. I put some cheap sunglasses and my car keys in there. Haven’t lost any of that. For my important small stuff I have a little pouch I got with my laptop sleeve I stick in there. 4. I added a picture of the new/not fully loaded backpack on my back. I’m 5’ 2 and a little chubby but it fits fine. It’s taller rather then fatter so it feels and looks a little different on the back. 5. Not quite rain resistant. I’ve walked through some rain and it has gotten wet but not soaked. Stuff ok on the inside though. I wouldn’t walk through a rain shower with it. 6. Drawstring with flap is nice and a little bit more difficult for pickpockets. Good quality. 7. If your package doesn’t quite look like mine you’ve likely gotten an imitator or knock-off. I’m pretty sure I didn’t have that issue based on the tags and bag and emblem all being present and looking correct. Buy from amazon directly if you can.

This is my favourite bag right now. It is very handy when traveling because there is a lot of space. The colour is gorgeous. The quality is 10/10. I had a Hershel bag before and it lasted for 7 years and it is still going strong. I know this bag will do justice just the same

You definitely get the quality you pay for here- after about eight months of use, it's showing no signs of wear and still looks pretty new. The straps are really well padded and comfortable. I often carry my laptop and several textbooks at a time, and it reduces the stress on my shoulders very well. The only downside is the lack of pockets. There is one small (but very deep) velcro-closure pocket on the inside of the bag and one slightly larger on the outside front with no closure. **3 year update** there is some fading on the straps, and the buckles on the front are cracked where it opens and closes. These are such minor issues considering what this backpack has been through that it’s not a complaint. I put it through the wash once (inside out on a gentle cycle, air dry) and it came out just fine! This bag has done me so well, but I wouldn’t repurchase for three reasons: 1. lack of interior pockets make it hard to organize 2. the bag is really deep so it can fit lots of things, but it’s easy to lose things/hard to organize 3. the only exterior pocket doesn’t have a closure so you can’t use it long term

LOVE LOVE LOVE this bag! I was stuck between this one and the "Little America" Herschel bag because of the size but I am so glad I went with this one. It is a BIG bag guys, its not tiny-looking like in the pictures. The Little America bag is more for those of you who want to go hiking maybe and take a whole bunch of stuff with you. If you're just looking for a bag to carry around campus I promise you this is more than enough. The quality is really nice, very stylish, and I like the special laptop sleeve. The only con is the lack of extra pockets on this bag (I just wish the front one had a zipper). Other than that I really can't complain. No matter how many books I have in there it just feels like nothing.

-Good backpack for school: high school + college + beyond -Well padded, has back compartment inside for laptop that easily fit my 15.6 in ASUS laptop -I ordered backpack in grey, looks slightly darker than in picture on Amazon -Side note: Wish it had more inside compartments, but on the plus side you can fit a lot in the backpack, ie: I managed to fit in a 1.5 in textbook, three 1 in notebooks, my clutch, two small reading books, my external battery(size of avg. book), and my ASUS laptop with room to spare: and with all of that in it, still felt nice, albeit heavy, on my shoulders/back. I just wish the cute smaller Herschel black and white polka dot backpack came in this size/style. EDIT: Buy this if you are going to be walking around all over at college (I used to feel achy with cheaper backpacks filled with my notebooks and 1-3 textbook(s) but now have noticably less to no discomfort with my Herschel) and dislike the appearance of the more frequently seen "hiker's" backpacks at school. Definitely a buy again and recommend!

Really sturdy. I like the magnetic clips. My laptop fits in the sleeve 15". I put in my 3 notebooks, my mouse & ergonomic keyboard and pencil pouch but it has room for a bit more although if you fill it up it might not close. I wish it had a zipper at the top to out things in the front pocket is a nice size but I would put anything that might fall out in there. I wish it had a side pocket for a water bottle. I don't know how useful this would be for traveling maybe if it's the personal item but not a carry-on type bag. For a school backpack/commuter bag should do great! Very stylish.

Buen producto, me gusta mucho la calidad que tiene la marca en sus productos. Solo que no leí bien y me deje llevar por las imágenes. Pensé que era roja y es naranja 😅. Fuera de eso me gustó.

Husband loves it. Big enough for laptop and various other work related things, sturdy and nice design. Super quick shipping too!

Erano anni che volevo comprarlo, e dopo averlo visto ad un collega mi sono decisa. Io l’ho preso essenzialmente per andare al lavoro, perchè mi permette di portare pc, miei oggetti, pranzo, una bottiglia d’acqua ed eventualmente una borsetta se voglio fermarmi in giro dopo il lavoro: lo lascio nel baule della macchina e porto con me solo la borsetta. Esteticamente è bello, solido, capiente, rifinito molto bene, è super comodo ed é uno di quegli oggetti che ti fanno sentire sempre a posto dalla mattina alla sera. Mi capita di usarlo anche quando vado via nei week end, perfetto. È uno zaino comunque da città a mio avviso, non lo userei per trekking o escursioni: per quello uso uno zaino vans un po piû sportivo.

Brought for a Christmas Present and it was extremely well received.

My previous Herschel back broke after 5 years of rough use, and this bag looks like it'll last just as long. I wasn't sure as it's much cheaper than on the Herschel site but it seems genuine. The colour is a little darker than I was expecting but still looks great