Nordace Siena Smart Backpack Review

This is a guest post by Christen Thomas.

Finding the perfect backpack to complement your luggage can be challenging. If you are like me, you are looking for a backpack that can function both as a weekend bag and an excellent under the seat bag for those longer flights. I’ve personally found that the Nordace Siena Backpack meets both of those needs – and more! I’ve been using this backpack as my primary travel bag for over a year, and it has become my go-to.

In this Nordace Siena Smart Backpack review, I’ll provide information on the features and specs of the backpack, pros and cons, and answer some FAQs to help you decide if this is the best travel backpack for you:

Table of Contents

Nordace Company Background

The company was founded in 2018 when its founder decided it was time to fill a gap in the market: a stylish functional backpack. The Nordace Siena Smart Backpack was their first product, and was released the following year to great success. As of 2023, the company has sold over 1 million Siena backpacks!

Nordace Products

Since the company’s launch, they have released many new travel backpacks, luggage, and accessories. Here is a quick look at some of the additional products that they sell:

Backpacks: In addition to their Smart backpack collection, they also have backpacks catered to business users, school, baby bags, and also outdoor backpacks. Looking for something smaller than the Siena? Check out the Nordace Aerial Infinity Mini Backpack
Luggage: Consider Nordace as an expert in “soft luggage”. They carry a variety of duffel bags, cross body bags, and totes.
Accessories: The range of accessories that they carry has expanded greatly – they essentially carry anything you need for a trip outside of hardbody luggage or roller bags. Some examples include: packing cubes, toiletry bags, luggage scales, travel umbrellas, travel wallets, and microfiber towels.

So as you can see, if you ever need to start from scratch with your travel bags and accessories, Nordace will certainly have you covered. I’ll note, I own their travel adaptor, compression packing cubes, and toiletry bag, and have found them to be of good quality – not to mention perfect fit for the backpack too.

Nordace Siena Smart Backpack Overview

This backpack definitely has some features that make it stand out from other travel backpacks on the market. I’ll walk you through these – particularly those that really stood out to me when I was deciding which backpack that I wanted to purchase.

Key Features

The Nordace Siena Smart Backpack comes with features that I think cater to the needs of travelers and those who simply need a solid day pack as well.

Some of the stand out features that this backpack offers include:

Material: I’ve found the bag’s shell to be quite soft to the touch. However, its frosted nylon material makes this bag both durable and resistant to water.
Organization: The bag comes with a variety of compartments and pockets designed to securely stow everything away – no more digging for your keys or passport when you need to find them quickly.
Charging Support: The Nordace Siena backpack has a built-in USB charging port, which sets this backpack apart from competitors.
Comfort: I think it’s easy to tell that the Siena is made for comfort with its padded, adjustable straps and breathable back panel.

Additionally, it’s designed to be stylish and its design allows it to keep its shape whether it is empty or full (making it easy to stow and pack!).

Size, Dimensions, Colors, and Varieties

When I purchase backpacks I pay close attention to size / dimensions as I’m a short person (under 5″) – particularly when buying online. I think this can be an important factor whether you are tall, short, or average, and/or if your torso is of a longer or shorter size.

Size & Dimensions

The size of this bag makes it suitable as a “personal item”, meaning it will fit under the seat (and in the overhead bin) with no issues.

Exterior: 16.54” x 11.4” x 6.3”
Laptop Compartment: Fits laptop up to 16″
Water Bottle Volume: 1000 ml
Weight: 0.88 lbs
Capacity: 19L

Colors

This backpack comes in 9 colors – some are more neutral, but even the more color varieties are in a bit more muted tone. Available colors include:

Black
Gray
Beige
Khaki
Blue
Aqua (light blue)
Dark Green
Red
Pink

For reference, I own the blue version, so you can see how it looks in the pictures shown in this post.

Varieties

Since the launch of the original backpack, there have been a few additional varieties of the Siena Smart Backpack that have been released. This has resulted in some changes to the style and some size varieties as well.

