What this review covers
- The Little America, Classic and other backpack lines
- Laptop sleeves, compartments and everyday organisation
- Duffels, luggage and larger travel bags
- Materials, colours and the classic design language
- Pricing and retail availability
Verdict
Herschel suits a buyer who wants a backpack that looks good on a commute, a campus or a weekend trip, with a classic design that does not scream technical gear. The trade is that Herschel bags are style-led rather than technical: they lack the suspension, weatherproofing and load-carrying features of a hiking pack, and the larger travel cases are secondary to the backpack range. It suits a student, a commuter or a weekend traveller who values looks and everyday organisation. It does not suit a serious hiker or someone who needs a technical travel pack.
Pros
- Classic, recognisable backpack design
- Wide colour and pattern choice
- Good everyday organisation and laptop sleeves
- Accessible pricing for the design quality
Cons
- Not a technical hiking or load-carrying pack
- Limited weatherproofing on most lines
- Travel luggage is secondary to backpacks
What Herschel sells
Herschel sells backpacks as its core, with lines including the Little America, with its drawstring top and magnetic buckles, the Classic, a simple daypack shape, and the Retreat and other everyday packs, plus duffels, tote bags, hip packs and luggage. Backpacks typically hold 15 to 30 litres, with a padded laptop sleeve in most lines, an internal media pocket and a front pocket for small items, and they are sold in a wide range of colours and patterns, from plain black to striped and printed fabrics. Duffels and travel bags extend the range for weekend trips, and small accessories include wallets, caps and packing accessories.
Herschel is a Canadian company founded in Vancouver in 2009 by brothers Jamie and Lyndon Cormack, named after the town where their great-grandfather grew up. The design language is deliberately classic — canvas-style fabrics, leather-look straps on some lines, and a striped liner inside — which gives the bags a recognisable look that has made them popular with students and commuters. The brand is sold in department stores, bag shops and online in many countries.
Fabrics, organisation and the everyday compromise
Herschel backpacks use polyester and canvas-style fabrics, with padded straps and a padded back panel on most lines, but they do not use the suspended mesh back panels, hip belts and weatherproof coatings of a technical hiking pack. That is the everyday compromise: comfortable for a commute or a campus day, less comfortable for a long hike with a heavy load, and vulnerable to rain without a cover. Laptop sleeves fit most 15-inch and 16-inch laptops depending on the line, and the internal organisation — a sleeve, a media pocket and a front pocket — suits a laptop, a book, a charger and daily essentials, but not a full camera kit or technical gear.
Duffels and luggage use the same design language, with a main compartment and smaller pockets, and they suit weekend trips where a backpack is not enough. Buyers should check the exact volume and laptop fit for the line being bought, since Herschel's lines vary in both, and the classic look can hide real differences in capacity.
Who it is for
Herschel suits a student, a commuter or an office worker who wants a good-looking everyday backpack with a laptop sleeve, and it suits a weekend traveller who wants a matching duffel. It suits a buyer who values colour and pattern choice, and it suits someone who wants a bag that works for both a campus and a short trip without looking like hiking gear.
Who should skip it
Skip Herschel if a technical hiking pack is needed, since the suspension, weatherproofing and load-carrying features are not there, and skip it if a large checked suitcase is the main need, since luggage is secondary. Skip the smaller daypacks if a 16-inch laptop plus books must fit, and check the exact laptop sleeve size for the line. Rain-heavy commutes may need a separate rain cover.
How to choose before you buy
Start with use, not colour. A daily commute needs a laptop sleeve that fits the actual laptop, a comfortable strap for the actual load, and a volume that holds the daily kit without bulging. A weekend trip needs a duffel or a larger pack, and the two should be chosen together if a matching set matters.
Compare Herschel against other everyday backpacks on strap comfort, laptop fit and pocket layout, not just looks, since a good-looking bag that digs into shoulders will not last. If technical features matter — weatherproofing, a hip belt, a suspended back — a hiking brand will serve better, even if it looks less classic.
Research-based guide using publicly available brand and label information. Based on publicly available information; no testing or personal use is claimed here. Check the current label and price before you buy, as ranges and retailers change.
Frequently asked questions
What is Herschel best known for?
Herschel is best known for its backpacks, especially the Little America and Classic lines, with a classic, outdoors-inspired design.
Does Herschel make luggage?
Yes, Herschel sells duffels, travel bags and some luggage alongside its backpacks, though backpacks remain the core range.
Are Herschel backpacks good for hiking?
They suit short, light walks but are not technical hiking packs, lacking the suspension, hip belts and weatherproofing of hiking brands.
Do Herschel backpacks fit laptops?
Most lines include a padded laptop sleeve, with the exact laptop size varying by line, so the sleeve size should be checked for the model being bought.
Where is Herschel from?
Herschel is a Canadian company founded in Vancouver in 2009.