review – Summer is almost here and I don’t know about you, but I’ve already planned a lot of trips.As a gadget lover, I’m always looking for the perfect accessory to make traveling easier, and for me, it all started with Backpack. When Julie asked to review the Sol E Ciel Tulum Backpack, it popped into my inbox and I thought it would be the perfect backpack to take me from the office to vacation.
What is it?
The Sol E Ciel Tulum Backpack is a top-loading soft backpack made from hemp and cotton with some interesting features that set it apart. It comes with a matching crossbody bag for light travel or quick access to small items.
What’s in the box?
- Sol E Ciel Tulum Backpack
Specification
- 7″ (40cm) high x 12″ (30cm) wide x 4.3″ (11cm) deep
- Minimum length of shoulder straps: 27 inches (70 cm)
- Maximum shoulder strap length: 37 inches (95 cm)
- Strap Width: 2″ (5cm)
- Capacity: 10.5 liters
- Weight: 1.9 lbs (880 g)
feature
So I can tell you right away that the Sol E Ciel Tulum backpack is not like my usual travel gear. My usual travel kit is anti-theft, with anti-slant pockets and secure zippers. Basically, it’s a bit like wearing a safe on your back (it’s probably hot, not sexy) that can’t be easily washed or laid flat in a suitcase.this backpack looks opposite of this. It’s made from a blend of cotton and hemp, and it fits flat in your luggage if you don’t want to take it on the plane as a personal item. Machine washable, soft and breathable, perfect for summer wear. While it looks like you can hack and grab the goodies carried inside, it’s not that simple…this bag has secrets.
For starters, there are plenty of pockets. Personally, I can’t handle too many pockets. There are so many that I forget where I put things. The good news about this bag is that several of the pockets inside are mesh so I can see where things are. Also, if you get light shades like me, you can easily see inside. I know the manufacturer thinks black is the best choice for lining, but it basically turns a top-loading backpack like this into a black hole. If you get the black one, I’ll add a little flashlight to your EDC!
I did some research on the website before the Sol E Ciel Tulum backpack arrived and they have a somewhat confusing video showing how all these pockets are used. I’m guessing they wanted to show they were loading, but it looks like they did load the liner upside down. I want to assure you that you don’t have to, although I did turn it out in some of my photos because it’s hard to make out the pockets in the photos otherwise.
Since I haven’t been on vacation yet, I filled this bag with stuff over spring break and I took it for a spin at our local amusement park. It easily accommodates my spare jacket and spare batteries, cables, wallet and keys and is very comfortable to carry. I use a messenger bag for cash and park passes. The messenger bag has me a little overwhelmed…it looks well made, but it looks pretty basic – much like a pouch with straps attached (that’s it). I would never carry it alone as a purse – it just looks a little funky. It’s practical, though, and if you don’t want to carry it as a crossbody bag, you can attach it to the clip on the main compartment and it can hold a few small things.
Inside the Sol E Ciel Tulum Backpack, there’s a small zippered compartment at the top, as well as some space for pens, tissues, post-it notes, or any little things you might want to carry around. Inside the main compartment is a double mesh zip pocket…like a pocket within a pocket. The beige mesh is the same width and length as the bag, and there is a black mesh inside to hold things in the top half of the bag. Basically, it lets you share your load so it doesn’t just sink to the bottom. I put the cables in, my battery on the bottom half and some personal items on the top half. Inside the main compartment at the bottom is a pocket that can hold a water bottle. While I prefer an external water bottle holder, this one does hold my 24 oz. Bamboo house bottle.
On the outside of the back panel is a long strip of elastic sewn into the top that holds the keys in place, but it can also be attached to a wallet or anything else you want to use a lot but don’t want to loose. It has a couple of clips on it that the keys tuck into An open pocket that rests on your back. If you’re wearing the bag, I think it’s hard for someone to get into that area of the bag, and even if they did, they’d make a fuss if they wanted anything you had attached.
The Sol E Ciel Tulum backpack has a rain cover attached to the bottom, so if a thief tries to chop off the bottom and take what’s dropped, he’ll just get the rain cover (insert sad trombone noise here). On the front, there’s also a zippered pocket for my tissues, lipstick, and other things I might need but aren’t of much value. A side zip pocket holds my sunglasses.
The flap on the top of the bag is attached to the sewn magnets on the front and the flap itself and they work great! They do tend to collect paperclips when I’m in the office, but I kind of like having them handy when I go to the classroom, where there aren’t any supplies. There is also a very nice embroidered design on the inside of the flap, there is a kind of surprise when you open it.
After spring break, I packed my work stuff in the Sol E Ciel Tulum Backpack, which contained my laptop, zippered portfolio, and various stacks of paper I always seemed to have. I rarely have so many things that I can’t let the magnets grab. One thing I don’t really like is the black cord that fastens the bag. I just don’t like the color. There is no other black on the bag, for me it just stands out on a nicely designed bag.
I find this fabric really luxurious and beautiful. My first thought when I read that the bag is made of cotton and linen is that it looks a bit like a hippie poncho. But in reality, it’s more like heavy linen. It’s soft, and despite its natural imperfections, it’s a super premium fabric. The tradeoff is that it’s a little heavier. The bag weighs nearly two pounds empty, and while the wide shoulder straps are comfortable to wear, usually I avoid an already heavy bag before putting anything on it.
I had planned to test the washability of the Sol E Ciel Tulum backpack, but I found it to be clean too. Our classrooms tend to be dusty and I did put it on the ground a few times while I was waiting outside and didn’t want to put it on my shoulders, but it still looked pristine.
what do I like
- The fabric looks luxurious
- Feature
what would i change
- a bit heavy
- The black line is too conspicuous
- A messenger bag could be better
final thoughts
I really like the look and function of the Sol E Ciel Tulum Backpack and I think it will be great to travel this summer.
price: $99.99
where to buy: Saul E Ciel
source: Samples for this review provided by Saul E Ciel
