We’re no strangers to bags and luggage, having collaborated with some of the industry’s most renowned high-end brands over the years. However, they had drawbacks, namely that we were constantly worried they would go missing, and some were more style over substance. What we wanted were bags that could offer peace of mind, that were lightweight, hardwearing, and, equally as important, practical. Our hopes were recently realised when we were introduced to CabinZero.
CabinZero’s story began in 1993 in India, when its founder, Neil Varden, became frustrated with ‘lugging around’ unnecessarily large baggage and wasting valuable time at check-ins while travelling. After a fruitless search for luggage that would meet his needs, he did what many foresighted entrepreneurs do: he decided to make his own. The result was a perfectly-sized, adventure-proof, cabin-sized backpack.
Although CabinZero Ltd, founded in 2010, has built an enviable following among travellers and adventure seekers worldwide, it was only within the past month that the brand came to our attention.
We attribute this to people believing that we are home to only the most expensive and exclusive products and services, something that couldn’t be further from the truth. Anything well-made, that works, is practical, and offers good value for money, is more likely to catch our attention nowadays, and this is precisely what CabinZero offers.
To help us gain a better understanding of the company, it shipped us versions of its 42L and 28L backpacks, along with a selection of its packing cubes.
To begin this review, we’ll discuss the CabinZero Military backpack, which is available in five colours, with our test subject being Galaxy, a variation of purple. This front-loading backpack is available in three sizes: 28L, the size we tested, 36L and 44L.
The first thing noted was how incredibly light the backpack is, along with the high-quality materials used in its construction, including 1000-denier nylon for the body and 200-denier polyester for the lining. These materials represent a significant improvement over the materials found on the six or seven backpacks currently in our arsenal.
Attached to the side of the backpack is a cardboard, hexagonal-shaped tag with the word “OKOBAN,” which was unfamiliar to us. Adjacent to it is a black tag with a sticker bearing the words “Please Activate.” Although I had a ‘rough idea’ of what this could be, I jumped onto the internet to double-check.
It was as I hoped; the tag provides access to lifetime tracking via a system currently used by 224 countries. When you register the unique code, located under the sticker on the tag, on the Okoban.com website, the bag’s unique ID will be recorded on their tracking system. Should the backpack go missing, the Okoban system will send an SMS text message and/or email informing you of its location and how to make contact.
However, that’s enough of the technology; let’s get back to the bag itself.
In addition to its lightweight (825 g), the CabinZero Military 28L backpack is also water-resistant, making it ideal for outdoor adventures. In addition, it features a dedicated, expandable bottle holder on one side, a carrying handle on the opposite side and a further padded handle at its top.
The backpack houses two YKK® zipped pockets, the requisite general storage area, and a sleeve adjacent to the heavily padded back, which we believe is designed to hold up to a 15.6″ laptop. I feel that it has been designed with a ‘peace of mind’ philosophy, as the main compartment area features lockable sliders, and the bag is constructed using abrasion-resistant fabric. It also comes with a Lifetime, No Hassle Guarantee.
In addition to the above, it also boasts MOLLE Webbing. If you’re not familiar with MOLLE (pronounced “Molly”), it stands for Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment. It is a military innovation made from rows of heavy-duty nylon fabric called PALS. In simple terms, this technology allows the wearer to attach other MOLLE pouches and accessories, for example, a First-aid kit.
One thing that is evident from the outset is that this backpack is designed with all-day comfort in mind. It features very well-padded shoulder straps, a ventilated and reinforced back panel, and a chest belt, all of which are easily adjustable.
My wife was the first to test the backpack, which she did by taking a walk around our village, and she loved it. She told me that it was as comfortable as it looked, sat perfectly and didn’t make her back too warm. The following day, I had my chance to give it a try, and although we were only out for an hour, I shared her sentiment.
The CabinZero Military backpack is, in a nutshell, superb. Making it even more attractive is that it is under-seat approved with most leading airlines, making it an ideal bag for travel.
Next up is the Adventure Cabin backpack, available in 32L or 42L sizes. The bag we reviewed was in the Mojito Lime colour, and it is my favourite due to its excellent build quality and its practicality.
Like the CabinZero Military backpack, the 42L Adventure Cabin features a tag for registration with Okoban. In addition, both bags feature a series of CabinZero tags with the words “The suitcase on your back.” However, it is the Adventure Cabin backpack that I feel is much more deserving of this accolade.
The 42L Adventure Cabin is crafted with the same comfort levels and attention to detail as the Military backpack, and although its price is not significantly higher, the increased size has allowed CabinZero designers to incorporate a wider range of features.
Regarding these, this backpack is maximum cabin-sized and meets the current carry-on luggage sizing criteria for many airlines, including British Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad, Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2, and others. Its larger size means it can hold a laptop of up to 17″, and it also contains a removable aluminium frame sheet. In addition, it has been designed with stowaway backpack straps, lockable sliders (locks not included) and a sleeve to attach to a trolley handle.
Regarding storage, it features an almost invisible zippable compartment at the top, an additional zippable area that houses the shoulder straps on its rear, and a primary front-loading storage compartment. Like the Military backpack, the 42L has two zippable netted compartments inside, along with a laptop sleeve that is afforded extra protection by the aluminium frame.
This is a bag that is large enough to take all your essentials for, let’s say, a weekend away, and the big selling point is you won’t waste valuable time hanging around in the baggage collection area of an airport.
Rounding this review off are the fully lined packing cubes.
CabinZero kindly sent us three black and red-coloured cabin cubes, two of which were medium-sized and one large. Like the backpacks, each zippable packing cube has a unique code that allows it to be registered with Okobano.
The ultra-lightweight packing cubes have a mesh window and can be rolled up or flattened. They are made with 100% recycled polyester and, like the backpacks, are water-resistant, come with a lifetime guarantee, and feature YKK zippers.
Of the three sent to us, only the large cube features a carry handle, and although I didn’t have the means to test this, it appears to be able to accommodate a small laptop. All of the cubes fit comfortably inside the backpacks and will prove beneficial when on the move.
Final Thoughts
CabinZero is a British brand that is going places (no pun intended). Confirmation of this is evidenced by its recent receiving of the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, which places it alongside the likes of Rolls-Royce, Dyson, and Brompton.
Achieving this accolade is an incredible feat, as it requires not only the personal approval of His Majesty The King but also the endorsement of the Prime Minister. Understandably, CabinZero’s Founder, Neil Varden, is delighted, saying, “It shows that our message and mission resonate around the world.”
The best way to conclude this review of CabinZero is to state that the quality and innovation we found with the brand’s products have exceeded our expectations in the best way. In this day and age, it is very rare to find a company with the confidence to ‘put its money where its mouth is’ by offering a Lifetime, No-Hassle Guarantee.
Admittedly, our experience with the brand’s products is still in its early days; however, based on our experience and research, my wife and I consider ourselves fans of the brand, and if you decide to purchase one of their bags, we are confident you will be too.
CabinZero – Where and How?
CabinZero offers an extensive range of backpacks, bags and accessories, all of which can be purchased at www.cabinzero.com.
All images used in this feature are copyright of CabinZero Ltd. 
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