Troubadour Goods - Reviews and experiences

I didn't expect much, but I still hoped this Pioneer pack would hold more than just a laptop. In practice it's slim and feels cheap—thin fabric, stiff straps, and the handle already frayed after only using it once a week for six months. It sits awkward on my shoulder when full and the pocket layout is stingy. I've had better luck with bigger-name brands before, so I swapped it for a trusted model and that's been night-and-day. Not terrible if you travel light, but for commuting it's underwhelming.

I'm really happy with these bags. I grabbed the compact Apex backpack, a sling and a small case, and they’ve honestly fit right into my routine. I shove my work laptop, a compact keyboard, chargers, a water bottle and random things like a hairbrush in there every day and it still feels light on my back during my one-mile walk. The materials look and feel solid, seams holding up so far. Also, one shipment never showed, but customer support was on it — quick replies, clear updates and they sorted it without drama. Would buy again, no question.

I did fumble the first zipper for a second, but after a day or two it ran smoothly. Comes with a five-year guarantee, so I feel covered. Pretty happy I picked it.

I wasn't convinced a backpack would beat my old tote for commuting across town. I thought they'd be bulky, or awkward for work stuff. After a few weeks with this one those doubts faded — it's really light, feels tougher than it looks, and I don't get the shoulder ache I used to. The layout is sensible, pockets where you'd expect, everything easy to reach without digging around. It's plain-looking but tidy, which suits me. Customer service was helpful when I had a question. Would be nice to have a small external quick pocket, but otherwise it's solid.

grabbed the Apex Briefcase in the same store, still a bit wary about stitching and wear, and sure enough there was a tiny stitch issue. Took it back within days, staff swapped it without a fuss and that kind of service erased my hesitations. December brought the Buddy Case 2.0 as a gift — great for keeping chargers and headphones tidy — and in January I finally picked up the Embark Compact Duffle (Thomas Pink collab) for weekend trips. It’s roomy but not bulky, exactly what I need for short getaways. Overall, solid build, sensible design, and the in-person help really sold me. I use these every week and they just keep doing their job.

clean lines, felt solid, and did everything I needed on my 20-minute rides — MacBook, sunglasses, water bottle, a few odds and ends, nothing heavy. Then, under a year in, the top grab handle started to peel and delaminate at the sides. It looked cheap and was annoying to use. I reached out to support and at first they basically said it didn't affect function and offered nothing, which was disappointing. I let it sit for a while, honestly thinking I'd need a new bag. Then a rep contacted me offering a replacement — and the new backpack arrived with a reworked, much sturdier handle. Not flawless — a zipper is a bit stiff — but my doubts about durability have mostly disappeared. Overall glad I waited it out; they listened and fixed it.