Summary - Buy the ebags Slim Jr. if you are tired of using the same bag as everybody else, if you want a neat and professional look, if you want a bag that helps organize things well but also forces you to minimize what you carry, and if you don’t want to spend gobs of money for high end options. I'm pleased with the bag after a couple of months daily use and a few air travel trips.
Details:
I got tired of my sloppy, huge Swiss Gear bag (see pic). It served me well but it became like my old baggy fitting clothes that are now replaced with a neater fit. As a frequent traveler, I was seeking something neater looking and a bit more compact.
I was also looking at backpack styles from Osprey, Timbuktu Q, SOLO Bradford, and the eBags Professional Slim.
Thanks for the other reviews so far and to David Zhang’s great YouTube review of the regular Slim model. I confirm all positive things said about the bag and some of the negatives. I will try to focus on some new perspectives here.
I chose the Slim Jr. over the other brands mainly due to it’s storage features, especially the rigid garage at the bottom (huge) and the front organizer panel which enables you to separate small items and reveal them easily to get them. I chose the Slim Junior over the standard Slim primarily because of the 2 inches difference in height, especially knowing the Jr. will fit nicely under airplane seats. I wouldn’t mind if the Slim Jr. was even 1 inch deeper though.
All zippers are YKK and so are some of the plastic anchors. Good stuff.
All external zippers, including bottom garage and front pouch) can be locked for tamper evidence using a small ring, as shown for the top set in the eBags product images. The backpacker in me could see using these rings as lashing points to tie on something light such as a jacket.
The compartment for the computer has vertical space left at the top with magazines/notebook in there, even with the bottom pad in place. I might get a ditty bag to keep stuff in this available space.
The bottle holder is a bit small as others say but it held my Nalgene bottle quite snugly and I would trust it.
I foresee using the bottle pocket for holding valuables while going through airport security. I prefer to put them in my bag rather than leave them loose in the scanner tray.
Stuffing the main compartments makes the outmost front pocket quite tight, leaving space only for papers. When I removed my fleece vest, I could fit my valuables in there too.
The pass-thru for luggage handle worked ok for my small Victorinox roller (although still not a quick task) but not at all for my Travel Pro. The Travel Pro handle is wide and rubberized so it just wouldn’t slide through. See the photo showing a simple work-around using a small carabiner, which has worked well on several trips now.
The edges of the pass-thru are too tight and almost wrapped around the outside edges of the bag, making it harder to use. eBags could make this pass-thru pocket a little looser or come up with another simple retaining method.
The sternum straps come off which is a good for making the look even neater (see pictures of this clip).
Extra length on the shoulder straps is easily tucked away (see pic).
Standing upright with good stability is really nice for a soft bag thanks to the rigid box at the bottom. There’s also a fair amount of stiffening padding throughout. Some were critical of this but I like it.
In conclusion, I was looking for a slim and compact bag more professional looking than the old Swiss Gear and the Slim Junior fits those requirements very well. Transferring my stuff from the Swiss Gear revealed a silly amount of extra pens, thumb drives, packs of gum, etc. that accumulated over time in the dark abyss pockets (see pic). I’m glad this bag will help me keep things simpler and lighter. It’s a great bag to consider if you’re looking for a unique, slim and neat bag that organizes things very well.
So far so good. Originally the bag arrived and I was a little worried about how small it was. I ended up ordering the larger Professional Slim bag and comparing the sizes in person. This smaller bag really does everything the bigger bag does but better. It can still fit everything I tried to put it in them, including my laptop, tablet, power brick, battery bank, various cables and cords, light sweatshirt, compact umbrella, camelbak water bottle, and various other small travel items.
Pro
- More space thank you may think
- Light
- Easy to Organize
- Good materials
- Slim profile and good looking bag
Cons
- Not a backpack for someone looking to store more than a single days worth of clothes on top of the laptop portion of the bag. If you need an overnight bag for traveling with some flexibility to extend a stay this will be to small for you.
