Is the Bagsmart Blast Pro 38-Liter Bag Worth It? Full Review
BAGSMART bags have been making the rounds online, and since I had the opportunity to collaborate (on video content) with them, I had to throw in my personal Bagsmart Blast Pro 38-Liter review for those who are on the fence about it.
Yes, seeing lots of videos about the bags is great, but I love a good blog review with photos and text really diving in.
I was pretty excited about the bag because I was tired of my smaller under-the-seat carry-on that I’d been using for about 5 years. This BAGSMART bag is designed with travel in mind and is maxed out with pockets and other features.
Let’s get into my detailed review of the BAGSMART Blast 38-liter expandable bag, who it’s for, and how well it traveled on a budget airline.
Disclosure: This blog post was inspired by a video collaboration with BAGSMART. This post is not paid for by the brand, and I’m writing it on my own, but I was gifted the bag during our video collab. Some product links and recommendations are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you).
My Experience with the Bagsmart Blast Pro 38-Liter Bag
After using a smaller backpack as my under-the-seat bag for years, I was eager to get my hands on a BAGSMART when they offered me one as part of a video collaboration.
I loved my green North Face, but let’s face it, it was quite used, and space-wise, I was always stuffing things in a disorganized way. Especially with so many airlines only allowing for one under-seat bag, the space wasn’t cutting it anymore. Not to mention, there were no support straps, and my shoulders were over it.
If you’ve been wondering if the Bagsmart Blast Pro backpack is a good travel backpack, we’re finding this out together. But so far, I’m happy with it and plan to keep it for a long time.
The BAGSMART 38 Liter Pro expands from 28 to 38 liters and has well-placed pockets and storage areas.
I tested it on one flight as an under-the-seat bag, and after it passed the sizer check (Wizz Air: 40x30x20) and fit more than expected, I was all for it.
It’s ideal as an under-the-seat or overhead carry-on, but you could also use it for day trips. It does, though, pack more like a suitcase than a backpack in the main compartment.
It’s a travel-geared backpack, but it could still work fine for taking to the office or for small outdoor adventures.
Bagsmart Blast Pro 38 Liter Travel Backpack Review
In my BAGSMART review, we’ll cover the BAGSMART Blast Pro 38 (expandable) backpack. It’s replaced my last smaller under-the-seat backpack, and I hope to keep this one for a long time!
Best Uses for This Backpack
With its clamshell-style opening and compression clips, the BAGSMART Blast Pro is a travel-friendly packable backpack.
It’s ideal for:
- Under-the-seat or carry-on
- Trips for a couple of days
- Roadtrips
As it is a backpack, though, you could still use it as an office bag or for other daily things. Since it’s my only backpack, I use it for everything, like carrying my laptop to go to coworking and catch a flight.
Bagsmart Blast Pro 38-liter Review: 28 to 38 Liter Expansion
One of my favorite features of the BAGSMART Blast Pro 38L is its expandability.
I don’t know if the expansion made it feel that much more spacious, but it will definitely come in handy if I need to stuff more in or pack for longer trips.
Bagsmart Blast Pro 38L Features Review
The BAGSMART Blast Pro 38-liter has a ton of features that are both practical and high-quality. The bag in this review is built with travel in mind, so many of its features reflect that.
Clam-Shell Opening
The clamshell-style opening is the main feature that makes this backpack feel like a small suitcase. Being able to open it and find anything, rather than having things stacked on top of each other, makes it helpful to organize.
The main compartment is quite spacious, and I love that when I need to grab something, I can do so without much rearranging, making everything more accessible.
Interior Straps/Divider
The part I’m getting used to in this backpack is that it’s a lot like a suitcase. Inside the main compartment, there were two buckles to help compress things, which, as far as I can tell, cannot be hidden away anywhere. I just leave them clipped and pulled tight when not in use.
There’s also a divider that can connect in two areas to create a separation.
On the right side of the photo, you can see that the lower half has the shoe compartment pushed into it from below. If you don’t use the shoe space, you can keep it tucked away to make space in the main compartment.
Top Pocket
The top pocket is my favorite on this bag for on-the-go functionality. If I want to store some snacks, headphones, and other small things I’ll likely grab at some point, they go here.
There’s a small zippered pocket inside so you can create some separation.
Laptop & Tech Compartment
The laptop and tech compartment lies flat along the back of the BAGSMART Blast Pro 38-liter backpack. The softness is decent and overall feels protective.
There’s a small pocket along the top where you can store tech like chargers, a mouse, and mini wireless mics (oops, that’s my list).