Below is a list of all the current smart backpacks that are available:

Nordace Siena II Smart Backpack: This bag differs from the original in that the capacity is increased from 19L to 22L. In addition, there is an adaptor for Type-C, Lightning, and Micro-USB for the charging port.
Nordace Siena Pro Backpacks: These backpacks come in three sizes: 13″, 15″, and 17″ (note the inches correspond to the size of the laptop slot). While the 13″ is smaller than the original (15L capacity), the 15″ and the 17″ both offer greater capacity at 20L and 26L.

So as you can see, there are backpacks available to suit your personal size and laptop needs.

My Experience with the Nordace Siena Smart Backpack

I’ve been using the Siena Smart Backpack for over a year, and have traveled extensively with it. I’ve been impressed with its features and durability, and will provide some additional information on both the pros and the cons of this backpack below.

Pros

Weight: This bag is only 0.88lbs, which means it is super light, and won’t give you a backache as you navigate through airports or cities.
Charging Port: I think that the USB charging port is a really nice feature, and one I haven’t seen in many similar products.
Anti-Theft Pocket: A challenge with any backpack is having your most valuable items (e.g., cash, phone, passport) stolen while essentially out of sight. This backpack helps with this by having an interior pocket where you can stow your most precious valuables.
Luggage Strap: If traveling with your carry-on, like the Away bag, you can slide this suitcase over your luggage handle with the built-in luggage strap. I use this often when simply trying to give my back a break.
Built in Organization: There are so many interior pockets in the main compartment that organization is a breeze. In addition, you’ll see features like a key clip and slots for your phone and sunglasses in the front pocket too (great for quick access). This has helped me tremendously to avoid having to rummage through my bag when looking for something important. There is also a water bottle pocket, which is just so helpful in helping me remember to drink water and avoiding plastic bottles by bringing my own bottle along with me.
Laptop Compartment: If you are a digital nomad like me, traveling without your laptop or iPad is often just not possible. This bag has a padded laptop slot so that you can safely store your electronic devices while on the go.
Look/ Feel: I’ll be honest, I was initially attracted to the bag because of how it looks. I’d say they lived up to their desire for fully functional AND stylish for sure – at least in my humble opinion.
Price: Compared to many other backpacks on the market, the price for this backpack is relatively affordable. In addition, Nordace regularly runs sales on their products as well.

Cons

Capacity: This may be more of a “me” issue, but I have found myself wishing for just a bit more capacity in this bag. I’m a regular “carry-on only” type of person, and I’d like to fit just a little bit more into this bag to make packing easier. Perhaps I should just pack lighter, but that is another story.
Luggage Strap: This was a pro, but I’ve also listed as a slight con as I simply wish I could turn the back sideways instead of upright on the handle. For me at least, it is a little easier to roll the bag slanted when the backpack is not at the top of the handle.
Lack of Power Bank: I wish that they provided a power bank along with the charging port. You have to buy/bring your own along with you – and this was not initially clear to me when I made my purchase.

Nordace Siena Smart Backpack Alternatives

If you still are not convinced and would like to understand what other travel backpacks to consider, here are a few options:

Pakt Travel Backpack: If you really need more capacity, this backpack is definitely the one for you. It features a main compartment that divides in two so you can pack each side and use multiple packing cubes.
Herschel Kaslo Backpack Tech: This backpack is fully made of recycled materials. It has a capacity of 30L, and plenty of hidden compartments and pockets so that you can easily organize your things. It is a bit boxy in shape, and looks a bit more utilitarian.
Lo & Sons Rowledge Backpack: This backpack comes in both a small and large size, and like the Nordace Backpack, it features many pockets for organization, a water bottle slot, a laptop sleeve, and also can convert into a tote as well.

***

I hope that this post has shown you what a high quality bag that the Siena Smart Backpack is, and that it is a great product overall. This bag is great for short trips and longer trips, and when you are not traveling, it is a daypack for family days as well.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, an avid adventurer, or simply someone who appreciates organized mobility, the Nordace Siena Smart Backpack is an investment worth considering.

Buy it here!

About the author: Christen Thomas is a Washington DC-based travel blogger and travel advisor. She loves helping people plan amazing vacations, and provides in-depth travel itineraries on her blog, TravelWanderGrow. As a lover of history and culture, her blog explores these aspects in depth for destinations across the globe.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links that support this site at no extra cost to you when you purchase through them. The author purchased the bag herself, however, we have also been gifted additional bags by Nordace.