Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe
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Samsonite Andante 2 Travel Backpack Review
You need a travel backpack that opens wide, carries a large laptop, and stays practical for short trips without becoming a bulky suitcase on your back. The Samsonite Andante 2 Travel Backpack gets the core layout right with a flat-opening main compartment, 1,900 cubic inches of space, dual bottle pockets, and a laptop sleeve for most devices up to 17.6 inches. Its biggest limitation is weather protection: the current Amazon product information lists the bag as not water resistant. This review breaks down the verified specs, packing experience, real-world fit, and the buyers who should consider or skip it.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 7.5/10, Recommended with caveats
Best For: Weekend travelers and commuters who want flat-opening packing and room for a large laptop.
Bottom Line: The Andante 2 combines a roomy 31-liter class capacity, a flat-opening design, and support for laptops up to 17.6 inches. Buy it for organized short-trip packing, not for rain exposure or guaranteed personal-item sizing on every airline.
Product Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Samsonite |
| Model | Andante 2 Travel Backpack |
| Style / Part Number | 153339-5455 |
| ASIN | B0DK47SW55 |
| Product Type | Travel / laptop backpack |
| Color on Amazon Listing | Black |
| Size | One Size |
| Dimensions | 19″ H x 12.5″ W x 8″ D |
| Weight | Approximately 2.43 lbs |
| Capacity | 1,900 cubic inches, about 31.1 liters |
| Material | Polyester outer and lining |
| Shell | Soft shell |
| Closure | Zipper |
| Pockets | 3 listed in Amazon product information |
| Compartments | 3 listed in Amazon product information |
| Laptop Sleeve | Fits most laptops up to 17.6″ |
| Water Bottle Storage | Dual exterior bottle pockets |
| Carry Features | Ergonomic padded shoulder straps, breathable back panel, compression straps |
| Water Resistance | Amazon currently lists: Not Water Resistant |
| Warranty | Limited 3 Year Global Warranty listed by luggage retailers; confirm current terms for your region |
Before You Buy: Do not treat this backpack as rainproof. Amazon currently labels the water-resistance level as “Not Water Resistant,” and the 19″ x 12.5″ x 8″ dimensions may also exceed the personal-item limit on some airlines. Check your airline’s current size rules before you fly.
What Is the Samsonite Andante 2 Travel Backpack?
The Andante 2 is a soft-shell Samsonite travel backpack built around a flat-opening layout rather than a narrow top-loading opening. Its listed capacity is 1,900 cubic inches, which works out to about 31.1 liters. That puts it in a useful range for short trips, daily commuting, and travel days when you want clothing and tech in one bag.
The main selling point is access. The flat opening lets you open the bag wide for packing and retrieval, while the spacious main compartment, dual bottle pockets, and compression straps give you a straightforward way to control a mixed load. The dedicated laptop sleeve is another strong point because Amazon states that it fits most laptops up to 17.6 inches.
This review is based on current product-listing specifications and retailer documentation, with buyer-use recommendations drawn from those verified dimensions and features. It does not assume first-hand waterproofing or long-term durability testing.
Who Should Buy It?
Best For
- Weekend travelers who want a roughly 31-liter bag that opens wide for clothing, toiletries, and tech.
- Large-laptop commuters who need a sleeve rated for most laptops up to 17.6 inches.
- Travelers who prefer simple organization with a roomy main compartment, three listed pockets, three compartments, and dual bottle storage.
Skip If
- You need verified rain protection or a backpack specifically rated as water resistant.
- You want a highly compartmentalized business bag with many small organizer pockets.
- You need a bag guaranteed to meet a specific airline’s personal-item dimensions.
Key Features in Detail
Flat Opening and Packing Access
Amazon describes the Andante 2 as having a flat opening style for easier packing and retrieval. That matters most when you are packing folded clothes or cubes because you can see more of the compartment at once instead of stacking everything vertically through a small opening. It also makes hotel repacking simpler because you can organize the bag more like compact soft luggage.
