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As some of you may have noticed, I was recently in New York for the unveiling of the Moto Z2 Force. Since I live in Virginia and travel to Baltimore or elsewhere for work, having a reliable backpack is something that is an absolute necessity. I’ve used quite a few different options over the years, but always ran into various issues such as the bag being uncomfortable after an extended period of time, or not having enough space for everything I need to bring with me.
Then, I reached out to TYLT to give their new Energi Pro backpack a shot, as my previous bag just wasn’t cutting it for longer trips. And spoiler alert – it’s great!
Starting with the “specs” for the bag, you are greeted with a bag coming in at 13.5″ x 19.5″ x 9″, which should be enough room for all of your goodies, and then some. But the real star of this bag is the included 20,100mAh QC portable charger that has a dedicated pocket.
The reason this is important is that there are various holes placed throughout the bag that let you route cables from the charger pocket to different pockets within the bag. If you’re someone who uses one of the new MacBook’s with USB Type-C, then you can keep your laptop charged on the go, without needing to find a wall plug while you’re waiting for your train (or train) to arrive.
Stepping back for a moment, let’s take a look at everything that you can squeeze into the Energi Pro bag itself. There is a total of 12 different pockets, which all serve a specific purpose, while also including an additional bag for cables or odds & ends.
To put this into perspective, here’s a list of everything that I carry with me when I travel:
- 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro
- MBP Charger
- Logitech MX Master
- Canon 70D Camera
- Charger
- 55-250mm Canon Lens
- 24mm Fixed Canon Lens
- Camera Tripod
- 30,000mAh Aukey Portable Charger
- ATH-M50X Headphones
- BeatsX Bluetooth Headphones
- LG G6
- iPhone 7 Plus
- Pixel
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
- An array of charging cables for iPhone and USB Type-C
- Wallplugs for charging on the train or train station
- External Hard Drive
- Microfiber cloth
- Baron Fig Notebook
- Pens (for writing)
Whew, that list is longer than I expected and I carry way more than I thought. Anyways, starting with the laptop compartment, the Energi Pro features a laptop compartment which is big enough for my MacBook Pro and then some. The same general pocket allows for me to toss my MacBook Pro charger as well, keeping everything compartmentalized and together for organization sake.
The largest compartment offers so much space, that it fits everything I need to with a little bit of wiggle room. There’s enough room for my Canon 70D, extra lens, MX Master mouse, notebook, my ATH-M50X headphones, and a few other smaller pockets for things like pens or my reading glasses. Plus, the pocket expands wide enough where I can access everything with no problem.
Oh, and TYLT also includes an extra mini-pouch, where you can throw your cables, headphones, and other odds & ends into without worrying about fumbling around. Being able to unzip my bag and grab my camera really quick is so convenient, and something that makes it easy for me to not need an extra camera bag just for the camera and extra lens.
As we stated before, there’s a rather large side pocket which is the home for the included 20,100mAh external battery. This battery is capable of charging anything you throw at it and features a total of four charging ports. There are two USB Type-A ports for plugging in regular cables, a USB Type-C that can either be used to charge the battery itself, or for a USB Type-C to Type-C cable, and a microUSB cable for charging.
On the top of the battery, you’ll find 4 LED indicators placed next to the power button, where you’ll be able to identify how much juice is left before you need to recharge the battery. Additionally, you’ll find TYLT’s minimalistic branding, just reminding you of where you should go if you ever need any other charging concerns.
Now when it comes to price, you may immediately run the other direction as this is priced at $149. However, let’s take a look at a similar set up with another bag/charger. If you need a lot of space, then you might look to something like STM’s new Kings laptop bag. This backpack (which was my previous go-to bag) is priced at $149.95, offers a lot of space, but not as much, but also doesn’t include a portable charger.
If you already have a large portable charger, then you’ll be able to use that, but if not, you’ll need to get a new one to keep your devices charged up. So you’re already at $150, and need to find a new portable charger that is capable of charging your USB Type-C MacBook. Looking at a fan favorite, the Anker PowerCore+ 20,100 offers the same battery size, and features a USB Type-C charging port, while being priced at $65.99.
So then you’re looking at spending more than $200 on the same combination that TYLT is offering in one package. Then there’s something else to consider – comfortability. When you carry as much gear as I do, it’s extremely important for the bag to not weigh you down or rub your shoulders the wrong way. With the TYLT Energi Pro, I’ve never been so comfortable carrying so much luggage ever.
There is so much shoulder padding that, although I know there’s a lot of stuff in my bag, it really doesn’t take a toll on my shoulders, even if you’re carrying things around all day long. The back also features extra padding, just to add to the comfortability factor and puts the Energi Pro over the top as my favorite bag.
Conclusion
All-in-all, the TYLT Energi Pro is my favorite backpack that I’ve ever used, as it keeps everything I need secure and protected from the elements. Plus, with the included portable charger and cable routing features, this really makes the Energi Pro a no-brainer. For some of you, this may be overkill, but if you travel frequently and need a lot of space, the Energi Pro is the best option on the market, bar-none.
If you have any questions, feel free to sound off in the comments below and let us know, and we’ll be sure to respond with the best answer possible. If you have any other suggestions of bags you use on a regular basis, give us a heads up and maybe you’ll see a review of them in the future!
In the meantime, hit the button below to check out the TYLT Energi Pro and let us know whether you decided to pick one up for yourself!
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