Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack Review
The Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack is a spacious, versatile pack that can transition from office to gym to travel while ensuring comfort and durability.
Our Verdict
Save time. Get access to brief summaries of our reviews so you can browse and make decisions more efficiently.
Pros
- Shoulder straps are incredibly comfortable
- The tech compartment with laptop and tablet sleeve is super convenient
- The sternum strap and hip belt provide excellent additional support
Cons
- Water bottle and shoe pockets eat up space in the main compartment
- A dedicated shoe compartment is somewhat limiting when it comes to space
- Back panel does not offer a ton of breathability or ventilation
Technical Details
-
Capacity
35l
-
Weight (lb)
3 lb (1.4 kg)
-
Dimensions
22 in x 14 in x 9.5 in (55.9 x 35.6 x 24.1 cm)
-
Notable Materials
Ballistic Nylon, Nylon, Ripstop Polyester, Polyurethane, DWR Coating, YKK Zippers
-
Manufacturing Country
Vietnam
-
Tablet Sleeve Size
12"
-
Laptop Compartment Size
17"
-
Warranty Information
Full Review
Get up to 15% off Western Rise • Join Pack Hacker Pro
The Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack has a thoughtfully designed layout optimized for comfort and packability. The spacious capacity features thoughtful organization with dedicated compartments that adapt seamlessly, making it perfect for travel, the gym, and everyday carry use. While it may be on the larger side, its ample capacity is complemented by intuitive comfort thanks to its built-in features and ergonomic design.

The intuitive organization system includes a top quick-access pocket, a wide-opening front-loading main compartment with built-in organization, and a dedicated tech compartment for devices and accessories. A side zipper allows convenient side access into the main compartment, and the bag also has a zippered water bottle pocket and a dedicated shoe compartment under the pack.
This travel backpack is exceptionally versatile, allowing it to transition between different use cases. Thanks to its thoughtful compartmentalization, it excels as a gym-to-office pack. The dedicated tech panel can fit a laptop with work essentials, while the bottom compartment stores gym shoes away from clothing in the main compartment. The main compartment has space for a change of clothing, making it ideal for urban commuters who want to avoid carrying multiple bags. This backpack also features a modular design that integrates with Western Rise’s TechSling and RollTop15, creating a comprehensive travel system when needed.
External Components
The Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack is made from premium materials designed for durability and weather resistance. The external shell combines 420D ballistic nylon Robic with C0 DWR Coating and 630D Oxford nylon with carbonate coating, creating a relatively lightweight yet durable exterior that still maintains a professional and appealing aesthetic. The bottom panel, in particular, is made with reinforced materials and has an additional coating to protect the pack when set down, regardless of the conditions.

The pack features high-quality YKK zippers with an AquaGuard coating throughout the exterior, providing reliable weather protection. These zippers are exceptionally smooth, even around corners, and come equipped with Hypalon pull tabs for easy grip. The design maintains a clean, minimalist aesthetic with minimal external branding, making the pack ideal for travel. A single loop towards the bottom of the pack on one side is an attachment point for hooking on external gear. While you could use the grab handles as attachment points, that is not their primary purpose.

Speaking of grab handles, the Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack has three fairly basic, minimal grab handles. One is on each side of the pack, and one is on top, helping the pack maintain a clean, minimalist aesthetic through their stitched-in design. These handles are made of an incredibly smooth material that feels comfortable and pleasant to touch, similar to high-quality leather, while still offering durability. When not used, the handles sit flush against the pack, eliminating unwanted dangling or excess material. While the handles work well for quick maneuvering and short carries, their thin profile and lack of padding can become uncomfortable during extended use, especially with heavier gear.

The shoulder straps are nicely contoured and have decent padding. They maintain a clean, minimalist aesthetic with no attachment points or branding. They can be tucked away or stowed when not in use, reducing needless dangling straps. Despite their fairly minimal design, the straps offer impressive comfort. During extended periods, they seem to disappear even with moderate loads. While the initial strap adjustment can be somewhat stiff, once set to your preferred length, this becomes a non-issue. Strap keepers help maintain a tidy aesthetic, eliminating dangling.

A magnetic buckle system at the bottom of the pack allows the shoulder straps to be completely detached and stored in the dedicated compartments at the top of the pack. This feature is particularly useful when placing the pack on roller luggage. However, this leaves only the thin, unpadded grab handles for carry, which is not exactly ideal for extended use or heavier gear. Thankfully, the shoulder straps can be quickly and easily redeployed and attached when needed.
The back panel provides excellent comfort thanks to its extra padding, although there is minimal ventilation. With only a single vertical air channel running from top to bottom in the middle, breathability could be a significant issue in warmer climates.

The magnetic sternum strap features a thin, seatbelt-like material that maintains a compact profile while providing extra support. It is fully removable and integrates with a built-in rail system hidden under dedicated flaps on each shoulder strap. This design adds minimal bulk while allowing for smooth and easy adjustments. The innovative design allows one end to feed into a shoulder strap slot before connecting to the opposite side using a magnetic buckle. This system, combined with adjustable length and rail positioning, enables a fantastic degree of customizability to fit various body types. When not needed, the sternum strap can be completely removed and stored in one of the pack’s pockets, like one in front of the hip belt. The magnetic connection feels robust and secure, eliminating any concern about potential slipping or accidental unbuckling during use.

