I really wanted to like this bag because it's hard to find a lightweight 12-20L backpack with a separate laptop compartment, luggage passthrough, and X-Pac materials. However, I couldn't get over 4 things:

1) The front pocket has no secure closure. It only has a small magnetic closure mechanism with no way to securely store items inside. This isn't clear from the pictures nor was it mentioned anywhere in the description when I purchased it and at the time of writing this review. I wouldn't trust that anything important I put in there would be secure and not fall out when the bag's horizontal, making that pocket totally unusuable for anything other than shoving large items (towel, clothes, etc). I know some people like these "shove" pockets, but this wasn't made clear in any way by Venque.

2) The weight of the bag much heavier than the advertised 680g. I noticed this the moment I took the bag out of the package. When I weighed it empty using a precise scale, it came in closer to 950g, which is quite a difference!

3) The interior material feels like a very cheap felt, almost guaranteed to show piling, wear, and dirt quickly and easily, especially because the interior material is white (why??). That's probably the one color you don't want to use for an interior's color b/c it's so prone to showing marks and discoloration over time.

4) There's a strange interior flap/lip on the backside of the main compartment that perhaps could be used to store a folder or maybe large iPad, but it's hard to know what you could possibly fit in there. It's like a weird layer split into two. I'm not sure how usable it would be for anything and only adds weight to the bag.

Even more frustrating was the fact I specifically asked Venque about the design of that front pocket and interior design b/c the pics are so unclear and honestly, rather misleading. I immediately requested a refund, and Venque eventually told me I'd need to cover the shipping to return the item, which cost me over £30 to ship back from the UK. Be aware that if you're outside of North America, return shipping costs are 100% your responsibility, which is stated on their Refund policy, but again, another piece of misleading advertising from Venque b/c it explicitly states right on this page, "Free Returns within 100 days of purchase." No asterisk, no link for more details, just a blanket statement with no qualifiers.

Overall, my impression based on the theme of misleading pics and marketing copy is that Venque is just trying to sell bags without being truly forthcoming about their products' quality or company policies. I'll never buy from them again and recommend you avoid them too.

I’ve had tons of backpacks, but this one stands out. Durable zippers, water-resistant XPAC material, and a great ergonomic fit make it a must-have. It's minimal but doesn’t skip on function. Definitely worth it.

I carry a 16” MacBook Pro and still have space for notebooks, snacks, and chargers. The padded straps and structured back panel make it feel weightless. Love the clean aesthetic too.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with XPAC fabric, but it exceeded my expectations. The material is light but strong, and you can feel the craftsmanship. The zippers don’t snag, and it fits all my tech gear.

Every detail in this backpack is intentional—from the hidden pockets to the smooth zippers. XPAC fabric adds a rugged texture and feels weather-resistant. Perfect mix of performance and aesthetics.