31-Liter Class Capacity
The 1,900-cubic-inch volume converts to about 31.1 liters. That is enough space to build a practical two- or three-night packing list if you keep shoes and bulky layers under control. The bag is not expandable according to the current Amazon details, so the best results come from packing to the listed volume rather than forcing the zipper around an overstuffed load.
Laptop Sleeve for Devices Up to 17.6 Inches
The dedicated laptop sleeve supports most laptops up to 17.6 inches, which is useful if you travel with a larger work or creator machine. The diagonal screen size is not the only measurement that matters, though. Thick gaming laptops and laptops inside rigid cases can have very different chassis dimensions, so compare your device’s actual width, depth, and thickness with the bag before an important trip.
Dual Water Bottle Pockets and Simple Organization
The current listing confirms dual water bottle pockets, three pockets, and three compartments. That is enough for basic separation of a bottle, small essentials, laptop, and main packing load, but it is not a dense admin-panel design. If you carry many cables, cards, pens, adapters, and small accessories, a separate tech pouch can make the layout easier to manage.
Padded Straps, Breathable Back Panel, and Compression Straps
Amazon lists ergonomic padded shoulder straps and a breathable back panel, both useful features when you have a laptop and clothing in the same bag. Compression straps help reduce movement when the bag is not completely full. Comfort still depends on total packed weight, so the lighter 2.43-pound empty weight is helpful but does not make an overloaded bag comfortable by itself.
Material and Weather Protection
The backpack uses polyester for the outer material and lining, with a soft-shell construction. The current Amazon product information specifically says the water-resistance level is “Not Water Resistant.” That is more important than older retailer wording that may describe a coating, so protect electronics with an internal sleeve or cover if rain is likely.
Pro Tip: Before your first flight, test-pack the bag with your actual laptop and place the loaded bag inside a box or taped outline matching your airline’s size limit. That catches both laptop-fit and overpacking problems before you reach the gate.
How It Performs in Real Use
For a Weekend City Trip
A 31-liter class bag is well suited to a short packing list: two or three changes of clothes, a compact toiletry kit, chargers, and a laptop. The flat opening helps you keep clothing grouped instead of digging downward through the bag. If you add extra shoes or thick outerwear, the fixed volume becomes the limiting factor quickly.
During an Airport Day
The padded straps, breathable back panel, and 2.43-pound empty weight are useful for terminal walking, but airline fit needs more care than the original article suggested. At 19″ x 12.5″ x 8″, the bag can work within some carry-on or personal-item rules, yet it is not a universal personal item. Always compare the packed bag with the exact dimensions published by your carrier.
As a Daily Commuter Bag
The large laptop compatibility makes the Andante 2 practical for commuting if your work computer is too large for common 15- or 16-inch sleeves. The simple three-pocket, three-compartment layout is easier to live with if you use a small organizer pouch for cables and office accessories. The bag makes less sense if your daily routine depends on many dedicated quick-access pockets.
For Gym-to-Travel Use
The main compartment can handle a change of clothes alongside travel essentials, and the compression straps help control the load after you remove part of your gear. Keep damp clothing in a separate sealed pouch because the bag is not listed as water resistant. That protects the polyester lining and keeps moisture away from electronics.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Flat-opening design makes clothing and packing-cube access easier than a narrow top opening.
- 1,900 cubic inches, about 31.1 liters, gives useful capacity for short trips.
- Dedicated sleeve fits most laptops up to 17.6 inches.
- Dual bottle pockets plus three listed pockets and three compartments cover basic organization.
- Padded shoulder straps, breathable back panel, and compression straps support travel-focused carrying.
Cons
- Amazon currently lists the backpack as not water resistant.
- Three pockets and three compartments may feel limited if you want detailed small-item organization.
- The 19″ x 12.5″ x 8″ size is not guaranteed to meet every airline’s personal-item limit.
Is It Worth the Price?
