A DAILY CARRIER

WHILE Tumi’s Alpha 3 is the brand’s signature, the range is more suitable for travelling than day-to-day use. The weight of the ballistic nylon used in the bags, plus leather in some models made the carriers sturdy but heavy.

So I tried the Nelllis in Tundra (a deep shade of green mixed with black) from the Alpha Bravo collection for a week to see how it fares as a daily bag to carry work and personal belongings on foot while taking Grab or the LRT, since I don’t drive.

First things first, I like how it looks. The architecture is beautiful and the zipper is sturdy and smooth, which is most important for a bag that you are going to open and close countless times.

It provides ample padding to protect your belongings, especially your notebook, which users will appreciate. The brand calls it a “versatile, modern backpack that works perfectly for business, school, commuting and travel” and it’s true. The bag looks beautiful and is practical.

Its tall main compartment has a separate section for papers or files. It also has numerous organiser pockets and dedicated space for your laptop and tablet backpack straps have D-rings for attachments.

HOW iT FAreS

But how a backpack looks and how it fares can be different. This bag weighs 1.5kg empty, thanks to the padding and numerous pockets. The front pocket is made of leather and I think that adds up too. Once you put in your notebook, papers, maybe a paperback and a water bottle, the weight adds up and the bag feels pretty heavy.

The strap and back padding make carrying it comfortable, but that doesn’t make the bag any lighter. I find that if you drive or take a car, you won’t feel weighed down from ferrying the bag from home to your vehicle. But if you take the LRT and have to walk to and from stations, then I think you should find a lighter alternative. The bag doesn’t have a chest strap to keep it in place so that’s a minus for me.

This one is good for look and style ― you can even stamp your initials on the bag, ― the brand designs some bags that way. But if you are an urban commuter and carry many items in your bag, then this one might be a tad too heavy for that purpose.