Unlike our friends over at the ever-stylish GQ, the Ars Orbital HQ is rarely filled with the kinds of fashion-forward accessories a modern man needs, let alone the entirely frivolous, but ultimately more satisfying ones, it doesn't. You can imagine my surprise when London-based, mid-priced bag and accessory maker Knomo got in touch to pitch a five-day trial of its latest fashionable fusion of leather and canvas in the form of the #LiveFree [sic] backpack.

Clearly, it hasn't seen the sort of functional haversack sported by the typical Ars editor.

Still, when in Rome, right? After all, there's a reason for that spurious youth-targeted hashtag. Pitched as the "Perfect 24/7 Bag," the #LiveFree is ostensibly targeted at the modern tech-laden city-goer—the sort with artisanal coffee in one hand, iPhone in the other, ready to face the daily grind of "Influencer Marketing" and "Organic Content." There's space for up to a 15-inch laptop, a 10-inch iPad, multiple pockets (one of which blocks RFID signals and thus putative contactless card skimmers), built-in cable management, and plenty of pockets for various tech knick-knacks. There's even Bluetooth tracking and wireless charging.

Well, sort of. The #LiveFree might be a looker, but its built-in tech is not so much innovative as it is apathetic. The Bluetooth tracking? A small pocket for one of Chipolo's readily available (and easily hidden) tracking keyrings that's included with the bag. The wireless charging? An odd mash-up of 4500mAh battery pack with Qi wireless charging that sits in one of the zipped-up side pockets. The idea is that you slip one of the supplied charging cases onto an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S7 and slide the phone in and out of the pocket to charge it.

Except, when I hear "backpack with wireless charging," I think of a bag with a wireless charging pad expertly integrated into the actual fabric, not an entirely separate battery pack you can just as easily buy on Amazon for £20 and stick in any bag you like. The former allows you to easily charge your phone by simply holding your phone to the bag safely laid across your lap in those rare moments where a seat opens up on a bus or a train. The latter means leaving your phone in an easily pickpocketed side-pocket that's not readily accessible.

Not everyone likes to carry around a phone in their pocket. And having a quick and easy way to charge a phone while stashing it away is a potentially useful feature for cyclists disencumbered by skin-tight spandex. Either way, the solution is to buy a battery pack of a suitable size and put it in the pocket of your choice in any bag you like.

Knomo's take on a high-tech backpack feels like the by-product of a meeting where out-of-touch marketing types asked "how do we get in on this Web 2.0 action I've heard so much about?" rather than a creative solution to a tech-hoarder's transportation troubles.

Which is a shame, because otherwise the #LiveFree is an excellent backpack. While I like to think I'm at least a little fashion-aware, looks are ultimately not the most important thing in a bag. Instead, I'd much rather it comfortably held a laptop or two, had enough pockets and compartments to keep the many dongles, cables, and cameras I carry around at trade shows safe and easily accessible, and ideally have enough room to lug around a handful of clothes for a weekend away, or even a full-size games console at a push.

The Astro Scout backpack I use on a daily basis does that and then some, while also being one of the most comfortable and durable bags around. But since it's a bag for "gamers," it's hardly a looker. The #LiveFree not only holds as much as the Scout, it does so while looking a lot more stylish. The waxed, water-repellent black cotton canvas looks great, and is nicely offset by tan leather highlights along the straps and handle. It's not a busy-looking bag either—a particularly impressive feat given how much it holds—making the #LiveFree the sort of thing your mum might call "smart," which I've grown to realise is actually a compliment, not an insult.

Mark Walton

Mark Walton

Mark Walton

Mark Walton

Mark Walton

Mark Walton

Mark Walton

I particularly like the entirely separate zipped-up laptop and tablet compartment at the rear, which makes pulling out a laptop a laughably easy affair compared to having it squeezed in alongside the rest of your belongings—useful when going through airport security, for sure. The multiple pockets on the inside of the bag and in the front pocket make it easier to keep things organised, too, although sadly the #LiveFree can't compete with the sheer number of compartments on the Scout, all of which I've made good use of over the years.

Neither can it compete in terms of comfort. The skinny straps look the part, but for a bag designed to carry around several kilograms of tech, they don't do a great job of spreading the weight around. An extra centimetre or two of width would work wonders.

The #LiveFree I tried is a prototype: it shows the bag's Kickstarter backers (which plonked down a hefty £222, or £251 for an iPhone version) what they will get for their money. The final version won't be significantly different, though; only the colour is set to change, according to the company.

Would I back it? I'm not so sure. The #LiveFree might well be a stylish and surprisingly practical backpack, but I'd never shake the feeling that I'd overpaid (more so when these things hit retail at £369 and up) for a bunch of weak tech integrations that I could otherwise add to any other bag for a few quid. Hell, for that money I could even pick up one of the designer creations so favoured by the folks at GQ.

Then again, what do I know? The #LiveFree just sailed past its £55,000 Kickstarter goal. There are still 26 days left in the campaign.