Moshi passed a critical first test as I opened up the box containing a review unit of its new roll-top backpack the company calls Captus.
My wife liked the looks of it.
Over the years, she has seen me review backpacks and messenger bags and while I reach nuanced conclusions for each, her evaluations are consistently blunt – most bags skew masculine.
Moshi Captus review
That is not to say the look of the Moshi Captus is feminine, or even cute to use her word when a bag meets her approval. The look of the Captus – sand-color with brown trim – should find wide appeal.
It appears stately with a weather-resistant material that looks like a fine tweed jacket.
The look is eye-catching (it also comes in denim blue), but looks can sometimes be the only thing going for a bag. Start packing this thing and you will be more impressed with the amount of room available in the cavernous main compartment.
Captus carries the goods – lots of goods
Moshi gives the wearer 45-liters to play with even after you’ve stowed your MacBook Pro in its well-padded laptop pocket. There is ample room for the commuter with dual lives: work, workout and nightlife. The zippered bottom can pack away a pair of shoes.
I have been underwhelmed by roll-tops on backpacks. Brands that make tech bags have been borrowing this feature recently from cycling bag companies, like Chrome. I have found on some packs that the roll-top does little to free up room.
Not so with Captus. I managed to pack it for a four-day weekend and as I packed each layer, I always felt I had room to spare. It is more of a fold than a roll to secure the top.
The downside of a well-packed bag is when you need something in the middle or at the very bottom. Rather than rooting through everything in a full Captus pack, two long zippers running down the front provides access to the compartment at any point.
Zippers and a roll-top make for easy access
The laptop compartment is good for a 15-incher. There are zippered pockets on the front and side, an elastic-topped water bottle pocket and a Napoleon pocket with RFID shield on the back for a wallet and smartphone.
The shoulder straps are padded and comfortable, even for a heavy carry. Just make sure you leave a little room to fold and clip it shut.
Buy from: Moshi – $199.95
Moshi provided Cult of Mac with a review sample for this article. See our reviews policy.