STM Myth backpack review

Having previously reviewed STM’s Saga 15″ laptop backpack back in 2018, and having found it to be a trusty servant ever since, we jumped at the chance to test drive their Myth backpack.

The Myth is available in 18 and 28 litre models, and we plumped for the larger of the two, which would be ideal for a weekend break. Both come in three fetching colour schemes – Granite Black, Slate Blue and Windsor White. We were rather taken by the stylish Windsor White, but practicality won the day and we went for the Granite Black in the end.

First impressions of the 28 litre Myth were very positive. As with other STM offerings, this is a stylish, high-quality backpack. The zip sliders are robust and come with long rubber tags attached, which help you get extra purchase when zipping up the pockets. The zippers themselves are ‘reverse coil’ with the teeth covered on the outside, helping to keep moisture and grunge out.

The black panels running along the bottom and up the sides of the bag are coated with water-resistant TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and contrast nicely with the woven-effect front panel, which is treated with a water-repellent coating. There’s also a neat TPU-coated handle on the top that’s secured by rivets for extra strength.

The straps on the back are well padded and chunky and the back panel is stiff with thick padding on the lumbar support. STM’s air channel system, which is ‘designed to wrap around the wearer and provide improved weight distribution’, makes this a comfortable pack to carry, even when fully loaded. Another cool feature that helps to take the lug out of luggage is STM’s ‘PassPort’, which is an open band that’s seamlessly integrated with the back panel and allows the handle of your wheeled suitcase to pass through and connect with the pack.

The 28 litre model comes with four external pockets:

  • a full-depth open pocket on the front (reach inside and it goes pretty much up to your elbow), which would be ideal for a newspaper or sticking something into while you’re on the hoof for easy access later
  • a zipped main external pocket with myriad open holders for all your AirPods, pens, memory sticks, loose change, etc, which also boasts a handy studded loop (ideal for securing wired earbuds) and an internal zipped pocket, complete with key holder
  • two zipped side pockets, each big enough to hold a water bottle.

Delve inside the main and laptop compartments and the craftsmanship and thought that have gone into the design continue to shine through. In the main compartment, you’ll find a zipped internal pocket to the front, which is about 14cm deep and has a luxurious fleece lining, making it ideal for storing your shades. On the rear panel there’s a shallow (around 7cm deep) zipped mesh pocket, with a deep (30cm) open pocket below. There’s plenty of room for clothes and a wash-bag in between for when you’re setting off on a mini break.

The aforementioned fleece also lines the entire laptop compartment, which sits behind the main section, meaning you can store your tech cover-free without the fear of finding unsightly scratches when you arrive at your destination. Your laptop is further protected with STM’s ‘SlingTech’ design, which features extra padding and gapless corners that suspend your device away from the edge of the bag, isolating it from the bump zone in the event of it flying off a shelf in a train carriage or falling from an overhead locker at the end of a particularly turbulent flight. There’s also a fleece-lined pocket at the front of the laptop compartment for your tablet, which is a nice touch.

In case you’re wondering about the eyelets in the photos, they’re part of STM’s ‘CableReady’ system that lets you charge on-the-go without any unsightly cords dangling from your pack. You can run a USB cable from your tech in the laptop compartment through to the right-hand side pocket (making use of a neat cable tidy) or the main external pocket to the front.

This is a high-quality and well-thought-through backpack that should last you a very long time, but in case of any issues down the road, it comes with STM’s usual lifetime warranty. You can find out more about the whole Myth range in the below video, and you can download STM’s Integrated Augmented Reality app, which features interactive 3D graphics, animations and video.

Key facts

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