Axio Hybrid Laptop Backpack

Axio Hybrid Laptop Backpack

Published August 25, 2008 at 01:15:55 PM, by Dave Bethune

Overview

Several thoughts come to mind when taking a first look at the Axio Hybrid backpack. Aside from possibly being mistaken for a teenage mutant ninja turtle when wearing this high tech looking backpack, the extreme usefulness matched with its massive storage capacity make the Hybrid backpack one of the most versatile laptop backpacks on the market. Boasting an enormous 2671-cubic-inch capacity, this bag can carry your laptop and every other gadget in your electronic arsenal. At a cost around $129.99, the Axio Hybrid backpack carries a hefty price tag for some, but for the individuals who want secure and massive storage matched with excellent quality, the Hybrid is definitely a backpack to consider purchasing.

Design - External

Portability
Small and nimble the Hybrid backpack is not, with external dimensions at 19'H x 17'W x 11'D, this backpack can store laptops up to 17' and still have plenty of room to store books, papers, and maybe even the kitchen sink. In all honesty, the Hybrid may look big and bulky, but in reality it handles like a small fanny pack, quite nimble and unrestrictive to natural movement. Because of Axio's use of various composite materials, such as 420D Jacquard Nylon and semi-rigid foam construction, the Hybrid feels rigid and strong, but also light weight in design. With an overall weight pushing at about 6 pounds, the Hybrid adds a bit of extra weight to your precious cargo, when compared to other backpacks of similar size weighing in at only 2 to 4 pounds. But the tradeoff benefit of added weight is that the Hybrid will cradle and protect valuable items, especially if transportation gets rough.

Exterior
Style is always in the eye of the beholder, but the Axio has style for its size. It's big, yet sleek and stylish. As I've mentioned before, the durable 420D Jacquard Nylon is smooth to the touch and gives the appearance of that carbon fiber look, very 'import tuner' style. Two major compartments house the bulk of the storage space which is sealed off from the outside elements by super-strong waterproof zippers. These zippers look like that they can turn the Hybrid into flotation device, but I would not recommend testing out that theory. The top of the backpack houses a convenient little pocket to hold your CD, MP3, or media player with a little pass-though hole to feed your earphones through, great design but it might degrade the 'weather resistant' principle. A sturdy padded nylon handle crowns the top of theHybrid backpack, which make it easy to throw around.

The rear paneling of the backpack is where you can really get a feel for the quality. Rigorously padded and ultra-comfortable, this semi-rigid foam construction is strong yet soft and provides a breathable layer of fabric so that your cloths or skin don't get that 'sweaty' effect. No one looks cool when they take off their backpack and sport the killer sweat stains.

The shoulder straps make the Hybrid worth every penny. They make even the heaviest loads feel comfortable and secure thanks to the super thick padding and same breathable material that lines the rear paneling. Matched with the removable waist strap, the Hybrid backpack enables a smooth comfortable ride and ensures ergonomic posture when carrying heavy loads.

Design - Interior

Interior
The interior of the Axio Hybrid is where all the action is. Lined in red nylon, the black/red color configuration is stylish and pleasing to the eye. Going from the outside facing pocket in, the first compartment could be categorized as secondary; manly used for storing cables, accessories, and various other non-standardized items. High-grade black netting hugs the interior paneling of the outer-most wall in this compartment, perfect for keeping those cables nice and secure. Housed on the opposite side of the compartment are several slots that are perfect for holding onto note cards, papers, or pencils. One thing that is extremely prevalent on the Hybrid is the quality of materials. All surfaces feel very strong and well made. It is quite apparent that no expense was spared when designing the Axio Hybrid backpack.

To say the second and primary compartment is large is an understatement, it's huge! There is more space, more pockets, and just plainly more room then you will know what to do with. The main feature of this section is the removable padded laptop case that can hold laptops up to 17 inches. The majority of individuals carry notebooks ranging from the ultra-portable 12-inch to the popular 15-inch, but if you enjoy lugging around your desk top replacement, you have the space for it. For smaller laptops, I would recommend using a smaller laptop sleeve that is designed for your laptop. Even though the Axio laptop sleeve is padded, smaller laptops still would have some degree of movement and would not necessarily be secured down. On either side of the main compartment, you have a barrage of sub-compartments that can hold and organized more of your clutter which could range from books and papers to small pens and pencils.

