The Perfect Bag?

My quest for the perfect bag has been a serious and lengthy endeavor, spanning a decade. Cost me more money than I feel comfortable sharing and more time on research than any reasonable person should spend. If 10,000 hours is an accurate measurement to become an expert on something, I can now confidently title myself Remote Worker Travel-friendly Backpack Expert. It’s a niche, I know, but one I occupy proudly. 

Enough pompous preamble. Let me bring you into my compulsive brain for a bit!

I need a bag that is big and comfortable enough to hold my MacBook Pro 16”, which weighs approximately 273 kg. I need to fit enough stuff to hold what I might need for a day out in different climates. I need my laptop to be padded and feel safe. I need enough small pockets so I can organize my stuff in an accessible manner, but not too many so it becomes complicated to use it. I need pockets on the sides for a water bottle and whatever random stuff I feel like adding.

Also, I’m a child of my time and aesthetics matter. It can’t be ugly, nor have too much color, because I know from experience I will love it at first sight and hate it after one month.

So what is wrong with the bags I’ve had?

Kånken Laptop

This might be my Swedish heritage, but when in doubt – go Kånken. It has been my most trusted companion. The one bag I have consistently used throughout the years. It's sturdy and reliable. I can squeeze it flat and pack it as an extra when traveling.

However, functionally, it's lacking a few things. The main issue is not being able to put my water bottle on the side. It's also on the smaller side for main compartment, and only has one pocket inside (with foam seat pad to sit on).

Beis The Backpack

It’s big, spacious, with a decent amount of pockets. But, it also felt thin and a bit flimsy. I couldn't fit my thick water bottle in the side pocket (recurring issue) and the top strap was pretty uncomfortable if I needed to carry it. I did not trust it to stand even a drop of rain. I found myself defaulting back to my Kånken.

Lululemon Run All Day

I remember loving this one years back. It was super light and the fabric stretchy enough to fit most of what I needed. But I it was lacking a dedicated laptop sleeve, and the shape made it impossible to set down on the floor.

... and many others

Besides the ones I bought and tried, many have been discarded before even getting that far. Most of them suffer from similar problems as the ones I tried. A common design feature is to have a hood that folds over the bag. While it protects the contents, it also adds a layer of friction to accessing the pockets, which does not appeal to me.

Anyhow, if I would write about them all, this post would be the size of a Brandon Sanderson novel.

The Bag

At some point last year I watched a YouTube video from Christy Anne Jones where she talked about her new backpack. It was a Japanese brand, exact same model as the one she used to pieces and she explained why she loved it so much. Anytime someone mentions a bag they love, I will immediately go on a research binge.

Turns out the brand, Anello, is rare in Europe. I could order it online, but the size and color I wanted was sold out and I was also hesitant to order something I hadn't seen it in real life. I made that mistake a few times too many.

But a week ago I was in Bangkok, and guess what they have there? Anello shops. I went in, squeezed all the options, and was convinced. This could be it, I thought. The Bag to rule them all. The Bag which puts an end to my decade-long quest.

Let me introduce the Anello Cross bottle Bag, size large. It seemed to address all the pain points I've experienced with other bags.

Let me tell you all the features I deeply appreciate with it.

The fabric is soft and fairly light, while being sturdy. The side pockets can swallow any water bottle, and they are wide enough for me to grab and replace items without taking off the bag. The shoulder straps are comfortable, and I can carry it easily by the top handle when needed. It even has a strap to connect it to my suitcase handle.

It has the perfect amount of pockets: an outer pocket for sunglasses and quick-access items, plus a laptop sleeve in main compartment, with a few smaller organizational pockets.

My favorite unexpected feature: It opens up wide, like a tote bag. Unlike my previous bags that open from the front—forcing me to either tilt the bag or blindly rummage with one hand—this design gives me full overview and easy access to everything.

Plus, I like how it looks.

As I no longer need to research backpacks, I now have a lot more time at my disposal. Maybe I'll finally write a novel? Hike the PCT? Start an AI company and fight Elon for world domination?

The possibilities are endless.