Doughnut Colorado Backpack Review: The Ultimate Student & Travel Companion?

The search for the perfect backpack is a timeless quest, especially for students, travelers, and daily commuters. You need something that’s not just a bag, but a reliable partner—stylish enough for the city, durable enough for travel, and functional enough to handle the daily grind of lectures, libraries, and late-night study sessions. It needs to protect your expensive tech, organize your essentials, and feel comfortable even when packed to the brim. With so many options on the market, finding one that ticks all the boxes can be overwhelming. Today, we’re taking a close look at a contender that has been gaining a devoted following: the Doughnut Colorado backpack.

We got our hands on this popular rucksack to see if it lives up to the hype. In this in-depth review, we’ll explore its design, features, comfort, and overall value to help you decide if the Doughnut Colorado is the right investment for your academic and travel adventures.

Who is Doughnut? A Brand Born from a Shared Passion

Before diving into the backpack itself, it’s worth understanding the brand behind it. Doughnut isn’t a massive, faceless corporation. It was founded in 2007 by two university students in Hong Kong who shared a passion for travel and a keen eye for functional, aesthetic design. What started as a hobby—designing backpacks for fun using a family-owned factory—quickly blossomed into a successful business. Their growth wasn’t fueled by massive marketing campaigns, but by word-of-mouth and a stellar reputation for quality.

Their guiding philosophy is “Pack Your Dream,” and this ethos is reflected in their products. They create high-quality, hand-crafted backpacks and travel accessories that are designed to be both practical and inspiring. Today, Doughnut is stocked in over 25 countries and has earned a cult following among students, creatives, and globetrotters who appreciate the brand’s commitment to durability and style.

First Impressions: Unboxing the Doughnut Colorado

Upon receiving the Colorado backpacks, the first thing that stands out is their distinctive retro-mountaineering aesthetic. We chose to review two popular colorways to get a feel for the range: black and khaki for the standard size, and a classic navy and beige for the Colorado Small. The brand offers an impressive array of 16 color combinations, ensuring there’s a style to suit almost any personality, from muted earth tones to vibrant, eye-catching hues.

The material feels robust and durable to the touch. The main body is crafted from heavy-duty, water-repellent fabric, which immediately gives you confidence that your belongings will be safe from a sudden downpour. The details, such as the organically dyed real leather trims and the chunky rope closure, add a premium, tactile quality that sets it apart from the sea of generic nylon backpacks.

A Deep Dive into the Colorado’s Features

A backpack’s true worth is revealed in its details and functionality. The Doughnut Colorado is packed with thoughtful features designed for modern life, blending its vintage look with contemporary needs.

Design and Aesthetics: A Nod to Classic Mountaineering

The Colorado’s most striking feature is its main closure system. Instead of the usual plastic buckles, you get a thick, durable rope that threads through sturdy leather loops. This not only looks fantastic but also provides a secure and satisfying way to close your bag. Further leather details, like the top carry handle and the utility patches on the front and sides, enhance its rugged, heritage charm. A subtle but crucial touch is the drawstring closure at the top of the main compartment, which sits under the main flap, adding an extra layer of protection against rain and securing your items.

Comfort and Ergonomics: Built for the Long Haul

Looks are important, but comfort is king, especially when you’re carrying a heavy load. This is an area where the Colorado truly excels. The shoulder straps are generously padded, distributing weight evenly to prevent digging and discomfort. They are adjusted with reassuringly solid metal hardware, a significant step up from the flimsy plastic adjusters found on many other bags.

The back panel is equally impressive, featuring two thick vertical strips of padding. This design creates an airflow channel down the middle of your back, promoting ventilation and reducing the dreaded “sweaty back” syndrome on warm days or long walks across campus. This padding also ensures that no sharp-cornered textbooks or gadgets will poke into your back. For heavier loads, the adjustable sternum (chest) strap is a game-changer, stabilizing the pack and taking pressure off your shoulders. It’s also completely removable for when you’re carrying a lighter load and prefer a cleaner look.

Storage and Organization: A Pocket for Everything

The Doughnut Colorado is an organizer’s dream. The brand has clearly thought about how people actually use their bags. The star of the show is the dedicated laptop compartment. It’s located at the back, heavily padded on both sides, and accessible via a separate side zipper. This means you can slide your laptop in and out with ease—perfect for airport security or quickly grabbing it in a lecture—without having to open and rummage through the entire main compartment. The standard Colorado fits up to a 15-inch laptop, while the Small version accommodates a 13-inch device.

On the opposite side, another secure zipper provides quick access to the main body of the bag. This is incredibly convenient for grabbing a jacket or notebook without undoing the top rope closure. Inside, the organization continues. There’s a generously sized zipped pocket in the top lid, ideal for sunglasses, keys, or snacks. The main interior features a host of pockets: two Velcro-fastened pockets, a zipped mesh pocket perfect for a wallet or phone, an open slip pocket, and even two internal bottle holders to keep your drinks upright and prevent spills. This level of internal organization is fantastic for keeping cables, chargers, pens, and other small items from getting lost at the bottom of your bag.

The Colorado vs. The Colorado Small: Which Size is Right for You?

Choosing the right size is crucial. Doughnut offers two excellent options to cater to different needs.

The Standard Colorado: Measuring 28cm (W) x 15cm (D) x 47cm (H), this is the ideal choice for students who need to carry multiple textbooks, a 15″ laptop, a packed lunch, and maybe even gym gear. Its larger capacity also makes it a perfect weekend travel bag.
The Colorado Small: Coming in at a more compact 28cm (W) x 13.5cm (D) x 40cm (H), this version is perfect for those with a lighter daily carry. It comfortably fits a 13″ laptop or tablet and your daily essentials, making it an excellent choice for commuters, creatives, or students who have digitized their notes and don’t need to haul heavy books.

The Verdict: Is the Doughnut Colorado Worth the Investment?

After thoroughly testing the Doughnut Colorado, it’s clear that this is a premium backpack that delivers on its promises. It masterfully blends a stylish, vintage aesthetic with modern, practical features that cater directly to the needs of students and travelers. The build quality is exceptional, from the water-repellent Cordura fabric to the sturdy metal hardware and genuine leather details. This is not a “fast fashion” accessory; it’s a durable piece of gear designed to withstand years of daily use.

Price-wise, it sits in the mid-to-high range. This isn’t a budget option, but you are paying for superior materials, thoughtful design, and longevity. When you consider that a well-built backpack can last you through your entire university career and well into your professional life or travels, the cost can be seen as a worthwhile long-term investment. The sheer functionality, from the easy-access laptop sleeve to the abundance of organizational pockets, provides tangible daily benefits that make life easier and more organized.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Pros

Durable and Weather-Resistant: The high-quality, water-repellent shell fabric and drawstring inner cover offer excellent protection for your belongings.
Superb Comfort: Exceptionally well-padded straps and a ventilated back panel, complete with a removable chest strap, make it comfortable to carry all day.
Intelligent Laptop Access: The separate, side-access padded laptop compartment is a standout feature for convenience and protection.
Excellent Organization: A wealth of interior and exterior pockets keeps all your essentials tidy and easy to find.
Premium Build Quality: Chunky, reliable zips, solid metal hardware, and soft leather details signal a product built to last.
Stylish Aesthetics: The unique retro design and wide range of attractive color combinations make a statement.

Cons

Price Point: It is a significant investment compared to budget backpacks, but its durability justifies the cost over the long term.
Rope Fastening: While aesthetically pleasing and secure, the rope and leather loop closure can be slightly more time-consuming to open and close than standard plastic clasps, which might be a consideration if you need frequent, rapid access to the main compartment.