Halfday Roamer Backpack Review: Another Clever Travel Solution

Two and a half years ago, after coming across the Halfday Garment Duffle on Instagram, I ended up ordering one and giving it a shot. Since then, Halfday has continued to expand its brand, not only making updates to that original duffle but also debuting new bags and styles. Among them is the Roamer Backpack, which aims to be an all-in-one travel solution for short getaways.

After getting to spend one trip with the Halfday Roamer Backpack and being in the midst of another, what are my thoughts? Let’s take a look at my experience with the bag so far and whether or not I think it meets its lofty goal.

Disclosure: While I did previously buy my own Garment Duffle, Halfday did send me the Roamer Backpack for review. However, I’ve received no other compensation for my review, and the opinions in this article are purely my own.

Reviewing the Halfday Roamer Backpack: Details and Features

Pricing and Colors

Currently, the Halfday Roamer Backpack sells for $128 on the Halfday site. Note: You can get 15% of all Halfday items with this Halfday link. That happens to match the price of their regular 45L Garment Duffle. It’s also quite a bit less than I paid for my Away Zip backpack ($195).

Colorwise, you can nab it in Jet (Black), Marine, or Olive. Personally, I opted for Marine to match my Garment Duffle. While these are the only options at this time, if Halfday’s other product rollouts are any indication, I’d imagine that more will arrive in due time.

Dimensions and Details

In terms of sizing, according to Halfday’s site, the bag measures 20″ long, 12.5″ wide, and 8.5″ deep. When empty, the bag weighs in at 2.5 pounds. Halfday also states that the backpack has a capacity of 30L by default — or 35L when you use the expansion feature (which we’ll talk about later). Put into real-world terms, the company estimates that you can fit two to three days’ worth of clothes in the bag along with all the other goodies you’d need for a long weekend.

Exterior Layout and Features

On the outside of the Roamer Backpack, you’ll find a few handy features. First, there are handles located on the top and side of the bag, giving you multiple options for picking it up. Just below the side handle is a bottle holder that also has a stretchy strap to hold it in place. Meanwhile, the opposite side has a small, zippered pouch.

Moving to the back, a key convenience is the trolley sleeve, making it easier to place your backpack on top of a carry-on. On this trolly sleeve and continuing up the back of the pack, you’ll also notice the lumbar support that’s built in.

As for the Roamer’s straps, they are well-padded and comfortable on your shoulders. There’s also a magnetic sternum strap that can be moved up and down along the main straps.

Also on the back is where you’ll find the laptop pocket. Halfday notes that this can accommodate a laptop of up to 15″. We’ll get deeper into this part of the bag in the next section.

On the front, you’ll find a flat and smooth design that actually holds two more pouches. These include one large pouch that makes up about two-thirds of the bag’s face, and then a top pouch for items you want easy access to.

Next, let’s talk about the zippers. For the main compartment, both zippers come equipped with yellow pulls. Meanwhile, the two zippers on the laptop pocket can come together and be sealed with a lock (although a lock is not included).

Finally, the entire bag is made of water-resistant material. However, I (thankfully) haven’t had to put this to the test just yet.

Interior Details

As you can see just from my exterior run-through, the Halfday Roamer Backpack has lots of storage options. Starting on the front, that top pouch I mentioned not only contains two sectioned cargo pouches but even has a soft-lined pouch that would likely be good for sunglasses or the like. There’s also a key leash… even though this particular pouch isn’t so big as to necessitate one.

Going back to the laptop compartment, while you can put your laptop in the main section and let it go all the way to the bottom, there is a pocket you can slip it in. Seeing as I have a smaller laptop, this has been my play so far. Above that, though, there’s yet another zippered pouch.

Heading into the main compartment, this is where the Roamer Backpack stands out. One unique feature (and one of the first I noticed after getting the bag) is the built-in interior sack. Found in the main compartment of the bag, this pouch can be used to pack an extra pair of shoes. Alternatively, you could utilize it to store your worn clothes and keep the laundry separate from the clean items. There’s also a clip to keep this sack secured or rolled down when you’re not using it. Pretty clever!

By now, you’ve likely noticed that the main section of the bag unzips nearly completely. This not only makes it easy to pack but is also great for when you arrive at your destination and want to “live out of” the bag. Having tried this, I can say it works quite well.

Finally, there’s also a zippered mesh pocket that’s great for storing random items. I don’t have a whole lot else to say about it, but I do like that it’s there!

My Experience with the Roamer Backpack So Far

Storage

The first time I used my Roamer Backpack, I treated it more like a regular backpack than the all-in-one it’s truly meant to be. Doing so meant that I had more space than I knew what to do with! In fact, there are so many little pouches and spots to store stuff that I have yet to figure out the best use for each. I’m sure I’ll devise a strategy with time and give each of my regular travel items a dedicated location. But, for now, I’m still exploring.

That remains true even though, on this trip, I am currently using it more like it’s intended.

What I Packed This Time

So what do I mean by “more like it’s intended?” For this trip, I packed the majority of my clothes in the Roamer (minus the pants, which are still in my carry-on for now). Even though I could have just put my shirts in here directly, I decided to utilize packing cubes, which seemed to work pretty well. From there, I was able to station some of my other items, like a camera and a bag with all of my chargers around those main cubes. And while I didn’t need to pack extra shoes this time around, I do intend on using the interior sac for laundry.

All in all, I think I actually prefer this packing setup to what I did previously. Next, I’ll need to see if using it sans packing cubes is preferable — but, for now, I’m happy with this arrangement.

Flying with the Bag

As I write this, I’m sitting at a Centurion Lounge in Dallas (thanks, Amex Platinum), having just stepped off a flight. I’m happy to report that, on that flight, I was able to fit my Roamer Backpack under the seat and propped it up on its side. This ensured that I could still stretch my legs while safely stowing the bag.

Of course, under-seat space does vary from airline to airline and plane to plane. Moreover, your ability to do the same will surely depend on how full the bag is and how you pack it. Therefore, I’m not going to declare that this is sure to be your experience — but I am encouraged so far.

The Sternum Strap

This is a bit nitpicky, but I do have a slight issue with the sternum strap. While I love it overall (and enjoy fidgeting with it thanks to the satisfying magnetic click it makes), I do wish there were a better way to set it aside when you don’t want to use it. As it stands, you can awkwardly tuck the one part under the strap so it’s out of the way, but this might not be terribly comfortable either.

Of course, I realize that making this feature removable introduces new issues (since you’d want it to be secured enough not to pop off accidentally), but I wish there were a better solution.

Final Thoughts on the Halfday Roamer Backpack

Once again, I find myself impressed with Halfday’s creativity and attention to detail when it comes to the Roamer Backpack. In fact, as I mentioned, I think they’ve thought this bag through more than I have yet, as I still don’t know what to do with every pouch and feature provided! At the same time, inclusions such as the shoe/laundry sack, locking laptop pocket, and lined front interior pouch have such obvious applications that you’ll want to use them immediately.

With that said, given the specialty features of the Roamer Backpack, I’m not sure I’d choose it for every trip. Honestly, if I did just need a “regular” backpack and was planning to pack my clothes in another piece of luggage, I’d probably opt to bring my Away bag instead. But, for a short trip like the one I’m currently on, the Roamer is perfect!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Halfday Roamer Backpack

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