Every year, I find myself attempting to make the bag I carry lighter. The gadgets change frequently, but I try to keep the bags the same. In 2016 I used the Incase Icon bag to transport all of my tech gear, so when Incase sent over their Incase ICON Lite, I wondered if it would lighten my load? Let’s see!
Probably a common problem that I have (which others might as well) is simply carrying a bunch of things that I might not necessarily need. On average, I bring the following with me on a day-to-day basis:
- iPad Pro 12.9-Inch
- MacBook Pro 11″ 2015-edition
- Huawei Honor 6x Smartphone
- iPhone 7 Plus 256GB
- Audeeze Sine Planar Headphones
- Master Dynamic ME05 Earphones
- Battery Pack
- 3-4 USB cables – two lightning, one micro-USB, 1 USB-C
- Mints
- Lotion
- Pen
- Mechanical Pencil
- Microfiber Cloth
- Umbrella
- Water Bottle
Now, this may sound like a lot when you break it down, but if you attempt to consolidate a bit, particularly since a techy, you never want to be caught without. This is where Incase has always been great regarding tech bags. With the larger Incase ICON backpack, there were so many compartments, which I felt able to carry everything with me day-to-day, things that I honestly had no use or need for. With the Incase ICON Lite, I’m forced to only carry around the necessities.
Made for the Minimalist, the Incase ICON Lite forces you to leave behind the need for everything, and instead go with the vital. Essentially, just a slimmer version of the full-sized ICON, some things have been stripped away to make the bag less bulky than its predecessor, but that’s certainly not a bad thing at all.
Where the full-sized bag featured two main compartments and could look a bit heavier on your shoulders, the lite ICON version only has one main compartment. This for enough, especially on a light day-to-day trip to and from. At CES, I certainly could’ve used this bag as my primary bag due to its lightweight design, all the while being able to be durable enough to carry the essentials necessary. But of course there were a few things that I missed from the larger version, and a few I’m glad were left out for this lighter version of my favorite bag.
One thing that I DID miss was the fully functional front compartment. As someone who does jot notes down quite often, seeing that there was no longer a separate section for pens in the front was indeed a bummer. Incase opted for one large storage pocket that isn’t really “sorted” so to speak, so pretty much this is a place where you throw your pens, pencils, battery packs and the like. Unfortunately, though, if a pen bursts in this bag or your hand sanitizer is left slightly open, it’s getting on everything. Where with the original ICON, some little zippers and pockets kept items such as pens and liquids separate. Not a HUGE deal, but for someone who keeps the smaller things in the front pocket, being able to sort them accordingly certainly helps.
Another feature that’s been done away with on the ICON Lite were the two side pockets. One side pocket on the ICON gave you the ability to put a small battery pack in the slot, with a cable so if you’re on the go, you could pull out the cable and quickly charge up your phone a bit. On the ICON Lite, this has been removed. What’s more, the flap on the first ICON was a bit cumbersome and oversized, so if you want to go lighter, this is a feature you won’t really miss at all.
Incase’s ICON Lite Pack is a bag that should easily be a top choice for an everyday carry bag. It’s slim yet comfortable design, roomy interior, and ability to withstand a possible drizzle. It still has the pocket for your laptop and tablet (or both if you keep them together). Outside of that, the bag feels good on your back, which is a welcome switch from the original ICON. With that version of the bag, if I carried all of the tech in this picture, I’d have a lot of tech on my back, daily but at some point, you don’t need to carry EVERYTHING. And the ICON Lite gets this, and it gets me. From the shoulder straps being super comfortable to the bag’s breathability, the ICON Lite just manages to look and feel impressive, regardless of whichever of the seven colors you choose. And did I mention it’s only $99.95?
Overall, the ICON Lite is the lightweight version of Incase’s favorite tech backpack that you’ve been looking for at a price that nearly everyone can afford. If you don’t mind throwing everything in loosely in the front compartment, this is easily a bag worth having.
For more information on the Incase ICON Lite, head over to Incase today.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review unit
What I Like: Bag feels great and is ultra-light. Price is super affordable
What Needs Improvement: Maybe some organization pockets for the front pocket so everything isn’t just thrown together