Slappa Velocity Matrix Backpack

I recently purchased a Slappa Velocity Matrix backpack and had a look around the forums for an existing thread but didn’t find one so I decided to create one and start it with a little review.
First of all, Notebookreview.com already has a decent review of the Velocity Spyder and Matrix backpacks which are very similar. The review, which has some good pictures, is here Slappa Velocity SPYDER PRO Backpack Review.

I initially bought the backpack for the Envy17 which I purchased; however, the Envy17 was set on fire and returned to whence it came so I never got the opportunity to see how that machine fit with it. I replaced the Envy17 with an Asus G73, and although it came with its own backpack, Matrix was so nice that I opted to sell the ROG backpack and keep the Matrix.
What first attracted me to the Slappa Velocity Matrix was the design, being unique but not overdone, and the fact that it wasn’t branded with a computer company (to me having all my stuff branded that way just seems pretentious, sorry if that ruffles any feathers), as well as the size, being one of the few backpacks capable of carrying a 17” machine that’s rocking a quad core processor.

The quality and materials in the Matrix are great, far superior to the Asus ROG backpack. The most notable difference is in the zippers, which are buttery smooth on the Matrix, but obviously cheap and stiff on the ROG backpack. Beyond that, the straps and handle which are important as they are the real user interface parts of the bag are stronger and more durable on the Matrix than on the Asus ROG bag. The internal compartments are very well padded and protect the laptop very well. The Matrix has enough room in it for the G73 and its power brick and mouse, and then I can chose between filling up the rest of it with 2 binders AND either 2 medium sized textbooks, or carrying the textbooks and packing my G13 and Creative Fatal1ty MkII headset: tough choice. The only complaint I would have about the bag itself is that the material inside, while great for protecting electronics, is a little soft and tends to catch on anything with sharp edges i.e. textbooks, pens, lose papers, etc.

The bag is just big enough for the G73, and while you could put a slightly thicker laptop in it (i.e. Clevos, etc.) you wouldn’t get away with anything deeper or wider. To make the G73 fit did require some modifications, however. You can see the flap that protects the top of the laptop and holds it in place in the pictures on the Notebookreview.com page that I linked. This flap was not long enough to go over the top of the G73 and then velcro in place. The solution was to very carefully pull the stitches out that hold it in position and remove it. Doing this carefully left the backpack with absolutely no cosmetic blemishes or evidence that the flap was ever there (thank you to Slappa for sewing it on in an easy to remove fashion). I suppose if someone was really determined they could re-attach it in a slightly higher position and it would work but I didn’t bother. After doing this I find that the laptop slides into place very well and stays in place without a hitch. My only concern with making this modification is that the corners of the G73 are in contact with the top of the bag where the zipper is and although the zipper is protected, there is a risk of damaging the G73's rubberized finish over time. In the month that I’ve been using this arrangement, however, I’ve seen no signs of it so hopefully I'm just being neurotic.

I found the price of the backpack to be on par with comparable bags from other companies ($100 plus tax) and shipping was fast and free. This is a link to Slappa's site for those interested: SLAPPA Velocity Laptop Backpack Note that you have to select the size (15" or 17" from the drop down menu to see the applicable price.

All in all with the price and the features above I am very happy with this bag and would recommend it to anyone looking to carry around a bigger machine.

 

I have two of these, one for my son's P-171X FX, and one for my M17X R2, they are great backpacks, well built, look great.

 

How does it fit the M17x? I know its not quite as wide as the G73.

 

It fits my X17 good, kinda snug in the front and back of the Laptop, but good.

 

I bought this backpack last month and I've been using it three weeks. It's been great except the part where the left strap (if you're wearing it) connects to the bottom of the bag has started to rip. i emailed slappa last night so we'll see what they say on monday.

 

Yea, I'd love to hear what happens with that. They go to the effort of advertising their warranty on their site, I would like to hear if they will live up to it.

 

so far, they told me to go to the place i bought it from and talk to them. since i got it from amazon and they only handle stuff up to 30 days after delivery, i had to email slappa back. I have yet to receive a response.

