I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Sometimes, you don’t know what you’re missing till you try something new. The new thing for me is the Metro Backpack Pro from Alpaka. I’ve been like many people who, when they need to carry their laptop and other daily use items from home to work and everywhere in between, have just made do with whatever backpack I have.
So I cram my computer into the same JanSport backpack (no hate there) I found lying around. And then you think… “could there be a better way?” Could I benefit from a backpack that’s meant to hold and protect my laptop? So you head to Walmart and see what they have. I was given a laptop years ago, and I’ve worked up and down the quality scale of different ones ever since.
I’m not sure my search will ever be complete as new products improve upon old ones. But, the Apaka is a formidable competitor… if you are in an area with a lot of rain. I have an amazing backpack that I’ve taken around the world with me a few times, and I even retired one just because I wanted to try their new, improved model.
That backpack averages about $40, so any other backpack has big shoes to fill. Let’s see if the Apaka Metro is that backpack. Alpaka gave us the Metro Backpack Pro here to review, and we’re very grateful for that but know that all the thoughts and opinions are mine after trying this backpack for three weeks now.
I’ve used it as my daily laptop computer; it’s what got my computer home so that I could write this article. Although being marketed as a daily urban commuter backpack, I wanted to put it to the test and took it on a family cruise, so it spent a week going from rain in cold climates to long airport waits and flights to a week on a cruise ship and even two full days traveling through Mexico and at last back to snow and the office. Let’s see what the Alpaka Metro Backpack Pro is and what it offers.
Jump to:
What is the Alpaka Metro Backpack Pro?
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Just the right size for airlines
- The secret sleeve was perfect.
- I like the quick-access pocket.
- It stands up!
- The magnetic sternum strap is perfect.
- The backpack snags on things
- It lacks an external water bottle sleeve.
The Alpaka Metro Pro is for your daily urban commuting needs. It comes with 24 liters of space to fill. It has a padded sleeve compartment for laptops up to 16″. It has three organizational zones for storage; the back is a laptop and book/tablet compartment, the middle is the main area for daily gear, and the front is a quick access compartment for essentials.
It comes with a secret side pocket for your phone or anything else you don’t want taken. Mine came with the X-Pac X42 in Olive Green exterior and the Axoflux 200D (Recycled) Blood Orange Honeycomb Ripstop materials. Both are known for their durability and weather resistance.
There are other options you can choose. Other great features include magnetic closures, a luggage passthrough strap, a detachable sternum strap, an internal water bottle sleeve, various compartments, admin loops, and Aquaguard zippers. I didn’t list everything it offers (great job, Alpaka!), but let’s talk first about what I liked and then what I didn’t like… full discloser there is one aspect to it that, for me, is almost a deal breaker, but first what I like about it.
What do I like about this backpack?
1. Just the right size for airlines
While traveling and even or going back and forth to work, I found myself making mental notes about how much I liked the style and slim design of this backpack. I was able to place it under the airplane seat and in various Ubers without a problem.
Where other bags would be too big or snag, the size of this pack is just right (Paid Link). Also, the way it is shaped made the biggest impression on me. It just seems to fit wherever you need it too!
2. The secret sleeve was perfect.
I like the secret sleeve; its placement is on the same side as the front “quick access” compartment, which makes it all the better.
Whether I was standing in line at the airport, on the cruise ship, headed to work, or traveling in a country I’d never been in before the ability to slide the pack around under my right arm and open the secret sleeve or the quick access compartment to get what I needed was invaluable.
3. I like the quick-access pocket.
While we are at it, the Quick Access Pocket is a great addition. The zipper grips are slim and long without being so long or bulky that it looks like you might be headed on a rock climbing trip. You can access the front compartment so quickly that it makes you feel like you have things under control for once.
Mine came with the Blood Orange Honeycomb Ripstop material inside, and while not being the biggest fan of the color, I grew to love it because even in dark spaces, what I stored in the compartment stood out. We can all appreciate opening a backpack only to stare into a dark void. With this bag and color, you can clearly see what you need.
