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If you need a backpack to protect your laptop, who better to buy from than one of the world’s leading manufacturers of laptops? Dell is definitely that company, and has a wide range of backpacks to choose from. Here, I review the Dell EcoLoop Premier Backpack 14-16, one of its most luxurious offerings.
I checked the price in the obvious locations of UK (ยฃ99 inc VAT), the US ($102) and Australia ($136), but it’s also available in Japan (13,737ๅ) and Singapore ($122) so I think it’s safe to say that the Dell EcoLoop Premier Backpack is available worldwide.
Its manufacturer code is J3Y19, although the tag on my review sample said CP7625 which also seems to work if you search for it.
RATING: 5/5
I’m giving the Dell EcoLoop Premier Backpack 14-16 top marks for style because it reeks of professionalism. The Dell logo is barely noticeable, while its clean lines, black finish and faux leather offsets (I can’t help but think of Levi’s jeans) create a minimalist sense of style.
RATING: 4/5
Let’s get the downside out of the way first: this is not a big rucksack. Its total capacity is 23 litres, and because that capacity is split across several compartments you’ll struggle to squeeze a bulky object inside.
Where it wins is for the sheer number of compartments and the amount of protection Dell provides for your electronics.
The rearmost compartment (which is also lockable thanks to interlocking eyelets in the zip pulls) is designed for a laptop and tablet. As the name of this rucksack indicates, it fits a 16in laptop comfortably; Dell states maximum dimensions of 360 x 260 x 20mm, but there’s plenty of leeway.
There’s also a protective sleeve between to reduce any chance of scratches, plus a hole for a cable to snake through – handy if you have a portable charger in the central compartment.
But the best part is the amount of cushioning at the base of the rucksack and at the rear, meaning your laptop is incredibly well protected.
It isn’t the lightest rucksack, weighing 930g (2.05lb), but that’s a price worth paying to keep your electronics safe.
The cushioning on the rear serves a double purpose as it also means this rucksack is comfortable to wear, with ridges to help airflow on hot days. The shoulder strap is padded too.
RATING: 5/5
Dell packs eight zipped compartments into this compact laptop, making it an absolute delight for people who like such things. It reminded me of those once-popular jackets that had a dozen zipped pockets to tuck things into. Joy.
Starting from front to back, there’s a slim zipped compartment hidden halfway up the front. Good for emergency rations. Above it sits a deeper zipped pocket where you might put travel documents (although it isn’t lockable).
Next comes the first major compartment, which is deep and thick enough to hold bulkier objects like headphones. A mesh zipped pocket sits here, so you might like to keep your passport there. There’s also a natural pocket to store pens, with wider pockets on either side for – perhaps – a phone or two.
The second major compartment is thicker and deeper still, and it’s where you should place your bulkiest items. Think chargers, cameras and clothing.
Then we come to the rear compartment, which is split into two thanks to that divider I mentioned earlier. It’s really meant for tablets and laptops, as it’s deep but not particularly thick.
| Volume | 23 litres (6.08 gallons) |
| Weight | 930g (2.05 pounds) |
| Dimensions (metric) | 300 x 440 x 180mm (width, height, depth) |
| Dimensions (imperial) | 11.8 x 17.3 x 7.1in (width, height, depth) |
| Exterior material | Polyester, 600D Fabric, Cross-linked Polyethylene (XPE) Foam |
| Lining material | Nylex |
| Carrying options | Shoulder Strap, Trolley Strap, Handle |
| Main features | Side Pocket, Front Pocket, Magnetic, Lockable Zipper, Side Handle, Padded Shoulder Strap, Zippered Pocket |
| Warranty | 3 years |
RATING: 4/5
I’m not giving Dell 5/5 here as the most eco-friendly rucksack is a secondhand one, but otherwise it ticks all the boxes.
First up, recycled materials. The exterior fabric is made from 100% recycled polyester (Dell makes no claims about the interior fabric) , and any plastic used in the exterior comes from Oceancycle-recycled plastic. All the packaging is sustainable too.
Dell also cuts water wastage by using solution-dyeing rather than dip-dyeing for the polyester fabrics. So rather than use a water-based dye, it mixes colouring agents with polyester pellets “before they are extruded into fibre”.
Dell includes a three-year warranty, too, and I would hope it would last well beyond that. One day, hopefully, becoming someone’s secondhand rucksack.
RATING: 3/5
If you can find this backpack for 20% less than Dell lists – and I did in the UK – then I would up that rating to four. But this is still a lot of money to pay for a rucksack. Except…
RATING: 4/5
Except, that is, if the value of your laptop runs into the thousands of pounds and dollars, at which point it’s worth exactly that when it protects your laptop from damage.
I also come back to the top-quality design, which gives an air of professionalism that most rucksacks lack. Again, that may be worth money to you.
All of which means it wins a TechFinitive Recommended award. Sometimes it’s worth paying for quality.
