Balo: Expandable Multi-Pocket Multifunctional Backpack

I like the bag, the way it looks. To be fair, it has quite the capacity and may work well as a backpacking bag. However, for this bag to be useful as a daily use bag, some extra considerations should have been given to actual use and practicality. Let me explain.

Let me start with the charging port. The charging port allows a USB-A (for charging the device) and a microUSB connection for charging the mobile power bank. When you take a look inside to see how this connects to the power bank, you can see that there is another USB-A cable, presumably for the power output for the bank, but a USB-C connection probably for charging the power bank. The assumption here is that your power bank will most definitely have a USB-C input, which isn't so in my case. So, if you already own a good power bank with a microUSB input, you will not be able to charge it this way. A carefully thought out design would allow me to plug in the relevant type of cable myself, but sadly this wasn't the case.

Next, the side pockets. There is one side pocket designed for an umbrella or water bottle. Why not go all the way out and provide me with a mesh pocket on the other side for holding my umbrella, so I can have both the umbrella and the water bottle? It would hardly cost the manufacturers to add a simple elastic mesh.

Now, the compass on the chest strap is a nice to have, but it would only be useful if I am allowed to remove a defective compass and add a working one. The one the bag comes with points the N to the south! Good luck to anyone who follows that compass should they ever get lost.

The flap pocket. What could possibly be the idea behind making it only half as deep as the full width available? I couldn't put a packet of pocket wet wipes in there!

Another puzzle: the shoulder strap pocket. No, a credit card doesn't sit in there nicely. (It is quite a struggle. It doesn't have the depth!) If the shoulder straps were a bit wider, it could indeed be a useful feature. This one can maybe hold a moustache comb!

Other issues. Those pockets designed for tablets would only hold very small tablets. Not very useful for larger tablets. But I can use the laptop pocket for that. Bringing both the laptop and the tablet will be a bit tricky. There is no dedicated pocket for power adapter and cable for the laptop.

Apart from these, the bag is quite decent. It is somewhat well structured and has a number of pockets. While not the perfect bag, I can work with its limitations by being creative or simply going old school.

Extremely comfortable to carry and easy to adjust. Great design!

Extremely comfortable to carry and easy to adjust. Great design!

Surprised at how much it can hold. I can't wait to use it for my next trip.

Surprised at how much it can hold. I can't wait to use it for my next trip.