STM Goods ECO Backpack review: a sustainable, practical, and roomy backpack

TechRadar Verdict

The STM Goods ECO Backpack is proof that a 100% recycled material laptop backpack can be excellent in terms of both quality and practicality. The material is water-resistant (though not waterproof), resists wear and tear, and is very spacious to boot.

Tons of space for laptops and devices

Well-made with good quality material

Very comfortable

Plenty of pockets

Sustainably made

Not waterproof

The interior cushioning could be thicker

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STM Goods ECO Backpack: Two-minute review

The wave of sustainable tech devices and accessories has reached the laptop backpack market, and the STM Goods ECO Backpack is clearly hoping to make waves.

It’s an affordable yet roomy and comfortable bag that boasts its GRS Certified nature, specifically that it’s made of 100% recycled 300D polyester fabrics.

Impressive sustainable practices aside, the STM Goods ECO Backpack is simply a good bag in its own right. In fact, it could easily be one of thebest laptop bagson the market. Its capacity is 15L and can fit up to a 16-inch laptop, which is no mean feat. Yet despite the large volume, it’s surprisingly lightweight and never feels like you’re carrying a whole lot even when you are.

When testing this bag, I found that I could easily fit several of thebest laptopsin the bag, including more portable form factors like thebest student laptops, but even thebest gaming laptopsfit pretty easily (not to mention mySteamDeck in its case) with plenty of room to spare. One pouch in the main compartment of the bag is meant for your laptop and it’s quite spacious on its own, leaving the rest of the bag free for other items.

Externally and internally there are about nine pockets in total, with several of them inside including a handy mesh zipper pocket, two water bottle pockets on each side of the bag, and a front zipper pocket. According to STM Goods, it’s meant to be an outdoor bag, and its practical and humble design as well as its more muted colors stem from that intention.

The number of pockets also helps cement that niche, as this bag can carry around a surprising amount of items with ease while giving plenty of organization options.

The STM Goods ECO Backpack proves that sustainably made doesn’t mean cheap quality, as the bag is sturdy and resistant to wear and tear no matter how roughly you treat it or how much stuff you squeeze inside. It’s not the classiest looking bag since it is made for outdoors, so don’t think it’ll fit in more sophisticated venues but for regular use, it blends in most casual and semi-casual environments.

However, there is one issue that could seriously put a damper on the outdoor bag concept and that’s the fact that’s not completely waterproof. For instance, theLo & Sons Rowledgeis completely waterproof as it’s reinforced with a wicker outside similar to the material found on umbrellas. The material for the ECO Backpack, however, is water-resistant, which means it has a limit before the water eventually seeps through into the interior of the bag.

I tested this out by pouring water directly on the bag to see how much it could absorb before it started to leak inside. Due to the interior cushioning, it can take a good amount of water but eventually, it will start to pass through. Thankfully the bag does have a handle on the top, so I’d recommend using it to keep the bag under your umbrella for better protection in the rain.

The interior is lined with a thin layer of solid-quality cushion, which serves to protect the bag’s contents from moisture as well as protect any laptops or other devices from harm. I wish the bottom of the bag was reinforced more, as a particularly hard drop could possibly damage laptops you may be carrying. It’s not a deal-breaker or even a major issue, but it does mean you need to exercise more caution.

What I’ve enjoyed the most about the STM Goods ECO Backpack through ample testing is the thick cushioning on the back and the shoulder straps of the bag. It’s one of the most comfortable backpacks I’ve ever had the pleasure of wearing, as the shoulder straps are cushioned, thick, and divide the weight of the bag extremely well. The back cushion helps absorb excess weight while keeping your back protected and comforted while carrying it around, making it one of thebest backpackoptions for anyone who needs that extra support.

STM Goods ECO Backpack: Price & availability

The STM Goods ECO Backpack is available in the US and Australia (the company is based in the latter), though we don’t have any word on UK availability at this time. Pricing is pretty reasonable for what you get, and in terms of sheer volume and comfort, the value is much higher.

Since it’s meant to be both affordable and sustainable, there are a few features that are missing that one would find in a more premium bag like the Rowledge, such as being completely waterproof or more interior cushioning to protect your devices. But overall it’s well worth the price if you’re looking for a more practical backpack that can fit a ton of tech and other items.

STM Goods ECO Backpack: Specs

Should you buy the STM Goods ECO Backpack?

Buy the STM Goods ECO Backpack if…

You want a sturdy, lightweight bagDespite how much it can carry, this bag never feels heavy thanks to the light material and the way the bag distributes weight.

You want a bag that can hold a whole lotThis bag has a volume of 15L as well as a wide array of internal and external pockets, meaning it can fits laptops and so much more.

Don’t buy it if…

You need a waterproof bagWhile this bag is water resistant, it’s not completely waterproof which means you’ll need to plan out weather affected activities in advanced.

You want thicker interior cushioningWhile it’s definitely not super thin, the bottom especially could have had a thicker cushioning to better protect laptops from damage.

STM Goods ECO Backpack: Also consider

Lo & Sons RowledgeThis is one of the best laptop backpacks money can buy, as it’s completely waterproof, well cushioned, stylish, and comfortable. But it requires a lot of money in return.

Read ourLo & Sons Rowledge review

Topo Core PackLike the O.G. 2, this bag has tons of space with plenty of pockets, along with a padded base for extra laptop protection. It also features travel bag attachment loops as well as a waist belt.

How I tested the STM Goods ECO Backpack

I tested the STM Goods ECO Backpack by wearing it for a week in a variety of different environments and weather conditions. I also filled the bag with several laptops and devices, as well as other products to see how well it would handle them.

The STM Goods ECO Backpack is a laptop bag meant to hold several tech devices for an extended period of time. I made sure to quality-test it to see if it held up to those standards, as well as to see just how much punishment the bag could take.

I’ve tested several laptop backpacks in an official capacity and even more on a personal level, and understand how to properly rate and test them out to ensure that they reach a certain level of quality.

We pride ourselves on our independence and rigorous review-testing process, offering long-term attention to the products we review and ensuring our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it’s on our radar.

TechRadar Verdict#

STM Goods ECO Backpack: Two-minute review#

STM Goods ECO Backpack: Price & availability#

STM Goods ECO Backpack: Specs#

Should you buy the STM Goods ECO Backpack?#

Buy the STM Goods ECO Backpack if…#

Don’t buy it if…#

STM Goods ECO Backpack: Also consider#

How I tested the STM Goods ECO Backpack#