Vancouverscape, a Vancouver based blog covering travel, tech, and lifestyle

When you’ve come to the point in your travels where heaving a heavy backpack through airport terminals is no longer fun, consider JanSport’s Driver 8 wheeled laptop backpack.

Yep, that’s my trusty JanSport backpack gifted me in 1992 as a limited-edition 25-year celebration pack (except for the patches; those are all mine collected on travels). Cue up R.E.M.’s song of the same name – “Take a break, driver 8”. That’s how I feel each time I wheel the Driver 8 around the office. No more sore back!

This roomy, well-organized back-saver offers a 36-litre capacity and can stow up to a 15” laptop (or digital tablet) inside the main compartment’s padded section.

A secondary, smaller compartment in front of that contains two velcro storage areas and a key fob. And at the very front of the Driver 8 is a smaller zippered pocket, ideal for passport, phone charger, cables, and earbuds.

One side of the backpack has an elasticized mesh pocket for a water bottle or small umbrella.

The sturdy two-stage handle at top opens and retracts via the push button at its center. When you’re not joyfully wheeling the pack around, open the rear velcro section to pull out and clip the padded shoulder straps onto the two side clips.

Alternatively, there’s a large grab handle at top to carry and to help lift the pack into the overhead compartment.

What I really like about having a backpack style versus a small carry-on trolley is the accessibility! I can get to my iPad, laptop or snack in place of having to fully open a trolley, especially inside airport terminals.

[Zippers tuck away on the main compartment, offering a bit of safety]

While other passengers often need to set their carry-ons onto a seat to locate something, I can simply open one of the compartments and face the items head-on.

The Driver 8 is also ideal for an overnight getaway — think of helicopters and float planes with size/baggage restrictions, and this one just fits the bill.

80mm inline skate wheels keep the Driver 8 moving along when you need to get to your destination and will keep doing so for years to come: JanSport offers a lifetime warranty on their packs, bags, and luggage.

And in keeping in line with sustainability, this bag contains 100% recycled fabric in the main body, zipper tape, and woven label.

Dimensions

50 x 35.5 x 19.5 cm (20 x 14 x 8 in)
Laptop Dimensions: 42 x 26 x 3.5 cm (16.5 x 10 x 1.5 in)
Weight: 2 kg (4 lb. 7 oz.)

If there was a way to add a pass-through trolley sleeve on the back and maybe an extra side pocket, that would make this product even more amazing. I keep finding more things to add to the compartments, and there’s *still* more space!

In Black, Russet Red or Navy (and in the US, all three plus Stellar Starfield, a starry blue pattern); CAD $190/USD $150

Visit JanSport online to view the entire collection.