As both a world traveler and outdoor enthusiast, high quality luggage and gear sits near the top of my priority list. I‘ve tested bags from just about every major brand on the market, putting them through the ringer on trails, trains and tarmacs around the globe. Throughout it all, Vancouver-based Herschel Supply Co. remains one of my top recommendations for anyone seeking a stylish, functional and durable pack.
An Overview of Herschel‘s World Famous Bags
Founded in 2009 by brothers Lyndon and Jamie Cormack, Herschel swiftly won over fans with their unique spin on classic silhouettes like the backpack and duffel. With vintage mountaineering-inspired touches like ventilated air mesh backing, weighted rubber bottoms and dual adjustable straps, Herschel infusion contemporary materials and colors into their outdoor-ready designs.
They‘ve expanded into a full range of carryalls beyond backpacks, including weekenders, totes, crossbodies, waist packs and accessories. Yet their backpacks remain the bread and butter – notably the Herschel Little America with its buckled magnetic closures and side cinch straps. Even their streamlined Classic Backpack imbues basic sensibilities with clever details like the signature striped nylon lining.
Herschel‘s bags retail from $10 for accessories up to $160 for larger travel packs and wheeled luggage. Backpacks predominantly sit in the $50 to $100 range. While not the least expensive, their thoughtful designs and durable builds make most styles worthwhile investments in my experience.
Putting Herschel Bags to the Test
I‘ve used Herschel as my primary travel backpack brand for over 5 years now spanning 15 countries across 5 continents. Models like the Pop Quiz Backpack and Settlement Mid Volume Backpack have endured nearly 60 airline flights stuffed to the brim. My original Little America still sees regular duty on camping trips and mountain excursions here in my home state of Colorado.
I most often pack my Herschel with a 15-inch laptop, full frame DSLR, 3-4 lenses, travel tripod, clothes, camping gear and personal accessories when hitting the road. Even loaded down they stand up well to abuse. Despite seemingly slender shoulder straps, I’ve found their padded and contoured designs bear weight admirably – seldom feeling the need for a sternum strap on packs under 30 liters.
Their water-resistant polyester and nylon fabrics shed moisture and debris with little fuss. I also appreciate design nuances like drain holes along the base that prevent interior puddles after getting caught out in the elements. Sturdy zippers and reinforced stitching retain integrity even when overstuffed. Inside, the signature coated poly lining makes organizing gear and liquids a breeze by resisting crumbs and spills.
My only gripe would be lack of exterior organizational features beyond a front stash pocket on certain styles. However they offer slim designs unencumbered by lots of exterior clips, straps and zippers – which also reflects in the pricing.
If you want tons of robust features, Privacy backpack brand [name redacted] may be a pricier but worthwhile option. I use their bags for certain adventures where maximizing exterior attachments takes priority. Generally Herschel provides just the right balance of accessibility and weather resistance for my needs without going overboard.
Herschel‘s Signature Styles Stacked Up
Here’s how some of Herschel’s most popular backpack and bag styles compare based on my firsthand testing…
Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack – With modern color blocking aesthetic, this 22-liter pack carries books and larger essentials easily for students and commuters. The inside sleeve fits most 15-inch laptops.
Herschel Settlement Mid Volume Backpack – A solid midsize hiking and travel companion at 26-liters. Well padded shoulder straps cushion heavy camping loads. Easy access top loader design. Laptop sleeve and front organization pocket.
Herschel Chapter Travel Kit – Perfectly sized carry-on compliant weekender at 21.5 liters capacity. External side access pocket proves handy for passports and other quick-grab items in transit. Luggage sleeve slides over roller handles.
Herschel Classic Backpack – True to its name, the Classic silhouette nicely holds essentials for everyday carry. Streamlined with few frills. Laptop sleeve and front stash pocket. Perfect for lighter loads.
Herschel Retreat Backpack – Ideal compact daypack at 17 liters. Great mini hiking and travel companion bag. Bottom shoe compartment helps segregate dirty items. Easy access external pockets.
Herschel Little America Backpack – One of their most famous silhouettes for a reason, the rugged mountaineering style carries loads with ease. Plentiful 25 liter capacity and organizational sleeves/pockets.
