If there’s one name which reigns supreme when it comes to affordable yet stylish backpacks, it’s JanSport. Beloved by students for their accessible price and clever designs, JanSport’s range has been a hit for decades without the need to change the formula too much. 

The Skip Pack – which we’re testing here – is part of the firm’s new Retro Series, infusing its products with the look and feel of JanSports of old. However, though this backpack may have a retro style, it’s been kitted out with all manner of modern touches to ensure it can tackle any type of adventure, be that close to home or further afield. 

Like other JanSport bags, the Skip Pack has a relatively thin, lightweight design but this should help to make it sturdy and long-lasting while ensuring that it fits in with all kinds of users. We’ve been testing it out to see what the Skip Pack has to offer and whether you should be considering it. 

Sphere Score

For

• Good-looking 
• Plenty of storage space 
• Lightweight and easy to pack away 
• Handy number of pockets 

Against

• Primary material is thin 
• Straps aren’t too heavily padded 
• Not waterproof 

Tech specs 

• £50
• 0.56g
• 100% recycled polyester 
• 28-litre capacity
• Dual buckle closure 

What does the JanSport Skip Pack have to offer?

At its core, the Skip Pack has a near-rolltop design which provides one large capacity area. You’ve also got pockets at the top, a compact sleeve inside and a handy elasticated water bottle holder at the side.

There’s also a netted section inside the main compartment – attached to the laptop sleeve – for keeping smaller items secure. The laptop sleeve isn’t lined, however, and has the same plain nylon finish as the rest of the bag. 

There’s a dual buckle closure system, too, which means you can easily lash down whatever you’ve got stored inside. Because of the bag’s design, it should be able to handle a fair bit more than its 28-litre capacity would leave you to believe, too. There’s also a side-entry pocket, which makes accessing that main pocket a little easier. 

At just 0.56g, the Skip Pack is definitely on the more lightweight side of things, but that’ll largely be down to its 100% recycled polyester primary material. It’s thin but should do a good job of fending off scrapes and inclement weather – though JanSport doesn’t claim this bag to be waterproof. Side compression straps allow you to cinch in the bag when you need to. 

You’ll find proper metal tabs on all the zips, too, and there’s a padded back section to go with the padded straps. 

We’ve got the Skip Pack in classic-looking ‘Travertine’ colourway, but you’ve got three more to choose from should you want. Now-iconic ‘Jelly Kelly’ is the one to go for if you’re looking to make a statement, and they all come in at a pretty budget-friendly £62, too. 

Wearing – what is the JanSport Skip Pack like?

The JanSport Skip Pack doesn’t have the heavy-duty feel that we’ve encountered on other backpacks here at GS, but you’ve got to argue that many of them carry a far higher price tag.

With its polyester construction, the Skip Pack feels lighter and a little less durable – but the details with this bag have been made properly. The metal tabs for zips, for instance, add a level of class and all of the elasticated elements feel correctly placed.

The buckles that attach the top half of the bag are sturdy and click neatly into place, too. Once open, you’ve got a big area to make use of and because of this bag’s design, you can stuff in a lot of kit before the Skip Pack ever starts feeling overloaded. In fact, it’s quite similar to a stuff sack for a sleeping bag; a little commitment means you can get quite a lot in there.

Of course, it’s hard not to love the look of the Skip Pack. To our eyes, JanSport’s Retro Series is a smash home run, bringing a look which feels in keeping with the times while tapping into that feeling of yesteryear. The stitched-in label inside the top of the bag is a near touch, too. The good news is that this design is backed by good functionality.

The padding on the straps isn’t the chunkiest, but there’s enough there to make things comfier. That padded back section is great, too, and even when fully loaded the Skip Pack never feels uncomfortable. 

It’s an easy bag to access, too. The accessories pocket at the bag is ideal for keys or phones, while the elasticated bottle pocket ensures you can bring a drink with you too. As with all bags of this type, the main pocket’s design does mean that it can be trickier to find certain items – particularly when they’re at the bottom – but that’s a by-product of having a decent amount of storage capacity.

The side pocket – located close to the back of the Skip Pack – is a really handy feature and means you can grab anything inside the bag quickly without having to unbuckle the main cover. 

The laptop sleeve is a handy touch, but it really is only about right for a 13-inch laptop – you’ll struggle to fit anything larger in there. It would be nice if it had a softer lining, but the polyester material that the bag is made of is unlikely to scratch anything anyway. 

JanSport doesn’t claim that the Skip Pack is waterproof or water-resistant, but because of the polyester that it’s made of, it’ll fend off a light shower at the very least. 

To finish

There are few downsides to the JanSport Skip Pack. It’s lightweight, has a good capacity and a decent number of pockets. It’s also a very attractive price, particularly when you consider just how striking this backpack looks. 

While seasoned adventurers might want something a little more robust, for day-hikers or those who are after a backpack that looks just as good as it works, the JanSport Skip Pack is well worth checking out.