After the launch of the Incase Icon Lite, I was sent a pack to put through the paces. After a few weeks of using the Icon Lite pack I can confidently say this is a great daily pack for those looking for a stylish, comfortable, and fairly priced backpack. Here’s what I came to find.

Let’s start with the exterior. The pack is available in 7 colors including my personal favorite – anthracite (shown in photos as tested). The pack uses 840D nylon, which is lightweight and durable. It is not the strongest or toughest material, but that’s the sacrifice for the price and weight.

The pack’s shape takes the overall design language of the award-winning Icon pack, but in a more streamline package. The pack itself makes the most of its 19″ x 12″ x 6.5″ dimensions.

Comfort is key for daily packs and this is one of the most comfortable packs I own. The breathable mesh back padding is soft and provides just enough comfort, while the shoulder straps are a bit less padded and very thin. One of the strengths of the pack is the ergonomic shape of the straps, which equally distribute the weight between your shoulders. A top handle provides an easy to grab function with the same mesh padding as the straps.

Organization is very minimal. There are two convenient exterior pockets. The main compartment can fit mid-sized items such as an iPad, notebook, etc. The top pocket is well thought out for its convenient location and ease to access. It also features Incase’s plush and super soft lining for items such as sunglasses to help protect from scratches, however if you place something else such as keys in the pocket the lenses without a sleeve may get damaged. This pocket has surprisingly ample storage for items such as earbuds, keys, wallet, pocket camera, and cell phone (even an iPhone 7 Plus).

The interior organization is very simple. One softly lined laptop sleeve for up to a 15″ laptop and one large compartment. The laptop sleeve will not fit 15″ laptops with bulky exterior cases or sleeves. Even the Incase ICON Sleeve with TENSAERLITE will not fit, however it may be overkill for daily use as the pack itself provides moderate protection. One well thought out design aspect is that the laptop sleeve sits about an inch higher than the base of the backpack keeping the laptop from sitting directly on the floor or in the case of a drop gives a little leeway for protection. The aforementioned back padding also provides protection to the laptop.

The main compartment is straightforward. Just fit whatever you can in the deep compartment. Items such as magazines, a rolled up jacket, sneakers, water bottle and other belongings could fit in here. There are two additional interior pockets which are a bit slim, but you can fit say a small notebook, pen, or cell phone here.

Overall, the Incase Icon Lite is a sleek, minimalist, and modern backpack great for daily use. The pack is extremely lightweight making it comfortable. The simple and minimal design is straight-forward with no added bells and whistles. With seven colors it provides many options to suit your style. I can recommend this pack for anyone looking for very clean design, requires laptop storage, and wants a good daily pack. If you’re looking for a more performance oriented or highly organized option with many pockets and compartments this is not the pack for you. Priced affordably and fairly at $99.95 USD the pack is a bit better in style and quality than others within the same category.