The Versatile Swiss Army Backpack

The Swiss Army Backpack generally isn't the first thing that comes to mind when people think of this term. More frequently the term "Swiss Army" is associated with a line of useful pocket knives that come with a variety of tools which are made by 2 companies;  Victorinox and Wenger.  Wenger was actually acquired by Victorinox in 2005, but continues to be marketed as a separate brand.  The "Swiss Army" brand is licensed by Victorinox to companies who manufacture backpacks and other similar goods, while Wegner's "SwissGear" brand is licensed in a similar fashion.  These are the two brands that people are typically referencing when they generically use the term "Swiss Army." 

Both brand names are associated with that one phrase and for good reason; that phrase is synonymous with durability and versatility.

Swiss Army Laptop Backpacks

One area where these companies has really excelled is the manufacturing of Swiss Army computer backpacks. These backpacks are known to be some of the most innovative and durable on the market. These backpacks are the perfect combination of lightweight elegance, exceptional strength, and really follow along in the tradition of the brand they represent. The Victorinox Swiss Army Laptop bags are simple in design, which is great, but lacks the versatile flare of their knives.  This helps keep the backpacks lightweight, so if weight is your biggest concern, stick with the Victorinox side of the brand.

The SwissGear brand of "Swiss Army" backpacks, marketed under Wegner, are more in line with what people traditionally think of when using the term, with the swiss army synergy backpack being one of the most popular. These bags have plenty of pockets, zippers, loops, and whatever else you think you might need to make your backpack as useful as possible. Many of their packs have essential little features like a music player pocket with a headphone hole built-in. Their ScanSmart laptop backpacks are great for travelers because it is designed to unzip and lay flat, with the portion of the backpack containing the laptop being completely separated and visible to airport security as it rolls through the scanners.

Of course, they also have a line of hiking backpacks. These are backpacks made with the same high quality standards as everything else that is manufactured under this brand. The packs have the standard backpacking features, such as lumbar support, built-in hydration system support, divided main compartment, easy-access front compartment.  The Ibex Series comes in at around 3100 cubic inches which makes it great for camping trips of around 3 days, while the SwissGear Elite Series has a whopping 5,200 cubic inches of space, making them ideal for trips up to 5 days or so.

Whichever side of the brand you go with, you're certain to be purchasing a quality product when you buy a swiss army backpack. These companies have both spent over 100 years building their brands, and now that they're one company they are much stronger. The company isn't going to let that familiar red shield and white cross let you down by manufacturing shoddy products.