Thule Subterra 2 Convertible Review

The Thule Subterra bridges the gap between traditional backpacks with a shove-and-zip packing style with the ultra-organized multi-pocket design of other travel bags. The Thule has just enough pockets and features to keep your clothes and essentials organized without having to remember just which pocket your phone charger or clean socks are in. The Thule also features a removable laptop attaché, perfect for the digital nomad or traveling businessperson.

Performance Comparison

Storage & Protection

The Thule has a large main compartment with semi-rigid and padded sides. On the whole, it's ideal for both storing and protecting common travel essentials, from clothes and shoes to laptops and cameras. During our hands-on testing, our team took this for a 4 day trip out to the Sierra Nevada mountains, using it as their carry-on bag and living out of it in between backpacking trips. It was more than up for the challenge and varied conditions from the airport to the campground and everything in between.

We tested the 40L Subterra, and at the moment, that is the only size in which this specific version of the Subterra lineup is available. Looking at the objective numbers from our testing, the Subterra isn't any larger than most other bags in our lineup. That said, given the rigid fabric, the bag holds its shape well even when empty and feels like a larger backpack. Aiding to that fact was the ability to pack and shove a lot of clothes and gear inside. Thankfully, the bag and zippers are robust, and we had no trouble closing or using the external pockets, even when full. Removing the laptop attaché gives you an extra couple of inches of packing room if you'd like to pack an extra sweatshirt for quick access on the go.

The Thule's semi-rigid material is an 800D nylon and polyester that held up to the abuse of the airport, rental cars, and sap-covered campground tables. During our water-resistance test, we used a high-pressure garden hose to thoroughly drench the bag, checking every pocket and seam for leaks. While the body of the bag shed most of the water, the zippers were not as resilient. Plenty of water seeped in through the main and external pocket zippers, so if you live or travel to rainy environments, consider an umbrella or separate rain cover. That said, the rigid material was great for helping the bag hold its shape, even when empty.

The removable laptop attaché has a special slot in the back panel of the bag. We liked that there is plenty of padding on both the attache and the back panel, which helps to protect expensive electronics from an errant elbow or arm rest that might slam into the bag during transit. The attaché itself has plenty of storage and organization pockets for a laptop, tablet, and more. We did struggle to fit a full-size computer charger and travel mouse inside though, which are definitely essentials. Despite that, we loved that the attaché had attachment points for the backpack's sling to do double duty.

Speaking of protection and storing essentials, the Thule also has a secure pocket located on the side of the back panel. Pockets like this are great for keeping your passport or extra cash tucked safely against your back while wearing the bag, preventing any theft. We prefer security pockets that zipper directly in the middle of the back panel versus the side, but it would be challenging to bypass this one either way.

Ease of Use

When you spend your hard-earned cash on a premium travel bag, you expect it to perform well and be easy to use. Not only does this increase the pleasure and enjoyment when using the bag, but it also lets you spend more time focused on your destination than messing around packing or unpacking your bag. Overall, the Thule is intuitive to use on everything from the straps and zippers to packing and unpacking while on the go.

While on the go, there is a mid-sized accessories pocket with easy external access on the back of the Subterra. It is great for travel accessories you want to keep zipped up but at arm's reach, like a phone charger or snacks. The pocket spans the entire width of the bag, which is great for larger items. Inside the pocket is a smaller mesh organization pocket with a clip for keys or easily lost items.

The main pouch of the Subterra is accessed by a three-sided zipper that opens up the bag suit-case style. We loved the quick access to the laptop pouch located in this area and the little bit of extra room where you could stash a sweatshirt. Your clothes and contents in the main pouch itself are further protected from spilling out accidentally by a mesh divider and organizer pocket. This pouch has dual zippers on either side that can meet but not pass the middle. In practice, we found this feature to help prevent the “lost zipper syndrome” where you can't find where the dual zippers got to on large openings.

Living out of the main pouch was a breeze. The Thule has enough room to stack clothes and bulky objects vertically in the bag, but the snap-in divider prevents them from spilling or jumbling too much during transit. If you prefer less folds, it is easy to unsnap and lay the divider flat. While it would have added an extra zipper, we do wish the mesh organization pocket could be accessed from both sides.