The third compartment is located on the top of the backpack itself. A relatively small space compared to the overall size of the Hybrid, its main function is to hold onto your media or MP3 player. A small hole protrudes at the crown of the backpack so a headphone cord can conveniently feed to your audio source. Simple design, yet a necessity in today's mobile electronic world.

Hybrid Construction Design
The Axio Hybrid backpack is not just a clever name, its nomenclature stems from the overall design of the backpack itself. The outside material is weather resistant, relatively soft to the touch, and yet the comprised construction is very sturdy and strong which could only be described as a shell that is somewhat soft.

Ergonomics
Most backpacks that reside in the same class as the Axio Hybrid will feature some degree of ergonomics designed into them, but because of the Hybrid's semi-ridged constriction, the level of support that is given to the shoulders and both lower and upper back is significant. Shoulder pads and quite comfortable even under heavy loads, and a removable waist strap can help dispense a good portion for those heavier loads to the hips if needed.

MP3 Player Pocket
Becoming more of a standard in today's laptop backpacks, MP3 player pockets are also a main feature in backpacks that are held within the same class as the Hybrid. A pass-through hole on the top side of the backpack enables you to feed your headphones though to the MP3 player. We believe it's more of a necessity and is held to a high degree of importance when one is in the market for a mildly expensive backpack.

Laptop Sleeve
The laptop sleeve is very important in keeping precious cargo nice and secure. Again, this feature has become more standard then not; the benefit of being able to carry a 17' laptop is a big plus and is also congruent with the 'massive space' design that is inherent in the overall design in Axio Hybrid backpack. In most cases, users of smaller laptops will most likely want to purchase a separate laptop sleeve that is more apt to fit their hardware.

Performance

My first impression of the Hybrid was 'this thing is huge', but that feeling soon passed when I actually put the backpack on. My movement was surprisingly unrestricted and my agility was only slightly affected. I am not saying that I would go out and run five miles with the Hybrid on, but with most day-to-day uses of transporting my laptop between home, work, and anywhere else was done with ease.

Transporting the HP dv5000 with the Hybrid laptop sleeve was simple and easy. The dv5000 is a normal-size laptop, sporting a 15.4-inch widescreen, which fit nice and snug inside the laptop case. The laptop sleeve itself is held inside the backpack with industrial strength Velcro and is cradled between the outside compartment and your back. I felt confident that the dv5000 is nice and secure. As for the residual of my cables and accessories, they were neatly organized and held in the outer compartment. The Hybrid's design enabled me to have the ability to easily access both of the compartments conveniently. Having sported the Axio Hybrid backpack for several weeks, I am convinced that its intelligent design and overall interior space totally outweighs its overall bulky appearance. Having the MP3 player pocket was a good benefit as I walked everywhere with the Hybrid. The pass-through hole always kept my headphone cable out of harms way.

Conclusion

Pros:

• Intelligent design
• Very comfortable
• Huge storage capacity
• Excellent quality

Cons:

• Slightly Expensive
• Bulky
• 17-inch laptop case might be too big for most laptops

Recommendation
Giving the appearance of a big and bulky backpack, the Axio Hybrid successfully combines function and design in one smart package. Most will probably be turned off by the size of the Hybrid, but for the individuals who decide to strut their stuff with this backpack will happily be rejoicing in their purchasing decisions. The Hybrid has tones of space, more than you will ever need, and more importantly, it's comfortable. Manly designed for a niche market, the Hybrid makes an excellent addition to anyone's mobile arsenal. Its minor setback of huge appearance and large laptop sleeve are overshadowed by its overall functionality. If you are looking for a very strong, well made laptop backpack that will out live you, the Axio Hybrid is an excellent choice.

Price and Availability
Available in one color: black, the Axio Hybrid sells for $129.99 and offers limited lifetime warranty.

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Technical Specifications

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