SwissGear Travel Gear 1592 Backpack

The SA1592 backpack has been on the market for quite a while, so I'm really surprised that this is the first review. I bought mine at a retail store, where I had an opportunity to directly compare SwissGear backpacks against a number of other brands, like The North Face and Jansport. To me, SwissGear offered the best build quality, along with an attractive style, at a very competitive price.

After deciding to go with SwissGear, my next decision was choosing between the SA1592 and the SwissGear 1900. Both are very well made, and share many common features, and are available in black, and black and red, color schemes. The 1900 has a heavy duty plastic handle on the top, and a separate side accessible compartment dedicated for a laptop. However, to secure the computer, there was only one narrow padded strap with Velcro on both ends. This did not seem to provide adequate security, and the 1900 does not have a waist strap. So after some deliberation, I went with the SA1592, because it seemed to offer a bit more security.

The SA1592 is about 20" high, and 16" wide, and has many of the standard SwissGear features, including bottle holder pockets on each side, large 11" high zippered side pockets with grommet holes, a compartment with organizer pockets, heavily padded an sculptured airflow backing, padded shoulder straps, and a large main compartment with a deep sleeve for a laptop up to 15". The black and red nylon outer material, appears to be pretty durable, but is still very pliable, with a slight sheen. The major zippers are wide, and have large solidly built metal pull handles, with openings that you can insert a small padlock through. If you really had to, a cord could be fed through the grommet holes in the sides of the pack, and used to tie down something, on the top of the pack.

There's a slit on top to feed through your earphone cord, and a couple of dedicated pockets inside, near the top, for your phone, radio, or MP3 player. This larger compartment can accommodate quite a bit, and has a couple of additional zippered compartments inside. The organizer compartment is on the back near the bottom, and has five pen-sized sleeves, other miscellaneous pockets, as well as a detachable key ring. A small detachable holster case, is provided on the shoulder strap.

The strap for the laptop compartment is Velcro, but almost everything else is secured by either zippers, or plastic clips. Things may slide around inside the backpack, but properly zipped up and secured, there is very little chance that anything inside will accidentally fall out, or get lost, except for through the grommet holes.

What's missing? Not too much actually. While the padded handle on top is very serviceable, a hard plastic one like the 1900 model, would have been nice. Plastic bumpers on the bottom of the pack would have provided additional protection, but that would also have made the pack less collapsible.

Empty, the backpack doesn't weigh much, but it is capable of holding a lot of stuff. It is very comfortable to wear, as the shoulder straps provide good support, and distribute the weight nicely. The waist strap is a little narrow, and only extends to fit about a 40" waist, but it does help prevent the pack from sliding off.

I'm very happy with this cool looking, and very functional backpack, which I got on sale for only $40.

The bag is of a very good quality, and well worth the money spent. It looks and feels durable. It's a bit heavy though, even when empty.

Buy SwissGear Travel Gear 1592 Backpack Now

I owned a SwissGear for several years, very similar style and looking. After years of carrying TWO 15" laptop and/or multiple camera gears, it has loosened stitches. In searching to find a replacement, Travel Gear 19xx series looks very good.

Just one problem, only the 1592 has a waist strap. I need to have the waist strap, so 1592 is the only choice I have.

I don't need the smartScan feature that actually waist one layer of zipped space. The laptop porch is also side in, unlike the 1592 top in.

Overall, I recommend 1592 over later styles 19xx.

Read Best Reviews of SwissGear Travel Gear 1592 Backpack Here

I purchased this backpack for a recent trip to Europe. I was looking for a carry on bag that would fit my laptop and literature for work and this is perfect for just that. There are many compartments which I like but with the laptop, a few magazines and files, I couldn't fit many goodies to take on my return trip.....had to cram them in the checked luggage which was over packed! I was able to fit a few medium size bags of chocolates and snacks but otherwise not much room for anything else. The padding for the laptop takes up a lot of space as well as the material that separates the different sections of the backpack. Overall, it is a good backpack but don't expect to fit a lot of stuff in it.

Want SwissGear Travel Gear 1592 Backpack Discount?

I would have liked it if there was some guide as to what all of the various pockets were really designed to do. One assume there was thought put into it, and I am finding uses for most of them but a guide as to the intended use owuld be nice. Otherwise I have lready traveled with it severaltimes and it is just what I needed spacious, not too bulky, sturdy.