Laptop backpack · review
Samsonite Guardit 2.0: three compartments, room for a short trip
A travel bag that also works for the daily commute. Here is everything that fits into my M size, what other buyers report, and why the button on this page now leads to the newer Guardit 3.0.
Aistis Published 10 November 2026
- Bought
- By me, on Amazon
- Sponsored
- No
- Paid by
- My own money
- Status
- Still used on every trip
The short version
- Still my bag for every trip, and it has held up well
- Three separate zipped sections: laptop, main and front organiser
- The zipper runs smoothly and does not get stuck
- Currently unavailable on Amazon; the Guardit 3.0 has replaced it
01Watch the review
The video loads from YouTube only after you press play.
02A travel bag that also goes to the office
This is my Samsonite Guardit 2.0 in the M size, the one for laptops up to 15.6 inches. I bought it myself, with my own money, and nobody paid for this review. For me it is a travel bag that also works for daily commuting, such as going to the office: it takes two devices, a laptop and a tablet, plus quite a lot of other stuff.
Before you read on: the Guardit 2.0 is currently unavailable on Amazon. Samsonite has replaced it with the Guardit 3.0 in the same sizes, and that is the one the buttons on this page link. Everything I describe below is my 2.0.
03Guardit 2.0 vs 3.0: which one to buy now
When I checked on 10 November 2026, the Guardit 2.0 backpack without wheels was shown as currently unavailable on Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com, in every size and colour I looked at. Samsonite no longer lists it on its own sites either. You may still find remaining stock elsewhere or a used one, and then this review tells you what you get.
If you are buying new, I would go for the Guardit 3.0. It is the direct successor: the same three sizes, and the M has exactly the same outside measurements and volume as mine. I have not used the 3.0 myself, so the table below sticks to what I could verify.
| Guardit 2.0 (my bag) | Guardit 3.0 (sold now) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | S 14.1", M 15.6", L 17.3" | S 14.1", M 15.6", L 17.3" |
| M size, outside | 44 x 30 x 20 cm | 44 x 30 x 20 cm |
| M size, volume | 22.5 L | 22.5 L |
| M size, weight | 0.77 kg | about 0.7 kg |
| Material | 100 % polyester | 100 % recycled PET: outer fabric, lining and zippers |
| Strap for a suitcase handle (Smart Sleeve) | Yes | Yes |
| Model number, M | 115330 | 155196 |
| On Amazon (10 November 2026) | Currently unavailable on Amazon.de, .co.uk and .com | In stock on all three |
Guardit 2.0 from Samsonite's archived product page; Guardit 3.0 from the Amazon.de listing and a retailer page, read on 10 November 2026.
Affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices change, so check the current one on Amazon.
Careful with the wheeled version. Amazon also sells a Guardit with wheels. That is a different, much heavier bag (29 litres, about 2.2 kg) and not the backpack in this review.
04The laptop section: laptop and iPad together
The section closest to your back is for devices. It easily holds my iPad as well as my laptop. Mine is a 13 inch laptop, but the M is made for laptops up to 15.6 inches. Both slide in easily, and the laptop sits in its own sleeve.
Some buyers of the M say that a thick 15.6 inch laptop is a snug fit. I cannot check that with my 13 inch one, so if your laptop is on the bulky side, compare its measurements first or look at the L (17.3 inches).
05The main compartment: clothes, even sneakers
The middle section is the main compartment for wider stuff. You can even pack your sneakers or your clothes. In the video I put in a sweater and a pair of jeans, and there was still plenty of space, so I could easily have added something else. The zipper works really fluently and does not get stuck, even with the bag full.
06The third compartment and the quick pocket
The third compartment, at the front, is also quite spacious. It has some mini pockets, which are really convenient for a wallet or small accessories such as adapters. Samsonite also lists pen loops, a phone pocket and a pocket for cables for this bag.
The little pocket on top
On top there is a little pocket that I find really convenient. You can put your passport or something else in it. I simply add my AirPods.
07Side pockets, and how much more fits
There is a pocket for a bottle on each side. With the laptop, the iPad, the clothes and a bottle in, the bag still feels really spacious. In the video I then slide a keyboard and a trackpad in next to the clothes, and you are basically good to go.
