ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 Review – Sturdy Urban Companion

If you’re looking for a roomy, comfy and sturdy backpack that can store a gaming laptop and quite a few extras, you’ll likely appreciate what Republic of Gamers (ROG) has to offer which we’ve laid out in our latest ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review.

On top of making gaming laptops and phones, ROG is a surprisingly dab hand at making quality backpacks too with the prior ROG Ranger BP2701 backpack released last year being a standout example that has held up well even with regular heavy use as my daily carry option since its introduction last year. 

For the tail end of 2024, they’ve issued a new array of laptop backpacks such as the semi-rigid ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 as well as the top of the line ROG Archer ErgoAir Gaming Backpack 3800 that are designed to tote your entire gaming setup for an offsite gaming tournament or, more likely, your gear for the daily work commute or a weekend  trip out of town.

We managed to get the former for review and put it through the gruelling daily Kuala Lumpur commute – here’s our ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review where we suss out if it’s worth your money.

ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 Review – Features and Design

The ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 enables users to tote around up to a 16-inch gaming laptop while featuring enough internal pockets and storage space to tote around dongles, a set of on-ear headphones, power cables and a stash of snacks in a secure, relatively low profile fashion.

Externally, my ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review unit has a low profile matte black look that doesn’t immediately scream that it’s a gaming laptop backpack at first glance though closer inspection does reveal the ROG logo subtly emblazoned in a reflective black finish on the rear along with the ROG wordmark on each of the zipper pull tabs.

ROG hasn’t skimped on the build quality and it shows with sturdy stitching and liberal use of high-strength 1260D polyester. The external finish is also weather resistant and able to shrug off modest amounts of rain though it is not waterproof which makes it sufficiently robust for urban use

The core of the backpack is built around a semi-rigid fabric and polyester compartment that offers about 18l of internal volume. When fully unzipped, the inner compartment splays open much of the way for easy access but does not open completely flat on account of two strategically placed lengths of fabric across both the front and back halves of the backpack.

As a testament to its design, my ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review sample was able to stay upright on its own which is a bonus especially if you are looking to plonk it down on the floor without it haphazardly flopping over. 

In keeping with accepted laptop backpack design practices, the internal laptop sleeve itself is heavily padded and suspended about an inch or so above the base of the backpack, anchored to the backframe with heavy stitching such that you can confidently drop the backpack bottom-down on the floor without undue worry about a laptop stored within the sleeve being damaged. 

ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 Review – The laptop sleeve is securely stitched to the backframe and is about an inch off the base of the backpack

On top of the laptop sleeve, the internal compartment comes with an array of additional pockets to take pens and other miscellaneous claptrap like chewing gum, cables, business cards and whatnot with a large compartment secured by an elastic strap that’s big enough to store a pair of headphones.

The sides of the backpack also have a pocket, one on each side that is large enough to accommodate an umbrella or water bottle. Another addition is a zippable front-facing pocket for small items.

Frequent travellers and urbanites braving the daily work commute will also appreciate the robustly padded straps and external back frame that’s also layered with breathable mesh for additional comfort and cooling when carrying heavy loads in humid weather like that seen in Malaysia. 

ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 Review – The backpack has side-mounted fabric collars that help to reduce swaying especially when carrying heavy loads

Taking lessons from the earlier BP2701 backpack, the ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 has a unique addition to its design – a set of side-mounted fabric collars where the straps meet the backframe that help to reduce swaying especially when carrying heavier loads. 

There is also a hidden zippable side pocket large enough to store a passport and cash on the left side of the backframe along with the helpful addition of a luggage sleeve so that it can slide on top of the handles of a set of rolling luggage for easier transport. 

ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 Review – The backpack features a robust chest strap for better weight distribution

The straps of my ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review sample also have a welcome addition – a chest strap that helps to distribute the weight from the shoulders to across the chest area which is especially helpful when carrying heavy loads. 

Another thoughtful addition is the addition of two reflective hazard stripes on the straps so that users can be more easily seen at night though, oddly enough, this feature is absent on the rear of the backpack which seems like somewhat of an oversight.

ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 Review – The shoulder straps feature luminous white stripes for better visibility at night

Overall build quality is excellent with quality stitching all around, well-built buckles and smoothly operating zippers and there were no signs of wear or tearacross the three plus weeks it was toted around as my daily carry backpack. 

ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 Review – Performance and Comfort

By and large, my use case for backpacks is primarily as a daily carry option to tote around a laptop, additional work gear as well as a spare change of clothes or for groceries which means that comfort and load-bearing capabilities are paramount.

When tested over the course of several weeks, I found that my ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review sample did not disappoint with its heavily padded backframe, straps and the chest strap helping to ensure even weight distribution and comfort. The addition of the new side fabric collars also helped to ensure that the backpack didn’t sway about even with brisk walking and a heavy load which also helped contribute to making it more comfortable to use.

Even when fully loaded, my ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review sample held up well without any bulging of the main compartment. The backpack was able to carry a relatively large ultraportable like the Honor MagicBook X 16 2024 in its carry sleeve along with a secondary Acer PM161QB portable monitor though the fit ended up a bit snug when doing so, a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and all the associated charging cables too. 

The roomy interior also allows the backpack to perform other duties too including carrying groceries. My ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review sample had enough internal volume to accommodate a plastic tray of a dozen eggs, a bag of bean sprouts, a five-pack of instant noodles, several cans of tuna and even a few chocolate bars after ditching the headphones and external monitor.

The proof is in the pudding and the eggs as well as the rest of the groceries managed to survive the equivalent of a two hour train ride and an additional 15-minute bus ride too unscathed. 

Should you buy the ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16?

The ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 is a well designed backpack that proves to be surprisingly effective as a daily carry option with comfortable straps, generous amounts of padding and a padded, weather resistant main compartment that can store plenty of gear.

The breathable mesh across the backpack straps and the backframe also make it comfortable to use in hot, humid weather like Malaysia. While the design is otherwise sound, a top pocket would have been nice along with slightly larger zipper pull tabs for easier access to the main compartment.

Granted, it’s a bit on the pricey side of things but it’s still cheaper than a good many options from dedicated backpack brands in the market. If you need something to haul all your gaming gear for a match or you need a comfortable backpack for daily use, the ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 ought to be tops on your list. 

Specifications
Price RM399
Material type Polyester + PU
Total carry volume 18l
Size/Weight 440 x 310 x 170mm / 1.10kg

ROG Ranger Gaming Backpack 16 review unit courtesy of Republic of Gamers. For more details and to purchase please visit https://rog.asus.com/my/apparel-bags-gear/bags/rog-ranger-gaming-backpack-16/