Comparison to Professional Slim
- This bag is much lighter and can still fix most laptops you would try to fit inside unless its a gaming laptop
- The original Slim can fit a good amount more in the main compartment. The bag is about 2 inches thicker and most of that is made available to the main compartment. The bag is also a few inches taller meaning it can fit larger laptops
- The Slim Junior has a sligtly more tapored designed from bottom to top
- The L zipper makes more sense on the smaller Junior bag. It's easier to reach in and get access to the further corner of the bag on the Junior.
I find the original Slim to be in a weird place now. The Ebags Professional Weekender is not to much larger than the slim and fits the need of a laptop bag with extra room for other trip essentials like clothes, toiletries, bigger items like projectors, or lots of camera equipment. The Weekender ends up being good carry on Luggage for a trip while the Slim Junior is small enough to be your personal item, and travel briefcase. The Processional Slim is left somewhere in-between. To small to be considered efficient carry on if you usually travel with the standard 21"x14"x9" luggage. It is also over the limit for most airlines person item dimensions. I am sure someone will correct me and say they flew with the original slim no problem, which I would believe. Not all airlines measure every personal item bag. But the point remains if you do not want to check a bag and you already have carry on luggage, the original slim may be to large to count as your personal item. You may get stuck checking it or your carry on.
This is a super solid, well built professional's backpack. I've used many backpacks for carrying my laptop to work - and this is the best balance of functionality, sleekness, and comfort. As a backpack, the straps are comfy, even under a load. I couldn't decide which one I preferred, this one or the larger eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack. The Junior is smaller (hence the name) by a few inches vertically (the outer zippered areas are shorter) and maybe a 1/2-inch depth-wise. Being the newer model, eBags made a few improvements with the Junior - there's an extra sleeve in the laptop area to slip in items that you really don't want to have bent. The only place that 'suffers' in my opinion is the outer flap area - boarding passes (if you still use them) and checkbook might not fit so easily. What can the Jr fit? My typical daily contents include: 13-inch laptop, soup/stew in a Stanley-container, insulated coffee canteen, work-out clothes, ipad, headphones (eg Bose 35 - in the lower 'hard case' area + glasses case, notebook, wallet, bus pass, little stuff, pens).
I love all of the pockets in the second zippered area! I thought the L-zipper design for the laptop area and the 'everything' area would be bothersome not opening up all of the way, but I haven't minded it at all. As others have mentioned, the outer zip-open water bottle holder is a bit short for 1-liter, but for 1/2 liter travel coffee/tea cups, its perfect. Oh, and the heather grey is a fabulous textured color. I also really like the lack of extra straps - to me this gives the backpack a sleeker, more professional look AND not having those straps means fewer chances of catching the strap on chairs etc. (My more outdoorsy backpacks have those extra straps - great for that situation, embarrassing when snagged on an airplane seat) The pack when loaded and strapped-in lands about my lower back. And if you are planning to really take it for a long 'hike', a third-party hip belt can be added (slip it through the luggage handle pass-through).
I literally purchased 12 bags off amazon to find the perfect one since I travel 3 days a week around the country. The bags I tried ranged from AmazonBasics (which was a close second) to the uber durable and expensive Pelican. This eBags won for me!! Fits my MacBook Pro and/or iPad Pro along with all my gear perfectly. Great product.
first I bought the larger sized one, I did not know this size was an option. i love that bag but it is a little too tall and think. this one is perfect size for laptop, iPad pro, device chargers and gadgets, all the other stuff to travel with and it's the right size for wear and to fit under tighter airline seats. super excellent quality and design. I am a bag snob (Briggs & Riley) and this bag meets my standards. I am in love with this bag, the layout, quality, features, finish etc. I am like a little kid with a new toy. the iPad pouch is too small for the Pro but I put the pro into one of the main pouches and use the iPad sleeve for receipts. and I took the hard liner for the lower pocket out to provide me with more room in that pocket.