 

Hey all, We certainly don't want to take away business from our selling partners, but the one reason we always encourage people to purchase directly from us is because we can give an extended warranty when you purchase from our site. Also, we have an unwritten rule (which I guess I am now writing)...if your SLAPPA product has an issue after the extended 360 day warranty period, we'll replace it at a 40% discount (no matter why you had a problem). Tree Burner let me know if Amazon was willing to help you out...if not, we'll help (just drop me a mail at [email protected])

Thanks

Dom at SLAPPA

 

I can speak for Slappa, they do what they say.

 

wow! i didnt knew that slappa had an account in notebookreview.
btw would like to ask when will slappa us stock up on the MASK KOA backpack face? was told that it will be restocked and send before my birthday which is this coming Sunday

once in a lifetime date 10/10/10..

 

A decent backpack going by the review, a shame it won't fit 18.4" laptops.

 

Hi Harley. This backpack does fit large 17" laptops so there is a chance it may fit yours. what model laptop do you have?

 

He is currently using *Kobalt G890 (18.4")*.

 

Guys a couple of answers here in one post:

1) Sacred Dreams--yes we have an account and do try to come in to help, but if there is ever anything we don't jump on immediately in here please email us ([email protected]). We just got in an airshipment today of about 100 M.A.S.K. faces (and about 40 of them are already gone!!) there are many more on the way over via boat!!

2) Tree Burner again, send me a mail if we can help with that Amazon purchase

3) I cannot find the dimensions of the Kobalt g890...can you forward them to me via email?

Thanks!!

Dom at SLAPPA

 

Well I'm gonna go check my order after work later, I had checked my account account yesterday it's not processed yet.

 

Considering you're a US-based company, I'm not surprised you can't find the specifications for a Clevo model being sold in the UK. As you request, here's the URL for the laptop I've ordered:

Link

 

Just checked on Slappa and saw that status changed to billed~ Wee~
will be reaching me by Next Thursday~

Thanks Slappa!

will give feedback once its here~ Customer Service are great!
would like to thank Barbra beers@Slappa for her Job well done!!

Thanks Again Guys!

 

I ordered the spider should be here next week, seems really good back pack, i might do the strap removal and do an external cap to protect it to from the zippers, but im also interested on the messenger bag.

@SLAPPADom, im waiting for the 17'' hard case SL-LP-102 but seems out of stock everywhere , even the main website says Dec 5, you think this is accurate? i like all the comments it has regarding the G73.

 

I sent my backpack to them for repair/replacement on September 27th. It arrived there on October first. i still have not heard back from them on the status of my backpack...

 

Try emailing them? Or log a case with your account logged in.

 

Sent it in 27th, it arrived there on the 1st of October,asked the about it on the 7th of October, got an email back on the 8th saying their seamstress couldn't fix it so they're sending me a replacement, to arrive on the 13th via fed ex.

Decent service, but i wish it could have gone faster, I'm in college and going 16 days without a backpack is kind of difficult. only thing that i really feel upset about is that it took them a week to determine that it can't be fixed.

 

So I got my backpack today, and it is not a replacement of what i sent in. It no longer has the BuckBlast Suede, It now has a material that looks like the M.A.S.K. Ballistic Nylon backpacks on the website, except the backpack is still a matrix. on the plus side, the strap connecting to the bottom of the pack (the part that got damaged on the old one) looks much more durable, on the negative side, the Face now zips off completely... a feature i did not like. they also sent me a 17" instead of the 15.4" that i sent in.

so overall, It looks like a MATRIX, face zips off like a SPYDER, and fabric looks like the M.A.S.K. fabric... really weird...

 

well you have a newer product

 

Yeah I suppose. I just wish that they stuck with the original Matrix design and kept it so the face couldn't zip off.

 

I think they're planning to have the matrix become like what's Mask is currently now? Like moving what's new into the older models

And your current bag makes you stands out from other matrix

 

Seeing as I was the only person I have ever actually seen use a matrix backpack, or slappa for that matter, there isn't much difference.

You're probably right however. They're trying to turn their old backpacks into the "faces" for the M.A.S.K.