tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L Review

We loved traveling with the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L on a variety of airplanes, from tiny regional jets to large commercial airlines. Even for routine commutes, this is a very capable backpack that won't strain your wallet too much and is bound to keep you organized.

Storage & Protection

As its name suggests, the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L boasts an impressive 40-liter capacity, making it easy to fit a bunch of clothes, an extra pair of shoes, over-ear headphones, and a laptop without going over airline carry-on limits. To keep your main compartment available for more essential items, this tomtoc even includes two water bottle holders on each side. If you travel with larger electronics, the tomtoc can even fit a 17-inch laptop and a 13-inch tablet or monitor.

Throughout our travels with the Navigator, it was able to accommodate a small selection of electronics and lots of clothes. For weddings or business trips, we could also fit formal wear, including a hanger, in the main compartment.

While the outer fabric of the bag offers limited protection, the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L has a cushy laptop compartment at the back and even a second padded electronics pocket in the same panel. On the bottom of the bag, there is also a reinforcement panel that provides additional padding, and it's best to put more delicate items in the main compartment on that side.

The bottom of the bag has a decent rigidity panel that offers at least some protection.   Credit: Zach Lovell

The laptop sleeve even fit our larger laptops, and we loved the Velcro retainer strap. It even has a second sleeve that can be used for a tablet.   Credit: Zach Lovell

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One of our favorite storage aspects of the tomtoc Navigator is its voluminous main compartment, which doesn't have any dividers, so you can bring along notoriously bulky things on your next trip, from dress shoes to high heels to a hair dryer. Just remember you'll need to use some t-shirts or pants as padding in case the bag gets knocked around in an overhead bin or tips off a train's storage rack.

The Navigator is made with polyester fabric across the entire bag, which held up to our testing, but it doesn't have a DWR treatment for rain. Polyester is naturally water-resistant, but this isn't the right bag if you travel frequently to wet climates. It's also not nearly as tough as the ballistic nylon material found on more expensive bags, so we recommend that you take care with the Navigator if you want it to last.

Comfort & Fit

We loved the heavily cushioned backpad and shoulder straps of the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L. This model carried well across airport terminals, sidewalk slogs to the co-op workspace, and even the mid-travel dayhike. However, the Navigator doesn't have a hip belt, so it became less comfortable to carry if we had more than about 20 pounds in the bag. It's also less structured overall, so the bag tends to slouch when heavily loaded. This earned the tomtoc a slightly below-average score here.

The good news is that the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L has a wider back panel, which we measured at 13 inches, and it has a 4-pad design that cushioned all of our testers' backs well. The 2 upper sections of the back panels were well-sized, running from our shoulders to the mid-back, and the smaller two pads cushioned the small of our backs to the start of our hips. The chest strap can also be moved about 8.5 inches up or down, making it fit teens to adults easily.

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The back panel may cover a lot of surface area, but its thinner padding doesn't lift the pack far enough off the back for the air channels to be effective. Not much airflow was able to get across the spine or midback. In spring, winter, and fall, the breathability wasn't a huge issue, but summer travel got sweatier with the Navigator, causing some testers to bring along an extra t-shirt.

Ease of Use

The Navigator leans on simplicity over organization, but still includes some basic features that made travel easier. We loved the compression straps on each side of the bag when we needed to squeeze it under the plane seat in front of us, and it has a luggage passthrough strap if you're using the tomtoc Navigator with a larger roller bag.

The tomtoc doesn't have many organizational pockets, but there are just enough to easily grab your laptop, find a charging cord, or snag your reading glasses, even if you're crammed in a small airplane seat. The main compartment doesn't have any pockets, so our testers brought storage sacks (not included) for better clothes sorting. We were also able to fit skinnier water bottles or sodas into the side pockets, which have some elastic to accommodate various sizes, though larger bottles will have to go in the main compartment.

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This isn't a very rigid backpack and ultimately wasn't the easiest to pack. And if you need to quickly grab something after you've packed up, you have to unclip the compression strap buckles to get back into the main compartment. Luckily, you can still access the smaller exterior pockets without unclipping. These are more nitpicky details, and we wouldn't discourage you from buying the tomtoc if you love its features or price point. Ultimately, this is a user-friendly backpack for shoppers who only need a handful of pockets for their travel adventures.

The Navigator's lack of rigidity made it occasionally flop to the side when wheeling it on top of roller luggage, but we were also able to slide the luggage's telescoping handle through one of the grab handles for better security.

Versatility

From daily work commutes to international travel, the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L can keep up with many demands as long as you aren't carrying it too far. Its large main compartment helped us meet multiple packing lists, and it's comfy enough for travelers logging a mile or two walking from the train station to the hotel.

For shoppers who travel with a bunch of tech gear, the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L might not have enough organization, with a “less is more” pocket design. We were able to stay more organized by bringing separately purchased storage sacks, but that might be a deal-breaker if you've got more specific storage needs. Besides this, the Navigator's compression straps help it fit into a plane's overhead bin, and one tester was able to fit it under the seat in front of them with a lesser load.

Hip belts can help travel backpacks go further, especially in a place like New York City, or playing tourist across Italy, but the Navigator is somewhat limited if you've got a heavier load, with all bag weight falling onto your shoulders. At the end of the day, the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L is most ideal for weekend trips as a stand-alone bag, but can go virtually anywhere if you're bringing roller luggage or a duffel bag with you. For shoppers staying local, this is also a decent commuter bag that's easy to shrink down to a more palatable size.

Should You Buy the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L?

If you'd like a simple and inexpensive travel backpack, the tomtoc Navigator T-66 40L deserves some careful consideration. The Navigator does lack a hip belt, making it less versatile for trips where you'll be carrying your luggage long distances on a daily basis, but it can easily be slid onto roller luggage if you don't mind traveling with two bags. The price is hard to beat, and the functionality is good enough that we would be happy to take it on 3-4 trips per year. However, beyond this, you may want to consider investing in a higher-quality bag.

What Other Travel Backpacks Should You Consider?

The Osprey Daylite Carry-On 35 is another affordable model that's slightly more comfy to carry, though it also lacks a hip belt. It also uses thicker fabrics that are more abrasion-resistant than the tomtoc's polyester, and uses a water-repellent treatment to ward off an occasional rain.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L has a slightly upgraded organizational layout compared to the Navigator and it offers a hip belt that can be easily removed on light-load trips. It is substantially more expensive, but the exterior is made with an ultra-thick nylon that's more tear-resistant than the Navigator.