This year, I planned a really big trip to New York. I’d bought an engagement ring. I’d organized a fancy hotel room. I had it all under control. Assuming she said “yes,” that is. The most anxious bit of the entire process? Safely and secretly transporting the ring through US customs, taxi rides, and beyond, all without my partner discovering it. So it’s just as well that Carl Friedrik’s new Sonder backpack came to my rescue.
There’s no secret that we love Carl Friedrik’s roster of cases and bags. They’re luxe enough to feature in the likes of Succession and The White Lotus—as well as collaborate with F1’s Williams Racing–while being plenty rugged and durable. Still, it’s the Sonder that I’m here to recommend, and I imagine it’ll now be my commuter backpack for years to come. Whether or not you’re planning on popping the question anytime soon, the Sonder is well worth knowing about.
A redo of the Ayrton backpack, it’s a vachetta leather backpack that oozes luxury. The full-grain, semi-aniline leather has a rich, textured look, which is highlighted with the deep, dark polyester lining supporting the back and the interior. A front pocket serves as a fast pouch to grab essentials or store items you need often and quickly, too. For me, it was a prime passport, boarding pass, and wallet safe house, and the premium metal zippers held firm over many rushed morning dashes for an Uber into town.
Specs
- Storage: 16-inch laptop compartment, one large exterior front pocket, two interior slip pockets, one zippered pocket
- Dimensions: 11.8 x 15.9 x 5.1 inches
- Weight: 2.9 pounds
- Volume: 15.5 liters
The leather gives the bag a lot of flexibility, making it easy to store under airplane seats or in overhead bins, albeit with the potential downside of making your laptop a bit more susceptible to damage. In my experience, both my gadgets and that all-important ring were tucked away and protected with care. Inside the bag’s 15-liter main compartment is a big sleeve for a laptop or tablet as well as several smaller but still capacious pockets for knickknacks, snacks, and my other travel essential, Haribo Tangfastics. There’s a surprising amount of space to store all the bits and bobs you’ll need throughout the day, and slinging it over your back is an instant level-up for your style, to boot.
Carl Friedrik Sonder Verdict: Is It Worth It?
Of course, you don’t need to be planning a proposal to get the most out of Carl Freidrik’s Sonder. Now I’m free of the ring, it’s home to a container of pesto pasta, B&W PX8 headphones, and notebook instead. If you are prepping for your next mid-length holiday or just want a bag that’s worth a big office fit, this should be your next port of call—it truly is the modern-day backpack. Oh, and just so you know, she did say “yes” after all.
This story originally appeared on British GQ.
Read the full article here