The Subterra is quite easy to carry, especially given its larger size. There are three convenient grab handles on the bag: top, side, and back panel. We love that the handles are semi-rigid like the fabric, and naturally rest with a gap between them and the bag, making sliding your hand in quick and easy. The padded backpack straps are also ergonomically cut to sit just right, and we found them supportive enough even for a 20-plus pound bag. There is an adjustable sternum strap, but no waist belt. While some may miss that feature, we felt it kept the bag sleek and trim, making it easier to slide on and off quickly.

Comfort & Fit

Whether you're traveling for a week or a weekend, it's likely that you're considering a travel backpack for your carry on because you plan to walk a fair bit with your bag. Even if it's just across the airport, hubs like Atlanta, O'Hare, or Heathrow can still cause the efficient traveler to break a sweat in a hurry. The Thule is quite comfortable. During one of our testing trips, we weighed the back in at 18 pounds and had no complaints carrying it along with other baggage.

The Thule lacks the framed or rigid support of some heavier-duty bags in our lineup; the entire back panel is soft foam padding. Nevertheless, it was more than adequate for supporting both our standardized test load of a 10-minute carry at 15 pounds as well as real-world travel with a slightly heavier packing list. We found the adjustable sternum strap helpful for keeping the shoulder straps in place and were actually thankful that the bag didn't have a waist belt. Though this decreases the comfort for heavy loads, we liked the cleaner experience and didn't miss getting a buckle caught in our back.

The Subterra also comes with a shoulder sling with a dual purpose for the entire bag or just the attaché. At 15 pounds, it wasn't ideal for the whole backpack, but when we pulled out and took just the laptop bag into the office, we felt it was more than adequate and well-padded.

Versatility

Despite using the Thule as a makeshift car-camping bag in addition to our carry-on during testing, it remains a somewhat single-purpose bag. The Thule is tailor-made as a dedicated travel bag and only available in one size. You do have three different color choices, however they're all quite muted hues: a vetiver gray, dark slate, and black. Thankfully, these options can blend in no matter what type of travel you do most often.

By far the biggest bolster to this bag's versatility is the removable laptop attaché case. This grab bag has a felt-lined and padded pocket for your full-size laptop, plus a secondary pocket for a tablet or notebook. There are also two mesh organization pockets and a pen and change pockets inside. Lastly, there's a small external pocket for your wallet, keys, or phone. We loved the versatility that this attaché brought to the Subterra; in a pinch, you can leave the briefcase at home and quickly transition from the hotel to the workplace by just grabbing the attaché.

Should You Buy the Thule Subterra 2 Convertible?

If you're looking for a high-end back that is equally at home on a road trip with family or a business trip for work, the Subterra may be the bag you're looking for. This sleek option will blend in at the airport and convention center, but also packs enough features to make it easy to live out of for several days at a time. It accommodates multiple packing styles, whether you're a fold-it-neatly or shove-it-in kind of person, and is comfortable enough to wear for extended periods. Though it will cost you a pretty penny, this quality bag is worthy of investment and is sure to keep up with you on all your travels.

What Other Travel Backpacks Should You Consider?

While there's lots to love about the Subterra, it does split the middle between different types of travel bags, and if you know which kind you want, a more focused bag could be best for you. The hands-down winner for organization, storage, and livability is the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L. This bag features built-in packing cubes that keep all your essentials stowed just where you want them during travel, plus it folds completely flat for easy access in the hotel. It's moderately weather-resistant and also features a removable waist belt for when you just can't pack light. The Osprey Sojourn Porter 46L is another top contender. This beefy bag excels at carrying lots of gear and keeping everything well-protected with sturdy side walls and external compression straps. On top of that, it's compatible with other Osprey Daylite packs to clip in for even extra storage capacity. Both of these bags are quite large though, so if you primarily stick to short trips away, you may want to consider The North Face Base Camp Voyager travel backpack. It features a similar internal layout to the Thule with a removable divider but is slightly more compact. It also has the laptop and tablet sleeves integrated into the pack, which shaves off some extra weight and bulkiness.