Urbani Boban – after more than 3 years of use

This is my personal experience.

I got myself an Urbani Boban as soon as it came out. That was more than 3 summers ago. Before that I used the Original Boban, whose purchase led to GeekShop being launched. Today that backpack is enjoying retirement, but has new successors..

But back to Urban: in the first part I will describe why I liked it, and in the second my holiday experience and why it will remain my main beach backpack.

Here's what drew me to it when buying:

I chose it mainly because I needed a backpack I could stuff like a hamster with more than I could carry on my back.

I didn't have a car then and cycled to the supermarket. Being able to fit 3 liters of yogurt, half a kilo of feta, a kilo of bananas and a few rice cakes into one backpack came in very handy.

I regularly carried 5–6 kg on my back, and this backpack stood up to all of it.

I could also fit in everything I needed for a workout: towel, trainers, shorts, T-shirt, a litre of water and still room for a hoodie.

And best of all:

When you have less to carry, make the backpack smaller. Roll down the top and fasten it at the lock — less empty space, same backpack.

I used to have the paranoid habit of looking at the loungers every 15 seconds to see if anyone was hanging around and whether my backpack was still there. Not always practical: first, my eyesight is poor and without glasses I see like a YouTube video at 240p; second, I am lazy and always reach the beach when only the back rows are left, where you can't even see your wife, let alone your backpack...

But with this backpack, that completely disappeared. I realized that she's not going anywhere (I mean the backpack, not my wife). I started locking the backpack just to the sun lounger. Some beaches had thicker parasol poles, so it wasn't possible, but a sun lounger is quite enough too.

Opportunity makes a thief, and they look for something they can swipe without much effort. They need to go unnoticed, take a phone from a lounger as if it were theirs and act completely normally. None of them wants to struggle and attract even a little attention on a crowded beach.

After locking it to the sun lounger, I even went on those silly rides where you pay 10-15€ to get dragged across the water and throw up afterward. Every time, I found the backpack right where I'd locked it.

The peace of mind from locking the backpack is priceless. I can finally enjoy a swim without wondering whether my wallet will still be there afterwards.

• There is a scratch on the side from filming our advert and testing cut resistance with a craft knife. It is not cut through; the knife only left small scratches (visible in the second and third photos).
• Near the combination lock at the top, the protective covering has worn a little, so the steel wire is visible in one spot. But that is just cosmetic. The steel wire is undamaged; it simply sticks out like a bone beneath the skin.
• It's a little dirty in places; I didn't get around to wiping it down for this photo shoot

Everything else is still like new:

• Even though I regularly carried 5kg or more, the straps haven't started coming unstitched anywhere.
• The bottom of the backpack is also in excellent condition, as you can see in the photo. Since I often take it hiking, I regularly set it down on wood and rocks. Even the scratches are barely visible.
• It is still like new inside.
• The combination lock too. Its functionality has not changed at all since day one.

• If you have short arms and pack a lot of stuff, reaching the bottom is a little difficult. It's not a problem for me, since I'm 182cm tall, so my arms are just long enough.
• It does not have as much back padding as the Bobby Hero or PRO model. On the other hand, the material at the back is much tougher. Foam padding would tear and wear out more easily.

Despite those drawbacks, I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Want to learn more or order Urbani Boban? Click here