Why You Can Trust CNET Kara B Metro Backpack review: Kara B Metro Backpack
Roomy and well-padded, Kara B's Metro Backpack will protect your laptop and look good doing it. We just wish it were more comfortable.
Available in an array of eye-popping laminated cotton, vinyl, and acrylic patterns, Kara B's attractive and well-padded Metro Backpack, priced at $85, will protect your laptop, and it offers plenty of room for accessories.
The Metro Backpack's zippered rear section features a fully padded compartment that fits most laptops with 15-inch screens; if your notebook is bigger, it may be a tight fit. An adjustable strip of padding borders the laptop compartment and can be repositioned to secure smaller laptops. The front flap, which is secured with a snap, covers two large compartments: a narrow one and another that includes a wallet-size zippered pocket and two open accessory pockets. These surprisingly roomy compartments are ideal for carrying file folders and other essentials. There are also two pockets on the bagÂ’s exterior: a cell phone pocket on the side, and a large pocket on the back, but carrying anything substantial in that pocket makes the bag uncomfortable to wear.
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
The Metro Backpack's straps are thin--only a little over an inch wide--and the removable padding has a tendency to slip out of place, both of which make wearing the bag a bit uncomfortable. Between the stiff material on our vinyl unit and the small buckle, we had a difficult time adjusting the straps. And even though the straps are riveted in place and the bag seems sturdy, weÂ’re skeptical of the Metro Backpack's long-term durability under heavy use.