Saxon

As a 5'3 (160cm) tall woman, I was looking for a very specific kind of backpack that would be waterproof, light and chic enough to work for city life - a bag for work and gym AND double as a minimalist weekender backpack. I was particularly enamoured by the recent trend of clamshell opening backpacks but as I'm relatively small and petite, I didn't want to go for anything too heavy or with a capacity over 25L.I managed to narrow my choices down to the Arcido Saxon vs the Aer Fit Pack 2 - the total waterproof nature of the Saxon (waterproof zippers) and 23L capacity plus availability in the UK is what sold it for me. In the last two weeks I've had this bag, it has been nothing but a pure dream - when I put it on, it's so light that I pretty much forget I'm wearing anything at all, even if I stuff it full of stuff. It can hold A LOT - I put two huge pairs of trousers inside plus a sweater plus a pair of shoes plus a bag of toiletries in, so if I actually packed minimally, I reckon I could get at least 3-4 days to a week's worth of clothes in here.The straps are comfortable and the bag is large but not overlarge on my frame - a little bit overkill for the daily commute + gym but I'm fine with this as it allows me to expand my capacity when using it as a weekend bag or putting in sport accessories - it fits 16oz boxing gloves as well! The pockets and organisational compartments are some of the bag's best features: the top pocket is so easy to use and lined with soft fabric to protect phone/wallet/chapstick etc. I don't have a laptop so I use the side pocket with the magnetic closing and zip to store my grid-it accessories and kindle, and the front pocket holds my pens/umbrella/scarf etc as it also has a whole organisational pocket. The only thing is that this front pocket can be kind of difficult to get your hand into, especially when the bag is full.The main clamshell opening has really useful luggage straps - I recommend getting packing cubes to maximise packing capacity and to bundle things up as you will struggle to use all of its capacity for a daily use bag. The bag can look a little bit crumpled if not filled up, but I found it mostly kept its shape very well just with my daily items. It sits up very well when putting it on the floor and I've tested in relatively rainy conditions and it's been totally waterproof - the backpack material can get wet but the inside is totally dry.I will say that last week during the UK heatwave I used the backpack and it got unbearably hot on my back - it would have been nice to design the back of the backpack with better air ventilation like in the rest of the Arcido bag range. In this case though, it was nice to have the option to tuck the bag straps into the back and carry it like a briefcase, but if you have lots of stuff in it, this way of carrying can get pretty heavy.Overall, I'm in love with this backpack that looks great and is versatile, dependable and just works. Not once have I been irritated or annoyed by any part of the bag; it has simply slotted in seamlessly into my lifestyle and I never need worry about not having enough space to carry all my miscellaneous items, be it shoes, lunch, scarf, beanie and jacket all at once.Those who are taller might prefer the larger Arcido Faron, but this bag is perfect for those of us who are petite. When I wear it, I feel ready for most kinds of weather and really secure, which is all one can ask for from an all rounder backpack.

The Saxon convertible is ideal for an overnight stay whilst on business. You can pack a change of clothes and other important stuff that we all need when on our travels. I managed to fit in 2 shirts, t-shirt, underwear, and toiletries in the main compartment with room to spare. In the front compartment, I was able to carry a table tidy case and large wireless headphones. I also managed to slot in the toiletries bag for airport security and then returned to the main compartment before the flight. The hidden laptop compartment easily managed to accommodate my HP Envy 13" laptop and standard size Ipad. The small pocket (on top) was ideal for glasses and a small tablet box but could not accommodate my Note 8 phone. The walk to my hotel, from the airport bus, was in torrential rain but even though the bag got a bit wet on the outside it was completely dry in the inside. Comfy bag to carry either using the rucksack straps or just using the carry handles (the straps can be hidden behind the back of the bag). On a UK FlyBe flight, I can even store the bag under the seat in front which is ideal if you don't want to place the bag above you.

This is the second bag i have purchased, and out of the box there was a problem with the strap, as you can see the the item was damaged so points to poor QC, however when i contacted Arcido for a replacement strap they said they could not provide one.Only that I should contact amazon which aside from being a massive inconvenience is not exactly efficient use of resources, simply sending out a replacement strap would have been, I even offered to buy a replacement strap but have been told they can't provide a replacement strap so beware if you damage a strap you have to replace the whole bag !!

So far, this is my 2nd Arcido bag; I already own the Faroe, which I love and have used daily as my work bag. The Faroe is fantastic, but I was also looking for a smaller, compact, high quality bag, so I purchased the Saxon.To begin with, the design is simple and stylish. I love the fact the Saxon backpack is waterproof - so there's no risk of my laptops or work documents getting soaked in the infamous British weather on my commute to work.The Saxon is comfortable, the straps and the back of the bag are cushioned and made of a breathable fabric which doesn't rub and cause discomfort when carrying a heavy load; unlike every other bag I've used thats been made from a similar material.There are 2 handles on the bag, the top handle and the side handle. The top handle is much more cushioned than the Faroe’s and helps when I have a lot of contents and stops the handle digging into my hand when lifting.The side handle is a lovely addition which can also gives the bag the option to be used as a briefcase-style bag when coupled with the removable straps on the back.The side compartment has a protective, magnetic flap that covers the side loading zip. This flap blends in with the rest of the bag, making me feel that my laptop is more secure and well hidden.As well as a side compartment, there is a front compartment which again is covered up and blends in smoothly with the rest of the bag. Inside this compartment is a mesh pocket for extra storage and is great to hold my headphones, house keys etc for easy access.Carrying on with pockets, there are 2 extra hidden pockets on this bag. One at the top underneath the top handle and another on the bag of the bag, on the part that sits on your back.As previously stated, this doubles to store the straps of the bag if you choose to use this as a briefcase, but can be used to keep your important items; such as car keys and wallets as this cannot be accessed unless the bag is not on your back - which I love!Moving onto the inside of the bag - I cannot begin to describe how much you can fit in here!To put this in perspective, I carry 2 work laptops, 3x A4 folders, a change of clothes, a wash bag, a pair of wireless headphones, car keys and my purse… and there's STILL SO MUCH MORE ROOM!?The inside also has straps to hold down your contents and stop them moving around.I cannot fault this bag, AT ALL.The only improvement I could suggest would be to add a bottle pocket on the side.The guys at Arcido have created a masterpiece with the Saxon! Their products may be more expensive than your usual backpacks, but you are definitely getting what you pay for.In short, stop wasting your time and buy this bag!