4. It stands up!
The fourth thing I like… no, LOVE is that It Stands Up! My last bag would not stand on its own. This one will fall over given a little push, but you can for the most part simply set it down and start opening it up without fighting to keep it upright.
It’s a small thing, but you don’t spend over $200 on a backpack just to have it fall over and cause more issues with the valuables that you place inside. For that price, it should make your day a little easier, and for me, the Metro Pro did just that.
5. The magnetic sternum strap is perfect.
There are some other things that I could talk about that I liked, but you’ve got a backpack to purchase, so I’ll just mention the last thing that made me like this backpack.
The Magnetic Sternum Strap! The last backpack I used had a simple clasp you pinch to get apart, but this magnetic sternum strap was a notable improvement from other backpacks. It held tight when I wanted it to but separated with one small push from one hand.
You can remove the sternum strap altogether if you want, and I did just that. I used it multiple times with and without it just to see the difference, and using this bag going forward, I’ll definitely enjoy that feature. There are three things that I did not like about the Alpaka Metro Pro and one that may make me stop using it. Let’s look at that.
What do I NOT like about the pack?
1. The backpack snags on things
I’ll start with the worst thing I found with this backpack, and that is snagging, which seems almost unavoidable with the middle compartment. The zipper is solid and works great, but the material above it is meant to act as an overlap so that rain or snow doesn’t even get the chance to enter through the zipper, however, I think the overlapping material should be shortened as almost every single time I used that compartment it would snag on the overlapping material.
This was very annoying. I even started to avoid putting things in it because it was so frustrating. I did, however, find that if I took a bit more time to open and close it, it would snag-less, but I haven’t yet found a way to completely avoid it.
2. It lacks an external water bottle sleeve.
The second thing I am not too pleased with is that there is no external water bottle sleeve. You’ll notice this right away if you look at it. While I don’t like this, I do understand it because when you start adding sleeves to the outside, you begin to lose the slim design and the ability for the backpack to fit in various places without falling over or snagging.
I think Alpaka made up for it in a big way because they added a water bottle sleeve to the inside of the middle compartment and, let me tell you, it’s nice. I carry a full Nalgene water bottle in it, and… it fits! This bag seems to have a heavy emphasis on protecting your gear from rain, snow, or spills, and so I like that if it’s raining, it will even keep your water bottle dry.
Who should buy this Alpaka Metro Backpack Pro?
Those are my thoughts on the Alpaka Metro Pro after three weeks, and overall, I am definitely going to keep using this backpack; I’ll just have to figure out how to avoid the snag on the middle compartment because while it’s annoying, I live in an area with snow or rain for nine months out of the year and having my laptop dry and essentials secure and accessible is invaluable.
But the real question, and likely why you are reading this article, is whether this backpack is for you. I think if you want a backpack that is going to fit well sitting on your lap in a crowded bus, fitting under an airplane seat, or on your back, without worry, this is for you. If you live in an area that experiences fair amounts of rain or snow, this is a great backpack for you.
If not, I think a different backpack may be a better option. If you get neck or shoulder discomfort from thinner straps that are less padded, you may want to avoid this one. Also, while it can carry weight if you have a lot of weight, the straps may cause some discomfort in the long run. Overall, this backpack stands out and stands UP! An excellent product with a well-thought-out design.
I must add this last part, Alpaka seemed to have a very specific demographic in mind for the design of this backpack. And I think they did a great job making a product to fit that need. Such as people who live in very wet climates. I think it’s a bold move for any backpack design to not have an exterior water bottle holder, but they did it, and they did it well and for good reason.
Where should you buy the product?
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Just the right size for airlines
- The secret sleeve was perfect.
- I like the quick-access pocket.
- It stands up!
- The magnetic sternum strap is perfect.
- The backpack snags on things
- It lacks an external water bottle sleeve.
