I've been a big fan of booq's bags for a long time now. In my experience, booq's products are both well constructed and stylishly designed, and their newly released Boa Flow Graphite ($225.00) backpack is certainly no exception. Read on for my full review of one of the best backpacks I've come across this year.
The new Graphite Boa flow backpack ($225) is a beast of a pack, more than capable of handling a wide range of environments and circumstances. With its large capacity and ingeniously designed, ergonomic form factor, the Boa flow is an ideal bag for many purposes. Its sleek and professional look make it a classy bag for the business person looking for a comfortable way to carry their belongings. Its optional hard frame makes the Boa flow a great choice for the photographer in need of a sturdy pack with protection for their expensive gear. Its rugged build makes the Boa flow perfectly suited to the person who wants a bag that will last for many years and hold up under a wide range of stressors. As evidence of its extreme-duty intentions, the Boa flow has super tough zippers, is water resistant, and even comes with a rain cover to shield it from adverse weather conditions. This bag really is a great expression of rugged durability fused with excellence of design to create a multifunctional backpack that shows it's quality when you study the details.
Details:
The Boa flow features cutting edge fabrics and reinforced stitching, virtually assuring years of steady use. It's also assembled in such a way as to achieve maximum accessibility and practicality. I was particularly impressed with the organization and forethought that the Boa flow conveys. When using this backpack, I always felt like it magically anticipated the many ways I'd access my pack, or the ways I'd want to store my various items. It's a spacious pack, even with the hard panel protective camera insert installed. Granted, you loose storage space when the camera box is set up, but in my trials I found that I was still able to tote around several large books, my drink, a snack, my headphones (using the nifty built-in headphone strap) my laptop, tablet, and iPhone, a light jacket as well as my DSLR camera stashed in the camera carrying space.
Structurally the Boa flow has all kinds of bells and whistles, with many pockets and sleeves, including of course, a very well-padded, dedicated laptop compartment. This bag makes it not only easy, but fun to be organized! And when it comes to carrying a load, the Boa flow makes it as comfortable as possible. Its plush padding is designed for breathability and optimal weight distribution; along with a chest strap it also has a padded waist strap (which hides a tiny, discreet, zippered stash pocket) to allow your hips to bear some of the load. I'm a big fan of quality, multipurpose gear, and the Graphite Boa Flow certainly fits that definition, with its style, functionality, and integrity. This classy pack has certainly got an elegant flavor all it's own.
Pros:
Ergonomic design, with Airmesh back padding to reduce heat build up.
Terralinq lost and found service included.
A headphone strap at the interior top to keep your headphones safe and handy. What other bag manufacturer thinks of that?
Abundant space. The Graphite Boa flow can carry your laptop (up to 17-inches), DSLR camera, iPad, iPhone, headphones, water bottles, books, and jacket, plus a whole lot more.
Extremely heavy-duty, water-resistant 1680 denier ballistic nylon exterior, with velvety soft interior lining.
Plenty of pockets for organization.
Detachable key clip.
Waterproof YKK zippers.
Reflective rain cover.
As close to a perfect backpack as you're likely to find.
Cons:
The waist strap should either come off entirely, or allow the user to tuck it away within a pocket. Not everyone likes using waist straps and one shouldn't be forced to have the bulk of the waist strap if they don't want it.
Lack of color choices.
Verdict:
I would whole-heartedly recommend this backpack. If you are looking for a carry-all that can keep up with all the challenges you throw at it, whether in the course of daily life or off on exceptional adventures, the booq Graphite Boa fFlow is an excellent choice. It's a reliable, rugged, and well-designed pack that will allow you to tote large, heavy, and fragile loads with comfort, security, and style. I give the Graphite Boa Flow 5 out of 5 Stars.