Feature Product
Description
Ideal for the daily commute or occasional travel, this laptop backpack offers extreme organization with pockets to hold each and every travel essential. The eBags Professional Slim Junior Laptop Backpack offers a streamlined, professional look that makes it perfect for school, work, or travel, and it's made from durable twisted dobby fabric with an Airmesh padded back panel for all-day carrying comfort. The interior includes a lockable laptop compartment and a tablet pocket, while the exterior boasts a crush-proof compartment to hold fragile gear. A zippered side pocket provides storage for a water bottle, while a deluxe front organizer includes a series of zippered mesh pockets, elastic pockets, card pockets, and pen loops.
It's the Abenator back with another bag review.
I purchased the eBags professional slim Junior backpack Tuesday night and today is Thursday, I've got it in hand already and packed with most of my EDC gear.
This bag is smaller than I expected, but that's okay - there is plenty of room for everything that is completely necessary. Necessities only for this little guy.
I'm 5'8" and about 155lbs, this bag looks rather small on me but that'll be a good when it comes time to travel.
It's true to the size of the description, it measures at 16.5inches long, 12.5inches across and it seems to be about 5.75inches wide. It will definitely fit under the seat in front of you with ease.
Our Disney world trip flights were miserable because I had my laptop bag and my Osprey Raptor 14 L underneath the seat. I had no space for my feet at all - hence why I needed to find a comfortable bag that can fit with ease beneath the seat.
A few things here that's different than the middle size professional slim. The junior is obviously smaller which means there are going to be some accommodations for its lack of size.
If you watch video reviews for the mid-sized professional slim, it looks like the business card holders are vertical in those, so that's going take away space from the zippered mesh pocket next to it. I'm not entirely sure on that but it looks like that's a difference. Also, that whole section is a great deal smaller than the mid-sized professional slim. So, that'll totally limit your EDC doo-dads and stuff you'd like to have with you. It's going to turn you into a minimalist. So there's that.
The water bottle holder holds my 32oz. with ease and I even shook the bag very vigorously and it stayed put.
The AC garage at the bottom is quite roomie, but again, space is limited. I'll probably only put my extension cord and laptop chargers in there. Maybe a snack on days I don't wanna carry my lunch bag.
The lined pocket up top is really nice, definitely will fit a decent sized tablet. I may test that pocket with my wife's Samsung galaxy Tab 2 or whatever that thing is. It's the 9.7 inch screen sized one. I think it'll fit just fine. However, I'll be using that pocket for sunglasses and maybe a place for my wallet when I wear socks. A note book and pen. Quick access stuff.
The Napoleon pocket is really small, that's the very front vertical pocket. You'll have to fold your boarding pass to fit it in that joker.
The zippers are Super Duper Loud. Way too loud. I'm gonna grab zipper pulls to silence these things. $100 should definitely pay for silencing zippers, Sheesh.
Still a great bag. But there ya go. I'll update tomorrow after I take it out for a spin.
Thanks, guys. I hope this helps.
Update:
Heads up, this thing is heavy. Super heavy. The 9.7 inch tablet fit fine in the top zipper pocket with the liner.
I cannot stress enough, this is a very heavy little bag. I live in Seattle, I'm not looking forward to marching up hills with this thing on my back.
I regret to inform you that I will be returning this backpack, there's just not enough space for me. Great bag, just a hair too small.
So I bought this through Ebags only because it was $10 less due to a back to school savings code: CAMPUS. I will be writing another review to talk about how this bag holds up after a couple of months. I am extremely happy with my purchase. I was somewhat worried about the size of this bag and thought that it might be too small to its counter part (TLS Slim Regular). But it was perfect!!!. I am a female and im 5'3. I will be using this for college, though it might not be the girliest bag I've seen it beats hurting my back and its useful unlike a small hand bag.
Pros:
Great compartments - enough to hold everything you want in different places
Stands upright - if empty it stands up, granted if you do have stuff in it it might fall forward but the stuff inside doesn't schlump down
Ipad compartment is big - I though it might be tight. I do have a ipad mini but it has a rubber case and i thought it might be hard to shove in...but its not.
My biggest problem is that my contents usually go straight to the bottom of the bag..I HATE THAT!!. But this bag gets rid of the problem.