08Material, size and carrying it
The bag has a really protective material. It is almost water resistant, but I would rather call it water repellent, so do not treat it as waterproof. The M is 44 centimetres tall and holds 22.5 litres, and empty it weighs 0.77 kg according to Samsonite.
I still take this bag on every trip. It has travelled through a lot of countries with me, and it is holding up well to this day.
On the back there is a strap that is really useful when you travel with a suitcase: you slide the bag over the suitcase handle and it rides on top. Samsonite calls it the Smart Sleeve.
The price is reasonable, the materials are great and it is really comfortable and easy to carry.
09Pros and cons
What I like
- Still my bag for every trip, and it has held up well
- Three separate zipped sections: laptop, main and front organiser
- Holds a laptop and an iPad together and still takes clothes for a short trip
- The zipper runs smoothly and does not get stuck
- Comfortable and easy to carry, with padded straps and back
- The strap on the back slides over a suitcase handle
- Quick pocket on top and a bottle pocket on each side
What could be better
- Currently unavailable on Amazon; the Guardit 3.0 has replaced it
- Water repellent, not waterproof
- Some buyers find the M tight for a thick 15.6 inch laptop
- A minority of buyers report seams or zippers giving up over time
In my video I name no dislikes, because I have none of my own. To keep this fair, the points on the minus side come from what other buyers report most often and from the fact that the 2.0 is hard to get now.
Affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices change, so check the current one on Amazon.
10What I found in Amazon reviews
The Guardit 2.0 backpack has many thousands of ratings on Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com, and the large majority are positive. I read the review summaries and the most helpful reviews on all three stores and grouped what kept coming up. Here is each theme next to what I can say from my own bag.
A lot of room for its sizePraise
The most common praise: laptop, tablet, chargers, documents and a change of clothes all fit. Several buyers carry two laptops.
Agreed. In my video it takes a laptop, an iPad, a sweater, jeans, a keyboard and a trackpad, and it still feels spacious.
Many pockets, good organisationPraise
Buyers like the three separate zipped sections and the small organiser pockets.
Same for me. The mini pockets in the front and the little pocket on top are what I find most convenient.
Looks right in the officePraise
Often described as smart enough for meetings and still fine with casual clothes.
That is how I see it too: a travel bag that also works for going to the office.
Comfortable to carryPraise
The wide padded straps get praise. A few buyers find that the straps slip or need re-tightening during the day.
I find it really comfortable and easy to carry.
Good for short trips with a suitcasePraise
Buyers mention one to three day trips, use as a cabin bag and the strap that slides over a suitcase handle.
The strap is really useful. In the video I slide the bag over the handle of my cabin suitcase.
Seams coming apartComplaint
The most common complaint, from a clear minority: stitching that opens around a zipper or the front pocket, anywhere from months to years in.
Not my experience. I still take this bag on every trip, it has been through a lot of countries with me, and it holds up well to this day. Keep your invoice anyway: Samsonite gave the 2.0 a limited 2 year global warranty for manufacturing and material defects.
Zippers that jam or breakComplaint
Within the negative reviews, zips that catch the lining or fail in the first year come up repeatedly.
On mine the zipper works really fluently and does not get stuck, also with the bag packed full.
Worn base in the laptop sectionComplaint
Several owners say laptop corners wore through the bottom fabric after about a year and that the base has little padding.
Not something I show or test in my video. If your laptop has sharp corners, a thin sleeve around it is a cheap precaution, with any backpack.
Tight for a 15.6 inch laptop, and not rainproofMixed
Some say the M suits a 14 inch laptop better than a thick 15.6 inch one, and that it does not keep heavy rain out.
I carry a 13 inch laptop plus an iPad, and both slide in easily. On rain I agree: I call it water repellent, not waterproof.
Sources: reviews of the Guardit 2.0 on Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com, read on 10 November 2026. Summarised in my words.
And the Guardit 3.0? Its reviews praise the same things: quality, capacity, comfort and value. The critical ones mention laptop padding that is thinner than expected, a narrow top opening for large laptops and no dedicated pen pocket. As with the 2.0, do not count on it in heavy rain.
11Reddit and other places
Reddit blocked the tools I use for research, so I could not open the threads themselves. What follows is only what the thread previews in Google show, so take it as a rough picture.
