Pioneer Backpack

This bag is a perfect work bag to fit my laptop and gym kit in. The design is super sleek and comfortable, zipper feels strong and durable and looks smart enough to wear with a smart ish work outfit. Would highly recommend!

Was looking for a really nice backpack that could do double duty for both work and also family travel. This backpack is awesome for both. It fits my 17 inch MacBook Pro no problem, and I really like that I can access it either from the side zip or through the inside of the backpack as well. There are a ton of pockets on the inside for organizing work things or kid things. And although I don’t typically carry around of pair of shoes, I really like the zipper access at the bottom to a separate compartment. I could see stashing a sweatshirt or the kids hoodies in there for easy access without getting all tangled up with the things inside the backpack. Also has standard stuff like water bottle pocket and sleeve for slipping over your roller bag handle. The material quality really fits with the price. The zippers are solid and the outer material seems like it will last through a lot of transport and tossing around. I really like that the zippers on the top for the main compartment have little loops so you can secure them together with a lock or even just a twist tie to slow down access in a crowd. And I really like that the structure means that it can stand up on its own without flopping all over even when nothing is in it. (It’s still squishable, not rigid or anything. Just stiff enough to stay upright) I’ve never spent this much on a backpack before, but the price actually matches with the quality and the features, so I’m excited about it.

First off, Troubadour is a real London-based company. The Amazon listing (lots of keywords) made me think this was a cheap imitation brand but when the bag arrived, it was clear that this is not the case. My Pioneer was delivered well-packaged, in a large, branded cardboard box. The materials have a premium look and feel, with thick nylon and faux leather throughout and sealing zippers similar to those on my waterproof ski gear. The bag keeps its shape when empty and can sit on a floor or table when empty. I bought this bag as a "one small item" carry-on for business travel and tested it on a recent trip from SF to the UK, involving a business class flight and train travel. For this purpose, it proved absolutely perfect. I would give it 5 stars on the over-handle design alone (see pic below). I was able to slide it over my roller board bag handle with one hand while getting on and off the plane, and the Pioneer stays UPRIGHT, unlike my previous bag that slid over the handle horizontally. A surprise benefit was that it fit perfectly in the shelf found in business class pods. Because of the zipper design that allows the top to open like a flap, I could use the bag like a drawer for my laptop, electronics, and snacks. I pack light so I didn't use many of the internal slots and zippered compartments - just the laptop slot and the small zippered compartment on the lid. It also has a side pocket perfect for a water bottle, or in my case, a can of Coke Zero. I would remove half a star if possible for the internal nylon shoe compartment accessed from the bottom. I can't imagine someone (in the US anyway) wanting to bike commute with this bag, or bringing it to the gym for that matter as it's too nice/expensive. I personally can't think of another situation in which you would carry a second pair of shoes, so the nylon for the shoe compartment just wastes internal space. Also, the Amazon picture of shoes going in the bag makes it seem like the bag is tiny (it's not, as you can see below in relation to my shoes). Did they use size 14 shoes for the photo?! Maybe this is a useful feature for some, but for me the shoe compartment is a minor downside about which I completely forgot when using the bag. Overall, I love this bag and would classify it as a "luxury travel bag". I didn't feel silly wearing it with a suit jacket and I wasn't concerned with being caught in a suprise UK rain storm due to the sealed zippers and waterproofing. It's my new go-to bag for business travel, so I'll be able to update this review with an assessment of durability as I take more trips

looks sturdy, gorgeous, well made all around that looks like will last lifetime. to access the main compartment is harder than what I thought it would be, due to the curve opening design. the bottom part for shoes is nice but needs to add a real hard type of material as separator. the pocket for laptops needs to be separate from the main compartment. I wish the design of the laptop compartment was the same design of the apex. the hidden/secret pocket for small item or frequently use items is nice, weight wise good. price bit expensive.

I am a gear nerd and backpacks are where that really comes forth for me. I work internationally and often need to pack for 15 hours of travel plus a week of daily commuting. I have been looking for years for one stylish bag that can hold all of my overnight airline needs plus show up to the office day after day. I've been using a bellroy, which is a great bag but I have long been frustrated by how thin and constraining it is. Plus, the interior bottle pocket has left me with a wet hoodie on too many overnight flights. I finally upgraded to the Troubadour Pioneer and it has solved every problem I had with my previous bag. It's stylish, with upscale fabric and comfortable padding. But, importantly, it adds a few inches of depth, smart pocketing, and a large U zipper that allows easy access to everything. Whether I need my extra layer, need to store my shoes, or just want a charging cable, everything fits easily and cleanly into the ample space. And best yet, the sleek, low, profile water pockets keep my bottle on the right side of the waterproof outer fabric. No more wet hoodies! As an added bonus, it has a secure pass-through for my carry-on to make gliding through airports a breeze. I'm extremely happy with my Toubadour pack and my partner is already starting to think about one!

Update 2/14/26 I’ve only had this a short time. The strap keeps tearing from regular use. I’ve had it fixed by warranty once. The second time I asked for refund because I only do light use. Carry only a laptop and a few essentials and it can’t hold up. Troubador offered a replacement bag but not the refund I wanted. I can’t recommend this product. I was told “one arm carry” might be the cause of the issue and I stated while that is true, it’s short periods (mins) and with non-heavy items (at least for a backpack). I like the style and feel, but quality is sub par. Find something. Previous review: Replacing my Bobby backpack. Hard to find one that felt secure but also a step up in material. Loved this felt sleek and minimal but lots of quality pockets for all my things. Loved this. It’s expensive but I hope it last a few years and feels better to take to work.