The Backpack That Might Finally Replace My Personal Item Bag

BAGSMART BLAST 38L Extended Backpack + Packing Cubes Review

There’s a certain frustration that comes with being an experienced traveller and still not having that one bag nailed down.

Not the big suitcase or carry-on.

But the personal item bag. That extra bag gives you more space, especially when packing lighter for a multi-destination trip.

The bag has to work hard, often play multiple roles, and live under an airport seat.
It’s the bag that carries your tech, your essentials, your in-flight life, and your sanity when trying to stay organised.

For years, I’ve been on the hunt for a personal-item bag that actually fits the way we travel, as a mature couple who pack light for on-the-ground ease, not airline restrictions.

And honestly… this might be the closest I’ve come yet.

Why This Bag Caught My Attention

The BAGSMART BLAST Extended Backpack (38L) wasn’t just another backpack review for me; it was part of an ongoing search.

I travel with:

A large Away carry-on as my main bag (booked through)

Personal-item bag (becomes my carry-on once roller bag is checked)

and a handbag that functions as my in-flight personal item.

So I don’t play the packing game the same way a lot of people do.

We pack light because:

We want ease on the ground, easy movement through cities, easy transport days and less physical strain, not because the plane tells us to.

That means my personal item needs to be:

easy to access, easy to organise, comfortable to carry, practical for techand adaptable for travel home.

This bag surprised me… in a good way.

BAGSMART BLAST 38-Litre Extended Backpack — Quick Specs

Capacity
Expandable volume: 28L → 38L (extended design)

Dimensions
Before extension: 31 × 42 × 20.5 cm
After extension: 31 × 42 × 25.5 cm

Weight & Build
Weight: ~900g
Material: Durable, water-resistant nylon

Tech & Storage
Laptop compartment designed for up to 15.6” laptops (can fit larger devices depending on shape — my 17” LG Gram fit comfortably)
Large open main compartment for easy packing and access
Multiple purpose-built pockets for organisation
External water bottle pocket
180° opening design for flat, easy packing

Travel Features
The extended design adds ~10L of extra capacity for return travel
Flexible layout for light packing + travel-home storage
Designed to comfortably fit 2–3 days’ worth of clothing, making it ideal as a weekender bag
Built for real-world travel usability
Designed for carry-on and personal-item style travel systems

First Impressions of the BLAST Backpack

What stood out immediately wasn’t hype; it was usability and size.

When I first opened the bag, I thought it would be too small, but as I tested it, I was surprised by its potential and how I ended up feeling about it.

Things I genuinely loved:

✔️ Big open main compartment

This is a huge one for me.

Not layered chaos, not awkward dividers.

Just a big, open, usable space that actually makes sense for real travel.

It’s the easiest personal-item bag I’ve ever used, from an access and storage perspective.

✔️ Pocket structure that actually works

Lots of pockets

Everything felt like it had a purpose: structure without restriction, storage without frustration.

I will probably use compartment differntly then the “design” states, but this is yet another thought that excites me about this backpack

✔️ Tech capacity

It officially says it holds up to a 15.6-inch laptop, but it comfortably fits my 17-inch LG Gram.

That honestly shocked me.

Now, if I added a Kindle or iPad to the same section, it might get tight, but for a 17-inch laptop to fit at all is impressive for a personal-item bag.

✔️ Expandable capacity (28L → 38L)

This is where the bag really shines for how I travel.

I packed it as a 28L bag, which made airport movement easy, provided comfortable under-seat storage (when needed), and let me know I had 10 extra litres available for the return trip. It felt amazing.

Just unzip, expand, and go home.

And while this bag would easily fit under an airline seat without any hassle, I personally try not to store my personal item there if I can avoid it;  I’m 5’11″, and on long-haul flights, leg space matters. What I loved is knowing it can fit under the seat if needed, without bulk or struggle, but for our style of travel, it’s more about flexibility and comfort than forcing it into under-seat storage.

The Packing Cubes

I tested the BAGSMART packing cubes alongside the backpack, and honestly, I was really impressed.

I had the rose-coloured set, and they felt:

strong, well-structured

high quality

smooth to use

premium

BAGSMART BLAST 6-Piece Compression Travel Packing Cubes — Quick Specs

Set Includes
Six compression packing cubes in a graduated range of sizes suitable for organising clothes, underwear, socks, accessories, and smaller items.

Build & Material
Durable, lightweight fabric with reinforced stitching and smooth-glide zippers designed for repeated packing and travel use.

Design & Functionality
Full-opening design allows complete access to contents, reducing the need to dig or wrestle fabric when packing or unpacking.
The dual-zip

A compression system helps remove excess air and compress clothing for more efficient use of space.
Mesh panels provide breathability and visibility, so you can see what’s inside each cube without unzipping.
Handles on each cube make them easy to pull in and out of a suitcase or backpack.

Travel Benefits
Compression capability creates more structured packing, helping clothes stay organised and reducing wrinkles.
Cubes are sized for flexible travel systems, from weekenders to longer trips, and pair well with carry-ons or backpacks.
The smooth zippers and robust feel make them easy to use, reducing frustration, especially for those new to compression cubes.

What I loved most:

✔️ Full-opening design

They open fully, not three-quarters like many other brands.

That means:

Full access to clothes

Easy access

Strong fabric and construction

It’s a small design detail that makes a big difference in real use.

✔️ Zipper quality

The zippers felt smooth, strong, and clean.
No snagging.
No cheap feel.

Real-World Testing (Not Just A Review)

I didn’t just unbox these; I repacked the bag, tested the layout and simulated real travel use.

Real-world travel logic.

When I tested the packing cubes in the video, I also shared a few practical tips for using compression cubes properly, including how to make them compress more effectively and how to avoid the usual frustration of overstuffing and awkward zipping. If you’ve struggled with compression cubes before, those tips alone are worth watching for.

I pack the cubes as I did for my previous failed personal-item bag.

My Honest Take (So Far)

I haven’t travelled with this bag yet, so this isn’t a long-term durability verdict; this was a test to see whether these products would work within my travel style.

I’m genuinely impressed.

Why I’m excited about it:

It suits how I travel

Easy to use

It’s flexible

Expandable

It’s practical

Tech-friendly

It’s not overcomplicated

Feels intuitive

It doesn’t fight you

and it comfortably fitted the essentials I included.

This feels like a bag that works with the way I travel, not against it.

Watch The Full Video Test

If you want to see the full real-world test, unboxing, packing process, cube test, and comparison, you can watch the full video here:

👉 Full unboxing, packing and real-world test video

Links + Discount

🎒 BAGSMART Travel Gear

BLAST Expandable Travel Backpack (38L)

BLAST Packing Cubes

✨ 10% Off Sitewide

Use code: SAPPHIRE10
Or use the direct link with the code already applied

This post includes gifted products and affiliate links. Using these links supports Sapphire Blue Travel at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting our work and our travels 💙

Final Thought

This isn’t about finding the “perfect” bag; it’s about finding the right bag for how you travel.

This Bag seems to fit how we travel; it’s light, practical, flexible, comfortable, and real-world-focused. This one feels like a genuine contender for my long-haul personal item.

I hope my honest views on these products are helpful if you are looking for a bag that suits your travel style.