And then you have a space for your laptop and a tablet.
I carry a 13″ MacBook, which fits well. If you have a larger laptop with many accessories, this pocket might get a bit tight.
And if the main compartment is super full, it might be harder to close the laptop compartment. But I’m also paranoid about damaging my tech if I pack too much.
Shoe Compartment
The shoe compartment makes this bag a great choice for shorter trips and even hikes or long days out.
It’s at the very bottom of the bag, and you can fit 1 or even 2 pairs of shoes. If you use the shoe compartment they will take up some space in the main compartment, but at least everything will be kept clean and separate.
Wet Compartment
Along the opening pocket is a wet compartment. I haven’t tested this with anything actually wet, like a bathing suit, so I’m not sure how anti-leak it is. But the plastic pocket and lining are good quality and sturdy.
I use it for toiletries, and I love that you can see your stuff through it!
Water Bottle Pocket
I like the water bottle pocket more than I expected. It actually fills out well, and I don’t feel like I have to work hard to fit a larger water bottle. I had a 600ml bottle which fit in the pocket fine with the bag packed lightly.
Lockable Zippers
One thing I hoped for in this bag was more lockable zippers.
The laptop compartment has a lockable zipper (shown in the image), but the other zipper pulls are fabric cords, so while you could lock them together, they could still be cut.
The laptop compartment zip lock is good quality, though, and you can still fit a lot in it for safekeeping.
Additional Pockets
The front panel on the bag has two pockets, both on the flatter side. They’re great for small notebooks, pens, and other small items you want to keep organized.
Anti-Theft & RFID Pockets
On the side of the backpack are two protective pockets: an anti-theft pocket and an RFID-protected pocket. Both are tucked away and have enough space for your passports, credit cards, and even keys. Unfortunately, though, they don’t have lockable zips.
Comfort Review
The thing I was most excited about with this bag was the chest strap. I know, simple, but the backpack straps on my last bag were aching my shoulders, so I was eager to see if this bag would provide some relief.
During my flight, I had it packed at about 10 kilos (22 pounds), and it was decently comfortable with the chest strap. No digging into my armpits, and the weight was better distributed.
The chest strap also adjusts so you can wear it higher or lower.
Testing for Under-the-Seat Budget Travel
My primary concern was whether this bag would fit well under the seat, since it’s my main travel backpack.
I usually check a suitcase and have one personal item, in this case, this bag.
And making this Bagsmart Blast Pro 38-Liter review, I’m happy to report it fits in most under-the-seat sizers, as I know this is a detail that can make or break things.
The dimensions are 31 cm x 20.5 cm x 42 cm unexpanded and 31 cm x 25 cm x 42 cm expanded.
That means that for carriers like Wizz Air and Ryanair, this bag is technically slightly larger than the 40 x 30 x 20 cm specifications.
But as it’s a soft-shell bag, it fits easily into 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag sizers. Just don’t pack it too much and keep it unexpanded.
And I was still able to carry so much more than expected (at least compared to my last, smaller backpack).
I traveled with Wizz Air from London Luton with the BAGSMART Blast Pro 38 liter with no issue fitting it in the sizer, and it fit comfortably beneath the seat.
Pros and Cons of the BagSmart Pro 38L
Heading into the final stretch of my Bagsmart Blast Pro 38-Liter review, let’s do a quick overview of what I love and what I’m not crazy about.
What I Love About This Bag
This bag is overall impressive with how organized the pockets are, and now that I’m used to the clamshell opening, I love that too.
Other things about it I love are the two security pockets (despite not being lockable), and the chest strap. Backpacks usually dig into my shoulders and rub under my arms, so the chest strap makes carrying a heavier bag more tolerable.
What I’d Personally Change
There are a couple of things in my Bagsmart Blast Pro 38-Liter review that I’m not in love with, but aren’t a huge deal either.
The compression straps on the outside of the bag are a bit much; they just add more buckles and straps. I’m sure they’ll be more handy if I ever need to really pack the bag, but for now I keep them strapped and mostly out of the way.
As for the shoe compartment, because it’s a separate pouch, it spills into the main compartment. When I’m not using the shoe compartment, I wish there were a way to zip the shoe pouch to hide it away. It flattens out our way fine, but is still loosely in there.
Final Verdict — Is the BagSmart Pro 38L Worth It?
If you take a lot of short trips, want to switch to carry-on-only, or are just looking for an everyday bag that is also practical for travel, the Bagsmart Blast Expandable 38-liter Pro is a strong choice.
