Slappa Velocity SPYDER PRO Backpack Review

By Kevin O'Brien , NotebookReview Staff | | 13648 Reads

by Kevin O'Brien

The Velocity SPYDER Pro backpack from Slappa is a fairly odd looking, with a rubberized outer shell, and a spider-web design on the front pocket. The rubberized outer layer is designed to resist water, and the front design structure is in place to give the bag support. Like the wide range of other Slappa products, this bag is designed to hold up well against the elements, and keep your notebook safe, even if the conditions are far from perfect. Read on to see if this backpack holds up well under out testing.

Slappa actually offers this backpack with two different "web" patterns on the front of the bag (SPYDER and MATRIX) both of which are available in two sizes to accomodate 15-inch or 17-inch laptops:

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Specifications:

Water repellant BuckBlast suede
15" or 17" shock padded laptop storage compartment
Protective and stylish molded rubber EXO-skeleton
Special compartments for storing laptop accessories
Stay cool lined pocket for snacks and drinks
Comes in two sizes and two pattern selections
MSRP: $99.99
Dimensions (17" version): 15"(w) x 22"(h) x 3.25"(d)
Dimensions (15" version): 15"(w) x 21" (h) x 3"(d)
Weight: 4.5 lb (17"), 3.45 lb (15")

Design

The design of the Slappa Velocity SPYER Pro backpack is unique compared to most of the other bags on the market. The outer shell is a soft rubbery fabric, used for its water resistant capabilities, and raised stitching that gives the front of the bag some support. The inner fabric is very soft, and would be almost impossible to scratch a glossy notebook surface with it. This soft padded fabric also provides some protection for the notebook, as well as other items stored in the bag.

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One notable feature of this bag is the rear-most pocket, which is labeled as the "stay cool lined pocket" on the information sheet. This pocket appears to be the same as the rest, with the only addition being a waterproof liner added. With its location being between your back and your flat notebook, I don't think any snacks or drinks would fit inside this pocket without mild discomfort. Another problem might be the flattening effect of you back and laptop pressing against each other that would crush most tasty delectables. A better purpose for this compartment would be sweaty gym clothes or wet swimwear.

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Comfort

The most important aspect of a backpack of any kind is how comfortable it is on your back. If it hurts your shoulders you will be miserable trying to wear it for many hours. The straps on the Slappa backpack are heavily padded, and contoured to stay close to your neck and the center of your body. This seems to increase arm mobility, and keep the pressure off the very edge of your shoulders. One item missing from this backpack is a connecting brace between the two shoulder straps, but even without this the bag stayed put on your back.

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Durability and Quality

The durability of the rubberized fabric was a concern while we were testing the bag, but our worries turned out to be unfounded, and the material didn't seem to wear more than standard ballistic nylon. Other parts of the bag also held up quite well, including the zippers and stitching around areas under stress. No loose threads were found out of the box, or after a week of rigorous day-to-day use.

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The weather in our area of Ohio has not been the best during the past week, with plenty of rain on every morning walking out to my car. The rubberized coating kept the inside of the bag bone dry; beading off water like the finish was coated with RAIN-X.

Conclusion

The Velocity SPYDER PRO backpack continues the Slappa trend of making durable and rugged cases. The soft interior is great for the new glossy finish notebooks that tend to show scratches by looking at them wrong. While I don't fully agree with the snack pack on the rear of the bag, I think it would still work very well for other uses (such as wet or dirty clothes).

Overall, this is an excellent backpack that puts your mind at ease even if your expensive gaming notebook is inside it during a massive downpour.

Pros