ThuleParamount Commuter Backpack

I usually never do reviews, but I had to for this product. It is a long review, but after spending so much time searching for a great school/travel back pack and reading tons of reviews, I created this review how I wish I would have found one during my search. I didn’t think the pictures or descriptions of features on here or Thule’s website did a great job of providing descriptive details, and I enjoy the backpack so much I decided to do so myself. This product is well worth the time to do so.I am student in grad school, so I do a lot of walking around on campus and back and forth from our parking garage. I had owned and used my old back pack as my primary school bag since I started undergrad, but the water resistant coating had worn away. I also used it for travel and such which led to me constantly wishing I had more room. I wanted to invest in a high quality back pack with waterproofing to protect my laptop and enough room to do what I needed as a student and then some. I don’t have much money, so I browsed the internet for weeks looking for deals and reading reviews. Although this bag wasn’t on sale and there were some negative reviews for it, I am very pleased with my purchase. This bag is durable, waterproof, and has plenty of space for all I need as a grad student. The quality of craftsmanship and materials is clearly evident. It has plenty of small pockets for organization but not TOO many. There are two main compartments both of which have waterproof zippers. In the compartment closest to the wearer’s back, you’ll find a mesh zipper pouch for smaller items in which I place my wallet, earbuds, small tube of aquaphor, and a larger charging block. Also, there is a divider in the middle of this compartment where you can place your laptop and/or tablet in one half which is suspended off of the bottom of the bag for device protection in case you were to set in down onto the boot too hard (It fits my 13in MacBook Air and 11in IPad easily). The laptop portion of the compartment is located in the divided sleeve away from your back (toward the middle of the bag) which I found odd at first because most bags I have seen have the laptop pocket right at the back of the wearer. This version in the paramount bag feels more secure to me somehow, and the weight feels more evenly distributed when carrying. On the other side of the divider, I have enough space for a 2in thick binder for papers and such. This compartment is more slim than the second main zipper compartment as it is tailored more toward notebook/laptop storage. In the second compartment which is further away from the wearer’s back, you’ll find another mesh pouch which is larger than the other compartment’s pouch but has no zipper to close it. In it I have 4 pens, a calculator, a cleaning kit for my glasses, and a small note pad. The compartment itself has much more room to store bulkier items that aren’t notebook shaped. In it I have my portable charger, electronics organizer for charging cords and blocks, and a pair of headphones with plenty of space left-over. The small, outside pocket at the top of the bag is covered with a flap that latches down with magnets. Once you pull the magnetic cover back, you’ll find a small zipper pouch where I store my keys, eyedrops, and a couple packs of gum. There are elastic water bottle pouches on each side of the back pack which I used to hold a 50oz water bottle, but on the right-hand side next to the water bottle holder is a vertical zipper for a small felt-lined pouch that acts as a more secure, “hidden” place to store small items. I don’t have anything in there currently but this pocket is bigger than you think! The external pouch which is advertised as being used to hold a bike helmet or a pair of shoes is open at the top but slightly covered by the magnetic flap. There is a zipper on each side to “open” it with straps on each side where you can expand or decrease the size. I have used it to store my rain jacket where I can zip it up to stay compact. Lastly, the waterproof cover is stored in the boot of the bag accessed through a small zipper at the bottom close to the back of the wearer. To apply the waterproof, reflective cover, simply unzip the pouch and pull the cover from the bottom of the bag to the top. The cover has a small buckle attaching it to the inside of the pocket where it is stored so that (I’m assuming) it doesn’t blow away if the wind takes it off the pack. The cover can be unbuckled in case it needs to be left out to dry or just removed altogether. The padding for the shoulder straps and back is sufficient. My favorite part is the sternum strap. It has “daisy-chain-like” attachment points at the shoulder straps to adjust the height of the sternum strap. This is great to me because most other bags with a sternum strap attach at the shoulder straps with a slide mechanism to adjust the height. This always leads to the sternum strap creeping up too high as I walk or move around. Speaking of shoulder straps, there is another great feature here. I dont the terms for these, but the pulls that are used to tighten up the shoulder straps which make the bag higher and tighter to your back can be held down with “slip-fasteners”???on both sides. Basically, the straps you pull to tighten can be secure so they aren’t swinging around your body or blowing in the wind as they are long and could get on something when walking or biking.Now, while I have raved about this product I have some complaints/concerns. I am a bigger guy, but this backpack still fits me comfortably. It might not fit comfortably for people who are on the heavier side with more soft-tissue mass around their back, chest, and shoulders. It is not a pliable bag either and keeps it’s form well even without items inside, so there is not much give when it comes to wearing it. The backpack is also a bit on the heavier side especially once loading it with your personal items, but it maintains it’s comfort even with the heavier weight. I suppose weight is the trade off for the durability and waterproof materials.

I've been using a cheap backpack for biking for the past 3 years and it got me by but it wasn't the most comfortable. It was an open bag similar to this one but didn't have as many compartments. This Thule bag is a whole new level of quality. The bag feels like it will last a long time. I love the roll top as it gives me options to fit more. The zippers on the side allow it the keep a slim profile when in use and expand all the way when adding/removing items. I've been riding to work during the dry season and I can fit several items: raincoat, tool pouch (for the bike), Steam Deck (KillSwitch case), 11" tablet, tech pouch, sweater for when it's cold and various other smaller items that fit in the different pockets around the bag.The orange interior makes it easy to see everything and the 3 sleeve pockets allow you to carry a laptop and a tablet together, which I do once a week.The straps wrest around my back and my shoulders. Combined with the front strap, it makes the bag feel secured yet very comfortable. I no longer have pain on my shoulder after a 40mins ride.I do have a couple of concerns. First, the velcro that keeps the top shut will not last forever so I'll have to look into solutions for when it wears out. Next, the strap at the top of the bag is very thin and narrow. There isn't any support so when I pick up my loaded bag by that strap, I feel like I'm going to break it.It's a solid bag overall. It's hard to believe its 18L when you can fit so much in there. I recommend it to anyone who commutes to work on a bike or needs to carry their belongings out on rides.

The Thule Paramount Commuter Backpack is an exceptional choice for anyone on the go. This backpack is designed with the commuter in mind, offering a perfect blend of style, functionality, and durability. The sleek design and high-quality materials make it both attractive and long-lasting.One of the standout features is the dedicated laptop compartment, which provides excellent protection for your device. The multiple pockets and compartments are incredibly well-organized, making it easy to store and access all your essentials. The weather-resistant material ensures that your belongings stay dry, even in unpredictable weather conditions.The ergonomic design and padded straps make it comfortable to carry, even during long commutes. The reflective details are a thoughtful addition, enhancing visibility and safety during nighttime travel. Overall, the Thule Paramount Commuter Backpack is a fantastic investment for anyone looking for a reliable and stylish backpack for daily use. Highly recommended!

just a quick note: spent a long time looking for backpacks with these requirements:1. sufficient space for my stuff, including laptop and lunchbox2. sufficient side compartments that are sturdy (not mesh: previous thule backpack with mesh side pockets ended up tearing pretty quickly)3. waterproof4. looks reasonably professionalthis hits all of these very well.on top of that, it is really comfortable, doesn't feel or look super bulky, and my large helmet can actually fit in the front.definitely worth a buy if you're a commuter!