Flying with it. In a thread on r/lithuania about backpacks as a personal item, the preview shows a commenter who took the larger 17.3 inch Guardit 2.0 on dozens of Ryanair and Wizz Air flights as the personal item without a problem. Airline rules change, so check the current size limits yourself.
Work and day trips. In a recommendation thread on r/backpacks, the preview shows someone who uses a Guardit 2.0 for work and one day trips, finds about 20 litres enough and almost never uses the side pockets.
Durability. Two other r/backpacks previews are more critical: in one thread a commenter says the fabric of their Guardit 2.0 did not last, and in another someone likes the look but says Samsonite quality is not what it used to be and the bag is not really waterproof.
Other shops. The review sections at Digitec and Coolblue show the same pattern as Amazon: mostly satisfied owners who like the weight and the build, next to some who report loose stitching or a worn spot in the laptop section after a year or more.
12How it compares
The Guardit sits in the middle of the field: light, with more organisation than the simple commuter bags and a strap for a suitcase handle, but without the thick laptop padding of the heavier and more expensive bags. If you liked what you saw of my 2.0, the 3.0 is the closest thing you can buy new.
The Guardit against the laptop backpacks I would also look at
Listed specs side by side. Switch the measure below; the names link to Amazon.de for current prices.
| Model | Volume | Weight | Largest laptop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsonite Guardit 2.0 M (mine) | 22.5 L | 0.8 kg | 15.6" |
| Samsonite Guardit 3.0 M | 22.5 L | 0.7 kg | 15.6" |
| Samsonite Guardit Classy 2.0 M | 22.5 L | 0.7 kg | 15.6" |
| American Tourister Urban Groove UG12 | 20.5 L | 0.5 kg | 15.6" |
| Wenger Pegasus Deluxe | unclear | 1.4 kg | 16" |
| Thule Chasm 26L | 26 L | 0.9 kg | 16" |
| Eastpak Back To Work | 27 L | 0.6 kg | 15" |
| Targus Classic TBB943GL | 19 L | 0.6 kg | 15.6" |
Guardit 2.0 from Samsonite's archived product page, all others as listed on Amazon.de on 10 November 2026. For weight a shorter bar means lighter. The Wenger listing gives two different volumes, so I left it out; the Thule weight is converted from the 2 pounds in its listing, and one line of that listing mentions laptops up to 17 inches.
What stands out about each
| Model | What stands out |
|---|---|
| Samsonite Guardit 2.0 M | My bag. Three zipped sections, strap for a suitcase handle. Currently unavailable on Amazon. |
| Samsonite Guardit 3.0 M | Direct successor: same size and layout, fabric from recycled PET. |
| Samsonite Guardit Classy 2.0 M | Same platform with a dressier look, also recycled PET. |
| American Tourister Urban Groove UG12 | The budget brand of the Samsonite group. Lighter, and it also has a strap for a suitcase handle. |
| Wenger Pegasus Deluxe | Heavier, with a padded laptop compartment and a base that keeps the bag standing. |
| Thule Chasm 26L | Raised, thickly padded laptop compartment, recycled fabrics, weatherproof front and base. |
| Eastpak Back To Work | Simple commuter bag with two compartments, for laptops up to 15 inches. |
| Targus Classic TBB943GL | Smaller, with a removable padded laptop sleeve. |
From the Amazon.de listings on 10 November 2026. I own the Guardit 2.0 only; the others are here for orientation.
Two things stand out. The American Tourister comes from the same group as Samsonite and is the lighter, simpler choice. The Wenger and the Thule weigh more, and their listings put the weight into laptop protection.
13Things I learned while researching
Same footprint in both generations
The Guardit 3.0 M keeps exactly the numbers of my 2.0 M: 44 x 30 x 20 cm and 22.5 litres. Replacing a 2.0 gets you the same size.
From polyester to recycled PET
The 2.0 was plain 100 % polyester. For the 3.0, the listing names recycled PET for the outer fabric, lining and zippers.
List price in 2021: 65 euros
Samsonite's own German shop listed the 2.0 M at EUR 65.00 in September 2021, according to the archived page.
Two years of warranty
The 2.0 carried a limited 2 year global warranty. Per Samsonite's terms, it covers manufacturing and material defects, not normal wear and tear, and needs proof of purchase.