The magnetic hip belt seems like a larger version of the sternum strap and features magnetic attachments on both sides with a magnetic center buckle. The strap maintains the same smooth, seatbelt-like material quality but in a more robust form factor. It can be completely detached and stored in a dedicated compartment within the pack when you don’t need it. This intuitive organization allows for easy deployment later while keeping the straps organized and out of the way. The magnetic connection system feels remarkably secure, eliminating concerns about potential slipping or accidental unbuckling during use. However, it’s worth noting that the strap lacks any kind of dedicated padding. It is only the smooth seatbelt-like material that provides support.

The pack also has a well-designed luggage pass-through system that works exceptionally well with roller luggage. Unlike thinner or more minimal pass-through designs that allow the pack to move or shift in transit, this pack’s robust design provides excellent stability when placed on roller luggage. The secure mounting prevents unwanted sliding while maintaining the pack’s overall streamlined profile without adding unnecessary bulk.
Fit Notes
The Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack has a sleek, all-black aesthetic that works well in various settings. Its clean, minimalist design with a pod-like shape looks great in a conference room, on public transit, or in an overhead bin. While it may have a slightly larger form factor, its thoughtful design and additional support, like the sternum strap and hip belt, ensure plenty of comfort while wearing. We particularly appreciate how the inconspicuous aesthetic manages to be stylish without drawing unnecessary attention.
Inside The Pack
The quick-access pocket on top features a soft, felt-like lining that protects sensitive items like sunglasses or screens. A removable key leash with magnetic attachments is built into the top of the pocket. While this massive pocket offers plenty of space for everyday essentials, its generous capacity could be a double-edged sword. There is always the temptation to overpack this compartment since it seems to be the only pocket with easy access.

There is a dedicated tech compartment that features a well-padded laptop sleeve that can fit devices up to 18″ and a dedicated tablet sleeve that can fit devices up to 12″. While the laptop section includes a magnetic closure for added security, the tablet sleeve does not. Despite minimal padding in both sleeves, the compartment’s rigid structure offers plenty of protection for sensitive devices. At the top of the tech compartment, opposite the device sleeves, you will find a small zippered mesh pocket perfect for storing smaller gear like Bluetooth headphones, USB drives, or a mouse. While the remaining space in this compartment can hold larger items, its sleeve-like design prioritizes protection over capacity, resulting in somewhat limited storage. For example, you may be able to get away with a slim tech pouch, like the Peak Design Small Tech Pouch, but most standard tech pouches will not fit without bulging into other areas of the pack.

On one side of the pack, a water bottle pocket features a zippered, compressible design that provides a nice amount of security. While convenient, it is important to note that this compartment shares space with the main compartment. The pocket has an angled design that allows for storing larger bottles. For example, a 24 oz Owala bottle will need to be positioned at an angle to fit in the zippered closure properly. For additional flexibility with larger bottles, you can also leave the zipper partially open. However, this compromises the pocket’s security, especially since this pocket does not have any kind of protective gusset to prevent items from falling out.

Underneath the pack, a shoe compartment has dual zippers and a fairly wide opening for easy access. While it can expand to accommodate larger shoes, this also eats away at storage in the main compartment. The compartment works best for gym shoes, flats, and sandals rather than larger options like boots or high heels, yet it does an excellent job of isolating shoes from the rest of your gear, preventing the transfer of dirt and odors. This is particularly useful when using the pack as a gym bag.

For those who don’t need dedicated shoe storage, this compartment can store other gear like tech pouches, toiletry kits, or extra clothing. However, since this pocket is at the bottom of the pack, anything stored here may be crushed by the weight of items in the main compartment when you set the bag down.
The main compartment has a front-loading design with dual zippers, providing a wide opening for an exceptional overview of everything inside. While this makes packing and organizing gear inside fairly straightforward, it does require laying the bag on its back to access. This is important to consider when setting it down on dirty surfaces, as this could transfer dirt to your back when wearing it. On the side opposite the water bottle pocket, a convenient L-shaped zipper provides side access to the main compartment. This side entry can be particularly useful when using the pack as a gym bag, allowing easy access to packing cubes or a pouch without fully opening the main compartment.

The main compartment is a spacious cavern with some organization built into the front panel. It features spacious mesh pockets with U-shaped, dual-zippered openings. These pockets can expand to accommodate larger items, making them ideal for storing clothing or other travel essentials. The rest of the compartment is a simple, spacious area, perfect for loose items or packing cubes.

The Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack is a thoughtfully designed travel pack that does an excellent job of balancing functionality with aesthetics. Its minimalistic aesthetic, versatile carry options, spacious capacity, and supportive features make it an excellent choice for a travel backpack. The combination of durable materials, well-implemented organization, and comfortable carry features gives this pack the reliability and adaptability to excel in various use cases. Whether you are heading to a business meeting, going to the gym, leaving on a weekend trip, or a combination thereof, the Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack proves itself to be a capable and versatile option that will not disappoint.
Usage Timeline
Condition: Excellent
- Harness system seems thoughtful, intuitive, and comfortable
- Materials feel incredibly robust and protective
- Unique approach to side access and water bottle compartment
Condition: Excellent
- No noticable scuffs or scratches
- Harness system is ultra comfortable
- Additional support system is appreciated
Get your questions about the Western Rise Voyager Travel35 Backpack answered from our team and the Pro Community right here on the page. Plus, join discussions with other members about gear, guides, and more.
Join Pack Hacker Pro or, Sign In