Cons:
Heavy - it is a heavy bag..at around 3 pounds. But, after i put i computer in 4.25 pounds (mac pro) and a whole bunch of other stuff. it didn't seem that heavy. i bet if you but it on a scale it would be around....18 pounds...but the bag if well made and has great padding...though ill let you know more after ive walked with it for a couple hours.
Water bottle sleeve - it's small. I knew that when i bought it. it fits my contigo about 7-8 inch high but i don't think it would stay in if i started running or walked fast
the main compartment isn't big enough with the hard shell inside for a binder (from staples brand) (12 inch high) though it does fit in the compartment with the computer.
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Overall i would defiantly purchase this bag. i had trouble deciding between this one and the jansport envoy( saw it in staples the other day, to big and crappy looking)
the junior size is great for me and i think it will work great for college(not big enough to hold many textbooks)
though if your taller than 5'3 and you think you need a bigger backpack than get the regular slim.
I have attached photos of the bag with the binder size issue and water bottle
HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!
I'm a business professional who travels extensively. I've always used a traditional laptop bag but wanted to a backpack for business use. I needed it to be professional looking, small enough to fit under the seat in front of me when flying and I didn't want it to be bulky or have ton's of shiny hardware. It had to be rugged and a good value. I'm not about to spend hundreds of dollars for something that I jam under the seat in front of me and put my feet on! I love how Tumi bags look but that's too much money for something that's going to get quite a bit of wear and tear. I love how real leather looks, but again the cost/value proposition doesn't work for me. I think this bag is very close to perfect. Some of it's best features: it's slim, having two handles is great, being able to put it over the handle of my spinner bag either standing upright or on the side is fantastic. The way the pocket on the back opens up is very convenient; it's easy to get in and out of it while it's sitting on your lap in the plane. And as an extra bonus, my companies main color is orange which is the color of the inside of this bag! I think this bag is a tremendous value at it's price point. It carries nicely the harder compartment at the bottom is really ideal for all of my power cords, adapters, etc. I carry and iPad air in the small middle pocket and a Windows Surface and it's fantastic. I really like the water bottle holder as well. When traveling I only carry a small bottle of water, usually the 20 oz Smartwater bottles and they fit in the pocket perfectly. I being able to "zip away" the water bottle pouch when not in use. I bought the "Professional Slim" version of this first and then discovered the junior size so I had them both at the house together. I think the Junior size is perfect for flying; the regular Slim version would be too big to fit under the seat in front of you. If you want a professional looking backpack for your portable office that has just the space you need but no more, this is it!! A compact totes umbrella also fits perfectly in this backpack.
Bag is very new but I've already used it for a week and had to deal with a heavy rain on the second day. Was extremely surprised how well the material shed the water and kept all my belongings dry. Albeit the bag isn't advertised as waterproof, the material is very water repellent.
The size of the bag is exactly what I wanted. I can fit a number of gadgets and wires. I have a 14" laptop which is a bit on the heavier side and the weight is very well balanced. I don't feel as though the bag is pulling me down and rests comfortably against my back/lower back. I carry the charger, laptop mouse, and large battery pack in the "garage". A 5 foot flat network cable, USB network adapter, pen sized laptop screwdriver set, pen sized hex screwdriver set, Fenix UC30 flashlight, USB Sata drive cable, USB serial port adapter in the front "C" pocket. I also carry a pair of full sized Audio Technica headphones and another small bag of miscellaneous items, zip ties, velcro strips and more adapters an IT consultant might need on a whim.
All this and the bag is compact and professional looking. It IS tight fitting this amount if stuff but remember this is Slim JUNIOR backpack.
Will update if there are any durability issues or other concerns.
Slightest of "problem" I have with the bag is the length of the straps.They are a little too long for my liking but they are finished very nicely with a loop and stitched so I don't want to cut them down. I just make a loop and tie them around the straps sort of like a neck tie knot.
I can't say much more than that I <3 my eBag! I am 5'2" and this bag fits me perfectly. It offers the right amount of organization capabilities keeping all of my cables, laptop, iPad, chargers, etc. well compartmentalized. I am a bit OCD and do not like my laptop to come in contact with cables while in transport. I also like all of the accessories to be in their own place. This bag is... perfect.