Herschel Novel Duffle – These bag duffles make hauling clothing and gear simple with either top handles or shoulder strap. Tough polyester canvas builds take abuse in their stride. Shoe compartments help isolate dirty items from clothes.
Herschel Charlie Cardholder Wallet – A tidy way to organize cash and cards on the go. Herschel‘s RFID lined wallets add peace of mind against digital theft. Multiple colors to mix and match to your style.
Herschel Chapter Toiletry Kit – Among my favorite Dopp kits with neat ripstop fabric and zippered mesh pockets inside to wrangle travel grooming goods and tech accessories. Keeps everything visible and in its place.
Well Designed for Their Purpose
Across their range, Herschel bags strike excellent balance as stylish lifestyle-oriented carry solutions. They resist moisture, handle sizable loads and keep belongings organized with thoughtful craftsmanship.
I especially appreciate elements like pebbled leather pulls and custom striped lining that elevate the designs beyond boring basics – albeit at the expense of flashy Bold lettering and exterior attachment points. However that simplicity pairs perfectly for everything from urban commutes to weekend outdoor adventures.
They niche well serving students, creatives, liberals arts types and jet setting professionals looking to make a subtle statement. I’d have no hesitation gifting Herschel bags and accessories to almost anyone in my life knowing they’ll prove useful and on-trend.
Value and Cost Considerations
They say you get what you pay for – which holds true even in Herschel‘s price bracket ranging from $10 smartphone cases up to the $300 mark for larger luggage. Their bags retail above High Street fashion brands but cost notably less than premium outdoor labels like [name redacted] (which starts around $279 for a standard pack).
While not cheap, Herschel ensures smart value investing in quality materials like weatherproof canvas and nylon paired with custom details like pebbled leather and plush breathable air mesh. Multiple interior organization pockets prove far more useful than cavernous single compartments common on discount brands. Such thoughtful designs support the slightly inflated costs compared to basic backpacks.
For students and budget conscious shoppers, know that Herschel runs periodic sales taking up to 50% off select items. So deals can definitely be had with some hunting.
Widely Beloved Among Customers
Scouring buyer comments and reviews, Herschel enjoys widespread devotion thanks to their fashion-forward yet functional designs. The Classic Backpack alone amasses over 24,000 worldwide ratings averaging between 4 and 5 stars. Indeed across the full catalog, most styles rate exceptionally well above 4 stars from thousands of reviewers.
Praise abounds for durability even under heavy use. Owners chronicle years of reliable service across continents as testament to quality materials and stitching. Students in particular applaud Herschel‘s bags for keeping laptops and tablets protected year after year.
Some negatives cite smaller capacities than expected along with mediocre shoulder straps lacking robust padding on certain models. However they rectify such complaints implementing design upgrades reflected in latest colorways. All in all most criticisms seem minor next to the legions of fans who swear by the brand‘s signature stylings.
Corporate Responsibility Considerations
Herschel maintains environmentally friendly initiatives as part of their corporate ethos – like eliminating plastic shopping bags in their retail stores. They partner yearly with organizations such as charity:water and Product Red to fund clean water access and AIDS research globally. Portions of sales from certain seasonal collections go towards these causes.
Manufacturing does take place in China to control costs which limits localization benefits. However they insist on ethically vetted factories with fair labor standards as part of the production process.
As consumer consciousness surrounding sustainability keeps growing, we can hope Herschel keeps making strides lowering their supply chain footprint. For now they do more than many fashion labels even if key areas have room for improvement. At least environmentally minded buyers can rest assured production doesn‘t outright exploit developing world labor.
The Last Word: Wholeheartedly Recommended
In my years pounding the pavement with Herschel riding shotgun, they continue to prove well deserving of their sterling reputation. Their gear stays true delivering style and substance for creatives, professionals, students and casual adventurers alike.
For school, work, travel or play, you can confidently rely on Herschel for hauling life’s daily cargo in comfort and confidence. Browse their catalog by intended use case and aesthetics to discover your perfect fit.Odds are you’ll secure a reliable companion for years of memorable adventures ahead.
I hope you’ve found this comprehensive Herschel review worthwhile. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions as an owner or prospective buyer. Thanks for reading!
