What size laptop can this backpack fit

It comfortably fits laptops up to sixteen inches in the dedicated sleeve, and there was still room for other gear around it.

Is the bag actually water resistant

In light rain and small splashes it kept all my things dry. I would not go testing it in heavy downpours, but for everyday use it holds up well.

Is this backpack good for travel

Yes, especially for short trips or as a carry on. It has a suitcase sleeve, smart pockets and plenty of room for clothes and tech without feeling like a heavy travel pack.

Does it feel comfortable to wear for long periods

The straps are cushioned and comfortable on most days, though when it is fully packed and you have long walks, you can feel the weight more than lighter bags.

I Tried and Tested the Scarters Terminal Backpack: Find out if it's truly travel-ready or not?

This review is based on a month of using the Scarters Terminal backpack, covering travel use, workdays, space, comfort, and honest pros and cons.

Published on: Jan 10, 2026, 19:05:34 IST

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I have been on the hunt for a backpack that looks sharp enough for office meetings but tough enough for travel. Twice a year, I fly from Bhopal to Delhi and end up juggling a separate tote in my suitcase while also carrying a laptop backpack because comfort matters on a flight. But the bag still has to look like a style statement when you walk into the workplace. Yes, it is as ridiculous as it sounds. It is what it is.

A structured yet stylish backpack packed for work and travel, showing how it carries tech, essentials, and more without looking bulky. (Hindustan Times)

By Neha Ravi Khandelwal

Neha Khandelwal
Content Lead, HT Travel | Travel & Lifestyle Journalist
With over 10 years of content writing experience, Neha Khandelwal is a lifestyle journalist and the Content Lead at HT Travel. She specialises in destinations, hotels, aviation, luggage, travel gear, and practical guides that help readers plan smarter and travel better. Her work combines first-hand experience, expert insights, and extensive research to create stories that are informative, useful, and easy to follow.

Career Journey & Experience
Neha began her writing career as a freelance journalist in 2010 before entering mainstream media with The Times of India in 2022. She later joined Hindustan Times, where she has written extensively across travel, lifestyle, home, and consumer trends. Her professional background extends beyond journalism. Before moving into digital media full-time, she spent nearly a decade in interior design, managing residential projects from concept to execution. She also trained in visual merchandising with Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons and worked with women-led startups across design and operations. These experiences continue to shape her storytelling, especially in how she evaluates hotels, design-led stays, hospitality spaces, and travel experiences.

A naturally curious learner, Neha has completed beginner certifications in pottery, scuba diving, baking, creative writing, and other creative pursuits. She has read more than 2,000 books, trained in Bharatanatyam for 8 years, and ghostwritten a book on Ladakh tourism.

Subject Expertise
Travel is at the heart of Neha's work. She covers destinations, hotels, airlines, luggage, packing strategies, travel accessories, and emerging travel trends through a mix of reporting, product testing, and conversations with industry experts. A frequent traveller herself, she approaches every trip with a journalist's curiosity and a planner's mindset, focusing on experiences that readers can realistically recreate. From choosing the right cabin bag to decoding hotel openings and destination trends, her writing prioritises practical advice over promotional claims. Her background in interior design also gives her a distinct perspective on architecture, hospitality design, boutique hotels, luxury stays, and thoughtfully designed spaces.

Education & Professional Background
Neha holds a Master's degree in Interior Design. Her early experience in interior design, visual merchandising, and design operations gives her a unique understanding of aesthetics, functionality, and user experience, adding depth to her coverage of hotels, resorts, and travel spaces.

Editorial Philosophy
"As an avid, research-driven traveller, my goal is simple. To answer the questions you actually have before booking a trip. I cut through the promotional noise with honest reporting and expert insights. Making travel planning seamless, smart, and reliable so you always know where to go next."

First impressions

Unboxing the bag was genuinely satisfying. It arrived tucked inside its own silky soft dust bag, which instantly set the tone. This was clearly not meant to feel like just another backpack pulled off a shelf. Since I was looking for something that felt premium from the first touch, these small details mattered, and they delivered. The bag itself looked polished and thoughtfully made.

The fabric felt sturdy and dependable, yet still classic in its overall vibe, which felt like a rare balance. Despite the number of compartments and pockets visible right away, the bag did not feel heavy when I first picked it up. The zippers looked solid and moved smoothly without any tugging. I also liked the attention given to the inside, from the internal pockets to the lining fabric, which felt just as considered as the exterior.

Using the terminal backpack around the city

Using the bag day-to-day was honestly a revelation. With two kids in tow, I usually carry far more than I should, and this bag handled it all without any glitches. Laptop, Kindle, camera, protein bars, water bottle, plus the kids’ water bottles, story books, colouring kits, and snack boxes for a long afternoon at the potters market. Everything fit. What surprised me most was how it never looked stuffed or awkward. The structure keeps things in place, so there is no odd bulging or sagging, even when it is packed full. It looks stylish without feeling bulky, which is rare. Yes, it is slightly bigger than an average backpack, which might worry some people at first glance. I even had my son’s classmate try it on, and on a 10-year-old girl, it looked completely fine. If you like carrying everything you need with comfort and zero chaos, this bag makes a strong case for itself.

Not just a travel backpack. This one is perfect for when you have plenty to carry but just one pair of shoulders. (Hindustan Times)

Using the terminal backpack for a weekend trip

For the weekend trip, I packed a pair of sports shoes, toiletries, two sets of clothes, one night suit, my laptop, Kindle, hairbrush, makeup, a portable charger, protein bars, a novel, and a few other everyday essentials. Somehow, everything fit without the bag looking stretched or awkward. No bulges, no odd shapes, no struggling to zip it shut. It felt like the sweet spot for those trips where a cabin suitcase feels excessive, but a duffle bag falls short because you are carrying delicate tech that needs proper structure and protection.

Travel-friendly features that simply worked

• Suitcase sleeve: A wide, secure sleeve that slides over the suitcase handle properly. It sits flat and balanced, not like flimsy straps that make suitcases tip over.

• Back hidden pocket: Perfect for passports and boarding passes. Easy access without digging or opening the main compartment.

• Side pocket with hook: One of the side pockets includes a small hook on a strap, which is handy for clipping keys or hotel room cards.

• Overall travel readiness: The bag feels designed for real movement and busy travel days, not just short airport walks.

What did not work

The first thing to talk about is the price. Sitting in the ₹16000 range, it is not an easy buy for everyone. That said, once you look at what other premium brands charge for similar backpacks, this can start to feel like a fairly good deal. The straps are comfortable but slightly bulky. If style is a big priority, this may not always work, especially with Indian wear. I noticed this most when pairing the bag with a kurti. With western outfits, it blended in easily, but with a kurti, I often found myself switching back to a tote. The bag is also very spacious, which is usually a plus, but on lighter days, it can feel like carrying an empty bag with too much structure. On days when I had very little to carry, this was one bag I chose to leave behind.

Airport and terminal ready backpack that is easy to travel with. (Hindustan Times)

Who should buy it?

With a price point around ₹16000 and a few clear quirks, this backpack suits people who like to research before buying and know what they are investing their money into. It is great for regular travellers who need a bag that can carry their whole world without turning into a bulky, outdoorsy backpack. It fits into real life easily, from flights to workdays, without feeling like gear meant for trekking trails! If you know what that feeling is, then this bag is definitely for you.