ASUS has been attempting to enter the lifestyle segment with the Republic of Gamers brand for quite some time now, and one of their more successful efforts has been their series of backpacks. The ROG Ranger is an especially prolific series, with some of the coolest offerings ever, including an RGB backpack. Today we have the ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 — which we will refer to as the ROG Ranger 16 moving forward — designed for all the new 16-inch laptops coming up from ASUS and ROG.
ROG Ranger 16 — What’s Good?
Well thought-out compartments
The ROG Ranger 16 is a structured backpack that uses PU leather and high-density polyester to keep water out. Unlike softer bags which might be more accommodating to larger objects, non-regular objects, stiffer backpacks the ROG Ranger 16 rely on the compartmentalization to stowaway your stuff. And luckily enough, the designers of the ROG Ranger 16 designed the insides and even the outsides with an array of compartments and pockets.
Another factor that makes this bag excellent is the wide opening. Its larger and older brethren, the ROG Ranger BP2701, was more akin to a deep bucket with a narrow opening. The ROG Ranger 16 opens up with zips that run down all the way along the sides. This design makes it much easier to find your things in your bag, and where the ROG Ranger 16 excels over much of the competition is that it can still stand by itself even when fully opened.
There are even two hidden pockets, behind your back. One is accessible from under the strap, and one from the side. Impressively enough, these hidden pockets are surprisingly capacious too. The side one, especially, has enough space for large tablets. The top one is slightly smaller, with room for one of those long travel wallets housing your travel documents. And of course, on the rear here we also have the customary luggage strap. ROG designed in two of them, giving you the option on how you want to orient the ROG Ranger 16 on your rolling luggage bag.
Space for all my gadgets, and then some
I kid you not, I had trouble trying to fill up this backpack. As we can see here, the ROG Ranger 16 can fit a total of two laptops, two ROG Allies, two ROG Phones, a HUAWEI MatePad Pro 10.5-inch, a powerbank and the ROG Zephyrus G14’s charger. And yet there’s more room in there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a 16-inch laptop with me at the moment to really test the space inside, but you get the idea. For those who prefer to be a bit more modest with what they carry, the ROG Ranger 16 can easily fit at least a weekend worth of clothes.
A very comfortable bag
Copious padding is applied to the straps and the meshed backrest, making for a comfortable carry even though I was lugging 8.4kg in gear around with me. The side-mounted collars also help the ROG Ranger 16 remain centered to your back, which is key to keeping it comfortable. Have you had your back chafed due to lugging around a heavy backpack all day? This will prevent that. For better ergonomics, the elastic chest strap holds the bag closer to your body. The solid structure and generous compartments of the ROG Ranger 16 also make it easier to distribute the weight inside, which is yet another key factor in ensuring you can carry this bag around with you safely and comfortably.
Unmistakably “gamer”
Unlike the larger and older ROG Ranger BP2701, the ROG Ranger 16 is evidently more gamer. Straight on, you see little more than the Fearless Eye and the Republic of Gamers typography. Quite a minimalist look. Shift a bit to the side, and the iconic ROG Cybertext on its flank peeks its head. Some may find this tacky, but, I think this looks great. Sure, the ROG Ranger BP2701 is cleaner, but if I pay for an ROG product, I want all the ROG branding I can get on it.
ROG Ranger 16 — What’s Not?
Side pockets are too small
I am Asian, therefore I prefer to leave home with a bottle of water. The ROG Ranger 16’s side pockets can fit smaller mineral water bottles and a small umbrella, but it won’t fit the larger 1L bottles. There’s a zip on the side to slightly expand the space, but due to the non-stretchy material, it doesn’t actually open it up that much. With all that said, there’s so much space inside that putting a large bottle into the inner compartment won’t be an issue, but it also opens up the possibility of an accident leading to my laptop getting wet. Not a risk I would take, to be honest.
How do I put on keychains?
ROG’s iconic bag zippers are wrapped in a plastic trimpiece, which does not have the usual hole for keychains. I am absolutely nitpicking here. But bear with me, if so happen I attend an event where everybody is carrying a ROG Ranger 16 and happen to put down my bag, how will I identify my own without keychains? There are no attachment points for anything else, and due to it largely made of PU leather, you can’t really put in pins without permanently damaging it. Should I go with stickers?
ROG Ranger 16 — should you buy this?
You should first consider whether a structured backpack is what you’re looking for. Structured backpacks are great to keep the stuff inside protected, but may prove troublesome if you often have to squeeze your bags into packed car trunks or overhead bins. Personally, if you don’t have such issues, I think RM399 is a pretty sweet deal for such a well-designed backpack. I love this ROG Ranger 16 for its wide-open layout, and the fact that it comes with so many interior compartments and pockets that you would think the designers from Proton worked on this.
For more info: https://rog.asus.com/my/apparel-bags-gear/bags/rog-ranger-gaming-backpack-16/
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- ROG Ranger 16 (Shopee): https://s.shopee.com.my/4AhBb7JdT4