The WaterFly backpack is a versatile folding backpack, which you can wear as a regular backpack, a shoulder bag, or a waist bag. It also comes with a small waist bag and an arm bag. Attach those two small bags to the backpack for extra space or wear them separately. But let me start this WaterFly backpack review with my first impressions on this transformer backpack.

At first, I was skeptical. Very skeptical, to be honest. This backpack looks odd was what I thought.

But online is online, and when I saw it in real life I realized that it’s actually a pretty cool backpack. It’s an inexpensive bag but it doesn’t feel cheap. The material is durable, the seams seem straight and sturdy. The “main backpack” and two small bags are well made and seem sturdy, and they are water-resistant (not waterproof!). The buckles are made of sturdy plastic, and the shoulder straps are lightly padded.

It’s not a regular daypack/backpack (such as the Osprey Daylite, for instance). It’s a packable daypack. Which means it can be easily folded and put away in your main luggage.

Let’s now look inside the WaterFly smart backpack!

WATERFLY Backpack Review:

A Transformer Backpack

 

The Backpack

The “main backpack” has several compartments and pockets:

• Top compartment which can hold a couple of books and my cardigan with some room to spare. My 12” MacBook with its cover fits in the top compartment as well.
• A rather roomy bottom compartment that turns into the main compartment when the bag is in the handbag mode.
• Zippered front pocket.
• Two mesh side pockets.

There’s a strap at the back of the pack, so you can “piggyback” the WaterFly backpack to your suitcase.

The bottom part of the shoulder straps buckles can be detached. The buckles can be hidden in special zippered pockets at the bottom of the bag. Attach the fanny pack (put through the two wide straps at the bottom) and attach the shoulder straps to fanny pack buckles. In that, you’ll get a couple of concealed pockets.

As the backpack is designed to be packable it doesn’t have heavy padding on its shoulder straps. So don’t try to put in too much stuff. Your shoulders and back will not like it.

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Or buy it directly from the website of WaterFly. Get 15% off with the code “WATERFLYOFF15”.

The Shoulder Bag

The WaterFly backpack can be worn as a shoulder bag.

And it’s really easy to convert it to the shoulder bag mode. Follow these steps:

1. Detach the shoulder straps.
2. Put them in the main compartment.
3. Roll the top of the bag (main compartment part).
4. Close the zipper which is located in the middle of the pack.
5. Flatten the top of the handbag.
6. Hide the shoulder strap buckles in designated zippered pockets.

The luggage strap at the back now serves as a top handle. Now the bottom compartment of the backpack is the main compartment of the shoulder bag.

For extra storage attach the arm bag. The little buckles are not concealed. 

A detachable shoulder strap is included. In my opinion, it’s too narrow for a shoulder bag. But as the bag is not so big, you can’t really pack it heavy. So the narrow strap can’t cut into your skin.

 

The Large Waist Bag

The WaterFly backpack also can be transformed into a large waist bag – fanny pack.

Follow these steps to do so:

1. Detach the shoulder straps.
2. Put them in the main compartment.
3. Roll the top of the bag (main compartment part).
4. Close the zipper which is located at the middle of the pack.
5. Flatten the top of the handbag.
6. Hide the shoulder strap buckles in designated zippered pockets.
7. Put the small waist bag through the two loops at the back.
8. Use the straps of the small waist bag and put it around your waist.

The Small Waist Bag (Fanny Pack)

The waist bag from the set is rather small and compact and is perfect for carrying your essentials.

I’ve had several fanny packs but all of them have been larger than this one. Actually I prefer this fanny pack as it’s not bulky and it looks better on my small frame. And I don’t carry much with me, so this is the perfect fanny pack for me.

The WaterFly fanny pack has several pockets:

• The main compartment. A large smartphone will fit there. I can put my iPhone SE, a pack of Kleenex and a small wallet. Passport without a cover can fit in the main compartment, too.
• A concealed, zippered back pocket for money and credit cards. A small smartphone, like the iPhone SE also fits.
• A small Velcro pocket at the front. It’s really small, not even a lip balm will fit. I tried to put my earbuds in there, and they fit.
• A small front zippered pocket for small items like lip balm, chewing gum, etc.

The Arm Bag

The little sports arm bag can be worn separately, or it can be connected to the backpack when it’s both in backpack or in shoulder bag mode. Use the little buckles at the bottom of the bag to connect the small arm bag to the larger bag.

The small arm bag has a padded back panel with a mesh … which looks moisture wicking. The bag features a durable elastic band with a Velcro closure. There are two zippered compartments. My passport (without a cover) fits the largest pocket. I would guess that a large smartphone will fit, too. My little iPhone SE with its cover fits in the smallest pocket. Unfortunately, the zipper of the smallest pocket seems a bit stiff.

A narrow shoulder strap is included. So, you can wear this little arm bag across your body, too. Though the elastic band then gets in your way and sticks out, and you can’t hide it since the little bag doesn’t have designated pocket for its storage.

WaterFly 4 in 1: Pros

• Inexpensive;
• Versatile;
• Can be worn as one bag, or the bags can be used separately;
• 4 bags in one set.

WaterFly 4 in 1: Cons

Can’t be packed into itself like the other packable daypacks we have reviewed. Only the bottom part can be folded and packed away.

Dimensions

Backpack: 17.7” x 10.2” x 3.9” (45 x 26 x 10 cm).

Shoulder bag / large waist bag: 10.2” x 7” x 3.9” (26 x 18 x 10 cm).

Fanny pack: 9.8” x 3.9 x 2” (25 x 10 x 5 cm).

Arm bag: 7” x 4.3” x 2” (18 x 11 x 5 cm).

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Buy WaterFly Transformer Backpack

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Or buy it directly from the website of WaterFly. Get 15% off with WATERFLYOFF15.

More Photos:

Disclosure: Although the backpack was provided by WATERFLY, my opinions shared are my own.

(Backpack review by Una Baufala from wearefromlatvia.com)

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 Author: Una Baufala

Una is a traveler and travel blogger from Latvia. Apart from traveling and exploring new places, she loves to read books. And she adores cats. Together with Kaspars they have been traveling – volunteering – working abroad since October 2013. WeAreFromLatvia.com is where she shares her travel experiences.