Troubadour Apex backpack review – 2024 Update
18th October, 2024 - Blog
As I’m still using the Troubadour Apex regularly as my day-to-day travel bag, I wanted to give it a fresh review – in fact, Troubadour just launched a Leather version, too, so now seems like a great chance to reassess it.
I’ve been able to check out the Troubadour Apex Backpack, and the Pioneer (check out the review), and the Apex has become the bag I reach for in almost all situations. It’s a little more compact than the Pioneer, but still has a whole host of neat features.
Chief among them is the waterproof fabric, which may lead you to believe it could feel cheaper to the touch, but that couldn’t be further from the case. I’ve taken it on numerous flights, and if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s heavy rain when landing back in London. Thankfully, that’s no drama with the Troubadour Apex, and means everything feels nice and safe inside.
Even the inner lining is waterproof, and the leather top adds a touch of class to the proceedings, too. Under that, there’s a pocket that’s ideal for wallets, keys, or documents, and there’s a clip in there to keep them handy, too.
On each side, there’s a stretchy compartment for water bottles that instantly shrinks once you take them out, and you’ll find an additional opening at the back that lets you position it on the handles of a suitcase.
So far, so good, but it’s inside the Troubadour Apex where this bag feels like it earns that admittedly high £225 price tag. There’s a small mesh pocket on the inside, opposite the kind of compartment selection that’d make your suitcase blush. There are sections for pens, notepads, and gadgets (and with the right folding, you can make them ideal for an array of cables). A zip pocket at the top is ideal for securing documents or cash, too, and I’ve found a couple of the pockets are ideal for storing an AirTag or a portable charger.
Now, here’s the embarrassing part – I originally missed that there’s a laptop compartment on this bag. I’m not kidding, even as a tech reviewer, I totally missed the existence of the laptop section of the bag. The good news is, that means it’s less likely to be stolen, I’d imagine, because the zip is underneath a fabric flap so it’s well hidden.
Open up the subtle extra section, and there’s plenty of room for a 16-inch laptop, as well as an additional sleeve that’s ideal for A4 paper and documents you don’t want to fold up. The extra sleeve is likely to be ideal for an iPad (my iPad Pro gets in there easily enough), but you may find yourself wanting to skip the keyboard attachment and put that elsewhere in the bag. Otherwise, it may get a tiny bit squashed. Since the first version of this review was published I switched from an M1 MacBook Pro to an M3 MacBook Air, and that allows for much more space.
Still, all of the pockets in the world won’t make a bag comfortable, but there’s no such concern with the Troubadour Apex. The back of the bag is padded enough to feel soft at all times, and, as I alluded to earlier, the straps are equally comfortable. Weight distribution is very even, although you’ll need to spend an additional £9.95 for a chest strap as it isn’t included.
In summary, then, the Troubadour Apex is a great-looking backpack which is full of impressive compartments while remaining lightweight and waterproof. The vegan leather is a nice touch, too, so whether you’re using it for work or carrying your gym wear, it never looks out of place. I like it so much, in fact, that I’m considering getting a black leather one, too!
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