The Andante 2 is best viewed as a mainstream, mid-range travel backpack rather than a technical outdoor pack. Its value comes from the combination of a roughly 31-liter capacity, flat-opening packing, a large laptop sleeve, and an empty weight of about 2.43 pounds. Those features make the most sense if you use one backpack for both commuting and short trips.
You get less value if weather protection or detailed organization is your top priority. The current Amazon listing says the bag is not water resistant, and three pockets are modest for buyers who carry many small accessories. In that case, spending more or choosing a different layout can be the better decision even if the Andante 2 costs less on a given day.
How It Compares to Alternatives
If you want more built-in organization at a similar 31-liter capacity, the SWISSGEAR 1900 ScanSmart is worth comparing. It adds an organizer compartment, more accessory storage, a trolley strap, and a lay-flat laptop section for most computers up to 17 inches, but it is heavier at roughly 3.2 to 3.3 pounds depending on the version.
If airline personal-item flexibility matters more than fitting the largest laptop possible, the Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6 is another strong comparison. It starts at 26 liters, expands by 6 liters, includes a luggage pass-through and full-zip suitcase-style opening, and is designed around personal-item travel. The Andante 2 makes more sense if your priority is the up-to-17.6-inch laptop sleeve and a simple flat-opening 31-liter class layout.
How to Pack and Use the Andante 2
- Check your airline first: Compare the 19″ x 12.5″ x 8″ dimensions with your carrier’s current personal-item or carry-on limit.
- Test your laptop fit: Measure the full device, not only the screen diagonal, especially if you use a thick case.
- Pack through the flat opening: Put dense items close to the back panel and use the main compartment for folded clothes or packing cubes.
- Use compression straps: Tighten them after packing so a partial load moves less while you walk.
- Keep small tech together: A compact cable pouch helps compensate for the bag’s relatively simple pocket layout.
- Protect against moisture: Use an internal waterproof pouch or separate rain cover when weather is uncertain because the bag is not listed as water resistant.
- Clean cautiously: Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth and follow Samsonite’s care guidance for your exact unit. Do not machine wash unless the manufacturer specifically permits it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Andante 2 count as a personal item or carry-on?
Its listed dimensions are 19″ x 12.5″ x 8″. Those measurements can fit some airline limits but not all personal-item rules, so check your carrier before flying and measure the bag after packing.
Does the 17.6-inch laptop sleeve fit every 17-inch laptop?
No. Amazon says the sleeve fits most laptops up to 17.6 inches, but chassis thickness and width vary. Measure your laptop and any protective case instead of relying only on screen size.
Is the Samsonite Andante 2 water resistant?
The current Amazon product information lists its water-resistance level as “Not Water Resistant.” Do not rely on the backpack alone to protect a laptop or clothing in rain.
How much does the Andante 2 hold?
Amazon lists 1,900 cubic inches of storage, equal to about 31.1 liters. That is a practical capacity for a short trip if you pack compactly, but bulky shoes and jackets can use the available space quickly.
How much organization does it have?
Amazon currently lists three pockets and three compartments, plus dual bottle pockets. That is enough for basic travel organization, but you may want a tech pouch if you carry many chargers, cables, cards, or adapters.
How heavy is the backpack when empty?
Retailer specifications list the Andante 2 at about 2.43 pounds empty. Your final carry weight will depend far more on the laptop, clothing, shoes, and accessories you load inside.
What warranty does the Andante 2 have?
Luggage retailers list a Limited 3 Year Global Warranty for the Andante 2. Warranty handling can vary by seller and region, so confirm the current terms with Samsonite or the authorized retailer before relying on coverage.
The Bottom Line
The Samsonite Andante 2 is a good fit if you want a flat-opening travel backpack with about 31 liters of space and a laptop sleeve for most devices up to 17.6 inches. Skip it if you need verified rain protection, dense small-item organization, or guaranteed personal-item sizing across airlines. Its strongest advantages are simple packing access and large-laptop compatibility, while the lack of listed water resistance is the main caveat behind the 7.5/10 rating.