A European model
The Guardit line is made for the European market. On Amazon.com it is sold as an import and is not part of Samsonite's US range.
Samsonite started in Denver in 1910
Jesse Shwayder founded the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company in March 1910. The name comes from an early case called "Samson", after the biblical strongman (Wikipedia).
American Tourister is family
American Tourister has belonged to the Samsonite group since 1993, and Tumi since 2016. So the cheaper alternative in my comparison comes from the same house.
No official compartment count
Samsonite does not publish one, and the Amazon listings disagree with each other. From my bag: three zipped sections, one quick pocket on top and two side pockets.
14Specs
| Model | Samsonite Guardit 2.0 Laptop Backpack M, 115330 (black: 115330-1041) |
|---|---|
| Laptop size | Up to 15.6 inches |
| Dimensions | 44 x 30 x 20 cm (H x W x D) |
| Volume | 22.5 L |
| Weight | 0.77 kg |
| Material | 100 % polyester |
| Sections | Laptop section with tablet pocket, main compartment, front compartment with organiser |
| Pockets | Quick pocket on top, two side pockets, zipped pocket inside, phone pocket, pen loops, pocket for cables |
| Carrying | Padded shoulder straps, padded top handle, Smart Sleeve for a suitcase handle |
| Other sizes | S: 14.1 inch, 40 x 29 x 18 cm, 17.5 L, 0.7 kg. L: 17.3 inch, 48 x 32 x 20.5 cm, 27.5 L, 0.82 kg |
| Warranty | Limited 2 year global warranty |
| Successor | Guardit 3.0 M, model 155196 |
From Samsonite's archived product pages for the M, S and L sizes.
15Questions people ask
Can I still buy the Samsonite Guardit 2.0?
On 10 November 2026 the Guardit 2.0 backpack without wheels was shown as currently unavailable on Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com, and Samsonite no longer lists it on its own sites. You may still find remaining stock at other shops or a used one. The model to buy new is the Guardit 3.0.
What is the difference between the Guardit 2.0 and the Guardit 3.0?
The sizes are the same: S, M and L for 14.1, 15.6 and 17.3 inch laptops, and the M is still 44 x 30 x 20 cm with 22.5 litres. The verified change is the material: the 2.0 was plain polyester, the 3.0 uses recycled PET for the outer fabric, lining and zippers. My experience is with the 2.0.
Does a 15.6 inch laptop fit in the M size?
Samsonite rates the M for laptops up to 15.6 inches. I carry a 13 inch laptop and an iPad in it, and both slide in easily. Some buyers say a thick 15.6 inch laptop is a snug fit, so if yours is bulky, look at the L.
Is the Guardit 2.0 waterproof?
No. I would call it water repellent: fine in light rain on the way to the office, not made for a downpour. Samsonite gave no waterproof rating for it, and buyers say the same.
How big is it, and how much does it hold?
The M is 44 cm tall, 30 cm wide and 20 cm deep, holds 22.5 litres and weighs 0.77 kg. In my video it takes a laptop, an iPad, a sweater, jeans, a keyboard, a trackpad, AirPods, an adapter and a water bottle.
Can I take it on a plane as a personal item?
That depends on the airline. The M measures 44 x 30 x 20 cm, so compare that with the personal item size your airline allows before you fly. Together with a cabin suitcase it is easy to handle, because the strap on the back slides over the suitcase handle.
Which size should I get: S, M or L?
S is for laptops up to 14.1 inches (17.5 litres), M up to 15.6 inches (22.5 litres), L up to 17.3 inches (27.5 litres). I have the M, and for a laptop, a tablet and clothes for a short trip it is enough.
What warranty does Samsonite give?
The Guardit 2.0 came with a limited 2 year global warranty. It covers manufacturing and material defects, not normal wear and tear, and you need proof of purchase. Keep the invoice.
16Verdict
Would I recommend it? Yes.
If you are looking for a bag like this, with these features, you should definitely go for it: three well organised sections, room for a laptop, a tablet and clothes for a short trip, great materials, and it is really comfortable and easy to carry. I still use mine on every trip, and after many countries it holds up well. Just do not treat it as waterproof. Since the Guardit 2.0 is currently unavailable on Amazon, the one to buy now is the Guardit 3.0, its successor in the same sizes.
Affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices change, so check the current one on Amazon.