Bobby Compact is a compact version of the popular “anti-theft” Bobby backpack.

There are more and more different “anti-theft” backpacks, but replicas are always inferior to the original. Life hacker talks about the second generation of backpacks from XD Design - Bobby Compact.

What is Bobby Compact

Bobby Compact is the second generation of the brand’s backpacks. The original Bobby was invented by one of the young employees of the Dutch studio XD Design, a native of Paris, Thomas Droz. While studying in Shanghai, he noticed that locals often wore backpacks on their stomachs to prevent things from being stolen. Then the Parisian came up with the idea that this problem needed to be solved from a design point of view.

The backpack took its final form after Droz began working at XD Design. Then the successful concept literally took off on Kickstarter and became one of the studio’s most recognizable creations.

The original Bobby was damn good, but still not ideal for many. The fact is that during its production, XD Design focused on safety and spaciousness, without bothering with the presence of color variations or smaller models. Shanghai designer Kaifeng Duan decided to eliminate this imperfection and designed the Bobby Compact model - smaller, with smoother lines and bright color options.

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XD Design describes the backpack as “a product of collaboration between Western and Eastern cultures” aimed at improving the safety of daily travel. In fact, this is just a slightly more elegant version of the Bobby for those who do not need a lot of space in their backpack, but protecting their personal belongings in transport, on the street and in other public places is no less important.

Materials and security

Security and theft protection of the Bobby Compact comes from two components: construction and multi-layering.

There are no visible external pockets on the Bobby Compact, so the scammer won't even realize what can be unzipped here. All small pockets on the straps and “wings” are always in the field of view of the owner of the backpack, and the main compartment is covered by a thick folded fold of fabric.

If a thief wants to use a knife, he will again face a fiasco: the walls of the Bobby Compact consist of several layers of durable materials and are designed to withstand an attempt to penetrate. The blade, of course, may leave a mark on the surface of the backpack, but the contents will remain intact.

On the outside there is polyester fabric with a linear density of 300 and 600 denier (such fabric is often used in travel equipment because of its strength and moisture resistance), and hidden under it are 6 millimeters of shockproof foam, cut-resistant fabric and polypropylene protection. Such armor protects the contents of the Bobby Compact not only from theft, but also from blows and shocks.

Pockets and ergonomics

External laconicism is compensated by the number and thoughtfulness of internal compartments. On the back of the Bobby Compact there are two large open compartments for a tablet and laptop with a diagonal of up to 14 inches. They are equipped with a special elastic band that fixes the gadgets in place so that they do not jump.

On the other side there is a special pocket for small items with a zipper and an organizer for pens and styluses. Under it there are two elastic bands for large items: a thermos, a cosmetic bag, a portable console.

Also hidden in the body of the backpack is a compartment for a portable battery, and a cable is passed through the fabric, allowing you to connect your smartphone to the USB input for charging under the right strap. The battery itself is not included.

The location of the pockets is designed to reduce stress on the back and shoulders. Bobby Compact in this regard borrowed a lot from the design of travel backpacks, which made it possible to reduce the apparent weight of the cargo by 20–25%. In addition, the main compartment of the backpack is designed to accommodate as many items as possible. The volume of 11 liters is really enough for everything that a modern city dweller usually carries with him.

Additional convenience is provided by stoppers inside the backpack, thanks to which the main compartment of the Bobby Compact can be opened to 30, 90 or 180 degrees. With a minimum angle it is convenient to get something in a cramped or crowded place, opening at 90 degrees is suitable for actions in a quiet environment, and when opening at 180 degrees it is convenient to sort through the entire contents of the Bobby Compact.

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The thick fold that hides the zipper of the main Bobby Compact compartment expands and smoothly merges into the straps. The resulting “wings” contain two spacious pockets with zippers. You can put, for example, a wallet and a smartphone in them. This is where the battery located under the right strap comes in handy. It is very convenient to charge your gadget on the go with this arrangement.

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Two more pockets are hidden in the backpack straps. They are small and designed for frequently used bank cards or travel cards.

The last Bobby Compact pocket is located on the back and closes with a zipper. You can put documents or tickets there: getting to the back compartment is easier than getting to the main compartment, and it is no less protected from penetration, because strangers cannot even see it.

Above this pocket there is an elastic band, with which the backpack is hung on the handle of the suitcase. In this situation, documents become available when passing control at a train station or airport.

Accessories

The first accessory that comes with the Bobby Compact is a rain cover. The fact is that the backpack is made of water-repellent, but not waterproof materials. Additional safety for gadgets in heavy rain will be provided by a waterproof case hidden at the bottom of the backpack.

The second accessory is a miniature handbag-wallet in the form of a smaller version of the Bobby Compact. It is designed to carry a fabric shopping bag for shopping.

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All accessories for Bobby Compact match the colors of the backpack itself. The set is available in five colors: yellow, turquoise, blue, indigo and pink.

Who is Bobby Compact suitable for?

The backpack is suitable for those who are looking for compromises between safety and design, capacity and ergonomics. Bobby Compact scores good points on each of these factors, which makes it an excellent option for a city backpack for residents of big cities and those who are used to carrying everything valuable with them.

Where to buy Bobby Compact

Bobby are popular backpacks that are often counterfeited. Tips from the online store Madrobots.ru will help you distinguish the original from the fake . There you can also buy a real Bobby Compact in any of five colors. Especially for ProPedia readers, there is a 20% discount on Bobby and Bobby Compact backpacks using the promo code BC4LH.

Buy Bobby Compact