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I have been using the Lo & Sons The Rowledge backpack for several years now and it has become my go-to travel essential on all of my adventures. When The Rowledge 2 was released, I knew right away that I had to get my hands on it to discover what upgraded features it had added to the already versatile backpack that I adored.

I recently went to Japan and got to put this bag to the test right away. After taking it with me on planes, trains, and automobiles for a couple of weeks, I can confidently say that I am even more in love with this bag than I was before. Most of the features remain pretty much the same as the original bag, but there’s this one upgraded feature that I particularly love that has become a game-changer for me. Before I dive into that, let me first go over all the features of The Rowledge 2 that truly stand out and are top-notch.

On the train in Japan with The Rowledge 2

EXTERIOR FEATURES

Materials

Just like the original Rowledge, the stylish backpack is crafted from a fine-weave nylon that is both lightweight and water-resistant, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to venture out without worrying about your bag getting ruined if it happens to rain outdoors or if you accidentally spill liquids on it. The front pocket and handles are made from a luxurious, buttery natural-grain leather that adds an elegant and sophisticated touch to the overall design.

Inside, the backpack features premium-quality jacquard beautifully adorned in Lo & Sons’ signature hummingbird print, which adds a special flair to the interior. You have the option to choose from a variety of colors, but I personally opted for the camel color.

Additionally, the exterior of the bag is available in other shades like Dark Green and Deep Navy; however, I tend to gravitate towards the classic Black color because it effortlessly complements my travel luggage and clothing, making it a versatile choice for any occasion.

Lo & Sons Rowledge 2 Backpack interior — Rowledge 2 Backpack interior

Zippered, Expandable Side Pockets

The expandable side pockets are still one of my favorite features of this fantastic bag because I always make it a point to carry water with me wherever I go and need a reliable place to store it while I’m traveling. I really dislike the idea of storing the water inside the main compartment of the bag for fear of leakage and potential damage to my belongings, so exterior side pockets designed specifically to hold my water are truly the best solution for me.

The side pocket can comfortably fit a regular 16.9-ounce water bottle with ease, and it even has the capacity to hold a pretty large-sized water container inside the pocket as well. I usually take advantage of the other side pocket for my selfie stick or snacks, and this is when the zippers come in particularly handy. I can securely fasten everything right against the bag instead of having it loosely sitting inside the main compartment, which reduces the risk of it possibly falling out of the pocket while I'm on the move.

Walking across the street at Narita Airport in Japan

Dedicated Laptop Compartment

The dedicated padded laptop compartment located in the back, which features water-resistant zippers for enhanced protection, is still one of the very best laptop compartments I’ve come across in any travel bag. This thoughtfully designed compartment can effortlessly accommodate a 13” laptop with ease.

Since the compartment is not only nicely padded but also surprisingly roomy, I often find myself storing my iPad in here as well, ensuring that all my essential tech items are securely tucked away and easily accessible during my travels.

Laptop compartment with water-resistant zippers

Upper Zippered Compartment

On top of the stylish bag is a very convenient zippered compartment where you can effortlessly store smaller items such as a passport, phone, sunglasses, wallet, and a few other travel essentials. This pocket is incredibly handy when you’re navigating through the busy airport and need easy access to your passport or other important forms of identification. I particularly love to store my sunglasses in this compartment as well so they are readily accessible the moment I land at my new destination.

Taking passport out of top compartment — Top zippered compartment gives you easy access

Convertible, Padded Straps

The straps are nicely padded to provide excellent support to your shoulders, making it comfortable to carry for extended periods. Even better, they can also be discreetly hidden inside the sleeve, allowing you to convert it into a stylish tote bag whenever you prefer.

While I don’t usually use this bag as a tote very often, I do appreciate this feature when I board the plane and need to store the bag underneath the seat in front of me. When I’m on the plane, stashing my backpack underneath the seat can often make me feel stressed, as I worry about the straps potentially being in someone’s way in the aisle and someone accidentally tripping over it while walking by.

The ability to hide the straps is an exceptional feature, ensuring I no longer have to deal with this added anxiety. Since we’re on that topic, I should mention that this bag qualifies for fitting underneath the seat. While it may be a bit snug on some aircraft models, it still manages to fit securely.

Rowledge 2 Backpack securely placed on top of the suitcase — Comfy, padded straps

Suitcase Handle Sleeve

The suitcase handle sleeve is truly a must-have feature for me when it comes to choosing the perfect backpack for my travels. This particular backpack has ample space and can fit a lot of items, which means it can get pretty heavy when fully loaded. Being able to easily place it securely on top of my suitcase, with it firmly in place, is a huge lifesaver for my back and makes for a much more seamless travel experience.

If you find that you’re not using the handle sleeve, there’s also a convenient option to zip up the bottom part of the sleeve, effectively creating an extra pocket for those little essentials you want to keep handy.

Suitcase handle sleeve for seameless travel

INTERIOR FEATURES

Front Pocket

The front pocket is humungous, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how much you can fit inside it. It features a spacious zippered compartment along with several convenient organization pockets designed specifically for your snacks, chargers, headphones, pens, and various other essentials.

Additionally, there is a handy key leash inside this compartment, allowing you to securely attach your keys so that they are always easy to locate when you need them.

Inside the front pocket of the backpack — Front pocket with organization compartments and much more

Interior

This is where the Rowledge 2 truly stands out and is notably different: the design features a cleverly separated top compartment and bottom compartment within the structure of the bag. The top portion is spacious enough to accommodate a generous amount of your daily essentials, including snacks, chargers, and toiletries — all your on-the-go necessities.

The bottom compartment is, without a doubt, my favorite aspect of this bag. You can easily access it through the convenient zipper situated behind the front pocket, allowing for quick and effortless retrieval of your belongings.

On the Lo & Sons website, they refer to this innovative feature as the Shoe Pocket, which was intended to neatly store your shoes. However, I’ve discovered a much better and more fitting use for it: my Sony camera!

Rowledge 2 bottom compartment — Bottom compartment of the Rowledge 2

The bottom compartment of the Rowledge 2 backpack — The bottom compartment is very roomy

In the previous version of the Rowledge bag, I always found myself storing the camera at the very bottom of the bag since it was the heaviest item, which made it quite a hassle and cumbersome to reach in to get to my camera when I needed it. Now, with this brilliantly designed separate compartment, accessing my camera has become incredibly simple and straightforward! I genuinely love this feature of the bag so much.

And if you’re not keen on having those separate compartments, you also have the option to remove the insert, which provides you with even more valuable room in your bag for all your travel essentials.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

As always, Lo & Sons’ bags excel in style, versatility, and exceptional organization. I absolutely love the upgraded feature with the separate bottom portion on The Rowledge 2, which provides even more convenience for my packing needs. I will definitely be using this bag on all of my future travels, as it perfectly combines practicality with chic aesthetics!

Crossing the street at Narita airport in Japan — Traveling with my new Rowledge 2 backpack in Japan

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Rowledge 2 can fit a 13” laptop comfortably in the dedicated laptop compartment. I also have enough room to store my iPad in the same compartment.
The upgraded feature with the separate bottom compartment gives you easy access to your items.
Qualifies to fit underneath airline seats.
Convenient side expandable, zippered pockets to store your large water bottle.
The backpack can convert into a stylish tote.
If you want even more room inside the backpack, remove the insert.

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